Eclipsed

Chapter 33

Alric was alone in the training yard, his muscles moving fluidly as he went through his usual routines. The rhythm of his strikes was natural, instinctual—something he had been doing for years. Each swing of the sword was an extension of his body, every movement precise, as if the blade were a natural part of him.

Been doing this since I was ten… Alric thought with a quiet grin as his sword whipped through the air with practiced ease. It’s paid off.

He slowed for a moment, a wicked thought bubbling up inside him. One whole week of control over the military… His mind raced with the possibilities. The things I could do.

He stopped for a second, catching his breath, and a mischievous smile curled his lips. But I need to play this carefully.

His thoughts turned to Katsuo, the strongest warrior in the kingdom, and the one he would face tomorrow. If I win too easily, people will start asking questions. They’ll think I just got lucky. If I make it look like a struggle, though—like it was hard-fought—then they’ll say I deserve the win. And they'll think Katsuo was being merciful.

Alric chuckled to himself, a smug grin spreading across his face. Or better yet... they'll just think it was sheer luck. They’ll never expect me to actually be that good. Katsuo’s so humble, he won’t argue. He'll make it look like he went easy on me. Perfect.

He couldn't help but smile at the thought, shaking his head as if the whole situation amused him. He picked up his pace, getting back into his training. Let them all think what they want. It’ll work out just fine.
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A short while later, Alric was standing in front of a mirror, wiping the sweat from his brow. He wasn't about to put on anything flashy. He was no knight in shining armor, and the last thing he wanted was to stand out. He dressed quickly, throwing on his usual attire: simple yet practical, nothing to make him seem out of place. He even grabbed a random metal sword from the rack, not bothering to choose anything fancy.

As he finished strapping on his sword, a messenger appeared at the door.

“Prince Alric, the Gauntlet of Knights is about to begin. Please make your way to the stadium.”

Alric nodded but didn’t rush. “One second,” he muttered, glancing over himself once more. Everything was in place, nothing flashy, no attention-seeking outfits. He wanted to blend in, to avoid being noticed.

As Alric made his way toward the grand stadium, the air was electric with anticipation. The towering structure loomed in the distance, with a massive stone arena at its center. The stadium buzzed with excited chatter as spectators from all corners of the kingdom gathered. Alric’s steps were steady, though his mind swirled with the weight of the upcoming challenge.

At the front of the stadium, the royal family occupied the most prominent seats. King Harudan sat with his usual regal composure, his sharp eyes fixed on the battlefield below. Queen Mizarra sat beside him, her expression thoughtful but betraying little emotion. Their presence was commanding, as was the quiet tension in the air around them.

Next to the royals were Taven and Kaelen. Taven’s eyes flickered between the arena and Alric, a mixture of pride and concern visible in his features. Kaelen, seated next to him, wore a carefully controlled expression—like a doll with no room for emotion. However, anyone who looked closely would see the slight flicker of worry in her eyes as she watched Alric. She remained composed, her posture rigid and calm, but her gaze softened with concern. Though she did not show it outwardly, her mind was filled with anxiety for the prince, and a small part of her wished he hadn’t gotten himself involved in this fight.

Beside them, young Zarin, barely eleven, sat with wide, eager eyes. His legs barely reached the edge of the seat, and he looked like a child lost in the spectacle, but his gaze was focused and intense, as if he understood the gravity of the moment, despite his youth.