"Ales... Ales, wake up," someone was calling my name softly, but persistently. I felt a small hand touching my face. It's early morning, and someone was disturbing me. A four-year-old, of all people! I rubbed my eyes to see who it was. There stood a girl with red hair, her face beaming down at me as I blinked into wakefulness. Confused, I tried to make sense of it all.
Suddenly, another figure appeared, a woman who looked just like the girl. "Dianne, I told you not to disturb Lord Ales!" she scolded. The girl cried out, "But he's so cute!"
I am even more confused now. Lord Ales? Thanks to Thorus's rising position in the village, people had begun calling us "lords." Rumors had spread that Thorus is the Strongest man in the Kingdom, so now we were treated with a sense of nobility.
Back in my previous world, I had a rough life: a poor family, an alcoholic father who would take his anger out on my mother. This current life was a far cry from that misery. Thorus soon appeared, scooping me up into his arms, making goofy faces. I had no idea why he did that. I'd never once laughed or smiled at his antics, but he persisted anyway.
As I was taken outside, I noticed that there was quite the commotion around our house. We were heading to a temple today, and the mood felt almost celebratory. I was placed into the family carriage, where my mother was already seated with the red-haired girl. Curiosity got the better of me, so I asked, "Who are you?"
The girl replied brightly, "I'm Dianne Murray, the daughter of Sir Graham Murray, the headmaster of Tre Magic University."
I stared blankly at Thorus, silently asking for an explanation. He patted my head and said, "Tre is the capital city of Calberk". I knew, Calberk was the kingdom i lived in but dint know about Tre
I nodded, trying to act like I understood. Meanwhile, Dianne kept smiling, her grin too bright for me to look at directly.
The ride Continued :
We entered the temple, and the air immediately shifted into something heavy with reverence. The hall was grand, with towering stone walls disappearing into shadows. The flickering candlelight created restless shapes across the polished floors, and a deep sense of expectation filled the air. Rows of silent worshippers sat, their faces turned toward a large, hidden figure draped in crimson fabric at the far end of the hall.
The shrouded statue commanded attention, radiating a power that felt both sacred and mysterious. The atmosphere was thick, as if the very walls were holding their breath, waiting for something to happen. Every small noise—whether the creaking of benches or the rustling of the red cloth—seemed amplified, adding to the tension in the room.
We took our seats, mine gold-coated, but it was a struggle to climb up. Thorus lifted me onto his lap, making things easier. I could feel people staring at me, whispering things like, "Oi, look at Thorus's son! Isn't he cute?" I felt awkward, but Thorus only smiled, keeping me close. Dianne stood by the podium, and suddenly, a voice boomed, "Saint Peter has arrived!"
Everyone rose, except for Thorus and my mother. It was the same religious figure who had once gifted me a gold-coated book. The crowd remained standing until another shout came: "Lord Thomas Topham has arrived!" This time, even Thorus and my mother stood up. The chief, Lord Topham, entered the hall. I hadn't realized just how important he was.
He took his place beside the podium and addressed the crowd. "You may all sit now." Then, he pulled the red fabric off the statue, revealing a copper figure of a man with a sword piercing his chest, one leg standing triumphantly on a rock, and a wide smile across his face.
"This," the chief declared, "is how he died 500 years ago. This is how he united the world. This is how he smiled at death." The crowd applauded in reverence.
"As you know," the chief continued, "the gods are dead. Every last one of them sacrificed themselves—not to kill a demon lord—but to stop a human: King Julius the Great. He threatened to wipe out every race but humans. Now, we humans kill each other. We need protection."
He gestured to Dianne, who stepped forward and brought out a red crystal on a plate. The chief continued, "I have served as the chief of this village for 50 years, winning the hearts of many in Ura Colosseum, where I was the strongest. But I am getting old."
A hush fell over the crowd as he sighed. "This year, I will not participate in the tournament. Instead, I request that Lord Thorus represent the village and become the new chief."
The crowd buzzed with whispers. "Thorus is the strongest man in this country?" "Everyone who enters the tournament dies!" "I heard he eats babies!" Some of the comments were ridiculous, but Thorus looked hesitant.
The chief walked over and knelt before Thorus, presenting the red crystal. "This was given to me by my forefathers. It can only be used by the chosen Mages. Unfortunately, I am not one of them, and I have no heir to give it to. Please, accept this small gift."
Thorus tried to refuse, saying, "I am no mage. I can't possibly accept this." He began combing his long beard, clearly uncomfortable.
The chief smiled and replied, "You are taking it home, Lord Thorus. This is not a request; it is an order from your chief. Also, I have already enlisted your name as a participant in the tournament."
Thorus tried to protest, but the chief cut him off. "Now, enjoy the buffet," he declared with finality.
The conversation was over, and the crowd was soon lost in chatter about the upcoming tournament. As for me, I couldn't help but wonder what this new responsibility would mean for Thorus and for all of us.