After eating their fill the group got up and began to explore the castle some more before they called it a night. While walking through the castle Xavier tried to keep a mental note of where everything was in the castle in case he ever needed to navigate on his own. The most interesting part that the group passed was a trophy room that had several relics and weaponry from past rulers and woken that had achieved great deeds. There were priceless paintings throughout the room and Xavier noticed a painting of the eternal king.
"So is there anything more to know about the eternal king?" Tyler asked and Sara was a bit confused as she never heard of him before. Sintarra began to attempt an explanation but Ethan stopped her and pulled her to the side for a moment. Tyler leaned towards Xavier and asked. "What is going on with them?" Xavier simply shrugged as he was just as confused and watched them before they came back. "Everything alright guys?" They nodded and Sintarra began to talk again. "There are a few things about the eternal king we can talk about. Firstly it doesn't say what race they are or when they will end the threat of monsters."
There was a small pause as she began to plan her next words carefully. "The oldest legends say that the eternal king will be someone who can wield a large amount of power. He will be able to overpower everything he faces and none will be able to oppose his strength. When he speaks all will listen and obey his commands. He will tame the most powerful of beasts and they will yield to him. His rule will be undisputed as every kingdom will unify under him collectively." She looked to Ethan and he then continued the conversation about the king.
"As long as we await the eternal king's rise everyone knows that the world will not be safe. That monsters will rise and attack innocents until their bloodlust is satisfied. The only issue is that several people have come out claiming to be the eternal king and all were found to be fakes. Any who claim to be the eternal king must undergo his trial decided on by the kings of old. We fear that some of the woken are soon going to be seen as potential candidates for the throne of the eternal king. That means they may force woken to undergo the trial and that means we need to train you to survive or else you may die when that time comes."
Xavier was shocked to hear the last part of what Ethan had to say. "So you're telling me I need to be the eternal king or they'll kill me?" Tyler asked visibly upset by what he was told. Ethan responded calmly and collectively. "Not for sure. The trial may be avoided if you are deemed unworthy to take it but that would mean you would have to live your life as weak as a soldier or apprentice bishop basically. it wouldn't give you many benefits and you would struggle to get by in life." Tyler stared at Ethan and simply gave up looking defeated. "Fine, then I guess we'll just have to make sure the eternal king is found before we get the chance to die in his trial."
Sara added her part into the conversation. "May I ask what even are the trials? Like is it a location with challenges or is there a list of things that must be done in general?" Ethan walked to a tablet of some kind of stone encased in glass and began to read it. "The eternal kings shall follow the trials laid before thyself. He shall claim the mountain's peak with ice of bleak, Slay the fears within the abyss that peers, the Emporer with no name he shall tame and unite all nations under one patron." Ethan then turned and continued to explain. "Several people have assumed that the first part means to reach the peak of the tallest mountain which several have done already. The second most likely means to slay a demon which is a creature of the abyss. But after that nobody knows which Emporer is being referred to as all Emporer's have names and titles."
Tyler added "And everyone knows that he will be able to unite all the nations together. So then if someone can tame the Emporer or even figure out who that person is then they could be the eternal king?" Ethan nodded and Sintarra pointed at a sword underneath the painting of the king. "That weapon there is said be forged by each of the old kings together and may only be wielded by the eternal king himself." Xavier began to wonder how powerful that weapon may be if it can only be wielded by the eternal king. After this discussion though Xavier was a bit uneasy and was ready to put it all behind him.
After they had looked at a few more relics and paintings they left and went back towards the main hall of the castle and Sara separated from the group heading towards her room. The rest of the group went back outside to sleep under the sea of stars once again and talked about their day in the city. They all agreed that everyone would begin training starting tomorrow and to congratulate themselves Sintarra and Tyler took out their bottles of ale from before. Ethan raised one of the bottles and spoke "I offer this toast to celebrate the beginning of our journey, we shall strive for great things within our time together and protect each other with our lives."
Everyone cheered for the toast and as the night grew darker the bottles grew lighter until eventually they were emptied. Sintarra was already asleep and Ethan was arm-wrestling with Tyler when Xavier laid down and closed his eyes feeling the numbness in his mind take over. As he listened to the two beside him their voices grew fainter and fainter until eventually, they were extinguished into a void of darkness. The same void of darkness Xavier had found himself in every other time he had slept so far. He recognized the void and was accepting of the cold within it and he walked around aimlessly with no thoughts in his head.
As he walked his vision slowly adapted and he could partially make out his own body when he looked at himself. However, he couldn't see anything while looking into the void and he focused on walking forward awaiting the warmth and light that would come with the voice of the women from before. The longer he walked the more he could feel his fingers tingle and shake from the could, The sting of his nose as he breathed the cool air and the bit of frost he could make out from his own breath.
Just as Xavier felt like he may succumb to the cold he could see the dim light in the distance and began to jog softly trying to reach it faster. As he could feel his body warm he showed down and relaxed in the heat. Eventually getting far enough into the light he could no longer see the void and he once again heard the voice. "You have done well my child. You have gained an ally that will be of great value to you in your future endeavours and have taken the next step in your journey. I am eager to see how you advance in the future and I will see you again when I am needed by you the most. For now my child focus on what is before you and strive for a brighter tomorrow."
A woman with bright white robes emerged from the light and Xavier recognized her instantly from the imagery of the Goddess he had seen before. She walked up to him and cupped his face in her hands and raised his head gently as she kissed his forehead and released him. "Stay safe Xavier, Let the light protect you and bathe you in radiance." She smiled warmly and as Xavier tried to look above her smile he awoke and was surprised to not have a pain in his chest. After once again being awake before the others he walked to the quartermaster's place and knocked on the door.
When the older man opened the door he smiled and grabbed Xavier's shoulders creating the boy and asked him if he was hungry. When Xavier nodded he told Xavier to get the others and he would start making some food for them all. Xavier returned to where his group was asleep and to his surprise he found Rachel looking around near the rear exit of the castle and he waved her over as he woke the group. The group waking up was brought to the Quartermaster's and when Xavier knocked again he was surprised to see Tyler and Rachel but welcomed them in as well and everyone entered eating the delicious food he was preparing.