Lawrence Haskell stood before a large crowd of the kingdom's people, his aura of authority palpable in the air. Everyone watched him closely, and the dignity radiating from him made anyone who stood before him feel the weight of his words.
Lawrence:
"We will now be leaving the gates of this kingdom, after our last expedition two months ago to a Dungeon of Class A, where we returned with precious treasures and abundant resources. But this time, we won't return empty-handed. The royal family will offer A-class daggers to those who win in the combat tournament, which will take place in two days. The winner will earn the honor of joining us on our next reconnaissance journey."
Lawrence paused for a moment, then continued with a firm voice.
Lawrence:
"Prepare yourselves well, warriors. This is an opportunity you can't afford to miss."
The crowd:
"Long live the royal family!"
The cheers of the crowd filled the air with excitement. But amid the chants, a soft voice cut through the noise.
Voice from the crowd:
"Isn't it better to give this opportunity to your son, my lord? Or is it that he does not respond to any magical weapon?"
Suddenly, Lawrence's terrifying aura erupted. The aura was so intense that everyone froze in place, struggling to breathe.
Lawrence:
"Do you know what the punishment is for mocking a member of the royal family?"
Without giving anyone a chance to speak, he gestured to one of the guards standing beside him. The guard immediately shot a poisoned arrow at the person who had spoken, and the man fell dead to the ground.
The crowd fell silent, staring at the body that had collapsed before them. Fear rippled through the group as they gasped for air.
As Lawrence turned away from the crowd, he made his way to the castle where Kengoro had just finished his training.
Lawrence (sternly):
"Kengoro, I want you here."
Kengoro hurried to stand before his father, a sense of unease rising in him at the cold look his father gave him.
Kengoro:
"What do you want, Father?"
Lawrence:
"I've decided that you will join us on the reconnaissance journey to a Dungeon of Class B. You will be with us."
Kengoro (hesitantly):
"But Father, I'm not ready yet..."
Lawrence (angrily):
"We've run out of patience! You will come with us and fight. I don't want to hear any objections."
At that moment, Yurio entered the room, a mocking smile on his face.
Yurio:
"What's wrong, brother? Are you a little scared? Don't worry, I've prepared a magical energy-charged sword and armor for you. You'll be ready, no need to worry about the fighting."
Kengoro's anger flared at his brother's mocking tone, but he tried to stay calm.
Kengoro:
"Fine, I'll go with you."
Yurio smiled with satisfaction and said:
Yurio:
"This is what I expected from my dear brother." Then he stepped closer and kissed Kengoro on the cheek, his gaze filled with both mockery and fear.
Yurio then turned to Lawrence and asked:
Yurio:
"Father, may I participate in the tournament?"
Lawrence (coldly):
"No, we must give others the opportunity. You have other duties here in the kingdom."
Yurio:
"Alright, as you wish." He then left quietly, lost in his own thoughts.
Hours passed, and Kengoro's mother went to the family library, where she was browsing through old documents, searching for any similar cases to her son's. Among the pages of the ancient books, she found something that caught her attention. It mentioned an ancestor of the family who had been in the same position as Kengoro. That person had been unable to awaken their sword, which led the family to expel him and disgrace him. His name was erased from the family's history entirely, as if he had never existed, to avoid the shame he had brought upon them.
As she read those lines, Kengoro's mother felt a strange sensation. Her eyes filled with tears as she thought about what might happen to her son if he too failed to awaken his sword.