Conan slowly opens his eyes. He finds himself lying on a completely different bed. His friend Victor is dozing off while sitting on a chair beside his head. Conan tries to get up, but a headache pins him back in place. Hearing Conan's groan, Victor immediately wakes up. "My friend, lie down. I'll go get the master right away."
Conan, "Where are we?"
Victor, "At the master's house."
Conan, "When did we come here?"
Victor, "When your condition worsened on the street, the master's students were nearby. With their help, we brought you here. Don't worry."
Victor finishes speaking and goes to inform Ardin. Conan holds his head with his right hand and starts thinking about what happened. "What was that? What are you doing to me?"
Kaelhor, "I am not doing anything to you, human."
Conan, "Stop lying. Because I didn't accept Lisa's offer, now you're trying other methods? You will never get what you want!"
Kaelhor, "You are right, I will not get what I want. But you can be sure—you will get what you want."
Conan, bites his lips angrily. At that moment, Ardin enters the room. "Boy, how are you?"
Conan looks at Ardin. "I have some pain in my head. But I still don't know what happened."
Ardin strokes his beard with his right hand and thinks. Then he looks at Conan and asks: "Did anything happen today that could have triggered that power?"
Conan, "Lisa told us today that we would become palace guards. She even said we could become warriors. Kaelhor said it was an opportunity."
Ardin excitedly "What did you answer?"
Conan, "Of course, I said no."
Ardin, "That is a very wise decision. I understand, boy, this has been your dream. But don't forget the plan. As much as we can, we must keep you away from battle."
Conan, "I understand, master. I haven't forgotten anything."
Ardin, "It is already night. So stay here and rest. Tomorrow, during training, we will talk in detail."
Conan wants to object, but with Ardin's insistence, he stays at his house. Victor returns to his own home. The next morning, Conan gets up and meets Victor, who is waiting for him at the door. The two head together toward the castle gates.
Celaria Royal Palace...
Elena is in her room talking with Laura.
Laura, "Your Highness, forgive me for asking, but do you think it is right to give an ordinary gate guard the opportunity to become a warrior?"
Elena, "The man you call an ordinary gate guard saved me from bandits."
Laura, "At the same time, you were being chased by bandits because of him. And as if that wasn't enough, he is foolish enough to reject your offer."
Elena, "Maybe, but what I clearly saw tells me that he is stronger than an ordinary guard—even stronger than several warriors."
Laura, "Your Highness, he is still a vagabond. I simply cannot understand why General Ardin personally trains someone like him."
Elena, "That is actually what interests me as well. Ardin trains all the young people in the backstreets. But giving special training to certain individuals is very interesting."
At that moment, a servant knocks on the door and says that the King wants to see Elena. Elena quickly prepares and goes to meet the King. The King is sitting in his room. The door is knocked, and Elena asks for permission to enter. She enters and respectfully greets the King.
Fernand, "My beautiful daughter, come in."
Elena, "Father, is there an important matter you wanted to discuss with me?"
Fernand, "Yes, my beautiful daughter. I called you for the preparations of the banquet that will be held in three days."
Elena thinks to herself, "I had completely forgotten about the banquet."
Fernand, "Have you thought about what you will do?"
Elena calmly "Yes, father. There are just a few preparations left. After I handle them, I was planning to report back to you."
Fernand, "Very good, my daughter. This banquet is very important. And we will also have a guest."
Elena surprised "A guest? I have no information about this, father."
Fernand, "The young prince of the neighboring Elarion Kingdom will be our guest."
Elena, "I understand. Then I will take the preparations more seriously."
Fernand, "I trust you, my daughter."
After talking for a while, Elena takes permission and leaves the room. Walking through the corridor with Laura, they talk about the banquet preparations.
Elena, "By the way, the Elarion prince will also be our guest."
Laura freezes for a moment. "That ruthless executioner prince?"
Elena, "Laura, whoever he is, we cannot treat a guest with such disrespect."
Laura, "I apologize, Your Highness. But you also know the real reason why he is coming here."
Elena, "I know, and there is no need for more words. Let's continue the preparations."
Laura nods and continues walking silently.
Elena, "Also, bring me the list of guards for the banquet day."
Laura, "Yes, Your Highness."
Near Silent Hill...
Conan had completed Ardin's training for the day. At the end of the day, Ardin sits on a rock. Conan and Victor sit in front of him. They discuss what happened to Conan. They decide that the best course of action for now is to focus only on training and stay away from battle.
After the conversation ends, Ardin looks at them and shares some information.
Ardin, "The Elarion prince will be our guest."
Victor, "What is our place in this? One king visits another. We are just ordinary people—we can only watch."
Ardin, "Normally, it is as you say, Victor. But the Elarion prince is known for his cruelty."
Conan, "What exactly do you mean, master?"
Ardin, "What I mean is, no matter what happens, do not face him, Conan! He is a powerful warrior who has fought in countless battles, and at the same time, he has awakened a rare class—the fire demon. Facing him could inevitably awaken Kaelhor within you."
Victor, "Master, how right is it to say this so openly? Aren't we informing Kaelhor about this?"
Ardin, "Victor, if someone as old as me can think of this, believe me, that 10,000-year-old being has already thought of it. I am simply warning Conan—be prepared."
Conan, "Still, master, what kind of connection could a prince of a kingdom, such an important figure, have with a gate guard like me?"
Ardin, "He cannot have any connection. But I realize the seriousness of the power within you. That is why we all must stay alert."
Conan and Victor "Understood, master."
They finish their conversation. The three of them enter through the castle gates together. As soon as the gate guard sees Conan, he approaches him.
Tristan, "Conan, Victor… or should I say Kael and Lukas?"
Conan, "What do you mean, Tristan? Speak clearly."
Tristan mockingly "So I was right. It's you."
Victor, "Where did you hear these names?"
Tristan, "Anyway, that's not the main issue. News came from the palace—you two have been assigned as guards at the banquet in three days. Lucky animals."
He laughs.
Conan, "Tristan, those are not our names."
Tristan, "My friend, don't try to fool me. Only eight of us stand at this gate. I have spoken with everyone and I know you all very well. So it's you."
Ardin immediately joins the conversation.
Ardin, "Then you will go to the banquet using those names."
Tristan frightened "Forgive me, but we already wrote the names and gave them to General Markus's assistant. The real names, I mean."
Victor angrily "Idiot, that was a great move."
Tristan, "But I thought you would be happy. And after I realized it was you, no one even tried to take your place."
Ardin, "Enough, this is not the place for argument. You have no choice but to attend the gathering in three days. Angering the royal family would be the biggest problem."
They continue on their way again. After saying goodbye, everyone heads to their own home.
Conan lies on his back, staring at the ceiling, and begins to think.
Conan, "How funny. The dreams I once built slipped away from me for a moment. Now I am the one distancing myself from them."
Kaelhor, "Maybe the truth lies here. Even if you don't see it now, be sure—you will understand it in the future."