The grand halls of the castle echoed with the heated argument between King Jeffrey and his daughter, Princess Fiona. The tension was palpable, the air thick with unspoken grievances and the weight of decisions that could alter the fate of the kingdom. Fiona, the first princess, stood before her father, her emerald eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and concern. Her voice, though stern, carried a tremor of desperation.
"Father, what you did to Félix was unjust. Sending him to the Forbidden Forest? You know as well as I do that no one survives there. He was innocent in all of this!" she protested, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.
King Jeffrey, seated on his ornate throne, regarded his daughter with a cold, unyielding gaze. His crown glinted in the dim light, a symbol of his authority and the burden of his decisions. "Silence, Fiona," he commanded, his voice sharp and final. "I am the king, and my word is law. Félix was of no use to us. He could not return to his world, and he had no place here. I gave him resources. What happens to him now is none of my concern."
Fiona's lips trembled as she fought back tears. "But it was our fault he couldn't return! We brought him here, and now we've abandoned him to die. How can you be so heartless?"
The king's expression hardened, his patience wearing thin. "Enough! I will hear no more of this. The matter is closed."
Before Fiona could retort, the heavy doors of the throne room creaked open, and a royal mage entered, his robes flowing behind him. He knelt before the king, his head bowed in reverence. "My lord," he began, his voice trembling with urgency.
King Jeffrey raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "Speak. What brings you here?"
The mage hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "My lord, we have detected the use of holy magic in Wisteria. Specifically, the Heavenly Baptism spell."
The king's eyes widened in surprise, and a slow smile spread across his face. "Ah, the new hero must have used it. I must admit, I didn't expect him to master such a high-level spell so quickly. He truly is remarkable."
The mage shifted uncomfortably, his gaze dropping to the floor. "My lord… it was not the new hero who cast the spell."
The king's smile faltered, replaced by a frown. "What do you mean?"
"The spell was cast in the north, my lord. Near the Forbidden Forest. The new hero, Jacob, is currently heading south. He could not have been the one to use it."
The king's face darkened, his mind racing with possibilities. "Who, then? Such a spell requires the combined power of at least fifty mages. Who could have wielded it alone?"
The mage shook his head. "We do not know, my lord. But the energy signature was… unlike anything we've ever seen."
King Jeffrey leaned back in his throne, his fingers drumming against the armrest. "Find out who did this. Bring them to me at once. I must know who possesses such power."
The mage bowed deeply and hurried out of the throne room, leaving the king and princess in tense silence. Fiona's mind raced with questions. Could it be Félix? Had he somehow survived the Forbidden Forest and gained unimaginable power? She dared not voice her thoughts aloud, but the hope in her heart burned brighter than ever.
---
The New Hero's Failure
Hours later, the castle was thrown into chaos as the new hero, Jacob, returned from his mission. The soldiers and knights who accompanied him were in bad condition. Many were carried on stretchers, their wounds severe and their spirits broken.
Jacob stormed into the throne room, his face twisted with anger and frustration. He ignored the customary bow and addressed the king directly, his voice booming through the hall. "Your Majesty, your knights are useless! They were easily defeated by a pack of demon hounds. How am I supposed to defeat the Dark One with such incompetence by my side?"
King Jeffrey rose from his throne, his expression a mixture of surprise and concern. "What happened, Jacob? My knights are among the finest in the land. How could they have fallen so easily?"
Jacob scoffed, his arrogance on full display. "They were weak, undisciplined, and cowardly. I refuse to fight alongside such incompetence. Find me better warriors, or I will not lift a finger to save your kingdom."
The king's jaw tightened, but he held his temper in check. He turned to one of the knights, a seasoned veteran who had served the crown for decades. "Is this true? What really happened out there?"
The knight hesitated, his eyes darting to Jacob before he spoke. "My lord, the new hero… he was of no use to us. He stayed at the rear of the formation, barking orders but refusing to engage in the fight. When the demon hounds overwhelmed us, he panicked and fled. Many of our men were injured or killed because of his cowardice."
The king's eyes narrowed as he processed the knight's words. He turned to Jacob, his voice cold and measured. "Is this accurate, Jacob?"
The new hero's face flushed with anger, but he offered no defense. Instead, he crossed his arms and glared at the king. "I am the hero of this story. My role is to lead, not to dirty my hands with petty battles. If your knights cannot handle a few demon hounds, then they are not worthy of serving me."
Fiona, who had been silent until now, stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. "Father, I must agree with the knights. Jacob's behavior is unacceptable. He may possess great power, but his arrogance and lack of compassion make him a poor leader. We cannot rely on him to save our kingdom."
The king sighed, his shoulders sagging under the weight of his responsibilities. "Enough. Jacob, you will return to the southern courtyard and await further instructions. Knights, double your training efforts. We cannot afford any more failures."
As the knights filed out of the throne room, Fiona approached her father, her voice soft but insistent. "Father, please reconsider your decision. There must be another way. Perhaps… perhaps Félix is still alive. If he has gained such power, he could be the hero we need."
The king's expression softened for a moment, but he quickly shook his head. "Félix is gone, Fiona. Do not cling to false hope. We must focus on the task at hand."
---
Jacob's Frustration
In the southern courtyard, Jacob paced back and forth, his frustration boiling over. "Why haven't my powers manifested yet?" he muttered to himself, his fists clenched. "No matter how hard I train, I can't even defeat a lowly demon hound. If it weren't for this cheat system that displays unreal skills, I'd be nothing more than a commoner back in my world."
A soft chuckle interrupted his ranting.
Jacob turned to see a maiden dressed in a revealing purple garment that clung to her curves, exposing just enough to entice any man's desires. Her long, silky black hair cascaded down her back, and her deep amethyst eyes shimmered with intrigue.
"New Hero," she purred, stepping forward. "I have been looking for you."
Jacob's eyes gleamed with interest. She was his personal maiden, assigned by the king to tend to his needs and pleasures.
"You came at the right time," Jacob smirked. He turned, walking towards the castle halls. "Follow me to my room… and bring the others as well."
The maiden's lips curled into a sly smile. "As you wish, Hero." She followed him, her hips swaying seductively.
Jacob's grin widened as he led her toward his chambers. "Let's indulge ourselves in the king's riches."
"As you desire, Hero."
With that, the doors to his chamber closed behind them, sealing away the dark ambitions that lurked within his heart.
---
The Mysterious Figure
Far to the north, in the heart of the Forbidden Forest, a figure stood amidst the ruins of an ancient temple. The air around them crackled with energy, and the ground beneath their feet glowed with the remnants of the Heavenly Baptism spell. Their identity remained hidden, but one thing was certain: they were no ordinary mage.
As the figure turned to leave, a faint smile played on their lips. "The king will soon learn that not all heroes wear shining armor," they whispered, their voice carrying on the wind. "And not all villains are as they seem."