Chapter 9: Invitation

Cael Horais Sirius POV

I quickly picked up Fragarach with my right hand.

Since the Holysword was still longer than my height, I wrapped my arm around its scabbard so I could hoist it more easily.

Uncle Ray looked at Fragarach for a moment before remembering what I had told him earlier.

He seemed curious about how heavy the Holysword actually was.

“Do you want to try to hold it?” I asked.

Uncle Ray's eyes widened slightly.

“Really?”

I nodded.

“Fragarach, can you hold off the Lightning Aura for a bit?” I requested telepathically.

“Sure, but make sure to support him. I don’t think he has enough Power to properly hold me,” Fragarach warned.

Uncle Ray stepped closer and put both hands out.

I carefully positioned Fragarach so he could get a proper grip.

The moment his hands touched the scabbard, I released my grip for a moment.

F15 PA31 P1S1E1F1

Ray Edafor Belel Class F15 Physical Age: 31
Vitality: 1220 + ?
Psyche: 1220 + ?
Power: 122 + ?
Speed: 122 + ?
Endurance: 122 + ?
Fortitude: 122 + ?

“Are you using my memory, Fragarach?” I asked telepathically.

I was surprised to see Uncle Ray's full name.

“Of course. Am I not allowed?” Fragarach asked.

“Well, I guess you can,” I replied halfheartedly.

As soon as Fragarach's weight fully settled into Uncle Ray's hands, his body arched slightly backward.

His arms trembled.

I could tell that he could just barely lift the Holysword.

Even without the Lightning Aura, Fragarach was still incredibly heavy.

I quickly reached out and took the Holysword back with my right hand.

Uncle Ray shook his arms slightly after letting go.

“I didn’t expect it to be quite heavy since it didn’t even dent the floor,” Uncle Ray said.

“It’s because it is alleviated using Wind Magic,” I replied.

Dad's eyes widened slightly when he heard that.

He looked at Fragarach, then at me.

I could tell that he was trying to understand how something so heavy could be carried around so easily.

I looked at Dad's Status.

E28 PA33 P1S1E1F1

Eric Pouli Sirius Class E28 Physical Age: 33
Vitality: 2020 + ?
Psyche: 2020 + ?
Power: 202 + ?
Speed: 202 + ?
Endurance: 202 + ?
Fortitude: 202 + ?

Looking at their Statuses, both Dad and Uncle Ray have only base multipliers on all of their Aspects, I thought.

There were no unusual numbers attached to their Aspects.

“Well, that’s because they don’t have a title,” Fragarach said telepathically.

“I see,” I replied telepathically as I adjusted my grip on Fragarach.

“And titles are extremely rare and can only be attained under certain conditions or by overcoming something extremely hard,” Fragarach added.

“Just like your title, Hero. Only a handful of humans have it,” Fragarach stated.

I looked at Fragarach.

“Does that mean Faust, Mephisto, Ragniz, and even the Earth Dragon have a title?” I asked telepathically.

“Most likely, but not just one. Probably multiple different titles,” Fragarach replied.

My eyes widened slightly.

“You mean I can get another one?” I asked.

“Of course,” Fragarach replied.

I wondered what kind of conditions were necessary to obtain another title.

Perhaps some were related to accomplishments, while others could require defeating powerful enemies or overcoming some kind of challenge.

There was still so much I didn't know about.

“To hold it with one hand, I guess that’s a hero for you,” Uncle Ray suddenly commented.

He had straightened his upper body after letting go of Fragarach.

I looked down at the Holysword in my hand.

I had become so accustomed to carrying her that I sometimes forgot how ridiculous it must look to everyone else.

“I think we should keep moving,” I said, looking toward Gavis.

He had been patiently waiting at the entrance of the bathhouse.

Gavis nodded.

We followed him quietly once again.

As we left the bathhouse, we returned to the seemingly never-ending hallway.

The mansion felt even larger now that I had seen more of it.

Dad and Uncle Ray remained quiet.

I could tell they were trying not to show that their minds were still occupied with what I had told them earlier.

They had learned about my Special Ability.

They had learned about Time Conversion.

They also knew that I had spent approximately a year of my Physical Age during the battle.

I knew they were worried.

But there wasn't much either of them could do about it.

Gavis eventually turned around a corner.

“This way,” Gavis said while pointing toward a stairway.

I looked up.

So the dining area is on the second floor, I thought.

We began climbing the stone stairs.

The stairs were wide enough for several people to walk side by side.

After reaching the top, another seemingly never-ending hallway welcomed us.

I couldn't help but wonder how many hallways this mansion had.

“The dining area is here,” Gavis said.

He opened a large wooden door.

As soon as I entered the room, I stopped for a moment.

A large, long table stood in the middle of the wide room.

Mom and Talya were already seated.

Both of them were dressed nicely.

Their clothes were clean and well arranged, and their hair had also been properly fixed after their bath.

If this were the first time I had seen them, I would have thought they were both nobles.

Talya immediately noticed me.

She looked at me and waved.

Her face seemed much brighter than before.

She looked genuinely happy.

I guess even I can't hide my excitement.

After everything that had happened today, it felt good to finally sit down with my family.

The wide table was filled with food.

It was indeed quite a feast.

There was meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, and even sweets.

There were more dishes than I could count.

I had never seen so much food prepared for a single meal.

Gavis guided me toward my seat.

It was positioned just beside Talya.

Dad and Uncle Ray were seated on the other side of the table, while Mom remained beside Talya.

I leaned Fragarach against the side of my chair.

As expected, Fragarach pretended to be leaning against it while actually levitating.

I could tell that all the servants were interested in her.

They repeatedly glanced at the Holysword before quickly forcing their gazes away.

They were clearly pretending that Fragarach wasn't nearby.

Perhaps they were afraid to stare at a legendary Holysword for too long.

“Please enjoy the feast we prepared. You can ask the servant beside you if you need anything,” Gavis said.

He then left the room again and headed downstairs.

A female servant standing beside me immediately approached.

“Would you like water or juice, Sir Cael?” she asked.

Looking at her, she was probably only a couple of years older than me.

“I’ll have some juice, thanks,” I replied.

The female servant picked up a pitcher and poured an orange-colored drink into my empty glass.

I took a sip.

The sweet and sour taste immediately reminded me of tangerines.

Dad usually brought a couple of tangerines whenever he returned home from the Stone Fortress, Aquilo.

I looked at the juice for a moment.

It wasn't exactly the same, but the taste was similar enough to remind me of home.

I glanced around the dining room.

The servants remained standing around the room, ready to assist us whenever necessary.

I noticed that none of them were eating.

I guess servants really don't eat at the same time as their guests or masters.

Still, most of them seemed healthier than any of my fellow villagers.

Maybe working in a noble's household provided them with better food and living conditions.

I returned my attention to the table and began eating.

The food was delicious.

I ate my fill, partly because I was hungry and partly because I wanted to show my appreciation for the feast offered to us.

After everything we had gone through, refusing the food would have felt disrespectful.

Talya seemed to enjoy the meal just as much as I did.

“I’m full. I cannot take another bite,” Talya said as she devoured a small-looking sweet.

“Is it good?” I asked.

She looked at me with a wide smile.

“It’s the best that I’ve ever eaten,” Talya replied.

I smiled.

I’m glad she liked it.

Only a few hours ago, Talya had been terrified.

She had been crying while holding onto me, afraid that she would lose both Uncle Ray and me.

Now she was sitting at a table filled with food, enjoying herself.

It was good to see her smile again.

Dad and Uncle Ray seemed to enjoy the wine while Mom spent most of the meal showing Talya how to properly eat the different dishes.

The feast lasted for about an hour.

By the time it ended, I was quite sleepy from being so full.

The servants eventually guided us toward our rooms.

Talya, however, insisted on staying with Uncle Ray.

That was why she and Uncle Ray ended up sharing a single room.

I decided to stay in my own room.

Dad, on the other hand, decided to stay in the same room as Mom.

Once everyone had settled down, I finally entered my room.

The room itself was larger than our entire wooden house back home.

I sat on the bed for a while, staring at the ceiling.

Today had been far too eventful.

I had become the master of Fragarach.

I had fought demonkind.

I had saved Mom.

I had met Knight Commander Mephisto.

And now I was inside the Kingdom of Cygnus.

There were still countless things I didn't understand.

An hour passed after I entered my room.

Then something suddenly slid through the gap underneath my door.

I looked down.

A small envelope had been pushed into my room.

An invitation, I thought.

I picked it up and examined it carefully.

I guess whoever it is wants to talk to me alone.

I carefully opened the letter.

Inside was a short message.

“Tomorrow, you’ll meet the King of Cygnus. Bring the Holysword Fragarach and your family.”

-FGC

“Be at your best conduct, Little Hero”

I stared at the message.

Several questions immediately appeared in my head.

First, why did they need to secretly send me a letter when they could have simply told me in person?

There was no reason to hide something as simple as a meeting with the King.

Unless...

They didn't want anyone else to know about the message.

My eyes moved toward the initials at the bottom.

FGC.

“What does FGC mean?” I asked telepathically.

“It’s most likely Faust. F-Faust, G-Gnosis, C-Cygnus,” Fragarach said.

I looked at the letter again.

And what does he mean by “be at my best conduct”? I thought.

“Faust probably wants you to only bring your parents, and he wants you to at least show that you’re on this kingdom’s side,” Fragarach said.

“You mean a warning not to get on the King’s bad side and to keep my relationship with Uncle Ray and Talya?” I asked.

“Most likely,” Fragarach agreed.

I folded the letter carefully.

Tomorrow, I would meet the King of Cygnus.

And judging by the way this invitation had been delivered, I had a feeling that the meeting would be far more important than a simple formal introduction.