“Huff… Huff… Let’s rest here. You look like you’re about to keel over,” Croix wiped the sweat from his brows.

“N-no, I can still go on. Igurd might come at any moment. We-”

“Hehe, if it’s any consolation, I’m also at the limits of my stamina. Let’s catch our breath.”

Then the two boys rested their weary bodies temporarily. The volcano was scalding, Croix felt like he was in a sauna, the higher they climbed, the hotter it became. Boram as a Pathseeker had it easier but Croix was a regular human.

Boram clutched his bandaged chest.

“Does it still hurt? That blow from Igurd?” Croix felt guilty.

“Thank you for your concern, Prince, but I’ll be alright. I’m sturdy. Master Avel makes sure of that.”

During the battle with Igurd, because Boram was protecting Croix he was on the back foot and took a nasty hit. Boram managed to counter at the same time and managed to force the beast-like Igurd to retreat.

“That gu… beast, he doesn't even respond to words… pitiful,” Croix closed his eyes after drinking water from his waterskin.

“Those that undergo early awakening usually suffer from an uncanny side-effects, Igurd might have lost his sanity,” Boram also hydrated himself.

“...In your case, you cannot grow.”

“Compared to others, I’m among the fortunate ones.”

There was a welcomed silence between the two. Boram glanced at the young noble who sat by his side. Although he still disapproved of his excessive kindness to strangers resulting in so much wasted time, he could feel the noble’s grit and tenacity. In these harsh conditions, he didn't complain and pushed himself to do what he must. He got curious about what drove him.

“Take heart, prince sir. You’ve come so far; you’ll definitely succeed.”

“Thank you, Boram. And please, when it’s just us, call me by my name.”

“Eh? But-”

“What, is there something wrong with my name? Doesn’t a name exist for calling? I have a perfectly good one, do use it.”

“Er… C-Croix prince sir…”

“Hehehe, in time, I hope you'll be able to call me Croix without hesitation.”

“That’s not appropriate. I am a slave of your vassal.”

“If I may ask, what kind of master Avel is to you?”

“The best I could have hoped for, Croix prince sir. He gave me food, clothes, guidance, and eventually, I found a purpose to strive for.”

“But… you're a slave. Don't you want to be free?”

“Eventually perhaps. I… I just feel like I haven't paid him back for all the kindness he has given me. I may be his slave but he has never mistreated me. Most slaves aren't half as lucky. I truly am fortunate.”

“...You really look up to your master.”

“Yes, he’s a person I respect from the bottom of my heart. It’s hard to describe…”

“No, I understand… I have one too.”

On the ground, Croix leaned on the rock behind him; he extended one of his legs and bent the other.

“Since childhood, I’ve lived in the palace’s compound. For the longest time, I saw people obeying and being submissive to me and those around me. I used to think it was normal for people to serve those of nobler birth. In the palace, I was lonely. My days were all about studying this and learning that. I had a lot of brothers and sisters but we weren't allowed to mingle together, mostly by their mother’s command. At that time I didn't understand their cold stares, but now I know they saw me as their child’s future political rival… Ah, I digress. I was fed up and lonely at the palace, so I sometimes snuck out and went to the city. My mother didn't approve, of course, it's dangerous, but I didn't listen and did it anyway, with just a cloak as my disguise.”

Boram listened while Prince Croix was lost in his recollection. His smile was very melancholic.

“The borough of the capital is full of things I didn't understand, which made it exciting for the young me. And then, I saw a noble carriage run over a little kid. There was a commotion, the kid’s mother cried and screamed. People flocked around, but none came for aid. Why would they? The mother and child were slaves. The nobles inside didn't care and told them to get out of their way. When she didn't, they tried to cut her down. I’ll never forget the look on their faces, as if they couldn't stand a bug clinging to their feet.”

Boram wasn't surprised. He knew all too well the treatment of slaves.

“The nobles left the slaves half-dead, bleeding out in the streets. And then he appeared from the crowd. A man wearing the garb of a priest. He healed them, not caring whether his nice clean clothes had blood and dirt on them. He didn't ask for compensation, only wished them well and to be more careful in the future. I don't know why I followed him that day, pure curiosity perhaps. Sure enough, he went to a church. There were a lot of other children at the time. He greeted them and they greeted back, calling him teacher.”

Croix paused for a drink.

“He began his lesson by telling them a story. The story was interesting and funny. After he was done, he elaborated on the morals of the story. The priest was teaching the local kids life lessons, free of charge. I stayed there the whole time, about an hour, hiding near the window. After the class was dismissed, he asked me if I liked what I heard. Of course he knew I was secretly listening. With a smile, he said I was welcome to come again… That was my first encounter with Priest Guido.”

Stolen novel; please report.

Croix closed his eyes.

“If I am different from other nobles, it’s all thanks to him… Well, sorry I prattled on. Shall we go on?”

Boram nodded in agreement. The two rose to their feet and resumed the climb. It wasn't long until Igurd attacked them again.

After repulsing Igurd a few times, Boram felt strange. Every time he clashed with Igurd, there was a strangeness that he couldn't explain. It had no effect on the battle so he paid no mind to it at first but every time Igurd returned, Boram felt his madness had lessened, in its place, there was… anger?

On the other hand, Croix was fascinated. The other two boys were younger than him but they were already capable of engaging in hot-blooded mighty Pathseeker battles. It stirred his heart. He hated the fact he was powerless and couldn't wait to become a Pathseeker. If he was here, Viers would understand. For Croix, it was like seeing the fiery battles of a shonen manga. The reason some series became loved worldwide was because they had battles that gripped the heart of the masses.

Boram punched Igurd in the face, yet even as his cheek became out of shape he didn't move back. In return, he gave Boram a stare full of hate.

“...Unfair shit.”

“Wha-? Guff!”

Boram was confused and got knocked back by a body blow.

Two days passed, and the terrain was even more unforgiving now. The air was thinner, the mana was thicker, it was blazing hot, and days of climbing with no end in sight sapped the stamina in both mind and body of the two boys. Furthermore, there was the persistent attacks of Igurd.

Croix and Boram bonded during this time, like comrades on the battlefield. Even though Croix’s battle strength was near zero, he could still do something using his magical items. The effect was not much but he tried to not become a burden to Boram as much as possible, and Boram realized that.

The two were climbing stairs with sluggish steps.

“We’ve gone high enough. Is around here fine, Croix prince sir?”

“No. Huff… Haah… Must, go, farther…”

“I’m afraid even if you do, you won't have the stamina. The real thing is still the forging of Intio itself. Doing it higher might not give more benefits if you are already bereft of stamina at that point-”

“I know that Boram, I know… I’ll succeed… I will… I must.”

“...Is becoming a king that important to you?” Boram asked after a moment of hesitation.

“Fuh… I don't actually want to become king. If someone else will mend the kingdom I’ll gladly step aside and give him my support, but there isn’t one. It is also my responsibility, as one born a royal. We don't inherit only privileges, but responsibility. When Priest Guido and my mother told this to me I didn't understand. Now I do.”

“...If there’s a chance, I wish to meet with this priest,” Boram said. He felt the priest was a bit similar to Master Avel.

“...The capital became too volatile as more and more of my half-brothers and sisters came of age. Daggers in the shadows and poison in the waters. My mother smuggled me out of the capital with the help of Alfred, knowing I would be severely punished. Even then, there were… complications,” Croix gave a sad smile. “Priest Guido died, helping me escape.”

“...My condolences.”

“...I will become a good king. For them, for the country, for myself. This is the path I’ve chosen to walk, and I will not falter!”

Seeing the prince’s resolve, Boram didn't say anything more. Suddenly, he perked up his head and turned behind him. Igurd was there; his battle aura was far more tempered and seethed with anger like never before. Boram felt it. This time, Igurd was committed, there would be no retreat.

“Bo…ram…” Igurd’s voice sounded grated and coarse.

“Prince Croix, please go without me. I’ll hold him off here.”

“But-” Croix hesitated before making up his mind. “You're right. I’m counting on you. Don't die.”

Igurd didn't react when Croix ran, his eyes were fixed on the battle-ready Boram. He pounced on him like a beast. When they made physical contact, Boram felt strange again. This after multiple times, he got a vague idea.

“You glimpsed my memories!”

The how eluded him, but as Master Avel taught him, the world of Pathseekers was full of mysteriousness and wonders. Even though Igurd was clearly a body Pathseeker, it wasn't impossible.

“Unfair… So unfair… How nice is your life, while mine and others’ are living while drinking mud!!!”

The blow was heavy, Boram got knocked into the wall.

It all became clear now. So that was the source of his resentment.

“You’re right,” Boram said as his hammer glowed with a yellow aura. “Compared to you who’s Prince Marvin’s slave, I might as well be living in paradise.”

“You always think you want to help your fellow slaves, but what have you done so far? Nothing! You hypocrite!” Igurd roared as he dashed with his spear aimed at Boram’s head.

“Arte - Rocky Smash!”

Against a fellow slave with a similar background such as him, even though his heart felt for him, Boram’s fighting spirit didn't waver. Master Avel taught this to him. If there was a time when fighting was difficult or morally complicated, beat your opponent down first. The matter of philosophy can wait.

“Sorry, but I’m going to defeat you first before thinking about the complicated stuff.”

“Gruaaaahh!”

The battle between the two child slaves had begun. It raged like a wildfire.

***

“Haah… Haah… Haahh… Everyone,” Croix thought of Boram, of Alfred and also Avel at the foot of the mountain. Be safe. Don't die.

They came for him. They fought for him.

But don't die for me…

Even the air that entered his lungs felt like steam. His eyes were blurry, but the surroundings were already thick with red mist anyway. The dragon egg in his satchel felt like a very heavy lump of solid rock. His body was crying in protest, it had long met its limits. His feet were bleeding, his joints were inflamed, sheer determination was what kept him moving.

He didn't need to reach the summit, in fact, if it was about the legend, forging the Intio in the middle of the mountain or at the very doorstep was fine. People still died when they failed their Intio creation. Those few who leapt through that chasm of death were the source of the legend, not how high in the volcano they awakened. Too few success cases were recorded for a definite conclusion that going higher would be better.

“Haah… Fahh…”

His head hung down, too tired to look up. One step. One step. One step… but flat?

The ground was flat, where were the stairs? He walked forward while swaying like a drunk man.

“Ack?”

Until he hit a wall and fell on his butt.

Then he saw it was not a wall at all, but scales.

“Ah… Ah…” Croix's heartbeat was racing.

“Hmph,” the creature snorted fire from his nose. “You are a mote better than the rabble that has come to my mountain these past centuries, son of Athos.”

Croix heard this voice before, before he crossed the red barrier at the entrance of the volcano.

From the pool of lava, the creature rose up, extending his long neck and tail. As the lava slid off his ruby-like scales, his two wings magnificently covered Croix’s vision. If the dragon hadn't put his tail before Croix earlier, he would have fallen into the pool of heated rock.

“Y-you’re-”

“One who fought alongside your ancestor, whelp.”

From behind a series of sword-like fangs, each as tall as half of a human body, the voice came.

Archion the Red Skies.

The reason the first king of Latias was called the Dragon of Dawn.

Just by him moving, the mana around the mountain surged as if there was a continent rising from the calm sea of lava, creating all sorts of phenomena.