“Rise, Your Highness.”
Kyle stared at the hand extended toward him. Thick and strong, it was calloused and bruised in places. He clasped the offered hand without a word. Then Hailum tugged with effort.
Hailum was Grand Master of the Knights and Kyle’s swordsmanship instructor.
Though burdened by his duties as Grand Master, he devoted his time to teaching Kyle Delos, the only one born with Royal Blood.
“Your skill has become abysmal. Have you been practicing?”
“…….”
Despite Hailum’s reproach, young Kyle said nothing. He merely pouted and kicked at the dirt.
“Do you not wish to learn swordsmanship?”
“…That’s not it.”
“Then do you not wish to improve?”
“Not that either.”
Hailum’s stern expression softened as he placed a hand on Kyle’s shoulder. Kyle, displeased, did not shrug it off.
“…The more I improve, the more my brothers hate me.”
“So you’d become a fool for the sake of your siblings? Do you think they’d all cherish you then?”
Every word was true. Kyle knew it, yet he could not deny it.
He was only ten. He understood why his brothers resented him, but he did not know how to win their favor.
“No matter how you behave, you cannot change the hearts of those who hate you.”
“…So I must live my life despised?”
At last, tears welled in young Kyle’s eyes.
“I never wished for Royal Blood, nor did I want to be a swordsman. I only wanted to make Father proud…”
At that, the boy’s trembling sobs broke into full crying. Hailum knelt beside him as tears fell like beads from Kyle’s lashes.
“Your strength is not for others. It is cultivated for you. In time, there will be countless things you wish to protect. But if you are weak, you will not be able to protect them.”
Hailum knew the boy could not fully grasp his words.
Yet it pained him. Kyle’s talent shone brilliantly—not merely because of his Royal Blood.
Kyle seemed born for the sword. He was only ten, but who could imagine how great a swordsman he might become?
“But I don’t want to…”
If only his heart could be a little firmer.
Whether or not Hailum sensed his feelings, Kyle swallowed his tears in silence.
With a thunderous crash, Kyle’s eyes snapped open. The walls trembled and the ground shook violently.
A cacophony of bell chimes rang out, mingled with shouts and screams.
“W-what is this noise!”
Clutching his blanket, Kyle cried out. As he wondered if it was an earthquake, someone burst into the chamber.
“Your Highness, are you all right?”
“Hailum!”
Hailum, clad in full armor, and a squad of knights surged in. War had broken out? Startled, Kyle bolted upright.
“What’s happening?”
“It’s an attack by the Black Flame Dragon! Seek shelter at once!”
The knights hurried to cloak Kyle and shouted their warning.
Kyle’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. He could scarcely believe the Black Flame Dragon had come all the way to the imperial city!
“Father— is he safe?”
“Yes, His Majesty and the other princes have already evacuated.”
Kyle exhaled in relief and moved to follow the knights through the door. But Hailum turned toward the opposite exit, and Kyle halted.
“Hailum, aren’t you coming with me?”
“I am Grand Master of the Knights, Your Highness. I must defend the city. Leave the rear to me and flee.”
Kyle knew it was true. No matter how great the Grand Master, he could not face the Black Flame Dragon alone. It would be certain death.
“I will survive. Do not worry.”
“No! You mustn’t go, Hailum!”
Kyle cried, scrambling after him, but another knight seized him.
“There is no time, Your Highness! You must—”
At that moment, the ground shook again with a roar. Smoke billowed outside the window, and Kyle and the knight hit the floor.
A mighty roar from the Black Flame Dragon echoed. Kyle shook off the knight’s grip and dashed to the window.
“Your Highness, stop!”
In the eastern district of the imperial city, black flames raged fiercely.
Not only that, but the once peaceful, beautiful imperial capital of Blane was engulfed in ebony fire.
“T-this can’t be…!”
Kyle could not believe his eyes. He wished he were still dreaming.
But the townsfolk’s screams and the acrid scent of burning wood reminded him of the brutal reality.
【You humans who broke your promise. Receive your punishment.】
From above the terrified crowd came a resonant voice.
Kyle looked up and saw a black silhouette in the sky. Its vast wings, cloaking the moonlight, resembled storm clouds.
Meeting its crimson eyes, Kyle felt a shiver of helpless dread.
Kyle opened his heavy eyes to utter darkness. Moonlight filtered quietly through dense foliage in the forest, the only sound the chorus of insects.
“Was it a dream…?”
He felt he had not dreamed of the past in a long time. Blinking his cloudy gaze, he realized the opposite seat was empty and sat up.
“Rishian? Where did you go?”
On the dawn he first met Rishian, Kyle had awakened to find him gone and set out to look.
From that moment, Kyle believed Rishian was indispensable to the Hero’s party. He had persuaded Gerard to admit him.
Since Rishian risked his life to aid the party, Gerard could not object. Elonen welcomed anyone, and Kakaros voiced no strong opposition, so Rishian joined safely.
Kyle followed a path where foliage had been disturbed. Since it was an untraveled forest trail, tracking footprints was easy.
“Hm, he must have passed here. Where on earth did he go? What if something’s happened?”
After a short walk along the trail, he spotted Rishian’s back in a small clearing where moonlight streamed through a ring of trees.
“…Did I do that?”
Rishian murmured softly. Kyle pricked his ears but could not hear clearly from the distance.
It sounded as if he were talking with someone, yet no one stood before him. Perhaps he spoke to himself.
“Will you keep following me?”
It might have been a complaint—or a show of irritation.
Just as Kyle stepped closer to hear better, a twig snapped underfoot. Rishian jolted and turned around.
“…Kyle, why are you here?”
“I came looking for you, since you disappeared. What happened?”
Now that he was found out, Kyle hurried over to Rishian, eyes scanning for other footprints. There were none.
“Weren’t you just talking to someone?”
“No, I was alone.”
Rishian replied sullenly, brushing off his cloak. His ice-cold gaze passed over Kyle indifferently.
When they first met, his expression had frightened Kyle into thinking him evil. Up close, though, he was strikingly handsome, with piercing eyes.
“I couldn’t sleep, so I was just looking around.”
“Why wander alone in the forest at night? It’s dangerous.”
“It’s just an ordinary forest. What danger could there be?”
Rishian was entirely incompetent. He may once have been a great sage, but now, his mana core broken, he was just an ordinary man.
He had even admitted having no skills. He’d never handled a sword, nor was he good at cooking—after one disastrous attempt, the party had banned him from the kitchen.
Kyle always worried about him. Forests held monsters, beasts, and countless dangers.
“Before everyone worries, let’s go back.”
Kyle reached out his hand to Rishian.
Without a word, Rishian stared at the outstretched hand, then walked past him. Kyle withdrew his hand, embarrassed, and followed awkwardly behind.