It is confounding as to why the sparring yard lulled Maxwell like a moth to a flame. The clanks and chattering of metal upon metal is like harmony to his ears. The swords are calling to him. His body is equally itching to dance with the blades.
A display of agility and strength made itself evident the first step Maxwell took in the courtyard. On the left, a masked knight is slouched and heaving. His hand holds tightly to a dull iron sword but his tired arms hang loosely on his shoulders. By the looks of it, someone must have hit him in the shoulders hard.
On the right, a familiar sight beckons. Amidst the battered figure and dented plates, that short golden hair screams of danger - for whatever reason? It is still unclear but his mind is screaming for him to run. But curiosity kept Maxwell in place. He stayed with a circle of noble guards, knights, and passing hedgeknights to see how the battle would end.
"Care to give up yet, Garrus?" The golden-haired guy said.
"Ask me that again and I'll wipe that annoying grin once more," Garrus replied, followed by a heavy vertical slash that sent his opponent skidding to the far side of the yard. "Let me return the question. Care to give up yet, Matthias?"
"You know I won't," Matthias leaped in the air, and for a moment, Maxwell saw slivers of fire forming in the outer edge of the dull sword. While mid-air, Maxwell and Matthias had their eyes locked together - sending Matthias into a daze that sent him crashing to the ground. Of course, that alone would not wipe the grin on his face. Quite frankly, it turned for the worst when Matthias ran to where Maxwell was.
"Maxwell!" Matthias screamed while running. "I know you woke up but I didn't expect you to visit me while I beat Garrus to a pulp."
"For the record, it was I who was beating him to a pulp," Garrus replied as he took off his helmet. He's a rather broad guy with strong eyes and a chin. His hair is brown and cropped at the sides. Beneath those thick training pauldrons, Maxwell expected that he'd have broad shoulders to match how huge his pectorals are. "He thinks he's beating me because he thinks I am ignorant to the enchantments he is putting in his blade. I do not need such things therefore I am the clear victor."
Matthias grabbed Maxwell by the head and ruffled the hair on his chest. Good lord, Maxwell could feel his putrid trickling sweat drip on his forehead. And he stinks like a well-used sock. If Maxwell was in his original body, he might feel infatuated now that a handsome-looking person is rubbing his chest on him. But on this body? Maxwell only feels disgusted, like a belching odor creeping inside his throat. No wonder his mind is telling him to run before. He regrets coming here now.
The golden-haired guy is Matthias von Vanderbilt, Maxwell's eldest brother. From the last cycle of his memories, Maxwell remembers him leaving last year since he is currently finishing his Spellsword studies. Spellswords are swordsmen who use magic to heighten their battle prowess. Matthias is an experienced Spellsword and one of the best in the academy he's in. He is commendable, if not for his volatile attitude when it comes to causing mayhem - and then there is his obsessiveness with the third Vanderbilt son - Maxwell Vanderbilt.
Garrus bid his farewell for he must return to his patrol duties. It is a pleasure sparring with the future Marquess of the land. Well, scratch that. He may have said that but the look on his face screams of extreme displeasure. If you're going to arrange a no-enchantment sparring match, better hold the end of the deal you damn bastard! But he is a lord and displeasure towards them is better left to the privacy of one's mind.
Maxwell was about to slip out while Matthias was busy with Garrus, but he mistook his brother's senses. Before he knew it, Matthias had already grabbed his younger brother and sped to the plains just outside the manor. While running, Matthias is removing the training armor leaving him only with a trouser when they reach their destination. Now naked, the stink coming from his intensified tenfold. Some of the ladies they passed giggled, but Maxwell could feel nothing but retch in disgust.
"So, what blessings have you got? Show it! Show it! Show it!" Matthias said.