What a wonderful morning. Today is a new day I need to get up and help my people. I also need to wake up my father. I walk to his room and knock on the door.
Nigel: "Dad! Wake up. We need to help the civilians. They need our support."
King Sifone: Coughs "Yes, son."
Nigel: "Dad, are you okay in there?"
King Sifone: "Yes, just wait for me outside the castle."
Nigel: "Okay, Dad."
Nigel stepped back from the door, his heart heavy. His father's voice sounded weaker than the day before, and the cough that followed felt like a stab to Nigel's chest. He knew his father was ill, but the reality of how little time he had left was becoming harder to ignore.
Outside in the courtyard, Nigel paced, watching the horizon. The sun was still low, casting long shadows over the distant villages. The air was filled with tension, a growing unease that matched Nigel's own inner turmoil. The kingdom had begun to whisper. They knew the king was dying, and though Nigel had been raised for this moment, he feared he would not be enough.
Master Erik appeared beside him, moving silently like a shadow. The old man's presence was always comforting, but today there was a sadness in his eyes, as if he, too, felt the weight of the inevitable.
Master Elrik: "Your father is weaker than he lets on, isn't he?"
Nigel nodded, his throat tight. "Yes. He tries to hide it, but... I see it. And I feel it. The kingdom feels it."
Elrik sighed deeply, his gaze turning toward the castle. "The people sense what's coming. They need reassurance, Nigel. They need to know that when the time comes, you will be ready to lead them."
Nigel clenched his fists, his voice tense. "But I don't know if I'm ready. How can I rule when my heart is breaking?"
Elrik placed a hand on Nigel's shoulder, his grip firm but kind. "Your heart may break, but it is that same heart that will guide you. It is what makes you a king, Nigel. Compassion. Strength. Wisdom. Your father has taught you all of this."
Before Nigel could respond, a loud cough echoed from within the castle. Nigel's blood ran cold. Without a word, he sprinted back inside, his feet barely touching the ground as he raced to his father's chambers.
When he burst through the door, he found his father slumped in bed, pale and wheezing. The proud, powerful man who had once ruled the kingdom with an iron will was now a frail shadow of his former self. Nigel rushed to his side, kneeling by the bed.
Nigel: "Dad! I'm here. I'm here."
King Sifone struggled to breathe, his hand trembling as it reached for Nigel's. His eyes, once so full of life, now flickered with the fading light of a man near the end.
King Sifone: "Nigel... it is time."
Nigel's heart sank. He gripped his father's hand tightly, fighting back the tears that burned in his eyes. "No, not yet. You're not ready to leave. I'm not ready."
Sifone gave a weak smile, his voice barely a whisper. "No one is ever ready. But you are stronger than you know, my son. The kingdom needs you now... more than ever."
Nigel shook his head, his voice trembling. "I can't do this without you."
King Sifone's grip tightened slightly, his eyes locking onto Nigel's with an intensity that belied his frail condition. "You will. You must. The crown is yours now, Nigel. Lead with your heart... and trust in yourself."
As the final words left his lips, the king's hand went limp in Nigel's grasp. The room grew eerily still as King Sifone, the once-great ruler, took his last breath. Nigel's world shattered in that moment, his heart heavy with grief.
For a long time, Nigel didn't move. The weight of the crown, the loss of his father, and the uncertainty of what lay ahead pressed down on him, threatening to break him. Tears finally spilled down his cheeks as he whispered, "Goodbye, Father."
---
Days passed, but Nigel barely slept. He was consumed with grief, but the kingdom would not wait. The villagers were anxious, and tensions were rising. It wasn't long before he found himself standing in the throne room, the crown of his father placed upon his head.
Master Elrik stood by his side, his voice steady and calm. "The people are waiting for you, Your Majesty."
Nigel looked at the throne — his throne now — and took a deep breath. His father's words echoed in his mind: Lead with your heart... and trust in yourself.
He turned to face the grand doors that led out to the balcony, where the people of the kingdom gathered below, waiting to see their new king. This was the moment. He had to be strong, not just for himself, but for them.
As the doors opened, Nigel stepped out into the morning light. The crowd below was silent, every eye fixed on him. He could see the worry on their faces, the uncertainty. But he also saw hope — hope that he could carry on his father's legacy.
Nigel raised his head, his voice clear and steady. "People of the kingdom! Today, we mourn the loss of a great king. My father was a ruler of wisdom and strength, and his legacy will live on in all of us."
He paused, feeling the gravity of the moment. "But now, I stand before you as your king. I will protect you, I will serve you, and I will lead with the heart of a king. Together, we will face whatever challenges come our way, just as my father taught me."
A cheer rose from the crowd, slowly at first, then growing louder. Nigel felt the warmth of their support wash over him. He wasn't his father, but he was ready to lead.
As he stood there, looking over his kingdom, he knew the journey ahead would be hard. But with the lessons his father had imparted and the strength of the people behind him, Nigel was prepared to face it all.
---