The Demon King's Paladin

Chapter 31. Lunch and Rankings

After finishing the introductions, everyone but Anna took a seat. Anna stood against the wall behind me. Hopefully we can eat together in private when not in formal settings. The meal was full of savory meats and crip vegetables, the most eye catching of which was a green boar the size of a horse with 4 heads and 8 legs. When I asked what it was called, I was told it's known as a growing boar. It seems that this subspecies of demonic boar mutates every year growing heads and limbs. Apparently 4 years is the perfect age to slaughter it. Its strength is also outrageous able to raise whole villages in a day. It tasted like high quality pork from my world, safe to say there wasn't anything left of the boar when it was all said and done. Seriously the way Demons pack food away is something to behold.

Once the lunch was over, Tommy and Cynthia both talked to Sarah about what has been going on in their lives while she was resting. It seems outside of his job and sleeping, Tommy spent every waking moment researching any disease that showed similar symptoms to Sarah's curse. I felt bad that I simply showed up and cast a few spells and all was right as rain. Cynthia continued to study, trying to complete all work for her school term so she could run back here and be with Sarah.

After Sarah had been enlightened on what her siblings were up to, they asked about what she has been doing since recovering. Before she spoke, she looked at me briefly and grabbed my hand under the table. When I looked back at her with a questioning gaze, she was smiling like she just received a gift. Seems handholding is an important part of her story. She started filling them in on the training sessions she began having with Warrick and I. Speaking of which, where are Warrick and Aqua? I asked if anyone knew, Trish answered me.

" My master and His Highness are currently meeting with multiple nobles. Many wish to pay their respects to Princess Sarah, for her engagement. They will be busy until dinner."

With my question answered, I returned to my role as a squeeze toy for Sarah's hand. After finishing explaining about her training, Tommy simply looked at her with a faraway look in his eyes and began to speak.

" Ah I see, father is beginning to train you as well. Good luck and good fortune to you little sister, you'll need it for when he gets serious."

" Wait Tommy! you were trained by Warrick to!?"

I couldn't help but speak up at this piece of news. Tommy looked at me with a smile and spoke.

" Yes, another word would be survived, I survived his training sessions... I assume he's still going easy on you both, but once you reach a certain point, the difficulty of the lessons increases. He'll always just be a little stronger than you, not enough to truly hurt you, but always enough that he is out of reach."

Tommy looks as if he is recounting a horror story as he speaks to us. After snapping out of his daze, Tommy continues his speaking.

" As for the training, he has trained us brothers when he had the time. Al, Andy and I fought him separately, then as a team. Once we all could land a hit, he'd hold back less and less, and we'd be back to square one."

" Yes! I understand that feeling!"

Sarah and I both answered to Tommy's statement while Cynthia giggled at our reaction. Ah the ignorance of youth.. In time it will go away if the pattern of Warrick's training continues. After bonding over shared sparring stories, Tommy was tapped by Cynthia. His eyes lit up like he remembered something. He began to speak.

" So, Sarah. I think it's time to discuss what Cynthia and I are truly curious about. How did this engagement happen?"

My hand was gripped tight. I look at Sarah and her face is masked crimson... These sisters are more alike than I thought. In time the grip lessons but her face stays red. Sarah starts to look determined, and she begins to speak.