Bloody hell... It seemed that madness ran in the family, but I couldn't deny that it could also be a useful trait. Right now, the king was like a piece of delicate pottery in my hands, waiting to be molded into whatever shape I desired. He was desperate for someone to rescue him from his current predicament, and he believed that I was the one who could save him.
I couldn't help but reflect on my own accomplishments at only sixteen years old - turning around a failed expedition and avenging two war saints without any formal training. With careful manipulation, I could possibly convince the king to fully support me in my endeavors.
"May I ask what you mean by this, your majesty?" I said confidently, locking gazes with the troubled ruler.
He leaned back in his chair, his hands no longer trembling with desperation but instead resting calmly on the armrests. A glimmer of hope sparkled in his eyes as he deliberated his response.
"I believe," he began slowly, his voice strong and determined, "that you possess a gift - no, you are the gift. The one who can turn the tides of this war and lead our kingdom to victory. For 23 years, I have prayed every night for a miracle...and perhaps that miracle is standing before me now.I thought everything was lost but you are now here"
His words were those of a desperate man, bordering on madness. But as he rose from his chair and took hesitant steps towards me, reaching out with shaky hands, I saw a glimmer of sincere faith in his gaze.' Are you really the goddess-sent savior he had been praying for all these years?' his gaze meant to ask his grip tightened on my hand as if seeking confirmation.
I let him do so, my heart racing as I watched him delicately handle the hand like it was a precious offering to his goddess.
. His eyes, filled with determination and emotion, seemed to ask if I was the one who could save them all. Fear gnawed at my stomach as I realized the severity of the situation. The king had truly lost his grip on reality.
A chill ran down my spine at the thought of what he might do in this delusional state. He was no longer the wise and powerful king, but a mere shell of his former self.
My lungs burn as I take a deep breath,with all the strength in my voice, I speak out against the king's desperate plea.
"Your Majesty, relying on one man to save a kingdom from crisis is foolishness. It is your duty as king to lead and protect your people, not pass on the responsibility to another. And you have done nothing but watch as our kingdom crumbles under the weight of its own demise."
Turning to the goddess for help will do little to save us now. We cannot put our faith in someone else while we sit idly by. Our fate rests solely in our own hands, and it is up to us to act.
Our kingdom is like a dying old man, barely able to stand with the aid of a cane. Yet you still refuse to see the truth, clinging onto false hope and prayers.
"But a man can only change his fate when he takes action himself," I continue, my words sharp and cutting. "Until now, you have only given orders and expected others to do the work for you. This will not suffice... There may be plans or options that could help us defeat this demon, but they require bravery and determination that you seem to lack."
I pause, locking eyes with the king once again. "Your Highness, if you truly wish to save our kingdom and its people, you must stop looking towards the sky and face reality. Ask yourself what you can do to make a difference. The answer may be right in front of you, or it may not.
With a determined look in my eyes, I raised my cup and took a sip of the white liquid, feeling its coolness flow down my throat. As I set the cup back down, I spoke with conviction, "Maybe I have the power and determination to fight for our future. Maybe I will succeed, or maybe I will fail like so many others before me."
The silence hung heavy in the air as the king's gaze lost its hope and regained a sense of clarity. He sank into his chair, deep in thought. Perhaps my words had finally reached him. ''It is time to stop waiting for heroes to emerge from myths and legends. Instead, we should strive to create heroes of our own''
I watched as the king's mind processed my words, hoping that he would see reason. I knew that I couldn't do this alone. The fate of our kingdom rested on the shoulders of not just one person, but a collective effort. And above all, we needed a leader who could guide us with clear judgement and not be clouded by madness.
It was a daunting task, but one that needed to be done. Only then could we truly pave the way for a brighter future for us.
Slowly emptying the sweet liquid from my cup, I rose from my seat with purpose. "I believe that I have given your highness much to contemplate. The weight of the kingdom's hopes rests upon your shoulders, and if you yourself are unable to find the strength to overcome your own shortcomings, it is a true sign of our defeat." With each step towards the door, my resolve only grew stronger. But before leaving, I turned to face the king, determined to make one final impact. "Tomorrow at the feast, I hope to see a king who is ready to fight for change instead of hoping for others to do what he cannot." My words hung in the air, heavy with meaning and challenge, as I finally exited the room. The cold stone walls seemed to echo my sentiments. As I made my way down the corridor, my mind raced with thoughts of what was at stake and what needed to be done. It was clear that the fate of the kingdom rested on the actions of its ruler,and I could only hope that he would rise up to meet this challenge, courage and determination shining through as he took charge. After all, I needed a king who would fully support an expedition against the demon, actively working towards it with his people by his side instead of standing idly by and leaving it to chance. The future of our land depended on his leadership, and I prayed that he would be able to rise to the occasion.
As I stepped out of the room, still reeling from the weight of the conversation with the king, I was met with the imposing figure of the silent knight standing vigilantly nearby. His towering presence seemed to fill the corridor, casting a shadow over everything in its path.
For a moment, I wondered if he had overheard the exchange between myself and the king, his stoic demeanor giving nothing away.
As I locked eyes with the knight, a silent understanding passed between us. But the knight remained silent, not that he could do the opposite , his expression unreadable behind his helmet.
Feeling a sense of unease settle over me, I raised my head defiantly and met the knight's gaze head-on. Despite the silence that hung between us, I refused to back down.
Suddenly, I heard a soft sigh emanate from behind the knight's visor, almost imperceptible yet somehow carrying a weight of its own.
With a final glance in my direction, the knight turned on his heel and resumed his duty, leaving me standing alone in the corridor. As I watched him go, a sense of resignation washed over me.
With a heavy sigh of my own, I turned and continued down the corridor, my thoughts consumed by the events that had unfolded, the king falling into madness and my attempt to save him, honestly however he was the one that could help himself only. But for now, all I could do was press on, determined to see my plans through to the end.