DEATHWISH

Like most mornings, the crowing of a Quadrawing Rooster woke Utu from his slumber.

"Damn! Is it morning already?" Utu grumbled.

It seems that those intense training he inflicted upon himself had been taking its toll on his body. Utu was only stretching his arms a bit, and the crackling sounds of his bones is just plain awful. Not a sound a twelve year old should make.

"Should I just rest today?" Utu wondered out loud.

Honestly, Utu deserved to sleep in. Hell, he deserved a full day of R&R. He trained from sunset to sundown. Stopping only to eat and a hot shower. Almost no one is more hardworking than Utu, and that's including those training inside the Blaze Wolf Military Complex.

But, of course...

"No! I shouldn't be lazy. The Ignition Ceremony is only a week away. I have to ensure I activated my Fire energy core."

So, reluctantly, Utu got out of bed. Ignoring the pain, he went to get ready to train.

***

As always, the hilltop mansion of Duke Aelius Brandr was bustling even before a sliver of orange appeared on the sky.

Some were cooking, some were preparing the Brandrs' outfits of the day. And some drew the shortstick of having to go out in the pouring snow to get the supplies.

Overseeing everything, was two old guys. Or to be exact, two former legends. The butler formerly known as Captain Soulburn, Quidel. There's also Angus, the chef whose infamously known in the battlefield as War Butcher.

Former brother-in-arms, now teamed up again under one roof. Overseeing the entire operation of the Duke's household.

"The kid's late today." Angus remarked. His hands move along, skillfully skinning a whole lamb. Separating the hide from the meat.

Quidel did not look up from his tea making. "He's coming. He's just...tired."

"Heh, I bet. He trained even harder than us. And I'm a barbarian, you know. We trained like animal. What does that make him?"

Quidel still did not take his eyes from the tea and sandwiches he's making for the Young Lord. He just chuckled in response to what Angus said.

"So...did you talked to Aelius." Angus must've been the only cook in the entire Ottilia to have the nerve to address the Duke by his name. Since he is Duchess Loina's teacher, nobody bat an eye when he did so.

"...I did."

"And?"

"He gave me his trust that I'd be able to handle it."

Angus jumped in joy. "Yearghh, that's my brother. Good job Del. A little later, and the kid might die."

Quidel smiled bitterly. "We're probably a little late to intervene, though. But yeah, better than doing nothing."

"It does." Angus went back to cutting the meat and vege. "So what are your next move?"

"I was gonna bring the Young Lord to train with the soldiers this morning."

Angus almost dropped his knife. He was shocked, and enraged. "What the fuck are you thinking!? The boy have been straining himself training all those years. And your solution is more training? Man, I trusted you."

Quidel sighed. "No, I was going to show him how to relax. Military style."

Angus was enlightened. "Hahahaha. You're gonna throw him to the rookies camp, are you?"

Quidel only smiled. Letting Angus knew he made the right guess. "Hahahaha, I see. You can't tell him to relax. So you threw him with those slack offs. Good job. I look forward in seeing the result."

At this point, Quidel had finished packing the sandwich and the drink into a picnic basket. "As do I."