Chapter 21 Summary and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Arek returns to the knights' training grounds with Rion, eager to resume sword practice after the moat monster incident. He arrives dressed in his finest clothes, hoping to impress both Rion and the new soldier recruits who are watching. Rion starts him with wooden training swords, and Arek quickly discovers that Rion is a demanding instructor. Instead of guiding Arek's body with his hands, Rion uses the tip of his practice sword to poke and prod Arek into the correct stances. The session is grueling, and Arek's body aches from the exertion, but he also finds himself laughing and enjoying the sparring. A small crowd of recruits gathers to watch, and Arek publicly praises Rion and General Sionna as the best fighters of the age.
Over the next week, Arek returns to training every day, leaving his cape and crown behind. He progresses from wooden swords to steel swords and shields, and he notices that his mood and sleep improve with the physical activity. One day, after a particularly exhausting session, Rion suggests that Arek's next skill is to teach someone else. Rion calls Matt forward from the crowd, and Arek is surprised to see that Matt has recovered enough to leave his room.
Arek guides Matt through basic sword stances and movements, placing his hands on Matt's arm, back, and hip to correct his form. Matt becomes visibly uncomfortable with the physical closeness, and after a few minutes, he stops, saying he will stick to magic. Arek respects Matt's boundary and decides to end his own training for the day as well. They leave the training grounds together, and Matt leads Arek through the overgrown castle grounds to a hidden, walled garden that is magically warm.
Inside the garden, Matt shows Arek a cluster of small, red flowers called Heart's Truth. He explains that the pollen of these flowers urges a person to reveal what is in their heart. Matt plans to use the flowers on Lila to test whether she has any romantic feelings for Arek, so that Arek does not waste time wooing her if she is not interested. Arek is impressed by the garden and praises Matt's ingenuity, calling him