caged robin

"Master! How is your sword practice?" Alvin graciously helped Abner take off his coat.

Abner raised his eyebrows and said, "It's okay."

Alvin smiled instantly, "As expected of Master Abner, the sword-clothed knight commander also praised you for your rapid progress."

Abner snorted.

Alvin smiled and said: "Master, the Holy Dragon Festival is coming soon, you should practice a lot these two days, although it is difficult to get in the top three, but at least... don't count down anymore, master, you must win glory for your ancestors."

Abner kept his mouth shut, and said impatiently: "Got it, got it."

At this time, he heard a faint cry, which was immature and weak, but it sounded full of energy.

This voice came from the sky garden of Yufu Building.

Abner asked, "Is someone in the Hanging Gardens?"

Alvin replied, "Master Johnny is practicing sword."

Abner smiled: "I'll go and have a look."

Abner climbed up to the hanging garden. This garden is on the top floor, surrounded by flowers and plants, and tables and chairs are also placed. If you have leisure time, it is good to come here for a drink.

Jonny was swinging the wooden sword earnestly. Although the swordsmanship was a little immature, it was outstanding for a child who had been ill for a long time.

It was dusk at this time, and the afterglow of the setting sun shone on Jonny's thin body, printing blood on the pale boy.Seeing that Johnny was practicing seriously, Abner sat down on the stone bench next to him. There was no fresh refreshments here, and he didn't want to call the servants, so he rested his chin on one hand and rested his elbows on the table, watching Jonny.

"The Apocassari family can get to where they are today, not because of kindness and compassion, but because of power, Ai Wen."

Abner suddenly recalled what his father said yesterday. He took a deep breath, sat up straight, and looked at the sunset in the distance.He knew he didn't want power, but he didn't like dancing in his mother's circus all the time, and he didn't know what he wanted.When he was young as long as he could remember, he was always dirty, avoiding the chasing and shouting of various servants.And since he fell off the horse, he buried his true self again, so that in these six years, he never thought about what he really wanted to do.

He frowned, clenched his fists, maybe he had to be himself before he knew what he wanted.

"Brother!" Jonny finally found Abner, put down the sword in his hand, wiped his sweat, and ran towards Abner.

Seeing that Jonny's cheeks were flushed, Abner smiled and said, "Have you been in good health recently?"

Johnny nodded. "Yes! I feel better lately. Look, brother, I can hold a sword!"

Abner rubbed Johnny's head, and said, "How are you preparing for the sword dance performance at this year's Dragon Festival?"

"Almost!" Johnny replied with a smile.

"That's really good, can you show me the dance first?" Abner asked.

"Of course!" Jonny happily picked up the sword and stood in the open space, ready to raise the sword.

According to the rules of the Holy Dragon Festival, young nobles who have passed the coming-of-age ceremony must compete with real swords, but nobles like Abner who are about to pass the coming-of-age ceremony can also be included in this ranks.Aristocratic young masters who have not passed the coming-of-age ceremony will also participate in simple fencing competitions, but mainly sword dancing. At that time, the young masters will wear dragon dresses and hold wooden swords at the same time, performing with the live music.The best sword dancer was named "Sword Maker", but many nobles disdain this title, thinking that this is an activity that hurts the boy's face. After all, the fiery red Dragon Maker dress really looks like a little girl.

The last "Sword Spirit" was Abner. Although he was humiliated in almost all the competitions, he brought back a "Sword Envoy" and made his father happy for a long time, but Alvin was not so happy , he was afraid that Abner was born with the wrong gender.

Johnny dances his sword in the garden at sunset, with the setting sun and flowers reflecting off his childlike body.

The dancing is not bad, more mature than the swordsmanship, but it is too soft. If Jonny wears a dragon dress and dances the sword like this, people may mistake him for a little girl.

After Johnny finished dancing, Abner applauded: "It's really good, it's beautiful."

Jonny's cheeks were flushed, and he said, "No, no, my brother is amazing, and I want to be as good as my brother."

Abner smiled: "I'm afraid Alvin will vomit blood from anger."

Jonny shook his head and said, "No, my father said that my brother is excellent, so he is really excellent."

Abner rubbed Johnny's head, "Okay, you don't have to be so polite with my brother, come on, give me the sword, and I will teach you."

Abner took Jonny's sword, his eyes suddenly became serious, and he swung the sword in his hand so cleanly that Jonny could even feel a gust of wind passing by.

"Although 'Dancing Sword' is mainly about 'dance', this kind of 'dance' is different from girls' dance. They mainly show 'softness', while 'sword' is rigid, so strength and speed are necessary. , the shot must be clean and neat," Abner handed the sword to Johnny, and continued, "Do you know why you are asked to dance swords?"

Jonny shook his head.

"Because only your age and stature can perfectly combine 'softness' and 'rigidity'. If it is too small, you can't even hold a sword steadily. If it is too big, the sword spirit is too strong, so it is not called dancing sword."

Johnny stared wide-eyed at the wooden sword in his hand.

Abner said: "Continue to practice, when the time comes to wear a skirt, maybe someone will gossip, whatever they say, you just have to always remember that you are a boy, a member of the Apocassel family, no one How dare I treat you."

Tears flashed suddenly in Johnny's eyes, Abner was taken aback, rubbed his head, sat back on the stone bench, and watched him practice.

Johnny's sweat dripped down, reflecting the faint light under the setting sun. Although his hand strength had improved, it was still soft.

"Your mother was buried with my love. Only you and power are left in front of my eyes. You should know what the Rolek family means to us."

Father's words echoed in his ears again, Abner's body froze, he looked at Jonny, Jonny's eyes were extremely serious, this thin boy seemed to be practicing with his life.

Abner got up late in the morning, and he felt dizzy when he got up, maybe it was because he didn't sleep well last night.He fumbled for his coat and put it on, opened the door to wash up, before leaving, he glanced at the empty bed, it was empty.

After washing up, he regained consciousness a lot. He took a breath and prepared to eat something before going to Baihan Building. Today he had to take the "History of the Four Kingdoms" exam.

"Damn it, it's bad luck to see that bastard Aubrey in the morning." He rubbed his head vigorously, just passing Johnny's room.

He wanted to greet Jonny. After all, Jonny practiced for so long yesterday, and he didn't know if his body could bear it.

"Jonny, are you up yet?" Abner knocked on the door.

"Get up, brother, what's the matter?"

"It's nothing, just come to ask if your spirit is okay?"

"It's okay, brother." Suddenly the door was opened, and it was indeed Earl Rolek who opened the door.

Abner was taken aback.

Jonny was still lying on the bed with a book in front of him. He closed the book and waved to Abner, "Brother, come in. My legs are so sore, I can't get out of bed for now."

Abner hesitated, but Earl Rorek had already closed the door for him, and brought Abner a cup of tea, "Master Abner, sit down."

Abner: "..."

In fact, he just wanted to ask about Johnny's situation, and didn't want to sit down, not to mention Earl Rowlek was there, and he felt uncomfortable. After a brief greeting with the Earl, he stopped looking at the Earl. It didn't seem like he wanted to talk to himself.He put down his tea, wanted to say something casually and excused himself to leave.

He glanced at Johnny's book, unable to see the cover, and asked, "What are you reading?"

Jonny lifted the cover and said, "It's "History of the Four Kingdoms."

The corner of Abner's mouth twitched, "..."

"Brother, do you want to see it?" Johnny said and raised his hand.

Abner quickly waved his hand: "No, no, no."

Then he said: "I was reminded by you, and suddenly remembered that today I will take the "History of the Four Kingdoms" test, I...Leave first."

Jonny smiled, "Goodbye, brother, may the kings bless you."

"Goodbye, Johnny." Abner stood up as he said that, just as he walked to the door, he suddenly heard Jonny vomiting.

Abner quickly turned around and saw that Jonny's mouth was covered in blood, which had already stained the bed. He hurried over, and Earl Rolek had already supported Jonny, and wiped the blood from the corner of Jonny's mouth with a handkerchief. .

"Johnny, do you want to call the doctor?" Abner asked eagerly.

Jonny took a deep breath and said, "No, brother, I'm used to it, just drink some medicine and I'll be fine. Can you call Hibern for me?"

Abner remembered that Hipburn was the personal servant who had been taking care of Johnny, "Okay."

Abner turned around and left, but the Yufu Building is so big, where can I find Hiborn?He grabbed a servant at random and asked, "Do you know where Hibern is?"

The servant shook his head: "I don't know."

Abner was in a hurry, shouting as he ran, "Hiburn! Hibborne!"

After shouting for a long time, someone finally responded: "Master, I saw it in the back kitchen."

Abner rushed to the back kitchen again, and when he got there, a back kitchen maid said that Hibburn had left to serve Master Johnny.

Panting again, Abner hurried back to Jonny's room, where that unrememberable face, Hibburn, was giving medicine to Jonny.

Only then did Abner let out a long sigh of relief.

Looking at Abner's hurried expression, Jonny expressed apology: "I'm sorry, brother... I let you search for nothing."

Abner waved his hand, "It's okay."

Seeing that Earl Rolek was no longer in the house, he instantly felt much more at ease. He stepped forward, took the medicine bowl from Hebburn's hand, and said, "Let me do it."

Jonny leaned forward, frowning, and put his mouth on the spoon.

Only then did Abner smell a little bit of the medicine, it was just bitter, and it was so fishy, ​​Abner almost vomited himself, but Jonny just frowned and swallowed the medicine.

Suddenly the door was opened, "Master Abner!"

Abner turned around, it was Alvin.

"Why..." Before Abner could finish speaking, Alvin put down the bowl in his hand and pulled him out.

"Master, why haven't you changed your clothes yet, and you haven't even eaten breakfast! The 'History of the Four Kingdoms' exam has already started!" Alvin said in a hurry.

It was only then that Abner remembered that there was still an exam. He hurriedly changed his clothes, and then ran out with a piece of white bread dipped in honey. Alvin grabbed him again, straightened his collar, and said seriously Said: "People in the Apocaceri family must keep tidy at all times."

Abner: "..."

"Go, young master, do better in the exam, try not to count down. I have already greeted the lord and asked him to give you some time." Alvin patted Abner on the shoulder.

Abner ran and yelled, "Extend time? What are you kidding!"

Alvin: "..."

"Oh, this child really fell asleep."

Abner entered the study room in full view, took the exam paper from the sneering Aubrey, and sat down in his seat, half of the time was left.

He shook his pen and began to write without raising his head.

Aubrey glanced at Abner, and said, "Masters and ladies, please don't write nonsense, you won't just leave it blank, I don't sympathize with nonsense answers, and it's a waste of time."

At the end of the exam, Aubrey saw that Abner also dropped his pen, so he said: "Master Abner, your Lord Alvin has come to say hello this morning, and said that he will give you some more time, you can Keep writing."

All of a sudden the other young masters and ladies stared at Abner and laughed softly.

Abner grabbed the paper and threw it into Aubrey's hand, saying, "I don't want to delay the fencing class next." Then he put Sean's shoulders on his shoulders and swaggered out.

Aubrey sneered, and glanced at the part of the paper that was still unfinished, white as snow.

Sean poked Abner, and said in a low voice, "It's rare that Aubrey is so easy to talk, why don't you write it quickly? The last two questions are the easiest, and you will definitely do it. Have you written it yet? If you haven't written it, go quickly, before Aubrey regrets it." .”

Abner waved his hand, "Don't worry, don't worry, I've done all the calculations, and I'll definitely pass this time."

Sean breathed a sigh of relief, "It's fine if you can pass."

"Is that Abner?"

"How did he suddenly become so powerful?"

"Yes, yes, he often skips classes..."

"..."

Whispering voices continued, and Abner pretended not to hear anything, and seriously practiced sparring with Sean, and Sean was surprised to feel that he was not even his opponent.

Suddenly the door of the fencing room was opened, and Alvin stood at the door, completely beaming with joy, completely different from his usual restraint. Abner and Sean stopped the swords in their hands and stared at him blankly.

"Ai, Master Abner!" Abner stared wide-eyed, looking at Alvin, he stuttered a little excitedly?

Abner put down his sword, took off his helmet, and walked towards Alvin.

"What's wrong?" Abner asked.

Alvin pulled Abner aside, excitedly took something from a package, his hands seemed to tremble slightly due to excitement, "Master... you are awesome, look at this beautiful paper..."

Abner glanced at the history of the four countries that he had just passed, and asked indifferently, "What's wrong?"

Alvin seemed to be surprised by Abner's indifferent attitude, and said, "Master, you got third in the exam! And when you didn't have enough time, you obviously could continue to write, why did you hand in the paper? If you After writing, it may be the first!"

Abner scratched his head, "I see."

Alvin: "..."

He touched Abner's forehead, found no abnormal temperature, and asked, "Master, don't study too hard, why do I think you seem to be using your brain too much?"

After speaking, he took out another large bag of bread from the package, took out a piece and stuffed it into Abner's mouth. Abner's mouth was filled with bread crumbs, "..."

"Enough..." Abner mumbled.

Alvin eagerly stuffed the remaining bread into Abner's helmet, "Master, spinach bread."

Abner: "..."

Abner walked back to the fencing room, and the rest of the people stared at him curiously. He and Sean sat in a sparsely populated place.

"What did Alvin tell you to do?" Sean asked.

The corner of Abner's mouth twitched, he took out a piece of bread from his helmet, and stuffed it into Sean's mouth. Sean immediately frowned, "What kind of bread is so unpalatable."

Abner ate it with great relish, and said, "Spinach bread, I've grown long after eating it."

Sean: "..."

"It's not tasty, I don't want to eat it." Sean stuffed the green bread back into Abner's hand.

Abner pushed back into his mouth again, and said, "Eat it, Dennis Kasdey will come over this year, that arrogant little carrot, remember? He is already taller than us."

Sean groaned, swallowed the bread, and almost choked.