Chapter 16 No More Excuses No More Running No More Wasting Time

Rein sat at the edge of the massive bed in his room. His sword leaned against the wall, untouched for weeks. He stared at the floor, fists clenched on his knees.

“…I’ve been acting like an idiot. I locked myself in here like it would make the pain go away. Like… shutting out the world would bring them back.”

He stood slowly, stepping toward the tall window, looking out over the castle grounds. Knights trained below. Somewhere out there, Aura was probably swinging her sword.

“I thought… I thought if I stayed here, if I didn’t do anything, the world would just leave me alone. That I’d be safe from feeling any worse than I already do. But the truth is, I was just scared. I was scared that no matter what I did, it wouldn’t matter. That I’d never be strong enough to stop something like that from happening again.”

His reflection stared back at him. Tired eyes. A boy too small for the weight he carried.

“But Aura… She was hurting too. She saw everything I did. She got hurt protecting people. She got hurt protecting me. And she’s still moving forward. Still fighting.”

He turned away from the window and looked around the room again — at the luxurious bed, the shelves of books and gold-trimmed furniture.

“This… isn’t what I want. I don’t want silk sheets and fancy dinners. I don’t want to be protected and coddled while others bleed. My parents didn’t raise me for this. They died fighting. Not because they were the strongest, but because they chose to stand their ground. From now on… no more excuses. No more running. No more wasting time. I’m going to train. I’m going to master swordsmanship. Magic too. I don’t care how long it takes. I’ll catch up to Aura. No—” he corrected himself, “—I’ll stand with her. Fight beside her.”

His voice grew stronger, “I’ll join the hero cadets. I’ll earn my place. And next time… next time something threatens the people I care about… I will be strong enough to stop it. I swear… I won’t waste the life they gave me. Not anymore.”

He stood, jaw clenched, anger bubbling beneath his quiet voice.

“Damn you, Demon Lord. All of this… all of this started because of him."

He said it like a curse, the name alone enough to sour the air.

“If he hadn’t started this war... if he hadn’t sent his monsters into our lands, into my village... they’d still be alive. Mom… Dad… the others. Demon Lord, I never saw his face. Never heard his voice. But I know what he’s done. How many lives he’s ruined. How many families he’s torn apart. He sits somewhere far away, hidden behind armies of monsters, while people die in the dirt.”

He turned toward the window looking toward the horizon. 

“I’m going to find him. I’ll grow stronger than anyone expects. Stronger than I ever imagined. And when I do… I’ll end him. For my parents. For Aura. For everyone he’s taken from this world. I’ll train. I’ll fight. I’ll rise. And one day… I’ll be the one who puts an end to the Demon Lord’s reign."

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Next Day. Throne Room.

At the far end, seated on his obsidian-and-gold throne, the King watched as Rein entered.

“Ah, Rein, my boy! You’re walking strong again. Brings joy to these old bones.” the King stood halfway from his seat, arms open in welcome.

 “Good morning, Grandfather. May I approach?”

“None of that now, my boy!” The King waved him closer, descending the steps of his dais. 

“You’re not some courtier — you’re family. Come, speak freely.”

“I came to ask something of you.”

“Oh? Anything, my boy! Say it, and it’s yours.” The King clasped his hands behind his back, strolling slowly alongside Rein.

“I want to be added to the Hero Candidates.”

The King stopped mid-step. The warmth in his face cooled like doused flame.

 “You… what?”

“I want to train, I want to fight. I want to stand among the candidates — as one of them.”

“Rein… Dear boy. Why? You don’t need to walk that road. You have everything here. Comfort. Protection. Tutors, magic, books, power. You can study whatever you like, hone your mind, pursue strength if you wish — but becoming a hero? That is not your burden to carry.”

“Oh, gods' smit me down, I won’t forbid you,” he added quickly, “Of course not. You are my blood, my heir. But understand me — I’ve seen what the life of a hero does to people. I’ve seen how it ends, more times than I’d care to count.”

He turned, walking slowly again, hands behind his back.

“That girl, Aura… it pains me to say that name but she’s… remarkable. Truly. After her recovery, I saw her full strength. Even I was impressed. Her instincts, speed, power… She’s promising. She may be lowborn, but her blade is strong.”

The King glanced sidelong. 

“You, on the other hand — you are special. Not because you fought, not because you bled. Because of your birth. You are my grandson. The highest royal bloodline runs through you. One day, not today, not tomorrow, but… one day, you will sit where I sit. Rule what I’ve ruled. The crown will rest on your head.”

Rein stiffened slightly.

“Oh, my boy, don’t misunderstand,” the King added, smiling, “I’m not pressuring you. You’re young. And I’m not going anywhere soon — gods willing, I’ll reach four hundred. But time creeps on. My blade’s dulled. My victories are past.”

He turned to face Rein fully.

“I’ve fought and slain three Demon Lords in my reign. Three. I’ve seen our world in fire and ash and rebuilt it each time. But now… I pass the flame to the next. The Hero Blessing.”

He looked off, angry or proud, Rein couldn't tell.

“That orphan girl, Aura… for all my reservations, has shown promise greater than any before her. The other candidates barely cast a shadow by comparison.”

He placed a firm hand on Rein’s shoulder.

“But you, Rein, don’t need to be the blade. You will be the hand that guides it.”