Chapter 89: Training (1/2)

”I'd say, that's the last thing you should feel bad about, you lost against a god after all, what did you expect?” Alex omitted the part about him almost losing.

'But hey, I wouldn't lose now!' Alex made up excuses to justify his loss.

”By the way, what's the competition?” Alex wished to know how many candidates the prince was up against.

”We're about 2000 legitimate children....”

”!!!!!!”

”How does that even happen?!” Alex exclaimed.

”Well, all the Brahmin families rushed to marry their daughters to Father when he attained godhood, and with 150 years of rule, you can imagine how many that meant.” Aadityapal nonchalantly answered.

'Da*mn'

Alex averted his eyes and an awkward silence filled the courtyard.

There was nothing much Alex could say, and words wouldn't help his situation anyways.

However, Alex perceived something strange.

When he looked at the prince's sword on the grass, his observation skills from Hephaestus passively came into play.

'That structure is strange....' Alex grabbed the sword and examined it up close.

The way the metal was folded upon itself made the sword sturdy and sharp, and it was a miraculous feat of metalworking.

”Hephaestus never used this technique...” Alex spoke out loud.

”Aadityapal, are there any expert forgers around?” He asked this question out of the blue.

He was extremely curious about this marvelous and unknown technique and wished to learn more and augment his forging skills.

Aadityapal seemed confused but he nodded and replied, ”There should be some master blacksmiths in the palace itself, why do you ask?”

Alex didn't reply but instead kept a passionate stare upon the sword.

”I need to learn from them.”

Aadityapal stayed silent for a dozen seconds or so and then proposed, ”How about....you train me and I introduce you to the best forgers? I am friends with many of them.”

'Shameless.' Alex instantly remarked.

”Deal.” He immediately agreed, as his curiosity and passion for learning more overwhelmed his self-control.

He had to thank both Athena and Hephaestus for that...

Aadityapal suddenly burst into happy laughter and a few tears streamed down his face.

Unknowingly to Alex, one of his abilities, 'Empathy', activated itself passively and he began to feel the emotions of the prince distinctly.

'Frustration....a lot of it.....sadness....depression...shame and....relief?' Alex strongly felt those respective emotions and started understanding the prince's predicament.

If earlier, he only agreed to help the prince to further his own skills, now, he would have agreed even without remuneration.

”Hermes said to not cause any trouble, this isn't trouble, right?” Alex murmured under this breath.

Meanwhile, Aadityapal was sobbing endlessly.

This continued for a short while after which, he wiped his tears and recovered his composure.

”Well, do you wish to train now?” Alex asked the tearful prince.

Aadityapal strongly nodded and stood up.

He then clenched his fists and Alex even saw a stream of blood coming down from his palm.

'He clenched his fist so hard his nails dug into his skin....' Alex gulped.

___________________________

”Now, come at me, no swords, nothing, just your limbs, and skills.” Alex ordered his 'disciple'.