The Grand Council Chamber had finally fallen silent.
The meeting was over.
One by one, the Lords rose from their seats and began making their way toward the enormous doors of the chamber.
The heavy doors opened.
The Lords disappeared into the corridor.
Chad Grace was about to leave with them when—
"Chad."
He stopped.
The voice came from behind him.
Chad slowly turned around.
Great Elder Neil was still seated at the head of the long table.
"Stay for a moment."
Chad nodded.
"Of course."
The doors closed behind the last Lord.
Silence returned to the chamber.
Chad walked back toward the table.
Neil looked at him for several seconds before a small smile appeared on his face.
"It has been a while."
Chad smiled back.
"It has."
Neil leaned back in his chair.
"How is your family?"
Chad's expression softened.
"They're doing well."
"And the village?"
"Peaceful. Nothing unusual."
Neil nodded.
Then his eyes narrowed slightly with interest.
"And your son?"
Chad's smile became wider.
"Mason?"
Neil nodded.
"How is he doing?"
Chad folded his arms.
"He's been training."
"Training?"
"Yes."
Chad chuckled.
"I've been preparing him for the academy."
Neil's expression became slightly more amused.
"So you've already started."
"I had to."
Chad looked toward the enormous windows of the chamber.
"He's determined. More determined than I expected."
Neil smiled.
"I see."
A brief silence followed.
Then Neil suddenly raised one finger.
"Ah."
Chad looked at him.
"Before I forget."
Neil reached beneath the table.
He pulled out a carefully folded document.
Chad's eyes immediately went to it.
Neil placed it on the table.
"I promised you something."
Chad's eyes widened slightly.
He stepped closer.
Neil pushed the document toward him.
"Mason Grace's application."
For a moment, Chad said nothing.
He picked up the document carefully.
His expression brightened.
A genuine smile spread across his face.
"You kept your word."
"I did."
Chad looked down at the application.
"Thank you, Great Elder."
Neil nodded.
"You've been waiting a long time for this."
Chad held the document firmly.
"This means a lot to me."
"I know."
Neil's smile faded slightly.
"But there is something I need from you."
Chad looked up.
"What is it?"
Neil stood from his chair.
"There is a dungeon."
Chad's expression immediately became serious.
"A dungeon?"
"Yes."
Neil walked toward one of the windows.
"It appeared some time ago."
"Where?"
"That isn't important."
Neil turned toward him.
"What matters is its rank."
Chad's eyes narrowed.
"What rank?"
"Mid rank."
The atmosphere immediately changed.
Chad became silent.
Everyone in the kingdoms knew about dungeons.
They weren't ordinary places.
They were mysterious structures filled with monsters, traps and treasures.
Even experienced Legion warriors could struggle inside them.
Neil continued.
"Lower rank dungeons can usually be handled by experienced senior warriors."
"But mid rank…"
He paused.
"That's different."
Chad nodded slowly.
"Only Lords are normally known to enter those ."
"Exactly."
Neil turned fully toward him.
"I want you to clear it."
Chad stared at him.
"Alone?"
"Alone."
A small smile appeared on Chad's face.
"When?"
"Before the entrance tournament."
Chad's smile disappeared.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want the dungeon becoming a problem while the tournament is taking place."
Neil walked back toward the table.
"The academy will soon be filled with young warriors from different regions. The last thing we need is a mid rank dungeon becoming unstable during that period."
Chad understood.
"You want it eliminated before then."
"I want it cleared."
Neil's eyes sharpened.
"And I want you to do it alone."
Chad looked down at Mason's application.
Then he looked back at Neil.
"I'll do it."
Neil smiled.
"I expected nothing less."
Chad folded the application carefully.
"Where is it?"
Neil gave him the location.
Chad memorized it.
Then he turned toward the door.
"Chad."
He stopped again.
Neil looked at him.
"Bring your son to the academy."
Chad smiled.
"I will."
And with that—
Chad left the chamber.
The door closed behind him.
Neil remained alone.
His eyes moved toward the empty seat where Chad had been sitting.
"Let's see how much the boy has grown."
⸻
The Forest
CLANG!
The sound of metal echoed through the trees.
Mason blocked the incoming axe.
BOOM!
The impact forced him backward.
His boots dragged across the dirt.
Rohan immediately followed.
He was larger.
Older.
More experienced.
And he knew exactly how to use his strength.
His axe came down again.
Mason twisted his body.
WHOOSH!
He dodged the attack .
And without a second to think .
Mason counter attacks.
Rohan blocked.
With a clean motion
Swinging his axe towards Rohan's face
Giving him less than a second to react
Before limping up to the air
And using both legs to push Rohan back
But Rohan reacted quickly
Blocking with both hands
Before the attack
Boom!!
He moves back few inches.
The dust settles
Rohan exhale
Mason smirks
"How do you see that"
Mason asked
"I gat to say I am impressed by how far you have come Mason"
"Honestly I feel like at this point you are quite stronger than me, you know.?"
Rohan added
"Ahh!!"
Mason said in shock
"But you know this old man ain't gunna give up without a fight"
Rohan said taking his fighting stance
Alright then…" Mason takes his stance too
"Am just getting warmed up."
Rohan charges at Mason head on
Unleashing a fury of attacks
But Mason dodges .. redirect or meets them head on
Proving to Rohan that all his training wasn't in vain, and he was ready for any upstacle that comes his way.
At some point it seems like Rohan's attack weren't fast enough to reach Mason
"Some thing isn't right here, I don't get it. My attacks seems to have less effect on him, almost like it's nothing. Some thing is not right here."
Rohan saying in his mind
BOOM!
Rohan lands a hit
But Mason raised his axe just in time.
The impact sent him sliding several feet.
Rohan was relentless.
Heavy swing.
Another strike.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
The forest seemed to shake with every collision.
At first glance, Rohan looked like he was dominating.
His attacks were heavier.
His movements were confident.
His experience showed in every swing.
But Mason wasn't losing.
He was learning.
Every time Rohan attacked, Mason watched.
Every movement.
Every step.
Every change in Rohan's shoulders before he swung.
Mason was adapting.
Rohan raised his axe.
Mason's eyes followed the movement.
He's going to swing from the right.
Rohan attacked.
Mason moved left.
The axe missed.
Mason immediately countered.
CLANG!
Rohan blocked.
His eyes widened slightly.
Mason stepped away.
Rohan attacked again.
This time Mason ducked.
The axe passed over his head.
Mason rotated his body and swung upward.
Rohan barely blocked.
BOOM!
Rohan was pushed backward.
He looked at Mason.
Mason stood still.
His breathing had become heavier.
But his eyes were focused.
Rohan smiled.
"So that's what you've been working on."
Mason tightened his grip around the axe.
Rohan charged again.
This time, Mason didn't retreat.
They met in the middle.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
Axes crashed against axes.
Mason moved with flexibility.
Rohan fought with raw strength.
Mason twisted.
Rohan swung.
Mason ducked.
Rohan turned.
Mason blocked.
Rohan attacked again.
Mason parried.
The battle became faster.
Neither gave the other room to breathe.
Then—
Rohan made a mistake.
Just for a fraction of a second.
His swing went slightly too wide.
Mason saw it.
He immediately moved.
One step.
Two.
He slipped around Rohan's side.
Rohan realized what was happening.
"Wait—"
SLASH!
Mason's axe caught Rohan across the cheek.
A small splash of blood flew through the air.
Rohan froze.
Mason landed several feet behind him.
Silence.
Rohan slowly raised his hand to his cheek.
He looked at the blood on his fingers.
Then he smiled.
A genuine smile.
"You got me."
Mason raised his axe.
"I told you I was getting better."
Rohan laughed.
"Then show me."
He charged again.
Mason charged too.
And the forest exploded into another clash of steel.