Kingdom of Swords
After midday, the three hurried to the competition to watch the second duel. The match was riddled with inexperience; both competitors were so unskilled that despite their desperate struggle to win by any means, they possessed neither strength nor technique. It resulted in a tedious duel that left Kayden wondering: "Why would a person do this to themselves?"
Was it for money? Status? He did not know, leaving him deeply perplexed.
As the match drew to a close, people began heading home out of sheer boredom. While Eugene and Rein went to the inn to rest, Kayden remained lost in his thoughts. Suddenly, a man in a black hood with a thick beard and a mask-like covering over his face approached him. Kayden, who was also in disguise, was told by the stranger that he must go to a specific location he described.
Kayden reached for his sword and asked:
"And why should I do that?"
The man replied, his gaze fixed on Kayden's hand:
"You will find out. It will be of great benefit to you later."
"In what way could it benefit me?"
"In naval matters and those requiring a large number of men." Then, looking directly into Kayden's distinctive eyes, he added: "Tell them, 'I want to meet Freeze.'"
"And why would this 'Freeze' help me?"
"Because of me."
"And why are you helping me?"
The man smiled, turned his back to leave, and answered:
"That is not important now, Kayden. But you could say it is an atonement for a mistake I made."
Kayden gripped his sword tightly, falling into a state of caution and fear. How did this man know him despite his disguise and the removal of everything related to his family? And that smile? It was never the smile of a stranger.
Kayden lingered for moments after the man's departure, questioning his identity and how he knew his name despite all precautions. Realizing that standing in confusion would lead nowhere, he decided to head to the place described by the hooded man.
He arrived at a side dock, far from public eyes. At first glance, the place seemed abandoned, but as he drew closer, signs of life appeared. Massive ships were anchored there—some bore clear pirate markings, while others looked like part of suspicious merchant fleets. Men moved actively, carrying goods and exchanging loud talk, while guards watched the area with their weapons.
Kayden entered a large wooden building in the center of the dock as instructed. Inside, the air was charged with the scent of salt and gunpowder, and the sounds of shouting and laughter echoed. Freeze sat on a raised platform at the end of the hall—a massive man with a face full of scars and features indicating long experience in naval life and piracy.
As Kayden approached, Freeze signaled his guards to step back.
"So, are you the one sent by Hawkeye ?"
"Yes, he said you would help me."
Freeze laughed loudly as he took a cup offered by a man beside him before replying:
"Are you the boy of the Bryan family? Ah, that person has a strange way of choosing who he sends to me. Tell me, what do you need?"
"He said you are an expert in naval matters and have men to help you," Kayden answered with a tense tone.
"Correct. I have men from every empire. I gather them in different ways—some came on their own seeking opportunity, others... well, let's say I found them another way. Even Hawkeye himself, I 'met' him that way, but he proved his worth and became someone I trust."
Kayden felt strange hearing Freeze's words but did not comment, asking only:
"What do you want in return?"
Freeze replied as if returning a favor:
"It is simple. When you need me, you pay the price, whether in money or service. But for you, I will require no payment."
Kayden looked around cautiously and asked: "And why is that?"
Freeze laughed, understanding Kayden's caution: "That is not important now, Kayden, but you can say it is the settling of a debt. Now, what do you want?"
Kayden went silent for a moment and then said: "Alright, here is my request..."
After leaving, Kayden kept thinking about Hawkeye and Freeze's words. While walking through the streets of Oren, people began whispering things he never expected to hear.
A girl walking with her friend past a shoe store said: "Did you hear? They say the Count has been imprisoned."
"Count Albert Bryan? Impossible!"
"It seems the court will meet soon to discuss his fate for a second time."
Kayden stopped suddenly, his heart trembling. His father imprisoned? A coming court session? The second one? What had happened during his absence? He decided to go to Eugene and Rein to find out what was going on.
As soon as he entered the inn, he found that Eugene and Rein were already looking for him. They went up to their room after learning that the reason for Albert's imprisonment was his son. Kayden was shocked by this news, his chest tightening. In a panic, he tried to rush home, but Eugene stopped him quickly until he calmed down, then said sadly: "Kayden, I know what I'm about to say will be hard for you, but you cannot go back now. If you are the reason for your father's imprisonment, you will be in constant danger—not just if you return, but throughout the Empire from now on. We must go into hiding as strictly as possible."
Kayden asked in astonishment: "What are you saying, Eugene? Are you telling me to leave my father imprisoned because of me? To leave my family alone while my father's life is at stake? I don't believe this. I must go back now."
Eugene gripped his shoulder with great force, pinning Kayden in place, and replied harshly: "I know this is hard on you, you fool, but think about it. What will you gain by returning other than them catching you? We don't even know why this happened; the reality might be related to what occurred in Andorra. If so, perhaps he was punished as the father of a traitor. Since he was imprisoned and did not give you up, it means he trusts you and did not regret his decision. Also, Adrian is at home—he's your big brother, man. I know emotion is controlling you now, but trust me, this is best for everyone."
Kayden sat on a bed in their room, shocked. What was happening was too difficult for him to grasp.
In the capital's court,
Albert was brought in again for trial; it was clear they wanted to get rid of him. The judge asked: "Do you have anything to say in your defense?"
Albert raised his head with confidence, but before he could speak, the silence was broken by the sudden entrance of an imposing figure. It was Baron Declan, a man known for his nobility and wisdom, and Albert's close friend for many years.
"My Lord Judge!" Declan said with a powerful voice as he approached the bench. "I request a stay of judgment for Count Albert. I will take responsibility for investigating the situation myself."
The judge raised his eyebrows in surprise but quickly regained his composure. "Are you doing this because he is your old friend, Baron?"
Declan smiled confidently and said firmly: "I will wager my noble status on this decision. If I am wrong, then let my reputation be the price."
In that moment, Albert lost his composure, thinking there were hidden motives behind this intervention, and shouted angrily: "Declan! Do not let anyone dare approach my son!"
But Declan raised his hand calmly, a sign of reassurance, and looked at Albert with a kind smile full of sincere friendship. "Do not worry, my friend, everything will be fine."
Then, Albert realized that Declan only intervened to protect him and his son Kayden. He was acting as a loyal friend, even if it meant putting his noble reputation on the line.
In the Kingdom of Swords, on a night adorned by moonlight, the city of Oren was receiving more rebels who had come to watch the third duel between Elias and the mysterious man who defeated "Kiran." The three were there, waiting for the duel to begin.
While silence filled the place, Rein broke it, saying: "Elias is one of the most talented among the rebels. He has always been known for his agility and skill, and it was difficult to defeat him. It's a pity he prefers working alone, but he has the ability to do so."
In the center of an arena bathed in moonlight and lit by candles, that man stood with a cold face and eyes radiating confidence, holding his sword as if it were an extension of his arm. On the other side stood Elias, with thick black hair fluttering in the wind. His gaze, appearing through hazel eyes, was no less sharp than his opponent's, and his gleaming sword swayed lightly in his hand as if breathing with him.
The duel began in silence, feet dancing with cautious steps over the dirt floor of the arena. Breaths were shallow, and eyes stared without blinking. Suddenly, Elias lunged like a released arrow, his sword carving a swift path toward the man's shoulder. The man retreated with a single quick step, raising his sword to block the strike in a moment that seemed eternal.
The sound of clashing swords broke the stillness, ringing like the echo of a miniature battle. The man attacked with precise calculations, every move deliberate as if part of a studied plan. In contrast, Elias moved with perfected grace, fighting with his sword as if weaving threads of wind.
A round of attacks and parries ensued, each trying to read the other. With every step the man took, Elias responded with a similar step, as if they were reflections of one another. However, it seemed the man was hiding something behind his deadly calm, as if the sword in his hand carried more weight than just a blade.
With a sudden lunge, Elias executed a spinning maneuver, trying to deceive his opponent and direct a strike toward his left side. But the man, with the experience of warriors, skillfully shifted his body, his sword piercing the space between them with a swift motion toward Elias's hand. The sword nearly hit him if the rebel hadn't jumped back with a perfected move, letting the distance widen between them.
"Not bad... but this isn't enough to bring me down!" Elias said with a mocking smile, his sword gleaming under the moonlight.
"Strength is not in the display, but in the precision. You will realize that soon," the man replied in a calm but subtly threatening tone.
The battle intensified, the sword strikes becoming faster and more fierce. Elias's movements were characterized by ferocity, as if fighting for a cause greater than himself. In contrast, the man's strikes carried the weight of skill acquired through years of training.
In a decisive moment, after a series of mutual attacks, the man managed to exploit a gap in Elias's defense. With a deceptive move, he spun to strike the side of his opponent's sword with a force that broke his balance, leaving Elias forced to retreat. Before he could regain his position, the man's sword had stopped a hair's breadth from his neck.
"The duel is over," he said in a calm but firm voice.
Elias did not speak, but he breathed deeply, a mixture of disappointment and admiration reflecting in his eyes. The man lowered his sword with a calm step, turned his back, and said:
"Learn from this, Elias. Fighting is not just courage, but wisdom as well. You are still as you were."
Elias was puzzled by his words, but he understood when he saw the man's face clearly. At that moment, the audience felt that the duel was not just a struggle between two swords, but a confrontation between two philosophies—between one who fights with a cold mind and one who fights with a burning heart.
After that magnificent fight, and the shock of everyone at Elias's loss, and Duke Alexander's wonder at this person's identity, Kayden proceeded toward the man as he was about to leave, asking him about his teacher and how he learned those skills, especially the last one he performed. But the man did not know Kayden and did not care about him, not bothering to reply.
Eugene was running at full speed behind Kayden, and when he arrived, he shouted so the person could hear: "When does the sword triumph without a fight?"
The man stopped suddenly, pulled back the hood covering his head, and turned around, saying: "Eugene?"
Eugene replied in confusion: "My God, what are you doing in a place like this and such a competition?"
When Rein arrived, he was surprised to see him: dark blond hair, medium height, and sharp dark-green eyes.
Rein watched the man for a bit and then said in wonder: "I understand now. So it was you; then it's possible for you to defeat Elias. I didn't expect to meet you in a place like this.
Welcome...
Aaron."