The night was quiet, the palace bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. But within Sam's mind, a storm was brewing. He was dreaming—though to call it a dream was generous. It was more like a nightmare.
Sam found himself standing in a vast, dark chamber. The air was thick with a sense of foreboding, and before him, a monstrous shadow loomed. The creature was massive, its form obscured by darkness, but Sam could see the faint outlines of chains binding it. The chains glowed with a dim, eerie light, pulsing as if alive, keeping the beast trapped in place.
The monster's eyes snapped open, two orbs of malevolent red that pierced through the darkness. It looked down at Sam, a wicked grin spreading across its grotesque face. Sam felt a chill run down his spine, an instinctive fear taking hold of him.
Suddenly, the chains began to crack, the metal groaning under an invisible force. One by one, they snapped, the sound echoing in the chamber like the toll of a bell. The monster laughed—a deep, guttural sound that reverberated through Sam's very soul.
Sam's breath quickened, terror gripping him as the monster stepped forward, its smile growing wider. He wanted to run, to escape, but his feet felt like they were glued to the ground. The monster reached out toward him, its massive hand extending, and just as it was about to grasp him—
Sam jolted awake, his heart pounding in his chest, his body drenched in sweat. He sat up in bed, gasping for breath, the remnants of the nightmare clinging to his mind. The room was dark and quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos of his dream, but the fear lingered, a cold knot in his stomach.
"What… what was that?" Sam whispered to himself, rubbing his eyes as he tried to shake off the lingering dread. But the image of the monster, with its sinister smile and breaking chains, was burned into his mind.
Before he could dwell on it further, a soft knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. A butler entered, bowing politely as he spoke. "Good morning, Master Sam. It's time to wake up and prepare for breakfast."
Sam nodded, grateful for the distraction. "Thanks. I'll be there soon."
After quickly getting dressed, Sam made his way to the dining room. The palace was grand, with tall ceilings and ornate decorations, but Sam found it surprisingly easy to navigate after spending a few days there. When he entered the dining room, he was greeted by the sight of the King sitting at the head of the table, already engaged in a lively conversation with a few of his advisors.
"Ah, Sam!" the King called out warmly as he saw him. "Come, join us! I was just about to start without you."
Sam couldn't help but smile at the King's friendly demeanor. Despite his royal status, the King had treated Sam more like an old friend than a subject, and Sam found himself enjoying their interactions. He took a seat at the table, and soon the two of them were chatting and laughing as if they had known each other for years.
As they talked, Masha and Sara entered the room, joining the conversation with ease. The three of them—Sam, Masha, and Sara—fell into a comfortable rhythm, their banter light and filled with laughter. The others at the table watched in surprise, murmuring among themselves. It was rare to see the King and the princesses so relaxed, so open with anyone, especially someone outside the royal family.
The morning was filled with laughter and conversation until they were interrupted by the arrival of a new guest. A tall man with a commanding presence entered the room, his footsteps echoing through the hall. His name was Eren Waldivor, the owner of the largest hunter guild in the kingdom.
Hunter guilds were powerful organizations that took on contracts to hunt monsters, and Eren's guild was the most renowned of them all. He was a man of wealth and influence, known for his skills in dealing with the most dangerous creatures.
"Your Majesty," Eren greeted with a deep bow before turning to Sam and the others with a polite nod. "I've brought three C-rank monsters for the soldiers' training today. I thought it might be an excellent opportunity for your soldiers to gain some practical experience."
The King nodded in approval. "Thank you, Eren. Your contributions to the kingdom are always appreciated."
Eren smiled graciously before turning his attention to Sam. "And you must be the young man I've heard so much about. I've been told you have quite the talent for combat. Would you care to join us for the training exercise? It could be a valuable experience."
Before Sam could respond, Masha quickly interjected, her voice firm. "Sam's not fully recovered yet. He shouldn't be joining any training exercises."
Eren raised an eyebrow, surprised by her protectiveness. "I see. Well, perhaps next time."
The conversation shifted, and as they ate, Eren brought up a topic that immediately caught Sam and Masha's attention. "By the way, Your Majesty, I've heard some rather interesting rumors lately. People are talking about a mysterious figure who appeared during the recent attack at the school. They say this… 'Ghost' killed a monster more powerful than an S-rank creature. Have you heard anything about that?"
At that moment, both Sam and Masha started coughing, nearly choking on their food. The timing was so perfect that even Sara, who usually maintained her composure, couldn't help but stifle a laugh. The scene was so comical that it broke the tension, and everyone at the table chuckled.
"Are you both alright?" the King asked, amusement clear in his voice.
Sam quickly recovered, waving off the concern with a sheepish grin. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just… something went down the wrong way."
Eren, though curious, let the matter drop and continued with his meal. Just then, Axel and Zane entered the room, grinning from ear to ear. They approached Sam, clapping him on the back. "Sam, we've got a surprise for you!"
Before Sam could ask what it was, they stepped aside to reveal Emily standing behind them, looking determined. "I want to train and become an Imperial Student too," she declared, her voice filled with resolve.
Sam blinked in surprise, but a proud smile spread across his face. "Emily… I'm glad you're here."
The group made their way to a large training hall in the palace. The hall was divided into three rooms: one for low-ranking soldiers, one for high-ranking soldiers, and one for the Imperial Students. Each group would face one of the C-rank monsters that Eren had brought, a test of skill and coordination.
The room reserved for the Imperial Students was where Sam found himself, along with Masha, Axel, Zane, and the other twelve Imperial Students. It was the first time Sam had met all of them, and he quickly noticed the hierarchy among them. The strongest of the group was a tall, muscular young man named Alex, who also served as their leader.
As they prepared for the fight, Sam observed the others. Alex was giving orders, his confidence apparent, and the other students followed his lead without question. Sam, on the other hand, stayed back, watching the monster that had been brought in for their training.
The fight began, and the Imperial Students launched into action. The room was filled with the sounds of battle, the clash of weapons, and the roars of the monster. Despite the chaos, the students fought with skill and precision, working together to bring the creature down.
After a few intense minutes, they succeeded in subduing the monster, and the room erupted in cheers. The students were exhilarated, their faces glowing with pride. They had defeated the monster without killing it, as it was a rare breed meant for training.
As the students started to leave the room, Sam lingered behind. Something didn't feel right. He could sense it—the monster wasn't truly subdued. His instincts screamed a warning, and just as he was about to speak up, a maid approached him with a plate of noodles.
"Would you like some noodles, Master Sam?" she asked sweetly, holding out the plate with a fork.
Sam, still distracted by the uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach, absentmindedly accepted the plate. "Uh, sure, thanks," he said, taking a bite.
But before he could swallow, the monster, which had been lying motionless on the floor, suddenly sprang to life. Its eyes snapped open, and it lunged at a nearby girl, its claws outstretched, teeth bared.
The room erupted into chaos as the students realized what was happening. Alex, who was closest to the girl, reacted on instinct, leaping forward to protect her. But it was too late—the monster was too fast.