Two royal guards clad in heavy armor held their spears firmly with one hand, and stood beside the door leading into the royal halls of the palace. Their eyes darted to me then straight ahead. The silence of their presence meant little for they were only guards who protected the palace. There was little to talk about in this line of work for it was prohibited, not unless they were addressed.

I had mustered the courage to come here in order to find out what the king has in store for me. It was the morning after I had read the message that I decided to come. In truth, I hesitated for a while, but finally made up my mind, half-heartedly, that is.

I dressed up as formally as possible, taking a nobleman's long-sleeved coat that I have been given as a present a few months ago. Not too extravagant, but just enough for me to get by without attracting strange stares.

"I am Geoffrey Merevas. I have come here on the order of the king. Is he present?"

I asked the guards. My words echoed through the empty hall for there was no one else but us here.

It had been some time since I last visited the palace. It is still kept clean and tidy as much as possible. The royal finishes that decorated the room were too exquisite for me, but that's just because I didn't feel that much comfortable around too much luxuries.

"You are being expected by the king. Please, come this way. I shall escort you to the halls."

One of the guards left his post and had the door opened.

The insides were just as mesmerizing as the day I first saw it. A high ceiling, a wide and spacious room, scarlet curtains decorating the tall windows, smooth white pillars, a red carpet leading all the way to the steps where the throne sits. The chandeliers up above gave a radiant gold glow to the palace halls. It was a drastic change from the decrepit outside of the area beyond the door I came from, almost as if a different plane existed that was separated by a single door.

But more so, I took slow steps moving forward. My own steps echoed, but I was not alone this time. The eyes of many were upon me, and they watched my every movement closely. My throat felt dry at the strictness of the security here.

The Ylithian Royal Guards. The most accomplished knights of the kingdom that serve the king and protect him no matter the cost. These men consisted of people whom have created a strong image of themselves and have established their names as someone with the capacity to serve someone like a king. They were all different from any other knight, though they wore the same meticulously crafted armor, they wielded their own weapons to better themselves.

Not even I can hope to fight these men for their experience is a key component to their great feats and accomplishments. I have heard that the commander of these men is a veteran whom had survived countless of battles, pivotal battles, against demons and other kingdoms.

But sure enough I have encountered in my studies the greatest commander of these knights in the history of the royal guards. His was a name that no one did not know of. Frederick Erinn, a man whom was legendary for his service to the kingdom and his feats that made him a demon to the demons themselves. But I think that's just an exaggeration. His accomplishments, however, were recorded in the history books and had been a story to many young and aspiring knights and adventurers seeking inspiration. It was unfortunate, but his death came to a shock for everyone. It was as if the entire kingdom held its breath and wept silently. That truth was brought forth by a letter that General Norman Niels reveled, then made public.

That man is also a close acquaintance of the king, his teacher and mentor, to be more precise. If there is someone that would know better of the man, then it would be King Gareth of Ylithia, or the deceased Sir Hark of Lavis. Most of this I've only heard from my father, also a general of the Ylithian army, and a close confidant among the few most accomplished generals in the circle, Leonar Merevas.

Then I finally made it to the steps that the throne overlooks. It was vacant, but the sounds of footsteps could be heard. Those were not mind since I was standing still. But this aura of confidence and authority shook me. I was now in the presence of someone holding the highest position in the kingdom. The king himself appeared from the side, wearing a golden battle armor with the image of a lion on its center. The size of the armor was enough to fits his robust build.

I immediately knelt and lowered my head, only seeing the king's face for a few seconds. It was overwhelming, this atmosphere, almost suffocating.

"Geoffrey Merevas, stand. I have requested you here as a guest. We shall either see each other on an equal standing or not at all."

His voice was deep and vibrant, almost as if my being reverberated to his tone. What a terrifying and commanding person the king is. He is not that old, yet he is not one to be taken lightly.

King Gareth, the titled king of the new age. He who brought forth a peaceful reign to a turbulent time in Ylithia's history. He won wars against both demons and humans countless of times earning him another title of 'warrior king'. His expertise in battle and stratagem equaled Frederick Erinn's yet no one would know who would come out on top if they were to clash.

At a young age, he was exiled by his father who was a monarch that ruled Ylithia with an iron fist. In that time, the kingdom was beset by all manners of demons, large armies that tried to take the kingdoms through numbers. In this, King Gareth saw a chance to draw the people to his cause, the cause that would eventually end his father's reign and establish the kingdom's peace, strength, stability.

Once I had raised my face, he wore a stern expression. It seemed that there was something on his mind which I could not even begin to guess.

He motioned to the guards saying "Leave us be for the time being. I wish to speak with the man alone."

And in that very instant, the men lined up at an orderly fashion and marched out the door, closing it, leaving not a single person to guard the king.

He descended the few steps and walked towards one of the tall windows to the side, looking at the view of the city, bustling with noise and people moving about with their lives. He was silent for a time, and I dared not move for some reason, but then he spoke.

"I will be forward with you. There are things beginning to unfold in quick succession. I feel that a curtain has been raised, and that the actors are all moving in place," his eyes stayed on me, hands held behind him.

"What do you mean, my King? Actors, curtain? I can't quite comprehend."

"As you may well know, no matter how hard one tries to keep the peace, there will be one whom will disrupt it. That is the natural order to things in this world. Light cannot exist without darkness, and darkness cannot exist without the light. Both are needed to coexist in chaos in order to bring about the unstable balance that is our world. Tell me, how do you perceive this kingdom?"

"It is magnificent how it is at peace despite the war. Of course, many battles are being fought each day, but the worries of these people can't be seen on their faces. The economy thrives, and the growth of the kingdom only continues."

"I see. To me, not as a King, but a man living in a world dictated by who can lead the people, I see flaws, many of them, cracks in a wall to be exploited only to have that foundation built through decades crumble into ruin in mere seconds. People whom put their all in faith will fall instantly without anyone to hold on to once their faith is destroyed or shook. The kingdom is not as it is any longer. Two of the greatest of Ylithia have perished, but that should mean little, shouldn't it? The death of two is unequal to the lives of many."

"Are you referring to Sir Hark and Frederick Erinn?"

"Yes, my two greatest friends and companions. This kingdom has lost many great warriors that rallied the people's hearts and souls to an unwavering resolve, but now that they are gone, who are left to fill their shoes?"

"Well, there are many talented generals here as well. Though I don't think it is easy to match the reputation of those two, I think that they are enough to live up to the kingdom's expectations. Besides, with you leading us, there is no way the kingdom would waver."

"... Son of Leonar, heed my words. Be careful not to be too reliant on someone too much. Learn to become an example yourself rather than looking at an inspiration or a fleeting dream. If that person were to vanish, then both the people and the one expected to lead the people next are left with their mouths agape."

"I-I understand! forgive my assumptions, my king, that was out of place for me."

"Mind your formalities. There is little need of that here. But I shall get to the point. I have heard of your past and upbringing from Leonar. It was harsh and horrid. I sympathize and give my heartfelt prayers to your mother."

"Thank you, my king. But why bring up my past?"

"I wish for you to stand next to your father. You are an exceptional man with exceptional abilities waiting to be cultivated. In time, you shall surpass your father, but beyond that I do not know what kind of future there is for you. But the one thing I know as of the present, you will be pivotal in this kingdom's future."

"Has... my father told you of anything about my mother?"

He became silent and closed his eyes, as if he were thinking of something.

"Nothing that interests me. But he often speaks of your accomplishments and how much you've changed over the years. His words alone were that of a proud father. He once said that you might have the capabilities to become just like general, but it was then that he opposed to the idea."

'Proud father? He's never praised me openly. I've not even seen a smile from him except a stiff nod'.

"Then how do you propose that I do that? I don't think I have the capabilities that you expect of me."

"My eyes do not lie. But It seems that you do not know yourself. You father will naturally oppose to this, but those reasons are best found out by yourself. How I propose that you do that is for you to become just like him, a general."

"I-I can't quite comprehend this. Can I truly do something as important like serving the kingdom as its pillar?"

"There is no choice. But I am giving you one. You have not aspired and dreamt for nothing, have you not? It would be a shame to waste those dreams and aspirations just because you think that you cannot suffice. Do you often think to make your father proud and to fulfill the promise of strength?"

It was like he read my thoughts through my expressions. I was left speechless, but returned to reality, regaining my composure as best as I could.

"Yes, I have often thought of that. I don't think there has been a moment when I haven't. If you will offer me this opportunity, then I shall take it graciously."

I bent one leg and knelt, placing a hand on my chest, waiting for the king's reply.

"Excellent. Stand, there is no need to kneel. I shall announce this when I request the presence of all generals once again. It won't be for a while, so you can rest easy. Every single one of them are still making sure that their territories are safe and well protected. You are free to tell this to Leonar if you wish. Now, if you shall excuse me, I will be dismissing myself. You are free to leave."

"Thank you for granting me the opportunity to speak with you, my king."

He inclined his head slightly and left the way he came from, not at all changing his stern expression.

As the tremendous atmosphere left the room, the door opened, and the royal guards flooded in an orderly manner, resuming their positions.

This was what I expected upon coming here. I knew that there would be some decisions which I would feel conflicted about. It's in the nature of deciding things. Rather, I'd be even more unsure if I decided right away without thinking it through.

This heavy weight, the responsibility to carry the lives of others, not just your own, on your shoulders. Is my dream starting to come true? If so, then please, look over me, mother. I shall make you both proud. I will not fail you, no matter what.

Thus there was nothing else for me to do here. But when I return, there is still much to learn. This beginning cannot be the start of my neglect. I will continue to strive, to be stronger than ever. That defeat I suffered during that tournament was a disgrace and mistake on my part. I became complacent and negligent. That man, the son of Frederick Erinn. I expected better, but it was enough to defeat me. What more he can accomplish; I do not know. Maybe he might be able to follow up on his father's footsteps and create an even bigger legacy than the one Frederick Erinn left behind.

I took a stroll around the palace and to the garden that the princess was said to have admired greatly. There were a few guards who took their rounds, but none were overly suspicious of me.

There was nothing I wanted to accomplish by coming here, just to take in the scenery. The clouds floated aimlessly in the sky, the wind blew gently, and the sound of grass rustling was calming to the nerves.

On the corner of my eye, there were two figures moving towards the fountain to the center of the garden. One wore an elegant dress and the other a formal uniform that appealed to her mature charms. Though I was certainly surprised by their presence here, I was able to recognize them both.

"Oh, I have not seen you here before. Who might you be, stranger?"

The princess' attendant, Sofiya Matten, noticed my presence and called out to me. The princess as well turned to my direction. Her face was rather distant and downcast, as if she were lamenting something in her mind.

"My name is Geoffrey Merevas, the son of Leonar Merevas. It is an honor to make your acquaintances."

I knelt and bowed, the custom of showing respect in the presence of royalty.

"Won't you join us for a while? I'm sure standing there alone would be less preferable."

Without saying another word, I heeded the princess' words and came to her side. Seeing her up close and personal, there was a strange allure and charm to her, but there was a hint of a facade on her face, almost as if she were masking something. Her beauty was nothing short of angelic, however.

"I believe I have seen you before. The tournament, is it?"

"Yes, I was a participant."

"Sir Geoffrey, would you tell me what is happening to this kingdom?"

Again, another vague question, just like the one the king asked me earlier. If there were any significance to this, I would notice, but overthinking it would only further complicate my thinking.

"It is becoming chaotic."

"I see. It is unfortunate what happened to Sir Hark, don't you think?"

"Yes, tragic. But why ask about Sir Hark in particular?"

"Someone I know had lost someone dear to him, someone whom he looked to as his father when there his previous parents perished. I wonder how he is feeling after all this? He must be so lonely and lost because of what happened. I myself have worried about him even until now. Are all these just unfortunate events, or the beginning of something even more terrible than what is happening now?"

She knelt in front of a flower bed and plucked a single red rose from it.

"Who is this man that you speak of, if I may?"

"You have fought against him. Zachary Erinn. I suppose the name is familiar, no?"

"It is. He is an exceptional fighter. The son of the great Frederick Erinn has the burden of needing to carry the same reputation as his father. You worry about him, but that would only mean that you admire him if your languid expression is severe as so. Am I correct?"

"... Yes, that may be it. Our time together was short, unfortunately, but I am sure of what I think. I know that he will return someday, I know he will. But forgive for telling you my worries, I know they are not of concern to you. Do you have something on your mind?"

"Princess? What do you mean?"

"I think I am not the only one with worries. Your face shows that obviously. Would you like to tell me? I shall listen."

She sat on the grass comfortably, enjoying the shade that the clouds cast from above. I felt the need to tell my worries for her voice and soothing atmosphere drew me in. I didn't understand why, but I sat down along with her and gave a tired sigh in remembrance of some things.

Thus, I told her of my worries, exempting my recent discussion with the king and the plans for my eventual initiation to the circle.

"How sorrowful. You have our most sincere condolences for what happened to you."

"Your kind words are wasted on me, but thank you."

"Your dedication has brought you this far. That is not an easy accomplishment. I'm quite impressed. But if you wish to impress Sir Leonar, then moving forward and continuing in your endeavors is the best possible way. The way I see it, he yearns for you to be able to move away from that tragedy that he himself feels responsible for."

"Is that so? Well I shall keep that in mind then."

The bells toiled away at signaling that it is now twelve o'clock in afternoon, and that it is now time for me to leave.

"Thank you for sparing me your time, princess. I will be sure to keep your advice close to mind."

She nodded and smiled faintly.

I spent a short while more until I had left the garden grounds. These pressing concerns of the kingdom are starting to make me lose my composure. Yes, I must continue striving. Train, study, learn, there are still so much I need to do for my father to fully realize and admit my merits.

Opposite of me was a pale skinned man wearing a long dark nobleman's coat that was adorned with gold finishes. He had a sly smile and a malicious looking face. His eyes were sharp and gave off a dangerous feeling which made me on edge. He sported a dark, short hair. If I had to describe him simply, it was a dangerous extravagance, or arrogance in my suspicion.

Once his eyes met mine, he stopped in his tracks. His smile grew wider for some reason.

"Let me guess, Geoffrey Merevas?"

He spoke with a smooth, devilish voice. I simply stared back at him without saying anything, thinking that this man I've never met in my life was not one I can tell my name to so easily.

"No much for words? It seems that the son of Sir Leonar is truly a man of silence as my father says. No matter. I have no qualms with you. But as one whom shares the privilege of being able to hold your own banner in the name of the king, I give to you, my regards."

He took a few steps and extended his hand.

"What privilege do you speak of?" I asked him, not taking my eyes off of his.

"No need to be overly suspicious. Let me introduce myself then."

With an excessive amount of grace and gesture, he bowed.

"My name is Alexander Kaelus, the son of Maximillian Kaelus. No doubt you have heard of our family's name. I do think only the ignorant have not heard of us. The privilege I speak of is being brothers in arms, or to be announced as one. Don't think that you are special. You are not the only one asked to become a general for the kingdom's future."

"What have you come here for anyway? I doubt it's to merely insult me. It'd laughable if the heir of house Kaelus had the strange hobby of mocking and stepping on people as in his leisure."

He smiled at my remark and laughed.

"My, what a sharp tongue as well. Please do keep in mind of the clear hostility in the air around you. There is a rather large chance that you might end up losing your life the moment you make a wrong move. Your hard work and motivation coming from the death of your mother won't be enough to save you."

My eyes widened in shock, and I felt the air around me become cold and constricting. I had not noticed it, but he was for a moment talking in front of me, but now he stood beside me, as if there had been rift in time which he broke through.

Placing a hand on my shoulder, he whispered like a serpent luring someone to their doom.

"Let me test you for a while, as an individual whom lives in this hell filled with demons."

Just then, a sharp air made my nerves swell anxiety and panic.

I shoved him away from me with my left and drew my sword, deflecting a near fatal slice aimed at my sides, and with it was a great hint of precision that shook my arm and made my hand ache in pain of the sudden draw.

The sound of blades clashing rang in my ears over and over, but there was no time to think. I backed away slowly and kept my footing even, measuring the space between us. I had seconds to regain my composure, but thankfully I had enough experience to muster that.

"Poor reflexes, but adequate for fighting simple monsters and demons. Nothing that will save you from anything beyond that of course. I'm mildly disappointed, but I expected nothing more, so the backlash wasn't as bad."

He looked like a reaper, the one whom delivers the dead to the afterlife. Wielding his strange golden ornate sword that gleamed with the light, and the smile that could not be read. I looked at my sword, which made a cracking noise. To my astonishment, it was split cleanly in half, and my sides which I had tried to protect with this sword of mine bled. The pain came a few seconds afterwards, not that dire, but it was threatening to know that even with that, my life was in danger. Just who is this man?!

He sheathed his sword, and at that very moment, the princess and her aide came, accompanied by a few of the royal guards, worried about the sounds. Soon we were surrounded on all sides by the royal guards. The princess covered her mouth as soon as she glanced at me.

At the sight of them, I fell to my knees clutching my wound. I could still stand the pain, but it was searing.

"What has happened here? Are you alright?!"

She tried to rush over to me, but was stopped by two people; her aide Sofiya, and another person approaching from behind the small crowd of soldiers. His voice reverberated through the gardens.

"What is the meaning of this?! Wielding swords in the premises of the royal palace? Some nerve you have there, kid. Explain yourself before you are arrested. I have the authority as the commander of the royal guards, so don't even think of trying to outclass me."

A man wearing an impressive heavy armor came forward, a great sword resting on his back. He was of an old age, but his words carried a great weight. His face sported a gruff expression and a steel-like demeanor.

"Arrested?" he scoffed. "Rest assured that there are no problems here. I was merely expressing my sincerest homage to a fellow brother in arms."

Alexander spoke with a smile on his face, not showing any type of fear in the face of a man carrying such rank.

"And on what authority do you have for that to be allowed?"

"I'm sure my name carries enough weight to be tossed around for my own leisure. Alexander Merevas. I do hope that you realize your lowly worth before trying to look down upon me. Otherwise you might find yourself missing a head, something and someone dear to you. I am no simple commoner in the midst of all these farces concerning kingdom politics. I am someone whom you should look up to with the respect I am due for protecting your miserable hides."

"Is that a threat?"

"Wouldn't you like to find out, Sub Commander Reginald Valen of the Royal Guards?"

As if he were taunting the pain, he placed a hand on the hilt of his strange sword. In response, the commander unsheathed his greatsword.

"All of you here will be witnesses to this duel. Let your eyes not deceive you and not your mouths lie. Here, only the truth will be revealed. This kingdom's weakness is over," he announced, raising his hand up in glorification.

"I shall silence your serpent's tongue, son of Kaelus. Your arrogance has been heard by many, thus you are feared. But not by me. I have a pride to keep, therefore I shall stake everything on this, even if it means killing a nobleman's son. You call yourself a man worthy of respect, that I cannot argue, but I shall show you just how mortal you are. Your arrogance meets its end here!"

"Commander! Please, do not continue with this. There is little reason for us in Ylithia to be fighting. We are already torn, is it not enough, what we've gone through alread? Won't you listen to me?" a voice pleaded.

"Forgive me princess, but I cannot allow such a man to walk without shame. This is a man of many atrocities. I ask of you to watch as I show you my worth as a commander of the royal guards. Take my head after if I win, it will not matter. So long as I set an example that those whom look down upon others can always be brought down by anyone with the will."

She could not respond, rather, she could not find it in her heart to stop the two from this duel. The man's honor was at stake while the other seemed to want the entertainment. Though I had just been injured, I was also anticipating just what might happen between the two.

The commander rushed with a single step, using his sword to drive him further forward. Cleaving downwards with a great roar, his blade closed in on Alexander's head.

It was then that a split second of movement could be seen from him. He stepped aside and smiled at his own reflection as the blade bashed the ground.

Realizing that he missed, he slid his feet to the side, holding the hilt tightly, slashing upwards from the ground towards Alexander.

He merely tilted his body to the side, narrowly missing the blade. But there was not a hint of anxiety or terror on his face. It was as if he were enjoying the entire ordeal.

"Quite slow today, aren't we? The demons I've fought are a lot rowdier than this. I'd be quite ashamed of the Royal Guards if their commander's skill only measured up to this."

With his sword raised up, he roared at the intimidation and cleaved downwards, continuing the chain of attacks he had made.

"How boorish."

Alexander took a step forward and struck the commander's sword arm with the back of his hand. There was a surprised look on the commander’s face as he didn't realize in time that his enemy had made a move to disarm him. What he thought to be an honorable battle fought with blades had the mixture of combat in it.

Next, he then he drove his knee into his opponent's stomach, kicking him towards the wall like a cornered fool. The commander's sword made a loud sound as it crashed to the ground.

Unsheathing his sword, Alexander held the commander's sword arm up and struck his blade through his palm, hitting the wall with a small crack like a pin.

The man let out a deafening cry, but muffled it by grounding his teeth. Until now he was trying to be discreet with the princess in attendance, but she tore her eyes away from the sight of the helpless commander being beaten so easily.

"Now I wonder how embarrassed you are after making that statement. I mean, look, your mindless arrogance brought this on. I don't very much care whether you've learned your lesson from this, but know your place. You are meant to be looked down upon by me, and this simply shows it. I won't grant you the honors of being injured through a great battle. A disgraceful one is better, so every time you wield your weapon in this hand, you will remember this loss, and I do hope you remember me as well."

He laughed and sheathed his sword, walking towards the princess. I moved towards her to protect her from this menace, but he kicked me aside like a pest. Landing on my side, I felt the pain drastically sear through my mind.

"Argh! Damn!"

"Mind your words when in the presence of the princess. You might taint her ears," he said, smirking.

"Now, I think you know why I have come for you, Princess. Shall we discuss the succession? I do believe that a wondrous ceremony should be planned by the ones engaged, don't you think?" he extended his arm to her.

Those in attendance excluding the princes and her aide could not believe what they heard. The two of them, engaged? How has it come to this?! This was the first I have heard of it, but who knew that it was so overwhelming.

"Yes. Please, follow me. Sofiya, would you please help Sir Geoffrey and Commander Valen," she said unenthusiastically. Sure enough that there was a clear hint of sorrow on her face. She avoided looking at Alexander by turning around towards the garden.

"Please forgive Sir Kaelus for his actions. I will take responsibility for this," she bowed by holding the hem of her skirt and smiling faintly at me, then taking Alexander's arm and walking away into the garden.

I and the commander were escorted to the palace infirmary where our wounds were treated meticulously by the maesters, effectively relieving the pain from my injury.

Lying down, I stared at the ceiling asking for an answer that the silence will never give. If I remember things well, it is that the king practically places the princess on a pedestal and refuses any suitors to be considered as grooms for her. But what is this drastic change? Was that sorrow on her face when we conversed in the garden about that?

This feeling of restlessness, why do I have to feel this? I should not particularly care about what kind of royal affairs happen, but I can't help by pry and think.

I turned my head to the side and saw Sofiya, the aide, squeezing a towel drenched with water.

"Please turn to your side. I need to disinfect the wound before the cover is placed."

I did as I was told but looked at her face full of worry.

"Miss Matten, would you tell me just what is happening?"

"It seems that you were perturbed by that as well. I can understand. Even knowing that, I am still quite shaken up by it. I cannot tell you the entirety but only what I can. Are you fine with that?"

"Yes. I am. I need to understand just what is happening to this kingdom."

"As you may have known, the fall of Lavis and the death of Sir Hark placed a decisive blow upon the king's reputation. The man of house Kaelus, Maximillian leads a group of influential people opposing the king for control at every turn. This time, the claim was that the king was too incompetent to have lost one of the kingdom's greatest generals. Sir Kaelus persuaded the people that for the kingdom to prosper, it would need to be led by someone who can place the kingdom in the right direction."

"And that's him, isn't it?"

"Precisely. The king has a strong reputation himself, but Sir Maximillian controlled the people through fear and speculation, plucking them away to his side. They are too terrified to think that anything will be better moving forward. They knew about Sir Alexander's exploits and achievements, and they decided that he was enough. The final blow was decided when rumors of Alrifer attacking roamed the kingdom."

"Tell me, just who is this man, Alexander. I'm oblivious of what the people see in him, other than a sadistic bastard."

"That's odd. I wonder why you have not heard of him. Understood, I shall tell you one of his most recent accomplishments. He acquired an artifact from one of the demonic commanders and forced the demons away from a decisive piece of land where a fortress stood."

"Wait, are you telling me that fort Parium was retaken?"

Fort Parium, a fortress in the middle of a mountain pass that was considered difficult to siege and take, that goes for both sides. A large army of demons once attacked it in the past and forced the defenders to starve. When they were weak enough, the demons charged and massacred every soldier there, leaving no survivors. No one general of the middle territory was able to take that pass ever since. But that changed."

"So are you telling me that the news of fort Parium being retaken was the work of that atrocious man?!"

"Yes, unfortunately. It was a long and arduous process, but he was successful, even when there were a lot of casualties. The outcome of the victory was rather slim in the eyes of the men. There were more than many instances where the soldiers thought that it was the end, and that there was nothing that could be done, but they were proven wrong somehow."

"Then how about the artifact? I've heard of those, but not a lot."

"Then let me refresh your memory, Sir Geoffrey. An 'artifact' is the name of a weapon consecrated by the creator, imbued with a strange and powerful ability passed on to the user the moment that it is wielded. However, they have various curses and prerequisites that are required before their powers are used. That one that the son of Kaelus wielded against you was the unbreakable sword, Castolianne'. As the name says, its blade is unbreakable under any means and retains its sharp blade no matter what. The curse is that; the blade is only as strong as the user, besides that it is a simple, golden forged blade. Once the sword breaks due to the lack of strength, the wielder will die. The requirement is unknown. It is one of the artifacts without much information on it. It was told by a subordinate of his that he found it in one of the caverns nearby fort Parium where a strong group of demons escorted the blade nesting upon a glass case, wrapped in a velvet cloth."

"Talk about a stroke of luck. If he was able to break my blade, then that means that bastard is stronger than I first thought. It even cut through and wounded me. Ridiculous."

"Please do not worry about it. There is nothing final. The king is still relentlessly fighting and opposing the group of house Kaelus."

"What does the princess think of this? I assume that she is, forgive me, but in her right mind? I can't understand what she would see in that man who shed blood in her presence just to satisfy his desire for entertainment."

"The princess... There is someone that she has fallen for. I'm sure that you remember the name. Zachary Erinn?"

"I remember. But where is he now?"

"I do not know. When news of Lavis' demise and the death of Erinn's adoptive father, Sir Hark was sent to the capital, she was devastated."

"If he were to be brought back here, is there a chance that this engagement would be called off?"

"That would be a whimsical thing to desire. But seeing as it is Sir Frederick Erinn's son, there is a chance that not many would oppose, even the king himself whom was the pupil of Sir Frederick."

"I understand. Thank you. I will think for a while."

Fixing my beddings, she bowed and excused herself.

"It seems that I have taken up too much of your time. I shall be returning to the princess' side now. Good day to you."

Is this too another trial that the kingdom must face? Though he has nothing to do with me, I can't help but want to meddle. Him as the next king would surely plunge the kingdom to ruin. For this kingdom, I shall want it to stand. That will be my goal. How I do that remains to be seen... But Zachary Erinn, is it? Just where are you?