"Stick it in!"
"What are you doing? I said stick it in!"
The boy hesitated. "I'm trying!"
"Try harder!"
"But it's so small!"
The girl groaned. "I know it's small! Do you think I'm blind?"
"No, of course not."
"Then just stick the damn dagger inside the small sheath!"
"Wait lemme... Yes, it's inside!"
"Great, now attach it to my thigh, Arthur."
"On it!" said Arthur and attached the sheathed dagger steadfast to Alery, the elf princess's thigh.
The whole conversation was being overheard by the castle maids and butlers outside the door, but they were thinking of something different than what they expected to learn. Regardless, eavesdropping was a crime, so they bolted away from the door as fast as they could with a slight disappointment.
Alery was the first to leave the room, while Arthur peered at the mirror and noticed that everything was perfect as usual; he saw a youthful boy with vivid blue, tousled hair and piercing sapphire eyes, wearing a dark blue cloak over a white shirt and tie with a calm yet focused expression, radiating quiet determination.
"Don't be late!" Alery shouted from outside the room, which jolted Arthur back to reality.
Arthur is the fourth crown prince of Alador, the son of Aldor, who was a hero at first and later became the king of Alador.
Alador is the fourth largest human kingdom on the Elysium continent. A continent where various races live alongside monsters.
But that is not the main concern for now, as today is special, because on this day Arthur will awaken his inner talent.
Arthur is thus widely exhilarated, for if he gets decent talent today, he can get outside of the castle and be an adventurer, which was his lifelong dream. The reason being that he was always stuck within the castle walls for safety reasons, but that will all be for naught if he gets an awesome talent on his birthday.
Who knows? Maybe the gods might bless him today with a grand talent as his birthday present.
Arthur fastened his tie and got out of his room with a moderately elegant walk that spoke of a promise of hope.
Hope of liberation from this castle to be an adventurer.
Arthur walked on the long hallway that leads to his father's grand throne and knelt.
"My king, I have come," said Arthur respectfully.
"Don't be so modest, my son; today is a special day for you, your eighteenth birthday plus your talent awakening day. I hope everything goes smoothly," replied the king without formality.
"Thanks, Father! I will not bring a smirch of dust upon your name, Aldor, the king of Alador," replied Arthur, clenching both fists in respect.
"I know, son, and don't worry; your father was a hero, and you're bound to great things also naturally, which I believe will come true," said Arthur's father, Aldor, with a bright mien.
"I'm ready, Father, for whatever talent I get; I'll appreciate it!" replied Arthur, standing up.
"You better get something good to not spoil your father's reputation," said Arthur's mother, seated beside his father.
"The talent discovery orb is ready, Master Aldor!" A man in robes spoke up.
"Great timing! Arthur, go and make your old man proud," said Arthur's father proudly.
Arthur full well knew he couldn't mess up, as the convoys of other kingdoms were there waiting to see his awakened talent shine like his brothers and sisters who were blessed with powerful talents like sword god, sword saint and so on.
With a deep breath, Arthur walked close to the talent discovery orb and, with a look around, closed his eyes and touched the orb, which later shone with different colours like invaluable gemstones.
The people of the room clapped with whoops of joy, as they believed Arthur might have the omnimage talent, which lets one use different types of magic with ease.
Arthur also believed the same thing and was extremely excited but held it back so as not to appear prideful, but everyone was wrong.
"Your majesty, kindly tell Prince Arthur to display his talent panel with everyone else so that we may joyfully and officially appreciate his blessed talent of Omnimage," said the man in the robe happily.
"Arthur, my boy, let us have the opportunity to feast our eyes upon your talent, so show it to us!" requested Arthur's father with a pleasing look.
With a deep gulp, despite being happy with subtle uncertainty, Arthur spoke up and said, "Talent!"
As soon as Arthur spoke the word 'talent', a golden panel showed up, and in there no talent was visible. It was entirely empty.
The crowd gasped and started to gossip; that spread all over the palace about Arthur not possessing a talent despite the colourful glow.
Arthur's father Aldor furiously yelled, "What's the meaning of this? Yaka!"
The man in the robe who was supposedly Yaka replied, "Maybe the talent discovery orb is broken or something, or else it wouldn't have shone."
"Yaka, are you suggesting that my boy, the son of hero Aldor, is a dud?" asked Arthur's father angrily.
"No, your majesty. I'm also not sure what's happening," replied Yaka, not knowing what was going on.
"Didn't you bring another talent discovery orb?" asked Arthur's father, Aldor, impatiently.
"I did. I'll present it right away, my king!" replied Yaka with haste.
King Aldor was rather feeling embarrassed by his son Arthur, as there were many important people present watching, which can harm his reputation as a hero. But he hoped the orb was wrong, or else his son, born of a hero, would turn out to be a dud.
The second talent discovery orb was placed, and Arthur was told to place his hands on the orb once again.
Arthur, with shaking hands, touched the orb's surface, and once again it glowed in different colours, which made him feel relieved, and he thought maybe this time his talent will show up like normal with absurd abilities like his siblings possess.
"My king, the second time can't be wrong; tell Prince Arthur to show his talent panel," requested Yaka bowingly.
"Do it, Arthur!" yelled Arthur's father, Aldor, with an eagle-eyed look.
Arthur spoke the word 'talent' again, and the golden panel appeared once again, but yet this time it was still empty as usual.
The witnessing crowd were in disbelief at the surreal situation, but the one most in disbelief was none other than Arthur himself, as he couldn't tell what was happening. The talent discovery orb had glowed in different colours, but still he had no talent whatsoever.
"Arthur, go to your room," said Arthur's father heavily.
"But Father!?"
"I said go! I won't repeat myself again!" yelled Arthur's father, Aldor, with bloodshot eyes.
Arthur looked one last time at his father and then one last look at Alery as well, whose face said it all. Arthur only saw disgust for him in both of their eyes.
Inside his room Arthur's eyes welled up with tears, for he knew all of this was out of his hands. Yet why were all of their looks filled with hatred for him despite him not doing anything bad to them?
He cursed at his ineptitude and wondered why the orb was glowing if he had no talent to begin with.
However, not everyone was disappointed at him, as one of his maids, Areal, came by his side to soothe him.
Areal placed Arthur's head on her chest and said, "No matter what you are, you're you, and no one can take that from you, young master Arthur."
The words hit Arthur like a tidal wave, and his eyes let out the tears while finding solace on Areal's peaks.
Arthur remained like that for a while. and Areal herself didn't seem to mind it at all.
No matter what happens, Areal hopes the best for Arthur, as on the rough street Arthur was the one who held out his hand to her to be his personal maid when no one took notice and only gifted laughs and kicks to her that would have led to her demise if left unchecked.
This feeling was not due to the gratitude that Areal had for her; it was for the hope he had shown her despite her life being in turmoil and uncertainty.
No matter what happens, she will readily even give up her life for him if needed, though Arthur probably would be against it.
But for now none of that mattered, for Arthur needed hope the most for now, so Areal simply decided to stay by his side until Arthur had calmed down.
Meanwhile, Arthur's father was met with intense humiliation for his son's lack of talent despite him being a war hero who rose in power to be a king with his unique talent, 'Overlord'.
The people in attendance left one by one, but the scar of the humiliation gnawed at him like a shadow that refused to leave him alone. So, he couldn't stop thinking about it no matter what he did.