For the past month, Stephen had been intensely focused on the Chosen Ones. He diligently worked on his development and made rapid progress. His constant efforts to improve himself had quickly turned into an impressive performance. A strong bond had begun to form among him and the other members. However, there was one exception: Aaron.
Aaron was jealous of Stephen's rapid progress. Stephen's quick rise to the same level as the other members unsettled Aaron. His fast advancement caused astonishment among the other members, but Albert had seen this potential beforehand. During training, Albert showed special attention to Stephen. The other members didn't approve of this situation, but they didn't voice their concerns because they liked Stephen.
Aaron was in competition with Stephen, and the distance between them grew colder every day. Despite Stephen's efforts to get along with Aaron, his cold attitude affected him. Eventually, Stephen stopped talking to him, which further increased the tension between them. The organization's fear was enough to suppress Aaron's jealousy and competition towards Stephen.
Stephen didn't know why this kid didn't like him. He had even started to get along with Agnes. If he were from Flamea, he might partially understand it because Flamea and Rivelia were enemy countries. But Aaron was a prince of Ostrium.
As he was lost in thought, Albert announced that the training was over. But then he made an unexpected announcement, stopping the kids. "We need to talk about something important today," he said. The other members suddenly focused their attention and returned to their seats. Albert continued, "I'm considering holding leadership elections. I've been postponing this for a long time, but now that the owner of the Justice Sword has been found." There was silence in the room, and everyone's eyes were on Albert.
Aaron's eyes sparkled. He wanted to be the leader. He would especially use this against Stephen if he became the leader, implementing a huge embargo against him within the team. When Albert said, "I'll choose the leader myself," it was clear from his eyes that his morale was shattered. He felt that Albert was a bit cold towards him. He was sure he wouldn't choose him.
"You're going to choose Stephen just because he's the owner of the Justice Sword. It's so obvious!"
Stephen stood up angrily and took a step towards Aaron. He had an expression of anger on his face, and his eyes were filled with rage. Before he could say anything, Albert stopped him with his calming voice, "Please, calm down, Your Majesty."
A tense silence filled the room, and everyone's eyes were focused on the tension between Stephen and Aaron. Albert's intervention had somewhat reduced Stephen's anger. However, the tension in the room was still palpable. With a calmer tone, Stephen said, "But you're accusing both of us of something big."
Albert, with a confident expression, said, "Don't worry. I'll take care of it. There's no need for tension," and then took a deep breath. When he began to speak, his voice was calm and determined. "I knew you would say that, Aaron," he said with a sly smile on his face. Albert paused for a moment, carefully assessing the atmosphere around him, and then continued firmly, "I will evaluate your performance. You will undergo a special test for this. I won't choose randomly." His determination and confidence were instantly felt in the room, and Aaron showed signs of concern.
Aaron couldn't respond to Albert's words and remained silent. The air in the room was tense, but Aaron was secretly hopeful. If Albert really didn't show favoritism, he at least had a chance to win - he even thought his chances were high. He believed in his own abilities. In his opinion, he was stronger than Stephen, and he believed he could prove himself in this special test. Despite feeling anxious and uncertain, his determination and perseverance increased his belief in success.
Aaron was curious about what the test would be, but he felt embarrassed to ask after the argument. As he tried to suppress his curiosity, Harry's voice echoed in the room, breaking the silence. Albert turned his attention to Harry. With excitement and concern in his eyes, Harry asked, "What will we do for the test, sir?" Albert, with a cunning smile, said, "I will send you somewhere, but it will be a surprise. You will try to escape from there, but let me clarify, you must act together. This test will also be a test of friendship. I hope it strengthens the bond between you," he said.
A silence filled the room; everyone was eagerly listening to Albert's words. Aaron, however, was thoughtful, and Albert's last sentence didn't sit well with him. As he looked at Albert with his eyes, he had to suppress the objection coming from within. Because he thought this obligation would decrease his own performance. He wanted to act alone, he desired an opportunity to prove his own abilities, but still, he had to remain silent. Albert's mysterious smile increased the tension in the room, while Aaron's inner anxiety and indecision grew. After Albert's response, the atmosphere in the room became even more mysterious and filled with anticipation.
"When will we go?" Amid Harry's curious questions, Albert's voice echoed in the room again. "Tomorrow at noon. Please come before evening. And a new member has joined us." With Albert's words, the atmosphere in the room became even more lively. Harry's eyes sparkled as he eagerly continued to wait. At that moment, Amber opened the door and entered the room. Stephen had been expecting her arrival, and he was secretly glad to see that his efforts to prove himself had paid off. Amber looked very happy and cheerful, smiling as she looked around. "You also know someone. So I think you will quickly get along," Albert said, turning to Amber. With Amber's presence, the atmosphere in the room became even more warm and friendly.
Everyone welcomed her with "Welcome!" and Amber responded to them with a smile. With a warm smile on her face, she sincerely received everyone's greetings and took her seat. Albert continued with his informative tone, "She is also aware of everything and she can also be a leader." With Albert's words, the atmosphere in the room became even more attentive and excited. With Amber's presence, everyone's eyes turned to her, eagerly awaiting her contributions. It was understood from Albert's explanations how important a figure Amber was and how effective she could be. Amber's smile and warmth enlivened the atmosphere in the room even more, and it felt like a bond had been formed among everyone. But amidst such a warm and happy atmosphere, there was someone who was not pleased; Aaron.
Just what we needed, another sibling!
Albert announced that the briefing was over, and after the farewells were completed, everyone left the room. However, Amber and Stephen remained in the room. Stephen decided to take advantage of this opportunity and started talking. "Is there any tension between Ostrium and Rivelia?" he asked, watching Amber's reaction carefully.
Amber looked up with a surprised expression and replied to Stephen, "No, there isn't. On the contrary, we are allied countries. Why do you ask?" When Stephen received this answer, he understood that there was no tension as he had thought, but he still wondered why Aaron was behaving that way.
"Aaron is cold to me, and he didn't seem pleased when you entered here," he explained. Amber smiled when she heard these words and nodded. "Oh, that kid? According to him, we are hindering Ostrium's growth. That's why he doesn't like us. If he becomes king, we'll probably turn into enemy countries. It's best to ignore him," she said, with a slight smile.
Stephen, after listening to Amber's response, nodded thoughtfully. "He seems quite ambitious and powerful. He doesn't seem like a rival to be underestimated," he said, sincerely considering Amber's words.
Amber smiled a bit more confidently this time and looked up at Stephen. "He can't be stronger than us. Don't worry. Besides, he probably can't handle us being from the strongest lineages," she added, with a confident expression. With Amber's reassuring words, Stephen felt a sense of relief, and with her reassuring energy, he felt safer. They smiled at each other and then left the room.
⚔️⚔️⚔️
The next day had arrived, and all the members had gathered. Tension and curiosity filled the room; everyone was eagerly awaiting Albert's arrival. Then, Albert appeared with a magic sphere in his hand. The sphere was shaped according to Albert's element: it was green and adorned with magical leaves.
Albert stepped into the center of the room, feeling the eyes around him. "You already know what to do. Shall I teleport you right away?" he said, spinning the magical sphere in his hand.
Amidst Albert's words, Stephen spoke up, "Before teleporting, I have a question for you." The room froze for a moment, everyone looked at Stephen intently. Harry's eyes were focused on Albert with a determined expression. It seemed like the moment everyone in the room had been waiting for, the question was about to emerge.
With Stephen's question, the silence in the room intensified, everyone was eagerly awaiting Albert's answer. Albert turned to Harry and respectfully nodded his head, "Please, go ahead, your excellency," he said.
Stephen's eyes were firmly fixed on Albert. "If something bad happens to us there, what will happen to this house?" he asked, trying to hide his concern.
After listening to Stephen's question, Albert smiled calmly. "Don't worry. We will intervene. Besides, if something bad happens, you can leave the house using the main door," he replied, with a reassuring tone. The atmosphere in the room relaxed a bit, the concern over Harry's question eased slightly.
After his final words, Albert prepared to use the magic sphere. "It's time for teleportation," he said, moving the sphere in his hand. Everyone in the room closed their eyes eagerly, awaiting the outcome of Albert's action with excitement and a little tension.
After Albert's final words, everyone closed their eyes. Stephen could feel the magical energy around them; fairy dust surrounded them, creating a glow. When they closed their eyes, they felt the energy around them disappear, and they opened their eyes. In front of them stood a mysterious, abandoned, and dilapidated house, rising mysteriously amidst the embracing arms of nature. The group slowly approached this mysterious house. Though Stephen was leading the way, Aaron hurriedly followed him and was the first to reach the door. They slowly opened the door, and as it creaked open, they stepped inside the house.
As soon as they stepped inside, the open door began to close on its own. They turned back with concern and tried to open the door, but they couldn't manage to do so in any way. The door stubbornly remained closed, as if being controlled by some force. "Master Albert said we could escape using the main door if there was a problem. But the main door is closed too. What are we going to do now?" Agnes exclaimed angrily, and kicked the door in frustration. The squeaky thin door suddenly hardened, and Agnes's leg began to ache from the impact. "Ouch..." she groaned in pain, moving her leg away from there.
Stephen spoke to Agnes in a calming tone, "First, calm down, Agnes. Maybe this is also part of the test. We'll find a solution for sure." Although he tried to appear calm, he was also worried inside. Stephen's composure, in the face of Agnes's angry reaction, somewhat relieved the group members.
However, Agnes responded with a mixture of worry and anger, "I can't calm down! We're literally trapped here!"
At that moment, Aaron maintained his cold demeanor and remarked, "Classic fire magic element carrier." As Agnes saw Aaron's attitude, she became even angrier.
"How can you be so calm?!" Agnes shouted angrily.
Aaron remained silent, choosing not to say anything. In the tense atmosphere stirred by Agnes's words, a tension was palpable in the room.
"Even Maria, who I consider calm, seemed lost in fear. Yet Aaron acts as if everything is normal!" Agnes continued, looking at Aaron.
"Quite normal. Women tend to be emotional anyway," Aaron replied calmly, disregarding Agnes's reaction.
The atmosphere in the room was filled with an uneasy silence, as everyone's concern and confusion made the moment even more complicated.
Addressing Aaron with anger, Agnes said, "You're speaking arrogantly, and it's really getting on my nerves."
In response to Agnes's reaction, Aaron openly expressed, "You're the duke's daughter from another country and talking to another country's prince like this is strange."
As Agnes pondered her response, Stephen decided to seize the opportunity. Speaking with confidence and a warm smile, he said, "Didn't Master Albert say this should strengthen our friendship bond among us?"
Although momentarily surprised by Stephen's approach, Aaron replied with a sly and mocking smile, "Alright, alright. Don't make it too obvious that you're Master Albert's favorite pupil."
Stephen furrowed his brows in anger, on the verge of bursting with frustration, yet trying to compose himself to respond. However, Maria had finally overcome her shock and decided to take control of the situation using her authoritative demeanor. A silence fell over the room as everyone listened attentively to Maria's words.
"If we're trapped here, or maybe not, and you're arguing on top of it. You're almost fighting. Didn't Master Albert say that this test should strengthen our friendship bond?" Maria said sharply. She spoke quickly and loudly, so she was out of breath. After taking a deep breath, she continued, "We need to find a way out of here. Get yourselves together!"
With Maria's words, the tension in the room increased. The group members silently focused on Maria's authoritative and determined demeanor. Stephen looked at Maria angrily, trying to control his anger.
Though Stephen and Agnes felt embarrassed, Aaron didn't react at all. He watched impassively. Maria realized that Aaron had shrugged off her words, but she didn't push further.
"Then let's start investigating," said Stephen, feeling somewhat embarrassed. He was trying to salvage the situation.
"I agree," Agnes added, still feeling a bit anxious but knowing it was important to find a way out.
They set out to explore the house. Despite being abandoned for years, the interior still exuded a former grandeur. Dusty curtains, old furniture, and worn-out carpets filled the room. The atmosphere inside was old and mysterious. The group walked slowly, observing every detail of the house. Each corner held a story filled with traces and mysteries of the past.
As they didn't find anything in the living room filled with old and neglected furniture, they decided to change direction.
Approaching the end of the living room, they saw two stairs. Each staircase led to a corridor filled with closed doors. Carefully stepping on the creaky steps, they ascended, feeling as if each step was a journey into the depths of the past. When they reached the top of the stairs, the group gathered to make a plan.
"Where are we going now? Which door should we use?" Harry asked eagerly.
Considering Harry's question, Stephen replied thoughtfully, "There are exactly four doors here, and there are eight of us. Let's pair up and enter one door each. Those with compatible elements should enter the same door."
The group members found Stephen's idea logical and decided to implement the plan. However, Aaron didn't seem pleased with the plan, his expression revealing slight dissatisfaction.
Ralph and Aina entered the first door, Maria and Aaron the second, Amber and Harry the third, and Agnes and Stephen the fourth. As Agnes and Stephen entered their room, they were greeted by a guest bedroom.
The guest bedroom was furnished with elegant furniture reflecting an old grandeur. The bed, seeming untouched for years, created a serene atmosphere in the middle of the room. Sunlight filtering through the windows cast a soft glow, and every corner of the room carried traces of the past. Old paintings hung on the walls, adding to the atmosphere of reminiscence. Agnes and Stephen felt the silence of the room and surrendered themselves to the tranquility of the past.
"So, what are we going to do here?" Agnes asked impatiently, scanning the room carefully for anything they could find.
After some thought, Stephen said, "Maybe we can find something if we search around." He bent down to look under the bed but found nothing. Then he stood up and looked around, but he couldn't see Agnes. The room seemed to have changed suddenly and felt very familiar to him. He looked around and suddenly realized that the atmosphere in the room had changed somehow. Everything felt a bit more surreal and mysterious.
"Wasn't this my childhood bedroom?" Stephen asked in astonishment, trying to see familiar elements in the room. "Have I been transported back in time?"
As he examined his surroundings, his attention was drawn to his clothes. Upon closer inspection, he realized he was wearing old peasant clothes. "What?" he began, but his words got stuck in his throat. "No, no, no. Oh God, please don't let me go back to the old times. Please, let it not be a dream to become a prince. Please..." he continued, almost pleadingly. He lowered his head slightly, reflecting his inner conflicts.
"Does my voice sound a bit thinner?" he continued thoughtfully. "But not excessively. So, I must be in the early stages of adolescence... Either I've been transported back in time or everything I experienced was just a dream. Both are bad, but at least I would prefer the former..."
Stephen questioned the changes in the room and the transformations within himself, struggling to cope with his complex emotions. He wrestled internally to understand whether the return to the past was real.
"You damn child! Have you gone mad?! Talking to yourself like that."
As Stephen battled with his complex emotions internally, Catherine's sudden entry into the room startled him. His eyes widened, and he looked around in astonishment mixed with unease. Catherine's harsh tone and rude words further unsettled him.
He quickly stepped back, putting some distance between himself and Catherine. For a moment, he looked at Catherine in astonishment, then averted his gaze. While trying to hide his complex emotions, he quickly stepped towards the other corner of the room.
"Instead of talking to yourself, go do some work. Don't just stand there doing nothing!"
Under Catherine's oppressive attitude, Stephen felt emotionally vulnerable. He tried to calm down and regain his composure to deal with his complex thoughts. Catherine's presence in the room was an unexpected surprise for him and exacerbated his internal conflicts.
As Catherine left the room, Stephen quietly began to sweep the dust in the room. Each stroke somewhat soothed his complex thoughts. Catherine's influence gone, he withdrew into himself, seeking solace in his own world.
Even though the door was left open behind him, Stephen quickly closed it. The silence in the room made his thoughts even clearer. Can I do magic? he wondered. He decided to cast a spell on the broom, but the broom didn't budge.
Stephen felt disappointed. "How can this be? I knew how to do it perfectly," he thought. As he pondered, he was startled by Catherine's voice.
"Are you talking to yourself again?"
He quickly grabbed the broom again and returned to his task. Each stroke somewhat calmed his complex emotions. Within a few minutes, he had swept all the dust from the room. However, when Catherine returned to check, she was not pleased with the room. She had a disappointed expression on her face, thinking that Stephen hadn't done the sweeping job well enough.
"What is this? You've done a terrible job!"
Stephen hadn't seen any issues as he inspected every corner of the room. Upon closer examination, he only noticed a small speck of dust on the floor. It was a detail that could be dealt with in a matter of seconds.
"There's no need to exaggerate. It's just a small speck of dust. I'll take care of it right away," Stephen said, moving to sweep up the speck of dust.
However, Catherine's harsh voice startled him once again. "Look at you, little gentleman! Making mistakes and then searching for excuses," she scoffed.
Stephen tried to respond calmly, trying to control his emotions. "No one is without faults."
Catherine was particularly tense and not in a good mood today. She was looking for a target to unleash all her anger, and she found it: Stephen. She was already looking for an excuse, and now she found one.
As she prepared to slap Stephen's cheek, Stephen quickly reached out and grabbed Catherine's hand, blocking the slap. Catherine was shocked, but Stephen's action only made her angrier.
The room was filled with tension. Catherine tightly held Stephen's hand with trembling hands, her face filled with anger. "Are you defying me?" she growled, her voice full of anger.
Stephen stood up against Catherine with courage. "Yes, if I'm physically stronger than you, why should I submit to you?" he said, with a confident tone. Along with his courage, a smile appeared on his face.
Catherine's shocked look at Stephen intensified the tense atmosphere in the room. Their confrontation changed the atmosphere of the room completely.
But Catherine didn't seem to back down. She tried to punch Stephen in the stomach. However, Stephen successfully defended against this attack as well. Catherine was shocked, and facing such a brave reaction surprised her.
Stephen, on the other hand, was hopeful and full of energy. Despite not being able to do magic, the effects of his other training were still present. His body moved with reflexes gained from training, giving him strength and confidence.
The room was filled with tense silence. Catherine, in shock, looked at Stephen in disbelief. Stephen's courage and determination changed the atmosphere of the room completely.
Catherine tried to slap Stephen in anger again. Although Stephen tried to resist this attack, he couldn't succeed. He was frozen, as if he had lost control of his body. Suddenly, he was knocked to the ground by a kick to his stomach. After kicking him one more time in the leg, Catherine said, "That's enough."
As she was about to leave, she turned back to check on Stephen. Although his entire body was in pain, Stephen forced himself not to show it. He simply squeezed the parts of his body that hurt.
Catherine grinned, "Wow, you've grown up. You used to cry a lot when you were little." Stephen was already writhing in pain, so Catherine's words didn't affect him much.
When Catherine left the room, Stephen heard a thick voice in his head. It was calling out to him as if summoning him. Stephen, in pain, tried to understand the meaning of the voice he heard in his head, but the effect of the pain made it difficult for him to focus on these thoughts.
"Stephen! Stephen!" the voice was heard again, and at that moment, he experienced a deep focus. However, the voice ceased after a few seconds. It was heard again after a while.
"Is it hurting again? This is your fate. Accept it!"
Stephen responded with determination, "No, I am here temporarily. I will return to my prince life soon. I am sure."
However, the thick voice chuckled sinisterly, angering Stephen and increasing his inner anger. "Even if you return to the prince life, you will continue to live that miserable life of yours. Even if you were a prince, you wouldn't be happy."
"No, I was living a perfect life as a prince," Stephen replied, focusing on the beautiful memories of his past. However, the voice in his head continued to disturb him.
The thick voice chuckled again. "You think that was a perfect life? You work until you're exhausted every day. You argue with Aaron 24/7. Your sister Amber used you to become a master of magic. You can't even talk to your father properly!"
This voice is so annoying, but damn, it's so right...
"Well, you fell silent. You know I'm right."
"I never gave up hope. I always tried to get rid of Catherine and achieved my goal. It's all thanks to my hope. I know I'll solve these problems too."
"Don't trust yourself so much. It's better not to."
"Why shouldn't I trust myself? Even though I've been through so much, I never even thought about taking my own life. I'm still standing tall. Why shouldn't I trust myself?"
"You think you've achieved all these things on your own, I'm having a good laugh. Everything was because of your luck, and if you hadn't encountered Cedric, you wouldn't have done anything."
"I defeated that dragon. I saved a lot of people's lives. Even though I've only been in training for a month, I've shown excellent performance. I admit, Cedric had a very positive impact on my life. I owe him a lot."
"You treated him badly at first too. Your life is full of mistakes."
As Stephen said, "They say there's no such thing as a perfect servant. What matters is learning from mistakes and not making mistakes," all his pains suddenly disappeared, and there was silence.