Decision's

As the grand hall emptied, Arin, Borin, and Dustin made their way out, each lost in their thoughts. The confrontation with the king's brother had left a palpable tension in the air that clung to Arin like a second skin. The corridors of the castle were quieter now, the sounds of their footsteps echoing against the stone walls.

Arin glanced at Borin, who walked slightly ahead, his expression unreadable. Dustin, on the other hand, seemed relieved, though there was an underlying worry in his eyes. Dustin spoke up as they approached the guest quarters, his voice gruff but kind. "Arin, you need to clean up. You'll feel better once you've washed and changed."

Arin nodded, feeling the grime and sweat from the previous day clinging to him. Two dwarfs dressed as servants entered and took Arin with them. Arin hesitantly followed and was led to a chamber where a bath had been prepared, steam rising gently from the water. The room was simple yet elegant, with low, sturdy furniture built for dwarven height, and the walls were adorned with carvings showing ancient dwarven styles.

Slowly Arin sank into the warm water, the events of the day began to replay in his mind. The king's unexpected generosity, the anger of the king's brother, and the feeling of being caught in something much larger than himself weighed heavily on his thoughts. He couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that something was amiss, that the king's brother's anger would not easily be quelled.

Meanwhile, in the darker, less traveled corridors of the castle, the king's brother moved with hurry. His face was a mask of barely controlled fury as he entered a hidden chamber, a place known only to a select few. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of burning incense, and the walls were lined with books and artifacts of a more sinister nature.

The king's brother approached a large, shadowed figure standing near a window that overlooked the castle grounds. "My brother thinks he can humiliate me, under his authority," he spat, his voice dripping with venom. "But they will soon learn I am not the one to play with. I AM THE GREAT 5 CLASS MAGIC. "

The figure turned, stepping into the light. It was Borin. His usual calm demeanor was gone, replaced by a look of cold determination. "What is your command, my lord?" he asked, his voice steady, betraying no emotion.

The king's brother narrowed his eyes. "The boy—Arin. He's more than just a HUMAN child. Something about him… something that could not escape my senses even after being a 5th class Mage my senses warning me to stay cautious. I want him watched. Closely. If he shows any signs of becoming a problem, just deal with him. As for what my brother thinks about letting a vermin stay in the castle…just because of a forging a sword " Thinking about Arin, building up more anger, he cracked his fingers and looked into the eyes of Borin.

Borin nodded, his expression hardening. "It will be done. But what about the king? I don't think he is still unaware of our plans?"

A cruel smile spread across the king's brother's face. "The king is a fool, too blinded by his sense of justice to see the truth.I will continue as planned. The kingdom will be mine, only of Zephyer. And anyone who stands in our way will be crushed."

Borin bowed slightly, a gesture of respect, but there was no feel. "As you wish, my lord."

As Borin turned to leave, the king's brother added, "And Borin… remember your place. You serve me, and your loyalty will be rewarded. But betrayal… betrayal will be met with a fate worse than death as for the sword of Hell can be sacrificed for this great purpose."

Borin paused, then nodded again before exiting the chamber. His face was a mask of composure, but inside, conflicting thoughts warred for dominance. He had his reasons for aligning with the king's brother, reasons that he kept close to his chest. But as he walked back through the castle's winding halls, he couldn't shake the feeling that all things were going awry.

Because Arin somehow is a saviour for him if he didn't somehow disturb the assassin's attack that time he could have died by now. One thought rang in his mind ' If only I had not made a mistake I could have lived a peaceful life with my family ' It was only his regrets that were rooted deep inside Borin with a sigh and frustration borin left

Meanwhile, Arin finished his bath and dressed in the clean clothes that had been left for him—a simple tunic and trousers, both a bit too large for his frame, but far more comfortable than the rags he had worn before. As he stepped out of the chamber, he was greeted by Lyra, the dwarf girl who had brought him food earlier.

"Feeling better?" she asked with a warm smile.

Arin looked at her with a mixture of surprise and gratitude. "Much better, thank you… Princess?"he made a guess

And to his surprise, Lyra's smile widened. "Good, so you figured it out. Come, I'll show you around the castle. It's easy to get lost if you're not careful."

Arin hesitantly replied " But I don't think that a princess needs to do all this "

Lyra smiled stiffly and smiled again " I have already talked to father about this you don't need to worry " and continued to walk.

As they walked through the grand corridors, Lyra pointed out various places—the armory, the library, the dining hall. The castle was a marvel of dwarven engineering, with its massive element arches, intricately carved columns, and the occasional technological wonder, like the automatic doors and the glowing crystals that provided light without flame.

Despite the grandeur, Arin couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The king's brother's words, his anger, and the way Borin had looked at him earlier all played on his mind. And there was something about Borin's presence that felt… wrong. And why a princess is escorting him all of this made Arin more confused.

As they turned a corner, Arin noticed a door slightly ajar, leading to a dark, narrow staircase. A sense of unease crept over him, but before he could say anything, Lyra gently tugged his arm. "That's just the old servant's quarters," she explained. "They've been abandoned for years and it's now just used for ration storage. Come on, the smithy is this way."

Lyra knew about Rain she thoroughly searched his background get to know about him she knew from many years he has shown his own interest in the smithy.

Arin followed, but his thoughts remained on that dark staircase of the castle.

When they finally reached the smithy, Arin was amazed by the array of weapons on display. Swords, axes, hammers, and other, more exotic weapons lined the walls, each a masterpiece of dwarven craftsmanship. As he began to examine them, Borin entered the room, his expression once again calm and composed.

"Take your time, Arin," Borin said, his voice even. "Tomorrow you will be called to the treasury."

Arin took a deep breath and looked at Borin the knight captain. "I've made my decision. I want to train under a dwarf with a sword."

Borin's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You wish to train as a warrior?"

Arin nodded firmly. "Yes, I want to learn how to swing a sword. Your craftsmanship, your strength… I want to be strong enough to protect myself."

For a moment, Borin's stern facade cracked, revealing a hint of approval before he quickly masked it again. "Very well. We will see what can be arranged. But remember, training with a sword is not an easy path.After today's that is."

Arin met his gaze steadily. "I'm ready for whatever it takes."

Lyra touched his shoulder, bringing him back to the present. "Where were you lost? I've been calling your name a few times."

Arin smiled hesitantly and said, "Just thinking about all this. It's overwhelming."

Lyra laughed lightly. "Well, don't think too hard. You have a lot to see and learn. As for Captain Borin, he already left after informing you about tomorrow. You know, I've never been to the treasury myself. It's my first time seeing someone being called to enter."

Arin's eyes widened. "Really? Why's that?"

Lyra shrugged. "It's a sacred place, only opened when there is an emergency. You're very lucky to even stand in this castle, let alone be invited to the treasury."

Arin felt a sense of awe and responsibility settling over him. "I won't take it for granted. Thank you, Lyra."

She smiled warmly. "Come on, there's still so much to show you."