Five days had elapsed since Eren regained consciousness. Gradually, he recovered from the severe mana depletion under the attentive care of the royal physicians. The condition had proven more debilitating than he initially anticipated. Being unconscious for five whole days took a toll on him, leaving him with a persistent headache. It was only on the sixth day, after consuming expensive elixirs, that his mana began to slowly replenish.
During this time, Eren cherished the company of his family. His mother, Sears, and his father, Hubert, stayed by his side, offering unwavering support. His uncle, Huges, had also assisted him in his training. Now, after these few days of recuperation, Eren found himself back in peak condition.
Claaang!
Clang!
Within the training area of the royal capital, the clash of swords reverberated through the air. Eren and Huges engaged in a vigorous sparring session, their swords colliding with metallic clangs. Sweat streamed down Eren's face as he relentlessly parried Huges' strikes, gasping for breath. In contrast, Huges remained unscathed, showing no signs of exhaustion.
"Is this your limit, boyo?"
Huges inquired, his tone composed despite his internal shock. Having trained Eren since childhood, he was well aware of Eren's average talent in swordsmanship. However, witnessing Eren's current skill level exceeded his expectations.
Eren had entered Frejlord Academy as a mere nadir two-star knight. Yet, in just three months, he had advanced to three-star and his swordsmanship had improved far beyond Huges' predictions.
'Is he a late bloomer?'
Huges couldn't help but wonder if Eren was a late bloomer. Although considering 14 years of age as a late bloomer seemed harsh, in this world it was indeed considered late. Take Zephyr, for instance—despite being the same age as Eren, he already boasted a four-star level, the average rank for Royal Guards. Such differences in talent were evident.
"I can use a skill, but it might cause too much damage to the training area," Eren admitted between gasps for air. Despite his mastery of the sword from his past life, he couldn't even leave a scratch on Huges' attire. While he could potentially gain an advantage if he employed his <Black Sun>, he felt that it would be excessive and put unnecessary strain on his body.
"Hoho... You still have something up your sleeves, huh?" Huges exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with curiosity to witness what hidden abilities his talented cute nephew possessed. However, Hubert, who had been overseeing the training, interjected.
"That's enough," Hubert declared, approaching Eren and offering him a towel to wipe away his sweat. "Your training ends today. Tomorrow is a significant day, so let's rest for now."
Hubert couldn't help but be amazed by his son's rapid improvement in swordsmanship.
'Moreover ... .his talent in using marksmanship exceeds that of the sword! He is becoming worthy of the Pendragon name.'
Hubert was somewhat suspicious of the incidents that had occurred in the royal museum. While it was understandable that the rebels targeted the princess, he couldn't ignore the uneasiness that lingered after receiving information from the vice master of the Justice Tower. "The Dragon Heart of Byrve, the evil dragon, is missing."
This information had been shared only with select members of the royal court, and Eren remained unaware of it.
'Why did they target the dragon heart?'
Hubert pondered. Anything related to dragons was inevitably linked to the Pendragons, and this realization only deepened his unease, particularly given the 'current circumstances'.
'I need to discuss this matter with Sir Ugram.'
He felt the need to discuss this matter with Ugram, the fire dragon under the Pendragons' care.
"Eren."
"Yes, Father."
"After we attend the banquet, let's return home, you need to take an oath."
Huges' ears perked up. Although he is usually dense and dull-witted, he could still understand what Hubert was implying with his words.
'Will brother allow Eren to meet Sir Ugram... already?', he silently wondered.
It was a tradition within the Pendragon family that when their young children reached the age of 18 or attained a certain level of skill, they were required to take a secret oath. Only then would they be granted permission to meet Ugram, the fire dragon.
The exact qualifications for recognition remained unknown, but Huges comprehended the reasoning behind his brother's decision.
'I was seventeen when I met Sir Ugram, at the peak of my 3-star level,' he reflected. However, even as a nadir 3-star knight, Eren possessed more power than Huges had at that time, it was further confirmed as he crossed swords with Eren himself. Therefore, Huges believed it to be a suitable decision.
"You understand what I mean, right?" Hubert asked, seeking confirmation. "No matter the adversities you face, I hope that you bring glory to the name of Pendragons."
Eren, who heard his father's words, was overjoyed. He initially intended to request his father's permission to speak with the dragon himself. Yet, his father had now provided him with the opportunity.
"Yes, Father! Thank you very much!" Eren exclaimed, his face lighting up with a broad smile and thought to himself.
'I will find out what happened, no matter what!'
***
8th day in the month of Rooster, 300th year in the Calender of Chronos.
The atmosphere at the festive palace, a twin building that was built just some distance away from the royal court, was greatly tense and agitated.
All kinds of renowned nobles, wealthy merchants and envoys were about to visit the Royal banquet hosted by the Emperor himself, so everything had to be prepared carefully and be absolutely perfect, leaving no room for error in the meticulous preparations.
Adding to the anticipation, the four supreme stars of the continent were set to grace the event:
The Sword saint, Aralion Stromblade.
The Spirit master, Jishuka Von Cyprus.
The Grand mage, Lucas Traumen and finally,
The Golden warrior and the Emperor of the great Mauryan, Kaiser Von Britton himself.
For the first time ever in history, all the four supreme stars were coming together, which further increased the tension and heightened the atmosphere of excitement.
Within the royal palace, servants and butlers carefully attended to every detail, ensuring that everything was prepared flawlessly. Amidst this organized chaos, in a secluded corner of the palace, one individual was lost in her thoughts.
"Is he alright?"
Princess Aurora thought to herself as she wandered about the well-being of her savior.
"You mean that Eren Pendragon, sister?"
Evergrant Von Britton, the second prince of the Mauryan Empire, entered the princess's chambers without warning, playfully questioning his younger sister.
"Brother...!" Startled by his sudden appearance, the princess's cheeks flushed crimson.
"Is my sister worried about the well-being of another man?" Evergrant teased, eliciting further embarrassment from Aurora.
"N-No! I was just concerned because he got hurt while saving me," she stammered, averting her gaze.
"Hmm... It seems like my sister has fallen in love, huh?" Evergrant continued his playful banter.
"What?! No! I was just worried; there's nothing like that!" Princess Aurora exclaimed, fleeing from her brother while hiding her now deeply flushed face.
"You say that, but why do I feel like there is something?"
He continued to tease his sister while enjoying seeing her reaction.
Prince Evergrant was the only one among the princes who had a close relationship with Princess Aurora. While the other two princes were engrossed in their own power struggles for the throne, Evergrant chose to relinquish his rights and lead a life of freedom as a prince. This decision was highly unusual for royal heirs, particularly considering that Evergrant possessed remarkable talent in both swordsmanship and literature. However, it was precisely this independence that made him unique.
Evergrant lived life on his own terms, doing as he pleased and disregarding the opinions of others, including the Emperor himself. His withdrawal from the throne competition, despite the Emperor's objections, served as a testament to his rebellious nature.
From a young age, Prince Evergrant had harbored deep affection for Aurora, and this fondness only grew stronger over time.
"Hmm, but I can't let him near my precious sister as such, can I? I will check if he is worthy of standing by your side," Evergrant declared.
"And if he isn't..." With a mischievous smile, Prince Evergrant gazed out of the window towards the guest chambers of the royal palace.
Princess Aurora glanced back at her brother but chose to remain silent, knowing that any response would only invite further teasing.
'Be prepared, Eren Pendragon,' Prince Evergrant thought to himself.
'You will pay for brain-washing my precious sister.'
Unbeknownst to Eren, he had unwittingly attracted the attention of the mad prince of the empire.
—***---
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