Chapter 3: The King’s Decision

  The grandeur of the Eodias royal palace struck Victor like a tidal wave the moment he crossed its towering gates. Sculpted marble pillars reached skyward, etched with stories of gods and heroes from a time long forgotten. Guards in golden armor flanked the long corridors, their disciplined silence more imposing than any shout. Victor, clad in formal robes provided by the state, felt his every footstep echo through the hallowed halls as if the very ground recognized his insignificance.

  He was led by a royal servant, a man with eyes sharp as a hawk’s and lips sealed by centuries of protocol. Victor gripped tight the invitation scroll in his trembling hands — a summons from King Aldros himself, the ruler of the Eodias Kingdom. He wasn’t among the S-Ranks or even A-Ranks. His B-Rank classification had been enough to have him cast aside by the central Empire, but here in this kingdom far from the capital, it seemed to mean something different.

  The grand doors to the royal chamber creaked open. Inside, sunlight streamed through stained-glass windows, bathing the chamber in hues of red and gold. On a dais at the far end sat King Aldros, a tall man with graying golden hair, a well-groomed beard, and eyes that gleamed like burning coals. Power radiated from him—not the kind that came from brute strength, but from authority honed over decades of rule.

  Victor bowed low. “Your Majesty.”

  King Aldros studied him in silence. For a heartbeat, the room felt frozen in time. Then the king stood, his crimson and silver robe swaying with regal weight.

  “So you are Victor,” the king said, voice calm and deep. “One of the summoned.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.”

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  “I have read the report of your summoning, your classification, and your current growth under our nation’s guidance. Unlike the Empire, I do not cast aside talents for what they appear to be. I look for potential. And potential, I believe, is something you possess.”

  Victor dared to lift his gaze. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I will not disappoint you.”

  King Aldros descended the dais and walked toward him. He stopped just a few feet away, his piercing gaze locked onto Victor’s.

  “You lack confidence. That is natural,” the king said. “You were discarded, treated as lesser. But know this — Eodias does not treat warriors as numbers. We forge greatness.”

  Victor’s heart pounded. For the first time since his arrival in this world, he felt something stir within him — not just fear or confusion, but the faintest ember of pride.

  “I want you to attend Virtus Academy.”

  Victor’s eyes widened. “Virtus Academy…?”

  “It is the world's most elite institution for war arts, magic, politics, and history,” the king explained. “There, you will meet nobles, princes, warriors, and scholars. Some will support you. Many will challenge you. But if you can rise through its ranks… you will earn your place not only in Eodias but in history.”

  “I… I accept,” Victor said without hesitation.

  King Aldros gave a faint nod of approval. “You will depart in three days. Preparations are already underway. Your new robes, weapon, and identification as an official student will be issued. As of this moment, you are no longer just a guest of the kingdom. You are its representative.”

  Victor lowered himself again into a bow, this time with deeper reverence. “I swear, I will grow stronger and serve with honor.”

  The king looked toward the chamberlain beside him. “Make sure he receives access to the Ember Library before he departs. He must read of the world’s history, the fall of the old hero, and the rise of this age.”

  “As you command, Your Majesty,” the chamberlain replied.

  The king turned back to Victor. “Learn from books. Learn from battles. Learn from people. But above all, never forget why you fight.”

  The king ordered “Summon second princess Reinar.She will teach you more about the world we currently living.”

  As Victor was escorted out of the chamber, he felt the weight of the moment press into his chest. He was no longer just a forgotten summon. No longer just a student with a B-rank.

  He was Victor of Eodias.

  And his journey to Virtus Academy was only just beginning.