"This isn't my room."
The room was small, almost empty. There was an IV in his right hand, a bunch of machines on his left side, and a small bed for one. Other than that, the room was just empty.
He pinched himself on the cheeks to make sure he wasn't dreaming, or worse, dead.
"Well, looks like I'm alive."
He felt a bit of relief.
He got up and walked toward the window and looked outside. Only then did he realize he was in the school infirmary.
Right then, Elizabeth walked in.
He turned away from the window and gave her a soft look of relief. But before he could say a word, she tackled him—wrapping her arms around him and started sobbing. It was loud. Messy
Sylas couldn't make it stop.
She cried, while squeezing him tighter.
"I get it, you miss me, but I'm still injured."
A sharp pain shot through his body.
"Please stop, I can't breathe."
She was going through sadness, relief, and anger all at the same time.
He placed his hand on her head and started patting.
"I'm sorry."
She loosened her grip.
"I dragged you into that situation. It was my duty to protect you."
Her hands dropped to her side, her head pressed against his chest, Sylas's hand still on her head.
"I'd rather die than live my life as a coward."
She raised her head and met his gaze. Her eyes were still wet, but like always, he let out a soft, warm smile.
She said nothing—just turned and ran.
A few minutes later, she returned… holding Excalibur.
When she handed him the sword, the notification popped up:
[System Notification]
Weapon: Excalibur
Current Rank: D
Mana Output: D
Combat Rank: D
Overload Scaling: Active
[Skill Unlocked: Domain of the King]
Duration: 90 seconds
[Passive Skill: Absolute Sword Sense]
Capable of drawing out 200%+ of any weapon's potential.
[New Passive Unlocked: King's Blessing]
For 60 seconds, Sylas can temporarily raise the combat rank and stats of any loyal subject by one tier.
Loyalty is required.
If loyalty is broken, the subject is immediately stripped of all blessings and paralyzed for 60 seconds as punishment.
Next Evolution Target: C-Rank
Requirement: 100 Soul Core Fragments
He realized he got a new skill, and he wanted to test it out.
He looked at Elizabeth and raised Excalibur. Gold light shimmered around them.
"Kneel."
His voice carried power.
Golden light wrapped around her.
Her knees hit the floor before she even realized it.
Her expression froze—eyes wide, breath caught.
She tried to move.
Nothing.
He looked at her with a soft smile.
"It's ok."
With that, she stopped fighting. She lowered her head, letting the light take over.
After that, he spoke. His voice was calm and steady.
"Pledge your loyalty to me.
In return, I will grant you strength beyond your imagination.
You will no longer be my maid…
You will be a knight—bound by loyalty, raised by honor, and remembered by the world."
The sword touched her shoulder.
The light around her glowed bright enough to turn anyone blind.
And then the light slowly faded away.
Moments later, a man entered the room. He resembled Luis and his mother. He was tall, with red hair and a sharp jaw. He wasn't muscular, but his body looked toned.
He approached Sylas. He had the eyes of a hunter.
He stared down at Sylas, eyes cold and sharp. Elizabeth stood behind Sylas, partially hidden—like she didn't want to be seen by the man.
"The headmaster wants to see you."
Sylas tilted his head, eyeing the man.
"You look familiar. Who are you?" He paused. "Are you, by chance, related to that witch?"
The man clutched his jaw tightly. Sylas could see a vein, and it was about to pop out of his temple.
"Take it easy, you're going to pop something. I will go."
He turned to Elizabeth.
"I will be back," and followed him.
They entered a massive room that reminded him of the round table he sat at in Camelot with all the nations.
And in front of him sat a fancy chair.
There was an old man—white beard, long white hair.
He looked calm, peaceful, yet the room was filled with power.
Each step Sylas took toward him made him feel like he was sinking into the ground.
"So, child, how are you?"
His tone was gentle and soothing.
The weight he felt a moment ago left. He felt light and calm.
"I'm doing fine, thank you."
The old man leaned forward, resting both of his hands under his chin. His eyes locked onto Sylas—sharp, and full of suspicion.
"Now explain. How are you able to kill that many monsters?"
Sylas took one of the seats.
"I had been trainingj with a sword since I was young."
"You liar! No way an E-Rank can defeat those monsters," the man who brought him snapped.
Sylas turned his head toward him.
"Just because your nephew is a coward doesn't mean I am."
"You disrespectful brat. My sister was right about you," he muttered.
"I had a feeling that witch was your sister. Now I know ugly runs in the family."
He reached for his staff, but the old man's voice cut through the tension.
"Stop it, Lucian."
Lucian turned to the old man.
"This brat is lying, Lord," he continued. "He is just an E-Rank—"
Sylas cut him off before he could finish.
"I do not lie."
The old man looked at him.
"Okay, Sylas, go to your dorm. Tomorrow is the entrance ceremony."
Sylas tilted his head.
"You realize I just woke up. I don't know where my dorm is."
The old man let out a small laugh.
"Oh, your maid will guide you. She is waiting for you outside."
He didn't know Elizabeth followed him here.
He opened the door and saw her pressing her ear against it, trying to listen.
"So, you ready?" he muttered.
She nodded, and they walked toward their room.
The room was big, but it had one bed. They didn't have a room for Elizabeth because she wasn't supposed to attend this school, so for now, they had to share a room.
He gave her the bed while he slept on the floor.
At first, she refused to sleep on the bed, but once again, she couldn't disobey his orders.
He didn't mind the floor. He actually liked it better. He could hear everything from the floor, and the last thing he needed was Lucian trying to kill him like his sister tried.
When the sun came up, he woke and got dressed.
The school uniform was nice. It was white with gold stripes and black boots.
They walked toward the massive auditorium, where the kings and queens of all the nations attended. They were standing on the stage. They stood tall, calm.
He turned to Elizabeth, who was shaking—like the temperature in the room had dropped below zero.
He placed his hand on her head, not looking at her.
"You will be ok."
She was afraid. Her parents were on the stage.
Behind the curtain were the students who survived. The headmaster called out the names of students who passed.
He started ranking from 50.
The tension built up. No one knew who passed or failed.
Numbers were being called. Most of the students lost hope once the top 5 students' names were being called.
"Number 5, Ryan."
"Number 4, Liz."
"Number 3, Luis Virelia."
He walked on the stage. Both his father and mother's smiles suddenly disappeared.
They wondered—if Luis is number 3, who is 2 and 1?
The old man grinned.
"This year was full of surprises."
"Number 2, Elizabeth Lioraen."
The kings and queens on the stand—
Their eyes widened.
"What kind of joke is this?" Luis's mother shouted.
The headmaster looked at her. His gaze was enough to silence her.
Sylas looked at Elizabeth.
"Walk straight. Head high. You are not a maid but a knight."
She walked up the stage. Her eyes looked focused. She was finally at ease.
She stood in front of her mother.
She froze. She had never expected to see her daughter there.
The headmaster announced,
"And the top student of this year is Sylas Virelia."
He walked up. No one talked. Everything slowed down.
The look on Luis and his mother's faces made his day. Their eyes grew double in size, mouths hanging open.
His father looked shocked—but had a smirk that said, "I knew it."
He walked in front of all the students, his sword before him. He rested his hands on top of the hilt, like a king surveying his people.
The kings and queens stood behind him.
The students' eyes were on Sylas.
"You all came here to prove yourselves," his voice low but powerful.
"To fight for thrones you will inherit—but haven't earned."
"But I didn't come here to prove that I deserve the throne."
A pause. He narrowed his eyes.
"I came here to take what is mine."
"I don't care who your fathers are. I don't care which kingdom you rule."
He tilted his head—like a king speaking down to insects.
"You can either stand with me…"
Another pause. With a smile.
"…or watch your kingdom burn."
The kings and queens started shouting.
Out of nowhere, Luis leapt from behind, ready to strike him.
But before he could go near Sylas, Elizabeth punched him out of nowhere, sending him flying across the stage.
His mother, fueled with rage—
"You dare touch my son?"
Black energy flowed out of her.
Elizabeth's mother unsheathed her sword, stepping in front of her daughter to protect her.
Both queens locked eyes, watching each other's movements.
Then both queens exploded with power.
The headmaster just watched, like he was waiting for something.
Sylas smiled.
"Damn you, old man. You remind me of a man I used to know."
He paused and took a slow breath.
"Fine. I will handle this."
He stepped forward.
He slammed his sword on the ground.
The entire auditorium was consumed by golden light.
"Silence."
The power that exploded out of them all disappeared.
They all stared at him—frozen.