In the dead of night, Xavier found himself lost in a dream, one where he and Princess Jasmine enjoyed a romantic date under the stars. But before he could fully savor the moment, a soft, feminine voice echoed through his mind, calling his name over and over.
"Xavier... Get up... Go to the gate..."
The words were insistent yet cryptic. "Gate? What gate?" he murmured in his sleep. But before he could make sense of it, his eyes snapped open, his body drenched in sweat. His breath came in sharp gasps as he looked around, realizing King Alcmena was sleeping nearby, his massive form undisturbed.
Wiping his brow, Xavier grabbed his staff, using it to steady himself as he slowly stood up. Careful not to make a sound, he tiptoed away, each step measured as he ventured deeper into the cavernous hideout. He had seen a gate earlier—maybe that was the one the voice meant?
As he approached the stone archway, the voice grew clearer, almost urgent. "Open it."
Xavier hesitated for a moment before placing his palm against the cold surface. The moment he did, a pulse of energy surged through him. A low rumble echoed through the chamber as the massive doors slowly creaked open, revealing an ancient hall bathed in a soft, golden glow.
His breath hitched as he stepped inside. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings and shimmering Eldora runes, pulsating faintly with latent power. Seven colossal stone knights, each gripping a massive sword, stood watch over the chamber like eternal sentinels. But it wasn't them that drew his gaze—it was the sword.
At the heart of the chamber stood a divine longsword, its brilliance filling the entire space. Royal blue, gold, and crimson adorned its hilt and cross-guard, a ribbon of red elegantly wrapped around the handle. Eldora runes shimmered across its blade, casting a warm, sacred light.
Xavier barely noticed the voice whispering again. "Go to it. Take it."
His feet moved of their own accord, drawn by an unseen force. As his fingers brushed against the hilt, a flood of visions crashed into his mind. A man and a woman—faces both familiar and unknown—laughing, dancing, holding a newborn child. Then, the hospital scene returned, the sorrow in the woman's eyes more profound than ever.
"Oh, how about we name our son Xavier?" she said with a loving smile.
Xavier's heart pounded. His name? Why? Who were they?
Reality snapped back as his fingers tightened around the sword. With a steady pull, he lifted the divine blade from the ground, its radiant glow intensifying. A voice, not the one from before, but a deep and knowing one, filled the chamber.
"I knew it!" King Alcmena's voice rang out, full of triumph.
Xavier turned, startled to see the Dragon King standing at the entrance, his eyes gleaming with pride. "I knew you were the one chosen by the Holy Sword, Excalibur!"
Xavier barely had time to process his words before dizziness overwhelmed him. His vision blurred, the sword's weight suddenly unbearable. The last thing he felt was the cold stone beneath him as he collapsed.
When Xavier awoke, the morning sun filtering into the cavern, he was greeted by the aroma of something delicious. His head throbbed, but the pain was nothing compared to the sight before him—King Alcmena sitting beside a feast of mouthwatering dishes.
"Good, you're awake," the Dragon King said, stirring a pot. "Go wash up in the lake. Breakfast is ready."
Xavier blinked, still groggy. "Wait... you cooked all this? I didn't know you could cook."
Alcmena smirked. "Of course I can. I just never needed to eat after becoming a Herrscher."
Xavier reached for a piece of bread, only for Alcmena to smack his hand away. "Not before you brush your teeth and bathe."
Xavier grumbled. "With what? I don't have—"
Alcmena held up a toothbrush and a strange paste. "I made these. Now hurry up."
Xavier sighed but took the items, heading toward the lake. As he stepped into the water, he noticed something strange—his wounds, once deep and painful, had completely healed without leaving a single scar.
After cleaning himself up, he returned to the underground cavern, finally able to dig into the food. As he ate, a thought gnawed at him.
"Hey, King Alcmena... how did you know I wasn't asleep?"
King Alcmena chuckled, his voice laced with amusement. "Herrschers don't need sleep."
"I just do it because, well, there's not much else to do at night."
Xavier, no longer surprised by the strange quirks of the king, took the opportunity to ask about the mysterious room he had found himself in the night before.
King Alcmena's expression shifted slightly before he answered, "That place you sneaked into was the altar of the Holy Blade—Excalibur."
Xavier's eyes widened. "Wait, Excalibur? As in the Excalibur, you told me about?"
"Yes," Alcmena confirmed, his tone tinged with both amazement and something akin to annoyance. "And apparently, it has chosen you as its new master."
Xavier blinked, processing the words. "Excalibur… chose me?"
"Indeed. That explains why you were able to enter this dimension." King Alcmena leaned back slightly. "The blade must have summoned you here."
A wave of emotions hit Xavier—shock, excitement, disbelief. The legendary Holy Sword had picked him?
But then King Alcmena's gaze turned sharp. "Tell me, Xavier. Are you a descendant of Ulfberht, the Father of Blades?"
Xavier frowned, shaking his head. "No, at least… I don't think so. Why do you ask?"
King Alcmena studied him for a moment before replying, "Unlike Saint Sebastian, you and Excalibur share a rare bond. A very close one at that."
Xavier crossed his arms, puzzled. "A bond? What kind of bond?"
Instead of answering directly, Alcmena pointed at Xavier's eyes. "Perhaps it has something to do with those."
Xavier instinctively touched his face. "My cosmic eyes? I was born with them, but I don't really know much about them myself."
"Then tell me—what can they do?" Alcmena asked, his interest piqued.
Xavier sighed, then began explaining. "They let me see very minuscule things very clearly. I can see from longer distances compared to others, track things invisible to the naked eye, and perform insane calculations almost instantly. It's why I never struggle in math. The eyes handle the numbers for me, even ones that should be almost impossible to solve."
He paused, his expression turning frustrated. "But honestly? They're a headache to use. They flood me with so much information that I have to figure out how to process it all on my own. They're extremely texting on my brain and mental power. And I can't always react to every piece of information it gives me in time."
King Alcmena smirked. "That must have been a pain to deal with."
Xavier let out a dry chuckle. "You have no idea."
But then, King Alcmena's demeanor shifted. He stood taller, his gaze growing serious. Xavier felt the shift immediately, his instincts sharpening in response.
"Xavier," Alcmena said in a solemn tone. "Would you like to become my vessel?"
Xavier blinked, caught off guard. "Huh? Wait, did you just say you want me to be your vessel?"
"That's right," King Alcmena confirmed. "I want to form a contract with you."
Xavier narrowed his eyes. "Why now? Why do you suddenly want to be my contractor?"
King Alcmena's expression darkened slightly. "Because you were chosen by Excalibur, you're now in grave danger. There will be powerful people coming after you, all of them wanting to claim that sword for themselves. And they'll stop at nothing to take it."
Xavier felt a pit form in his stomach. His hands clenched involuntarily. "So, I'm a target now…"
"You don't have to worry about someone stealing Excalibur from you," Alcmena reassured him. "Once it has chosen a master, anyone attempting to take it will be struck down by the heavens. Instant punishment. But your real concern isn't the sword—it's your loved ones. The people around you will be in danger."
Xavier's throat went dry. His family. His friends. They could all be caught in the crossfire.
"But if you become my vessel," Alcmena continued, "you will gain the strength to protect them."
Xavier hesitated for only a moment before nodding firmly. "I'll do it."
A rare grin spread across Alcmena's face. "Then congratulations—you're now the second person in history to ever form a covenant with a dragon."
Xavier blinked. "Second? Who was the first?"
"The Father of the Heavens, Lord Yamato."
Xavier's eyes widened. "Wait… Misaki's ancestor? The founder of the Yamato Empire?"
Alcmena nodded. "Yes. Your friend's ancestor was the first human to form a pact with a dragon."
Xavier let out a low whistle. "Huh. I never knew that."
King Alcmena chuckled before extending a hand toward him. "Come now. Let's make this official."
Xavier took a deep breath, then stepped forward, as Alcmena told him to give him his hand. Xavier did as he was told, watching as King Alcmena made a precise cut on his palm, ensuring the wound was shallow to minimize the pain. The dragon king then did the same to himself before extending his hand over Xavier's, allowing his blood to drip onto the boy's wound.
With a solemn voice, Alcmena declared, "I, Alcmena, King of Dragons, now forge a pact with my chosen vessel, Xavier."
Xavier met his gaze and responded without hesitation. "I accept."
The moment the words left his lips, a radiant light engulfed them, flooding the entire cave and spilling into the vast forest beyond. As the glow gradually dimmed, Xavier glanced down at his right hand, expecting to see the cut still there—but to his surprise, it had completely vanished.
"So... did we form the covenant?" he asked, curiosity evident in his tone.
Alcmena nodded. "Yes, but there's something you must understand. I have planted what is known as the Dragon Seed within you."
Xavier frowned. "The Dragon Seed?"
"Yes, but there's a complication," Alcmena admitted. "For a pact like this to work properly, the Dragon Seed must be planted within the ethereal core of the vessel. However, you lack an ethereal core. This means I had no choice but to place it where your core should have been—like trying to plant a seed in the middle of an untamed, chaotic ocean."
Xavier processed this for a moment before tilting his head. "But that still means we have a pact, right?"
"Yes," Alcmena confirmed.
Xavier's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "So... does that mean I can use your powers or something?"
Alcmena smirked. "Something along those lines. But first, you must master RealmHeart before you can even dream of wielding my strength."
Xavier blinked. "RealmHeart? What's that?"
"You'll find out soon enough," Alcmena said, his smirk deepening. "Once I begin your training."
A nervous bead of sweat trickled down Xavier's temple. He knew that tone meant he was in for something intense. Clearing his throat, he quickly changed the subject. "Where's Excalibur?"
Without a word, Alcmena handed him the legendary blade. It was wrapped carefully in the golden-red scarf that Xavier had received as a gift from Jonathan during his childhood. Xavier unwrapped it cautiously, his brow furrowing as he noticed something unusual—a white cloth-like material covering the blade, something that hadn't been there before.
Noticing his confusion, Alcmena explained, "That white sheath is made from Eldora—my father's bone. It protects the blade when it is not in use."
Xavier lifted Excalibur, testing its weight. "It's... heavier than I expected."
Alcmena chuckled. "You'll get used to it. And I will train you to the best of my abilities, so you may unlock the true power of the Holy Sword."
Then, with a slightly unsettling grin, he added, "For now, my vessel, your training begins."
Xavier swallowed hard, laughing nervously as an ominous feeling settled in his chest. He had a bad feeling about what Alcmena considered 'training.'