Three months had passed since the conditions were set. The king's terms had been clear: Mira could rejoin us, but only if certain demands were met. First, she was to stay with her family for three months to rebuild their bond. In that time, my friends and I were granted free passage in and out of the city.

  The second condition? A solemn promise to protect Mira at all costs. When the king announced this, Mira burst out in anger, her fiery personality on full display. “I don’t need anyone to protect me! I can handle myself!” she had shouted, her voice echoing through the royal hall.

  Despite her protests, her family stood firm. They looked to me, their eyes heavy with the weight of their request. I had agreed, knowing it wasn’t just a duty but also what I wanted—to protect my friend, no matter what. Perhaps, if I fail to save her one day, I or even Kael, Sylas, and Kaldor would end up enemies of a whole race and even the god of water.

  And the third condition...

  My thoughts were interrupted by the sharp whistle of a blade cutting through the air.

  “Focus!” Caelum barked, swinging his wooden sword toward me. I barely blocked it in time, the impact rattling my arms.

  The third condition was the toughest of all: training under the elite guards, Caelum and Leryn. Caelum, with his relentless swordsmanship drills, took charge of me, Kael, Kaldor, Lia, and Jasper. Meanwhile, Leryn oversaw Mira, Sylas, and Finn’s magic training.

  Caelum was unlike anyone I’d trained with before. Where my father’s teaching was precise and nurturing, Caelum’s was merciless and exhausting. His drills pushed us to our limits and then beyond. “Your enemies won’t wait for you to catch your breath!” he’d yell as we sparred. If we stumbled, he’d force us to start over.

  One day, after hours of hellish practice, I walked past the magic training grounds. To my surprise, Sylas and the others were sprawled out, sleeping under an open area. Later that evening, they returned to the quarters looking refreshed, claiming to have gained significant knowledge.

  “I have never known that you can bend magic and separate the same mana output into 2,” Sylas said with starry eyes

  “Yea, and also the combination of 2 different magic elements, they are so useful in some scenarios!” Mira continued

  Unlike the 2 stars, Finn, with his sight to the ground, leaves a heavy sig.h “How jealousy, you too are too good at this, I have tried my best and I can barely control D-rank magic.”

  The 2 put their hands on Finn’s shoulders. “Hey, if you had tried harder and not skipped lessons to join the Myrdians playground,” Sylas said

  “Luckily for you, Leryn is kind and gentle,...unlike someone else,” Mira said, glancing at us and all of the other the swordsmanship practitioners shot back with a furious looks, except for me

  “Magic training’s just... different,” I muttered, trying to understand.

  Even so, Leryn often pulled me aside to comment on their progress. “Sylas,” he once said, “has a terrifying potential. She’ll be a force to reckon with one day.”

  “Mira’s healing magic,” he added, “surpasses most adults I’ve met. They are true prodigies.”

  I asked about Finn, and Leryn’s face darkened. “Let’s... not talk about him.”

  The day of our final test had arrived. I stood before Caelum, my heart pounding as we prepared to fight. But something was off. Instead of his usual sword, he held a long spear.

  “Wait a second,” I said, pointing at the weapon. “That’s not fair! You trained me with a sword!”

  Caelum smirked, spinning the spear effortlessly in his hands. “Life isn’t fair, kid. Adapt or lose.”

  The royal family, my friends, Caelum’s siblings, and some passers-by stood nearby, forming two groups that cheered for their chosen fighter. The noise added to the intensity of the moment, firing both of us up.

  The battle began.

  Caelum’s spear came at me with relentless speed and precision, the tip slicing through the air with a sharp whistle. I narrowly dodged the first thrust, the blade grazing past my arm as I pivoted to the side. The second strike followed immediately, forcing me to parry with my sword. The clash sent a vibration through my arms, but I held firm, pushing the spear away and countering with a slash aimed at his midsection. Unlike other fighters who would choose themself a fighting style, Caelum didn’t choose any, it felt like a mix of the winddance blade style and the celestial swordplay style. Probably explain why he doesn’t use a sword

  Caelum stepped back just in time, his movements fluid and precise. "Not bad," he said, his tone almost mocking. "But you'll need more than that to keep up."

  With the Royal family and some myrdians cheer “Go Caelum, prove to the kid that an elite guard is no joke’’ or ‘‘Don’t let me down Caelum”, something like that. Yea, and of course I won't give up because of some cheers from the opponent's team.

  I gritted my teeth, refusing to let his taunts distract me. I closed the distance between us with a quick dash, feinting to his left before spinning into a downward slash. Caelum deflected the blow effortlessly with the shaft of his spear, twisting it in a circular motion to force me back.

  The crowd roared from both sides.

  “Go, Duke!” Sylas shouted, her voice cutting through the noise.

  “Don’t hold back, Caelum!” one of his siblings countered, grinning.

  I steadied my breathing, watching Caelum’s stance. He was calm, his spear held with an ease that belied its danger. He lunged again, this time with a series of rapid thrusts. Each one came faster than the last, forcing me to retreat step by step as I blocked and dodged. The final thrust was aimed at my chest, and I sidestepped at the last second, spinning to strike at his exposed flank.

  My blade connected with his shoulder, and my saber launched at his feet, and the crowd gasped. Cheers erupted from my friends’ side.

  "Yes! That’s it, Duke!" Kael hollered.

  “Nice hit!” Mira added, her voice filled with pride.

  The royal family looked at her. “Waite Mira, we thought you were on our side.”

  Caelum staggered slightly but quickly regained his footing, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, a smirk spread across his face—a knowing, almost sinister grin.

  "Impressive," he said, spinning the spear in his hands. "But let me show you what real experience looks like."

  Before I could react, his stance shifted. His movements became faster, almost a blur. The spear was suddenly everywhere—striking, sweeping, spinning in a chaotic yet calculated storm. I barely managed to block the first few hits, but the sheer force of his attacks sent shockwaves through my arms. My grip on my swords faltered.

  “Stay focused, Duke!” Kaldor shouted.

  "Don’t give him an inch!" Jasper yelled, his voice strained with tension.

  Caelum advanced relentlessly, giving me no time to recover. I tried to parry a low sweep, but the spear’s momentum carried it upward, forcing my blade aside. But with my saber on the left, I swung at his obiluqes. To my surprise, he blocked it with the pole. He followed with a spinning strike that caught me off guard, the blunt end slamming into my ribs and sending me stumbling backward.

  “Getting tired?” he asked, his voice laced with amusement.

  I clenched my teeth, forcing myself to stand upright. “Not a chance.”

  Summoning my remaining strength, I charged forward, weaving through his strikes. I ducked under a wide arc of his spear and aimed a thrust at his chest. He sidestepped, but I followed with a quick left-sided slash, then another. The crowd cheered louder as I pushed him back, my determination burning brighter with every swing.

  For a moment, it seemed like I might win.

  But then, Caelum shifted again. His spear moved in a way I hadn’t seen before, the movements seamless yet unpredictable. The weapon whirled like a cyclone, breaking through my defenses with terrifying precision. Before I could react, the spear’s shaft swept my legs out from under me, and I hit the ground hard.

  Caelum’s spearhead hovered at my throat as I gasped for breath.

  "Game over," he said, his smirk returning.

  The crowd erupted, half cheering and half groaning.

  "No way!" Lia groaned, clutching her head. “I thought you had it!”

  “Our money!” Jasper wailed.

  “I should have bet on Caelum, instead of listening to you, Jasper” Finn, enraged

  “Weren’t you the one who suggested this betting game? You said something like ‘Mighty Duke’, ‘Duke the 100-0’ “ Jasper shot back as the 2 slammed,d rubbing each other heads together.

  “Hahaha! Thank you for these sweet coins, young gentlemen, an old king like me would appreciate it!” King Myeridon, the winner of the bet, laughed loudly as if he were teasing the losers

  As Caelum extended a hand to help me up, he chuckled. “You fought well, kid. You’ve gotten stronger. To be honest, you are a lot stronger for a D-rank swordsman, but in order to advance to C-rank, you would need more proper training and need to learn to secret skill style.

  Secret technique? Is it what Arthur used between our fight? So that’s the reason why my dad never reached C-rank, though he is stronger than some, perhaps. My dad hasn’t learned any secret skills, or he couldn’t? Whatever the case is, he is still the strongest person I know right now, except for that old god, of course. I took his hand, pulling myself up. My body ached, but I managed a grin. “Still not enough. I have a long way to go if I’m going to protect the people who matter to me. Perhaps you can introduce me to places to study ‘proper’ swordmanship.” I emphasized to word ‘proper’ as if a tease to Caelum’s lessons, though they are very useful in every way.

  He smirked a bit. “ Don’t disrespect my lessons like that. I, may not be a good teacher, but a highly respected soldier on the field. And if you want to learn more about swords, you can go to the ‘land of the holy sword’. It is located in the Middle East and quite near to the Nethis Academy. Perhaps you can get your friend to school and visit each other quite often.”

  “Land of the holy sword?” I muttered, “ Thank you for your advice, I will never forget our lessons together.” I said while turning my back to him, walking back to the chatting audience.

  Caelum’s expression softened for a moment, then he turned to the others. "Alright, who’s next?”

  The group collectively stepped back, shaking their heads.

  Jasper was the unlucky one to be pushed forward. “Why me?! What am I supposed to do if even Duke can’t win against him?!” he cried as Caelum grabbed him by the head, dragging him toward the center of the field.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  The rest of us watched, stifling laughter. “Good luck, Jasper!” Kael shouted.

  “Better you than me,” Kaldor muttered, crossing his arms with a smirk.

  Later, I reunited with the others. They congratulated me on the fight, Mira’s eyes shining with pride.

  “Caelum didn’t hold back, huh?” Kael remarked.

  “No, but it’s not like I could afford to either,” I said with a grin.

  We talked about their magic training. Sylas and Mira shared their progress, while Finn stayed unusually quiet.

  “Still working on it,” Finn muttered, earning laughter from the group.

  “Oh wait, don’t you guys have a final exam or something?”I asked, thinking that Leryn and Caelum might have agreed to have their disciples take on a final exam. “If so, I can ask Leryn to go easy on you so you guys won’t end up like me,” I teased

  “Don’t worry, Duke, you got beaten doesn’t mean we, the magic trio would end up the same.” Sylas teased, pointing at my dirty appearance.

  “Magic trio? When did you guys come up with that name?” I confused

  “Since we started our training course,” My silver-haired friend chimed in, “ And besides, we took the test a day ago. I passed the test with C-rank healing magic, and the others are at E-rank.”

  “Compared to mine, C-rank in earth and water, while the others are at D-rank! And I have taken on barrier magic lessons, though it is still F-rank, it will increase in the near future! You are much worse, Mira. Sylas showed off her scores

  “It is unfair since healing magic requires a lot more concentration and mana!” The 2 start arguing back and forth

  I turned to Finn, who is now calmer after losing his money, “What about you, Finn? Did you do well?”

  “To be honest, I need to work more if I want to become a better mage; all of my magic is at E-rank.”

  “Well, everyone has their own difficulty, and they would eventually seek a way through with their willpower. And one day, you will be better at magic.”

  While I was encouraging Finn, Sylas turned to me with a serious look.

  “Don’t come to our room tonight,” she said cryptically.

  “What? Why not?” I asked, confused.

  “Just trust me, okay?” she replied with a mischievous smile before walking off.

  That night, I sat alone at the dining table, inside the cliffside village, the untouched meal before me growing cold. Confusion and frustration fill my face, and I feel like it is disturbing the kids looking at me. I had called for my friends earlier, but each had their own excuses. No one had shown up.

  The emptiness of the room gnawed at me, the sound of the wind brushing against the wooden shutters only amplifying the silence. With a sigh, I pushed my chair back, leaving the uneaten pork behind, and stepped outside.

  The village streets were deserted, lit only by the faint glow of lanterns. Shadows stretched long across the cobblestones as I wandered aimlessly, hands in my pockets. Each step echoed in the stillness. My chest felt heavy.

  What did I do wrong? It is true that I was harsh and strict during the training lessons, but It was best that I should be. And they wouldn’t be mad if it’s because of my strictness. The thought whispered in my mind like an unwelcome guest.

  I retraced my steps back to the inn, its warm lights glowing faintly from the windows. As I approached, the muffled sound of voices reached my ears. I stopped in my tracks.

  Sylas’s voice. Kael’s. Jasper’s. Others I didn’t recognize.

  Curious, I stepped up to the door and tried to open it. The handle didn’t budge. Locked. From the inside.

  A loud crash and laughter erupted beyond the door. My chest tightened. I sank to the ground, leaning my back against the door. For a moment, there were no thoughts, just an overwhelming emptiness.

  The door creaked open behind me, and I stumbled slightly as Sylas appeared in the doorway, looking surprised.

  “Duke,” she said softly, her tone almost hesitant. “I’m… I’m sorry for not coming to dinner. We just had something important to do.”

  I looked up at her, silent. My expression must have spoken louder than any words. She bit her lip, then reached down and grabbed my hand.

  “Come on,” she said, tugging me up with a small smile. “Just come inside.”

  As I stepped through the door, the world erupted in light and sound.

  “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”

  The room was decorated with streamers and balloons, their bright colors contrasting with the wooden beams of the inn. A long table was laden with plates of food—pastries, roasted meats, fruit tarts, and sweet bread decorated with glazes of every color imaginable. In the center was a massive cake, candles flickering on top.

  Everyone was there. My friends, the villagers, and even Jasper, Lia, and Finn, who stood in a corner, waving enthusiastically. Sylas grinned at me, Kael patted my shoulder, and Kaldor approached with the cake, carefully balancing it on his large hands.

  As the party buzzed around us, Jasper, Lia, and Finn approached me, their expressions an amusing mix of exaggerated seriousness and thinly veiled grins. Jasper, as usual, took the lead, standing stiffly at attention like a soldier reporting to his commanding officer.

  “Boss,” he began, his voice deliberately formal, “on behalf of your loyal employees, I must commend your outstanding leadership skills and unwavering dedication to this fine establishment—uh, I mean, the village.”

  “Outstanding leadership?” Lia snorted, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow. “You mean the guy who dragged us into the dungeon and made us do all the heavy lifting?”

  “Now, now, Lia,” Finn interjected, a mischievous glint in his eye. “We can’t ignore the boss’s greatest talent: inspiring us to work harder so he can look good.”

  “Because you’d be lost without us,” Jasper said smugly, clapping me on the shoulder. “Believe it or not, boss—you’re the brains, but we’re the muscle, charm, and comic relief.”

  “I’m the charm, obviously,” Lia added, flipping her hair dramatically.

  “And I’m the muscle,” Jasper said with mock seriousness, flexing his arm.

  “That makes me the comic relief,” Finn declared proudly, striking a ridiculous pose.

  “More like the walking disaster,” Lia muttered under her breath, earning a chuckle from Jasper.

  Finn ignored her. “Anyway, Boss, we just wanted to say—you’ve done a pretty decent job running this operation. You know, for someone who constantly risks his neck and drags us along for the ride.”

  “Decent job?” I repeated, raising an eyebrow.

  “Alright, fine,” Jasper admitted with a grin. “You’re the best boss we could ask for. And you didn’t even fire me when I accidentally set the hayloft on fire. Twice.”

  “Twice?” Lia groaned. “You said it was just once!”

  “It was an accident! Both times!” Jasper protested.

  Finn waved them off. “The point is, Duke, you’re not just our boss. You’ve got our backs, and that means we’ve got yours.”

  Lia smirked. “Even if you make questionable decisions. Like trusting Jasper near anything flammable.”

  “Hey!”

  I shook my head, a genuine smile spreading across my face. “Thanks, you three. I don’t say it enough, but I’m lucky to have you. Even if you’re all a pain in the ass sometimes.”

  Jasper grinned. “Aww, he’s getting sentimental. Quick, someone get him some cake before he starts crying.”

  Kaldor, with his usual calm smile, carried the massive, 2 layers cake toward me. The villagers surrounded them, their faces warm and welcoming.

  “You’re ten now, huh?” Kaldor said with a gentle smile. “Blow out the candles and make a wish.”

  The crowd quieted as I leaned forward. The warmth of the candles brushed against my face, and for a moment, I hesitated. What could I even wish for? Then I closed my eyes, exhaled, and the room erupted in cheers as the candles flickered out. I wish,.. I wish I could reunite with my family. My dad, Michael, my mom, Laura, and my sister, Clara. I opened my eyes and saw everyone smiling at me, my friends, the kids we used to play with, and even strangers. They all had accepted the invitation to celebrate my birthday. It feels like a… family

  “Congrats on your 2nd important birthday, Duke! Hope that all that you wishes became true and soon you will reunite with your family,” Kael said, crossing his arms.

  Mira ran over and hung her arm over me. “Happy birthday, big bro. You are now 1 year older than I, so does that mean I can call you that? And,... does that mean I could get money from you!” Mira looked at me with insistent eyes

  “As long as you don’t call me by ‘big bro’ and I will consider it,” I said, flicking a finger at her forehead. She trembled, and a small ‘ick’ could be heard.

  “We didn’t get you much,” Sylas said apologetically, fiddling with the hem of her sleeve. “I hope this is enough.”

  “Not much?” I repeated, my voice cracking. A sudden warmth spread in my chest, and before I knew it, a stream of tears escaped my eyes. I tried to brush them away, but more came.

  “Boss? You okay?” Jasper asked

  I smiled through the tears. “Thank you… all of you. This is more than enough.”

  The party began in full swing after that. Villagers organized games like sack races and trivia about the town’s history. Laughter filled the air as children raced around, and even the adults joined in.

  Later, Jasper, Finn, and Lia took the stage—or rather, an improvised platform near the corner of the inn. Their “play” was a chaotic blend of exaggerated tales about their recent adventures with me. Jasper played an over-the-top version of Caelum, barking orders and waving around a wooden stick as a mock spear. Finn played me, complete with exaggerated heroic gestures and dramatic swooning. Lia played every side character, from terrified villagers to grumpy merchants, switching voices with wild abandon.

  The room roared with laughter, and I found myself clutching my sides as tears of mirth replaced the ones of earlier.

  The festivities eventually wound down, and one by one, the villagers returned to their homes. My friends bid me goodnight, each with a pat on the shoulder or a heartfelt “Happy Birthday.”

  Later, as I sat in my room, the stars were visible through the small window, and a soft knock at the door drew my attention.

  The innkeeper stood there, holding an envelope.

  “This came for you today,” she said with a kind smile. “Happy birthday, Duke.”

  “Thank you, miss.” I took the letter, my chest tightening as I saw the familiar handwriting.

  I opened it carefully, unfolding the parchment.

  Dear Duke,

  Happy birthday, my son. I hope this letter reaches you on time, though I can’t promise it will. Life has been unpredictable lately, as you know. We have settled in Myttas for a while now, my dad has surprisingly not caused me any troubles yet.

  The search for your mother and sister continues. We’ve made some progress, thanks to my old guild. They’ve been a tremendous help. We’re following new leads every day, and I promise I won’t stop until I find them.

  How have you been? I think about you every day, wondering what adventures you’re on and how you’re growing. I heard you’re training hard—don’t forget to rest, too. You have your mother’s strength, Duke, and I couldn’t be prouder of the young man you’re becoming.

  If there’s one thing I regret, it’s not being there with you right now. Im so sorry for this, Im sorry for being a bad father, not being able to keep my own family near me. I hope this letter brings you a little closer to home, even if it’s just words on paper.

  Keep going, Duke. You’re stronger than you know.

  Happy 10th birthday.

  With love,

  Your father. Michael Hevas Caddel

  Tears blurred the words as I read. A smile broke across my face, and I held the letter close for a moment, letting the warmth of my father’s words settle over me.

  But then, something inside me twisted.

  Michael Caddel. My father. My second father.

  It felt so natural to think of him that way. He had been there since the moment I opened my eyes in this world, teaching me, guiding me, making me stronger. He treated me as his son, without hesitation, without condition. I never had to earn his love, never had to fight for his approval—he just gave it, freely.

  And yet… I wasn’t his son. Not really.

  The thought gnawed at the edges of my mind, an ugly, creeping thing. I had another life before this, another family—one I had discarded without a second thought. In my past life, I abandoned the people who loved me, turned my back on them, convinced that I didn’t need them. I had made that choice. I had let them go.

  And now, I was here. Given a second chance.

  Michael called me his son, and every time he did, I felt something tighten in my chest—an unfamiliar mix of gratitude and guilt. I wanted to be his son. I was his son. But was I really worthy of that?

  I clenched the letter, my fingers trembling.

  This warmth, this love—was it truly mine to have?

  I was Duke Caddel now. I wasn’t the person I used to be.

  But sometimes, in moments like this, when my past clashed with my present, I didn’t know who I was anymore.

  I took a deep breath, forcing the thoughts back into the corners of my mind. Now wasn’t the time to question things that couldn’t be answered.

  Instead, I let myself hold onto what was real. The words on the letter, the care behind them.

  Michael was my father. And no matter what doubts haunted me, I knew one thing for certain.

  I reread the letter once again as I spotted an unusual detail.

  “My father?” I looked at my dad’s word. His father,.. means that my granddad? How come didn’t I know this before? But what does he mean by haven’t caused him any troubles yet? But anyway, I need to work on the replies

  Grabbing a piece of parchment, I began writing my reply, recounting every moment of the party, every triumph, and every thought. Even the events of helping the drakonians also asked for his assistance. I also got myself 3 disastrous employees and a friend who is a long-lost princess of a whole race. By the time I sealed the letter, the first light of dawn peeked through the window. But most surprising is that I have defeated Arthur, though it wasn’t I who took him on alone, but it would still make him relieved ,as the leader was killed. Bet his jaw would drop after he read these lines.

  I placed the letter on the desk, ready to send it at the first opportunity. As I looked out at the shining moon, I felt a quiet peace settle over me.