I remained seated on the sofa Even long after the heavy oak doors had closed behind Tyler. The room, once charged with his strange, intense energy, now felt hollow.
I looked at the glass in my hand, the dark remnants of the wine swirling like a storm, and i finished it in one sharp gulp.
I walked up to the window and looked down. Below, the palace grounds were bathed in the silver glow of the moon. I watched as my dear wife Eli and son Tyler approached their carriage.
Just before stepping inside, Eli paused. She didn't look at the guards or the horses; she turned her head and looked directly up at this window. My Office's Window. She gave a gentle, knowing nod and a smile that reached across the distance. A smile that was Perhaps meant to reassure me or Thank me or ....Something else. I don't know but regardless...
A smile involuntarily tugged at the corners of my own lips.
You're still the same, Eli. Unchanged with time.
She rode the carriage and the horses started running and as always the distance between us grew wider. Both physical distance and perhaps even ...mental distance as well. Some conversations are better when done face-to-face.
Once the carriage disappeared into the shadows of the Arbutus groves, I returned to my desk.
The surface was buried under mountains of parchment—tax reports, border disputes, and the endless bickering of the Noble houses. I let out a long, weary sigh.
Ugh... Why do I have to work even after becoming the king ?
I placed my hand on the central drawer. A faint pulse of golden mana rippled from my palm, and the intricate locking mechanism of the Drawer clicked open. Inside lay two items.
CLICK
The first was a Green Colombina Mask, its silk worn and its edges faded from years of use. The second was a weathered photograph, its corners curled with age.
The photo featured a group of four friends or rather comrades. Three men and one woman, covered in Monster blood, standing together in front of a fallen behemoth. I traced my finger on the photo.
Feels like yesterday...
"An adventurer, huh?" I mused, my fingers tracing the face of the man, wearing a green mask, in the center of the photo. "For power and for freedom..."
I looked at the sky and at the bright stars outside the window.
".... should I call it fate or a mere coincidence ?" I thought with a nostalgic smile.
***
The carriage ride back to the Arbutus Palace felt shorter than usual. My mind was already miles ahead, sprinting toward tomorrow.
After bidding good night to my mother, I went straight to my room.
I climbed into bed and closed my eyes, waiting for sleep to claim me.
I even skipped my water bucket magic training.
I tried to sleep.
Yes, I 'Tried' to.
But I can't. Dozens of thoughts are going through my little head.
Tomorrow will be the start of my official training.
Who will be trainer ?
What rank adventurer will he be ?
How strong will he be ?
Will he be someone, I know from the game ?
My brain was too active to fall asleep. But I have to sleep. I have to be in my best condition with full energy tomorrow.
After somehow manipulating my own mind to disperse all thoughts, I finally went to sleep.
We'll see tomorrow.
Next day
I woke up before the sun had even cleared the horizon. The restless energy from the night before had transformed into a cold, sharp focus.
I spent my time as usual with the addition of a little sword training, running through the "Regulus Style" vertical slashes Harry had shown me. My muscles ached, but the repetition was meditative.
Noon approached. The sun hung heavy in the sky, turning the Arbutus leaves into shimmering silver shields
And finally, the moment that I've been waiting for finally came.
Mike came to summon me to the central palace.
"Your Highness," Mike said, bowing. "The guests have arrived. The King has summoned you"
And with that, i followed him to the central palace.
This time we were walking, unlike last night when we used a carriage.
It's just the two of us, even Mary is not accompanying me this time.
While walking through the royal complex, I noticed something.
Strange.....
Usually, when I walked toward the library with Mary, I was a focal point of polite bows and greetings. Today, it was as if Mike and I were ghosts.
A maid passed within a foot of me, her eyes tracking a bird in the distance as if I didn't exist.
Why ? It's as if we are invisi--
That's when I noticed.
I was not really focused and was too excited to notice but there seems to be a magic barrier around the two of us.
I looked at Mike's back, who was leading me to the central palace.
Is this the measure from the king to hide it from the queens ?
Invisibility spell, maybe ?
If yes, then which one ? as far as i am aware, There are two types of invisibility spells.
One, the light type that hides only the visibility.
And the Neutral type that hides everything Like sight, smell, sound everything.
I wonder, which one he's using.
Since even the knights who are trained professionals and have heightened senses can not perceive us, then its most likely the Neutral type.
I continued to follow him and realized, we're not going towards the central palace but rather towards the thirteenth training field.
Well There is nothing to be surprised about.
If we're meeting my new combat trainer who is gonna train me in both magic and Martial Arts, it should naturally be at the training field.
After walking for a few minutes, we reached the thirteenth training field and entered it.
In this vast Royal Complex There are a total of thirteen training fields. Twelve of them are used by The royal soldiers For their Regular Training and Drills.
The thirteenth field which is the sturdiest among all fields is kept empty for emergency or personal use. It is only used if Some High Rank royal wants to spar or some other Royal Event.
Basically Personal Royal Training Ground.
###
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
---How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43) By Elizabeth Barrett Browning