With a good yawn, Ezra got out of bed with a refreshing smile and quickly got moving.
Before long, he's done cleaning up and had his signature black attire on.
'I will go to a training chamber to further test Skyfall. Once that is done, I'll meet with Bard. Picking a suitable mana technique is in order. That, along with combat manuals…is that all?'
With some quick thinking, he remembers something.
*Facepalm*
'I forgot about picking a mana technique and combat art for mom…but I don't know what fighting style she prefers…I guess a visit is overdue.
'I don't see her a lot these days, and I didn't visit…she's not going to be angry, right?
Ezra took a deep breath.
'Better late than never, I guess'
After inquiring, he was directed to a training chamber on the same floor as the Alchemist labs.
He stood in front of a flat stone door that didn't look like a door save for the round handles.
'I can't hear anything' he was astonished.
Not a sound leaked out. It was something Ezra was seeing for the first time, so he wondered not how, but what made it possible.
'I guess it has something to do with these stones. I'll ask Bard about them later'
He pushes the doors open ever so slowly to reveal a woman of average height. She was wearing a short blue shirt with its sleeves folded, a black cloth over her lower body, and black boots. Her hair was light yellow, short and held together with a ribbon.
Ezra didn't know this woman, but stepping inside, he saw his mom welding her rapier as he struck a wooden doll in front of her.
*Pak!*Pak!*Pak!*
She had a helmet on, but Ezra easily recognised her.
The doll had taken her full attention as she didn't even look to see who came in.
"Mom" Ezra called her attention.
She abruptly paused, stood still for a few seconds, and took off the helmet with a light breath.
Putting the helmet on her armpit, she asked…
"So, my beloved son finally decided to check on his mother? Are you sure you don't want to come back after a few more weeks?"
It was clear she was angry.
Ezra could only rub his hair, cough a bit, and look away awkwardly. He was embarrassed by the fact he didn't have any excuse.
Honestly, as a fifty seven year old man, Ezra still found it difficult to rebuke her. Especially not after all the care he received.
So, he did something else.
He put a bit more mana in his legs and, with one step, he was hugging his mom's legs.
"Oh" his mom was flustered at the sudden change, but couldn't resist patting the head of the cute little boy.
"Alright, alright, I forgive you"
With his aim achieved, Ezra let go.
But his mom wasn't done yet.
She pulled his left cheeks and spoke…
"But you have to promise to come by at least twice a week from now on"
Ezra sighed. He quickly found an excuse.
"Father might get angry if I don't train"
His mother shut him down immediately.
"Then, good thing your father isn't around"
"Father's not around?"
Ezra was dumbstruck.
It was his mother's turn to raise a brow.
"Were you sleeping throughout yesterday? Of course he's not around. He's gone. And with the little I've gleaned, he won't be back anytime soon"
Ezra's eyes changed.
'I was so engrossed in testing Skyfall that I didn't notice till now?!...I need to stop doing that'
His mind was a mess.
'The Emperor went somewhere. I expected it, but not this early…something must've changed, but I don't know what. Still, with all the preparations, it's unlikely that Fredrick got caught. It seems another opportunity has arrived!'
Ezra's eyes released a dangerous light as his brain went to work.
That is-
*Ahem*
-until a cough broke his reverie.
Ezra's body tingled, realizing he was standing in front of his mom.
He raised his head slowly to gaze at the piercing look looming over his head.
After a bit of awkward laughter and sudden coughs, Ezra found a peculiarity.
"Mom. Why are they standing like that?'
"Oh, my shoulder bones are hurting. Julie said it's an effect of training, so it'll go away with time"
Ezra didn't answer, but turned to face Julie, the instructor.
His expression turned still and eerie, making Julie uncomfortable.
But she calmed herself.
'Relax, relax, he's just a child, there's no way he could've noticed'
At least she tried to, if it wasn't for Ezra's request.
"Miss Julie, I'd like for you to show me some of your sword skills"
"I don't see-"
"I wasn't asking, do it"
Julie unconsciously gulped, this child…
But she threw such thoughts aside.
'He just wants to see how amazing my sword skills are, yes, yes. That must be it'
She got into a stance and readied her breathing.
As a Knight not even at Expert-rank, daring to disobey the prince could be seen as disrespecting the royal family's authority.
*Swi!*Swi!*Swi!*Swi!*
Her movements were graceful but deadly as the rapier tore through air.
Her moves were mesmerizing, but Ezra's face only grew darker.
After a minute, she put the weapon back on the shack at the side, before bowing.
"Was it to your liking, your highness?"
Ezra didn't bother replying.
"Guards!"
Quickly, two knights came in with a spear in their hands.
"Yes, your highness?" they asked.
"Arrest this woman" Ezra's tone was cold.
His order had Julie's face turning unsightly and his mother confused.
"Son, what is this about?"
"I'll explain to you once this is over"
Kiara couldn't grasp the situation, but she knew her son had her best interests at heart, so she chose to observe and not intervene.
By now, Julie was outright panicking with her head darting from Ezra to the guards.
"Y-Your highness, I do not understand. I have done nothing wrong!"
"No, you have done plenty"
Ezra looked at the guards still standing.
"Well? What are you waiting for?"
The guards moved to encircle Julie.
Now, Julie stood still with her gaze to the floor.
Her worst fears had come true.
'How did he know?!' she wondered.
She had been sent by Count Heaton to tutor Ezra's mom.
Then, one night, a maid approached her with a letter from someone anonymous, containing a request to harm Kiara.
She outright rejected, but when gold coins, more than she'd ever seen, arrived in front of her eyes, she accepted.
Although the requester deemed themselves anonymous, Julie knew of only three people who would gain from this.
As the situation was, if she was caught, she would be tortured to death and condemned to slavery for her crime against the throne.
'No' she suddenly thought.
'I'd be killed by the requester before that'
Now, she became soaked in helplessness. All the possibilities that lay in front of her were bleak and full of suffering.
She might have chosen to attack Ezra, but with two Expert Knights in the room, she would undoubtedly fail.
In haste, she drew a weapon from the shack.
The guards raised their caution level higher and prepared to subdue her the moment she attacked.
But she didn't attack. With her future being bleak, she made a decision.
'I'd rather save myself from all that pain'
*Chuk!*
She stabbed herself before the guards could react, and slumped to the floor soon after.
The sudden act caught the guard unawares as they looked at each other, confused on what to do.
It was someone else that reacted.
Ezra arrived beside her moments later, but the deed had already been done.
'Damn' he felt annoyed.
Julie's blood poured out, coloring the ground red.
Ezra grabbed hold of her, raised her up, and whispered into her ear.
"Tell me who it is. Who sent you to your grave?"
His whisper had Julie gaze at him with widened eyes, before muttering something only he could hear.
Once done, her bloody lips brought about a light smile and then her body went limp.
Julie had died.
