Kael fell silent, his heart pounding. Lord Ardyn's words echoed in his mind: the sword chose you.
He was confused, then said softly, "But... I'm nothing. I'm just an ordinary person. How could a sword that great... choose me?"
Ardyn stared at him deeply, his eyes sharp but not condescending.
"Fate doesn't care who you were. All it cares about is who you are when the world needs you."
Kael pondered, his hands trembling. "Fate... the world... all those words feel too big for me. I almost died earlier. If not for your troops, I might have been killed by that monster."
Ardyn leaned in, his voice lower, full of authority.
"But the fact is, you're still alive. You stood against a monster that even experienced warriors would hesitate to face alone. And most importantly... Astralis reacted only to you. That's no coincidence, Kael. It's a calling."
The room was silent, except for the faint crackling of the torchlight.
Kael stared at Ardyn, his heart in turmoil. "If the sword truly chose me… what should I do? I don't understand anything about war, about swords, let alone… destiny."
Ardyn finally stood up straight, turning his back to Kael for a moment, then spoke in a soft voice.
"The gates of hell opening are no small event. The monster you faced is only the beginning. If we don't act soon, entire kingdoms will fall one by one. Solaris has sworn to be the first bastion. We are gathering our forces, calling on allies, and preparing to destroy the forces of darkness before they spread."
He turned and looked at Kael again.
"But the sword Astralis… it is the only key. A weapon created to fight the darkness. With it, our chances of survival increase many times over. But it cannot be wielded by me, cannot be wielded by my warriors. It only responds to you. That means—you must decide: will you flee this calling… or bear it with us?"
Kael fell silent, his chest rising and falling rapidly. Ardyn's words pierced like a spear, making it increasingly difficult for him to breathe.
"I… I'm afraid," he whispered honestly, his eyes trembling. "I just want to live in peace. But… if I refuse… if I pretend I don't hear this call… the world might be destroyed because of me."
Ardyn approached once more, placing a hand on Kael's shoulder. His face was stern, but his voice was softer.
"Your fear is natural. Even the strongest warrior knows it. But courage isn't about being afraid… it's about standing up despite it. Kael, the world needs you. Solaris needs you."
Kael lowered his head, his eyes fixed on his own bandaged hand. He recalled the flash of Astralis, the roar of the monster, and the despair he felt as he nearly died. But he also remembered the warm glow of the sword… as if it gave him a reason to stand again.
He clenched his fists, then looked at Ardyn with a more determined, though still hesitant, gaze.
"Then… teach me. Teach me how to fight them. I don't know how to be a knight, but… I will try. For this sword. For… the world."
Ardyn smiled faintly, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
"That's the answer I've been waiting for."
He turned toward the door, and before he left, he said loudly:
"Get some rest, Kael. Tomorrow… your journey as a holder of Astralis will begin. And believe me, it won't be easy. But remember—you're not walking alone."
The door closed, leaving Kael alone in the quiet room.
He lay there, staring at the ceiling. The fear was still there, but for the first time… he also felt something different.
A small flame. Hope.
Morning greeted the kingdom of Solaris, with golden sunlight streaming through the fortress's tall glass windows. The sound of the morning trumpet rang out from the courtyard outside, signaling the start of the soldiers' training. From a distance, the clatter of a hundred feet moving in unison echoed, like a steady war cry.
Kael awoke, his body still a little sore, but he no longer wanted to remain still. Memories of last night—Lord Ardyn's words and the flash of Astralis—prompted him to step out of his room.
In the training courtyard, he saw the Solaris soldiers lined up neatly, wielding swords, shields, and spears in unison. The sound of clashing metal filled the air. Kael stood stiffly, feeling both unfamiliar and awed.
"Kael!" a loud voice called out. Ardyn stood in the center of the field, lightly armored, helmetless. His authority made the entire army automatically make way. He waved, beckoning Kael to come closer.
Kael paused, then stepped forward nervously. All the soldiers' eyes were on him, some whispering, others simply watching him curiously.
Ardyn threw a wooden training sword at him. Kael was barely prepared, but managed to catch it clumsily.
"Hold the sword," Ardyn said firmly.
Kael tried to grip it, but his position was awkward, his hand stiff.
Ardyn shook his head, then walked over. He adjusted Kael's fingers and patted his shoulder.
"A sword isn't just metal or wood. It's an extension of you. If you hold it too tightly, you'll tire. If you hold it too loosely, you'll lose it. Find your balance."
Kael tried again. His hand was still shaking, but his grip was firmer.
"Good," Ardyn said curtly. "Now, attack me."
Kael was shocked. "W-What? I'm fighting you?!"
Ardyn simply lowered his wooden spear and stood casually with one hand behind his back. "Hurry up. Don't just stand there."
Kael trembled, then swung the sword straight at Ardyn. But Ardyn easily deflected it with a small movement. Kael nearly fell forward.
"Weak. You're too scared, Kael. Try again."
Kael gritted his teeth. He advanced again, slashing from the side. Ardyn dodged as if his body were a shadow, then tapped Kael on the back with his staff.
"You've died five times already at this rate."
The soldiers chuckled, but Ardyn glared at them, silencing them immediately.
Kael panted, sweat dripping down his forehead. "I… can't… I'm not even a soldier."
Ardyn approached, looking him straight in the eye.
"No soldier is born a soldier. They're all like you—weak, fragile, full of fear. But what sets them apart is their determination to get back up every time they fall."
He took a few steps back, then regained his stance.
"Now, stand up. Imagine me as that monster. Imagine your life—and the lives of the villagers you love—depending on a single swing. What would you do?"
Kael paused, then gripped his wooden sword tighter. His breath quickened, memories of his destroyed village and the monster's roar flooding back. He looked at Ardyn, this time without hesitation.
With a loud shout, he ran and slashed. The impact was stronger, more steady. Ardyn blocked with one hand, but his eyes glinted with satisfaction.
"Now that's a knight's sword."
Kael was sent flying, but for the first time, he felt a different kind of power within him.
Ardyn patted his shoulder firmly.
"Training has just begun, Kael. You'll fall, bleed, maybe break. But as long as you get back up, you'll become someone even monsters fear."
Kael nodded, though his breath was still labored. The small fire in his heart was burning brighter. He knew—his new journey had truly begun.