The feast had been extravagant—filled with laughter, music, and the sweet scent of roasted meats that drifted through the grand halls of Fendros Castle. Akira had barely managed to keep up with the conversations swirling around him. It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy the attention; rather, it was the constant fawning of admirers, particularly Princess Rina, that grated on him.

  Rina, the king’s daughter, had been a constant presence near him all evening, her soft laughter and sweet words never quite reaching Akira’s heart. He could see through the act—her attempts at charm were nothing but shallow games to inflate her ego. But still, as the night wore on, her interest in him only grew.

  She tried everything. A light touch on the arm, a playful laugh, even coy glances, but Akira remained uninterested, much to her frustration. Rina’s spoiled nature was becoming more apparent by the hour, and her frustration soon turned into something darker—an obvious resentment that Akira chose to ignore.

  By the end of the night, Rina was seething. How dare this commoner—this nobody—reject her advances? She stormed off in a huff, eyes filled with barely contained rage, her mind already plotting how to make Akira regret his rejection.

  Akira, meanwhile, was just glad to have made it through the night without causing too much of a scene. He had hoped for a peaceful evening after the intensity of the exams. Yet, despite his desire for solitude, a strange unease lingered in the air. It felt like someone was watching him, but he couldn’t pinpoint the source.

  Seven Days Later

  Akira woke up with the early morning sun streaming through his window. The past week had been a blur of quiet days and reflection, but something felt off. He shook the feeling aside, though, deciding to head to the market to buy ingredients for his cooking skills.

  But when he arrived, he heard commotion down a nearby alleyway. Curiosity piqued, Akira cautiously approached the source of the noise. He stood frozen as he saw a group of the king's personal guards huddled around something. Soft whimpers and cries for mercy drifted through the cracks in their formation.

  Akira’s heart clenched.

  He stepped closer, a dangerous chill settling in his bones, as one of the guards noticed him. The guard stepped forward, blocking his view. But Akira was determined. He gently pushed past him, catching a glimpse of what was happening.

  A goblin child, no older than ten, was being ruthlessly beaten and kicked by someone. The child’s body was bruised, tears staining its face as it curled into itself, trying to protect its frail form. Akira felt a fire burn in his chest. He couldn’t stand to see this—no matter who the child was.

  Without another thought, he rushed forward, shifting from the Frostfire style he had perfected into a cold, calculated use of regular ice magic. He moved like a fluid shadow, his ice magic weaving through the guards with elegant precision, freezing them one by one. The air around him was charged with the beauty of his dance, as his swords cut through the air, encasing each guard in beautiful sheets of ice.

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  Akira’s gaze narrowed as he reached the assailant. The princess herself, Rina, stood over the goblin, a cruel sneer on her face. She raised her hand for another strike, but before she could land it, Akira grabbed her wrist.

  “Why are you doing this to a child?” Akira’s voice was low, laced with anger. His grip tightened, but he didn’t want to hurt her.

  Rina scoffed, yanking her hand free from Akira’s grasp. “A child? This disgusting monster bumped into me on purpose! The little brat started whining and crying, so I dragged him here to teach him a lesson. You think I should let it go? I’m the princess!”

  Akira’s expression darkened as her words sank in. He had never heard a more idiotic justification in his life. “You’re just as pathetic as you seem,” he muttered under his breath, too disgusted to continue the conversation.

  Rina stormed off, her eyes filled with fury as she wiped away her fake tears, her ego bruised.

  Akira turned to the goblin, whose small body was shaking. He kneeled down, his eyes softening as he reached out a hand. “Hey, you’re safe now. I’m going to take you somewhere safe.”

  He carefully lifted the goblin into his arms, taking it back to his lodging with Ren.

  Ren, who had been waiting, eyed the small goblin curiously when Akira entered. “What the heck is this, Akira? And where are the ingredients you were supposed to get?”

  Akira sighed and shook his head, setting the goblin down on the bed. “It’s a long story. But this child needs help.”

  Ren frowned but didn’t press further. “Alright, I’ll bite. What happened?”

  Akira sat down next to the goblin, his voice gentle. “I found him being beaten by the princess...”

  At that moment, the goblin stirred, its small eyes blinking as it slowly regained consciousness. It looked up at Akira, confused but grateful. “You... you saved me? Thank you...”

  Akira gave him a reassuring smile. “You’re safe now.”

  The goblin trembled slightly, and Akira could see the fear in his eyes. “I-I wasn’t causing trouble... I just... I just got separated from my mom in the market. I was asking around if anyone had seen her when... when she grabbed me.”

  Akira’s heart clenched. The goblin had been trying to find its family, but instead, it had been dragged into the cruelty of someone far more powerful.

  “I’ll help you find your mom,” Akira said softly, his voice resolute.

  Ren, though clearly uncomfortable with the idea of helping a goblin, nodded. “Yeah... but Akira, you’re sure this won’t affect your reputation? You’re making waves already.”

  Akira glanced over at him, his expression confident. “Don’t worry, Ren. It was just a little trouble. I’ll be fine.”

  The Next Day

  The following morning, Akira woke up to a sudden, unexpected sound—a messenger bird perched at the window, carrying a scroll. He unrolled it quickly, his eyes scanning the words.

  "Akira Azami, you are hereby summoned to the King’s castle. There is an urgent matter requiring your presence."

  Akira felt a knot tighten in his stomach. Whatever awaited him at the castle was beyond his control, but he couldn’t turn away now. He glanced at Ren. “Looks like it’s time to face the consequences.”

  Ren grinned nervously. “You sure this won’t come back to bite us?”

  Akira took a deep breath, preparing himself for whatever was about to come. “Let’s find out.”

  And with that, he left the lodge and headed toward the castle, knowing that his journey was only just beginning.