It's been a week since we visited the arcane crafters shop. Ren and Naja have been sleeping in the library ever since that night. Honestly, I'm starting to miss sleeping next to them. Although it's nice having some room to spread out in bed, at least until Lumi nearly suffocates me by sleeping on my face.
Today was supposed to be the day we'd get Garm's new leg, and I wanted to stop by the castle to check in on something. I didn't think I'd be summoned to the throne room the second I stepped through the gate. Good thing Kaya wanted to join, otherwise Garm would be making his way to the shop all alone.
No one's told me why the king wants to see me. I don't think I did anything wrong. All I can think of is the wyvern incident, but I never reported that to the guild. I hope this isn't one of those tropes where I get some kind of over-the-top reward, like land or a noble title. I'm already busy enough just helping look after Raynemor.
...
Sakyo walks into the throne room. The double doors shut behind him with a heavy THUD. Even in such a large space, it always feels like the walls are closing in whenever he is summoned here.
The king sat upon his throne, posture straight, hands clasped in front of him. To his left, Reika stands guard, giving Sakyo a once-over before settling back into an unreadable calm. On his right, a blonde-haired individual dressed in regal attire stands tall and proud.
[Sakyo] (Who's the noble-looking woman?)
[Rex] Father, Sakyo has arrived as you requested.
[King] Thank you, Rex.
[Sakyo] (Wait, that's Rex? I think it's safe to assume he'll definitely be a hit with the ladies. You know what, I'm calling it now. He's gonna be a hit with some dudes too.)
[King] (ahem) Sakyo, I've heard of your recent intervention in the east. I must commend you for your efforts that heavily contributed in the protection of that village.
[Sakyo] Thank you.
[King] However, might you explain why you failed to report the wyvern attack?
[Sakyo] (I didn't want the trouble that would come with reporting it.) I was originally in the village to complete a request regarding a Manavore. The village is a three day trip from the capital, so I knew I wouldn't hear of an emergency request from the guild in time. I simply believed there was no need to make a report if I would be able to handle everything before reinforcements arrived so as to not waste resources. (Yeah, that sounds believable enough.)
[King] (sigh) Three days after the attack, a group of adventurers made a report to the guild that a black haired boy with a curved sword was able to knock the wyvern straight into the sky and finish it by cutting its body in half.
[Sakyo] (What? Who could've seen that? I was... careful... Actually, given the range and scale of that attack, I'd be surprised if someone didn't see it from afar.)
[King] And yesterday, a merchant from that village visited the auction house to put up wyvern meats, scales, claws, and fangs. When asked where they obtained such items, they reported that they were gifts recieved by a young savior clad in black that defeated the wyvern within an hour.
[Sakyo] I-I suppose coincidences can be a scary thing.
[King] To top it off, we received a request from the chief of that village to send a sculptor to the village to erect a statue of their savior.
[Sakyo] (Damn you, old man. You're not helping my case right now.)
[King] All of these people were capable of reporting these events, so I ask you again. Why did you fail to report it?
Sakyo's body begins trembling under the pressure of the king's voice. So much proof of his actions. So many variables he'd never considered. All of it was coming back to bite him in this moment. Already being crushed under the weight of the situation, Sakyo can't keep his mouth shut any longer.
[Sakyo] I thought it would be a lot of trouble reporting it, and I didn't want the attention that would come with defeating a wyvern.
[King] You ignorant fool!
Sakyo's body flinched like it never had before. Even Rex took a step back at his father's sudden outburst. Only one person in the room remained calm in the situation.
[Reika] Retsuro, your temper is showing.
Her voice remained calm, but it was still enough to bring the king back to his seat.
[King] (sigh) Sakyo, are you aware of how the guild assigns monsters their specific ranks?
[Sakyo] Yes, they are ranked based on the potential danger they could cause the citizens of the kingdom.
[King] Correct, and those danger levels are based on previous disasters caused by said monsters. A wyvern is an A-rank monster. If you had failed to subdue it, it could have spread carnage across far more than that one village.
[Sakyo] I understand.
[King] And if the citizens of our kingdom heard that their royal knights were completely unaware of such a disaster until after it had occurred, all trust in our security would be lost. Our neighboring kingdoms could have seen it as an opportunity to invade.
[Sakyo] I-I apologize. I did not think about such repercussions.
[King] Under normal circumstances, I would reward you for defeating such a threat to our kingdom, however, I cannot reward the negligence you showed in your handling of the situation.
[Sakyo] I understand. (So no reward, but no punishment. I see this as a win.)
[Rex] Father, if I may...
[Sakyo] (No, Rex! What are you doing?! I was almost in the clear!)
[Rex] ...I believe Sakyo's intervention in slaying such a beast deserves to be acknowledged in some way. While he did fail in reporting such a danger, he was also the one responsible for ensuring that it did not spread to neighboring villages or cities.
[Sakyo] (Rex, shut up!)
[Rex] The report also acknowledges the powerful magic he used to defeat the wyvern. I believe such a talent should be shared.
[King] Hmm, indeed. Tell us, Sakyo, what kind of magic did you use to defeat the wyvern?
[Sakyo] (Magic? Does he mean the miasma? If they don't know what that is, I'd better keep it under wraps.) Um, the magic I used was a form of physical enhancement, however, the attack used to kill the wyvern originated from my sword.
[King] And where did you obtain such a weapon?
[Sakyo] I-it was located in the deepest chamber of some ruins I happened to come across.
[King] Ruins you say? Where are these ruins located?
[Sakyo] (I still don't even know where they really are.) I was brought to the location due to an error with one of the artifacts that was found in Raynemor. After returning from the exploration, I have not been able to return to those ruins. (That's a lie, but it should satisfy him.)
[King] I see. That is quite a shame. Back to the magic you used. How did you learn of such abilities?
[Sakyo] Due to my inability to use magic at a young age, I became interested in researching magic theory. Through my research, I was able to learn various techniques for controlling the flow of mana within myself.
[Rex] Mana Compression Theory. I've heard of such research, but every record of it ended because no one had enough mana to use it to its full potential.
[King] Interesting. Sakyo, I have decided on your punishment.
[Sakyo] (Damn you, pretty boy.)
[King] The Royal Magic Academy. It is our kingdom's leading school in magic training and research. Students from all over the kingdom that show potential are invited to continue their studies here once they reach adulthood.
[Sakyo] (Adulthood is fifteen in this world, but that's still over two years away for me.) You want me to enroll?
[King] No, you will become an instructor.
[Sakyo] ...Huh?
[Reika] Retsuro- your majesty, are you sure that's wise? Sakyo would be younger than the students. Not to mention he's never received a proper education.
[Sakyo] ((sarcastically) And who's the one responsible for that, mother?)
[King] The decision is made. He has already received some education from his joint sessions with Rex in their youth. I will see to it that he is an instructor at the magic academy by the beginning of its new term. Sakyo, you have one month until the entrance exams. See to it that you are prepared for this assignment. Rex, see him out.
With a practiced bow, Rex walks Sakyo out of the room and down the hall.
[Rex] You're lucky, you get to experience the academy even earlier than me.
[Sakyo] Yeah, I can't wait to get looked down on by a bunch of stuck-up noble heirs.
[Rex] Just be glad Father didn't give you a harsher punishment. But enough about that. Let's catch up. I haven't seen you in quite a while.
[Sakyo] Yeah, I guess you're right. Tell me, when did you become such a pretty boy?
They continue their talk, catching up on a few things that happened since the last time they've seen each other. Meanwhile, Reika and the king remain in the throne room.
[King] Reika, that sword of his. You mentioned it before.
[Reika] Yes, but I don't know why he lied about the artifact that brought him to it.
[King] There must be a reason, but that's not what concerns me at the moment. It's power, and the magic he used. It's unlike anything I've ever heard of before. Tell me, would you be able to defeat a wyvern with such ease?
[Reika] Maybe if I had all of my equipment, but my enhancements are specialized in the fire element. It's hard to say how I'd compare to his darkness element, especially against something that resists fire.
[King] He's growing at an alarming rate. At this point, I fear he's getting closer to learning of his true abilities. And if his father finds out-
[Reika] I told you, I won't let him lose control of that power. His father changed... sort of, and I'll protect him too.
[King] Please do, I cannot imagine what could happen if he awakens that kind of raw power... But I still can't get that swords power out of my mind.
[Reika] You think it could be one of them?
[King] It's possible. A star of seven hues, but throughout history, only six fragments were ever recovered. It could be the rumored missing seventh.
[Reika] With everything going on around him, I keep forgetting he's still not even an adult yet. I know I'll have to tell him soon, but I don't know how.
[King] If it really is one of them, it should show a reaction at the Starfall Festival.