#withinyourgrasp

It wasn't that Kayn was bad at swordplay, no. It was far beyond that. The very opposite actually. Since he first arrived to the Ionian Castle, Zed had been training him with every conceivable weapon within the castle’s walls.

Swords of every kind, a flail from the armor suits on display, spears they obtained from the Demacian Royal’s visit last year, his own two fists of course, Zed’s Katar and Shurikens, the dagger? Sometimes one, sometimes two, sometimes daggers to be thrown. And let's not talk about all the more…unconventional ‘weapons’ either like the silverware that line the tables at dinner and replicas of his princess’ hairpins.

But like he said, Zed has his reasons for putting Kayn though all of this. Half of it was him wanting to test Kayn’s limits. The pride and curiosity of being one of the best soldiers, Zed wanted to see if he could make his protege learn all the same skills he had. The other half? The other half half was Zed just wanting Kayn to be able to fight with anything around him. That's what he tells the other Masters when they look over to see the Noxian child scramble to defend himself as he gets chased down the halls of the castle anyway.

Today however, was the last of a series of weapons available from the garden shed. Having spent last season in the kitchen, the months before in the ballroom, and this whole Spring in the garden. Almost every location in the castle had been a training ground to Kayn since he arrived. So casually, Zed handed Kayn a large scythe. The simple wooden handle and curved steel blade seemingly mocking him with a smile as the young boy grabbed it from his Master.

“ And you want me to fight you with this clunky thing Master Zed?” “ You've fought me with even more absurd things if I recall.”

Kayn rolls his eyes, making a face at Zed before he effortlessly spins the Scythe around his waist into his other hand. The stylish first time handling of the weapon electing an excited gasp from his princess watching mere meters away. Ah…seeing her look at him like that. How could he not smile.

A tinge of his own cocky bravado paired with his need to push down his memories from Noxus just a few years ago, Kayn subconsciously chose to show off his instinctual mastery the second the handle touched his palm. His Master Zed of all people should have know better than anyone of Kayn's trauma. Was that why he saved this weapon for last?

Zed himself being the one who found Kayn in the outskirts of Ionia wielding the shitty rusty sickle in self defence. A story the princess doesn't know. Something Kayn never spoke of. Yeah. It was no more than five years ago that he brandished a sickle at his current Master. Almost a sick joke for Zed to hand Kayn a larger version of the same weapon he fought endlessly day and night with when Noxus dumped him in the village to fend for himself.

“ I'll try. The princess is watching after all.” ” Of course you will.”

Kayn swallows hard as he lets the corner of the scythe rest against the ground. Readjusting his grip on the weapon as he tried to get used to the weight. His time here has left his childhood abuse at Noxus a faded memory. But still. It was hard to forget almost a week of endless fighting when you're the only survivor.

A deep breath as he calmed his nerves. He'll get over it. He always does. He was The Shieda Kayn afterall.

Kayn sighs.

Pushing his hair out of his face before running in to spar with Zed in that same breath.

A wide grin on his face as metal hit metal. Over and over. His blade being pushed back. Kayn readjusting his grip and swinging the weapon back down. Almost looking like he's been training with the farming tool for the past year. It was truly insulting how easily Kayn could grasp the ins and outs of any weapon places in his hands.

But this time, as he gets pushed back yet again. Both him and Zed took a pause.

Breathing heavy, they catch their bearings yet again. Kayn calms himself. From the corner of his eye, the knight spots his princess cheering him on. Wasn't that just just sweet of her…

With another arrogant laugh Kayn turns his attention back to Zed who was already running back in. Did he intend to spar until a draw yet again?

A dash and spin of his scythe that hits nothing but shadows and smoke. His master’s Shadow Arts? Had a he pushed him that far already? Maybe it's a much quicker fight today then.

“ That soon Master Zed? I'm playing dirty now too.”

A wild smile on Kayn's face as he drops the heavy end of his weapon to the ground. An upswing of his scythe. Sand and grass being kicked up into Zed's incoming path before Kayn twists his grip and pulls it back. Hooking the blade around his master's neck. A clear win if it wasn't for Zed’s own Katar stopping a breath away from Kayn's neck. Leaving the two of them letting out a breath and pulling away from combat.

The spar was finally over.

“ Unfair. You're making me look bad in front of the princess Master Zed.”

“ I beg to differ.”

Zed smiles before tilting his head in the direction of the princess. The girl already cheering and running towards Kayn. Praises and commendations hitting him. The young Knight’s own eyes widening a little as a blush slowly rises up his cheeks. What a mess… He looks even worse now all flustered like this.

“ Come on princess. You've seen me use cooler weapons-”

“ But this one made you look the coolest!”

His heart that had calmed down from the adrenaline of battle began to speed up again. What was wrong with him. With his eyes never leaving the pure smile of his liege he hears Zed speak behind him.

“ So, I've trained you in every conceivable weapon in the castle. What will you pick as your main arms? I'll have the blacksmith personalize one for you. A gift.”

Without missing a beat, still staring at his lovable princess. Kayn speaks up. A quick reply.

You carefully step out from behind your mother’s embroidered robes, her gentle touch trying to coax you out from the safety of the flowing sparkly cloth. A tender smile as she slowly walks aside to give you space.

You were young, it was hard to really understand what everyone was talking about. All you could tell was that it wasn’t too serious, nothing bad happened and you weren’t in trouble, so that was good.

Why father was here and talking to the man with white hair was beyond you. The head of the knights? You make a guess, you’ve seen him around when he was tasked to take care of you sometimes. Probably the knight captain then. Finally curious enough to look around, your eyes move away from your parents and land on him.

Long messy black hair.

A scared yet otherwise expressionless face.

And finally you see it as his eyes meet yours.

The most striking yellow almost gold eyes.

Almost instantly enamored, your young self couldn’t help but stare. His features are so unlike anyone’s you’ve ever seen. Like you, he was similarly half hiding behind Captain Zed half trying his best to seem unbothered. Before you could continue to stare, you hear your fathers stern yet caring voice call out.

“ My little princess, come over here”

You listen as your father beckons you over. With elegant steps (to the best of your little 9 year old body), you walk to stand by the king’s side. Doing your best to stand up straight as you turn to look up at him as he speaks to you directly.

“ In the recent war, our Knight Commander Zed here found this young Noxian child. And this child will be your Knight from now on. Zed chose to...”

As the King spoke, your own attention wanes as you look over to see the child’s head slowly turn to look at you. For the briefest of moments, a glimmer of…something in those sunshine yellow eyes as he actually sees you. “ …he’s the same age as you too, so we talked about…” Your father’s words are nothing but background noise as you examined the new potential friend. You revel in the beautiful golden sparkle of his eyes briefly before watching them return to that dull and empty gaze.

It was hard to blame him. After all, escaping Noxian control to only be ‘forced’ to serve you? That definitely sucks. And for you? It was the horrible and sudden realization that if you have a personal knight… it means it is now all the more harder to be up to your usual mischief. You start scheming about how to win him over to your side. Partners in crime instead of enemies. Diplomacy, right, that’s what all those lessons you’ve been to have been teaching you.

How else were you going to run away from classes if some other kid is going to legally stalk you. You’d find a way to sneak around him for now. Father and Mother are out to ruin you…honestly…

“ …those Noxian genes would hopefully make him a good fighter and knight for you. Go introduce yourself, my child.”

Your head snaps back up to look at your dad as he directly speaks to you, his hand gently resting on your back. Doing your best to offer your dad a smile before trying to remember what you learnt from etiquette class. Ok…you neatened out your dress and made eye contact with the soulless looking Noxian child.

Were you supposed to curtsey when you introduced yourself? Or was it to shake his hand? Maybe you should reconsider skipping all those classes so often…

“ Lovely meeting you, I am the Crown Princess of Ionia.”

There is a brief pause as the adults look at you before Zed nudges the boy a little roughly.The messy hair child replies.

“ Kayn. I’m Shieda Kayn.”

It has been a little over a week now. Sighing as you sipped on some sweet honey tea in the royal garden. Kayn was doing his best on the job between looking after you and training with Zed.

The maids and butlers have all walked away after serving you. Having completed their orders from you they scattered to tend to other more pressing castle matters, leaving you and your knight-in-training to guard you. Perfect!

As the adults leave the two of you alone you couldn’t help your young inquisitive mind from questioning your new companion. You’ve been waiting for a chance to get to talk to him like this.

“ Hey, Kayn, can you tell me about what it’s like? Being a Knight?” “ Why would ya wanna know that, Princess.”

He replies softly, almost rude in tone, as if he was on guard for you mocking him in some way.

“ I’ve seen you train with Sir Zed, it looked fun! Sword Fighting is way cooler than learning Ionian History for hours. Tell me more Kaynie…I want to get to know you.”

“ Do I have to-”

“ Would you tell me if I order you to, my little knight?”

He seemingly flinches at the nicknames you had forced upon him, yet, he speaks anyway. Voice still soft but his expression less distant than before. It was an order…so of course he answers. If what little knowledge he had about nobility and his past in the army from Noxus taught him anything, he knew he should do as he was told.

Still standing at attention though no one is really watching him but you, the knight who was but a year older than you tells you about his life at the castle thus far. How ‘Master Zed’ really pushes him to his limits. How its like when he has to wake up early to train. How he actually likes the food he gets to eat now compared to his past.

You listen in excitement, prompting him to tell you more about his entirely different experiences compared to you. Gradually, his reserved voice gets a little clearer and almost…excited when he continues recounting his tales to you. The smallest crack of a smile creeps onto his face. Your own innocent gaze, eyes looking at him with pure adoration and your absolute yet unshaking attention almost make him want to run away. Attention from authority never went well for him in his past experiences, you couldn’t blame him for his apprehension.

“ You were from Noxus right? So what was life like then?”

And then he freezes. However little he opened up to you closed off instantly.

“ There is nothing of value to talk about then, Princess.”