The Frivolous Prince

[17]

“The test is over, everyone, get out of the forest and go back to the amphitheater,” Professor Vyrr announced using amplified sound magic.

“Great work, everyone!” Renver said.

“I’m the one who almost always does the work. How can you say that?” Amaya said.

Renver became a little bit scared. He said, “I’m sorry. Thank you for your hard work, Princess Amaya.”

“That’s better. We even have a dead weight on our team. But it’s alright, my power alone is good enough to finish this test,” Amaya said.

Amaya and her assistants went first ahead of us.

“Are you okay, Prince Zenith?” Renver said.

“Ah, I’m fine. You don’t have to call me a prince, I’m used to just being called by my name. It is a bit uncomfortable to be called that,” I replied.

“We can’t ignore the fact that you are the ninth prince but if you say so, then I’m going to call you Zenith from now on,” Renver replied.

I smiled at him.

“So it was true, the news that the ninth prince doesn't have a high magic level. I thought they were just making fun of the royal family. So you are really befitting to be called-, ah nevermind,” Renver said.

“The Frivolous Prince? That’s the kind of prince I’m used to being called for. But it’s fine and you don’t have to be hesitant on saying that title,” Zenith said.

“Really? I think it is still rude. Anyway, let’s head back to the amphitheater,” Renver said.

Finally, my dream of becoming a hero is in front of me. All I need to do is to pass the trial. I'm happy that I travelled with them. We are all at the same age, it seems like we are all destined to take this trial together. Zenith thought.

Zenith looks at Amaya and Zeana.

We celebrated their birthday the same way we did with mine. Their birthday is twenty days apart so I decided to give my gift ten days after Amaya's birthday and ten days before Zeana's birthday so I could give it to them at the same time. I just carve them with wood holding their weapon. I could say that they were happy but I hope it's genuine. Zenith thought.

"Okay, everyone. We're already here at the Eiyu Terrain, a place where you guys will undergo the trial. There are two other mountains after the Hamori Mountain that are included in the Eiyu Terrain. I hope you will succeed," Rista said.

"Thank you very much, Rista. We owe a big one. Since you'll not go to the trial, you have to wait for us at the exit of the terrain. It might take us a month to complete all of this, but I'm sure everyone will pass. So you're job is to make sure it's safe for us to exit the Eiyu Terrain," Zenith said

"Of course! Okay, let's make a recap. The trial will be about the past, the present and the future. Before you could go to the real trial in each mountain, you have to pass through labyrinths that are full of mazes and traps. That's how this Eiyu Terrain works. The terrain also connects the two mountains so you won't need to go out of the labyrinth to enter another entrance from the next mountain. I know you guys won't fail but if there is a little chance that you would do that, you have to go alone from where the trial let you exit to the final exit so we could meet each other," Rista explained.

"We understand, Rista. Thank you so much. We'll be away for many weeks so we have cooked food in our inventory. The potions are also well distributed so the labyrinth will be easy for us unless we fail miserably," Amaya said.

"I really have to thank you, Rista. Thank you for using your Recreation magic so I could have another dimensional bracelet to store foods and potions. Anyway, this will be the first time that all of us will be away from each other so let's cherish this moment first!" Zeana said.

"You're welcome, everyone! Then, make sure you survive! I want to see the symbol of being a hero in each one of you! Just keep the stone with you and don't put it in your dimensional storage, alright?" Rista said.

"Everything that we need to be reminded about has already been said. Everything we need to do is also done beforehand. Then without further ado, let our trial begin," Zenith said.

As they walked through the entrance, they were teleported.

I am teleported alone. Dalton-sensei said he also took the trial alone so it is as expected. Zenith said.

The path lights up to a big door.

"It's telling me to open that door, huh?" Zenith said.

As Zenith walks down, the torches that light up the path are extinguished as Zenith passes it.

"A challenge is waiting ahead of me so I need to think fast after I open this door," Zenith said.

As open up the door, arrows came straight to him but he was able to dodge it.

“Of course, this trial wouldn’t be so easy even right at the start,” Zenith said.

The path splitted into three and separated by cliffs, the path is in a zigzag pattern.

“Is this telling me to choose one and complete what’s beyond it or is it telling me that there should be a right path that would lead me to the final room?” Zenith asked himself.

Mist started to fill up the place making Zenith unable to see that path that leads to a different direction. After some time, the doors at the three different paths light up making it visible even through the thick mist.

“I see, so it doesn’t matter which path I take, I just have to get into any other door. The choices being presented at first is just a diversion so that I would not memorize the right pattern on going into that door,” Zenith said.

Zenith walked closer to the mist.

“What is this? I can’t use flight magic? I thought I could just fly over but this labyrinth really has a system into which we can't exploit the challenge in our way,” Zenith said.

《Crescent Strike》

The shockwave came out of Zenith’s sword but it didn’t do anything to the mist.

“An illusion?,” Zenith asked.

Zenith laughs at himself.

“I see, the trial is just messing with me,” Zenith said.

Zenith walks straight into the mist not making any turn and right into the door.

“It’s just making me think that there is really a gap between the paths. I’m lucky that I use the Crescent Strike which led me to discover that it’s only an illusion. This labyrinth inside the Eiyu Terrain is so interesting,” Zenith said.

Zenith opens the door and sees a towering wall from all over the place.

“So the second room is a maze. The rules on finishing all mazes are all about memorizing all of the path you’ve taken and making an image of it. The distance and the width of each path I take is very important to notice. I just need to calculate everything, even if it takes me an hour, I’m sure I'll be able to explore all of the mazes and find the exit. The only question is, where will the exit be? I can’t really find myself believing that it would be on the other side of the maze,” Zenith said.

I died. Zenith thought.

“Zenith, why are you still there? Let’s have our breakfast already,” Aica said.

Zenith went to the dining table and sat on one of the chairs.

A man opens the door and joins them.

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

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

Those goblins are spies. Since I returned here, I have made a mistake. Zenith thought to himself.

“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.

But this time, it’s different. I already know that goblins will attack this village before they could break the front line. Zenith thought.

“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.

My emotions get me killed but I’ll make sure I’ll use my emotion properly this time. I’ll fight the goblins all by myself. Zenith thought.

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

Zenith walks towards where his father’s sword is.

“Brother? Where are you going?” Taiya asked.

“Ohh, I’ll just check something. Behave here Taiya, it will take me a few minutes,” Zenith said.

Taiya nodded.

Zenith found the sword and got some clothes to cover him from the cold made by the blizzard.

“I’ll end everything by myself, I know that my parents love me so it's no use forcing myself to join them in the battle,” Zenith said.

Zenith flew high to have a greater vision of the surroundings. The thick snow from the blizzard is hiding him from the eyes below.

After a few minutes of flying, he saw the goblins being grouped up in a cave.

“They are there. Even if Goblin King is there, I’ll be able to use how narrow that cave is to kill all of them,” Zenith said.

Zenith flew down at the front of the cave. A goblin that is a lookout sees Zenith upfront and hurriedly runs away from Zenith.

《Crescent Strike》

The goblins body was torn in half before it could run a good distance from Zenith.

The shockwave from Zenith’s attack hit the cave’s wall and attracted the attention of other goblins.

All of the goblins walk toward where Zenith is.

After seeing the group of goblins, Zenith looks straight to the Goblin King then Zenith’s body emits a red aura.

“The power of anger, this time, I’ll use it properly. A power that amplifies the power of my attacks,” Zenith said.