The morning bells of the Aethyra towers rang, an early reminder for Raek, who laid nicely on his cot. Each ding forced him to keep his eyes open, no matter how much he wanted to twist, and turn on his bed.

Morning light streamed through the high window of his room, spilling across the crimson cloak draped over a chair. As he blinked against the sunlight for a brief moment, he let himself imagine a world where he wasn’t the Chosen One.

Where he wasn’t Raek Ventus.

The illusion shattered as a knock echoed through the door. He waited for a moment, expecting anyone now. In his line of…well, life, he had to get used to practically everyone, and anyone, having the comfortability of knocking on his door.

A well-aged voice spoke out. “Sir Ventus, the Chancellor has requested your presence in the Hall of Crowns,” a guard announced from the other side.

Sir Ventus.

Raek took a deep breath and grimaced at the title. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, his bare feet touching the cool stone floor. His eyes peered over to the lengthy rope laying on top of his storage chest.

He, the Chosen One, had just wondered for a moment what if he could call it quits one day. Just, stop acting like the title he was born with. What if, he just decided to–

“Can’t do that,” Raek spoke softly. His voice a low tone. With a sigh, he reached for his boots. Foolish enough to even think he had an option to escape the calling he was born into.

Those exact thoughts traveled back to him of last night, his conversation with Iris, and how that ended. He never intended to…overshare that much, and usually, most people don’t believe him when he explains the burden of being the Chosen One.

He cringed, remembering even more now. Ah, to run away and get flustered. He felt like he could blame himself for not being composed, but it’s not like everyday someone wants to reenact Runner’s Journey with you.

He had already assumed if he had seen Iris again, he was going to act like nothing happened that night. Better to just shove it under the rug, right?

He had gone through his normal morning routine, sometimes staring into the mirror for minutes at a time. To feel something, anything. The rush of his blood through his body, and the throbbing energy of his own mana coursing through his veins.

Apparently, that was only a raeklike thing to experience. He often asked if anyone else did. If they too, could feel the mana rushing through their veins each and every morning.

Easy way to spot the outlier within himself.

And also the gradual sense of feeling like a beacon from time to time. More on that later.

He got ready fairly quickly. No one would be stupid enough to leave the Chancellor waiting, especially within the Hall of Crowns. And if the atmosphere in the city wasn’t already bad thanks to the Great Red Dragon, Raek somewhat expected a verbal explanation from himself.

The Chancellor might want him to explain to the people, or to the higher nobles, of what happened, and how he and the rest of the Vanguardias plan on doing better from there on.

Or maybe something something about politics.

It was a toss up honestly, and knowing Chancellor, he didn’t quite know the answer ironically enough.

Raek had left the room, all tidied up and into his standard Vanguardias outfit. Cleaned entirely from yesterday’s battles. His face was neutral, the call to the Hall of Crowns meant anything. And not even his natural smile could’ve cracked through.

By the time he made it to the Vanguardias Hall, he was met with a set of Elite Conjurers–those who were great and talented enough to be more than your average Conjurer, but just fell a bit short of their ability.

All of them, fitted in metal armour bowed down instantly at the presence of Raek. Each manning a spear that had went down along with them too. To Raek, this was just a warm up of the inevitable, and the undeserved praise he would get for the rest of the day.

He took a few more steps, and then spoke.

“It’s only me guys, c’mon.”

Raek’s total casualness in his voice alerted them, and in totally synchronization, had stood up from their bowing position and assumed their guarding forms. Raek took a few more steps, and had left the hall entirely.

Hall of Crowns, what a palace of a place it was. Reserved for high duty nobles, the Chancellor, and anyone else who piqued the interest of the Chancellor. And for most of the time, it was usually Raek.

He began his walk as usual, being able to see the port from here, and all the damage that was done to it by the Great Red. Surprisingly, the port had already undergone reconstruction.

Looking away, he set his sights on the Hall of Crowns, the large building further up the path of the main street. It perched so high and mighty above everything else, and well, given the altitude and elevation of the inner most parts of Aethyra, it looked like anything could be on the high ground.

As he tried to recall the tasks of his own friends, his mind was sort of…blank. He wasn’t sure what they were doing, or what they could be doing. Assuming one of them would be helping with the reconstruction of the port…Clovis perhaps?

Then…what about the others? He did remember leaving Delpharia to track the Great Red Dragon that was en route to Aethyra. Kaelstorm, Aelara, and Exien were all there. But he hadn’t seen them since yesterday…so perhaps they are still over there?

Lost in his own thought, Raek ignored the citizens calling out to him, greeting him. Limiting any chance of conversation. Citizens loved walking the streets, not only for the exercise, or for the breath of fresh air, but also for the chance to see Raek.

If it wasn’t already established that seeing Raek was a spectacular thing to witness, then now it is. Sometimes Raek would assume he had the same level of popularity as a king or a monarch. That’s just how much these people wanted to see him.

They acted as if Raek was something more than just beyond a human. A God walking amongst men, some would say. Ah, that’s his favorite saying. He says it alot because, well, it’s true.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

But, he begged to differ. He was anything but that. Just another human too, that was called up by the Gods to carry this…

This burden.

Nearing the entrance of the Hall of Crowns, nobles lined up. Usually most of these nobles had spectacular wealth, power, or lineage. He noticed a few of Clovis’s family members here as well.

He exhaled greatly, preparing himself mentally for whatever that could go on, and entered the building.

The morning sunlight poured through the high windows of Aethyra’s Hall of Crowns, or more specifically, the Council Hall. Only for the fancy name that houses many legends, Alexandria, Raek, and Vanguardias alike.

He took two steps on the marble floor, and just somehow, Raek stood at the center of it all. His eyes didn’t need to look around, he could easily just sense them all. As if this was the first time he was here.

It didn’t matter, it never mattered. The Hall of Crowns has seen him age year by year, he’s seen renovation and even new attendees from time to time. If anything, he wasn’t done. Not by a long shot.

A crowd had gathered, as they always did when he was called upon. Diplomats, merchants, scholars, even children–somehow, everyone found a excuse to be here, to glimpse their Chosen One.

“Raek Ventus!” Chancellor Lucen boomed, his voice echoing off the grand walls. He noticed him quite easily amongst the mass. Raek grimaced slightly before forcing a solid grin.

Raek looked back at him, with some endearment. He couldn’t shake out their last conversation just yet, and how much he heard words that he didn’t want to hear. Needed more time to adjust, yeah, but for now, he would have to endure as he always done.

“Morning Chancellor, came here as fast as I could.” Raek began, as Lucen nodded.

“Great, hope you had a great night’s rest?”

Raek furrowed a brow, before laughing it off. If only the Chancellor knew.

“Yeah, something like that. The bells woke me up before I could get any extra minutes in.”

The Chancellor fixed a slightly confused face, and opened his mouth to question Raek, but his eyes gazed amongst the crowd, and he dropped it.

“Yeah…yeah. The nobles are still shaken up about the attack from the Great Red Dragon. But I’ve begun to sweep their opinions of the whole ordeal.”

Raek looked down for a bit. The Great Red Dragon he failed to protect Aethyra against? He figured. However, the Chancellor suddenly “changing the opinions” of the high ranking nobles was nothing new, at least not to him.

Even if some couldn’t realize it.

In the next moment, Lucen had called out amongst the people. All eyes were on the two as Lucen separated himself from the Chosen One.

“On behalf of Aethyra, and all of Aegis, we commend you for your service and bravery in the field. Despite the damage done, The Great Red Dragon’s retreat was still no small feat.”

Before Raek could open his mouth, a roar of applause erupted. A thunderous wave of admiration that swelled through the hall. Raek forced a smile, bowing his head slightly. Who couldn’t love a great warrior and hero for the city?

“Thank you, Chancellor.” He said, his voice steady. All of the eyes, he looked around. Each and every single pair on him. Raek didn’t quite understand it to be fair. Someone as grand as the “Chosen One” is supposed to fend off dragons flawlessly and easily.

Maybe Iris was right? Maybe they realized someone like Raek had the best outcome. Out of anyone else, that was.

Lucen beamed, motioning to the crowd. “Let this moment remind us all of the strength and resolve of our Chosen One, the hero who will lead Aegis into a new age of prosperity!”

More applause, celebratory screaming, and cups beings raised. Raek’s smile slowly fell. And to think that he was getting somewhere with this. Just as the expectations he believed were put down, once again there was another level added to it.

He hated this part–the ceremonies, the speeches, the way everyone looked at him as though he were untouchable. It was always the same thought, Raek was sure of it. They all think that being the Chosen One means that nothing can affect you.

He had Alexandria to blame for that one, and even then, he wondered if she too, had felt like this sometimes. The immense pressure and expectations weighed upon him since he was able to read and write.

After what felt like an eternity, the Chancellor dismissed the gathering, and the crowd began to disperse. Raek turned to leave, eager to escape the weight of their gazes, but he was intercepted by a young boy no older than ten.

“Sir Raek!” the boy exclaimed, clutching a small wooden carving of the Vanguardias insignia. His wide eyes shone with awe.

“Can you sign this? Please?”

Raek crouched down, silencing his sigh. He smiled, a great relief from all of the eyes that were staring at him earlier.

“Of course. What’s your name?”

“Syren.”

Raek blanked out, his smile remained, but his attention not. The name that had entered his mind, was no ordinary name. He was familiar with it. Years, and years ago. Before himself, Clovis, Iris, Kaine, and anyone else was in the Vanguardias, much less even Vanguard level.

Back at the academy, the Aethyra Academy of all places. On that fateful day, where his own life had–

Raek caught himself. Blinking away the confusion, he couldn’t help but ask again.

“Come again?”

The boy spoke, “Cyan. Like, the color.”

Raek let out a breathe of relief, and to be fair, he don’t know why he did. The uncomfortability that came with that name alone always made his stomach turn. He didn’t like the name, or anything else associated with it.

He took the carving, and signed his name with a flourish. Etching onto it with pure solidized mana. Handing it back with a gentle pat on the boy’s head. “Stay strong, Cyan. You’ve got a bright future ahead of you.”

The boy grinned and ran off, leaving Raek alone with his thoughts.

The sun painted Aethyra in warm hues of gold as he walked through the bustling marketplace. The streets were alive with the chatter of merchants, the laughter of children, and the rhythmic clatter of horse-drawn carts. But as Raek passed, the noise shifted.

“Look, it’s him!” whispered a woman by the flower stand, clutching a bouquet of Ventus Daisies. Her companion’s eyes widened as she turned to see the young Vanguardias.

“The Chosen One!”

Raek heard the title, but it didn’t feel real much. The standard given praise, he has tried to dismiss it, ignore it, and even speak out against it. Just like the brain of a rock, the people as a collective didn’t seem to remember, or even care.

He continued to walk, and a vendor by the fruit cart bowed his head deeply. “Good morning, Lord Ventus! A fine day, isn’t it?”

He stopped briefly, forcing a polite smile. “It’s just Raek…and yeah, beautiful day it is. Take care.”

Before the vendor could respond, and before he could even take another step, a boy darted out from the crowd, holding up a makeshift wooden sword. Raek noticed it, but this wasn’t the same boy he met earlier in the Hall of Crowns.

In his line of life, you gradually get used to seeing many faces, but not putting a name to any of them. But even he knows what it feels like to have a role model, and for that, he could never forget any of the children’s names.

Except for new ones that appear out of thin air from time to time.

Raek chuckled, “Jakk?” He noticed the boy, wasn’t the first time he’s seen him. He usually paid visits to the Aethyra Academy, those up and coming to be the next in line to Conjurers-in-training.

The boy nodded happily, “Sir Ventus! Sir Ventus! Can I be like you when I grow up?”

He crouched down to the boy’s level, his face amused, “I highly doubt you’ll be the chosen one…but there’s always room for you to be better than me.”

Jakk beamed, his mother pulling him back with a grateful nod toward Raek.

He began his walk again, but paused for a moment.

There was one place he had to go to.

He promised someone he would.