The streets were filled with people as Kaiden walked through the town, heading toward the square where the examination cycle would take place. The sun hung high above, casting long shadows and bringing a golden warmth to the bustling marketplace.
Kaiden couldn't help but feel a strange mixture of irritation and unease. Everywhere he looked, there were people calling out to him, giving him words of encouragement or wishing him good luck. It felt suffocating.
"Good luck, Kaiden!"
"Do your best out there!"
"We believe in you!"
He gritted his teeth and shook his head, muttering under his breath. "This is so cringe."
It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the support—it was just that being on the receiving end of so many well-meaning but overbearing comments made his skin crawl. He wasn't a hero. He wasn't a symbol. He was just a kid who wanted to find Elira and build her inn.
But they didn't know that. They all had their own expectations of him. And he was definitely not the hero they thought he was.
As Kaiden walked through the crowds, his eyes narrowed, and his thoughts turned inward. The faces around him blurred as he let his mind wander. I've come so far. Three months of training, of pain, of pushing myself to the limit. But I can't let that be the end of it. I've barely even started...
His thoughts were interrupted as a familiar voice called out to him from behind.
"Kaiden!"
He turned around to see Lady Seris, standing by the doorway of the inn. She looked at him with a smile, her usual graceful composure apparent even in the busy atmosphere. "Good luck on your journey, Kaiden. You've come a long way."
He gave her a nod, his expression neutral, though he felt a pang of gratitude for everything she had done for him. "Thanks."
But inside, Kaiden thought, Please, no more goodbyes. I'm not dying.
The Encounter with Kasir and His Son
As Kaiden walked further into the town square, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. His instincts were always on edge, and as he reached the center of the square, his eyes narrowed as he saw a familiar figure standing by one of the stone pillars.
Kasir.
And beside him, a tall, well-dressed young man—his son.
Kaiden stopped in his tracks, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. The young man looked... well, almost too handsome. His face was perfectly symmetrical, his features flawless, almost to the point where it looked unnatural. His hair was dark and combed neatly, his eyes a striking shade of blue that seemed to pierce through the air itself. He stood with a calm, regal air, exuding an aura that made the people around him instinctively take a step back.
Kaiden couldn't help but scowl. Great. Just great.
Kasir, on the other hand, caught sight of Kaiden and smiled with that same cold, calculating expression he always wore. "Ah, Kaiden, I see you're ready for the examination cycle," he said with an exaggerated casualness, as if this was just another formality.
Kaiden's eyes met his. "What do you want?"
"I'm just here to see how things unfold," Kasir replied, his eyes glinting. "My son will be going through the cycle too, after all. It'll be... interesting to see how you do."
Kaiden glanced at the young man beside him, who merely nodded in acknowledgment, a faint smirk on his lips. Kaiden didn't know if it was a genuine expression or if it was something more sinister, but he didn't like the way the young man looked at him. It felt as if he was being measured, assessed, as though Kaiden was just another piece in a game.
Before Kaiden could respond, a strange sound filled the air, a hum that reverberated through the ground beneath his feet. His eyes snapped upward, and he froze.
The Arrival of the Empire
From above, a sleek, advanced piece of technology descended from the sky. It wasn't a bird, nor was it any kind of animal Kaiden had ever seen. The large, metallic craft shimmered as it glided downward, its wings folding in as it hovered effortlessly over the town square.
Kaiden's breath caught in his throat. He had never seen anything like it. It was like a ship, but smaller, more compact. The sleek surface gleamed in the sunlight, its edges sharp and angular, reflecting the light in a dazzling display. As it lowered, a series of propellers on the bottom began to spin, keeping the craft steady as it touched down gently.
"What the hell is that?" Kaiden muttered, his eyes wide.
Kasir smiled at the craft with something that could almost be called admiration. "That, my dear boy, is the future. The Empire's technology, brought directly for the examination cycle. You'll see more of this as time goes on."
Before Kaiden could respond, the hatch of the ship opened, and a tall man stepped out, his posture commanding and regal. His dark cloak billowed slightly as he stepped onto the ground, his eyes scanning the crowd.
The man's aura practically radiated off him—thick and heavy, like the very air around him bent to his will. His gaze swept over Kaiden, lingering for a moment. His presence alone felt like a pressure on Kaiden's chest, making it difficult to breathe.
"I am Commander Zephar," the man announced in a deep voice, his eyes scanning the crowd. "I bring the Empire's judges for the examination cycle. You will be tested. You will prove yourselves worthy of the Empire's attention."
He paused, his gaze settling on Kaiden once again.
"Prepare yourselves. The Empire will see everything you are."
The Examination Process
Kaiden stood still as the examination began. The Empire's guards had started organizing everyone into lines. They asked the usual questions—age, height, blood samples, and for the first time, they asked for parents.
Kaiden froze at the question. Parents?
The guard in front of him looked at Kaiden expectantly. Kaiden's throat went dry, and he stood there for a moment, his mind racing. He hadn't prepared for this.
"My parents... are dead," he said quietly, his voice flat.
The guard paused, looking at him, but the silence that followed felt heavy. Kaiden's heart beat faster as he waited for the response, feeling a strange mix of guilt and discomfort.
The guard nodded, but there was a flicker of hesitation before he waved Kaiden through.
Kaiden walked past him, his mind reeling. The mention of his parents always brought a sharp ache to his chest. His mother's face flashed in his mind, followed by the image of his father. They never got to see this. They never got to see me become something more.
The Flashback
As Kaiden made his way to the waiting area, memories of his parents surged to the forefront of his mind. He remembered his mother's soft voice, telling him to never give up, to always keep pushing forward, no matter the odds. He remembered his father, who had always been so strong—his solid, comforting presence—and the way he had kept Kaiden safe when they were younger.
But those days were gone. His parents had been taken from him, just like everything else. And now, all Kaiden had was the burning desire to get stronger—to prove that he could survive in a world that had tried to crush him.
"This is the beginning," he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible in the noise of the crowd.
The Journey Begins
As Kaiden stood there, waiting for his turn to be called, he realized something. This wasn't just about proving himself to the Empire or to anyone else. It was about moving forward. About never letting the past hold him back.
The journey he had started wasn't over. It was just beginning.
And with that thought, Kaiden felt a spark of determination light up inside him. He had a purpose now—he had something to fight for.
This was only the first step. The first of many battles he would have to face.
And Kaiden was ready.
End of Chapter 43
Kaiden's journey to the Empire's examination cycle was filled with new challenges, both internal and external. As the tests begin, he realizes that the true fight is just beginning—and it will be his greatest challenge yet.
To be continued...