Chapter-II

Looking out at the buildings of Staklovia from his terrace, Trystan mulled over his brother's mission and the bizarreness of it.

Why would Father want a Rhodesïan girl from an insignificant town no less, to be escorted to Staklovia?

Confused and mildly irritated with his father, Trystan decided to go down and work out some frustration by training. He climbed down the staircase to the basement where he saw Shalom already combatting with his štapići. Shalom's forehead was creased in concentration, sweat dripping off of the nape of his neck and brow. He was fighting Karsyn and winning apparently.

"You are not balancing!" He snapped at her, smacking her left waist lightly which was left open. She shook the strands of hair away from her face and hissed in annoyance as he blocked another one of her attacks as if he was flicking a fly.

"Your attacks are sloppy and lazy. You need to hit with precision and fluidity. Control your breathing, inhale then exhale." He said each word enunciated by a movement. The sound of the striking shafts resonated across space.

Noticing him, Shalom gestured for her to take a break, his eyes following her as she shuffled over to the benches where she drank directly from a pitcher of water, the liquid dribbling down the sides of her mouth and trailing down the slope of her neck before getting absorbed into her already wet shirt.

Trystan smirked.

" You know, you could just break this chastity break and lock yourself in a room with her. I mean you are already getting married; what's the bloody difference?" Trystan drawled.

"The difference Tryssy is that Shalom here wants our wedding night to be a little more special." Karsyn said in a simpering voice though he knew she was anything but.

"He is marrying the most beautiful girl in the world, it already is special"

Karsyn curved her lips into a sweet smile and Shalom just chuckled and said- "Now, let's go over the hand and earth combat techniques that I taught you last night."

Karsyn groaned in annoyance saying, "If it wasn't for the fact that I can drool over your muscles and wrestle with them, I would be in a relaxing bath reading smut."

Shalom smirked in a feral manner before laughing at Trystan's dramatic gagging.

"You guys are too sweet. Only that daughter of yours could rival your sweetness."

Just then Olliver- the newspaper boy, ran inside tossing a paper in Karsyn's direction.

"Hey 'liver, what news have you brought us today?"

Oliver scrunched his face in disgust at the nickname and said, "nothing new. The same old politics and drama."

Karsyn laughed. Trystan noticed shalom's face, subtly light up. Karsyn had gone through a lot when she was just a young girl. It was a little soothing to see her laugh. Lately, there had been more Temnota attacks than before and everyone was uneasy and restless so it was good to still see some laughter.

"Shalom! Will you please stop staring at me and initiate the fight?"

"I would rather initiate something in bed, but since that's not an option wrestling with you will have to do I guess."

"I see the love birds are still flirting death with sexual tension. I can almost feel the sparks in the air!" A teasing voice called out from the back of the basement.

"Bren! Where have you been? I've been looking for you, I need some input on my dress."

"Bren give you input on fashion? All she knows is warrior leathers and metal cuffs."

"None of my other lovers has cared about my cuffs, why would she?" Bren replied.

Bren was a warrior in all senses. Her blood and death magic made her one of the most powerful stoechían on the continent. Shalom himself was an asymp. He could control the most uncontrollable of elements like lightning. Trystan was more proficient in fire, water, earth and blood magic. He was also a shapeshifter.

Shaking himself out of his stupor, Trystan walked over to the sandbags hanging from the ceiling and started punching them, each strikes precise and hard. His breathing was controlled and he could already feel the calm of physical exertion fall over him. He kicked and punched and jabbed at the bags as if they were real opponents. His attacks came harder and faster as the time passed and soon enough the bag felt to the ground, sand trickling out like golden drops of water.

"I think you are done for the day." Shalom stated imperiously, "Go upstairs, dress and then pick up a screen to watch some shitty Earthling drama on it."

Laughing, Trystan walked up the stairs, his sweat drying up to steam as he puffed out a breath. Courtesy of his fire wielding.

I need to find my father.

Thelast thought in his head as he headed upstairs to his rooms

Looking out at the buildings of Staklovia from his terrace, Trystan mulled over his brother's mission and the bizarreness of it.

Why would Father want a Rhodesïan girl from an insignificant town no less, to be escorted to Staklovia?

Confused and mildly irritated with his father, Trystan decided to go down and work out some frustration by training. He climbed down the staircase to the basement where he saw Shalom already combatting with his štapići. Shalom's forehead was creased in concentration, sweat dripping off of the nape of his neck and brow. He was fighting Karsyn and winning apparently.

"You are not balancing!" He snapped at her, smacking her left waist lightly which was left open. She shook the strands of hair away from her face and hissed in annoyance as he blocked another one of her attacks as if he was flicking a fly.

"Your attacks are sloppy and lazy. You need to hit with precision and fluidity. Control your breathing, inhale then exhale." He said each word enunciated by a movement. The sound of the striking shafts resonated across space.

Noticing him, Shalom gestured for her to take a break, his eyes following her as she shuffled over to the benches where she drank directly from a pitcher of water, the liquid dribbling down the sides of her mouth and trailing down the slope of her neck before getting absorbed into her already wet shirt.

Trystan smirked.

" You know, you could just break this chastity break and lock yourself in a room with her. I mean you are already getting married; what's the bloody difference?" Trystan drawled.

"The difference Tryssy is that Shalom here wants our wedding night to be a little more special." Karsyn said in a simpering voice though he knew she was anything but.

"He is marrying the most beautiful girl in the world, it already is special"

Karsyn curved her lips into a sweet smile and Shalom just chuckled and said- "Now, let's go over the hand and earth combat techniques that I taught you last night."

Karsyn groaned in annoyance saying, "If it wasn't for the fact that I can drool over your muscles and wrestle with them, I would be in a relaxing bath reading smut."

Shalom smirked in a feral manner before laughing at Trystan's dramatic gagging.

"You guys are too sweet. Only that daughter of yours could rival your sweetness."

Just then Olliver- the newspaper boy, ran inside tossing a paper in Karsyn's direction.

"Hey 'liver, what news have you brought us today?"

Oliver scrunched his face in disgust at the nickname and said, "nothing new. The same old politics and drama."

Karsyn laughed. Trystan noticed shalom's face, subtly light up. Karsyn had gone through a lot when she was just a young girl. It was a little soothing to see her laugh. Lately, there had been more Temnota attacks than before and everyone was uneasy and restless so it was good to still see some laughter.

"Shalom! Will you please stop staring at me and initiate the fight?"

"I would rather initiate something in bed, but since that's not an option wrestling with you will have to do I guess."

"I see the love birds are still flirting death with sexual tension. I can almost feel the sparks in the air!" A teasing voice called out from the back of the basement.

"Bren! Where have you been? I've been looking for you, I need some input on my dress."

"Bren give you input on fashion? All she knows is warrior leathers and metal cuffs."

"None of my other lovers has cared about my cuffs, why would she?" Bren replied.

Bren was a warrior in all senses. Her blood and death magic made her one of the most powerful stoechían on the continent. Shalom himself was an asymp. He could control the most uncontrollable of elements like lightning. Trystan was more proficient in fire, water, earth and blood magic. He was also a shapeshifter.

Shaking himself out of his stupor, Trystan walked over to the sandbags hanging from the ceiling and started punching them, each strikes precise and hard. His breathing was controlled and he could already feel the calm of physical exertion fall over him. He kicked and punched and jabbed at the bags as if they were real opponents. His attacks came harder and faster as the time passed and soon enough the bag felt to the ground, sand trickling out like golden drops of water.

"I think you are done for the day." Shalom stated imperiously, "Go upstairs, dress and then pick up a screen to watch some shitty Earthling drama on it."

Laughing, Trystan walked up the stairs, his sweat drying up to steam as he puffed out a breath. Courtesy of his fire wielding.

I need to find my father.

The last thought in his head as he headed upstairs to his rooms.