CHAPTER 19: ROYAL ORDER

Kyrian frowned, not quite understanding what the man meant by that.

But he immediately recognized the man.

He was also a martial artist.

The man’s crooked smile lingered as he observed the two. His eyes scanned back and forth between Kyrian and Lina.

Lina felt uncomfortable, and her expression darkened.

"Who are you?" Kyrian asked in his direct tone.

The man’s smile widened as he introduced himself.

"I am Darien. From the Royal Order, I was asked to accompany you to the Order’s headquarters in the royal capital."

"We depart today, boy. We won’t waste time."

Lina’s eyes widened. She instinctively straightened her posture. The mere mention of the Royal Order carried a weight Kyrian didn’t yet understand.

She had heard of them before. Chosen warriors, above all soldiers, trained specifically to protect the royal family and the country of Valor.

Kyrian showed no immediate reaction, just watched the man. As if he were measuring him.

"So, you’re going to be my guide?"

Darien leaned slightly.

"You can see me that way if you like."

"No, you literally are my guide." Kyrian said as the man’s expression hardened.

...

The man was silent for a moment.

"Tsk. Brat, prepare your things, we’re leaving now."

Kyrian then turned to Lina.

"Do you need to do anything here? If not, we’ll head to the capital now." Kyrian wanted her opinion, already taking for granted that she would go with him.

"No, we can leave whenever you want. In the capital, there will be much more to do and explore, unlike this city." Lina replied calmly.

"Alright, then let’s go."

...

Kyrian quickly retrieved Shadow, the horse snorted happily at being reunited with him and Lina.

Kyrian mounted first, then Lina climbed up, adjusting her spear on her back. Settling behind Kyrian once again as if it were already natural.

Then, the horse began to run.

Beside them, Darien accompanied them on foot. With light steps, but incredibly fast. Never falling behind.

The road to the capital was wider and busier than any other Kyrian had ever seen.

Merchants, travelers, luxurious carriages. Along with several groups of young soldiers heading the same way.

The tournament attracted everyone, and there was still plenty of time before it began. The capital would soon be filled with all kinds of people.

As they advanced, Darien suddenly struck up a conversation.

"Kyrian, do you know why the Aurora Tournament exists?"

"To measure strength among young soldiers." Kyrian replied.

Darien smirked.

"That’s a superficial answer. The tournament is, in fact, just a sieve. Those who stand out in the tournament may be chosen by the Royal Order or even by the royal family. Nobles also recruit some to serve their families specifically." Darien explained.

But Kyrian didn’t care much about that, he was going to enter the Royal Order anyway to become a martial artist. So the tournament didn’t matter much to him.

Still, since Rurik wanted him to participate, he would. But he wasn’t excited after all, beating up kids wasn’t exactly fun...

Lina, upon hearing, widened her eyes, but a firm determination shone on her face.

"This is... a chance to completely change one’s life." She murmured quietly to herself, but Kyrian overheard.

"Change your life, huh? I hope you manage that. Changing my life isn’t my goal." Kyrian answered, not reacting much.

Darien narrowed his eyes, curious as he asked.

"Then, what is your goal, boy?"

"To be the strongest." Kyrian didn’t hesitate for even a second before answering. That answer was always ready on the tip of his tongue.

Silence fell on the road for a few seconds. Lina looked at him, impressed by his bluntness.

Darien only smiled again.

"Ambitious... isn’t it? But that’s good, geniuses need high ambition, or else they’ll waste their talents."

The three continued together on the journey. Darien was more talkative than Kyrian and Lina, but his questions always made the two respond in some way.

Soon, the capital drew closer and closer. Until they began climbing a high hill. And when they reached the top, night had fallen, and then they saw it.

The capital, the City of the Silver Lake. An absolutely immense city, larger than anything they had ever seen.

The city surrounded a vast lake, the moon reflected in the water giving it a silver glow.

On the right side of the city, there was a huge white castle where the royal family lived. The city was illuminated, and, even from afar, they could feel its bustling energy.

Lina found the sight so beautiful that she ended up speaking aloud without realizing it.

Kyrian only looked calmly. His purpose there was only one.

He would become a martial artist, and he would gather all the information he could about the particles and his eyes. And if he couldn’t get that information here.

He would simply become strong enough to leave and discover it for himself.

Having decided.

The three camped beneath a tree, and the next morning they continued to the capital.

...

The following morning brought with it the soft glow of the sun reflecting on the distant lake. The road to the capital grew busier with every kilometer.

When they finally arrived at the city gates after several hours, Kyrian lifted his eyes.

The Silver Lake City stood before him, its walls immense, larger than those of any other city, and seemingly endless to the sides.

But at the entrance there was a massive line of people waiting for inspection by the soldiers.

As soon as they arrived, everyone’s attention turned to them, because Darien and the two on the horse simply bypassed the line, passing by all of them.

The soldiers guarding the gate immediately straightened and bowed slightly.

Kyrian heard the murmurs of the crowd.

"He is..." A traveler said with surprised eyes.

"Darien, of the Royal Order!" Another whispered in awe.

The name spread like wildfire through the crowd, bringing curious, fearful, and even envious glances. No one dared stop the group.

With a simple gesture from Darien, the line was ignored, and the three passed through the gate.

Kyrian, mounted on Shadow, moved among the people like a small, mysterious shadow.

Inside the capital, Lina was left speechless. The city pulsed with life. Wide stone streets filled with carriages and pedestrians. Vendors shouting, offering spices and jewels. Children running everywhere.

But Kyrian wasn’t impressed. His eyes were focused on something else at the moment.

The particles, for some reason, had been growing more present as he traveled. In Falk, they were extremely scarce, but as he moved along, their number seemed to gradually increase.

And here, the amount was greater. He just had no way of knowing why.

Another thing that caught his attention was that the air here was much more humid. Because of the lake at the city’s center, Kyrian felt he could freeze things more easily here.

That made him more comfortable.

Soon, Darien guided them to a set of distinct buildings.

It was close to the castle but an isolated complex. Surrounded by white stone walls.

At the entrance, there was a great crest of the Royal Order, gleaming above the main gate. The crest was a golden sword and spear, crossed.

"Welcome to the Headquarters of the Royal Order." Darien said with a serious, yet slightly proud tone.

Lina and Kyrian dismounted Shadow. But as they approached, they were stopped by a guard.

"Only members of the Order and invited guests may enter." The guard said.

Darien handed a white letter to the man.

Meanwhile, Kyrian looked at Lina for a moment.

"Take care of Shadow, I’ll be back soon." He said simply.

She nodded. She was curious, but she knew she couldn’t cross that gate.

Kyrian followed Darien. The interior of the headquarters was completely luxurious. The corridors were wide, filled with white marble pillars. The Order’s symbol was in many places, along with various armors displayed in the halls.

He was taken to the main hall. Darien knocked, then opened the doors.

As soon as they entered, Kyrian realized a meeting was likely taking place.

There were seven people seated at a round table. But there were thirteen seats.

Darien then sat in one of the empty chairs.

Among the seven people, two were women. Kyrian immediately realized they were all martial artists, some of them reminding him of Kael.

But one person in particular made Kyrian raise his guard. He felt as if he were being watched by a beast ready to attack.

His eyes fixed only on one person.

At the center of the table, a woman apparently in her forties, with black hair tied back, a serene gaze, and a faintly strange smile on her lips.

Unlike the others, Kyrian felt she wasn’t just strong. No, her eyes told him she was above everyone there. Her entire body exuded power, defined muscles beneath the white Order uniform.

As Kyrian focused on her, he analyzed every detail.

The woman also stared at him, assessing his every movement since he entered the room.

She noticed his sharp gaze, and when she looked deep into his eyes, she smiled inwardly.

’So, these are the eyes my foolish brother talks so much about. Eyes that make your student a complete aberration, you say.’ She thought slowly, looking into his blue eyes with irises like snowflakes, beautiful yet strange.

Suddenly, her right hand moved subtly, so lightly it seemed meaningless.

But at that moment.

Kyrian noticed immediately, and before he fully processed it, his body instinctively moved. Sliding slightly to the side.

At the same instant, a thunderous sound echoed behind him.

The thick door he had just passed now had a hole the size of a finger.

Had he not seen and dodged, he would have died instantly.

His eyes narrowed as he looked at the woman cautiously. His gaze sharpening even more.

But the woman only smiled, seeming satisfied.

"Kyrian, isn’t it? You’ve passed the first test. From today, you are the provisional fourteenth warrior of the Royal Order. Your training to become a true member will begin tomorrow." The woman’s voice rang firmly through the hall.

Silence filled the room afterward. Everyone looked at Kyrian, seeing the attack he had evaded, none had any reason to contest it.

"Good. I will personally train him. Darien, take him to see his room and explain the basic rules of the Order."

Darien stood, nodding.

"Understood."

Kyrian was then forced to leave the room. He hadn’t spoken a single word, but as he exited, he found what the woman had launched.

Embedded in a pillar was a ring made entirely of iron. He carefully pulled it out. Picked it up with his fingers before clenching it in his hand.

Then he looked back, and without hesitation, hurled the ring back with all his strength. The ring flew like an arrow, cutting the air.

But the woman only smiled, extended her hand, and caught it effortlessly, slipping it back onto her finger.

’So, he already possesses strength at the first stage. Even without having undergone the first transformation yet... truly special.’ The woman thought, her smile widening in her mind.