Outside the City of Occidens
"I know that very well, Your Highness, that it is nothing but a fool's plan to trick a mind such as yours" Doran replied softly, his voice like wind resonating from a distant cave. Doran blinked his eyes instinctively, as her white hand struck lightly his forehead.
Doran chuckled once, an imperceptible sound and a movement even harder to detect.
He sat on a more comfortable position, as Alessia explained once more the situation...a present that Doran probably knew too well.
"I told you. He does not believe your skills to be worthy of the Royal Guard. Do not take it offensively, he tests every person who is offered to join the Regiment, for he wishes only to protect his lineage"
The matter interested Doran so much that he wondered why Alessia waved right in front of his face, frankly, not very much: he sighed lightly, considering Alessia's statement...how low could Occidens get? Even the princess has to fight--not only, but she is also an amazing warrior, much like a trump card: a princess as beautiful as Alessia couldn't dedicate herself to war, right?
Somewhy, the words reminded Doran of his father Arabor the 'most revered head of the Paragon': he has always been harder than a rock, or steel...or any alloy, really: he has always been distant from the lastborn, no matter what he achieved. Metaphorically speaking, Arabor has always been a great mountain: one that Doran could never climb, and after many, many, many, many attempts, he surrendered before the tall piece of rock.
Doran was afraid of his father: a person that he cannot gaze upon, since his mere presence stains the man that is his father.
He feels so estranged from his father, that in the night nightmares haunt his sleep: who was wrong? Doran, that refuses centuries of traditions or his father, that paved his way the very day he was born?
A shiver through the spine shoke Doran, one colder than any breeze. Doran looked for the princess: she was standing before him, casting her shadow over him. He took her hand and lifted himself up, easily and quickly. As soon as he stood up, Alessia closed the distance between their faces: despite she was short, she really knew how to get taller...and then, her eyes were close to his. Doran was surprised, it seems grey eyes do exist: and her eyes were sharp, intimidating, imperious...like her father's.
Doran inevitably blushed and backed off, feeling relieved as the princess started to whirl around him...and reminding him how different was he from the other knights. "Th-that is because I have nothing to brag, Your Highness: my mind is not keen, neither my arms strong...or my armor exceptional" Doran said so, turning toward the princess that longs to clash him.
"Bare-handed": that's how Doran wanted to fight, since he carried no sword or polearm. That is probably another difference between Doran and the other knights.