Bishop XI

Agatha's observant eyes caught Aden's solitary figure as he approached her from behind the ceremony place. A knowing smile graced her lips as he drew near.

"Ah, young one," she acknowledged, her voice carrying the weight of experience. Aden remained silent, his eyes revealing the unspoken complexities within.

"Feeling outcast?" Agatha inquired gently, her gaze shifting between Aden and the poignant scene unfolding behind them. The silence persisted, and Aden's expression conveyed a narrative of its own—a tale of isolation and introspection. In that moment, words seemed unnecessary, as the shared understanding between the two transcended the need for spoken language.

Agatha's gaze lingered on the busy scene unfolding behind the grandeur of the ceremony. The unsung figures, cast aside from the coveted halls of the academy, were now being ushered towards a fate that echoed with the distant rumblings of war. A myriad of emotions played across Aden's face as he observed the preparations.

She turned to Aden, her voice carrying a somber note. "These are the ones whose destiny diverges from the path of scholars and nobles. Their journey leads not to the revered halls of learning but to the brutal front lines of a war they did not choose."

Aden's eyes remained fixed on the unfolding scene, his thoughts a tempest of conflicting emotions. Agatha continued, her voice a calming presence amid the turmoil. "Sometimes, young one, destiny presents us with choices beyond our control. A dance with forces that shape the tapestry of lives in ways we may never comprehend."

As the knights diligently went about their tasks, the air filled with a sense of urgency and disquiet. Agatha's eyes mirrored the weight of responsibility she bore. "In the grand theater of life, not all are granted the privilege of choosing their roles. Some are thrust onto the stage, mere players in a script dictated by the whims of power and politics."

Aden's silence spoke volumes, a silent acknowledgment of the harsh reality unfolding before them. The unsung heroes, unnoticed by the revelry above, were preparing for a different kind of destiny—one etched in the grime of battlefields, far removed from the polished elegance of the academy.

In the midst of the bustling preparation for the front lines, a group of slaves and servants huddled together, their faces etched with desperation and fear. They knelt before the knights, their voices trembling with a blend of anguish and pleading.

"Please, sir, give us another chance," one of the older servants implored, his eyes filled with a profound sadness that mirrored the impending separation from all they had known.

The knights, however, remained resolute, their duty overshadowing the heart-wrenching pleas of those about to be sent to the war front. Aden, though detached from the fate of these individuals, couldn't escape the melancholy that permeated the air. The faces of the familiar servants, once companions in his past life, now twisted in anguish.

Yet, as their pleas echoed in vain, the knights continued their stoic march, carrying out the orders without a second glance. Aden observed the faces of the soon-to-be soldiers, recognizing them as the very individuals who had shared the same struggles and camaraderie with him in the not-so-distant past.

As the knights departed with the remaining servants and slaves, their echoing footsteps mingling with the fading sounds of the cart wheels against the cobblestone road, the weight of the moment hung heavily in the air. Agatha's voice, gentle yet firm, broke through the solemn atmosphere, offering a semblance of solace amidst the turmoil.

"Get some rest, young one," she advised, her words carrying a sense of wisdom earned through years of leadership. "You have a big day tomorrow."

Aden watched as Agatha retreated from the scene, her figure fading into the shadows. Left alone amidst the quietude, he remained rooted to the spot, his gaze fixed upon the now-empty horizon that had once teemed with life and vitality.

The vast expanse before him seemed to mirror the vastness of his own thoughts, a silent canvas upon which memories and uncertainties intertwined. The weight of his newfound identity, coupled with the specter of the impending war, loomed large in his mind, casting a shadow over his weary soul.

Yet amidst the turmoil, a flicker of determination stirred within him. Though the road ahead was fraught with uncertainty, Aden resolved to face whatever challenges lay in store with steadfast resolve. As the last vestiges of daylight waned, he turned his gaze skyward, seeking solace in the comforting embrace of the stars above.

As Aden gazed up at the vast expanse of the night sky, a realization crystallized within him. The notion of postponing his vendetta against the goddess, a grudge nurtured across the ages, seemed almost refreshing in this new chapter of his existence. In the cool embrace of the night, he allowed himself to consider a different target—the very heart of the kingdom itself, the king.

The prospect of challenging the monarch, a potent and influential figure, infused him with a newfound sense of purpose. It was a sentiment he thought he had lost during his reign as a Demon Lord—a thrill in encountering a formidable adversary, a sense of excitement in facing someone powerful and stronger.

The moon above seemed to illuminate his path, casting a silvery glow on the landscape below. The night held a quiet promise, and Aden, standing alone beneath the celestial canopy, felt the stirrings of ambition and anticipation. The challenge of confronting a mortal king, a being of flesh and blood, felt invigorating compared to the ethereal nature of his vendetta against the goddess.

In this quiet moment, Aden forged a silent pact with the night, acknowledging the complexities of his new life. The king, with his earthly power, became a tangible objective—a challenge worthy of Aden's revived sense of thrill and purpose. The winds carried whispers of destiny, and the stars bore witness to the emergence of a vendetta that would unfold against the backdrop of mortal realms.