Adventure of Tau Heathsburough

The next day passes in a blur of footwork, measured strikes, and Hirana’s sharp corrections. By dawn, Tau’s four-year contract with the Yuna family has expired, and the vesting chamber stands quiet around him.

Tau stands alone in his guard attire before the open armor chest. His healing palm remains carefully covered as he reaches toward the polished pieces, while distant bells mark the exam’s beginning.

The chamber door opens without attendants. Ruouh enters in royal attire, closes it behind him, and surveys Tau with an approving smile that carries none of the court’s usual restraint.

Ruouh crosses the chamber and stops close enough that royal perfume mingles with oiled leather. His gaze drops to Tau’s covered hand, then returns to his face.

A blush crosses Tau’s face, but he turns away and pulls off his shirt. Morning sunlight catches his broad, athletic frame as his abs ripple with the controlled movement.

He fits the armor undergarments, then settles the chest plate into place. The healing palm wound makes him favor his covered hand, while his Steel Sword remains a familiar weight at his hip.

The deep-seated phobia tightens beneath his ribs as Ruouh watches, but keen senses catch the prince’s breathing and steady Tau’s composure. He fastens each piece cleanly.

Tau turns toward the prince with a teasing smirk and slides the helmet over his light orange hair. The bottom half of the armor still missing.

Ruouh’s smirk answers Tau’s tease. He remains by the closed chamber door, clearly choosing to stay, while the first exam bells continue beyond the walls.

Tau slides the armored trousers into place and plants his boots firmly, tightening each strap until the Royal Guard Armor settles snugly around his athletic frame. Morning light glints across the fitted plates.

His healing palm makes him favor the uninjured hand when pulling the final buckles, but his keen senses catch every uneven fastening. The phobia constricts his breathing; disciplined pauses keep the work precise.

The completed armor distributes its weight cleanly, helping Tau correct the last alignment by touch. He turns toward Ruouh, and the prince’s gaze travels over the polished suit as Tau’s abs ripple beneath the morning light.

Tau holds out his arms with eager, puppy-like pride. Ruouh circles him, inspecting the straps, plates, and boots, then returns to face him with a slow, approving smirk.

Tau’s ears redden beneath the helmet, concealing the reaction. Morning light flashes across the armor as his abs ripple with the controlled breath that steadies his stance.

Tau smiles toward Ruouh and bows. The armor’s fitted plates support his posture, while his keen senses catch the prince’s approving pause before it can unsettle his composure.

The phobia tightens beneath Tau’s ribs, but disciplined breathing keeps the bow graceful. His covered palm stays protected, and the armor bears the weight without strain.

Ruouh opens the vesting chamber door, revealing the bright corridor beyond. Bells call candidates toward the examination grounds, and the prince steps aside to grant Tau passage.

Tau enters the examination grounds beneath a blaze of morning light. Hundreds of armored knights gather across the field, their polished plates flashing as banners stir overhead.

From the stands, Hirana catches Tau’s smile and returns his wave. Nearby, Ruouh watches him too, then smirks when Tau turns that same smile toward him.

The crimson-robed councillor crosses the podium and sorts the candidates with brisk precision. Tau’s group is assigned to station one, where blunted weapons and marked sand await.

Tau steps into position with his group. His Steel Sword sits familiar at his hip, and the Royal Guard Armor settles its weight evenly as he raises his guard.

The phobia constricts his breathing when the examiners signal. Keen senses catch the opposing knight’s shifting feet and tightening grip; Tau steadies himself, then moves cleanly into combat, armor and sword carrying him through the opening exchange.

Tau and the rival knight, a young adult man of broad build in scuffed steel armor and a red-plumed helm, exchange blunted blows across the marked sand. Morning light flashes over Tau’s armor as his abs ripple beneath it, each familiar step carrying him through the contest.

After several measured exchanges, the rival knight lunges. His weight leans too far left, and Tau’s keen senses catch the imbalance before the attack can close.

The phobia constricts Tau’s breathing, but his will holds. He drives both strength and Steel Sword into the block, while the Royal Guard Armor keeps his stance rooted against the impact.

Tau shoves the opposing blade and arm left. The rival knight stumbles across the sand, and Tau sweeps his feet out from under him with a decisive kick.

The rival knight hits the ground safely but hard. Tau points his Steel Sword at his throat, and the examiner’s raised flag confirms Tau’s victory and passage to the second station.

Tau lowers the blade and helps the defeated knight up. He then steps aside as the knight leaves the arena, before looking toward the stands, where Hirana’s pride and Ruouh’s sharp smirk await his attention.

After the combat station, the surviving Exam Knights are directed beneath a broad canvas awning. An examiner places a small scroll before each seated competitor.

Tau removes his helmet, letting morning air reach his hair, and unrolls the borrowed quiz scroll. His armor settles comfortably as he leans over the questions, polished plates catching the shade’s pale light.

Some answers come readily, while others demand careful thought. His phobia tightens his breathing, but keen senses catch every small mark and wording, and the Royal Guard Armor supports his steady posture as he writes.

Tau takes a deep breath and completes the scroll to the best of his ability. He carries it to the examiner, then steps aside, his healing palm kept protected while the other hand releases the parchment.

One by one, the remaining competitors submit their work. Tau waits beneath the awning while armor shifts and scrolls are gathered, the distant stands murmuring beyond the examination field.

The councillor continues naming passes and failures, but Tau has already passed. Beyond the awning, the route to station three opens between the marked lanes as attendants summon the successful competitors forward.

Tau pumps his fist, then strides toward station three as half the Exam Knights depart. The field looks suddenly sparse, with citizens waiting beside each marked lane.

At the signal, masked men emerge from the shadows and advance on the competitors. Tau’s citizen stands exposed behind him as a masked man raises two daggers.

Tau draws his Steel Sword and holds the attacker at distance. His Royal Guard Armor absorbs a glancing dagger strike while his abs ripple beneath the morning light; the covered palm stays out of the contest.

The masked man presses closer through exchanged blows. Phobia constricts Tau’s breathing, but Keen Senses read the rhythm: the attacker favors his right foot and commits more heavily to that side.

Tau settles into defense, then cuts toward the left dagger and drives his armored shoulder into the right-hand attack. The masked man loses balance and falls safely into the sand.

Puffing hard, Tau points his Steel Sword at the fallen man’s throat while the citizen remains untouched behind him. An examiner raises a flag, and the attacker’s dropped dagger reveals the royal examination seal beneath its hilt, earning Tau an impressed murmur from the judges.

Tau lowers his Steel Sword and reaches toward the masked man, a lean young adult man in dark leather armor and a close-fitting black mask. He helps him upright, then turns toward the waiting citizen as the fallen dagger is collected.

The masked man departs the arena. The citizen confirms they are unharmed, and an examiner motions Tau aside while the remaining Exam Knights finish their stations.

When the final results are gathered, roughly half the competitors have left each station. Tau joins the surviving Exam Knights beneath the banners, his armor bright in the morning sun.

The knights spread across the field and raise their weapons. Ruouh watches from the stands, his gaze fixed on Tau; when Tau’s abs ripple beneath the morning light, the prince sees it and smirks.

At the crimson-robed councillor’s signal, the brawl erupts. Phobia constricts Tau’s breathing, but Keen Senses read every lunge; his familiar Steel Sword turns aside attacks while Royal Guard Armor anchors each counter. One by one, opponents yield or fall, and Tau remains standing as the first half is eliminated. The judges raise their flags: he has passed and is a Royal Guard.