Chapter 27 - Taunt

In the end, Zaos reluctantly went to the garden with Drannor. It looked like the boy didn't have many friends as well, since he looked kind of happy for knowing someone around his age who didn't have any interest in putting him on a pedestal.

"Let's be quick with this, my time is limited and I want to use them wisely," Zaos said.

"You know some difficult words, Zaos," Drannor said. "Do you like books?"

"More or less," Zaos shrugged. "Anyway, you are the heir of an important family, right? Are you sure you can waste time playing?"

"It is just like dad said, you are serious just like your father," Drannor laughed.

Zaos didn't like to be compared with someone that cheated on his wife, even if that were true, even if that someone was his father. Regardless, Zaos assumed that, unlike his family, Drannor's house wasn't that ever so serious. At least that became evident after watching father and son a few times. That probably wasn't an act since Zaos couldn't see any sign of a hard education from difficult parents in Drannor. He really looked like a normal happy-go-lucky boy.

"What do you do to pass the time here?" Drannor asked.

"Train and read books," Zaos replied.

"I am more or less the same, when dad is at home, I learn a few things from him about fighting and when he isn't learning etiquette from my mother," Drannor said. "She said this is important if I want to be popular with girls."

Zaos facepalmed again… what the hell was that kid saying? Why would a four years old boy want to be popular with girls? Regardless, it didn't take long for Zaos to understand that he would never get along with Drannor or with other kids, for that matter. Thanks to those dreams that he constantly has, Zaos didn't have the mentality of a kid. So, he would bore them, and he would feel bored due to them.

"What do you want to do?" Drannor asked.

"Study," Zaos replied.

"I can't read yet, so I can't help you with that," Drannor said.

"I wasn't asking for your help," Zaos said.

"What else?" Drannor asked.

"… Do you want to spar?" Zaos asked.

"Dad said that I shouldn't train or spar when he isn't close, he said that I might get hurt and that is dangerous," Drannor replied.

"Oh, are you scared that your daddy will get angry and scold you if you disobey him?" Zaos asked in a mocking tone.

"Yes, good kids must obey their parents," Drannor said.

Zaos felt extremely annoyed since defeat after hearing that when Drannor said as if it was a matter of fact. In any case, he got lucky since Lyra stayed in the living room, and she would scold him if she had heard that. Despite the previous words, Zaos was scared of how angry Lyra could become when she scolds him. That was a strange phenomenon.

"There is nothing to do here, do you want to see the capital? I have a carriage waiting for me outside," Drannor said. "I don't have anything to do until noon, and I am bored."

"I am bored as well, but since I can't send you home, I am just going to take a nap here," Zaos said and then laid down on the grass.

It didn't look like Drannor could identify sarcasm yet because he ended up laying on the grass, and much faster than Zaos, he fell asleep. Zaos sighed and facepalmed. How come he got his ass kicked by such a relaxed kid? In the end, Zaos fell asleep but then woke up when the sun was getting too high, and the temperature was increasing. Drannor also noticed it and then bid farewell since he was late for lunch.

Zaos assumed that Drannor would bother him at least once a week, but much to his surprise, he showed up the next day as well, but this time he brought his staff. Poor kid, since he belonged to a distinguished family, he really wanted a friend.

"Why did you bring your staff? Your father will scold you," Zaos said.

"I asked him if I could practice with you, and he said yes," Drannor replied.

"… What did he say exactly?" Zaos frowned.

"He said that since you are like your father, nothing bad will happen," Drannor replied.

Again, Zaos didn't feel that was praise, but it was hard to believe that Drannor would lie. Regardless, since he never played with anyone, Drannor was starting to think that training and playing with his friends was something natural… Zaos was starting to feel bad thanks to it, but it wasn't like he was the only one who would gain something from that.

In a much more organized and calmer way than before, the two boys began to train. Zaos wanted to get used to his charges when he put his shield near the shoulder, so he repeated that several times, but it didn't look like Drannor was getting tired of that. In any case, Zaos soon realized that he had done the right thing.

Your Shield Mastery has reached level 02.

Health: 19/30

Mana: 60/60

Stamina: 58/60

Strength: 15

Magic: 30

Endurance:30

Resistance: 30

Focus: 01

Sorcery Lv 05, Swordsmanship Lv 05, Shield Mastery Lv 02

Lesser Heal, Heal, 

"Why are you trying the same thing again and again?" Drannor asked. "You are too slow and too light; your charge will never hit me."

"Is that so… if you were me, what would you do?" Zaos asked.

"I don't know, I never used a shield and a short sword," Drannor replied.

Zaos sighed after hearing that. He thought he could have learned something from someone who his father considered a genius when it comes to fighting, but it looked like things wouldn't be so simple. Regardless, in the end, Zaos felt thankful for that. He probably would have felt bad later if he had used something that a kid taught him.