Falyn Elway’s P.O.V
After my father and I finished our sparring match, my parents and I spent the rest of the day catching up. Most of their questions were about whether I was ready to start school and if I was excited about it.
Eventually, my mother got tired of seeing my long hair and trimmed it to make it look nicer - at least in her eyes. She didn't change much, though. My hair was still long, and I kept it tied up. She told me to brush it, and if I didn’t want to, she said, “Get a girlfriend and have her do it.” I told her I would do it myself.
“So, Fal, have you heard anything about Myla recently?” my mother asked as she picked up a piece of steaming meat with her fork and ate it.
We were eating dinner at night, and the main course for tonight was steak, greens, and diced potato.
“No, I haven’t. Since she's been at the academy, I don’t hear from her very often.”
“Well, that’s too bad. From what she's told us, it seems she’s doing really well at the school.” My mother smiled. “Apparently she’s in line to be the next student body president. So that means when you start school, she’ll be the leader of the student council.”
I looked up, amazed at the news. “That's amazing. I’m glad she's doing great. I wonder how much stronger she’s gotten.”
My father laughed. “So do I. If we have another one like your mother on our hands, Fal, we might be in trouble.”
My mother chuckled. “Oh, shut up, Mel.”
“No, but seriously, Fal, do you plan on doing anything like that in the academy, like joining the student council and stuff?” my father asked as he stuffed his face with steak.
“No. I feel it would be better for me to hone my skills and improve my abilities. Doing extracurricular activities like the student council or anything of the sort just isn't my cup of tea.”
“I see,” my father said. “It's your education, and you can do what you want with it. I'm sure that whatever it is you decide to do, you'll make us proud.”
After dinner, my parents went to bed. It wasn’t too late, and they said they would usually stay up later, but they wanted to get up early for the big announcement they had mentioned earlier.
Although the manor was big, it only contained one large master bedroom and one bed, so Rye and I had to crash on the sofa for the night.
Despite having had a long day, I found myself unable to fall asleep. Rye was already fast asleep, taking up half of the couch, so I knew it would be hard to get some good rest anyway.
I got up and walked to the balcony. Sliding the glass door open, I stepped outside and gazed upon the starlit ocean. The wind was blowing softly and the tides were strong, and I could hear the crashing of waves on the rocks, their calming sound flowing throughout the beach, giving me a sense of relaxation.
I began to think about the academy. What was I going to do in school? Yes, I wanted to improve, but I had no doubt I was more advanced than half of my entering class.
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I sat down on one of the chairs that were on the patio and pulled out a gadget I hadn't used in a long time. It was the communication bracelet Princess Selina had Verla give to me. Verla said it was temporary in uses, so I assumed it stopped working. It had been a while since I had seen Selina, and as I did with my sister, I wondered if she had gotten stronger as well.
I then pulled out a stone. As I held it in my hand, my blood tingled, just like it did the day I ran into the golem. When its hand fell apart, I took a piece of it with me and stored it in my dimension ring. I made a mental note to ask Zeph about it the next time I got the chance.
***
The city of Syla was bustling with people, all gazing at a massive glass panel that floated above the square. It reminded me of a television, but instead of wires powering it, it was fueled purely by mana. I could sense the surge of energy, and I'm sure everyone else could as well.
My parents and I stood together, craning our necks to look up at the screen. Soon, four figures appeared: all kings, but each of a different race. One was a human, one a demie, one an elf, and another a dwarf. They wore intricately designed crowns on their heads and stood in a row, peering down at the crowd from the glass panel as if they were looking directly at us.
“People of Lotia. We don’t stand here today as just kings, but also as citizens of this continent. We personally want to thank all of the people watching for taking our announcement with such importance. We also come bearing important and interesting news, news that could change the way we see the world for years to come.” The elven king's voice boomed through the square, his words laced with confidence and delight.
The human king, whom I recognized as Selina and Hanz's father, continued, “We, the kings and knights of Lotia, have stumbled upon something miraculous. We have found proof of another land mass, a continent if you will. The discovery prompted new inventions and new ways to cross water. Because as you’ve probably heard, our former attempts have failed. But with this new information, we will be sure to seize the unknown.”
The dwarven king stepped forward and addressed the assembly, "We have gathered here today, for the first time in history, the nine most powerful knights on the continent. I assume most of you are familiar with the Nine Worthies." The screen displayed images of nine individuals.
The focus then zoomed in on two humans, a male and a female. "Representing the Kingdom of Vintess, under the rule of King Kallias Stellar, are Audrey and Vincent Froston."
Next, the screen shifted to three elves, one female and two males. "Representing the Kingdom of Thezmear, under the leadership of King Pharum Nillion, are Valdun Faedi, Orrian Kephlar, and Leanna Caimys."
Two dwarves were then showcased, a male and a female. "Representing the Kingdom of Deladora, under the rule of King Korgrel Vouna, are Koveth Coals and Nire Whitel."
Finally, the screen displayed two demies, both male. "Representing the Demie Territories, under the guidance of Gallak Luna, are Cevis Luna and Daiki of the Rain."
The screen displayed the nine individuals once more before flashing back to the kings. The Demie king began to speak with authority and conviction, "On the other side of the sea, riches and rewards await not only the Worthies and adventurers, but citizens, merchants, businessmen, and scholars alike. This new opportunity will pave the way for new stories and legends, marking the dawn of a new era. We, the people of Lotia, will bear witness to this historic moment and march forward together."
His words held great weight and excitement brewed within me and the rest of the crowd. Cheers erupted throughout the city, "Long live, Lotia! Long live, Lotia! Long live, Lotia!" Even my parents beside me joined in the jubilation. Eventually, the giant mana screen went white, signaling the end of the announcement, but the crowd continued to celebrate.
The idea of a new and unfamiliar continent was daunting, but the riches and accolades it offered were no joke. An entire continent to explore and discover - the possibilities were endless.
As I turned around, I caught a glimpse of the ocean through the sea of people. The future was uncertain, but one thing was for sure - a new adventure awaited, and I was ready to embark on it.