The News

For this reason, everyone began to gather in the field. As soon as they arrived, they saw Tenen and other elderly people standing there with a paper in hand, all with huge smiles on their faces.

Once everyone had arrived, Tenen, with the permission of the other elders, stepped forward and said loudly:

"ALL OF YOU WHO ARE PRESENT HERE, HOLD ON TIGHT BECAUSE TODAY I AND ALL THE ELDERS OF THE VILLAGE ARE VERY HAPPY!"

He took a deep breath.

"YOU MUST BE WONDERING ABOUT THE REASON BEHIND THIS GATHERING. I KNOW YOU ARE IMPATIENT, AND NOW WE WILL QUICKLY REVEAL IT TO YOU!"

He took another big breath.

"AFTER OUR ENDLESS REQUESTS... FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, OUR VILLAGE HAS RECEIVED AN INVITATION TO THE ROYAL KINGDOM, DIRECTLY FROM THE ROYAL PALACE! THEY WANT TO HAVE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THEIR CITY, TO DISCOVER NEW TALENTS THAT WILL IMPROVE OUR EMPIRE. THIS IS NOT CASUAL NEWS BUT REVOLUTIONARY! HAHAHAHA! TIME IS SHORT, OTHERWISE WE WOULD HAVE THROWN A GREAT PARTY FOR THIS NEWS!"

Everyone, hearing this, rejoiced and danced with happiness.

"What does this mean?" asked Hiroshi, puzzled.

Duraan stepped forward to explain:

"Basically, this is an opportunity that only comes to the fortunate. As you already know, the world is divided into kingdoms, and the highest, strongest, most important kingdom is the Royal Kingdom. So all the other smaller kingdoms try to send more of their people to the Royal Kingdom, so that their reputation will increase if their citizens are in high positions. The native place of that person will receive high reputation, money, more offers for future young people, and so on..."

"So this is a matter of life and death for those who want to enter?" said Rania.

"Yes, absolutely. Everyone wants to go, but it's not possible. In fact, soon there will be a discussion about who to send, because you can't take this lightly - the future of our village is at stake here."

"Hmmm, okay."

"Rania, don't you want to enter?" asked Hiroshi.

First, Rania tried to change the subject by introducing concepts that had nothing to do with the topic, making her fake smile that wouldn't fool even a child. In the end, she had to tell the truth because Hiroshi stood there staring at her, waiting for an answer to his question.

"Because I'm not a fighter, and I'm a disgrace to the Lizardman family."

"But you know how to use magic."

"Yes, but it's not that useful."

"What kind of magic is it?"

"I won't say it in front of everyone, come with me."

"But there's only me and Duraan here."

"I don't want to tell Duraan."

"Why?" asked Duraan.

"I DON'T WANT TO!!! OKAY?!"

"Okay, okay, calm down," said Duraan, raising his hands.

So Rania took Hiroshi a little away from everyone, made sure no one was nearby, then said in a low voice:

"I have relaxation magic."

"Relaxation? What do you mean?"

"It's a magic that sucks. Basically, I'm a masseuse. With my magic, I can only relax muscles - I don't heal them, I just relax them and make them numb for a while. I'm just a masseuse and nothing else."

Rania stopped for a moment, then it seemed like she remembered something. With impressive speed, she grabbed Hiroshi's collar, looked him in the eyes and said:

"DON'T YOU DARE TELL ANYONE ABOUT THIS, OR YOU'LL MEET A BAD END!"

"Alright, don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

"It better be that way."

A moment of silence.

"Am I the only one who knows this?"

"My parents know too. In fact, with this magic I helped my mother relax when she was sick."

"So it has at least some good points."

"Sort of."

"But isn't there a way you can learn other magic?"

"Yes, there is, but you have to study and work very hard."

"Then do it."

"But I don't want to work that hard."

Hiroshi looked at her with that look as if he were asking "Are you serious?"

But from his mouth came: "Okay."

"But do you want to go on this expedition?"

"Yes, I want to go too."

"Good, let's see what we can do."

So the two returned and asked Duraan about when the departure was.

"The departure is tomorrow."

"But that's too fast."

"Yes, the royal palace does it on purpose because that way only the truly talented will be able to arrive."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, everything is calculated and recorded. From the moment a place receives the letter, time starts. There's a predetermined time limit, and if the men don't arrive within that deadline, the palace starts to doubt whether everything is okay or not, so they cancel everything and make everyone return. It's a security system, but there's much more to it, so it's better to do as they say."

Hiroshi heard, saw, and thought. He put his hands in his pockets, walked in circles, tried to think of something. While he walked in circles, he thought:

Everyone else is happy about the news. The elders are still in the middle expressing their emotions to the people. The people are happy, but not all of them - some because they won't be able to go since they're not strong enough, some because of envy, some because of the time that has passed and their age has increased.

It's like when you're eating a fruit salad: every fruit has a different taste and different texture. Here too, every person has different thoughts and emotions they're experiencing.

And envy is the worst of all, which every person must be careful of. It's threatening, cruel, and merciless.

After various considerations, Hiroshi knew what to do.