Episode 5: Boasts at the Tavern and a New Encounter
That evening, weary from battle and training, Leon and his fellow soldiers made their way to a nearby tavern. As soon as they stepped inside, the place was buzzing with stories of the day's fight. Soldiers were laughing and boasting about who had fought the bravest, their voices carrying the lingering heat of combat.
The tavern was filled with excitement and warmth, bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun that streamed through its windows. Tables were crowded with men raising their cups to push aside the fatigue of the day. Leon sat down with his comrades, immediately raising his cup high.
"Today, we defended Elysium! This one's for the kingdom!"
A roar of voices answered him, and the clinking of cups rang out as they drank deeply. Leon, flushed with pride, quickly refilled his cup and began recounting the day."So there I was, holding my shield at the front. The monsters came at me in waves—and fell one after another!"
His friends burst out laughing, shaking their heads. One of them chuckled."Come on, Leon. Maybe a couple tripped over themselves, but let's be honest—wasn't it General Lisa who finished them off?"
"I'm telling you, it's true! I stood my ground with my shield, and the General herself noticed me. She even encouraged me!" Leon's eyes sparkled as he spoke, reliving the moment. For him, it was less about the monsters and more about the recognition he felt as a soldier.
Some nodded in encouragement, while others listened wide-eyed. Leon's face glowed red with a mix of drink and pride."Well, if the General gave you words of praise, that's no small thing," one soldier said. "She doesn't hand out recognition lightly."
"That's because I earned it," Leon insisted, though inwardly he admitted it had been luck as much as skill.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a stranger raising a cup toward him. She had shoulder-length black hair, sharp eyes, and a faint, knowing smile."Quite impressive, to have felled so many," she said, lifting her glass as though in salute.
Her gaze was piercing, yet oddly reassuring. Leon felt his heart pound as she continued."If you fought with such resolve, you've every right to be proud. Seeing new warriors rise makes this kingdom feel secure."
Leon turned to whisper to his comrade, who leaned close and murmured, "That's Serena, commander of the intelligence corps."
At that name, Leon almost dropped his cup. To meet Lisa in battle had been dream enough, but now Serena, another living legend of Elysium, stood before him. Flustered, he bowed slightly."Commander Serena… it's an honor that you heard my story."
Serena smiled, pouring wine into his cup."Then drink with me. You've earned it today."
Bolstered by her warmth, Leon raised his glass. "It may have been luck, but I'd like to believe it was also the fruit of my training. One day, I want to fight for the kingdom as you and General Lisa have done."
Her expression softened."Hold onto that resolve, Leon. The path of a warrior is paved with trials, but if you don't abandon your conviction, you'll get there. Perhaps one day, you'll even stand at my side."
With that, she raised her glass to the tavern at large."To all who fought today—I salute you. Your courage is the pride of Elysium!"
The tavern thundered with cheers. And though Serena soon departed, her presence lingered. Leon sat back down, still flushed, and declared to his comrades:"One day, I'll be a warrior worthy of Lisa and Serena both. To that day—I drink!"
His friends laughed and raised their cups with him, and in Leon's eyes burned the rekindled fire of resolve.
**
Episode 6: The Royal Picnic
When Leon was first assigned to guard duty for the royal family's picnic, he grumbled. But when he realized it meant protecting King Merslin and his kin, his heart leapt with anticipation.
"A royal picnic escort? Maybe luck's finally turning my way. Who knows—this could be the chance I've been waiting for."
He chuckled nervously, earning a sharp rebuke from a comrade: "Focus on your post." Leon straightened at once, but inside, his pulse raced. For a common soldier, the chance to stand so close to the legendary king was an honor beyond measure.
Soon, the royal carriage arrived. King Merslin stepped down, and the atmosphere itself seemed to change. Every footfall carried weight, every movement hushed the air. His presence was overwhelming, his charisma silencing the ranks of guards who watched in awe. Leon's breath caught in his throat.
Beside him stood Queen Elena, serene and radiant. A faint shimmer of magic flowed from her fingertips, casting an aura of calm across the meadow. Even the guards felt its warmth, Leon most of all. She was not merely queen—she was the kingdom's shield incarnate.
Then came the twin children, Prince Lian and Princess Lia. Their laughter rang out as they darted between the guards, Lia waving a wildflower in triumph while Lian peered curiously into the woods. Their innocent joy lit the field brighter than any sunbeam.
Leon stood at attention, whispering to himself:"Just to be here is an honor. I may be only a guard now, but one day… one day I'll grow strong enough to stand among legends."
As the family settled on the grass, sharing food and laughter, Leon was struck by the simple warmth of it all. Merslin teased his son, ruffled his hair, while Elena laughed softly. They were royalty, yet in that moment, simply a family.
At one point, the king glanced toward his guards and nodded in gratitude. Leon's chest swelled with pride."This duty… it matters. Even a common soldier can be part of something greater."
Gripping his sword more firmly, Leon vowed again: one day, he would become a warrior worthy of the kingdom he served.
**
Episode 7: The Difference Between Humans, Orcs, and Elves
The Kingdom of Elysium was a land unlike any other, where many races lived side by side. A walk through the capital revealed humans, elves, orcs, and dwarves—each with their own distinct culture—mingling together in the bustling streets. Its armies, too, were composed of every race, drawing strength from their diversity.
Leon often marveled at the orc soldiers who trained alongside him. With thick arms and natural stamina, the orcs swung heavy weapons with ease, each blow shaking the air like a thunderclap. Their drills were not mere exercises in endurance but storms of raw power. Standing among them felt like standing on the front lines of battle.
If I had their strength, this training would be nothing… he thought, his longing sharpened.
The elves, on the other hand, fought with a style that stood in stark contrast to the orcs. They prized precision and grace over brute force. Every flick of a blade was refined, every motion a seamless flow of elegance. Even the faint sound of steel cutting air seemed measured and deliberate. To Leon, their combat was nothing short of art.
And yet Leon, being human, belonged to neither world. Humans came in countless varieties, some gifted with power rivaling the orcs, others with finesse akin to the elves—but most, like Leon, were neither. Ordinary. In-between.
This mediocrity gnawed at him. Where orcs could master a technique in an hour, Leon needed an hour and a half. Where elves perfected a move in dozens of repetitions, Leon needed twice that just to keep pace.
But instead of despairing, he drove himself harder. In Elysium, effort itself was honored—perseverance as much as talent. And so Leon clung to the belief that diligence could carry him where birth could not.
I wasn't born with the orc's strength or the elf's grace. But maybe that gives me something else—the freedom to choose my own path. If I keep pushing forward, perhaps one day I'll stand as their equal.
So he rose again before dawn, as always. He gripped his sword and repeated the same motions, one after another, until his body ached and his breath burned. These weren't just gestures of defiance against inadequacy—they were steps toward a strength uniquely his own.
I'll never have the might of an orc or the elegance of an elf. But my effort will never be in vain.
Leon lifted his eyes to the still-dark sky, his resolve firm. Among the many races of Elysium, he would carve out his place. He would keep walking his path until, one day, someone might look upon him with the same awe he once held for others.
**
Episode 8: A Minor Disturbance on the Outskirts
The fields outside Elysium glowed with the red of the setting sun, peaceful and serene. Soldiers had begun to relax after a long day, but the calm was shattered by a sudden scream. Weapons were drawn, formations hastily reformed, and the men looked to their commander for orders.
Leon tightened his grip on his sword as he hurried toward the commotion. Please, let it be nothing… he thought, though the tension in the air told him otherwise.
At the heart of the disturbance stood a lone elf, his robe whipping in the wind. But something was wrong. A foul aura of corruption clung to him, and his lips whispered a dark incantation. The ground beneath him shuddered, earth and stone rising together to form the hulking shape of a golem.
The corrupted elf raised his head and sneered."Is this all Elysium's soldiers amount to? You call yourselves protectors of a kingdom with strength like this?"
His mocking voice made the line of soldiers falter. Shields wavered. Even Leon felt his breath catch as the golem's massive fist swung down.
He raised his shield just in time. The impact shook his bones, driving him into the earth. Around him, comrades stumbled and fell under the creature's assault, while the elf's laughter rang out."Foolish, fragile things. Did you truly think you could overcome my creation?"
Leon clenched his teeth. No. I can't just stand here. I've trained for this. I can't let fear decide this battle.
Recalling every hour he had spent drilling, he moved. While the elf poured his focus into controlling the golem, Leon darted low and fast, shield raised to cover his advance. He slipped past the monster's reach and closed the distance to its master. With a final burst of courage, he drove his blade forward.
Steel bit deep into the elf's arm.
The corrupted sorcerer cried out in shock."A mortal… wounded me?"
For a heartbeat, the golem faltered, its movements collapsing into stillness. Rage twisted the elf's face, but behind it flickered a hint of fear. He snarled, summoning smoke and shadow around himself. Before the soldiers could strike again, he vanished, leaving his construct to crumble into rubble.
The men exhaled in relief, glancing at one another, then at Leon."You actually hurt him! Incredible!" one exclaimed, clapping Leon's shoulder. "If not for you, we'd have been crushed!"
Leon laughed it off. "It was just luck."
But in his heart, he knew otherwise. Without his relentless training, he never would have seized that moment.
If they call it luck, so be it. But it was luck I earned.
And as he stood among the broken stones, his comrades cheering him, Leon felt a quiet pride take root. His efforts had finally proven themselves on the battlefield.