Begin Training
Arthur couldn't help but look at the leather that encased his feet and squeaked as he bent his ankle as he was walking. They also made a horrid sound if you pulled them along a shiny tiled floor which made everyone around you stare as though you had just offended them all. He had done that earlier when he turned to dodge a servant coming down the hall with a huge basket of washing that she could barely see past. She had stared at him as though he had just past gas in front of her and then had walked away with her nose in the air. He had muttered under his breath and then stalked away to the other side of the palace where he was supposed to go and 'train'.
Arthur was now sat on a bench with his feet kicking backwards and forwards underneath him as he stared at the black leather of the laced up boots Francis had made him wear after he washed and bandaged his feet for him. He was the king, why did he do that, he could have asked a servant or not have anything at all. Without realising it Arthur had zoned out and was completely absorbed in his own thoughts. A sudden sneeze caught his attention as a older teen had sat himself amongst the flowers by a weeping willow just about ten yards in front of him.
The pollen had made him sneeze and he sat next to a bear which rolled around on it's belly making the teen pet it fondly. He starred off into the distance and smiled at the sun as his blond hair whipped around his neck and the bright rays reflected off his circular glasses. Arthur looked at the sun and smiled as the warm rays warmed his body through making him want to curl up and lay on the bench to absorb the UV rays of light. He resisted the urge and looked at where the boy had now averted his eyes to, he was starring at Gilbert although he seemed to scowl at him and sighed covering his eyes and putting his hands over the lenses of his glasses.
He groaned before he pulled his glasses off and muttered to himself under his breath.
"P-Papa won't be p-pleased that I've got-t my g-glasses all dirty... St-Stupid demon tricking me..." Arthur raised his eyebrows and coughed a little making the teen freeze and turn around slowly revealing his lavender eyes. He squeaked when he saw Arthur leant against the bench with his legs crossed and his bushy eyebrows raised. Arthur cocked his head to the side.
"Did something take your eyesight?" The teen reluctantly nodded and managed to catch his tongue to talk.
"Y-Yeah a-a demon took my eyes-sight as a child as my parent-ts threw me a-at his feet a-also m-my brother too." Arthur frowned.
"Is your brother that loud mouthed wanker Alfred?" He nodded and Arthur rolled his eyes.
" No wonder they threw him at the demon... But why did the demon take just your eyesight instead of your life?"
The teen squirmed a little uncomfortable with being the centre of attention.
"T-The demon was a-a blind o-one that u-used it's nose rather t-then i-i-its eyes, so-o it offered to let us l-live if it could see" Arthur made an 'oh' shape with his mouth and then un-crossed his legs and leant on them.
"So, what's your name?" The teen smiled a little petting the bear next to him before he offered his hand.
"Matthew, Matthew Williams..." Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"Do you and your brother have different fathers?" Matthew nodded and Arthur hummed a little before he shook Matthews hand and smiled showing off his two fangs.
"Arthur Kirkland." Matthew's eyes widened and Arthur gave him a quizzical look before he chuckled and pressed his finger against one of the fangs. "Oh, I guess you didn't know about me being some sort of monster?" Matthew shook his head and the bear turned its head growling and standing in front of Matthew in a protective way. Arthur frowned and stood up before he hissed at the bear a little and then waved as he walked away with his hands in his pockets.
"See you later Matthew." Matthew stared after Arthur a little amazed but he then shuddered a little, something about that man wreaked bad news. His bear, Kumajiro nuzzled his head against Matthew's hand and grumbled a little making Matthew pet his snout and scratch under his chin.
Arthur frowned as he reached the so called training area and looked around to see Ludwig stood to the side with a frown as his brother grumbled about how he was too awesome to train. Kiku had disappeared and was nowhere in sight and Tim was stood with a pipe in his mouth to the side as he puffed on some sort of tobacco. Arthur groaned and trudged over to Ludwig stomping his feet.
"Do you mean to bloody say that we're the only ones that have to train!" Ludwig scowled at him.
"Ja, ve got here ages ago und no one vas here und Kiku has gone missing too." Arthur ground his teeth together until he heard a loud whistle go and the knight Antonio stood there with Lovino stood next to him with a scowl as he carried equipment and sacks of things. Antonio smiled and was out of his heavy metal plates and was just in his practice chain mail with a belt around the middle and the kingdoms crest on a piece of cloth going from one shoulder to the other, he had black cotton slacks on and brown leather boots that had been polished and tied up neatly.
Lovino dropped the equipment to the floor with a blush and he then scowled turning to Antonio.
"I-a told you I couldn't carry it-a all damn tomato munching-" Antonio covered his mouth and smiled at the four before he counted.
"Uno, dos, tres, cuarto-" He then gave a puzzled look before Ludwig stepped in.
"Kiku has gone missing und ve can't find him." Antonio thought for a moment before he looked at Lovino who sighed.
"I'll-a go and tell-a the king." Antonio patted his head avoiding the strange curl and hugged him in a bone crushing hold.
"Gracias Lovi~" Lovino stuttered curses and ran off after he was released. Antonio waited until he had ran inside before he turned back to the group.
" Alright, lets get started then shall we?" The group nodded and Antonio unsheathed his sword."Obviously you know this is a sword and it's more of a heavy weight weapon although it's probably the easiest to use in close range combat with the right training. He handed each a sword and Arthur rolled his eyes unsheathing the sword along with the rest. Antonio pulled on a rope and dummies stood up on the field like scarecrows. Antonio walked to the nearest one and shifted his position making his legs shoulder width apart and his sword gripped with one hand. He smiled before he flicked his wrist and sliced the dummy's arm off before he pulled it back and gripped the sword with his other hand swinging it at the dummy's neck and slicing the head clean off. He turned to the group and smiled."It's all about the swing and position with a sword, get that right and you've got a bueno chance at killing your opponent with ease." Arthur weighted the sword in his hand and Antonio sent them all off to practice what he had just shown while he talked to Lovino who had come back from telling the king about Kiku's disappearance.
After a while of practising the sword techniques it became obvious that this was Gilbert's forte and not so much the others. Ludwig was a little too big built to use the sword and Tim seemed bored the whole way through, Arthur didn't find using the sword but got tired after using it for quite a while. Antonio hummed a little before he handed Ludwig a big hammer and pointed to a rock nearby with a grin.
"Maybe that will be better for you?" Ludwig rolled his eyes and weighted the hammer in his hand before he slammed it on top of the rock with hefty strength. Arthur's eyes widened as the rock shattered and Ludwig smiled a bit before he pushed his hair back into place. Gilbert laughed his signature laugh making Arthur cringe and Tim rolled his eyes and walked over to the pile of weapons and pulled out a mace ball and chain with a grin. Antonio shuddered a little before Tim swung the heavy ball and chain around his head and stuck the dummy taking it's head clean off and leaving a crudely ripped cloth neck. Antonio gulped and smiled at Arthur making Arthur scowl.
Antonio pulled out a long bow and arrows from the pile and handed them to Arthur with a grin. Arthur took them and put the quiver containing arrows over his head resting on one shoulder on an angle. He was given some black leather gloves by Antonio and a holder for with fingers so they wouldn't snap from the strength you had to have to pull the bow's string back. Arthur slipped the gloves on and smirked as he pulled out an arrow and fixed it on the string before he pulled the string back and steadied the aim. He took a deep breath and let the arrow fly. He grinned as it hit a straight bulls eye on a target at the other end of the field and then let more of them fly through the air all hitting the targets and the final one going straight through the first arrow he shot. The group's mouths were agape and Arthur smiled proudly before he gripped the bow in his hand and walked back to them with a confident and cocky look on his face. Antonio muttered something insignificant and then smiled.
"So I guess I don't have to train you all too much then, but maybe it would be a good idea to master some other weapons in case yours is lost on the battle field." The group nodded and Antonio picked up a few weapons helping Lovino with the load before he smiled once more to the group. "So then, I'll see you all tomorrow at the same time as today. Adios mi amigos!" He then helped Lovino carry a few more things as they walked back to the castle. Arthur sighed and yawned a little before he looked up to see Francis leaning over a balcony which he assumed to be the one to his room. Francis had a smile plastered on his face as he abruptly turned on his heel and walked back through the lace curtains disappearing out of sight. Arthur scowled and shook his head before he said a quick good bye to Ludwig, Gilbert and Tim before he walked away carrying the bow he had used in practise.
Arthur grumbled under his breath as he carved another criss-crossed pattern into his bow and blew the wood chipping away onto the floor. He finished carving and took the blue inkwell he had sat next to him before he took out the brush and applied the ink stains to the pattern making it more visible. He had finished carving a handle and other things into the solid piece of wood and had carved patterns he had seen his mother carve onto trees and other things while he used inks he had been given in the writing desk just opposite, but he had to ask for the brush to use which had been given to him with no questions asked. Now, Arthur wasn't a major artist but he could draw simple yet intricate patterns which were what his mother had taught him and his other three brothers too, but the only other one that seemed interested was Allistor the other two went and did other things while his mother taught the two. But the others didn't take to embroidery like he had and that's the reason he had a closer relationship with his mother rather than his father but he did enjoy hunting as he got a little older but not so much as two of the three did his youngest brother had not really liked anything but talking to the animals in the forest.
Arthur sighed and laid back on his bed looking at the knife he held in his hand before he placed it in his draw. He looked at the plate that was next to him which held no more food. He sighed and grabbed the plate before he opened the wooden door to his room leaving it outside for a servant to collect. With a yawn he put his bow and quiver, with the arrows, into the corner of the room along with the gloves which were put by the door on top of the drawers. He then collapsed onto his bed, after he changed onto his night clothes, and slowly let sleep take him over to see what was in store for tomorrow.
Okay, I hoped you liked this chapter and the reason I did update this yesterday was because, 1) My step-dad was using my laptop, and 2) I have a horrible cold and headache. But thanks for reading and I see you next time. Comments/favourites/follows are all appreciated.
'The snake shall continue slithering...'