The doors in the V.I.P area open. And one by one, 3 people enter the room. While entering, each one was presented by the king's advisor.
"First. Dane Anglan! The governor of the coast!". Dane Anglan, the coast governor, was the first to enter the room. Dane has a really young look considering his position. He is blond and considerably tall. His hair is elegant, and he is wearing orange pants and a shirt with a shade of brown, both made with the most expensive leather. His sleek appearance was also very notable. Dane's clothes also had multiple gold embroidery details. It is evident to everyone that he was a wealthy man.
"Oh my! He's so beautiful! A perfect man." React most of the women in the arena, including Lillian.
What is so fantastic about him? He's just rich, nothing more. Thinks Akin.
Dane sits on the left throne among the three thrones in front of the larger one. After Dane sits on his throne, the king's advisor continues the presentation.
"Now the second. Edwin Ovid! The governor of the north!". After Dane, Edwin Ovid was the second to enter the V.I.P area. Edwin looks much older than Dane. He almost has no hair, having only a little bit of black hair on the sides of his head. Edwin is wearing complete red armor, only missing the helmet, which has nothing special. It is just a standard red armor. Unlike Dane, Edwin is not seen as an elegant person. Even though his appearance doesn't stand out, the way he walks and looks, always with a serious face, makes him look like an authority, therefore constantly receiving respect.
"He looks like a solemn person. No wonder the north is doing so well economically." Says Lillian.
Edwin sits on the throne in the middle, next to Dane. The king's advisor then proceeds to present the next governor.
"The next governor is Ian Mercius! The governor of the south!" The governor of the south, Ian Mercius, is the last governor to enter the V.I.P area. Ian is not really tall. Being the shortest one of the governors, not only that, but he is also the oldest. His hair is white, and he has a long white beard that goes until his shoulders. Ian wears pretty everyday clothes, a long-sleeved light green shirt with brown pants. His appearance is neither elegant nor respectable. He just looks like a typical old person.
Despite being very different, Dane and Edwin received lots of applause from the people on the bleachers. With Ian, it was different. He received applauses, but they were considerably less than the other two governors.
"Ms. Lillian, why are the people not applauding him? He is also a governor." Asks Akin.
"From the governors, he is the least liked one. I mean, look at his appearance! He doesn't even look like an important person. And his work in the south is terrible! We are the least developed region in the Kingdom. All because of him! You also didn't applaud him, Akin."
"I didn't applaud any of the governors."
"Akin! I get why you didn't applaud Ian, but the other two are important. You should show some respect to them."
"I told you why I don't applaud them. The governors are nothing special. They were just born lucky."
Lillian sights and redirects her attention to the V.I.P area, not wanting to discuss it with Akin.
Ian sits on the throne on the right, next to Edwin. The king's advisor proceeds.
"Now that all governors are here. There is one more person to enter the Great Stadium. I think you all know who he is. The great king Willian Erex! Please enter the room, your majesty!"
Willian enters the V.I.P area, and the whole arena gets loud. Lots and lots of applause. It was visible how incredibly liked the king of Erex, Willian, is. Much more than even Edwin or Dane.
"Let's applaud more people! Not every day you can see your beloved king so close as today!" Says the king's advisor. The arena gets even louder.
"That's is right! That is what our majesty deserves! King Willian Erex. The one that could maintain the union of our Kingdom and didn't let it split. Not only that, but also the youngest king Erex has ever had. He became king at 18 and has been governing for 6 years since then."
Willian Erex has short blond to orange hair. He has a young and clear face. Even though he is very young, with his big and shining smile, his appearance is one of a very trustworthy person, responsible and intelligent. Even if one didn't know his position, they would see that they could trust him and be sure he is a good person. Willian is wearing armor with no helmet, but unlike Edwin, the governor of the north, his armor is far from standard. His shining leggings and chest plate are made of silver. The arms of his armor, on the other hand, are made of gold. His wearing makes him seen as both respectable and elegant.
"Thank you, Thank you, all my dear citizens." After entering the V.I.P area, King Willian says that with a big smile.
"Even though I love your hospitality. Today is not my day. Because on this day we have an exceptional guest! The greatest knight Erex has ever had, the one who could defeat an entire army all by himself. I was indeed just a kid when Tartus was an active knight. But I've heard stories, just like all of you. Stories of the great legend Tartus the Titan! Without him, our Kingdom wouldn't be as great as today. So please, show him the same enthusiasm you showed me. Now I kindly ask. Tartus the Titan, please join us here in the Great Stadium!"
After the king's request, the entire arena gets loud again, as loud or even more than before.
"Tartus! Tartus! Tartus!" Screams the hole arena.
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King Willian smiles and redirects his gaze to the door of the V.I.P area, waiting for Tartus' entrance. The arena keeps screaming for a couple of seconds, but after some time has passed and still no sign of Tartus, the screams start to get lower. Willian started getting worried, and his smile almost vanished.
"He is coming, right?" Whispers Willian to his advisor.
"I mean, huh. He said he would" Answer the advisor nervously.
Is that guy really not coming? And I thought he wanted to improve his relationship with the Kingdom. I guess I will just have to tell them he is not coming. Thinks Willian.
With the arena entirely quiet now, king Willian starts speaking.
"My beloved citizens. I hate to tell you that, but it seems that"
Willian's speech is interrupted by the noise of a door being open.
"Hey. Sorry, I'm a little late."
The V.I.P area and the rest of the arena redirect their gaze to the man at the door. After some seconds with everyone in silence...
The whole arena screams again. The one everyone was waiting for was finally there.
"Tartusssss!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Uhuuuuuuuuu"
"Tartus!! Tartus! Tartus!!"
Willian's nervous expression changes to an expression of relief.
"There is no problem. Am I right, my citizens? From all people, you are the last that should be apologizing. Please come forward." Says Willian.
Tartus comes to the side of Willian, and the arena keeps going wild. After some more time, everyone finally calms down. Tartus has a white skin color, short white hair, and a small white bear. He is wearing a white short-sleeve shirt which makes his muscles stand out, brown shoes, and black pants. He is also wearing a dark red cape that goes until his knees. Something that also stands out is a scar that looks like a burn on his neck.
"So, what do you think about your reception in the Kingdom of Erex?" Asks Willian to Tartus.
"It was great." Answers Tartus without changing his expression.
"Yeah. I know it has been a long time since you came to Erex, but I and everyone here know about your incredible contribution to the Kingdom. So thank you very much for accepting the invite and coming here."
"I still have one more surprise for all of you! Tartus wanted to get closer to the Kingdom, just like the old times. Today, he will choose one of our most prodigy generals to be his student and learn with the best!"
After Willian shared this news, the arena got loud again.
"So, this is Tartus?" Asks Akin to Lillian.
"Yes! The great hero Tartus."
"He looks so strong. He must be the best fighter in the world." Say the other kids from the orphanage.
So that weird guy defeated an entire army. He is not even excited to be here, but the reaction of the others still doesn't change. Thinks Akin.
"So please, our three youngest generals, join the arena!" Says Willian.
Three people enter the arena, two men and a woman, but not in the V.I.P area, but in the actual Stadium, where fights usually occur.
The arena looks down on the Stadium, where the three generals are. The king himself starts presenting them.
"First, Rina Herbius. She is 20 and the youngest girl to ever become a general." Rina has long green hair, green eyes, and white skin color. She wears a long-sleeved purple shirt, white pants, and white shoes.
"Thank you! Thank you for having me here!" Says Rina with a big smile while waving to the people in the bleachers.
"Second, Gale Trovak. He is 19 and comes from one of the most important families in our Kingdom. The Trovak family is extremely powerful and exceptional in producing young prodigies like Gale." Gale has a white skin color and short spiky black hair. He is wearing dark blue pants and short sleeve blue shirt. His shirt is open so that it is possible to see his chest and stomach. On his chest, there is what looks like a drawing of lightning.
"Third and last, Eiden. He is just 17, the youngest general of the entire Erex history. In only two years as a knight, he could achieve this position. Definitely a true prodigy. Even though he comes from an orphanage and has no important family to support him, he could still do it and become a general!" Eiden has a white skin color and very straight short black hair. He wears casual clothes, a long-sleeved blue shirt, black pants, gloves, and shoes.
"The youngest general?" Asks Akin.
"Yeah! He is only 17! Can you imagine it?" Says Lillian.
"No, I can't." Says Akin in a low tone.
Akin looks at the ground and starts to think to himself.
The youngest girl to ever become a general, a guy from a powerful family, and Eiden, the youngest general of Erex history, who also grew up with me in the orphanage. They are so cool; big bro is definitely the coolest. I wish I could be like them, but I can't even enter the knight academy. No matter what I do, I will never be able to pass it; that's because, unlike them, I was born unlucky.
After the general's presentation, Willian resumes speaking with the arena.
"Incredible, right!? Only 17, and becoming a general. That's amazing! That's proof that with hard work, anything is possible. Before Tartus chooses one of them to be his apprentice, why don't our prodigies show a few of their capabilities!? Starting from the other entrance, please show Tartus and the people here what you are capable of!"
"Hard work, what a pretty word; unfortunately, that's not the case." Says Akin in a shallow tone.
"Did you say something, Akin?" Asks Lillian.
"No, nothing."
The three generals start showcasing their abilities.
First was Rina.
Simply moving her arms, the ground beneath Rina starts shaking; suddenly, something starts getting out of it. Two plants got out of the earth; they were much taller and broader than typical plants; they grew up so much that their height surpassed the height of the Stadium. They were gigantic, something that would never be found generally in nature.
"Rina has the power to create plants. She can make them grow up as much as she wishes and control them. It's truly an awesome power; it can be instrumental in capturing enemies." Says Willian.
The next was Gale.
What looked like yellow lighting started circulating his entire body. He points his arm to the front, and all of that lighting in his body starts concentrating on his arm; the lightning gets out of Gale's arm. It reaches one of the Stadium's walls, causing a big hole.
"Gale can produce yellow lightning in his body and concentrate it in whatever part he wants. His power is incredible, isn't it!? We could barely see it because of the lightning speed, and of course, he had to hold down a little bit so that no one would get hurt. Expected from someone of the Trovak family."
The last was Eiden.
"And now, Eiden, the last one, show us the power that made you be the youngest general of Erex!" Says Willian.
Before Eiden presents his powers, Akin starts thinking to himself again.
What extraordinary powers all of them have. Unfortunately, hard work doesn't work in this world. Your abilities are all defined by the aura you are born with. It allows people to have powers and impacts their physical strength. Even though I trained every day, even though I tried so hard, I...
"There is nothing you can do. You just don't have enough of it." Those words that Akin heard before came to his mind again.
Akin stands up from his seat and walks toward the exit.
"Where are you going, Akin?" Asks Lillian.
"I already know what powers big bro has, and I know he is probably the one Tartus will choose. I'm gonna wait in the orphanage."
"Ok. But remember to think about what you are going to do. You can't stay in the orphanage any longer. You have to find another academy to go to or get a job as an apprenticeship. You know the knight academy is not the only possibility you have."
"Yeah, I know. I will think about it; I will give you an answer when you return to the orphanage." Says Akin with a sad face.
"So now, Eiden, show us what you can do!!!" Says Willian.
Akin walks to the exit and leaves the Great Stadium.