1 MAKE A WISH!
-----
CLASH! CLASH!
The sounds of metal striking metal filled the room as Liam parried the sword strikes of his cousin Lucian.
"I could keep this up all day!" said Lucian as he grinned wildly, enjoying every every swing he threw with his blade and the loo of his cousin finding it hard to keep up with his attacks.
"Don't get too cocky Lucian!" Liam said as he disarmed him with a with fast yet skillful maneuver. His opponent reach for his sword that was now laying on the floor, only to be stopped by a blade pointed at his neck.
"I yield!" said Lucian, smiling and raising his hands in the air as a gesture of him accepting his defeat.
A loud clapping sound could be heard from the entrance of the training hall. it was Lucius Grandor, brother to the viscount who was the lord of the this territory.
Your Father would be pleased with swordsmanship young master Liam. "Father..., were you watching our math this whole time?" asked Lucian, wearing a smile. "Yes and I must say, I'm disappointed with your performance". Lucian's smile was turned around by his fathers cold words. "I'm sorry father" he said staring at the floor not being able to look his father in the eye.
Loosen up uncle, Lucian is an excellent swordsman, even more so than I am. His passion simply gets the better of him leading to being careless. Liam said as he locked his right arm over Lucian's shoulder and scuffled his hair playfully.
"My standard for my son are simply high. He is a member of the great Grandor family after all".
"With that said,Your father wishes to speak with you. The Lord, William Grandor awaits you in his chambers".
Liam frowned. He hated to to visit his father, as he would be forced to his once mighty father on a sickbed, wasting away slowly.His father was afflicted by an unknown illness, no physician could help him. Despite all the wealth and connections he had as the Lord of the Grandor territory, he could not save himself from certain doom.
Liam walked briskly to his room where he prepared for his meeting with his father, taking a bath then put on formal wear along side his favorite black coat.
*****
Knock Knock
"Come in Liam" said a sickly voice at the other side of the doors. Liam opened the doors and walked into the room. He held back his tears as he saw his father who was trying to foster a smile despite being in soo much pain.
"You look well Liam. I have heard news of your tremendous progress in swordsmanship from your uncle" William said, his eyes filled with pride as he saw how much his son had grown.
Liam could only smile back, as he feared to speak, not wanting his father to see him cry or show him pity. William Grandor was a proud nobleman and having lost everything, Liam wanted to at least allow him keep his pride.
"Come closer, I think it is about time I gave you this" said William as he took a silver pendant of a cross off his neck. Liam stepped forward accepting his fathers gift. "It belonged to your mother, She believed it the wearer their deepest desire. She wanted me to give to you before she died during your birth".
COUGH! COUGH!
Liam steeled himself even more, trying his hardest not to cry as he wore the pendant over his neck'
Knock Knock
Moments later Lucius came into the room with a tray with Tea pots on it, walking towards Liam and his father.
"William-sama its time take your medicinal tea"said Lucius. "oh..., thank you big brother and you can drop the honorifics, you are my elder after all" William said looking away from his son to take the cup offered by his brother.
"That's our William-sama for you, ever soo humble" said Lucius while looking like he swallowed something rotten but still managing to keep a smile.
"Liam sama you must leave your father to rest" said Lucius as he escorted Liam out of the room. "I have prepared a beautiful scene for us to paint, It might help you clear your mind" Lucius said to Liam, who had started tearing up the moment they left the room.
"S..Sounds good to me" Liam said in response while cleaning his tears off and then throwing his uncle a smile.
*****
The two had left the manor alone while their horses as Lucius had dismissed the guards who tried to escort them, much to Liam's delight as he he hated guards hounding every move he made while outside the manor.
"Where are we heading to uncle?" Liam said as he galloped to catch up to Lucius as they arrived at the entrance of the dreaded forest,
"The scene we are to paint is at the deepest ends of the forest but worry not, I know a safe route to our destination".
Hours later Liam and his uncle arrived at the entrance a garden, looking wild enough to know that no one tended to it....,nothing special. But at the center of the of the garden was a well. The suns rays seemed to act like a spotlight above it, making it seem nearly unreal even in a world of magic monsters and knights.
Step back said Lucius as he stretched out his hands the locked gates of the garden which seemed to be in pristine condition despite being in the middle of a humid forest. "Liberium!" shouted Lucius, not a second later the the gates busted open!
"It would be nice to learn magic" said Liam. "You are the heir to the Grandor family, a family that has produced one of the best knights and paladins the griffon kingdom has ever seen, The only path you need to follow is that of the sword" replied Lucius rather coldly as they walked into the garden leaving their horses tied to trees.
Liam twisted the ring he had on his finger. A magic circle appeared on the ground ahead of him conjuring up his canvas and other painting equipment he had stored in it.
The ring was a magic artifact his uncle had given him for his 16th birthday two days ago and Liam was amazed at how well it worked.
"You know its said that you would be able too see the future if you stared into the well" said Lucius. "Really?" replied Liam sounding a bit skeptical. "It never hurts to try" said Lucius smiling.
"Liam walked towards the well and looked in. "Its empty" he said. "Why don't you look deeper" Lucius said as he walked slowly towards Liam with one hand in his robe..."This is silly" Liam said as he turned around.
Lucius drew out a dagger and then slit throat. Liam reached for his throat with his hands as he felt warm blood flow down his neck. He looked at his uncle in disbelief.
"Your father should be dead by now after drinking the poisoned tea I served him" Lucius said as he grinned, making him look senile. "Why don't you keep him company as I claim the noble title that was rightfully mine" said Lucius as he pushed Liam into the well, ripping a sleeve off his black silk coat.
Liam could hear his uncle laugh maniacally as started what seemed to be an endless fall to his death. Yet all he could think of was revenge, he was filled with rage, but he that even if he miraculously survived he still was far too weak to go against Lucius who was top tier magus, a rank even than that of a mage.
"I wish I had to the means to wipe the world free of scum like him" Liam thought as he accepted his fate.
Liam felt a warmth on his chest as the pendant he wore shined bright with purple light.
DING!
NOTICE:
[The host has activated the system!].
-----
