Chapter II Part Two

A week later I was out of my sickbed, and working under the High Healer and one of my father's Imperial Knights.

The High Healer would oversee my training in the healing arts. Despite my mother's boasts, he outstripped her in almost every field. He was the most accomplished healer in the empire and arguably on the continent.

"We will begin this lesson where all novice students start. The first law of this art states that it is impossible to heal from a distance. This is an unbreakable rule of healing. We, healers, stitch wounds, cure disease, to grant relief to the suffering. To do this, we manipulate our mana to a fine point and use it to help our patients. Only by physical touch is it possible to share mana, your highness. That is why it is our one unbreakable law.

"To start with, I will teach you how to sow basic skin wounds. You must keep in mind that this skill will only affect light cuts. Deeper wounds require different skills. Before we can start on the basics, you're going to need to mold your mana. So we'll start there."

The Throne Knight's name was Philippe Segal. Baron Segal was a minor aristocrat in one of the northern provinces and Philippe was his third son. He was far down in the line of inheritance, but through grit and determination, he earned a place on the emperor's Imperial Knights. As an Imperial Knight, he held a higher social position than his father or brothers.

Philippe was a kind man who was quick to laugh. He was more patient than the High Healer and a better teacher all around.

"It's a simple concept, your highness. We infuse our mana into our bodies to accomplish what would otherwise be impossible. Allow me to demonstrate."

Philippe leaned down and jumped. He got twelve feet into the air and landed gracefully like a cat.

I was smiling. "Show off."

Philippe laughed. "I admit, I am a bit of a braggart. My considerate demonstration out of the way, start molding your mana."

When I wasn't with the High Healer or Philippe, I divided my time between practicing those skills, studying under Master Kieten, playing with Euphy, spending time with my older siblings, reading in the library, and attending to my father in those rare moments that he wanted to see me. My day quickly filled up.

In my previous life, I had hours and hours to myself on those long drives. It was strange not having so much free time, but it was something I adapted to.

My limited free time became more strained when I discovered sports. Soccer and Basketball were things in this world and they were just as boring as I remembered them from my last life, but this world had a sport that mine lacked. It was called Sorcery and it took sports to the extreme. It was a ball game, so it wasn't completely unfamiliar, but it required all players to have mana. The players would infuse the mana in the traditional forms and play a ball game with superhuman agility.

The game consisted of five balls and six hoops of varying sizes. Each time had ten players and the goal was to score as many times as possible. Different hoops had different point values, with the more difficult hoops to score being worth more. Victoria took me and Euphy to see the championship game in the imperial circuit and I was hooked. I never expected to be the kind of guy to enjoy sports, but Sorcery was something to watch.

Of course, for the most part, I didn't get to watch the games. I listened on the radio to every major game on the Imperial Circuit. Sometimes I even got to tune into foreign games. Sorcery was by far the most popular sport in the world and each country seemed to have its league.

That was soon going to change. In 1005, the very first International Sorcery League was going to be held. Countries from all over the world would be competing and each of those games would be covered in detail. In just three more years the league would be up and running. I couldn't wait.

My favorite team was the Aquroya Magicians, for obvious reasons. They were my home team. I was sure they would represent Aquitaine on the international stage.

Whenever a Sorcery game was held in Aquroya, I begged my mother to let me go. She relented, but only under the condition that I take a team of bodyguards with me. Philippe would head that team until I turned thirteen. That was the age I would get my own Imperial Guard.

The rumors surrounding the Romanov family turned out to be true. In December, the family arrived in Aquitaine. By January, they were in Aquroya. The Romanovs were going to be given the Rose Palace in Valoise to live in, until such time they were able to reestablish their lost empire.

Some of my father's advisers thought the restoration of House Romanov would come soon. Within the decade. The newly formed People's Union of Roslachny appeared unstable. The communist leadership had control over most of the former empire, but it was tentative at best. Pro Tsar and anti-Roslachny rebellions were breaking out all over the country and they were stretched thin putting down each one of them.

I wasn't so optimistic. The People's Union reminded me of the Soviet Union in my world. It stood for the better part of a century before it collapsed. This world resembled Earth in some ways, so the P.U.R might not be as doomed as my father hoped.

When the Romanovs stopped in Aquroya, I got to meet them. Tsar Nikolai was a thoughtful and patient man. Though even I could see the regret in his eyes. His wife Caterina was beautiful, but somehow even more haunted than her husband.

I also meant Tatiana and Alexi Romanov, the only two children that survived the communist purges. Alexi was a sickly boy, but the High Healer promised Nikolai that he had a treatment plan that could manage his son's symptoms. He could give the boy somewhat of a normal life. The healing arts weren't as advanced in Roslachny as they were in Aquitaine. A team of specialists would be dispatched to the Rose Palace to manage the boy's condition.

I only spent a few minutes in Alexi's company, before I was spirited away with Tatiana Romanov, who I learned preferred to be called Tanya. We met with my father, my mother, Nikolai, and Caterina in the throne room. Where my father announced that I was to be engaged with Tanya Romanov.

Tanya was a redhead and I think that was where her fire came from. She screamed at her parents, my parents, declaring she wasn't going to get married just because some old people told her she had to. In the end, she was taken from the room kicking and screaming. Nikolai promised she would marry me before he and Caterina left.

I found out later that Tanya had been sold to me in return for all the boons that my father was granting House Romanov. I couldn't understand why my father was going through all the trouble at first.

"He wants to put his blood on the Roslachny throne," Henri told me while we were playing a game of chess.

"What?"

"Father thinks the People's Union will fail. One way or another. Even if we have to go to war with them. When the communist government falls and the Romanovs are restored, you'll be in a position to place father's blood on their throne."

"Alexi is going to inherit the throne, isn't he?"

Henri nodded. "If he survives. He's a very fragile boy. Right now our healers are helping keep him alive. I don't think it would be too hard for father to make his death look like an accident. Then Tanya will be the only heir left."

"He... He wouldn't do that, would he?"

Even as I asked, I felt stupid. Of course, the emperor would do it. He had no problems with waging expansionist wars. What would the death of one kid be to him?

"Our father is the emperor," Henri said gently. "What he wants, he gets. No one would dare tell him no. Even the Romanovs are at his mercy. If they found out what he did, he could keep them in Aquitaine as hostages. While you and Tanya are crowned Tsar and Tsarina of Roslachny."

My father was far from a kind man. He was screwed and powerful. I didn't doubt that he might go that far. Another empire ruled by House Arc. I could see how it would be appealing.

"I wouldn't concern yourself over it too much, Calixte. The P.U.R has yet to fall and we can't put you on the throne of an empire that's ruled by communists. I think the P.U.R won't fall as easily as father and Nikolai would like."