—Asher Frostblade's perspective.
Standing just inside the great door of the royal hall where the king now stands.
"Crunch!"
Oriana opened the doors, and as expected, a red carpet, pillars supporting the ceiling, and just in front, the imposing golden colored throne.
Sitting on the throne, I could see the silhouette of someone.
"The king."
Who else could be there but the king?
Looking around, there was the elder Wilbek, as well as Gloriana and Luna. The three of them were just on either side of the red carpet leading directly to the throne.
Looking around, there was no one else, or so I thought.
Feeling several stares right where the pillars are, but further behind them in the shadows, I could feel the presence of two extremely powerful people staring at me without blinking. The hairs all over my body stood on end.
At that moment, Oriana spoke as she knelt on the ground. Of course, I did the same, as I didn't know what this protocol was like.
"I stand before the king, Leon Mengral."
Looking down at the floor, Oriana continued.
"The ten accomplishments of the young man next to me, Asher Frostblade, are presented before his majesty."
Oriana looked at me and I quickly knew what to do.
"I present myself before his majesty."
No, in fact, I didn't know what to say. I was confused. After all, I come from a modern world where no one is called king and stuff. But of one thing I am sure: before a king who rules everything, I know exactly what I should say and how to behave.
That's the case right now.
"Rise."
Rising to my feet, I stared at the king.
Until now, I didn't know that his name was "Lion Mengral". It was something I just knew.
"Approach."
I started walking just as Oriana did. After a few steps, I was just a meter away from where the king was sitting.
At that moment, he stood up. Wearing an elegant attire and the crown full of gems and of a dull gray color, the king approached me at that moment.
Standing in front of him, I could tell that he was very tall, almost six feet tall. Despite being an old man, his body had muscles and gave the feeling that he was once someone very strong.
"Young Asher Frostblade, you have earned the ten knight achievements in ten missions that put your life and the lives of your companions at risk."
His voice echoed throughout the oversized hall.
This man's words are absolute in this realm. I could feel that and know more than anyone else, especially from the reactions of the others who did not direct their gaze towards the king.
Of course, I am not such an idiot as to do anything improper, so I kept my gaze steady as his words went out and echoed throughout the royal hall.
I felt the gazes of the two people on me. It's very uncomfortable to feel those stares, but I refrained from looking around.
"You had courage for risking your life just for ten achievements. Therefore, I appoint you with the title of noble in the lowest rank of 'lord'."
The lowest rank of nobles is "lord". I was already informed of that, so I knew I would be given this rank, but the rank doesn't matter to me.
I simply need it to get into the Academy. I am not interested in a title.
Following the words, I listened attentively.
"For your willingness in the face of ten achievements and not giving up in the process, I also name you as a knight for your achievements made throughout the continent."
Finally, I became a knight.
It was a title I was looking forward to more than nobleman, to be precise.
At that moment, the king's hands went to his waist. A large sword came out of it. Its golden colors gave the feeling that it was the typical king's sword.
"Get on your knees."
Heeding, I knelt down, lowered my head and waited for the next thing to happen.
Closing his eyes, the king spoke.
"From now on, I knight you, a title to those brave people who risk their lives to protect weaker people. From now on, you are a knight of the Mengral kingdom."
His words echoed at that moment, his sword passed from shoulder to shoulder as he said those words.
"You can stand up."
I finally completed my first goal in this world. It took me a year, but I made it.
***
—Change of scene.
In the next few hours, there were a few things, like everything that happened in the royal hall and all that. Finally, I had left the royal hall along with Oriana and the others, but I was curious who were the people who were watching me all the time.
Did I get in some kind of trouble or what the hell were those stares on me during the whole title ceremony?
"It's a little strange."
"Why?"
I looked at Oriana.
"I'm a nobleman and a knight now, those things have duties to perform."
"Well, that's true, but you're still a child. You won't be put to do something, besides you'll be in the academy for five years."
In that, she's right. The academy is divided into five years: first year, second year, third year, fourth year, and fifth year.
That means I will be in that academy for five years in a row.
I don't know what they will teach me at the academy. Of course, it's a wizard academy where they teach novice wizards how to grow in the future and all that. But, according to the stories I read in my past life, there were usually events where things like monsters appeared or were disastrous events.
I hope that doesn't happen while I'm in the academy. It would be such a hassle.
Today is Friday, so I have two days before I enter the academy.
As far as I know, the Laosa academy is outside of Mengrana City, in the middle of a forest near the city, about a five-hour journey on foot. But in the case of a carriage ride, it would take half an hour.
The forest is called "the Laosa divinity."
"It's a weird name."
Well, I'm not someone important to decide on a good name for a specific place.
Arriving at my room, I quickly made my way to the balcony, looking at the rays of the sun and the breeze of air hitting my face.
"Clank."
At that moment I looked down. It was a truly large garden, with all kinds of flowers. Farther away, there was a very small little chapel with a spacious pew.
"I should go there."
I have nothing to do these days, what else would it be like to enjoy a few days off doing nothing and visiting places.
With that in mind, I left the room and headed towards the garden.
***
—Change of scene.
Arriving at the garden, my eyes focused on someone. In fact, it's someone I know very well.
"Josephine."
Josephine was swinging the sword in a clean area, with nothing around her.
Although I don't care what she's doing there, I sat down and looked at the great view right in front of my eyes.
"It's a very sunny day today."
"That's normal."
"..."
"Why are you talking until now?"
"Well, I was bored."
Talking to Encrid simply irritated me listening to this idiot's voice.
Bored, he's always bored and now he's just saying it like that no more.
"This idiot..." Isabella's voice echoed.
"You stay out of it," Encrid claimed.
"Heh, the idiot speaks, you don't even think about anything other than watching."
"You're doing the same thing too."
"..."
"Uh, well... you're the idiot."
What the hell is this talk? No, more than anything, it's chatter after all.
I simply hear two voices in my head that irritate me, give me a pounding headache and a severe fatigue.
"Asher, you should advance to the second circle by now."
"..."
Now why are they talking about that?
"That's right, you'll be entering a mage academy."
That makes sense Encrid. Rather, I was planning to advance to the second circle this very night and test my strength the next day.
In fact, I've been eager to try a new level in my strength. The last time I felt great power was when Isabella let me use some of the power of the Oz of darkness. The power was so immense I could barely stand it, even the Oz was so heavy I could barely hold it.
Really, those seven weapons are so powerful.
I simply admired them for their power, but what good is it if I can't use them?
"Sigh."
"Mmm."
At that moment, I looked around. There was no one but a few people going about their business, but....
"Someone is watching me."
Actually, I feel the same gazes from before, the gazes that were on me in the royal hall that gave me a chill.
To tell you the truth, I don't like this feeling. I don't like being watched by someone else. I kept looking everywhere, but I didn't manage to see anyone. It was as if they were there, but there was no one.
No, rather, there was no one.
So why do I feel like someone is staring at me? It's one stare, not the two stares from before.
At that moment, I turned my head toward the castle. Looking at every window, there was no one.
"I guess there is no one."
"I don't think so."
At that moment, a voice was beside me. It was a female voice, more than anything else. I kept my eyes on the castle and didn't turn to see who it was.
My instincts told me that if I looked at who it was, I might lose consciousness in a second.
"Who are you?"
I tried to ask, but there was no answer.
"That's not a question you should ask."
He finally answered me.
"What are you to me, family, friend or foe?" was the next question.
I kept my gaze averted as I waited for an answer. At that moment, the woman's voice reached my ears.
"Mmm... Just someone you know."
"..."
Someone I know. I don't know anyone who makes me feel this uncomfortable feeling like I do right now.
I know exactly whoever the woman next to me is, she's someone very strong.
But who is it? I don't recognize the voice.
It could be someone I know from this body. No, that's impossible. First of all, this body has its memories erased from the first nine years of its life, as far as I know. Also, there's no way he knows anyone that strong.
"Who the hell is she?"
I wasn't sure, but maybe she's an acquaintance of this body, the original Asher Frostblade, not the Asher Frostblade who reincarnated into this body.
It was strange the day I reincarnated. This body has the same first and last name, so it was strange. The memories were mostly erased and now this person says I know her. It's all starting to come together.
Whoever it is, he is an acquaintance of the previous Asher Frostblade, the true and original owner of this body.
"I haven't seen you in a long time."
Again his voice reached my ears.
"I'm glad you're well."
At that moment, I felt the woman's hand on my head. She slowly stroked my hair, but I continued to stare at the castle without seeing the woman's face.
"I don't know who you are." At that moment, her hand stopped moving in my hair.
"Is that true?"
"Yes."
At the same time, her hand removed itself from my hair.
"That's too bad. I wonder why that is."
"..."
That word, what's the meaning?
The voice is unknown to me, I don't know who it is and I can't know through the memories of this body either. So it is a complete stranger to me. I don't know who it is, but it seems to have no bad intentions towards me.
"I'll see you at the academy, I'll always be there, Asher."
"..."
But what the fuck, is she a stalker or what the hell do those words mean? I got a shiver that ran through my entire body. Her hand again went to my head and once again a shiver ran through my entire body.
"I'll be watching you, sweetheart."
"..."
What the hell was that, honey, why was he saying those words to me? Most of all, why was he talking about those strange things and why to me?
"You won't tell me anything."
"I don't know who you are."
Again I denied knowing who she is and what purpose she has with me.
Then it occurred to me to ask.
"When will I see you face to face?"
A silence came, but she quickly answered.
"Well... I'm not sure. If you get to first place maybe, but you won't recognize me."
First place? What do you mean, and I won't recognize you?
"I don't know who you are, but... stop doing that."
"Huh? Do what?"
"Don't be touching my hair."
I was already pissed off at this person. I don't know who he is and suddenly he's saying strange things to me. I'd like to know who she is, but for some reason my instincts tell me not to look at her.
"Well, okay, but it hurts my heart that you're like this with me. You were never like this before."
The puzzle is put together. Then she meets the original Asher and I'm not that Asher from before. I'm a reincarnate.
That explains why I don't know her and her voice doesn't sound familiar either. She is an acquaintance of the original Asher Frostblade, not the Asher Frostblade of now.
"That's too bad, then I'll leave you. Goodbye, sweetheart."
"..."
I quickly looked around. It was then that there was no one in the place. Everything was empty, without a single person.
"Who the hell was she?"
It was the question that was in my head for the next two days....
_____________________________________________________
End of volume 1.
I would like you to leave a comment and know who read up to this point. I know volume one wasn't well written and I didn't write all that well, but I hope at least one person made it this far.
Please leave me a comment. If anyone actually read the first 60 chapters, I want to say that this story is just getting started, the life of our main character Asher Frostblade starts from volume 2.
Finally, when I am a more experienced writer, I will rewrite volume 1.