Having left the northern barracks behind, they wandered away from the wider avenues and into quieter districts where the pace of life slowed considerably.
Here, there were fewer merchants shouting for customers and fewer nobles riding in expensive carriages. Instead, neat rows of stone houses lined the streets.
Children chased one another between the houses with wooden swords in their hands, loudly declaring themselves legendary warriors.
An elderly woman watered flowers growing beneath her windows. A baker removed fresh loaves from a brick oven, and the warm aroma of bread drifted through the street.
Athelind smiled to himself.
"This place feels different."
Lilith glanced around before nodding.
"The nobles rarely come this far down. They don’t know what they’re missing."
She looked at him with mild amusement.
"You’ve always preferred places like this."
"I grew up outside the palace and around soldiers, so it’s easier to understand. It feels... honest."
She couldn’t disagree. The streets lacked luxury, but they possessed something equally valuable.
The two continued walking without speaking much. Neither felt the need to fill every silence.
Occasionally, they stopped to admire a craftsman’s work or watch children playing games in the open squares. No one recognized them beneath their simple travelling cloaks, and that anonymity gave them a freedom they rarely experienced.
The white fox remained perched comfortably on Atheline’s shoulder. Its curious blue eyes darted from one sight to another. Unlike earlier, however, it behaved surprisingly well; perhaps it had already eaten enough fish for one afternoon.
Eventually, the peaceful residential district gave way to another large section of the Court. The steady clang of steel echoed through the air.
Wood struck wood.
Commands rang out across a wide courtyard enclosed by black stone walls.
Lilith recognized the location.
"The Eastern Training Grounds."
Unlike the royal barracks near the palace, these grounds belonged to the city garrison. Here, soldiers rotated through advanced training before taking command of patrol units throughout the kingdom.
Lilith slowed his pace.
"I haven’t visited here before. It was expanded after the northern campaign. Let’s have a look."
Several training fields stretched across the enormous compound. Groups of soldiers practiced sword drills while others trained with bows, spears, and shields.
Further away, small groups of manipulators worked on controlling their elemental affinity under the watchful eyes of veteran instructors. The rhythmic sounds of training filled the air.
Atheline quietly watched for a while.
"They’re better than I expected."
Lilith nodded.
"The commanders increased the standards after the corrupted became more active."
"It shows."
As they walked along the outer path surrounding the grounds, a familiar figure caught Atheline’s attention. The young man stood near one of the larger arenas with his arms folded behind his back.
Several officers surrounded him while discussing troop rotations over a large map spread across a wooden table. Unlike the others, he wore no armour, only the formal robes identifying him as a noble.
Simion.
Atheline smiled faintly.
"I wasn’t expecting to see him here."
She followed his gaze.
"Neither was I."
At almost the same moment, he looked up. Recognition flashed across his eyes almost instantly despite their ordinary clothing and disguise.
He excused himself from the officers before walking toward them.
"Your Majesties"
He lowered his voice before bowing respectfully.
"I wasn’t expecting to meet you outside the palace."
Atheline laughed quietly.
"Neither were we."
Lilith glanced around.
"No formalities."
He immediately straightened.
"As you wish."
Simion looked between the two of them before smiling slightly. He had eventually become more comfortable around them.
"Out inspecting the capital?"
"Something like that."
Atheline answered.
"We wanted to see how everyone was doing without an entire escort following us."
"A wise decision." He looked around the training grounds. "People act differently when they think no one important is watching."
Lilith nodded.
"Exactly."
Atheline’s attention shifted toward the officers still waiting near the arena.
"What brings you here?"
Simion followed his gaze.
"My father always believed a councillor should understand more than politics. He insisted I regularly visit the garrisons to learn how the army actually functions rather than simply reading reports."
Atheline looked impressed.
"That explains why the commanders seem comfortable around you."
"They’ve watched me ask foolish questions for years."
He said it so matter-of-factly that Atheline laughed.
"I doubt they were foolish."
"Oh, they were. When I was younger, I once asked why soldiers couldn’t simply take turns sleeping while standing."
Even Lilith covered her mouth to hide a smile.
"And?"
"The commander made me stand perfectly still for an hour; I’ve never asked again."
The three began walking slowly along the edge of the training grounds together. Unlike their earlier meetings within the palace, today’s conversation felt noticeably more relaxed.
Atheline folded his arms.
"So... Have you continued training?"
Simion nodded.
"Every morning. I’m still nowhere near your level."
"I wouldn’t say that."
"I would. My lightning control has improved, but my swordsmanship..." He shrugged. "...still needs work."
Atheline smiled.
"That sounds familiar. I’ve been saying the same thing about myself for months."
Simion looked at him with obvious disbelief.
"You?"
"Yes."
"I still lose most of my spars."
Lilith calmly interrupted.
"That depends on your definition of losing."
He looked toward her.
"I’ve landed more hits."
"You’ve also become much more difficult to predict."
Simion listened quietly before nodding.
"So steady improvement."
"Exactly."
"No shortcuts or miraculous breakthroughs."
Atheline smiled.
"Those only exist in stories."
They stopped near one of the sword arenas. Two experienced captains were exchanging blows with wooden practice swords. Their movements were clean and efficient.
Simion watched with admiration.
"I come here whenever I can."
Atheline raised an eyebrow.
"To train?"
"To learn."
He pointed toward the arena.
"A report can tell me how many soldiers we have, but it can’t show me how they fight, whether morale is improving, or show me which instructors command genuine respect."
Atheline looked at him for several seconds before smiling.
"I understand now."
"What?"
"Why your father trusts you with so much?"
Simion looked slightly embarrassed.
"I still have a great deal to learn."
"We all do."
Lilith spoke quietly.
"No ruler, councillor, or commander ever truly finishes learning."
A comfortable silence settled between them. The spring breeze carried the sounds of clashing practice swords across the courtyard.
Nearby, the white fox suddenly jumped from Atheline’s shoulder. Before anyone could react, she trotted confidently toward one of the resting soldiers.
The young guard blinked in surprise.
"...Where did you come from?"
The fox sniffed his boot before sitting down expectantly. The soldier laughed.
"I don’t have food."
The fox tilted its head. Atheline sighed.
"It has developed unrealistic expectations."
Simion chuckled.
"I think it’s simply friendly."
"It associates soldiers with snacks."
"That’s... probably more accurate."
The guard gently scratched behind the fox’s ears before she happily trotted back to her owner.
"I believe," Lilith said dryly, "she has become more popular than either of us."
Atheline picked the fox up before she could seek out another admirer.
"I’m beginning to think you’re right."
The little beast gave an innocent chirp, completely unaware that she had once again become the center of attention.
As the three continued walking through the training grounds, their conversations returned back to the military.