Ailuros
"Alright everyone, that's good for the day." All of the students fell out of exhaustion. I've started ending class a little early so they can be back to normal by the time the bell rings.
"Did you guys hear that the royal family now has a new member?" One of the kids asked. "Oh, yeah! Seems like Princess Rexana now has a sibling. What was his name again?" I sighed. It couldn't be the same Balere, could it? It's been a month since Balere disappeared, and his family doesn't what has happened to him.
"Uh, Mr. Ailuros..?" I was snapped out of my thoughts by Celesse. "The headmaster is here." I stood up as I saw Acuzio walking toward me. "Good evening, Ailuros. You have two people here to see you: King Vito and Princess Rexana." I went stiff. What do they need to do with me? "Of course."
The kids heard who the people were, and they began whispering. I followed the headmaster into the building, where people began to crowd. In front of them, near the entrance, were the king and princess.
"You must be Ailuros," King Vito said as I approached him. "Yes, your highness." I bowed before we were brought into an empty room with three chairs and a table, with my chair separate from theirs.
"So, why have you come to visit me?" I asked nervously. "By now, you surely must have heard the announcement of the prince," Princess Rexana said. I nodded. "He has a magic tutor, but now he needs a swordsmanship tutor." I raised my hand. "I'm sorry, but I already teach here full-time." King Vito nodded. "We understand that, but you could come here on the weekend, after school, or whenever you have some free time."
"It's a tempting offer—" I was cut off by Princess Rexana. "You don't have a decision right now. We'd like you to come to the castle and meet the prince before you do." I started getting the feeling that I didn't have a choice in the matter. "Alright, I'll come with you."
I stood up, and guards walked me to a carriage, but not the one the royal family was riding in. It's because I'm a beastman...
After around an hour, we entered Wothya. After a few more minutes of driving, the carriage stopped, and the door was opened for me. I exited and looked upon the castle. I never thought I'd be here, and if I ever was, I thought I'd be a prisoner.
"How was the ride?" Princess Rexana asked me. "It was fine, thank you for asking." King Vito nodded. "Very good. Please, follow me."
We entered the castle, and it seemed rather bland to me. The only thing that stuck out to me was the tapestries of the former kings.
"We're here." As I walked into the open area of the castle, I felt mana clashing. In front of me, I saw Laurence. It had been more than ten years since I had last seen him, so he looked very different. The one he was fighting with was a familiar violet-haired, greed-eyed boy. "Balere..."
He raised his sword, and Laurence blocked it. "Balere, Laurence!" With King Vito's yell, the two stopped and turned their attention to us. "You both are familiar with Ailuros, correct?" They nodded.
I first walked up to Laurence. "You look well," He said in our native language. "As do you." I then turned my attention to Balere. "You know everyone has been worrying about you." He nodded before shrugging. "It seems to be my best quality." I laughed at the boy.
"Can I have a spar?' I asked him. He nodded, and everyone stepped back. We stood around ten paces from each other. "I'll allow you to use mana this time," I said with a cheeky smile. He nodded, and his sword began glowing. I was thrown a sword by Laurence.
"The duel will end once blood is drawn. Are both participants ready?" The princess asked. I nodded, and Balere mirrored me. "Begin!"
I activated [Aura Pressure] and Balere stumbled a little. I poured mana into my feet as I ran at him. He seemed to activate the skill himself, and I stopped before I got too close. His pressure wasn't as strong, but it was... scary. He began walking toward me, and I got myself together.
My arms were enhanced with mana as I slashed at him. He barely blocked it before counterattacking; slashing at my side immediately. He's full of openings, what is he thinking? I thrust my sword toward his head and he smirked. He dropped suddenly and leaped upward, attempting to slash my neck. I slashed downward, blocking his attack and pushing him down. Before he could make another move, I slashed his arm, causing him to bleed a little.
"The winner is Ailuros!" The princess announced. I helped him up, and he laughed slightly. "I thought for sure I had you there." I nodded. "It was a smart tactic, but it's circumstantial. It won't work every time unless your opponent is sort of stupid."
"So, what do you say?" I sighed. "I can come every once in a while on the weekends, and sometimes after school." Balere sighed in relief. "Although, I wish there was a way to get here without having to drive..." King Vito put his hand on my shoulder. "Let's go talk..."
Balere Angelo
I smiled as I watched Ailuros leave. I was dealt the best cards possible, wasn't I? That makes me think... what did that voice mean? The voice's message rang through my head once again. I suppose it won't matter now, but I should keep it in mind.
"What're you smiling at? Things are just going to get tougher from now on out," Laurence told me. "Just how I like it." I sat down and leaned back with my arms crossed. You truly are a glutton for punishment, aren't you?" Rexana sighed before sitting next to me. "I'm starting to think you might get stronger than me." She ruffled my hair and I laughed with her.
"Master Balere, Master Vito requests your presence in the throne room." I nodded before standing up. I walked with Servus down the hallway in silence, until I got bored. "So, how long have you been serving the king?" He looked at me while walking. "Around thirty years now. My mother and father also served the royal family, but I was in the army before I began to be a servant."
In the army, huh? That's something we both can relate to. Although, I bet mine was worse than is. I shuddered at the thought of my time in Afghanistan.
"Hm, actually, I think I participated in The Tower after I quit the army and joined the family." I raised an eyebrow. "What's The Tower?" He waved the thought off with his hand before he opened the door for me. "You're about to find out."
Vito was sitting on the throne smiling. "Ailuros has left already. I wanted to talk to you about why I showed you the Temple. Let's take a step outside." He grabbed my hand as he walked out, basically dragging me out.
It was still around noon, so the sky was still clear and blue. Vito sat down on the grass, the breeze blowing through his hair. I sat next to him, cross-cross applesauce. "There has only been one temple found here, and it's in the basement of the castle."
"Have there been others found?" I asked. "Before we get straight to the point, let me redirect your attention. Over there, do you see that tower?" He pointed at a tower far in the distance. I nodded and he soon continued, "That is The Tower. No matter where you go in the world, you can see it. I've traveled to all of the other kingdoms, crossed oceans, and gone so far, and yet it still stays in sight.
"Not very long ago, someone close to the family found a temple inside the tower. Oh, I suppose I should explain to you how it works. There is something that is called a 'tutorial' with the first ten floors. At that time, you can't leave at all and you have to finish all ten floors. After that, there is a sharp increase in difficulty, and it only gets worse from there on out. Anyway, on the floor we just recently got to, floor 43 of the tower, there was a large temple with water that healed injuries."
This was a lot to take in. The things from the novels I read as a kid are in this world? The Pantheon is also affecting The Tower? That makes me wonder... "Have there been any other temples found in The tower?" I queried. "Not any that look like these, no."
"So, you're telling me there are more temples in the tower and that's it? What's the point in telling me all of this?" He eyed me suspiciously. "I was getting to that. After a few years of training, I'm planning to have you go into The Tower and look for the temples. I think you'll find it beneficial, as you'll get stronger."
"I was planning to do that once you explained it to me..." I grumbled. "Good. What do you have in mind until you are of age?"
"There's an age limit to get into the tower?"
"Age and level limit. We aren't just going to have a bunch of kids get killed immediately in here. The age limit is 15," He explained. I sighed. "I guess I'll train with Laurence and Ailuros. I also want to go to school after a few years of training alone." He nodded. "Obviously. I don't want you to be a loner, that's how people die." Don't I know it?
I stood up and patted the grass off of me. "Do we have a deal?" I offered my hand. I helped him up and he shook it.
"Let's get to it, then."