The next morning began with Valentines doors opening in the early dawn. Martin approached already suited and ready. It had only been four hours since the dinner and it seemed that he had not rested since then. Merely a change of clothes and a shower at best. Valentine stood from his bed. Bare as the day he was born. His body toned with tight muscle clinging to his form. His body cleanly shaven with only his chin bearing a light stubble from him not having a chance to shave just yet. His right hand marked with three dots on the flesh between his thumb and index finger. His lower abdomen on his left side a small circular tribal marking forming what looked like a jagged and pointed circle with spines and thorns jutting out of it. Martin approached Valentine and at least with this approach it seemed that the tensions from night before had died down enough for the two to continue business as usual.<br/><br/>"You will be fighting Sebastian. You have the day to prepare. I expect you at the training grounds ready and marked. My outburst yesterday. It was more filled with anger than it was justified. See that you don't let me actions stop you from impressing. You are my blood. And that comes before all else. You are red. Sebastian is blue." Valentine smirked at hearing that he was red. Far too many times had he been the one that was not favored. An act that was chosen just by the look of everyone in the crowd. If there was one thing that Martin excelled at,it was reading a crowd. And it seemed like all of the LaCroix seemed more interested in his son than his top soldier. Something the must have been stirred to the simple fact that he was his son. The one he trained his whole adult life.<br/><br/>Valentine nodded to his father and that gesture along with the smirk on his face seemed to be enough to show that Valentine was up to the challenge. If there was one thing about Valentine that Martin would be forced to say he admired was that he was not one to back down from any challenge. Even if it was ever stacked against him. Once Martin had left,Valentine grabbed some red work out shorts and a two small clay containers. He did not bother putting anything else on. His feet were bare and so was anything from the chest up. It was daylight. He would not need to worry about any stray vampires making any rounds of any sort.<br/><br/>After finding his way out of the castle and out to the courtyard he found the area that had been designated for the battle. Although it was not fully ready just yet,Valentine approached it to get a feel for the land. The closer he approached the more he saw the shadow of another figure approaching. Just as he was. Sebastian approached carrying two clay containers in one hand and only in blue work out shorts. "I won't go easy on you,Valentine." Valentine already began his stretching and getting himself ready for a run. "Did you hear me,Valentine? Your father did this to find the best person for the job. Not to show off his son."<br/><br/>"Haven't you learned yet? Only I know what my father wants. And I know only because I have had his will put on me for so long. Do what you have to,Sebastian. Just know you won't win." The two went their separate ways and began their warm ups away from one another. Knowing that this fight would get messy. In and outside of it. Sebastian was already aching to prove himself to Martin while Valentine was looking to make everything his father put him through mean something. Now was their one chance to prove what they had to. To themselves and to everyone that decided to come and watch.