Cheers erupted when Desser's Death Game had ended. Never had they seen such a battle that was both ruthless and nerve-racking. There existed in many cultures the gladiator-type arenas where opponents fought to the death, but this game was different. The game was between two disabled enemies, and one of them was a prince.
A prince to a kingdom fighting to the death as everyone watched in amusement? That same prince that will be a prophet and a king? This might be the only time in history that the knights see such a spectacle. The knights looked at Desser with great respect for fighting and staring death in the face. Many knights there had promised themselves to speak to the prince and pledge their allegiance at his 18th birthday.
Desser was only 17 years old. At 15, he received his Talent and forged his unstable Ring that handicapped him. Soon, he will be receiving his second Talent, which also marks the prince's Grand Ceremony.
The Grand Ceremony is a special occasion. The Brutreq Cult officially crowns the prince before god and men. The king calls all the knights that have not pledged themselves to a lord, and they will battle to demonstrate their prowess to the prince. The prince will choose them as his personal guard.
The Grand Ceremony is also a moment for knights to earn more power because other lords will see their fight—giving them be more authority, land, or strength as rewards. This is especially true for the prince's personal knights. The knights the prince chooses will also become the future king's generals.
Mogar was a religious, militaristic nation. The church took Mogar's military very seriously, where even the priests were trained in combat. The country was more lethal because they were religious and militaristic. They had zealous ruthlessness to anyone that disrespected their god or king. Soon, Desser would learn the extent of the Cult's ruthlessness.
As the knights cheered, Desser lay there panting.
Magi Cornelius ran towards him. "Your highness! Let me heal your wounds!"
"Sure. I don't have any energy to argue. Do what you must." Desser waved Cornelius to continue with a half-hearted motion.
"That was too reckless, my prince. Your well-being is my top priority."
"I don't plan on doing that… any time soon, I think."
"Prince!" Cornelius tried to object.
"Yeah, yeah. I don't have the will to argue. More healing and less talking, Cornelius."
"Yes, your highness."
"May I ask you a question, my prince?" Vince asked.
"You may."
"You didn't need to kill the traitor with your own hands. You could have gotten one of your knights to do it for you. Why did you put yourself in such danger?"
Desser sighed. "I'll be honest with you, Vince. I don't trust any of you to protect me. You've done little to show me your loyalty, and I've done little to earn it. The only person who can protect me is me. Yet, I'm in this state… I need to find power and practice how to wield it."
Vince was saddened by Desser's comment. He then said to his prince:
"You have already earned by loyalty. I have long admired your resilience, my prince. I've seen how often you've gone to the royal library in your younger years. You practiced magic and sword fighting every day. Even now, I see how hard you work to be a strong leader! I would like to be by your side as I see the kingdom you craft."
Desser felt guilty because he was working hard to survive, not to be a leader or a great king. However, this was a world he wanted to make into his own. On Earth, he never felt like he belonged. Now, he had a chance to shape the kingdom that he wanted. This was a chance to keep the people he cared about close and dispose of the rest.
Desser smiled and said, "prove you can protect me, and you'll be by my side when I turn this kingdom upside down."
Desser passed out because of how exhausted he was. Cornelius's healing magic wore down at his body along with the battle.
However, Vince and Cornelius looked at the prince with complicated expressions. Neither understood what he meant. Yet, they both grinned for their own reasons.
Cornelius thought the prince had another revelation from Brutreq that guided Desser's goal. 'Maybe Brutreq is calling for our new prophet to lead us into a revival. Could this be an age that Mogar regains its glory? Or even surpasses it?!' Desser pondered.
On the other side, Vince had his own thoughts. He assumed that Desser meant that he would be dealing with the rising corruption from the nobles. His brother and father were primary examples that they would disrespect the crown with their misdeeds behind closed doors.
Vince knew that the kingdom needed reworking, but the current king was too occupied to deal with the corruption. The king suffered great depression when his only child's health deteriorated. Mogar was also suffering many invasions from Fre-Jan.
Lastly, and most importantly, the king's finance minister would misuse the treasury.
And who was the king's finance minister? Gregory Follin, Duke of Noumni and Vince's father.
Vince and Cornelius shook themselves out of their muse and began transporting the sleeping beauty back to the castle. The knights talked about the match the whole way back. Being dragged across the ground with their legs tied was the dead traitor.