Does We Really Have To Do This?

One week later, Palace of Groacia:

It was the day Romero had mentioned, the day he would come to meet Eidrin. Eidrin didn’t have any idea why Romero wanted to see him personally, but he decided to go anyway. That evening, he went to meet Romero.
He left without telling anyone, not even Merlin.
Lucaris saw Eidrin leaving.

Lucaris (thought): “Where is Eidrin going at this time? I think I need to follow him.”

Lucaris then followed Eidrin along the way. He was aware that Eidrin could sense his presence, so he kept a little distance.

At the Valley of the Eastern Border:

Romero had been waiting for Eidrin there. It was almost night, and Romero was growing impatient.

Romero (thought): “Where is he? Why isn’t he coming? He used to arrive whenever I called him… Did he really change that much? No… I’m sure he’ll come.”

Finally, Eidrin arrived.

Romero: “So finally, you came.”
Eidrin: “Yeah. Did you think I wouldn’t come if you called me?”
Romero: “Yeah, after all, you’ve changed a lot.”
Eidrin: “Hey, you’re mistaken. I haven’t changed at all.”

Lucaris (thought): “So he came all this way to meet Romero. Why are they talking here secretly? Are they planning something?”

Romero: “Eidrin, I’m telling you this for the last time — you need to come with me right now.”
Eidrin: “No!”
Romero: “This time, I’m not holding back. You need to come with me at any cost.”
Eidrin (serious): “I said no!”
Romero (serious): “What did you say? If you won’t come, then I know how to take you by force.”
Eidrin: “Really? Do you have that courage? Then try.”
Romero: “So… you’re not preferring peace, huh?”
Eidrin: “Yeah. If you really want to bring me back by force — fight me if you dare!”
Romero: “What! Do we really have to do this?”
Eidrin: “Yes. If you really want to take me back, fight and defeat me.”
Romero: “Okay. We haven’t fought seriously in years. If you really want that, I’m ready. Let’s fight seriously one last time.”
Eidrin: “Yeah, I’m ready too.”

Both of them drew their swords.

Romero: “So, we’re fighting without armor?”
Eidrin: “Yeah, like we used to do at the academy.”
Romero: “But we never used real weapons back then.”
Eidrin: “But now we’re real warriors.”
Romero: “Okay.”

Lucaris (thought): “What are they going to do? Fight each other?”

Both of them rushed toward each other and their swords clashed. They swung and blocked with all their skill and strength.

Romero (screaming): “Eidrin! This is it — don’t hold back!”
Eidrin (screaming): “If you want that… then yes!”

They both unleashed their warrior madness, and their swords clashed again. This time, a powerful beam of energy shot into the sky from the impact.

Lucaris (shocked): “What was that!?”

Eidrin and Romero continued fighting. A blue aura glowed around Eidrin, while a golden-yellow aura surrounded Romero. The pressure in the atmosphere grew heavier from the clash of their energies.

Lucaris (panicked): “What’s happening? It’s getting hard to breathe!”

Their swords glowed with energy, and every clash sent out an energy wave. Trees and rocks nearby were sliced apart by the aftershocks.
They moved at almost the speed of sound. Each could predict the other’s attacks. They knew each other’s fighting style perfectly.
The fact that Eidrin was physically stronger and more skilled, while Romero was faster and smarter therfore Eidrin’s strength allowed him to break through Romero’s guard, while Romero’s speed let him land hits even when Eidrin sensed the attacks.

The battle nearly destroyed the valley. Romero slammed Eidrin into the valley wall, but Eidrin threw Romero into the ground, cracking the earth beneath him.

Lucaris (very shocked): “What are they doing!? Are they trying to kill each other?”

In reality, they weren’t fighting to kill but they fought like men who wouldn’t mind dying by each other’s hand. They gave everything they had, out of respect for each other’s strength.

Eidrin (screaming): “Romero! I don’t want to kill you, but I have no problem dying by your hands!”
Romero (screaming): “Yeah, me too! It would be an honor to die by your hands, Eidrin!”

They laughed like maniacs in the middle of the battle, enjoying every second of it. Both were covered in serious cuts, yet neither was ready to give up.

Lucaris (in fear): “So this is the true power of warriors and of warrior madness! Compared to them, I’m just a worm!”

Eidrin and Romero released waves of energy beams and slashes from their swords as they fought.

Romero (thought): “I need to end this fight soon… or it’ll cause a disaster.”

Romero rushed forward with incredible speed and appeared behind Eidrin, taking him by surprise. He swung to strike, but Eidrin had already predicted the move and dodged. Eidrin countered with a slash, which Romero avoided with a leap and a kick. Their blades clashed again and again, sending shockwaves through the air and tearing the valley apart.

Amid the chaos, a vision of their younger selves flashed in their minds (A young Eidrin fighting young Romero), Memories flooded back, but they kept fighting.

Finally, their swords clashed one last time — and this time, a blinding white light exploded between them.
A dark blue aura flared brightly around Eidrin, and a golden aura radiated around Romero. They stared into each other’s eyes as they pushed against each other’s blades, suspended slightly above the ground. Neither moved an inch.
Then, cracks appeared on both swords — and suddenly, they shattered into pieces.
A small explosion happened, and both of them were thrown back. Eidrin landed on his feet, while Romero crashed into the ground.

Romero (thought): “I’m sorry, Master. I know you never wanted Eidrin and me to fight seriously ever again…”

Memories rushed through Romero’s mind like a river current.

*Flashback*
21 Years Ago:

A remote village in Francia:

A 7-year-old Romero was playing in a field, pretending to train. A few boys, a little older than him, watched from a distance.

Boy 1 (shouting): “Romero! What are you doing?”
Romero (exhausted): “I’m training so I can become the strongest warrior in the world!”

The boys burst out laughing.

Boy 2 (laughing): “Really? You think you can be the strongest?”
Boy 3: “You’re just a farmer! You can’t become a warrior.”
Boy 1 (mocking): “Do you even get enough food at home?”

They kept laughing and mocking him, but Romero continued his training.

Eight years later:

Romero is now 15. He still dreamed of becoming a great warrior and spent most of his time training. He had no interest in farming.
But his father wanted him to be a farmer — their entire lineage were farmers and he believed Romero could never become a warrior.

One day, while Romero was training in the field, his father approached him.

Father: “Romero, I want to talk to you.”
Romero: “What is it?”
Father: “You’re wasting your time doing this. You need to stop.”
Romero (shocked): “Father, I’m not wasting time — I’m training! I want to be the strongest warrior in the world, and you’re saying I’m wasting time?”
Father (serious): “Yes, you are. You think you can become a warrior just by training yourself? The greatest warriors trained under masters. I can’t afford to send you anywhere.
And even if you did become one, who would hire a farmer in the army? We can live comfortably by farming. You have four younger siblings, it’s your duty to take care of them. I’m getting older and weaker.”
Romero: “I understand, Father.”

That night, outside their hut:

Romero sat alone, sad and helpless. He realized he was far from his dream. Maybe his father was right. The dream he had carried since childhood, to become the greatest warrior, now seemed impossible.

His younger brother, Ron, approached him. Ron was a 13 year old boy.

Ron: “Big brother, why are you sitting here alone? Are you okay?”
Romero: “Yeah, I am.”
Ron: “I know it’s hard for you. Father told us everything.”
Romero: “Oh… I see…”
Ron: “I want to tell you something important.”
Romero: “What is it?”
Ron: “I know how much you want to be a great warrior and how hard you’ve worked. If you really want to achieve your dream, you need to chase it.”
Romero: “What do you mean?”
Ron: “If you stay here, you’ll end up as a farmer. And I know you don’t want that. Go somewhere, anywhere where you can pursue your dream.”
Romero: “I… I think you’re right, but… I can’t abandon you all.”
Ron: “It’s only for a while, right? You can come back after becoming a great warrior — then prove Father wrong. Don’t hold back because of us. I’ll take care of everyone.”
Romero: “Yeah… But Ron, you have dreams too, right? It wouldn’t be fair for me to chase mine while leaving my responsibilities on your shoulders.”
Ron: “My dream? Big brother, I’ve always wanted to be a farmer. You know how many time we’ve starved. Hunger is the worst feeling in the world. I want to become the greatest farmer in history — to fill every stomach in the world. I can achieve my dream by staying here. But for you, it’s different.”
Romero: “Ron… your dream is greater than mine. But if you’re telling me to chase mine — I’ll do it, for you.”
Ron: “Okay. Then take this.”

Ron handed Romero a small pouch.

Romero: “What’s this?”
Ron (smiling): “A little money I saved up. You need it more than I do — so take it.”
Romero ( with tears in his eyes): “Ron… thank you so much. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to repay you.”
Ron: “You don’t need to, big brother. You’re my brother. This is what I’m supposed to do.”

They hugged tightly. That night, Romero said farewell to Ron and his two younger sisters. He held his infant sister one last time and kissed her cheek.
He didn’t have the courage to face his parents so he left without telling them.

The next day:
Their father was furious and heartbroken over Romero’s departure. He called him irresponsible, but Ron and the sisters always defended their brother. Their mother, however, believed Romero would return one day.

Meanwhile, Romero wandered from city to city, not knowing where to go. His money ran out quickly.

Three months later:

Romero had lost everything. He hadn’t eaten in days. Weak and starving, he begged for food, but no one cared — to them, he was just a beggar.
He collapsed on the street. He thought it was his end.

Romero (thought): “Father… maybe you were right. I’ve lost. I should’ve listened to you. Ron… I’m sorry…”

Suddenly, he felt a man's presence. someone approached and extended a hand toward him.

To be continued…