I remember the first time I met my master. He was known as the foolish first prince and his reputation was anything close to decent. Though it wasn’t that he did anything bad, but he was just extremely dumb, clumsy, and a little bit crazy. In fact, he was diagnosed with a mental illness by some imperial doctors.

Everyone knew that was the last straw and soon an announcement was made that the title of ‘crown prince’ would go to the king’s second son. Many thought this a godsend, but even though the first prince was the way he is, the king loved him very much and he was the only child of the late first queen, the king’s one and only true love.

Because of this the king humored everyone of the prince’s whims. I was one of those whims. I had just turned fifteen and was drafted into the military. Apparently the first prince wanted a new attendant, because his previous attendant was ‘to ugly’.

I had only been learning swordsmanship for two weeks and had already been bullied for my pretty face, but when the first prince spotted me and became my master I thought I just had to be the unluckiest man alive.

I soon learned that the prince was extremely like what the rumours foretold him to be like, but even so I couldn’t help but feel that this crazy master of mine might just be the wisest and smartest person in the whole kingdom.

Yes it was a proven fact that he does in fact have a mental illness, but my master would always tell me how it was a blessing, not a curse. He always seemed to know people’s secrets and after I had spent two years with him he told me he learned these secrets from his dreams.

For the first few months I had always thought that Master had only chosen me because of my pretty face, but everything he ever told me helped me achieve great things. He always seemed to know what I was doing wrong and came up with multiple solutions to fix my mistakes.

When I asked him why he never learned to wield a sword if he knew how to help someone master the weapon he said, “If I pick up a weapon what are you here for? What about the other guards? They’ll surely keep me safe, and besides, I trust my heart. I won’t die.”

I never knew what he meant, but when I turned twenty-one there was a huge monster attack on the castle. We fled, but even then we ended up surrounded. It was only the two of us against seventeen high level monsters.

With the training I had received I was able to take down fourteen of them, but when I was down and about to be stabbed through the heart, Master jumped in front of me. The mix of rage and sadness I felt is something I know I wish to never feel again.

I quickly summoned the last of my strength to get rid of three remaining monsters, but by the time I had reached Master he had already lost quite a bit of blood. As I tried to stop the blood he grabbed my hand and smiled up at me. I didn’t understand how he could be smiling when he was at death's door. Why was he forbidding me from stopping the blood?

“See I told you my heart was strong. I was able to protect you,” he said and when I asked why he did he continued with, “You’re someone important to me, so because I could let you live just a little longer means my heart was strong enough.”

I then learned that the first prince was never talking about physical strength nor his actual heart, but the compassion, care, and love he felt for the people surrounding him. Sure my master might have been a fool and definitely suffered from mental problems, but the things that I shall never forget were all things he taught me.

I’ll never forget my master.

Even now as I marry my daughter off to her love.

Even when the last of my hair turns grey.

Even when I also come to death's door.

I shall never forget my master nor the things he has taught me. I shall never forget the first person who ever truly loved me and I them. My master.