Chapter 14: The King’s Test

Cael Horais Sirius POV

“Is the test done, King Louis?” I asked.

“One of the Dark Iron Golems is still alive,” King Louis said, pointing at the Dark Iron Golem stuck in the wall.

“Ah, that one,” I uttered.

I let go of Fragarach for a moment, leaving him a few meters in front of my parents.

“Long Hand, Fifteen Steps,” I uttered.

“Aegis Gauntlet-form,” I commanded.

“Adhara’s Royal Swordless style, Crushing Blow,” I uttered as I smashed the Dark Iron Golem into hundreds of pieces.

Dark Iron Golems are tough monsters, but they have a fatal flaw. At the center of their upper body, a fragile life core is hidden.

And since it’s several hundred times more fragile than its outer parts, a precise strike strong enough to slightly dent the Dark Iron Golem’s upper body at the specific spot will break its life core.

Without its life core, the Dark Iron Golem will fall apart on its own.

Sir Mephisto looks raring to fight as he unsheathes his blade.

“Are we done, or is it your turn now, Sir Mephisto?” I asked, looking for the Archer who shot at my location earlier.

“Fragarach, I’m leaving my parents’ protection to you,” I said telepathically.

I saw Sir Faust talking to King Louis. I just hope things won’t escalate, but after everything I saw last night through Fragarach’s memories of Vesper, there’s no way I’ll show any weakness, even to the King of Cygnus.

After all, I’m just a ten-year-old outsider.

“Let’s stop this, Sir Mephisto. You have plenty of opportunities to duel the young Hero Cael,” King Louis said.

“And Arya, stop aiming your bow toward his parents. Can’t you tell he’s just waiting for you to attack again?” King Louis warned.

“He’s definitely gonna kill you the moment you shoot those arrows,” Sir Mephisto commented.

“You’re wrong, Sir Mephisto. I’ll just make sure that person won’t be able to hold a bow for the rest of that person’s life,” I said.

A woman showed up just behind a pillar.

“Are you really a ten-year-old?” Arya asked, looking in my direction.

“Long Hand, Thirty Steps,” I uttered in a soft voice.

“Don’t I look like a ten-year-old?” I commented as I moved in front of Arya using Long Hand.

I could see the fear in Arya’s eyes as she saw me suddenly appear in front of her.

Faust, Mephisto, and another man tried to attack me to protect Arya, but they were stopped by another unfamiliar female voice.

“Don’t move, Faust, Mephisto, and Sarik,” the female commanded.

The three of them instantly halted their movement.

“Are you all trying to get us killed?” the female added.

“Of course not, Holy Maiden Kaia,” Mephisto answered in a loud voice while kneeling.

“Are you guys forgetting about Fragarach?” Holy Maiden Kaia asked.

Even Arya and King Louis darted their eyes toward it.

Fragarach was already floating in the air as a large magic circle formed with Fragarach at the center.

“That magic circle, that’s Rank 7 Lightning Legion Magic, Thunder Chain,” Sir Faust said.

So he can read magic circles like Fragarach.

“Won’t that skill damage or even kill this kid too?” Arya asked.

The Holy Maiden just looked at her.

“The First Hero Vesper is known to have a maximum affinity to Wind, Lightning, and Holy Element,” Holy Maiden Kaia stated.

“And the arrows you shot earlier, Arya, are proof of it,” she added.

“Wind Protection, a skill that blocks all projectiles and can only be acquired once you reach Wind Master,” Sir Faust stated.

“That only means he also has Lightning Covenant, which makes him able to use all Lightning magic, and any Lightning magic will just amplify his strength,” Sir Faust added.

“Sorry, I just wanted to test you myself to see whether you can protect yourself and the people around you. I never intended to hit you or your parents in any fatal spot,” Arya said as she begged for forgiveness.

I moved my face close to her right ear.

“The next time you point your weapons at the people I care about, I’ll end you instantly,” I warned her.

“I’ll be sure to remember your warning,” Arya replied, her voice trembling.

Fragarach then canceled the magic circle. After all, at best, it was a bluff.

“I never expected we were also being tested,” Sir Mephisto commented.

He was definitely not happy about what happened as he glared at me.

I walked back to my parents, and as I reached the barrier protecting the King, I shattered it with Aegis in Gauntlet-form.

King Louis looked at me.

“Cael, you have proven your strength. As of today, I, the King of Cygnus, acknowledge you as the Hero who wields the Holysword Fragarach,” King Louis stated.

“In a few days, a formal banquet will be held in the castle to formally welcome you, Hero Cael,” King Louis added.

“I see. I’ll look forward to it,” I replied.

I’m glad it didn’t turn out into a bloodbath, I thought.

“I’m the one who should be saying that, Cael,” Fragarach commented.

“Sorry, Fragarach. I just wanted to make sure whether they are my enemies,” I said telepathically.

“And? What do you conclude?” Fragarach said.

“For now, they’re not,” I replied.

“Faust, make sure to keep the Hero and his family comfortable until the banquet,” King Louis ordered.

“Consider it done, Your Majesty,” he replied.

“That attack you did to destroy the two Dark Iron Golems, isn’t that Adhara’s Royal Swordstyle?” Sir Mephisto asked as I passed him by.

Adhara’s Royal Swordstyle, First Form Twin Fang, I uttered as I continued walking.

I’m surprised he knew it instantly just from seeing it once.

Is it because I only used Replay? I thought as I continued walking.

“I hope you give me some time during the banquet, Hero Cael,” Sir Mephisto asked.

I looked back at him and gave him a nod of agreement.

Sir Faust then walked toward us. As soon as he arrived, he tapped his staff on the ground, and the same magic circle appeared.

I grabbed Fragarach, which was now sheathed in Aegis, with my right hand.

“Transfer,” he uttered.

And just like before, the light swallowed us, and in a few moments, I found myself back in Sir Faust’s mansion.

“Hero Cael, thank you for your hard work and patience today,” Sir Faust said.

“You too, Sir Faust,” I replied.

I could tell he had a lot of questions, but he refrained from asking them.

“Gavis, guide them to their room so they can rest while they wait for lunch to be prepared,” Sir Faust said.

“I’ll be resting in my room. Please bring me the usual food,” Sir Faust added.

We followed Sir Gavis until we reached my parents’ room.

Gavis left us instantly. My guess is that he went to get the usual food for Sir Faust.

Mom and Dad were silent the whole way, but as soon as Sir Gavis left, Mom grabbed me into a tight hug.

“Are you okay, Cael? You’re not hurt?” Mom asked as she looked around my body for injuries.

“I’m fine, Mom. I’m not hurt anywhere,” I replied with a smile.

“You did well today, Cael,” Dad said as he patted my head.

“Make sure to get some rest,” Dad suggested.

“I guess I’ll take a short nap,” I replied.

“Dad, Mom, be sure to rest too,” I added as I opened the door to my room.

I can feel the fatigue creeping into my body.

“As expected, you don’t have the stamina to keep fighting,” Fragarach commented.

“You’re right. I should really start training my body and stop relying just on my skills,” I agreed.

“But for now, I’ll just take a bit of a nap,” I said as I shut my eyes.

“Rest as much as you want, Cael. I’ll keep everyone safe while you’re sleeping,” Fragarach assured.