“Yuna, blast it with water now!” the mighty knight Yorik shouted as the dragon roared flames.
Before the flames engulfed them all, Erin, the mighty flame mage, forced the flames away with his fire mana as Yuna smashed a torrent of water into the dragon’s maw, choking it mid-blast and leaving it open. The hero charged, his blade enchanted with fire, and pierced the great beast, bringing them to victory.
“That’s stupid,” the Prince muttered upon reading that part, tossing the book to the side.
“Pardon, my lord?” Yarla asked from nearby, looking up from the paperwork she’d been reviewing to watch the book land casually on the floor.
The Prince pointed to the book as if declaring it his enemy. “The book is stupid. A fire-element beast should not be challenged with a fire sword. It would resist the blade—gods, it could even heal from it! Yet this so-called team defeated it with such poor tactics.”
“It’s a story, my lord, meant to entertain. Not to teach tactics.”
“Then why am I not entertained? I could write a better work.”
“Perhaps you should, my lord, to help pass the time?” Yarla said passively, looking at her papers once more, but she frowned as she added softly, “Though I fear our time grows short.”
“You think I don’t know that?” the Prince’s voice bit back.
“Sorry, my lord. I’ll stay quiet, lest you need me.”
The Prince rubbed his face. “No, I’m sorry. Just tired of no news and nothing I can do. You serve me well, and I do need your counsel, lest I make a fool of myself once more wandering this dirt village.”
“Why not visit the hero again, my lord?” Yarla tried, understanding why he just stayed here… “Was that not why we are here?”
“They’re not heroes,” the Prince said coldly, a dark look entering his eyes, causing Yarla to shift. He’d never brooded this much before…
“May I ask why you feel that way, my lord? I read the reports. The proof of their deeds is there.”
“Their own words confessed to me their fraud,” the Prince spoke while looking at Yarla, lounging on the bed. “Each and every one of them I met kept saying how they failed, and only the true hero, Leena, saved the day.”
“I think you may have misinterpreted their words, my lord.”
“They said them plainly. And I’ll have my proof when I see Leena. I just need her to show, and all will be clear.”
Yarla watched the Prince, yet the look that met her was not one that spoke of a willingness to listen. So she conceded, resolving to help how she could. “As you say, my lord. I will check again if there is any news.” Yarla shifted away after saying those words, easily flowing to the outside in a mix of shadow and subtle movement.
Near the inn, a man was dozing in the morning light, a slight breeze flowing that carried her easily to him.
“Any word?” Yarla asked calmly, already knowing the answer.
The guard’s eyes shot open and he quickly looked around, seeing her. “No! No, I mean, no, ma’am,” the guard took a moment to compose himself. “You freak me out every time, I swear. I thought only the guard captain could do that.”
Yarla tilted her head. “Arlin accepted the role? I heard he kept refusing before?”
The man, now more calm, nodded his head. “Yeah. His mom and sister kept insisting… well, we all did. He was already doing the job without the pay, so now it’s official.”
Yarla nodded, listening, but soon let her eyes wander, hoping she would see the runner with news she could inform the Prince about.
“We’ve got men at each gate. Depending on which it is, one will send word with wind or a letter, depending on who’s fastest. We’re taking it seriously… But I fear there’s no set time, and it’s, um, just waiting…” The guard looked uncomfortable, unable to end it better than that.
“I know. I fear our time is nearly up, or I would push. I also know you’re doing what you can. I will head back and perhaps get myself some tea. Would you like anything?”
“You’re too kind, ma’am, I swear I––”
“You’re watching for the Light Hero, right?” Both Yarla and the guard jerked at the new voice and were surprised to see a young kid, winded, watching them. “I was… told… to…”
“Catch your breath, child. No news is so important it can’t wait for you to breathe.” Yarla worried he’d pass out trying to talk, as sweat was beginning to form.
After nodding and catching his breath, he explained clearly: “The hero was spotted at the gate. The guard there quickly asked where they’d be heading, and they said ‘to the blacksmith.’ That was all the info they shared before he paid me a silver to rush the news to this inn and to meet the guard there. That’s all I know.”
Yarla smiled. *Well, at least now the Prince will get his ending. Maybe not the ending he wants, though…*
With Yarla guiding him, he was able to find the entrance to the blacksmith easily enough and was finally able to get the ‘hero’ to appear—the one he so craved to be near. And she was magnificent to look upon. Near the entrance, it seemed she had just arrived and was lounging out front for some reason, perhaps anticipating his arrival.
She was tall, hulkingly so, but still held a beauty worthy of praise. Eyes like flames that surprised him, and untamed hair that was as wild as he knew her temper had to be to face great beasts. When the Prince saw her finally see him, she watched him a bit warily, maybe even a little tired? Perhaps she was just being careful, seeing through his disguise easily, he was sure.
“Um, who are you?” the big girl spoke with a bit of an accent he swore he’d heard before from foreign delegates, but very rare… Her not knowing him at a glance stung a bit, but he knew it was because he was undercover…
“Forgive my rudeness, great hero Leena. I come to hear the tale of how you bested the ogre while everyone else fell.” His smile kept getting wider with every word as he went on. “I already met with the other so-called heroes, so I know the story. I just wish to share in its true glory with you. Maybe learn a move or two in a friendly duel of skill.”
The hero, Leena, looked at him with sad eyes and slowly shook her head. “No. I lost.”
That… made… no… sense.
“Uh, forgive me, hero. Care to explain?”
“My battle-sister won. I lost. And I don’t like talking about it. Besides, you never said who you are.”
Battle-sister? Wait… That means she’s either Nina or Terra…
“Uh, I’m a merchant seeking the true hero. Since it’s not you… uh, Nina?”
“Terra…” she said, a bit of flame entering her eyes despite the sadness from before.
“Terra. I came to see Leena.”
“Well, she’s there, been listening the whole time, too. Not that I think she cares.”
The Prince was confused, and just past Terra, he finally saw her. Near a water barrel next to the smithy, splashing her face and cleaning some dirt off, was a very thin, small girl. Long black hair with a pale, light glow, and an innocent-looking face. She looked over at him with a defeated look, and he could no longer take the sight of all these disgraces.
“Um, sir, perhaps we should give them space,” Yarla’s voice broke through ever so slightly, until Leena spoke.
“I fear you’ve caught us at a bad time. We’re both tired and don’t wish to entertain others.”
When Leena spoke those words, it was the final needle that popped his calm resolve, and all he had endured.
A bubble of laughter escaped his lips into a full laugh. Yarla tried speaking, concern from his side, but he ignored her. Oh, the farce went all the way to the end, and not one was worth his time. How sad. How tragic.
He saw the confusion on both girls’ faces and felt pity for them. He would explain why it wasn’t their fault. They were failures; they just didn’t know they were beneath him, the true Prince and one-day real hero. They could not be. No, he would not hate them. As much as he was annoyed this was how it ended—he’d chosen to waste his time chasing legends that were never anything to begin with.
“You know, I see it now. Why you’re all so broken. You’re weak, and you barely won against a real beast.”
“What?” Terra asked, her face morphing into anger, the flames in her eyes growing. The Prince could swear he felt the heat, and with that, her stance reminded him of where he’d read about those tall, red-eyed people from before. “You were a berserker, no?”
Terra momentarily looked surprised as the Prince waved a dismissive hand. “Don’t look surprised. I read the reports from the fight and the rumors of your team. I assumed they won due to your fury rushing and tactics overwhelming the beast while they supported you from the side. But it seems now it makes more sense. I bet you cost them more, trying to save you while avoiding your reckless side.”
“You think I can’t fight, little man?” Terra asked, getting emboldened.
“I thought every one of you heroes could fight. It was why I came here. It was all of you that said you were weak and afraid to face one beast.”
“My lord, you’ve pushed this far enough. Let it end here before it ends poorly.”
“For who? Them?” the Prince asked while waving a hand at the red-faced Terra and Leena, the latter seeming to hold a cold indifference in her posture. The Prince was unsure if she was trying to flee or getting ready to rush him. She had no weapon, so he assumed the former.
Yet Terra, breathing in deep and slow, finally spoke with tears in her eyes. “I can’t…”
The Prince was unsure how to react, watching the big girl. This wasn’t a victory, making her cry. He wanted to apologize. Perhaps he was too eager, rushing to meet them. But they did push him for no reason. He just wanted to be with the heroes… So he relented, giving them an out. “I understand. You’re weak and barely won against bad odds. I should not have pushed you over something you could not control. I apologize.”
Terra shook her head. “Even when I’m at my lowest, you still feel the need to kick me while I’m down. You are a bad man. No woman would love you.”
That was uncalled for, the Prince thought. He was giving her an out. So why mock him?
Yarla tried blocking his view, speaking. “My lord, let us go. This has gone far enough. I fear if it escalates more—”
“Fine. You win.” The Prince moved past Yarla, who was cut off mid-speech, and watched as Leena moved past Terra. She was now standing. The size difference was absurd—Terra towered over her by nearly two feet. But Leena's presence filled the space. The Prince wanted to laugh at the sight of the small girl defending the big girl’s honor, yet Leena’s defiance and the look in her eyes was something the Prince could not help but admire.
“You want to challenge the hero that slayed the ogre alone? I will show you why I won.” Leena’s voice was as clear as the air. No hesitation, no fear in her convictions. That was worthy of being called a hero.
The Prince was stunned by the scene. He was unsure if it was a bluff; she seemed so weak before. “No need. You may leave with your honor intact. I already know who you are, with nothing to prove.” The Prince tried downplaying her actions. This felt more like a fight, and he did not wish to turn this into slander.
Leena shook her head, not relenting. “No. I have proved nothing yet. But you did when you mocked my loved ones, who fought and gave everything for me, while you did nothing but slander their names.”
The Prince’s face morphed to shock. “When? I never did such a thing! I merely repeated what they said back, nothing more. Why am I to blame for their weakness?” He watched Leena, trying to make sense of when he became the villain.
“You are the weak one, assuming whatever life you live gives you the right to judge strength.” Leena spoke calmly, but with a coldness that chilled the Prince. If not for the fire of shame at being so openly mocked, he might have kneeled to her dominating presence.
“It’s easy to bark when you know I must show mercy and concede,” he could not stop the words from flowing from his lips. He had wanted to duel before, but not like this… He wanted kinship from shared strength, from battle-proven skills.
“My lord…” Yarla tried from his side, but the Prince held up his hand. This had gone too far. All he knew was it had to end in a duel to end the escalation that each side was making. It was how other nobles settled disputes of honor. This, it seemed, was the same.
“The first to fall with blade to the neck as proof. No blood needs to be drawn, just shown it would have been fatal. Practice swords, I’m sure the smith has some. Any worth their salt would.”
“I just need my shield,” Leena said coolly.
The Prince smiled, unsure of her intent or how she could win with just a shield. It must be enchanted—water or wind if she wanted offense, but he knew earth could also be wielded with skill… “Practice sword or not, don’t underestimate me. I have skills. It will be hard for you to find a way to make me yield. No need to handicap yourself with just a shield.”
“You’ve already proven you have plenty of skills to gloat and mock, but it doesn’t prove you can fight,” Leena said casually, seeming to limber up as she went on. “My friends have already proven that, standing with me, they can fight. You have not. And for the record… Merchant.” Leena let the venom drip into her words as she watched him before finishing the bite. “They are heroes that have stories sung about them. You are not.”
The Prince licked his lips. No retort to that. Even as the kingdom’s prince, his only fame was his title by birth… “Fine. You use a shield of your choosing. But in return, I get to use my water mana as a blade. To show you I can fight this day… Worry not, it will still be a blunted water blade.”
The Prince formed a perfect water blade, a grin upon his face, flashing it for Leena to see. She had left Terra’s side to get her shield, yet her face was a passive wall. No glory met his action. Instead, it felt like a spectacle. Even watching Terra, she showed only concern for her battle-sister, with no acknowledgment for his skill and the time he’d spent honing this blade…
In fact, as the Prince looked around for the first time, he noticed they were getting an audience. Whispers were starting… a few wondering how a merchant had such power and wielded it into a blade… Was it really that odd? Even a merchant would defend himself…
“Len, you got nothin’ to prove to him,” Terra’s voice spoke, breaking the Prince’s inner thoughts as she went on. “Let’s just go inside. Da would get ‘em if he keeps pushing.” The Prince listened, and he was a bit surprised. It could end like this? Was it going to be so anti-climactic? Well, he had nothing to prove if they knew their place… And he did not care to escalate it further.
Yet it was Leena’s eyes and words when she turned from getting her shield from the cart that spoke: this was intractable, and he would have to prove himself…
"I know." Leena's smile was small. Sad. "But I want to."
Terra nodded, even without looking. She knew that look on her battle-sister’s face. This wasn't about proving anything to the braggart. This was about Leena defending their honor.
So even as the crowd grew from the scene and formed a circle of onlookers—a cage neither the Prince nor Leena could escape—Yarla watched from the shadows, unsure how much the town would accept before all her planning to keep him safe turned into political sabotage by the Prince himself. Perhaps even escalating to the point where something breaks.
ns216.73.216.10da2
and then Add to home screen.