I was panicking at that moment—I mean, I could hear the tic-toc sound of a bomb. But that's impossible, right? There are no bombs in a fantasy world. Yet my pulse quickened as if the ticking drilled into my skull.
Quickly, I spotted a gaping hole in the wall—a rough opening left from Prometheus' earlier attack. My breath caught with hope. I pushed through the jagged rubble, the stone scraping against my arms, and finally stumbled out of the collapsing church.
Not long after, the blast hit. BOOM!
The explosion tore through the air, shaking the earth beneath my boots. Heat slapped against my face as shards of stone and wood whipped past me. The shockwave flung me back, my ears ringing with a piercing whine. I gasped, my throat raw with dust—but at least I managed to save Nicholas.
'It actually exploded??'
Then—*hisss*—cool droplets kissed my skin. I tilted my head back. Above, a colossal magic circle pulsed, releasing a deluge. Steam hissed and swirled, the scent of burning wood and the metallic tang of blood mingling.
Through the crackle of dying fire, I heard a faint voice. Epsilon. He was calling my name.
My heart lurched—I spun around, scanning the ruins. Then I spotted him. His figure was half-buried in a cloud of dust as he strained, muscles trembling, lifting debris inside the wrecked church.
"Keith…"
His face was gaunt, streaked with grime, the dried blood caking his cheek making his skin look pale and sunken. He looked… broken. Don't tell me he was burning out, his mana nearly depleted?
"Epsilon!!" I shouted, waving frantically.
His head jerked up, his tired eyes locking onto me. For a split second, relief washed across his expression. His lips moved, muttering something I couldn't catch.
"What? What did you say?!"
"It's nothing, damn it!" he suddenly barked, face flushing red. Anger snapped from him like a whip—though I didn't know why.
He staggered toward me, each step heavy as though his legs would buckle. I rushed to steady him, placing a hand on his shoulder. His skin radiated heat, his breath shallow.
"Rest… you've done enough," I murmured.
Nicholas stood beside me, his voice gentle. "The fire's out? I owe you my gratitude, Epsilon." He smiled softly.
"It's nothing, Your Highness. It's my duty as a great magician—to protect the Royal Blood." His words came steady, but his chest rose and fell rapidly, betraying his exhaustion.
"We should head to the front," I cut in quickly, urgency twisting in my gut. "There are things I need to check."
"You, calm yourself for once." Epsilon smacked the back of my head lightly, his voice rough but laced with worry. "You nearly got yourself killed back there."
"What about Count Nerwine and Rajir? Leyla? Xerta?"
He groaned, crossing his arms. "Why the hell do you worry about everyone? They're not your responsibility. And look at yourself—you're barely standing. Honestly, I'm impressed you haven't fainted yet."
I grinned despite the ache in my body. "You know I've got insane stamina! The only time I ever blacked out was when you nearly killed me during our duel!"
"That—ugh. That wasn't a duel… fine, fine. I admit I went overboard." He muttered it, embarrassed.
Nicholas chuckled suddenly. "You two… seem close."
"Who said that?!" Epsilon and I snapped almost in unison.
Nicholas only grinned wider, his eyes gleaming with silent amusement. But my laughter died in my throat as the hairs on the back of my neck prickled.
Cold. Watching.Someone—or something—was there.
I whipped my head around, eyes narrowing at the ruined shadows.
'Why does it feel like we're being observed?'
"What is it?" Epsilon asked.
"…Nothing." My voice came quieter than I intended.
Still uneasy, I slipped back into the church before moving on. My boots crunched on rubble as I searched until—there. Under shattered beams lay the priest's broken remains. From the dust, I lifted a silver necklace, cold against my soot-stained palm.
"Why'd you run back in here?" Epsilon frowned, eyes narrowing.
"It's nothing," I said, closing my fist around the pendant.
His gaze lingered, irritation flickering across his features before he clicked his tongue.
"Nick, your leg looks bad. Are you sure you're okay?"
"Nick you said—" Epsilon's voice faltered as Nicholas winced.
"I think… the explosion caught it. Just a bit."
"Lean on me," I offered, nudging my shoulder toward him.
"No, Keith… I'll manage."
"Don't be stubborn."
For a heartbeat he resisted. Then his arm finally draped over my shoulder, his weight heavy but steady. Beside us, Epsilon sighed before adding, "I'll help too."
Together we trudged forward, slow but sure, until the noise of a crowd reached us.
We emerged to see nobles and soldiers gathered anxiously, their gazes fixed on the destroyed church.
"Let me go, Solum! I have to check on Keith! I swore I'd return!" Xerta's voice roared in anger.
"We cannot guarantee safety, my lord. There may be another blast," Solum restrained him firmly.
Nearby, Leyla wept bitterly in Count Nerwine's arms.
"Guards, advance. Search inside," the King commanded his newly arrived soldiers.
"Damn it! Nicholas and Keith are still inside!" Rodhius snapped, fury etched on his face.
'What the hell happened out here…?'
"Keith, my knight." Cynthia's calm voice drifted to me as she approached, her every step graceful. "I am relieved you're alive."
Relief softened my chest at her words. 'at least she can read a mood once'
"I've returned, my Lady. I hope you're unharmed."
"Why ask me? You're the one covered in blood." She turned toward Epsilon. "Well done saving him, Epsilon."
Epsilon's lips curved faintly despite his fatigue. "It was nothing, Lady Cynthia."
"Keith!!" Xerta broke free, sprinting toward me with Solum. "Are you alright? What about Prometheus? Did you defeat him?"
I glanced sideways at Epsilon. "The… fire spirit was destroyed—by Epsilon."
Xerta's eyes darkened as they met Epsilon's, sharp and hostile. Yet finally he bowed his head, voice tight. "My gratitude, Great Magician."
Epsilon shifted awkwardly. "It… it was nothing."
I pulled out the silver necklace, pressing it into Xerta's hand. "I couldn't save his body. I'm sorry for your loss."
His face crumpled, sorrow flashing before gratitude took hold. He clutched the pendant, whispering, "Thank you, Keith." His smile trembled, but it was genuine, lit by sunlight that broke through the clouds—so radiant it made me feel oddly self-conscious.
"Don't thank me," I muttered, glancing at Cynthia, who seemed utterly captivated by Xerta.
Then Leyla stepped forward, her eyes glistening with tears. "Keith… I'm so glad you're alive…"
Her trembling words should have pierced me—but strangely, my heart didn't ache this time. Was that… progress?
"Lady Leyla, I'm glad you're unharmed as well." My reply was formal, distant.
Soon, the King and Queen approached, their faces glowing with relief. Rodhius too. Even nobles I barely knew looked at me with reverence. Solum's gaze lingered on me, filled with admiration that made my stomach twist.
"For this, you have my deepest gratitude," the King declared, placing his hand over his heart. "You saved my son, Nicholas."
'He's… announcing it openly now? why? did he decided to care about Nick.'
Healers swarmed Nicholas, placing him on a stretcher. The King, Queen, and Rodhius bowed their heads before me.
'What the hell—why are they bowing to me?!'
"It was nothing, Your Majesty. I was only doing my duty as a knight," I said quickly, trying to calm them.
But one by one, the nobles mirrored the King's gesture. Heads bowed. Eyes filled with reverence. My skin crawled.
'This is wrong. This is way too much. I'm no hero. The one who killed Prometheus was Epsilon, not me.'
'Aaarghhhh….'
-----
"With this, I appoint Keith as a High Knight, equal to the knights of the Royal Order. He shall be honored as a hero."
Before the gathered nobles and soldiers, the King pinned the royal insignia onto my chest. At his side, High Knight Ronan raised a hand in salute.
Want to know how it came to this? After that day, royal envoys came to Hemser Estate with an official summons. And everything changed.
My reputation soared. No one dared call me a lowly knight or a commoner anymore. Even Remy—the same woman who once looked down on me, seeing me as nothing more than a man to warm her bed—now gazed at me with respect.
From the crowd, Rajir's eyes met mine, his chest puffed out with pride.
"Now, you are the Hero of Raythinez. You saved the Royal Blood. With sharp judgment, you prioritized others' lives above your own. For this, I grant you the chance to become a Royal Knight."
"My apologies, Your Majesty. But I will remain a knight under Duke Hemser. I deeply appreciate your praise and this honor, yet I feel unworthy of the position."
The King laughed heartily. "As I expected, you'd refuse. Still, we are truly grateful. If I had a daughter, I'd give you her hand in marriage at once."
'Hah. I'll pass.'
"Unfortunately, my children are sons… hahahaha!" His booming laugh echoed. Then he leaned forward, voice solemn. "But Keith, I grant you not only this insignia, but also a name. Solstice. The sun that grows brighter with time. Grow, Keith Solstice. And should you change your mind, come to me again."
'I never thought… I'd be given a family name.'
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Long live the King." I bowed deeply, the weight of my new name pressing onto my shoulders.