Everyone Decides His Future Except Him
Aurex laughed. At First, he tried to hide it, but then he couldn't keep it anymore. His excitement was at the top. "I knew it," he said. "I absolutely knew it."
Selene turned to him slowly. "Knew what," she asked, already suspicious.
"That the boy would take after me," Aurex replied. "Did you see his footing? That wasn't magic. That was instinct."
Selene narrowed her eyes. "Or," she said, "...it could be balance. Which children learn naturally when they are not swinging heavy swords." Velorian who was sitting nearby, put his teacup down.
The Imperial Commander stepped ahead. "With respect, Your Majesty" she said, "His Highness's aura control is best in the history." Selene blinked. "Oh?"
"Yes," the Commander continued. "Clean activation. No instability. If he does not pursue aura seriously, it would be a waste of his talent."
Selene folded her arms. "A waste," she repeated. Aurex was already nodding. "That settles it," he said. "He is gonna become an aura swordsman. Properly."
Selene looked at him. "Settles what, exactly?"
"He follows my path," Aurex replied. "No shortcuts. No divided focus on Magic."
Selene stared at him for a little while. Then she pouted. "So that's it," she said. "You want him bruised and exhausted all day."
"That is not what I said," Aurex replied. "I meant it, differently."
"It is exactly what you said," Selene replied immediately. "Or maybe you mean Magic is inferior to Aura."
Velorian shifted in his chair. "If I may," he said carefully.
Selene turned toward him. "Yes, you may," she said. "Please save us from this." Velorian adjusted his robe. "Magic is not something you delay lightly," he said. "Circles form best early. His Highness's control is already beyond expectation."
The Imperial Commander frowned. "He can learn magic later." Velorian shook his head. "Not without consequence."
Aurex let out a breath. " So he is talented in both," he said."we already know that. "
"Yes," the Commander replied. "And that is a problem," Aurex added. "Yes," the Commander said again.
"No," Selene said at the same time. They all paused. Velorian closed his eyes. "This conversation was inevitable," he muttered.
Selene turned back to Aurex. "He is my son too," she said. "And he will become an Archmage."
Aurex raised an eyebrow. "He will wield a sword." Selene's pout deepened. "This is ridiculous," she said. "You are both being dramatic."
The Imperial Commander crossed her arms. "With respect, Your Majesty, this is about discipline."
Selene scoffed."This is about pride." And continued "My son has always been a mage, Why change paths now?"
The Commander opened her mouth, then closed it. Aurex rubbed his face. "We cannot let him do both," he said. "That is asking for trouble."
Silence followed. Then the door creaked open.Just a small sound. Aurelion stood there. He had been there longer than any of them realized. He listened to Adults arguing about his future. Voices overlapping.
"Oh," Selene said. "You're there." Aurelion replied. "Yes mother, I am here."
Aurex straightened. "How long," he asked. Aurelion said. "Long enough," He walked into the room and stopped in the center. "...I understand your concerns," he said. "All of them."
BUT I AM OP, He thought.
Selene crouched slightly. "We just want what's best for you," she said. "I know," Aurelion replied.
The Imperial Commander studied him. "And what do you want, your highness. " she asked. Aurelion did not rush his answer. "I want to train both," he said.
"I will not abandon magic," Aurelion continued. "And I will not abandon aura." Aurex sighed. "This child is stubborn." He said. Selene hugged Aurelion from the side. "He gets that from me," she said.
The Imperial Commander shook her head. "This will be difficult." Velorian smiled faintly. "That usually means interesting."
Aurelion looked around the room. They were all still arguing. Just more quietly now.
And for the first time, he realized something important. They were no longer deciding for him.They were adjusting to him.
[To be Continued]
_____
SIDE MOMENT -
Lyra, that same young maid was doing her usual work. That was what she told herself, at least.
She had been sent to deliver clean towels to the unused practice wing. It was a dull task. One she had done a hundred times before without incident.
Then she heard movement. Something softer. She tried to look while hiding behind the doorway.
Aurelion stood alone in the room. He was holding a wooden practice sword. His stance was not perfect, but it was still good. Feet planted. Shoulders squared. Breathing steady.
Lyra was standing behind the door. "What is he doing," she whispered to herself.
Aurelion moved.
The swing was slow. Controlled. The kind of swing no child should have known how to make.
The air shifted. Not enough to knock anything over. Not enough to make noise.
Enough that Lyra felt it on her skin. Her breath caught. "Oh," she murmured.
Aurelion stopped, as if he was not getting what he want. He adjusted his grip and tried again.This time, the movement felt better.
Lyra was impressed. She watched him practice for several minutes. Each movement was careful.
Thoughtful. He rested between attempts, just like the Emperor did during morning training. "He's trying to copy ,His Majesty," she realized.
She saw that Aurelion was nearing to the end of his practice session. He put down the wooden sword.
He look tired but satisfied and wiped his hands on a cloth then he smiled. Lyra smiled too.
"Yes," she whispered, fist clenched in front of her chest. "You did it." Aurelion turned suddenly.
Lyra tried to hide.He looked around the room, then relaxed when he saw nothing.
Lyra leaned against the wall to see carefully. After he left, she stayed there for a while.
"Yay, your highness. Fighting.And when no one was looking, she smiled at him again. Quietly and proudly. Like she was guarding a secret all to herself.