Time stood still as the monster leaned over Rose with its mace high in the air.Even if I saved her from that monster, she was already infected.She would become a monster and try to kill me as well. Was there a point? Suddenly, I heard a voice in the back of my mind.[I'm sorry. I've seen this event play out so many times but it always ends the same...]At that moment, I realized that time really was frozen. I couldn't move a muscle as a result, but I could still think."What's going on here? What happened!? Tell me, dammit!!!" I thought angrily at the voice.[This is her fate. She is a catalyst for your determination to destroy the Source. We thought you at least deserved to know. Not that it really matters that much, anymore.]Rage exploded within me."TO HELL WITH THAT SHIT!!! YOU THINK WATCHING THE WOMAN I LOVE DIE WILL HELP ME!? GO TO HELL!!!" [I knew you wouldn't accept it. I didn't want to either. To see you experience such anguish over and over... It beings us nothing but s
I awoke in the hospital within Albatross Castle hours after I passed out. Immediately, I jumped out of bed and looked around for Isabella. I found her sleeping a few beds down surrounded by medics, the King himself, and Walter. I rushed over to her and pushed my way through the crowd.Her arm was wrapped in a cast and her hair was somewhat singed from the explosion that I caused. But otherwise, she looked completely normal.I was amazed at how few injuries she actually appeared to sustain from the incident. She breathed softly as she remained unconscious."Mizik, you're certainly quite active considering what you've just been through. Perhaps you should lay back down," the King said as he looked over to me.I didn't want to. I needed to be at Isabella's side while she recovered.Unfortunately, this man was the King and the father of my fiance."Is that an order, your Majesty?" I asked.He smiled weakly as he looked at me."No, it's a simple suggestion. I might be a King, but I'm sti
I couldn't believe what I had heard.The experience she went through was beyond terrifying. Far more than anything someone should have to endure."Who do you think was speaking to you?" I asked."I can't say for certain, but I'm sure it was the Source. The Oracle said that the Source was a person, correct? Maybe that was him," Isabella said.It seemed very likely, but the implications of his power being so vast and far-reaching only made the situation feel more dire.He claimed that the world already belonged to him.How much time did we have left? Was there any hope? Or were we already doomed?I might have hated a lot of things about this world, but it was still our home. I wanted to save it if it was still possible. It meant that I would have to try even harder to get stronger."Isabella, do you think you'll be able to recover completely?" I asked her."Good question. My arm feels like it was broken, but the bone mended somehow. Likely when you used your healing magic on me. Althoug
As soon as I heard the rustle of chains behind me and the footsteps, I tried as hard as I could not to look at her.Fear was already flooding over me.My breathing became ragged again and I started sweating profusely."Mother! It's so good to see you again! I hope you'll release me from that terrible dungeon they've locked me up in!" The black-hearted witch said."Silence, Cassandra. Tell me the truth. Did you harm the people of our nation? And did you harm that man over there?" The Queen asked."O-of course not!!! I love the people of Albatross! And that man is the primary accuser! I never harmed him at all!" Cassandra shouted."Liar...liar...liar...evil bitch...gah...my head..." I said.The King glanced at me strangely and so did Isabella.It was honestly very difficult to listen to her.I was overwhelmed with fear and anxiety. Hearing Isabella whimpering was enough to bring me to tears by itself. And that wasn't even the worst part.It was just...Well...Vengeance was sure making
I entered the room and saw the Queen sitting by herself at a desk.Several stacks of documents were laid out on it and the room was kept well-lit by a few beautifully-made lamp stands that glowed with magic."Ah, so you've come. Have a seat," the Queen said almost dismissively.I walked over to the chair facing the Queen and sat down."Now then, I have a few questions for you, Mizik. May I call you Mizik? Or do you have some sort of title you wish for me to use?" She said.I simply stared at her with a blank expression. My posture and my eyes remained as neutral as possible."That was me giving you a turn to speak. Are you nervous?" I shook my head and continued staring into her eyes."Then what seems to be the problem?" She said."I desire your permission to speak freely. I want an open and honest talk," I said simplyEvryss rolled her eyes."Is it not enough that I have invited you to chat? You, a lowly commoner, should be grateful for the honor of speaking to me, the Queen of Alba
I entered the room and saw the Queen sitting by herself at a desk.Several stacks of documents were laid out on it and the room was kept well-lit by a few beautifully-made lamp stands that glowed with magic."Ah, so you've come. Have a seat," the Queen said almost dismissively.I walked over to the chair facing the Queen and sat down."Now then, I have a few questions for you, Mizik. May I call you Mizik? Or do you have some sort of title you wish for me to use?" She said.I simply stared at her with a blank expression. My posture and my eyes remained as neutral as possible."That was me giving you a turn to speak. Are you nervous?" I shook my head and continued staring into her eyes."Then what seems to be the problem?" She said."I desire your permission to speak freely. I want an open and honest talk," I said simplyEvryss rolled her eyes."Is it not enough that I have invited you to chat? You, a lowly commoner, should be grateful for the honor of speaking to me, the Queen of Alba
After those events, I began to truly settle into a new routine.The Queen still didn't like me, but I made a continuous effort to present myself as a gentleman.Walter actually helped me learn the basics.Over time, I would even attend certain classes upon Isabella's request and learned things about leadership and politics.Next, there was another glaring issue.Part of the problem that the other nobles and even the Queen had with me didn't have anything to do with my familyI was a half-noble with no formal education, no titles, and no proper upbringing. Even if the King was working on granting me a title, my childhood consisted of my father trying his best to raise and educate me himself.But my father mainly taught me practical things. How to survive, how to work, and how to fight.He always told me to remain as humble and uncorrupted by the high life as possible because one day I would be part of it.The result was that I lacked a proper education that most nobles received normal
The next few days went by very quickly. Nothing of real note happened despite the usual. I decided to take a break from adventuring as well since my schedule was filled up with other things.The wedding, of course.I'd done it. I kept my end of the agreement and managed to remain in the King's good graces.As of now, I was finally fifteen years old.In one week's time, I would be the husband of the most wonderful woman I had ever met.Granted, it didn't say much, considering I had never really been with any girls, but I digress. Since I aged, Isabella put a stop to all of her studies and began working diligently on planning the wedding.She wanted to make that day absolutely perfect for the both of us.Unfortunately, due to my rather humble upbringing, I didn't really have an eye for the finer things. To be honest, I would have been okay with a very simplistic wedding with a few friends.However, I was dealing with nobility and royalty. They had other plans...I spent quite a lot of