Paul woke up early, feeling a sense of nostalgia wash over him. Today was the day Lyrian would leave for the capital with his parents. He got dressed quickly, his mind already at the carriage that would take his friend away.
As he was about to leave his room, he heard a crying sound coming from downstairs. Paul's heart skipped a beat as he recognized Venna's voice.
Paul's heart raced as he rushed downstairs, expecting to see Venna and Roderick bidding Lyrian farewell. But instead, he was met with a sight that made his blood run cold.
Roderick lay motionless on the floor, a sword stab lodged in his chest. Venna knelt beside him, her face contorted in anguish as she cried out, "Dad! Dad!"
Paul's eyes widened in horror as he stumbled backward, his mind refusing to comprehend the scene before him. He felt like he'd been punched in the gut, unable to breathe or speak.
Venna's wails grew louder, her body shaking with grief. Paul's eyes fixed on Roderick's lifeless face, his eyes frozen in a permanent stare. The sword handle protruded from his chest, a gruesome reminder of the violence that had taken his life.
Paul's thoughts raced back to their last conversation, Roderick's words echoing in his mind: "I don't have much time left." He had thought it was just Roderick's usual melancholy, but now he realized the truth.
With a surge of adrenaline, Paul rushed to Venna's side, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Venna, no! Oh, Venna!" he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion.
Paul's voice rose in desperation as he shook Venna gently, trying to snap her out of her grief. "Venna, who did this?! Tell me! Who could have done such a thing?!"
But Venna just continued to sob, her body trembling uncontrollably. Paul's frustration and anxiety grew, and he shook her again, this time more forcefully.
"Venna, answer me! Who killed Roderick?! Was it a robber? A assassin? Who?!"
Venna's words tumbled out between sobs, her voice barely audible. "The money lender... he came with a knight... Roderick said he had no money... and the knight... he stabbed him..."
Paul's eyes widened in horror as the truth dawned on him. The money lender, who had been hounding Roderick for payments, had taken his cruelty to a new level. He had brought a knight, a supposed protector of the realm, to do his dirty work.
Paul's mind raced with anger and grief. He had always known that the money lender was ruthless, but he had never imagined he would resort to murder. And to use a knight, a symbol of honor and justice, to carry out the deed was a travesty.
Venna's words trailed off into tears, and Paul held her close, his own tears mingling with hers. He vowed in that moment to make the money lender and the knight pay for their heinous crime. Justice would be served, no matter what it took.
Paul went outside the door and he saw the money lender and knight walking towards their carriage. The knight thanked the money lender for giving the location of Roderick because the Duke wants Roderick dead and he was searching him for many years. The money lender said not to forget the deal.
Paul's anger boiled over as he charged towards the knight, his wooden sword at the ready. "You! You killed Roderick! You'll pay for what you've done!" he shouted, his voice trembling with rage.
But his attack was clumsy and wild, and the knight easily sidestepped it. The knight's eyes narrowed as he gazed at Paul, his hand on the hilt of his own sword.
"Ah, a brave little boy, I see," the knight sneered. "Thinking he can take on a trained warrior like myself. You're no match for me, boy."
The money lender cackled with glee, clearly enjoying the spectacle. "Ha! Look at him, trying to avenge his precious Roderick. Foolish boy, you'll end up just like him - dead and buried!"
Paul's face burned with shame and anger as the knight and money lender laughed at him. He knew he had to think, to come up with a new plan. But for now, he stood frozen, his wooden sword still clutched in his hand, his heart heavy with grief and his mind consumed by a burning desire for justice.
Paul's eyes locked onto the knight, his gaze burning with determination. He focused his energy, and his aura began to swirl around him, shimmering with a soft, white light. The knight's eyes widened in surprise as he sensed the level of Paul's aura.
"A 1 Star Aura... how is this possible?" the knight muttered, his voice laced with disbelief. "You're just a child, yet you possess the same level of aura as me?"
But the knight's surprise quickly gave way to arrogance. He sneered at Paul, his eyes gleaming with condescension.
"Yes, you may have aura, boy, but that's not enough to defeat me. I have years of experience, countless battles under my belt. You, on the other hand, are just a novice, a mere child playing at being a warrior. You don't stand a chance against me."
The knight's words were meant to intimidate, to break Paul's spirit. But Paul's resolve only hardened, his determination to avenge Roderick's death burning brighter than ever. He knew he had to prove the knight wrong, to show him that age and experience weren't everything.
Will Paul get revenge?