It's the end.

The blunted tip of Sir Caden's training blade comes to a rest mere inches from your throat, the knight looking down at you expectantly. "Yield." You do your best to give Caden a defiant look, considering you can't currently breath, and when he laughs you give up and pat the ground with your free hand. Caden steps away, freeing your arm, and you roll over to catch your breath.

"That- That was dirty!" You struggle to rise to your feet, ignoring Caden's offered hand. "It's hardly fair using magic in a training match."

"That's the entire point." The blonde knight looks at you seriously. " I'm training you for real combat, no monster or bandit is going to hold off on using their magic just because you aren't ready for it." Caden takes a step towards you and vanishes. "If I teach you to fight the magic you know I can use," You feel yourself being lifted to your feet by the collar of your doublet, "Then you'll only focus harder on the abilities you know I have," You jerk away and turn to face the knight, only to find he's vanished again, "and be caught off guard when I hit you with what you don't know." You look up at the high wall to see Caden holding both your training sword and his.

"So since I can only teach you to fight the little bit of magic I can use, it's better to not teach you to fight my magic at all, but instead to train you to always be ready to judge and react when you feel the mana flowing in the air." Caden tosses one sword straight up and the other towards you. Instinctively you reach out to catch the blade coming at you when you feel the weak tingling in your fingers, warning you of the spell about to engulf you. The world around you blurs for a moment, colors and sensations blending together, and then you find yourself standing on the wall of the training ground, dazed and disoriented. Below you Sir Caden casually catches the blade he had tossed at you and points up with this free hand.

Remembering the second sword you look up, thrusting your hand out just in time to grab the sword by the handle before it falls past you into the training yard. Again you feel the flow of magic and your instructor appears next to you, his sword drawn back. The harsh sound of steel on steel rings out as you catch Caden's downward strike with your own weapon and the handsome knight smiles widely at you. "Just like that." Even after having used so much magic, you can see Caden is barely breathing any heavier, and once again you are reminded of just how big the gap is between you and him. "And with that, my Prince, I think it best we call it a day." You nod in agreement, having had more than enough physical punishment for one afternoon.

The two of you walk your way down the stairs to the yard and to a barracks where Sir Caden puts away the training swords while you remove your shield and doublet. The tall knight walks over to a basin of water and pulls off his tunic, revealing the toned torso and nearly flawless skin underneath. Caden dips a clean cloth into the basin and begins to clean himself. "The Dragonfall celebration is tomorrow, will we still be training?" You ask, a hint of hopefulness sneaking into your voice.

Sir Caden chuckles and continues to wash his pectorals. "So eager for an excuse to get away from me your Majesty? You'll hurt my feelings."

"You know that's not what I meant at all!" You exclaim, "I quite enjoy training with you, I just don't think it'll hurt to miss one session-" Caden laughs, cutting you off.

"Of course your Grace, I was joking. You've worked incredibly hard lately, and I think a day of rest will do us both some good." Caden smiles at you warmly, his jade green eyes locking onto your own. You look away, glad the tone of your skin makes it hard for him to see that you're blushing. "Besides, I'm sure I'll get roped into one thing or another most of the day anyways."

Caden stands and turns away from you to retrieve a towel and clean tunic from a shelf. You take a moment to admire his slender yet muscular form before he addresses you again. "Your Grace, you should probably get washed yourself before the meal tonight, I saw another carriage arrive this morning, best to leave a good impression on your guests."

Slightly irritated that a mere knight, even one as accomplished as Sir Caden, would dare to make a remark on your hygiene, you nonetheless sigh and stand to leave the room. Anyone else you would admonish, but with him, you can only feel a bit embarrassed. Why do you care so much what he thinks anyways?