"Jonathan, enough with the sparring. Come here at once, there's something important.
Mother, I'll finish soon.
No, come here now. Don't make me come down there.
Alright, watch this move. I learned some powerful techniques from the master. I will become the greatest swordsman in the entire kingdom.
Of course you will. You resemble your father very much. Come here, my son."
She took the wooden sword from his hand and said,
"Never come down here again. I will tell your father about this. I'm warning you—don't come here again. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand."
"You liar… I know you're lying."
"Mother, I must learn how to fight."
"You fool, you are the future king. You must not fight in battles, do you understand?"
"No… Father told me everything a king must do."
"And what did your father tell you?"
"He told me that a king who does not fight on the battlefield is not a real king. I want to become a real king. I want my people to follow me into battle because they know I will fight for them until the very last moment of my life."
"Be quiet, you fool. Don't you know that the era of wars and fierce battles is over? Look around—the entire kingdom lives in peace. Your father is a king who loves doing good. Everyone feels happiness and comfort across the land. This has never happened before.
My son, the kingdom has endured devastating wars. This prosperity we live in was not easily achieved. You are the heir to the throne. I want you to learn how to lead the kingdom toward lasting peace first. War, my son, brings nothing but destruction."
"Wake up, you fool! Is this the time to sleep? I should send you back to the swamp you came from!"
Jonathan woke up. He looked down—his pants were wet, and his clothes were torn.
"Ho ho! Look at this ogre… this bear! Get up! Didn't I tell you to get up? Enough sleeping—get to work! Who's going to break these rocks? Me? Move! Quickly!"
Jonathan stood up, picked up a hammer, raised it high, and began smashing the rocks with tremendous force. He struck them again and again—never repeating a weak blow.
Jeff: "Hey, Dan, you idiot! How many times have I called you? Look—do you see that man?"
Dan: "Yeah… that silent stranger. Salas brought him. They say he lost his memory. No one knows anything about him. But look at him—he's built like a bear. Honestly, if I had that body, I'd take over this entire mine and make all of you my servants.
Look at the way he smashes those rocks, as if they're the reason he ended up like this… hahaha.
But how are you going to stand against him, Dan? He'd crush your head before you even realize it. And yet… he's like a mindless beast. I haven't heard his voice since he arrived. He never resists. It's unbelievable. I don't know what brought him here, but I'm not getting close to him while he's holding that hammer."
Jeff: "Haha, what a coward. Watch… today we'll find out who this strange man really is."
Step by step, Jeff approached Jonathan, unaware of what he was getting himself into.
Rocks flew through the air, and the ground trembled violently—not because of Jonathan's size, for he was just an ordinary man—but because the hammer itself seemed to fear him… to obey him.
In the mine, only the strong survive. The weak have no value.
Jeff picked up a small stone and threw it at Jonathan's back. It hit him—but he didn't stop. He threw another… still no reaction. He kept throwing stones, but Jonathan felt nothing.
Finally, Jeff grabbed a large rock and prepared to strike with all his strength—but at the last moment, the mine boss seized his hand.
"Are you insane? Have you lost your mind? What did that man ever do to you? Tell me!
You know what? Maybe you should take his place—carry that hammer for the rest of your life."
Jeff: "Sir, I was just joking… that's all. Please forgive me. I'm sorry, I didn't mean any harm."
"Joking? With a rock like that? Should I joke with you too? Let's see how many jokes your head can take.
No? Then go back to your work. Honestly, you're nothing but a burden on this mine. Useless."
Dan laughed quietly as Jeff stood there, humiliated, while the workers watched the boss scold him—something they had all long wished to see.
At the end of the day, the workers lined up to receive their wages. Jonathan always stood at the very end. He took his pay, walked to a quiet corner at the edge of the mine, and sat alone in silence.
Every night, the same dream haunted him.
He runs beside a blue river, surrounded by endless green fields. His mother calls from behind:
"Jonathan, come back! Don't go too far!"
Suddenly, he falls. His mother rushes to him and finds him crying—his leg is broken. She lifts him into her arms, tears streaming down her face, and runs toward the palace on the hill.
"Guards! Quickly!"
The guards rush forward, carrying the prince inside. They call for King Chad, who enters Jonathan's room and says:
"What happened, my son?"
Jonathan: "Father, I slipped into a hole… I didn't see it."
Chad: "It's alright. The healer is on the way. He will treat you, and you'll be running again soon. Get some rest. I'll come back to see you."
But he never returned.
"Wake up, you bear! Every morning we have to suffer because of you! I woke you four times and you didn't move. Are you deaf, or are you doing this on purpose?"
It was Kai—Jeff's brother and the one who actually ran the mine. He despised late workers and would cut their wages without hesitation.
But he never did that to Jonathan.
Because Jonathan broke twice as many rocks as any other worker.
He worked tirelessly… until one day, as he struck the rocks with the same relentless force, he suddenly collapsed.
Everyone froze in shock.
They rushed to him, carried him outside, and called the boss. The boss placed his hand on Jonathan's forehead—then pulled back in alarm.
"This man won't survive until morning… he's been struck by the plague."
Kai entered and shouted,
"All of you—back to work! Enough nonsense! He's just sick. Move!"
Then he turned to the boss:
"What's his condition?"
"He's dying. That's all."
Despite his harshness, Kai actually liked Jonathan—not for his strength, but because he had never once raised his head in defiance.
Kai was silent for a moment. Then he said:
"Boss… he's one of the best workers we have. Is there anything we can do to save him?"
The boss looked at him in surprise.
"We've worked together for years… I've never seen you care about saving a worker before."
Kai replied quickly,
"No, no—it's not like that. I'm just asking if there's any hope. We need him."
"Ah… I see. Because he works harder than the others."
"You know what I mean."
"I already told you—there's no hope. He'll be dead by morning. Don't worry… Salas will come at the end of the week. Maybe he'll bring more workers like him."
"That's nonsense! The man is still breathing. Look—he's mumbling. Please… do something."
Jonathan drifted deeper into his dream.
His mother played with him and asked gently:
"What will you become when you are king?"
"What do you mean?"
"Will you be like your father—a kind king loved by everyone? Or someone else?"
"Mother, I will be like my father… because everyone in the kingdom loves him."
She smiled faintly, then said:
"Listen, Jonathan. Even though your father is kind and loved, you must understand something…
Not everyone loves goodness."
Jonathan frowned.
"Who? Do you mean my uncle?"
"Yes… I heard him shouting yesterday."
"Why was he shouting at father?"
"Because your father chose to do something good for the people."