-Roy
Weeks later, Yuri was pushing me beyond my limit and training me specially, his training was like hell, every day was harder than before, he's on a whole other level, I've never faced anyone that strong, my stamina and speed are useless, I can't predict his moves, but over time with him, I felt that my strength and speed really increased significantly.
We were in the training room facing each other, each of us with a wooden sword, and I was throwing quick blows at him, but he was blocking them easily. He landed a blow on my shoulder, I blocked it and aimed for his head, he stepped back just in time and landed a punch on my stomach that shook my whole body, I felt it to the bone, this is not the punch of a normal human being.
After countering many attacks, I finally found a gap, I advanced toward him and launched a swift counterattack, aiming for his side. But in an instant, he twisted his body and dodged the blow, slapping me lightly in the neck, as if mocking me for even trying. Then, before I could react, he hit my body with a kick, forcing me to stumble backward.
I took a deep breath.
"You've gotten much faster," Yuri said, lowering his sword. "And more accurate."
I pushed back my hair, breathing steadily. "I'm still not fast enough to catch up with you."
He smirked. "Not yet. But you're improving rapidly." He raised his sword again. "At that speed, I'd have to worry about myself when facing you."
Andrew and Crimzo watched from the sidelines.
Andrew crossed his arms and smiled. "That's a rare compliment from Yuri."
Crimzo leaning against the wooden railing. "Still, I can take Roy down with a few arrows."
Andrew snorted. "He'll cut them down in mid-air before they get close."
Before Crimzo could reply, the drums beat outside, signaling that someone was coming; we went out to see who it was.
A soldier on a white horse rode in, stopping near us. He dismounted swiftly, raising his hand in a firm salute, then he unrolls a sealed letter.
"The King of Devotion has called Roy and Andrew Celgius to a private meeting. You must go immediately."
There was silence. I exchanged a glance with Andrew.
Andrew frowned. "That's... surprising."
Yuri placed his hand on my shoulder. "Go. I'll take care of things here."
Without another word, we mounted our horses and followed that soldier.
We left the base as the sun was setting. Our road was fairly quiet. When night fell, we passed through a thriving village near the castle, full of life and with roads lit up as if it were daytime.
After a few hours, we finally arrived at the castle, and it was the first time we had been here. The walls were very large; the inside was as large as a whole village.
The guards patrolled everywhere, and we walked inside behind that soldier; with every step we took, we climbed upwards from where we entered as if we were ascending a tower until we reached a large building, and the whole castle appeared before us from above.
Outside stood an old man with white hair and a small beard. He bowed slightly before introducing himself. "Welcome, I am the chief butler. The king is waiting for you. You can leave the horses here; the soldiers will take care of them."
Without another word, we followed him through the vast hallways. Guards stood motionless at their posts, their eyes tracking us as we passed. The halls were illuminated by torches.
Finally, he stopped before a large, intricately carved door. He knocked once, then pushed it open.
Inside, the king was sitting at a long wooden table. He was not what I had imagined. He was not tall, nor did he have the stature of a warrior. His hair was white and long enough to reach his shoulders, and his blue cloak wrapped around him, giving him a somewhat unusual appearance. He did not have a beard or mustache, which made him appear younger than he actually was.
As soon as he saw us, he had a big smile with a friendly expression on his face.
"Roy and Andrew, finally!" he said warmly. "I've been wanting to meet you both for a long time. But you know, after securing Polon, it's been endless work. I'm sure you understand."
Andrew gives a small nod. "It's an honor to meet you, Your Majesty."
The king waves his hand dismissively. "Oh, enough of that. Sit, sit! Make yourselves at home."
Is a king supposed to be like this? Is there something wrong, or is this just me overthinking? His friendly nature is unexpected, especially considering the man standing beside him, Minister Scott. Unlike the king, Scott is serious and has a strict posture. His piercing gaze settles on us, silently assessing.
The king motions to a servant, who quickly pours drinks into silver cups before stepping back.
"I wanted to personally thank you," he continues, leaning forward slightly. "That trade with Drayton? Impressive work. And Andrew," he smirks, "You can say that I am... euh? a big fan."
Andrew blinks. "A fan?"
"When I heard about the incident in Valkar, I was impressed," the king says, leaning forward slightly. "Taking on that situation the way you did, it's not something just anyone could handle."
Andrew looks slightly caught off guard, but his usual confidence remains. "I didn't do anything special. I just followed orders."
The king chuckles. "Oh, I doubt that."
There is a brief pause as he takes a sip from his cup, then sets it down with a quiet clink. His expression shifts slightly, becoming more serious.
"Let's get to the reason I called you here." He glances at Scott before turning his gaze back to us. "I've had my eye on you two for a while now. I keep telling Scott that, both of these boys got potentials."
I remain silent, listening carefully.
"Because of that," he continues, "I want to promote you."
Andrew and I exchange a look.
"Promote?" I ask. "In what way, Your Majesty?"
The king leans back, folding his hands together. "Not in rank exactly, but in status. Your team will work directly under my command. Like assassinations, high-risk operations outside the empire, missions that require precision. You know, the kind of work that can change the course of a war."
This isn't just about promotion; it's about stepping into the center of everything.
"I'll also give you a direct line of communication with me," the king goes on. "If you ever need more soldiers, supplies, or anything else, I don't know... you won't have to go through the usual channels. You come straight to me. If I believe it's necessary, I'll approve it."
I glance at Andrew. This is huge, but it comes with serious risks.
He continued. "As you know, I have no one to inherit my throne other than my only daughter, and as the first queen of our era, I'm sure she'll face a lot of opposition and trouble." He exhaled then said. "So, I need strong, trustworthy people to help and protect her."
That's okay with me. If we get closer to his daughter, it will be to our advantage. I might be able to take advantage of this opportunity later. I replied to him. "We're at your command, and I won't let anything happen to her."
The king studies us for a moment, then smiles. "Now, enough talking."
A servant appears, setting down plates of roasted chicken, fresh bread, and appetizers.
"You both had a long ride," the king says, leaning back in his chair. "Eat. Don't be shy."
Andrew and I exchange a quick glance before nodding. "Thank you, Your Majesty," we say in unison.
As we eat, the king talks about the importance of our new role, though his tone remains light, as if discussing simple politics instead of life-or-death missions.
Once the meal is done, the king stretches his arms with a satisfied sigh. "You'll spend the night in the castle," he says. "My servants will guide you to your rooms."
Then we stood up to leave.
"Rest well, gentlemen," the king says with a smile.