Ruouh closes the courtyard gate behind them, sealing away the empty arcade. Sunlight lies across the practice sand, and the prince draws a blunted blade from the rack.
Ruouh Falren
No audience, no courtly performance. I want your instincts, Tau. Show me what remains when no one is watching to reward the proper answer.
Ruouh settles into a measured guard rather than attacking. His expression stays playful, but his shoulders and feet reveal careful attention to every possible movement.
Ruouh Falren
Tell me this while we circle. Does becoming a Royal Guard matter more to you than remaining with the Yuna family?
The prince advances with a restrained feint, stopping the blunted edge short of contact. His teasing smile fades when he studies Tau’s answer in the silence.
Ruouh Falren
I could place influence behind your name, secure your advancement, and give you personal instruction whenever you require it. Or both, if you dare to accept them.
Ruouh Falren
But I will not purchase your ambition with a chain. Decide what you want your loyalty to mean, and let me see whether your instincts can survive the truth.
“I raise my practice sword and fall into a defensive stance, waiting for the princes move. “If I may speak so boldly, your majesty, it has been my dream to become a Royal Guard. My loyalty will not cost me my happiness; in fact, quite the opposite. I desire not power, nor attention, but to serve to the best of my abilities for whatever you or the Royal family shall ask of me. I greatly appreciate the Yuna’s signing of me, but as of 2 days from now, the contract will be over.” I stand in my best defensive position as I say with a smile and a teasing edge to my voice, “Your move, Prince.””
SUCCESS (Legendary Melee Combat, rolled +1)
Tau raises his practice sword and settles into his best defensive stance. The Steel Sword at his hip remains familiar and steady, while his keen senses track Ruouh’s feet, shoulders, and breathing.
Tau Heathsburough
If I may speak boldly, Your Majesty, becoming a Royal Guard has been my dream. My loyalty will not cost me happiness. I want neither power nor attention, only to serve you and the Royal family to the best of my ability.
Tau Heathsburough
I appreciate the Yunas signing me, but that contract ends in two days. Your move, Prince.
The defensive position holds cleanly. Tau’s deep-seated phobia tightens beneath the prince’s scrutiny, but his keen senses catch the restrained shift before it becomes an opening, and he answers by adjusting his guard.
Ruouh Falren
A contract ending in two days, and still you speak of service rather than escape. That is a clearer answer than any courtly pledge.
Ruouh’s blunted blade tests the edge of Tau’s guard with a quick, controlled strike. Tau turns it aside without surrendering ground, his sword work precise despite the phobia’s pressure.
Ruouh Falren
Then let this be your first lesson, Tau. Loyalty freely chosen is stronger than influence purchased. Now show me whether your defense is as honest as your answer.
The prince resets his stance, no longer teasing. Tau’s defensive form has met the challenge, and the practice court falls into the focused quiet of a genuine lesson.
“I withstand Ruouh's next practice attack, and we exchange blows until we are both tired. At the last spar, I deflect the princes blow, and twist my practice sword, which knocks Ruouhs sword out of his hand. I bend down and pick it up, getting dust on my knees from the ground, and I hold out the sword hilt to him. My injured hand starts to pulse, but I switch hands and apply my practice sword hilt’s pressure to help the small wound. I wait for Ruouh to take the sword. I also notice that it is getting late and that I must be going soon. I smile at Ruouh and give a teasing wink. “Good match, Crown Prince. Perhaps when I pass the Grand Knight Exam, I could repay my gratitude by sparing again whenever you feel like having a challenge.””
SUCCESS (Legendary Melee Combat, rolled -1)
Ruouh’s next attack comes fast and measured. Tau withstands it, his keen senses reading each shift of shoulder and foot while his phobia tightens beneath the pressure.
They exchange controlled blows across the practice sand until both breathe heavily. Tau’s familiar Steel Sword guides his timing through fatigue, each parry preserving his defensive discipline.
At the last exchange, Tau catches the prince’s blunted strike, twists his practice blade, and knocks Ruouh’s sword cleanly from his hand.
Tau bends, dusting his knees against the sand as he retrieves the fallen weapon. His injured palm begins to pulse under the effort, so he changes hands and presses the practice hilt against it.
He extends Ruouh’s sword by its hilt and waits. The lowering sun has lengthened the courtyard shadows, marking the hour when Tau must soon return.
Tau Heathsburough
Good match, Crown Prince. Perhaps when I pass the Grand Knight Exam, I could repay my gratitude by sparring again whenever you feel like having a challenge.
Ruouh Falren
A disarm, a gracious return, and a promise of another match. I accept, Tau. Go before the Yunas accuse me of keeping their future Royal Guard past sundown.
✓ Quest Accepted
Return to the Yuna residence
Director's note
This makes my golden freckles stand out more, which highlights my eyes
“I bow and turn to walk away. I then stop and turn back. “Your Majesty,” I start to take off the court mantle Ruouh gave to me, “I almost forgot to give this back to you. I greatly appreciate your generosity.” I start to hold the mantle out to the prince when I notice it is dirty and retract my hand. I quickly try to brush off the dust, since I do not want to make the prince dirty as a flush crosses my cheeks from the thought of almost walking off with his mantle and handing it back to him all dirty.. Once it is relatively clean, I extend the mantle towards the prince.”
SUCCESS (Good Agility, rolled +1)
Tau Heathsburough
Your Majesty, I almost forgot to give this back. I greatly appreciate your generosity.
Tau turns back and slips the dark mantle from his shoulders. Dust marks its fine fabric, and he retracts the offered garment, flushing as he notices the untidy return; the color makes his golden freckles stand out against his cheeks and draws sharper attention to his amber eyes.
His injured palm stays protected as he uses his other hand to brush the mantle clean. The phobia tightens his composure under Ruouh’s watch, but keen senses find each remaining streak, and the mantle’s weight helps him keep the careful motion controlled.
Tau works the last dust from the hem and shoulders, then smooths the fabric flat. The court mantle is presentable again, its dark folds free of the practice court’s loose grit.
Tau Heathsburough
There. It is clean enough to return properly.
Ruouh Falren
You have taken greater care with my mantle than many nobles take with royal decrees. Give it here, Tau. I would rather remember your courtesy than a little practice dust.
Tau extends the cleaned mantle. Ruouh accepts it by the edges, and the prince’s approving smile eases the last tension from the exchange as the lengthening shadows settle over the empty court.
“As I hand the mantle back to the prince, my bandaged hand brushes his. My flush grows a little more. I bow to the prince and turn away, eager to return to the Yuna residence before sundown.”
SUCCESS (Good Agility, rolled +3)