"Grandpa, you made your name. You wrote your story. Now, I'll do what you asked of me. I'll just... live," I whispered, my voice cracking as tears finally spilled over.
I turned to the majestic eagle standing beside me, its feathers ruffled by the wind. "Hey. Can you hear me?"
The bird gave a sharp, intelligent nod.
"Take me to the empire. To the royal castle."
The flight was a blur of grief and wind. When we arrived, the eagle landed gracefully on a high stone balcony. I scrambled off, but as soon as I entered the castle corridors, I was intercepted. Two guards seized my arms, pinning me in place, while a third stepped forward, his expression hard and unforgiving.
"Who are you, kid? And why are you trespassing in the royal palace?"
"I am the grandson of the Great Mage Clif," I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the adrenaline. "I've come to warn you. More soldiers from the Holy Kingdom have entered the Verdant Wastes. An invasion is underway."
The guard narrowed his eyes, his suspicion palpable. "And where is Lord Clif?"
"He's gone," I said, the words feeling like lead in my mouth. "He sacrificed himself to protect the forest and the kingdom. He triggered a massive explosion to wipe out the enemy vanguard. He stopped the catastrophe."
The guard's face paled. The weight of the news seemed to settle on his shoulders instantly. "I see. Stay here. I'll report this to the King immediately."
He turned to his subordinates. "Watch the brat. Don't let him out of your sight until I return."
"Yes, sir!"
The lead guard hurried to the throne room and knelt before the sovereign. "Your Majesty, I have urgent news."
"Speak," the King replied, his voice resonating with absolute authority.
"An eagle landed on the balcony carrying a boy. He claims to be Clif's grandson. He reports that Lord Clif has fallen in battle, having detonated his own mana to halt a Luminarch invasion in the Verdant Wastes."
The King's brow furrowed. "Did he mention Hino?"
"No, sire. Only Clif's sacrifice."
The King leaned back, his eyes distant as he processed the loss. I didn't think they'd actually make a move for that section of the forest, he thought. I've lost two of my most valuable pieces in a single day. Hino and Clif were pillars of this empire. Replacing them won't be easy.
"You are dismissed," the King said.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Once the guard was gone, the King spoke to the shadows flickering along the walls. "Shadows. Send four of your best to the explosion site. Investigate the area for survivors or clues. If you find any living enemies, you have my permission to eliminate them."
The King then rose and made his way to the balcony where I was being held. The moment I saw the royal figure, I dropped into a deep bow. He was a commanding presence, clad in golden armor with a large 'X' emblazoned on the chestplate. His long, golden hair caught the light, and he stood nearly 1.8 meters tall.
"Lift your head, Alex," he said. "And call me Greg. We can skip the formalities for now."
I looked up, surprised by his casual tone. "Can I... can I just call you 'Your Majesty' then?"
The King chuckled. "If you prefer."
This boy has a remarkable aura, Greg thought, his eyes scanning me with a practiced gaze. Perhaps he can fill the void left by his grandfather. He could be a powerful asset for the empire.
"Alex," the King said, his tone turning serious. "How would you feel about joining the imperial service? When you turn eighteen, I can guarantee you a high-ranking position. You wouldn't be a captain right away, of course, but you'd be far above a common soldier."
I didn't even have to think about it. "I refuse."
The King blinked, clearly not expecting such a blunt rejection. "May I ask why?"
"I want to live as an adventurer," I said firmly. "Just like my grandfather. I'm going to follow in his footsteps and see the world on my own terms."
The King studied me for a long moment before nodding slowly. "I understand. In that case, you are free to return to your home."
"Thank you."
Three months passed. The grief had settled into a dull ache, but life went on. The King had given a grand speech honoring Clif's heroism, but speeches didn't pay the bills. I sat at my kitchen table, staring at the small pile of coins Clif had left behind.
"I'm running out of money," I muttered. "If I don't find a job soon, I'm going to lose the house."
I headed to the Empire's Adventurers' Guild, hope flickering in my chest. I walked up to the reception desk, trying to look as professional as possible.
"Good afternoon. I'd like to register as an adventurer."
The receptionist looked me up and down, her expression skeptical. "Let's see. How old are you, dear?"
"Fifteen. But I'm capable. I can use fire magic and I've been trained in swordplay."
A group of older adventurers nearby burst into laughter. "That brat thinks he's a warrior? Give me a break! Go back to your toys, kid!"
The receptionist gave me a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry, but you're too young. The minimum age for registration is sixteen. You'll have to come back next year."
"I see. Well, thank you anyway."
I left the guild with my head hanging low. Now what? I thought, wandering aimlessly through the city streets. My budget is tighter than I realized, and I can't even get a basic hunting license.
The sun was beginning to set, casting long, orange shadows across the cobblestones. I decided to take a shortcut through an alleyway to get home faster.
Suddenly, the hair on the back of my neck stood up. Something's coming.
I drew my sword just in time to parry a sharp gust of wind aimed at my back. I spun around, my eyes scanning the rooftops. Three figures dressed in tactical black were watching me.
"Who are you? What do you want?" I shouted.
Silence.
"Who sent you?"
Again, no answer.
"Fine. If that's how it's going to be... let's dance!"
The three assassins dropped down, forming a perfect triangle around me. I didn't waste a second. I began my incantation, a magic circle flaring at my feet. A serpent made of roaring flames erupted from the ground, and I enchanted my own blade with a flick of my wrist.
The assassins responded in kind, their movements synchronized. They formed their own triangular barrier and began a joint chant.
"Wind Magic: Repulsion!" the lead assassin cried.
A violent blast of air slammed into me. My fire snake was snuffed out instantly, the sheer force of the wind overwhelming my mana. Before I could recover, the two assassins on my flanks lunged.
I was forced into a desperate two-on-one sword fight. I parried, riposted, and dodged, but the third assassin stayed back, maintaining the barrier to ensure I couldn't escape. I managed to land a solid strike on one of them, forcing him back.
It's not a killing blow, but it gives me enough time for a real spell, I thought.
I chanted again, two magic circles appearing in the air beside me. Two swords made of pure fire manifested, hovering like spectral guardians.
"Let's end this!"
I wove through their attacks, my physical blade clashing with theirs while my fire swords struck from unexpected angles. One of the fire blades caught an assassin in the shoulder, sending him to the ground. I didn't hesitate—I lunged forward and drove my steel through his heart.
One down.
I turned to the remaining two, my blood boiling. But as I engaged the second swordsman, the third assassin in the rear finished a complex chant.
"Water Wave!"
Shit...
A massive wall of water crashed into me from behind, dousing my fire swords and knocking me off balance. In that split second of vulnerability, the assassin I was fighting lunged forward.
I felt the cold steel pierce my chest.
"Damn it... I'm... I'm losing it..."
My vision went black, and I collapsed into the dirt, the world fading away.