duke

Then came the magic practice.

Not magic, but nullifying it.

Not just dodging a fireball, but destroying it before it could cause damage.

I wondered if I could figure out a way to use the fireball against the caster.

Another weapon, as my shield was.

And I was scrubbing pots again.

Third time this week.

I still wasn’t certain what I had done to deserve it…

Yeah, I did. And with how red Brother Togren’s ears turned, I would do it again.

I hummed a tune as I scrubbed.

While the other kids did whatever they did as a group, I found a corner in the library.

There were a lot of religious books, sure, but there was a lot more.

Interesting stuff.

Stuff on dragons.

I hated the other kids, the religious instruction, and even the food.

But I did like the training itself.

Advanced sword techniques. And these men taught me to use my shield as more than a giant door.

It was a weapon. Like the sword in my hand, but different.

I thrilled to it.

I hated calificar life as much as I thought I would.

The nobles teased me for being a bastard and the rest called me stuck up.

Me? Stuck up?

Far from it.

I knew what I was.

No one had to remind me.

I watched Duke Elstan leave from the tiny window in my room.

Someone else abandoning me.

Walking away.

But what did I expect?

I was the bastard no one wanted.