His Training

Stefan

I watch Thorin, and he seems to be in his element training, especially having Carlton here. While Isaac and Lotta are training, Thorin seems to take it more seriously.

“Did you ever lose against something?” Thorin looks at Carlton, and he nods. “Did you have a weakness they used?” Thorin questions him, and Carlton stops.

“No, weaknesses have nothing to do with why people lose,” Carlton explains and goes back to training with Thorin, but I can see now Thorin has more questions.

“So, was it because you felt something and had emotions?”

Carlton stops again and looks at him. “No, emotions are good when it comes to battles,” Carlton explains.

“No, emotions are weaknesses, and we can’t have weaknesses.” My body runs cold as I hear Thorin.

“Emotions are good,” Carlton looks at him. “Imagine someone hurting the person you love; you would feel angry, right? Using that anger in a battle is good,” Carlton explains.

“No, anger makes you act and not think. No emotion is better.” Thorin argues. “You wouldn’t have lost that one time had you not used emotions.”

This kid is going to start a war.

“Thorin, don’t,” I call over, and Carlton laughs.

“Look, having emotions isn’t bad if you learn how to use them to add power to your attack. Emotion can be a weakness for those who react without considering it. Ultimately, however, emotion is the driving force, the reason someone wants to win.”

“But you lost?” Thorin looks at him.

“I lost because I went against a lycan, the only lycan.” Carlton’s eyes come to me. “I may know Boxing, Mixed martial arts, Muay Thai and all those things, but it’s useless if I am outpowered.”

“Carlton is right; while he can predict moves and use his knowledge in the fight, if he’s overpowered by someone stronger, it’s impossible to win without weapons, of course,” I explain, and Thorin nods.

“Why didn’t you just use weapons then?” His words are quiet, and I laugh.

“It wasn’t a real battle to the death.” Carlton sighs. “At the academy here, sometimes the strongest wolves go and battle to show the students how different each is. Your father, the king.” Carlton points at me. “Was the first man to win because he’s lycan, and they are impossible to take down if you’re not one yourself.”

Thorin glances at me. “He’s not my dad.” Of course I’m not, kiddo. I laugh slightly.

“Either way, he’s the only one that beat me, and weaknesses and emotions had no role to play.” Carlton looks towards me. “Can I use his emotions?”

I know what he means by that. “Go ahead. Just don’t cry when he hurts you.”

Carlton laughs. He will realise that wasn’t a joke.

“Okay, no emotion, right?” He looks at Thorin, and he nods. “Then lets battle, without your wolf, just as yourself.” I watch as they stand training, and I can see Carlton is confused by his strength. Ten minutes later, they stop.

“Okay, now I want you to think of when you felt angry, even if you ignored it. Instead of ignoring the anger, use it to strengthen your attack. See if there is a difference,” Carlton says, and my head shakes.

“You shouldn’t have done that.” I barely finished the words before Thorin jumped on him, but he’s proved a point: when controlled, his anger only adds to his strength.

“Okay, stop!” Carlton puts his hands up. “One, you should have told me he was lycan. That was a low blow.” He laughs, looking at me. “Two, did you notice the difference?” He looks at Thorin.

“I was stronger.” Thorin stands confused.

“Why does your kid think it’s wrong to feel emotions and have weaknesses, Your Majesty?” Carlton looks at me.

“Because they aren’t needed to make a good warrior.” For God’s sake, I turn and see Wayne. “I would appreciate it if you didn’t try to undo his training, Thorin here.” I watch as Thorin runs to his side.

“Want me to kill him?” Carlton glances at me.

“Tempting, but Thorin won’t let you.” If only it was that easy.

“I don’t know. You distract him. I can get behind him and have his neck snapped quickly.” He glances from me to Wayne.

It could work. “No, not with the pups around.” As tempted as it is, I don’t exactly want the pups to watch him die. They care for him, and weirdly, as much as I hate to admit it, they see him as their father, so killing him with them there is just cruel.

“You know I’m at the academy for months right?” Carlton looks at me, and I nod. “When this situation is sorted.” He points between the pups and Wayne. “Will they be coming to the academy?”

I hadn’t considered that. They should go, but the thought of so many learning about them is a risk. Plus, it’s not exactly my place to choose; it’s Harlyn’s. I’ve no rights in anything until I earn it.

“I’ll let you know. First, the situation needs sorting.” Standing, I walk to Wayne and watch the pups training together.

“You realise whatever you’re planning to do isn’t going to work. We’re leaving today.” Wayne glares at me.

“You really love Harlyn, don’t you?” I ask, looking at him amused.

“Did you just realise that? Just how...” He stops, yeah, go on, insult me. I wait, and his head shakes.

“It’s a shame she doesn’t love you Wayne.” My words are quiet, so no one but him hears, and he glares at me.

“You’re wrong there.” He stands waiting for me to argue the point.

“Oh, no, I’m right. You used magic to mask how she felt about me. Once the magic is gone, she won’t be confused anymore.” Maybe I shouldn’t taunt him, but it’s fun.

“I didn’t need black magic to change how she feels about you; she hates you and always will.”

Nodding, I agree. “I do agree there. She hates me because I rejected her and hurt her. However, hating me doesn’t stop her from loving me.” My words taunt him, and he growls, stepping forward.

“Go ahead, Wayne, your mask is slipping.” I look from him to Thorin, and I can see it. In his eyes, he’s realising Wayne isn’t good, but it’s seconds, not long at all, before that veil goes back over and blinds him.