The Frivolous Prince

[20]

"Brother, take care on the academy," Zeana said.

So even Zeana knows about the academy dorm. I am really not that updated to news about the kingdom.

"Don't worry about me, Zeana. I can take care of myself," I replied.

"I'm going to visit there from time to time so make sure that you are not irresponsible on keeping you room clean, okay?" Zeana said.

"Will they allow you from going there?" I asked.

"Of course, who do you think I am?" Zeana replied.

The first princess and the most prodigal child in the kingdom. She's like a spoiled child that could get everything that she wanted. But Zeana is not a person that simply asked everything she needed. In fact she hates being spoiled, but in this kind of matter, she's different.

"Let's go sleep, okay?" I said.

"Okay, I'm just going to get my favorite pillow," Zeana said.

"Huh? I don't understand," I replied.

"Ugh, that means that I'm going to sleep beside you. This will be your last night in the palace, right? I'm going to miss you," Zeana said.

Oh, right. Of course, she will miss me. She's a very sweet sister. I don't know what I'm gonna do if something happen to her.

My father, he’s very proud of me at that time but by the next day, he was killed mercilessly by those bastards. But this all doesn’t really make sense, did the goblin toyed with father and mother during the time they defended the village? But goblins like to kill as many humans as possible so there’s no way they would play with dad and mom and let a group of people escape from them. I understand what this trial is all about. Zenith thought.

“Honey, did you manage to find them?” Aica asked.

“Yes, we were able to hunt the goblins,” Toya replied.

My mom and dad really love each other. The look between them is really different from other people. I couldn’t notice it before and didn’t notice this the first time I was sent back here. I’m just too focused on defeating those goblins with my power. Zenith thought.

“Did you find the reason why those goblins are in the vicinity of our village?” Aica asked.

“We are really not sure about this, but there is evidence that they just lost their way but we are still investigating it so you don’t have to worry,” Toya said.

“Don’t overexert yourself, Honey. We got other villagers that could help on that matter, even Dalton is here in the village,” Aica said.

“I know that, I’m just getting a weird feeling about this,” Toya said.

“I understand, let’s not talk about that in the middle of eating our breakfast. Kids, make sure you consume every food on your plate, alright?” Aica said.

After eating, Aica and Toya talk more about the goblins. And a little later, Toya proceeds to go out again.

After this, I’ll just practice swinging my swords. And my dad will come here talking about the goblins. If I don't speak, during our conversation earlier, nothing will happen, but I want to see and live this moment. Even though I couldn’t change the past, I could still see their smile and their face during this moment. Zenith thought.

The night passed by.

I still can’t sleep. My dad would fetch up my mom some time later. This will be the last time that I will see them. Zenith thought.

“Aica? Are the kids asleep?” Toya said in a very quiet voice.

“Yes, I think they are. Is this what we are afraid about?” Aica replied in the same quiet voice.

“I’m sorry, but this is the end for us. The goblins have already breached the second line of defense, we have no other choice but to do this. There’s even a four Goblin Overlord and a Goblin King. There’s no other choice,” Toya replied.

Toya and Aica went outside.

Zenith’s eyes become filled with tears.

This will be the last time that I could see them but I didn’t even gaze to see them leave the house. I could still change the past and try another one to see for the last time but I think this is enough. I’ll accept this past, I don’t have to change anything. Zenith thought.

Zenith closed his eyes and slept.

As Zenith was about to open his eyes, he saw the ceiling of a familiar room. The door in front of him is already open.

Zenith got up.

I see, that’s really the answer. I just need to accept the past and not change anything. Amaya and Zeana might have different trials than me so I can’t tell whether they are still taking their trial. Zenith thought.

Zenith's tears ran down his face. 

Zenith wipes away his tears and walks to the open door and looks at what's beyond it. The Trial about the present.

“So I also have to pass through the labyrinth before the final room? This is really a test of all abilities of a person,” Zenith said.

After three days, Zenith was able to enter the final room on the Trial of Present.

“Will I lose consciousness again?” Zenith asked.

The room expands as Zenith walks forward.

“The thing happening here is really interesting. So what is it? What is the final phase of the second trial?” Zenith asked.

A person appeared in front of Zenith.

“I see, if this is what I think, I need to fight that person,” Zenith said.

Zenith walks closer to the person who is currently holding a sword.

“Guess that’s the trial of the present, I should fight against myself,” Zenith said.

Wait, should I really be fighting myself? Zenith thought.

“Hey, can you understand what I’m saying?” Zenith asked.

The other Zenith didn’t respond to him nor make an expression saying he’s aware of what Zenith is saying.

“So you’re just a copy of myself? Maybe in terms of power, mana and decision making, right? But aside from that, you got nothing,” Zenith said.

The other Zenith take his stance to fight against Zenith. It suddenly blinks toward Zenith.

“Using blink strike as an opening attack, huh? You’re really me,” Zenith said.

Zenith fends off the other Zenith’s attacks accurately.

“I know you’re going for my neck, you’re really trying to kill me, huh?” Zenith said.

Zenith backed off on a distance away from the other Zenith.

“Let me test things first,” Zenith said.

《Blink Strike》

Zenith blinks at the other Zenith and strikes him in his neck too. The other Zenith managed to fend it off the same way Zenith did in the first round.

“I see, you’re also aware that you’re fighting yourself, huh?” Zenith said.

If that’s the case, then I need to change my fighting style and I know he will also realize that. Zenith thought.

《Crescent Strike》

Zenith’s attack was blocked by the crescent strike made by the other Zenith.

“Same power as me, huh? But don’t underestimate yourself, I’ll be able to break through this no matter what,” Zenith said.

I need to be faster and faster so I can beat him. Zenith thought.

The two Zeniths engage with each other, their swords clash many times in just seconds. The battle lasts for a long time with them just clashing with swords.

“We’re both checking what the other self will do, right?” Zenith said.

This is hard, we even have the same thinking. Maybe I should lay down all of my beliefs. I’ll restart everything. Zenith thought.

“Then, let’s go!” Zenith said.

《Quick Dash s***h》

“I haven’t used this skill for quite a while now, we learned this by watching Dalton-sensei, right?” Zenith said.

Zenith runs from side to side and engages the other Zenith.

“Not a blink of an eye for opening the battle, quite new,” Zenith said.

Before Zenith could s***h the other Zenith, his sword clashes with the other Zenith’s sword already.

“I see, you use Quick Draw. We still have the same way of thinking, maybe you’re copying my thought from time to time and not the instant you appeared. The thought that it's actually the case is kind of infuriating,” Zenith said.

I need to think of something that even myself could even think of using in this battle. If that’s the case, the only thing that the other Zenith would think he would never do is using magic. I also wouldn’t want to do it. Zenith thought.

The fight continues but they still are at a stalemate.

“This would never end if I’m not gonna do anything,” Zenith said.

I should really start using magic or nothing of some sort would happen. But I can’t use it unless I learned it from grimoire. Wait, there’s another way. I Understand the chant, but I couldn’t use Amaya’s Chaos Fire in this kind of place, and it’s kind of long. I’ll just buy time, I’ll meditate on those chants first while fighting myself. I just hope that he’s not thinking about this just like I’m doing. Zenith thought.

The fight continues but Zenith is being cornered by the other Zenith.

“What’s happening? He’s already gotten stronger and faster than me? In that span of time?” Zenith said.

He doesn’t have any auras so we’re both not using the power of emotions. What did he do that made him stronger than me? No time to overthink, I already understand the chants I needed to win this fight. Zenith said.

“Goddess of Ice, give me a power that will suffice,” Zenith chanted.

“Once, twice and thrice, to an overwhelming size,” Zenith chanted.

“Open my eyes, and it will arise,” Zenith chanted.

The ground started to shake.

《Ice Wall》

“Now you’re trapped, you can’t dodge my skills anymore,” Zenith said.

“Asheolus, give me power and fuse with my sword,” Zenith chanted.

“Let the blade and the wind be in accord,” Zenith chanted.

A gust of wind is building up in Zenith’s sword.

《Heaven’s Tempest》

As the gush of wind brought the other Zenith up in the air, Zenith started attacking the other Zenith with the fastest speed possible.

Even if we have flight magic, the wind from this sword magic is strong. You can fend off my attack but what about if I combine it with this. Zenith thought.

“Heed my decision, and my mighty vision,” Toya chanted.

“Fulfill my mission from a great conduction,” Toya chanted.

《Sword Ignition》

Flame appears at the end of Zenith’s sword and it joins the whirlwind that carries the other Zenith.

“Burning to death, that’s not the kind of death I want to have. But sorry that I did this to you, myself,” Zenith said.

Zenith flew backwards to see the whirlwind with fire. After a little bit of time, shockwaves in the form of a sphere cleared up the wind and the flame.

“What?! I don’t have that kind of skill! But even if I want to use that kind of skill, I need to think about it for some period of time. The time from making the whirlwind mixed with flame is not enough to create a skill like that. Wait, did you already know that I’ll be doing this thing and prepared it beforehand?” Zenith said.