"Nocturnals? Nonsense!" Percival scoffed, tearing off a bite of his warm baguette. The crisp crust crackled between his teeth as he chewed leisurely, unfazed by the report. He sat on the couch in the castle's common area that connects to the front entrance; the room has three different hallways going out in three different directions, each with rooms on each side and stairs at the end.

  He was reading a magazine while eating his baguette, enjoying the sun gring onto his face.

  A few guards stood behind him to inform him of the newfound information.

  "They entered from a hole in the ground. They seem to have dug under the walls." One of them added.

  "Hm. You know, not even ten police officers would be enough to kill a retively well-fed Nocturnal." Percival retorted.

  He took the final bite of his baguette and balled the paper bag up before standing up and selfishly throwing it onto the floor.

  "We have the perfect weapon. Shaikatsu is monitoring Senshi, correct? Have him notify me of his location, and I will speak with him."

  ***

  "Senshi? You're back already?" Cindy blurted out, smming a card onto the table. "Checkmate!"

  She turned toward him, eyebrows raised. "Wait—you walked from the Common District? Just how fast are you?" She smirked, gncing at Matus, who sat frozen in disbelief, his defeat sinking in.

  "I have a way of knowing where everything is, and I'm pretty fast," Senshi responded.

  Matus stood up from his chair and walked towards Senshi.

  "Gd you're here, kid. Tell me, are you ready to start your training?" Matus added.

  "Yeah, let's do it."

  ***

  "First up, knife throwing. I want to see your accuracy when it comes to throwing weapons." Matus shouted, sitting atop a rge rock in an open field. A line of four straw dummies and a cardboard target were on their heads.

  Senshi aimed the knife Matus gave him and narrowed his eyes. During his focus, his eyes flickered, the pink shine showing itself once more. He threw the knife almost instantly. A gust of wind surged from his arm, scattering leaves as the bde blurred through the air. In the blink of an eye, it struck dead center, splintering the target with a sharp crack.

  Matus sat in shock, not realizing the knife was thrown before it hit the target.

  "Well, alright. Have you gotten faster since we've fought?" Matus added before climbing down the rock and walking to Senshi.

  "Probably. I get stronger when I experience specific emotions that align with my inner self. It's complicated." Senshi replied before realizing he had said too much.

  Matus smirked and patted him on the back.

  "All good. Let's go on to the next step!"

  ***

  "Alright, I need you to grab the falling apples before all five hit the ground. I'll drop them from multiple areas of these trees!" Matus shouted from above the tree line.

  Senshi nodded as he took his hands out of his pocket and got into a ready stance.

  "This will test your speed and reaction time!" Matus shouted as he dropped one apple from the tree.

  Immediately, Senshi leaped to the apple and caught it before it hit the ground. In an instant, Senshi turned around and bounced off the ground to catch another one.

  Senshi nded as he noticed an apple about to reach the floor. He quickly slid below the apple and caught it with his chest, collecting the st apple.

  "Impressive, Senshi!" Matus yelled as he swung from twigs and jumped onto the ground, his body's durability enduring the fall.

  "That's it for today; so far, you're doing great," Matus added before taking the apples from Senshi's hands and taking one bite.

  "Hey Matus, are there any other pces beyond the wall?" Senshi asked.

  Matus stopped chewing and looked at Senshi in confusion.

  "I know you were in jail your entire life, but the fact you asked is pretty dumbfounding. Yeah, there are pces beyond the walls. Each town has a wall around it, and it's not recommended that someone leave, but you can if you want." Matus replied.

  "What, are they scared of those giants?" Senshi continued.

  "Nocturnals? Yeah, they are. They wiped out ? of Humanity many years ago. The average human can't fight one." Matus responded before taking another bite of an apple.

  Senshi sighed before walking back to the building they resided in, Matus following behind him.

  Senshi walked past a few bushes and entered the pathway that led to the building before halting.

  Multiple knights stood in formation in the front yard where Cindy and Matus were pying cards.

  Senshi began to march further into the yard before anger shot through his veins.

  "Why are there knights here, Cindy!" Senshi shouted, looking into the house. The guards stood on two sides of the yard, leaving an opening to the front path leading to the front yard, different from where Senshi came from.

  "Make way, Make way!" Percival excimed, walking down the pathway into the front yard.

  "Senshi, my friend! I've come to speak with you!"said Percival, his rge cape flowing in the wind.

  "Why ar- HOW did you find me?" Senshi said as he gripped his fist in anger.

  "Don't worry about that. I can find you anytime I want," Percival replied as he slicked his hair back with his fingers. I thought we were best buddies. What happened?" Percival continued.

  "We are NOT friends, Percival!" Senshi yelled in anger, marching forward. In an instant, two guards stepped in front of him, attempting to block him from reaching Percival.

  "Don't try anything stupid, Senshi. I have a deal for you!" Percival said, his head sticking out between the guards' heads.

  "What do you want from me!" Senshi yelled, backing away from the knights.

  "A deal, something you may take an interest in! You know, I noticed the nefarious strength you presented in your fight! I want to crify that I'm here to help you. I want you to work for me as my main Royal Guard!" Percival shouted, an evil grin stretching across his face, his eyes wide, awaiting his response.

  "You see, just st night, a Vicious beast simir to the one you fought was seen! How did he get in? Well, I know no such thing!" Percival continued, slicking his hair back once more. He walked around with his arms wide, rambling on in Hysteria. The golden ptes on his shoulders gred in the sunlight.

  "Not many people know how to fight a Nocturnal, Senshi! Maybe only five people in this town of two hundred thousand civilians can stand a chance!" Percival excimed, looking down and dropping his smile.

  Wait… this is perfect. Getting close enough to kill him will be effortless if I become his Royal Guard. This fool just handed me the knife himself.

  "What's in it for me?" Senshi asked, calming his expression.

  "Riches, women! Everything you could ever wish for. You were in prison your entire life; what is there not to receive!" Percival responded, bowing as if he just finished a performance.

  "Sure, I'll join. As long as I receive a rge amount of Marc daily."

  Yeah, as if. I'll need to retain my anger for now, as much as I want to murder him right now. I'll have to gain his complete trust to be in a room alone with him while he's intoxicated, and then I'll kill him.

  "GET AWAY FROM SENSHII!" Matus shouted, rushing forward towards Percival.

  Multiple knights stood in front and unsheathed their bdes, stopping Matus from moving forward.

  "SENSHI, ARE YOU OKAY!?" Matus questioned, panning his eyes to Senshi.

  "Yeah, I'm fine. I'll be gone for a while, though." Senshi answered.

  "Poor Matus Linowgi! You're lucky I didn't shut down this entire operation. The only reason I won't is how useless you are; other divisions pose more of a threat." Percival mocked, chuckling.

  Matus gripped his fist angrily and attempted to rush past the guards before he felt a hand on his arm.

  "Just let it go," Cindy muttered behind him.

  "I'll let you talk to your… pets or whatever. Let me know when you're finished. Knights! Head forward!" Percival shouted before stepping onto the pathway and leaving the house, the guards following.

  Senshi waited for Percival to gain distance away from them before he walked up to Cindy and Matus.

  "I'm going to kill Percival," Senshi whispered.

  Matus and Cindy looked shocked, in disbelief at what they just heard.

  "But that's the. Prince," they both said in unison.

  "I know it is. Give me a week." Senshi continued before standing up and walking away without any sign of care.

  "Wait, Senshi!" Cindy from behind.

  With trembling steps, Cindy lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Senshi tightly.

  "Please, don't die."

  Fun Fact: Percival was previously a Knight!

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