The Alignment of Two Kingdoms

Chapter Two

The next morning started the same as usual.
I entered the dining room for breakfast. Arwan was already sitting there, shoving his face with the food and sweets that were laid out. Father was already away for the mysterious meeting and Mother would have already eaten and started her morning duties.
I sat down and put some food onto my plate. My brother only glanced up at me in greeting, not slowing his eating.
“You know, that's how you get sick,” I said, cutting into one of my sausages and taking a bite.
“The faster I get things done, the more time I'll have to do what I want today,” Arwan replied with a mouth full of food. I told him for the millionth time to swallow before speaking. I started to wonder if I should just give up on trying to teach him etiquette.
“So,” he swallowed his food. “What are we doing today? Please, no more studying.”
“You're going to have to learn these things one day. You're next in line for the throne. How are you supposed to enforce the rules you don't know?”
“I can just change the rules.”
“You can't change everything just to get out of studying.”
“Why not?”
“Studying will tell you why not,” I finished with a tone a little harsher than I intended. My brother seemed taken aback as well, but he didn't make any retort. I felt bad and started thinking of how I could make up for it. Then, I got an idea and smiled at my brother.
“How about this: We can go study out in the forest today. We can also get some ability training in, so you can learn to not blind someone.”
Arwan looked happy at the suggestion. He scarfed down the rest of his food and jumped up from the table.
“Great! And you can also try to learn how to control that blast of yours,” he joked. I rolled my eyes but nodded my head.
“Well, that's going to take a lot more than training its power.”
I finished my food as my brother ran off to gather his things for our little adventure. Afterwards, I entered the library with a satchel and requested Lydia to grab me some of the books from the shelf I reserved for ability training and some history books. She obliged, shyly pleading that I keep the books in good condition while I was out. I promised to take care of them and thanked her.
When I arrived at the main entrance, Arwan was already standing there with all his gear. He had a huge smile on his face, and I couldn't help but smile back. We made our way out of the kingdom and through the village. Several civilians waved to us as we passed.
Once we made it to our training spot in the forest, I set down my satchel and sat down on a tree stump, pulling out one of the books.
“Okay. So, would you like to start with some warm up practice first?”
Arwan put on his training gloves and removed his jacket. He tossed the rest of his items to the side and looked at me in anticipation, dipping his head in agreement. I looked down at the book and flipped to a section of minor spells.
“Let's start with making a ball of light in your hands. Start small and gradually make it bigger.”
My brother clasped his hands together, already knowing what to do. I studied his technique as light shone from between his fingers and palms. Slowly, he opened them and a small orb of light floated between them. With concentration, it grew larger.
“Good. Now, try to break it apart into two pieces. Pull it apart like a piece of bread.”
He did as I asked. He gripped both sides of the light and carefully tore it in half, now having two equal pieces in each hand. I smiled in approval.
“Well, since I already know you're perfectly capable of dissolving the light, let's try crushing it and sprinkling it on the ground.”
Arwan looked at me with curiosity. “That's possible?”
“Anything is possible as long as you try. It's almost the same as dividing it into different pieces. Just grip it tightly and slowly grind it out onto the ground.”
Arwan turned his focus back to his hands. He did as I instructed and crushed the light. As he moved his hands, little bits of it floated to the ground like dust. I watched his face brighten with awe and enthusiasm. Then, without warning, something hit me in the face. I wiped it off and looked down to see the flakes on my hand. My brother was giggling and I glared at him briefly before laughing as well.
“Oh really now?”
Distracted by his own amusement, I form a ball of light and crush it into dust before throwing it into his face. He stops laughing and stares at me in shock. I smirk, and we both move around, starting a fight with all the dust.