The three brothers returned home and sat down, breathing heavily. They had qualified for the competition except for Flexin. Flexin was young and inexperienced. He is still tied with the captain, which makes it an achievement of its own. He had potential, but not age or experience.
Emilia entered the room with Anna holding her hand.
"You are back." Emilia sat, Anna on her lap. "How did it go?"
"It went well," Melfer said as he yawned.
"We two passed." Felmer stretched his arms. "Flexin didn't."
"I could have," Flexin said with a sad face.
"It's okay. Not everyone wins on their first try. You fought, got some experience. Identify your weaknesses and work to improve them. You will win next time." Emilia replied in a soft voice.
"Okay…" Flexin responded.
"You two seem to have a lot of bruises. Wash them and clean with a cloth. You shouldn't get sick before the competition." Emilia said as she held Anna, who got off her lap and walked towards Felmer.
"Yes," Felmer responded and picked up little Anna. He smiled at her, and she giggled back. He walked to his mother, handed Anna to her and left the room. Melfer followed him.
Flexin banged his fist on his thigh and got up from his chair. He was frustrated.
The three brothers cleaned their bruises, drank water, ate some food, and then sat back down on the chairs. Felmer looked outside the window and then at his brothers. Then he got up and began to walk outside the house.
"Where you going?" Melfer asked.
"Getting bored, going outside for a stroll," Felmer replied. "Wanna come?"
"Nah, I will pass. I am too tired to walk." Melfer replied as he slowly dozed off on the chair.
"Where's Benny, Mother?"
"He went outside to play with his friends."
"Damn, he has friends?" Felmer whispered to himself.
Then Felmer walked outside the house. He passed through the main gate, the soldiers saluted him, and he nodded back. He walked through the main streets, and many citizens said hello along the way. He was walking when his path crossed with Lieutenant Torna.
"Oh, Felmer. Going somewhere?"
"Nope, just taking a stroll. What are you doing?"
"Resting and doing some work. I am going to the post office, wanna come with me?"
"Sure…"
Felmer responded, and they began to walk towards the post office.
"You three were amazing today. Your swordcraft has improved. But you still need to work on your magic control."
"Yes…As always, I am trying." Felmer responded.
"Talking about magic…I remembered something."
"What?" Felmer asked.
"You…can use magic in your feet and healing…But…Can't do it with the fuckin sword?" The lieutenant asked with a loud voice.
"Language Lieutenant," Felmer responded.
"Answer the goddamn question."
"What do you want me to say? I don't know myself." Felmer responded.
"Still, Felmer. Like…what is wrong? The sword or your stupid brain. Or do you even have a brain to start with?"
"I DON'T KNOW."
"Why the heck, you DON'T KNOW??" Torna asked with more surprise. "It's your magic. If you don't know, then who will?"
"I don't know, and I can't understand," Felmer responded and moved ahead.
"Wait! Where are you running off to?"
"The post office is here. Do your work…You are still on duty." Felmer said, waved his arm and rushed ahead.
"You…" Torna said to himself and entered the post office.
Felmer slowed down and kept walking. He stopped at a fruit stall, bought an apple and continued his stroll. Soon, he saw Benny and three kids with him. He saw that Benny was crying. And a woman was cleaning his knee with a cloth. Felmer got near and asked.
"What happened?" Felmer asked as he took a bite from the apple.
"Young master…he was playing with my son, he tripped and injured his knee." The woman replied with a worried face. She was worried that a noble kid had been injured.
Felmer took out his knife, cut the apple in half and gave the uneaten part to the woman's son. Then he put the remaining apple in his mouth and picked up Benny.
"C'mon…You are eleven now. Stop crying." Felmer said to Benny. "It's okay…I will take him back, no need to worry." Felmer said to the woman and began to walk back.
"It hurts, brother," Benny said as he cried.
"Don't worry, it will be okay," Felmer said.
He again stopped at the fruit stall and bought a small apple.
"Here," He said as he handed the apple to Benny.
Then he walked back to his house and handed Benny to his mother.
Later that night, Felmer ate dinner and was about to sleep when he saw Flexin on the balcony.
"Hey, why the long face?" Felmer asked as he sat in the chair.
"You know," Flexin responded in a sad voice.
"Oh, c'mon…You are still worried about it?"
"I was so close," Flexin replied.
"Yes, you were. But, still…No one always wins on the first try, just as mother said. Your blast was equivalent to that of the Captain's. You should be proud of that. Look at me. I can use magic through my body, but not my sword." Felmer said as he laughed." Felmer paused. "C'mon, cheer up and go to sleep." He said and patted Flexin's back.
Felmer then went to his room and slept. That night, he had a dream.
Felmer woke up in a bright room, probably lit with magical light. He stood in its centre. He looked left and right and sensed a presence behind him. He turned and saw a glowing pillar and a man in front of him.
"Hello…Who are you?" Felmer asked the man.
The man turned, his arm extended towards him. As the man turned, Felmer stepped back, and the man shouted.
"FELMER!"
Before Felmer could see the man's face, he woke up from the dream. He barely saw his eyes. Felmer sat on his bed and rubbed his eyes. He picked up the nearby jug, poured some water into the glass and drank it.
"What the hell was that?" He asked himself.
Felmer looked around his room, picked up his robe and went outside on the balcony. As he walked, he saw Raftin looking at the stars. He went near him and sat while wrapping his robe around him.
"You are awake?" Raftin asked.
"Saw a dream and woke up. What are you doing here in the cold?" Felmer asked back.
"Nothing…just thinking and looking at the stars. Was the dream a bad one?"
"Not bad, but it was weird."
"In what sense?"
"I have been seeing these kinds of dreams. Glowing magical walls, magical pillars, and sometimes particles."
The word "particles" opened Raftin's eyes. He looked at Felmer.
"Is something wrong?" Felmer asked.
"No…Yes, you are correct. These are weird dreams. Don't worry about them much. Don't let them divert your focus."
"I will try…" Felmer responded.
"I heard that you have qualified for the sword competition," Raftin said.
"Yes…"
"Good luck. By the way, the rules have been changed this year, and two finalists will be selected this time."
"So…the semifinals will happen?" Felmer asked.
"Yes…"
"Marnis and I are going to attend the meeting of the committee of kingdoms. And I remember, your older sister, Elna, is in the country, and she will be watching you."
"WHAT!?!?" Felmer was in utter shock.
"Why? Is anything wrong with her presence?"
"No…It's…okay." Felmer replied.
Elna was actually the daughter of Raftin. So, the cousin of Felmer and the rest. She was a cheeky one. That's why Felmer stayed away from her.
Felmer then got up and went to sleep.