Kael stared at the golden text, his mind reeling.
'This has to be some kind of sick joke, right?'
Adept Sigil in six months? The absurdity of it almost made him laugh. Even his father, a man in his forties, had only recently achieved that rank.
Despite his father's self-deprecating claims of limited talent, it had still taken him nearly two decades to advance. And this… thing expected Kael to do it in half a year?
And the penalty…
…Death?
Since when could the Archive kill someone? Why had his father never mentioned anything about this? If I had known this was how things were going to turn out, I wouldn't have… Oh, right. He'd forgotten. The damn thing had been forced upon him.
His gaze dropped to the second task, a humorless twitch pulling at his lips.
"Sigh…"
At this point, he was simply exhausted by the sheer ridiculousness of it all.
"My left eye? Why don't you just take the right one too, you useless piece of shit."
And since when did Knights need to master a variety of weapons?
Even with his limited understanding of this "Knight" business and the Archive in general, one thing resonated with absolute certainty.
"Yep… mine's absolutely broken."
And it's definitely not in a good way.
...
The rhythmic clatter of hooves against cobblestone echoed between towering stone walls as the carriage passed through the grand gates of Darkenshire, the capital of the Kingdom of Vandor.
Kael pressed his face against the window, his breath catching in his throat at the sheer scale of it all. He had never witnessed a city this vast before—truth be told, he hadn't witnessed any city at all.
The streets teemed with armored knights, disciplined soldiers, and merchants hawking their wares beneath brightly colored awnings. The mingled scents of roasted meat, worked metal, and human sweat hung in the air, lending the city a raw, vibrant energy.
Though it was nighttime, the usual stillness of his village was absent, replaced by a palpable hum of life and activity.
Erick, noticing Kael's awestruck expression, chuckled softly. "Quite the sight, isn't it?"
Kael nodded slowly, words failing him.
"I figured you'd be curious," Erick said with a gentle smile. "Come, let's stretch our legs a bit. I'll show you around as we make our way back to my home. It's not too far from here."
Still buzzing with a mixture of apprehension and excitement at his new surroundings, Kael readily agreed.
Erick instructed his men to return with the horse and carriage while he guided Kael through the bustling streets, a constant flow of people engaged in a myriad of activities.
In open training grounds, soldiers sparred with focused intensity, their swords clashing in a shower of sparks that briefly illuminated the surrounding darkness. Blacksmiths hammered rhythmically at glowing-hot metal, shaping weapons and armor for the city's defenders. Even children, wielding wooden swords and sticks, mimicked the warriors and heroes they clearly idolized.
"Vandor isn't just a kingdom; it's a warrior's haven," Erick explained, his voice carrying over the din. "Every able-bodied citizen is trained to fight from a young age. Even our merchants know how to wield a blade if necessary."
Kael absorbed the information, his gaze following a group of young knights-in-training marching past, their faces set with a mixture of youthful loyalty and fierce determination.
They continued their walk, Erick patiently answering Kael's curious questions and pointing out places of interest.
After the brief but captivating tour, they finally arrived at Erick's home—which turned out to be a sprawling estate. The mansion before him was the largest structure he had ever conceived of, far grander than any building in his village. Its towering walls, intricate carvings, and massive entrance doors exuded an undeniable aura of wealth and power.
"Welcome to my humble home," Erick said, clapping a friendly hand on Kael's shoulder. "Come in, you'll be staying here for the night."
Kael barely registered the words. His mind was still struggling to comprehend the sheer scale of the place.
Upon entering, they were greeted by a warm and elegant woman with kind eyes and a confident bearing.
"Welcome home, dear," she said, embracing Erick.
Then turning her gentle gaze to Kael. "And who might this be?" she inquired with a welcoming smile.
"This is Kael. He's our guest for tonight."
"Kael, allow me to introduce my wife, Helena Valdren."
Helena offered him a gracious smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Kael. Please, come in."
Kael offered a polite awkward smile in return, still feeling self-conscious about speaking to strangers.
A younger figure suddenly appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. "Welcome home, Father." Then, turning his bright gaze towards Kael, he grinned and said, "Hi, I'm Cedric. Welcome to our home."
Cedric, appearing to be around Kael's age, radiated an easygoing charm. He possessed a confident stance that echoed his father's, coupled with an adventurous glint in his eyes, clearly showing he disliked staying in one place for too long.
A wave of unease washed over Kael. He was beginning to realize that these people were extending an absurd level of kindness towards him.
He wasn't a fool. Despite his limited experience beyond his village, he possessed a fundamental understanding of human nature.
'People only help those who can offer something in return.'
The question now is what do they want in return?
Helena led him to a spacious guest room that, unsurprisingly, dwarfed his old home. At this point, a weary resignation settled over him. He mentally vowed to cease being surprised, no matter what further wonders they unveiled.
"You must be tired from your journey," Helena said kindly. "Why don't you freshen up while we prepare dinner?"
Kael nodded, stepping into the unfamiliar space. He noticed several doors leading to unknown parts of the mansion.
'Where am I supposed to bathe? There's no water in here.'
After a moment of contemplating silence, he cautiously approached the first door and opened it—luckily it revealed a lavish bathroom.
He spotted a washing area, a porcelain basin, and a peculiar mechanism—a gleaming tap.
He walked up to it and twisted its head with curiosity, but Nothing happened. Frowning, he tried pulling at it. Still no response. Confused, he leaned in closer—only for a jet of cold water to suddenly erupt, drenching his face.
Spluttering and wiping his eyes, he stumbled back. "What kind of sorcery is this?" he muttered, shaking his head.
After several minutes of comical trial and error, he finally deciphered the workings of the tap and managed to wash up, changing into the fresh, comfortable clothes laid out on the plush bed. The mattress was so soft it felt as though he might sink into oblivion. Everything in this place felt utterly surreal.
A polite knock on the door interrupted his swirling thoughts.
Opening it, he found a maid who informed him that dinner was ready.
He followed her through opulent hallways to the dining hall, where a veritable feast awaited. The rich aroma alone sent a jolt of hunger through him.
As soon as they were seated, Kael, seeing that everyone else had already begun, wasted no time in loading his plate.
He devoured the food with the single-minded focus of a starving animal, prompting amused glances from Erick's family.
Cedric chuckled, a friendly sound. "You eat like you haven't seen food in weeks."
Kael, his mouth full, merely nodded in response.
Once the initial rush of hunger subsided, Helena placed a hand over her chest, her expression softening with sympathy. "My husband told us what happened to your family and village, Kael. We are truly sorry for your loss."
Kael froze mid-bite, a strange stillness settling over him. He swallowed and offered a curt nod. "Thanks."
He felt…Strange...detached.
Normally, any thought of the devastation that had befallen his village would be accompanied by a sharp pang of grief. But ever since waking from that bizarre dream, something within him had shifted.
He couldn't quite articulate it, but it was almost as if… he no longer felt the weight of that loss. A strange hollowness had taken its place.
"..."
Erick leaned back in his ornate chair. "For now, get some rest. Tomorrow, Cedric will be happy to show you more of the city."
Kael, with no immediate plans or destination of his own, simply nodded. He had no idea what the future held, but for the first time since… well, he couldn't quite remember when… he felt a flicker of something other than despair. He would face whatever came next, one uncertain step at a time.