Amon's birthday party proceeded smoothly. Most of the higher-ups were socialising amongst themselves, and on occasion, they would reach out to Amon and Yue, who were mostly in their own worlds. Knowing the power of connections, Yue would guide her future husband through these social interactions, but it became painfully clear that Amon was doing more harm than good.
He often appeared disinterested and couldn't keep eye contact for more than ten seconds. Other times, Amon would scare the higher-ups with his scary, impassionate face, creating a certain distance between himself and the rest of the guests. Even though it was technically his birthday party, Amon was the only one being ostracised.
Fortunately, Yue was by his side the whole time, mitigating the situation while forging relationships with the higher-ups. The two were inseparable, making everyone at the party already deem them as a married couple. Some had even mistakenly asked Yue whether they were having kids yet, even though they have yet to tie the knot.
These small talks made the couple look endearing in the older generation's eyes, and many were touting them as the future of the Solaris and Elune Houses, respectively. Naturally, Amon cared nought about praises like those and only wished for the elongated party to quickly come to a close. And, his wish was about to come true.
"Ahem… Everyone, may I have your attention!"
While Amon was wrestling with the mental fatigue of interacting socially, a booming voice resonated through the massive, ornate hall. Everyone's attention turned towards the empty stage, where one individual stood tall. Handsome and distinguished, the old man didn't look as frail as other men his age as he donned a well-tailored golden-white cashmere suit, highlighting the solid frame he'd built as a swordsman.
Although his full head of hair had turned completely white, the intensity in which his golden eyes burned signalled that he was in the pink of health. Confidently strutting to the centre stage, he scanned the room with great pride, puffing his chest out while stroking his well-endowed beard.
At that moment, Amon locked eyes with the eminent man, drawing a pearly white smile from his perfect set of teeth. Even though they had met many times throughout the eight years, Amon still couldn't escape the unnerving feeling the Solaris Lord bestowed upon him.
Condensing his sixth Sun and Moon helped, but Amon couldn't fathom beating Alrock Solaris. This showed how powerful the later calamities were if even Alrock Solaris, the strongest Knight on the planet, perished.
Amon unknowingly strengthened his resolve and pledged never to get complacent, for he was still far from his goal. However, Amon's change of expression brought greater joy to the Solaris Lord's face as he misunderstood his intentions.
"Thank you all for coming to this party!"
Alrock's voice echoed once again.
"I know that many of you are here for the free wine and cheese."
That comment drew laughter from the crowd, but it quickly died down as the Solaris Lord continued:
"Today is a celebration of the blooming relationship between the Solaris and Elune House. A celebration of our completed railway and new business. A celebration of our strengthening ties. But most importantly, it's a celebration of youth."
Alrock raised his glass towards Amon, prompting everyone to move their gazes towards him.
"Today is our dear Amon's eighteenth birthday! Society dictates that a young'un becomes an adult at this age, but Amon has ignored that norm. He joined the Knight's Academy when he was ten and graduated top of his class in three years, the fastest anyone has done in thirty years!"
The Solaris Lord beamed in glee as he recited the speed at which Amon graduated from the Knight's Academy. In the Solaris House, graduating from the Knight's Academy was a prestige; generally, it took many fledgling Knights ten to twelve years to graduate.
Amon did it in three.
"After he graduated, he blasted through the ranks of the Knights, fully completing missions of all difficulties. Whether it was killing Demonic Beasts or providing aid during disaster relief, Amon has perfectly upheld his duties to the Solaris Code of Conduct and Honour."
Alrock couldn't help but rain down praises on Amon. When he'd first heard of the boy, the Solaris Lord didn't know how to feel. Yue Elune was an important asset, yet she chose a random nobody as her marriage partner. It was natural for Alrock to feel apprehensive.
At the very least, he hoped Yue would have chosen one of his direct descendants or relatives, but her mind was set on Amon. Initially, Alrock was confused by that fact. However, after seeing the young boy constantly surpassing all expectations, Alrock was forced to admit that he was short-sighted.
"And at seventeen, Amon has condensed his third Sun, joining the ranks of the True Knights as their youngest member!"
Alrock's last sentence drew many whistles and gasps from the crowd. Many knew about Amon's feats during his time in the Knight's Academy, and they knew him as the future husband of the Elune House's heir. However, they failed to recognise how talented Amon was.
And who could blame them?
Amon didn't wish to announce his achievements to the world, and the Solaris House didn't feel the need to publish them either. Hence, even though on paper, Amon had condensed his third Sun last year, this was the first time anyone outside his close circle of connections heard about it.
A seventeen-year-old True Knight.
While it wasn't unheard of, it was a rare occurrence. The younger one broke through the walls; the higher one could climb. Every member of the Solaris House who had condensed their third Sun before twenty would go on to become generational monsters, each with the potential of becoming as strong as the Solaris Lord.
"As the one who leads the Solaris House, I must say, the future looks bright with Amon around! When the time comes, I can retire in peace!"
Alrock's final comment drew even more gasps than before. Many insinuated that Alrock was looking at Amon as a potential heir and looked at the young teenager in a different light. Others were stunned that the Solaris Lord held Amon in such high regard.
However, only a select few watched their patriarch with solemn eyes.
Those who knew of Alrock's past knew he was once enamoured with a young man who had once shown insane potential. There was another before Amon was the youngest True Knight in modern times. He was the one who held the record for the fastest time to graduate from the Knight's Academy before Amon. Also, the man touted as the next Solaris Lord after Alrock.
That man was none other than Lucas Solaris, Alrock's very own firstborn son.
Alas, eighteen years ago, Lucas Solaris vanished after failing a mission, never to appear again. No one knew where he went, and Alrock didn't share any details. Any records of Lucas Solaris were wiped clean, as they presumed that he had passed on. However, some remembered. And they believed that Alrock was projecting his dead son on Amon.
"So let us raise a glass to our dear Amon! Happy Birthday, young'un!"
"Happy Birthday!!!"
At the Solaris Lord's signal, everyone present raised their glass in ecstasy. Their minds were whirling from all the details Alrock revealed as they believed Amon was on the fast track to becoming the next Solaris Lord. Some were scheming to get closer to the young man to secure his trust.
The only one who didn't share everyone's excitement was the person they were toasting to.
"... Cheers."
Amon's voice drowned by two octaves as he accepted the congratulatory remarks. He could feel the hyena gazes greedily staring him down and the room's atmosphere changing. Amon had become the centre of all attention in no time, and everyone's eyes were locked on him.
"Hoh… You have reached your popular phase, huh? I don't know how I feel about that."
Feigning to be bothered, Yue rested her white palms on her cheeks, giving her future husband a piercing yet teasing side-eye.
"... Do as you please."
At that moment, Amon didn't have the energy to fight with Yue and could only watch begrudgingly as the Patriarch of the Solaris House trod towards him with an innocent smile. Without even trying to hide his discontent, Amon sighed and asked:
"My lord… Why did you have to do that?"
"Haha, Amon my young'un! Today is your special day! You can drop the honorifics! Just call me Grandpa Alrock as per usual!"
"Okay, Grandpa Alrock… Why did you do that?"
When Amon graduated from the Knight's Academy a few years back, the Solaris Lord requested that Amon be less formal with him. Initially, Amon refused, fearing that being close to Alrock would bring him more trouble. Eventually, Amon relented to calling him informally whenever they were in private. But now that Alrock has announced their close relationship to the world, Amon didn't need to keep up with pretence.
Supposedly stunned that Amon readily agreed immediately, Alrock was taken aback for two brief seconds. However, he quickly composed himself and exploded with laughter.
"Amon, my dear young'un. Do not be too annoyed with me. I did it for your sake!"
"... How so?"
"I know you like to keep your affairs private, but unfortunately, your quiet life was sealed the day we announced your engagement to the other young'un over there. And now that our partnership with the Elune House has entered the next phase, your privacy will also be compromised."
"..."
It was to be expected. Even before today, Amon has been receiving bothersome requests from members of high society and journalists. With the Solaris-Elune partnership now formally established, they would begin selling the Mana Crystals in earnest, creating one of the most lucrative businesses in the market.
And the bedrock holding this partnership alive was Amon and Yue's engagement.
"My announcement today is to help you keep some of that privacy. That young'un over there has the protection of Yugor, as she will be his heir. However, there is no such protection for you. Your father's status as a Guardian Knight is not sufficient. As you know, some of these people can be quite relentless and brutal."
"So… you will be my protection?"
"Precisely."
Alrock smiled while resting his massive palm on Amon's shoulder.
"It may not be much, but my name will at least deter anyone from messing with you. I know you have no interest in the Solaris Throne, but this is the only way to give you strong backing. Besides, I never said I would make you my heir. I just worded it such that they would think that way."
The Solaris Lord winked playfully. Over the years, he has come to know Amon's personality very well. Amon has no desire to take over the Solaris House as his focus is on improving his skills for the upcoming Calamities. Of course, Alrock didn't know that, but he could see how disinterested Amon was in power and influence.
"Of course… If you ever decide to have a go for my position, we can discuss it at a later date."
Amon rolled his eyes but didn't breathe a word. The position of the Solaris Lord didn't interest him one bit. Yes, it came with prestige and influence, but overall, it was more of a burden than an asset. Alrock could sense the young man's annoyance and flashed his brightest smile yet. Leaning in closer, he whispered in a voice only both of them could hear:
"Also… Once all these cumbersome matters are settled, let's have a duel, you and me. Ah, and don't bother hiding your strength."
For the first time this evening, Amon looked genuinely shocked. He distanced himself from the intimidating man and stared into his golden eyes. Resisting the urge to clench his fist, Amon's voice wavered as he replied:
"... What?"
"You hid it well, but you severely underestimated my senses. I didn't become the Solaris Lord through luck, you know?"
"..."
Amon paused, unsure of whether he should reply. Amon was confident he had hidden his true strength well, and the Golden Dragon Progenitor, Yval's blessing, was still active. As powerful as Alrock was, it was still unbelievable that he could pierce through all those layers of protection to unveil Amon's real power.
"From how stable your mana flow is, I presume you have already condensed your Fourth Sun. And the ease in completing your missions is uncanny, especially when you tackle those missions alone."
Luckily, Alrock's following words lifted the heavy boulder off Amon's chest. The Solaris Lord couldn't fully pierce through his protections; instead, he used his senses and deduction ability to determine that Amon was hiding his strength. Not to mention, Alrock could only guess that Amon was at his Fourth Sun, not the Sixth that he was actually at.
"An eighteen-year-old who has condensed his Fourth Sun, that's an achievement that hasn't been seen in centuries. If your true strength were revealed, the whole world would take notice. So, I understand your apprehension and why you have hidden some of your powers."
"..."
Amon kept quiet and was happy to let Alrock continue down this line of misunderstanding. If Amon revealed his actual cultivation level, one could only imagine the elderly man's utter shock. He might die of a heart attack right then and there.
"However, a young'un is still a young'un. There are things that the Knight's Academy doesn't teach since there hasn't been anyone quite as talented as you for centuries. So moving forward, you will need a good teacher to show you the ropes."
At that point, Amon finally realised why Alrock asked for a duel. It turns out that the old knight was just itching for a disciple.
"Besides…"
"M-My Lord!!!"
However, just as the Solaris Lord was about to formally request Amon to fall under his tutelage, a loud exclamation reverberated through the massive dining hall. Amon moved his attention to the exit, only to see the familiar vassal Knight who served Alrock running straight at them.
"Hawk… Can't you see that I'm busy?"
"Y-yes, my lord! B-But, this is urgent!"
"Hah… What happened?"
"T-This… I think it would be better if you saw for yourself…"
Sir Hawk took a moment to calm himself before gesturing at the door. As if waiting for that moment, two hooded figures appeared from the corner and carefully edged closer to the Grand Hall. One stood at 1.9 metres tall, while the other was shorter by a full head, at 1.7 metres. The hood covered both of their faces so no one could see their expression and attire, but from how they carried themselves, anyone with half a brain could tell they were seasoned warriors.
Their appearance didn't stir a storm, but there were various curious eyes. However, audible gasps could be heard when the taller one removed his hood throughout the amphitheatre.
His prominent red hair, streaked with strands of silver, glowed with the dazzling lights from the chandeliers above, framing a countenance marked by years of hard-fought battles. His piercing brown eyes created an invisible sphere of intimidation, bringing anyone who locked eyes with him to their knees.
Every scar in his rugged features told a heroic story, such as when he single-handedly defeated a thousand Demonic Beasts or when he charged into danger to save his comrades from certain death. Anyone who knew about Knights would have heard of this man's chivalric conduct. So it came as no surprise when someone recognised him immediately.
"Isn't that Sir Arthur Pagiel? The Head of the Holy Church's Paladin Order?"
"What is he doing here? He rarely leaves his duty of guarding Hyarum."
Sir Arthur Pagiel.
The current strongest Knight of the Holy Church and the highest-ranking Paladin. Tasked with protecting Hyarum, the Holy Land where the Pope and Saint reside, the Paladin was widely considered one of the most excellent defences the Holy Church had. While the world was relatively peaceful, it was rare for such a person to leave Hyarum, even for a day or two.
And no one knew it better than Alrock Solaris.
Twitching his eyebrows, the massive man walked over to the red-haired Knight and asked:
"Sir Arthur, it has been a while."
"It has been a while indeed, Lord Solaris." Sir Arthur lowered his head into a slight bow before raising it again to meet Alrock's eyes. "The last time we met, Lucas was still here."
"You… Sure have guts… Saying his name in front of me."
There was a reason why Alrock was annoyed by the Paladin's presence. Sir Arthur wasn't just the Head Paladin of the Holy Church; many moons ago, Sir Arthur was also his eldest son's best friend. Nay, they could be called sworn brothers. Adventuring together, slaying Demonic Beasts, saving lives… They were the epitome of a Knightly Brotherhood.
And Sir Arthur… was also with Lucas Solaris when he disappeared on a mission.
Seeing the red-haired Knight only reopened old scars Alrock thought he'd closed. Controlling the urge to kick him out, the Solaris Lord folded his arms and raised his voice.
"You better have a good reason for coming here, dampening our festive mood."
"... I apologise for the sudden visit, and please continue your celebrations after I'm done. Don't worry, it won't take long."
Everyone listening in on the conversation was confused, and rightfully so. The sudden appearance of the Head Paladin has thrown a whirlwind into the Grand Hall. However, two individuals looked at each other, not confused but completely shocked.
Escaping from the Solaris Lord's side, Amon grabbed Yue and dragged her right in front. When they both saw Sir Arthur Pagiel, their eyes widened, prompting Yue to send a telepathic message.
[This can't be! Why is Arthur Pagiel here? Shouldn't he appear with 'him' in a few months?]
[I don't know… Perhaps we somehow changed this timeline. They decided to come now instead of waiting until Grandpa Alrock's birthday.]
[If that's the case… does that mean?]
[Yeah… That guy behind Arthur Pagiel…]
Everyone's eyes were focused on the Head Paladin casually conversing with the Solaris Lord. But Amon and Yue knew who the night's real star would be.
The second hooded figure remained silent as the two mighty Knights conversed, but he eventually stepped up when called upon.
"Lord Solaris, I didn't mention Lucas' name without reason. I came here not as a representative of the Holy Church but as Lucas' friend. You may not believe me, but Lucas is still alive, and he has entrusted me to hand you his legacy."
"IMPUDENT!!!"
The Solaris Lord hollered, sending a wave of directed energy straight at the Head Paladin. A golden Aura encased the elderly man while torrents of air rushed out. The ground cracked beneath him, and the chandeliers were shaking. However, even with all that mana being released, no one other than the Head Paladin felt Alrock's power.
Facing the wrath of the greatest Knight alive, even Sir Arthur Pagiel couldn't keep a straight face. An invisible pressure forced the Paladin to bend his waist while bracing for the potential impact of a direct attack.
"I don't know where you get the courage, but did you think you could antagonise me in my home and get away with it?! Has the title of Head Paladin gotten to your head, young'un?!"
"L-Lord Solaris, I…"
"Do you have a death wish?!"
Alrock was just moments away from slapping the insolent Head Paladin onto his knees until he begged forgiveness. Lucas' disappearance was a black stain in the Solaris House's history, even more so for Alrock, who loved his son dearly.
However, just before the Solaris Lord could raise his fist…
"Stop!!!"
The second hooded figure leapt before Sir Arthur Pagiel, spreading his arms wide to protect the man. The youthful voice caught everyone's attention, but no more so than the man threatening to punch his face. Alrock paused for a moment as an unfamiliar sensation crept into his soul. However, anger got the better of him, and he barked:
"Scram!!!"
Alrock sent a wave of air pressure flying at the shorter individual. It had enough force to knock out a grown man or, at the very least, send them flying to his knees. However, the shorter individual stood his ground. All the air pressure did was brush back his hood as a trail of blood dripped down the individual's mouth.
The Solaris Lord was surprised that his attack was so easily withstood and was ready to send a fist flying before he noticed something peculiar. With his hood pushed back, Alrock could now clearly see the man's face.
And that face… brought a stop to the Solaris Lord's wrath.
Beneath that hood was a young, handsome man, no more than sixteen. His tousled locks of blonde hair cascaded in sun-kissed waves, framing a face of striking symmetry and boyish charm. Each strand seemed to dance in the breeze, adding a touch of ethereal grace to his already captivating appearance.
His eyes were reminiscent of the ocean, a deep cerulean blue that held a depth and intensity quite unlike his relatively youthful exterior. It felt like all of the planet's water was condensed into two blue marbles and carefully inserted into his mesmerising pupils.
But it wasn't his hair or eye colours that stopped Alrock.
The teenager had prominent facial features that highly resembled the Solaris Lord. A strong sculpted jawline, high cheekbones with a dimpled smile, and a nose that seemed to be lifted directly from Alrock's bloodline. It felt like the Solaris Lord was looking at a younger, more handsome version of himself. And well, that face wasn't unfamiliar to him.
This boy… was a spitting image of his eldest son.
"... L-Lucas? I-Is that you?"
"No… My name is not Lucas Solaris."
Even though the teenager was facing one of the most powerful entities in the world, even though his internal organs were damaged and the pain he'd experienced was excruciating, he didn't cower in fear or hide behind his mentor. In a stunning act of bravery, he stood up to the Solaris Lord while protecting a person he cared for, regardless of whether he was too weak to face his opponent.
At that moment, a thunderbolt struck Amon's spine. He had read this scene repeatedly in the first book of his favourite story. It was like a die-hard fan watching his favourite comic book come to life. No matter how difficult the odds were, no matter how high the hurdle was, this young man in front of him never gave up. Like a cockroach that refused to die, the young man would always get back up against indomitable odds to fight for what's right. He would save millions of lives and become the epitome of what a hero was like.
Amon held his chest as he could feel his icy heart begin to beat rapidly. At this moment, he realised… the prologue had been completed.
It was now time for the main story.
And the protagonist of this story… was proudly announcing his name.
"My name is Leon Bright!"