Karl immediately uses levitating steps and zooms towards Ian. Tears are still falling out of Ian's eyes as he takes the few last steps of his life.
"HEY!"
Ian quickly turns back and sees Leo. "D-Did father forced you to convince you?"
Karl smiles. "More like I forced him to give me the recommendation. Now come here, I am hungry let's go grab a snack."
Ian wipes his tears and smiles once more. "Good thing, that you got what you came for. Farewell." Ian turns back takes the last step. He closes his eyes as his body takes the drop.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Ian opens his eyes. He is currently hanging in the air as Karl holds Ian's shirt from behind.
"Let go of me." Ian struggles.
"STOP BEING A KID." Karl scolds and moves his hand.
"W-What?" Ian swings in the air, he grabs Karl's hand and tries to release him but stops. In the distance there are few hundred knights and tens of servants looking at Ian and Karl.
"Look at them. You are the future lord of this castle. They hold expectations from you. Your father holds expectations from you. are you going to betray them?" Ian remains silent for few seconds.
"I cannot fulfill them. I can't. I can't become the lord of this castle."
"Why not?"
"Because-" Ian stops and hesitates.
"L-Look. I-I know that you are expressing your thoughts." Ian looks up and sees Karl's struggling face.
"BUT CAN YOU HURRY?"
"HIEE! W-WAIT! I COME UP!" Ian grabs the edge and Karl pulls him back up. Karl is panting heavily.
"Dude! You are heavy." Ian chuckles.
Few minutes later Karl and Ian are sitting on the same edge. This time they are only enjoying the view. "Then tell me. Why can't you be the lord?"
Ian leans back. "Because I want you to be the lord."
"Huh?" This answer caught Karl off guard. He raises his eyebrow in question.
"What do you mean?" Ian turns his head towards Karl and looks him in the eye.
"What I am saying is that you should be the lord. When I was small my father taught about how an ideal high knight should act and you are the perfect example of those teachings. Your quick thinking, your courage to never back down and most important of all traits is that you always help your friends regardless of the situation. You helped Zena even though you knew that have to go against federation and Sian. You also helped Andressa and fought Mikaela."
'First, I just use whatever means to survive and the thing you call courage is just the lack of my common knowledge or my recklessness. Second, I only help people who will be useful to me in the future and I only helped Andressa because the owner of this body is A FUCKING SIMP.' Karl really wants to say this out loud but refrains from doing it for his own sake.
"What are you staring at?"
Karl snaps back to reality. "Uh? Oh. First of all, can an outsider even become the head of the family?"
"You are no outsider. You are my brother in arms." Ian answers in an enthusiastic voice.
'Wow. Just wow. He still believes that? This world really needs some trust issues or this idiot is just that kind?' Karl sighs.
"Well, Ian. Why are you refusing to become lord?"
Ian's expression quickly changes. "To be honest, I was never my father's perfect child. My disease made me unable to use any spells consecutively. Though not bad as you. But being the only kid of the head. Everyone expects you to be the next lord, where you will lead them to a better future. At first, everything was going well. Despite my disease, I was getting stronger slowly. I foolishly thought that I would surpass my father one day. But that day came sooner than I expected."
7 months ago.
"Mother. I like this dish. Can we add this to our menu?" Ian suggested. He was wearing a pair of glasses on a white tuxedo with a tight black bowtie. His hair is neatly combed instead of the usual messy hair.
"Yes, my son." A beautiful woman answers. She has black hair and brown eyes. Her petite face clearly matches Ian's face. She is wearing a pink dress with an open back which gives a soft and sweet aura to everyone. This woman is Ray's only wife and Ian's mother, Hestia Desouza Phirsecot.
Currently, Ian is eating dinner with his family. On the table, Ray is elegantly eating an entire steak with a single bite. He looks too intimidating even without his beard. The black suit is barely containing his large neck and muscles. Ian is eating some salad while talking to Hestia. He glances around and sees many people in fancy clothes eating their dinner.
"Still dear, isn't it surprising that the King decided to hold such party in the middle of war." Hestia leans in and whispers to Ray.
"Army's morale has been too down lately. With Kevin's achievement, his highness decided to boost army's morale and keep the sentinel families in checked." Ray explains as he takes a huge bite.
Hestia grabs a tissue and stands up to wipe Ray's mouth.
"Father."
"Hmm?"
"You can also defeat a noble right?"
Ray smiles and pats Ian's head. "Of course." Ian feels his chest filling with proudness.
TING! TING!
Everybody looks at the source of the sound and sees a young male in his 20s holding a glass in hand. He has sharp eyes and sly smile over his face. His indo-western styled dark green suit makes him stand out even more.
"First, I welcome you all in the capital city of Jedket. I hope you are enjoying your party." He turns his eyes towards Ian's direction and smiles.
'Huh? Did he look at me?'
"I, Ronar Ugaela Frendick Andromeda. The third prince of the Andromeda empire is very delighted to tell everyone that our hero, Kevin. Has slayed a noble vampyr."
Everybody cheered at that moment.
"I hope this will an inspiration to many young knights and warning to other races that humans are still here!"
Again, everybody cheered.
"MAY THE HORIZON BLESS OUR EMPIRE!" The prince lifts his glass high in the air. Everyone present also raises their glass, making a toast.
After this the party continued and everybody enjoyed the tasty food. In a while, a knight was wearing a full plate armour came to Ian's table. He gracefully handed a letter to Ray and left.
Ray opened the letter and clicked his tongue.
"Dear, what happened?"
Ray puts the letter down and puts a hand on his forehead. "I have been called to the Dadelion residence for a meeting."
"But it's already so late." Hestia pouts.
"I know, my love. But this meeting is very important as it is to decide which knight will go to the red border as reinforcement representing the empire."
"But you told me that you would spend the night with us." Hestia complains in a loud and cute voice. People sitting around started to look towards Ian's table.
"I prepared a surprise for you." Hestia says it in low voice.
Ray release a small amount of killing intent. Everybody focuses on their food and stops eavesdropping. Ian is eating his salad like nothing happened.
"Look, I am sorry. But I have to attend this meeting. How about this? We will leave tomorrow early in the morning and stop by in the Clamoire family's town. I heard there is a festival right now."
"Oh! It's red fire butterflies harvesting season. They look so beautiful under blue moonlight." Hestia smiles as she imagines the beautiful scenery with Ray and Ian by side.
'It will be also the perfect timing to reveal my surprise.' She thinks as her cheeks turn red.
"Mother, do you have a fever?" Ian asks. Hestia makes a flustered look.
"N-No. This dish is just too spicy."
Just then Ray gets up from his seat. "Then, I take your reaction as a yes. I already told the knight captain to escort you."
"Do your best!" Hestia gives a thumbs up in a clumsy way. Ray fixes his gloves and waves at his wife and son. He then walks towards a group of people.
Hestia watches Ray disappearing in the crowd.
"Mother, will father get drafted to the red border?" Ian asks.
"Of course not. Your father is a high knight, one of strongest humans to exist on the continent. Only low knights or intermediate knights can act as reinforcement." Ian nods in understanding.
"Why did ask such a question?" Hestia questions back.
Ian who was eating, puts his spoon down. "Well, mother. You looked sad when father was going away. I thought that you are sad because he might get sent to the red border."
Hestia chuckles. "I am not sad son. I am just regretting something."
"What?"
"You will know tomorrow."
"But-"
"No buts. Come on. Finish your plate, the knight captain must be waiting outside." Hestia smiles as she watches Ian finishing his food in hurry.
Ray is standing in the open field just outside the palace where the party is. He is staring at the moon.
"Look, our lion is here." An old voice comes from behind. Ray glances back and kneels down.
"I greet the head of the Dadelion Family's head."
Just a few meters away stands the current head of Dadelion sentinel family. He is fairly old man into his 80s. There are two knights besides him, for his security.
"Oh, young lion. I told you many times that you should not to kneel everytime we meet."
"But you are the sentinel and the master follow and serve. It is natural for me to kneel your presence."
"Haha! Don't be too stiff now. Stand up and follow me. We will be late to the meeting."
Ray stands up and follows behind. They walk towards the main gate then to the main road. On the main road, there is huge luxury bus is waiting for them. Ray and the old man sits inside the bus.
"Boy. I knew I asked you this many times. But do you really have no interest in becoming a sentinel?"
Ray sighs loudly. "Master, you took me in when I was small and alone. You taught how to fight, how to survive and how live in this world."
The old man cuts in. "Yes, I took you in because of my mercy. But it's your talent and hardwork is what made you today. I have zero influence in that. But now, you should aim for even greater heights, become the sentinel of Dadelion family. I have a granddaughter, marry her. I know you can do it. You will have my full support."
Ray looks outside and sees the palace. "Master, this may be selfish of me. But I have a family now. A son who needs my attention and a loving wife who will support my any decision."
He takes a deep breath before continuing. "I am scared, master. I am scared losing them. Everytime I go out on a expedition Hestia has the look of sadness in her eyes. Few years back, I was reckless. I fought any enemy that came in front of me. But now, I hesitate to fight a stronger opponent. Not because I have gotten weaker but because I am scared of losing my family."
The old man leans back in the seat. "How times have changed! The fearless lion now fears the death."
"And Hestia won't approve another wife."
Old man smiles. "The lion fears the lioness. Good. Good."