1 Month Ago
Deep below the canopy of trees where sun reflected the yellow rays into a yellow-blue ones. However they aren't alone.
*Swish*
The air shivered, a silhouette so fast that can barely be seen on the naked eye. Yet on the middle of it stood the blonde man and his three friends on the sidelines. He closed his eyes, confident that he would win this yet his expression is that of a calm person.
"Uaahhh!" The said silhouette revealed the boy Klover ready to slash the blonde man into pieces. He readied his dagger to go for the opportunity. As soon as the dagger was about to hit Leight, Klover felt like he wasn't there at all.
He widened his eyes in fear.
"Too slow." A slight gust of wind was heard behind him revealing Leight, mocking him as he him behind his back. Knocking him a few meters away.
"Ugghhh...!" He let his guard down. No more like Leight already knew where he was going, he can't control his body as it was still on the process of being tubled away. With a tree supporting his fall.
He groaned in pain.... He gritted his teeth as the moment he was about to stand up, a blade was aimed at his neck, threathening to kill him if he ever moves, feeling hopeless he raised his hands in defeat.
"You lost Klover." He declared as he sheathe his sword. Officially ending the spar.
"....shit. I lost again." Frustrated as he was, there's nothing he can do about it. It'll take a long time before he can catch up with him.
His agility was okay. But his strength? That's another story....
"You're a better fit to become a rogue, don't worry about losing though." He raised his hands, suporting Klover to stand up.
"It was a nice battle."
"...yeah..." He obligue as he took his hand to stand up. Still groaning from the pain at his back.
"Still~ the same~ as always huhhh~" Leafa rested her harms behind her head. Walking towards the two, thus concluding the victor.
"Don't be like that, you'll grow stronger someday Klover. We have half-decades of experience with fighting. You'll get there someday." Trying to encourage the young boy, Leight reassured him. He learned the hard way, that everything takes time.
"....I know, I know." He shook his head with a frown, he'll just have to wait. He's already under the guidance of Old Gray by creating scrolls to be used in combat.
'If there is no other way, make one.' Scrolls are only just used as backup or beginner spells for almost everyone, and that's the norm of it so it wasn't really well known.
'So I'll make a different one instead.' He's stuck with the mindset of "If there is something popular, find the underrated one instead." Maybe it goes to other people too.
But hey this is a different world, maybe it doesn't apply to this one. He scratched his head as he excuse himself from the group.
"I gotta go to Old Gray again. Gotta learn those scrolls stuff." He hastily fled from his comrades, but for the others. This is just his daily routine.
"He's always busy during the day, and free during afternoon." Ildi commented, she smiled at the boy's determination to get even stronger.
"I was like that too... I'm too familiar with his way of life."
"Reminiscing the old days huh..."
"Yeah, remembered some of the bad ones too..." He grimaced at the thought of those times. But he knows he have to move on.
"...." For Leafa, she remained quiet. Just the thought of that "place" is enough to bring shiver into her spine, as well as intense hatred albeit unnoticed by no one.
"Let's stop talking about that, anyway what should we eat this noon..." Shoving the subject off. Ildi move onto another one instead, dissipating the once tense atmosphere, now turned into curiousity and wonder.
"Ah that's right~, it's almost time~ for lunch. Let's~ go~, we'll be~ late if we don't~ book out early~." She hurried first leaving the three behind. As silhouette remains of the green haired girl as distance between the three widen.
"Yeah, I think we should go." The rays of the sunlight revealed the three in pale sight. As they went on to continue their day.
As they slowly took a stroll. Leight was thinking about something.
'-"A knight must protect it's people, the race matters not."' It was all he could remember of the knight's code. Did he apply it about what happened for these three months...? No he didn't. He knew he failed... But he'll take those mistakes to save everyone.
He closed his eyes. His mind wandering in a long daydreamm. As the past revisioned inside of his dazed mind.
.
.
.
Nine Years Ago, Forsted.
What does it mean to be a hero...? To be a person who can do the miraculous things even when the odds are against them...? A person faithed to save the world, blessed with nigh infinite power from the Goddess Aria herself...?
No they don't, they have to work hard to achieve it. Whether they end up becoming a killing machine that becomes a puppet for the higher ups, or sacrifice everything for the sake of it. Whether it will be the lost of a limb to achieve it.
In the library spanding as wide as the eye can see. A blonde boy was reading books while having glitters in his eyes.
What he was currently reading right now are fairy tales of heroes that once saved the world. And the first ruling king, Solomon El Forsted. The greatest shield.
He couldn't help but shake in excitement. His legs trembled at awe and admiration. His lips quivered, as if he was struggling to keep his smile on his face.
"....so awesome..." He wanted to be a hero like Solomon, the thrill. The adventures! Oh so beautiful, to be able to save the entire world. Praised and respected by anyone.
"So coo-!"
"Leight!! It's time for bed...!" A familiar melodic like voice resounded through his ears. He hid under his seat, expecting to never be found.
"Hehe..." He confidently smirked, she'll never find him he-
"Ah...there you are Leight." But it was in vain, he was to naive. For his mother have already found him, a hair almost similar to his. Blue eyes met blue eyes. Dread can be felt, as his spine shivered in fear.
"...h-hello...?" Finding an excuse that he can use to escape this dreadful situation. Nervously smiling to the incarnation of fear itself.
...his mother...
"Didn't it tell you for the third time, that it's bed time." Her eyes full of disappointment and worry, but from Leight's perspective. It was those eyes that looks like it could kill.
"Y-y-yeah I know...." He turned away.
"Now, stop reading stories about your object of admiration and let's carry you over there to your room..." Her grip strength unbreakable as he cannot break free. Resistance was futile as he was met with a death glare from his mother, destroying his hope of escape.
"But, bu-!"
"No buts for you, mister!" She facepalmed, shaking her head in pure worry. Ever since her son, had read stories about this national hero. He always went to sleep midnight more often.
"...*sigh* If only you knew...." She muttered those words, enough for Leight to not hear it correctly. This country is as corrupt as it seems. She thanked the Goddess that Leight was born a noble.
If not... Then he would be exposed to the most darkest side of this rotten hell at a young age. Lies and slavery are the norm of this kingdom.
"Um....Mom, what are you talking about...?
"Nothing..." She smiled as to eased his curiousity. She'll slowly teach him about it.
.
.
.
You are reading story The World Beyond at novel35.com
It was already midnight, the boy layed down in his bed, taking a glance at a large window. Where the moon reflected it's rays of light inside it.
"Hey, mom... Do you think that I'll become a hero too?" As a child who is often isolated, Leight is ignorant about the outside world. With only books and sword training from his father as they woukd not let him out of the mansion.
Ignorance is bliss, there are things that are best well left out.
"....that, I do not know son...? Why don't you try and find it yourself." She caressed his head as she smiled at her son's question.
"It depends on your decision, you can follow your heart to where it wants to go..." She supported her children's decision no matter what.
But if it is going "outside", then that's another story. He wasn't ready yet. Perhaps there will be a time when he'll truly get it.
"Then when I become older, do you think I can help you both! You and father has been very busy lately, I want to help the two of you too!" In response to that she giggled.
"Yeah, you will next time. Now go to sleep, it's very late now." She looked at the two moons, casting it's rays.
"Yeah....*Yawn* goodnight... Mother." His eyes are on the verge of closing itself. Hearing only the words his mother said.
"Goodnight, my sweet Leight."
.
.
.
.
.
Hegro's Personal Room.
'What does it mean to be a hero...?' A question that repeats itself deep in Leight's mind. Is it to just protect it's people. No, he doesn't think so. That is not how it works, in his opinion.
He knew there is something that is missing, yet he couldn't tick his mind the right way to find it.
"Leight, the moment you become an adult. I expect great things for you to become the heir of our house." Deep inside the mansion, there spotted to people. Sitting the opposite, with one resting his arms in a grandiose table.
"....why...?" Confusion stirred the 12 year old boy. His dad, Hegro Ausuddi MiklaNo need to memorize the name. He won't be involve in the story nor will I add it in the main one. Since Forsted isn't involved too much, so I'm working on side stories instead. sat in silence as he looked at his son in seriousness. His long yellow beard in interlocking with head supported with his two hands.
"What...?" Dumbfoundment once again. He couldn't help but question why.
"You know what I'm talking about right? This is the reality Leight. The people beneath us struggle, and brainwashed to be weapons for war. And we don't want you to go to the same path as them."
"But I'm still you-"
"We'll guide you..." His eyes narrowed as he Hegro looked at Leight. This kingdom is a hellhole for people like them. Whether they be noble or commoner. It's a struggle for survival as one slight weakness may be used against them.
If it were described on a ratio, the corrupt bastards and genuine noble ones are on a scale of 9:1. It was a fight they had survive, barely holding on the leash of being a noble as those fuckers are doing everything they can so that they will fall.
He needs to find a heir, as he is getting older. He will not let anyone take over his house...! The odds are against them, but they will persevere.
"As much as it pains me to do this. You are my pride and joy, the moment you were born into this world. It gave us another purpose to live." He stood up, his black coat trimmered with small gold stripes. White old clothing underneath it.
As he looked at the picture with him and his wife. He touched the surface of the painting, feeling the smooth texture of it.
"Nothing is free Leight, the oracle predicted the invasion. We atleast would hope that his country would be the first one to be destroyed and to start from scratch without those people again." He looked at him with tired eyes. The endless barrages of political conflict those shittards inflicted them. Giving them a low reputation in the eyes of the public.
"So please Leight, I'm begging you..." With his father's words, Leight was conflicted. He respects his father, and he barely knew his struggles. And he kept it from the rest of them.
No, perhaps his Mom already knew it.
"I'm tired Leight. This is the best that we can do, our comrades have long fallen leaving a few to barely survive."
It was a hard decision, whether they fall with their comrades unrecorded for their struggles. Or persevere long enough to survive and finally get out of this place. Indecisiveness hesitated his choice before he finally chose.
"I....I...wi-"
.
.
.
Present Day
"-...Leight!" Shaking him out of his small memory, he was startled. Looking at the perpretator who shook him out.
It was Sharon. He smiled in relief.
"You aren't normally like this...." The gray haired girl was worried about her love. She pouted, in which Leight found it cute.
"Just got a little nostalgia..." He looked at the skies. Remembering the bonds between his parents he made in the past.
"...about your homeland again? Maybe you can talk to me about it. It's not fair that you only get to share it to yourself!" He chuckled at her response. As he ruffed her hair, as the said girl closed her eyes in fake anger.
"Can you atleast stop it, it's not comfy at all..." She was clearly liking it.
'I guess this was what Klover said as a "yandere"? Ah right a "tsundere"? He doesn't really know what the fuck Klover is shoving information in front of his brain on their free time. So he just straight up guessed it. Not understanding the meaning of his words.
"Can you cease your flirting for a bit? We're almost there." Ildi interrupeted the two.
"Ah right, let's hurry up! We're gonna be late for the booking."
"W-wait I'm no-" He grabbed Sharon's hand on impulse as they hastily moved further away from Ildi. Leaving the violet haired woman by herself.
Time changes people, whether be a bad or a good way.
"Please protect our son Leight, we're counting on you."
"We're already fated to succumb to this mess they have created. So please....take care of him. Let him grow into a person where he can be himself."
"This my final request. Maid Ildi."
"..." She stood there alone, frowning at her final moments of her employer she respects.
"He's grown up a bit, master." No one heard her voice, the blue leaves blew slightly lightly, with some falling through the ground.
There are still a lot of improvement for him to grow.
He just needs to find that out by himself, or a person that will help him find it instead...
She followed the two later on. Leaving the forest alone for itself again...