The War at Tregaron

"Do you have the balls for me, you bastard?" growled Edmund.

Edmund felt provoked after hearing Quentin yell at him like that. He never thought a loser like Quentin could utter such a sentence.

"I wouldn't hesitate to put a fist in your filthy face!" snapped Quentin.

The young man rose from the bed, walking in his pajamas closer to Edmund. 

Quentin managed to duck when Edmund was about to strike him in the face. Instead, Quentin managed to land a blow on Edmund's belly. 

Edmund grinned and kicked Quentin's body with force, making him bounce until he crashed into the wooden nightstand near the bed.

"AKH!"

Mary walked over to Quentin to help her brother. Edmund turned his face away, stepping out of Quentin's room with an upset heart.

"Are you okay, Quentin?" asked Mary.

Edmund's kick was painful. The expression on Quentin's face couldn't lie about it. However, as her brother, he shouldn't show his weakness to Mary.

"I'm good. Edmund kicked like a whore, I'm just surprised," Quentin replied.

"You barely woke up after all. Why are you so desperate to fight him?" complained Mary.

The adorable girl with reddish-black hair helped Quentin to sit back on the bed. Mary asked Quentin to remove his clothes. The girl wanted to treat the bruises caused by Edmund's kick.

The wound on Quentin's body was successfully healed by Mary, Quentin was truly amazed by the woman's ability to concoct medicine and wrap bandages.

"Thank you," expressed Quentin.

Right after treating Quentin's belly, Mary bid farewell to her brother. She was about to leave to tell King Otto Reingard about Quentin waking up from his coma.

Quentin nodded, left alone by Mary. However, Quentin's loneliness gave rise to something else. 

As he stepped toward the bedroom window, his feet stopped at the sight of a man in white light standing before the bed.

He looked and acted like Quentin. Arryn guessed the shadow was Quentin's displaced soul.

"So, my body is controlled by someone else?" asked Quentin's shadow. Arryn, in Quentin's body, nodded.

"Alright. She might believe you could avenge my hatred," revealed Quentin's shadow.

"Hatred?" asked Arryn.

"Be prepared. This might give you a headache," replied Quentin's shadow.

Quentin's white shadow approached Arryn and entered the young man's body. Now, glimpses of Quentin's life journey were displayed vividly in Arryn's mind. The man could see it clearly.

Starting from the death of the First Queen, Isabella Reingard. The outbreak of civil wars in various lands, the coronation of Edmund as Crown Prince, and the flash of memory of the moment when Edmund and his younger siblings bullied Quentin and Mary.

Quentin and Mary's mother was killed on the way to her land. King Otto was indifferent because he thought disputes between royal families' children were common.

The last memory Quentin had ended when he was enjoying a royal family dinner. He fainted after drinking a tea served by the waiter.

The flash of memory came to an end. Quentin fell on the floor with a grimace of pain, holding his head with his right hand.

"So, they really abandoned Quentin and Mary, huh?" Quentin complained.

Just as Quentin tried to get up, his eyes focused again in the direction in front of his eyes. 

[Host has been identified!]

[Initiating Special Ability Selection]

[Congratulations!]

[You Obtain Manipulation Ability]

"M-Manipulation? What kind of power is that?" asked Quentin, completely clueless about it.

Both of Quentin's pupils, which were initially dark brown, turned maroon. Quentin wouldn't realize it until he looked in the mirror or someone else told him.

The door to Quentin's bedroom opened, revealing two people coming through: Mary Reingard and a middle-aged man dressed in a typical medieval lord's suit and trousers, dark blue in color.

"It's good to see you awake, Prince Quentin," explained the man, Howard Hildemar.

Through Quentin's previous memories, Howard was the Royal Duke of Athalaris. He was equal to a prime minister.

"Your Majesty is pleased you have regained consciousness. He wishes for your presence in the throne hall," Howard explained.

"Fine. I'll be there," Quentin replied.

Howard nodded, bowed, and quickly walked out of the room. Mary Reingard was still there, trying to help Quentin put his clothes back on.

"Why didn't he come here alone?" asked Quentin to Mary, standing beside him. She had only told King Otto the news of Quentin getting awake, but the old man had sent Duke Howard to see Quentin instead.

"Maybe they're busy discussing the civil war that is raging wildly," Mary revealed.

Quentin was silent as he watched Mary through the mirror before him. His clothes were ready, a dark green color that matched the pride of their mother's family.

It didn't take long before Quentin and Mary stepped into the throne hall together. The large three-meter-high wooden door adorned with ornate gold lines and luxurious gems was opened by two palace soldiers.

Quentin stepped firmly on the red carpet of the throne hall. Quentin's arrival spontaneously attracted the attention of many people in the scene, from the ministers to the King and Prince.

The young man soon knelt obediently with a bow of the head, as did Mary, "Your Majesty."

"Prince Quentin. It is good to see you here in this small council again," stated King Otto, standing up from the throne and walking down the steps.

Quentin stood looking at the 67-year-old King Otto walking over to him. The old man hugged Quentin tightly and gently rubbed Mery's head.

"Are you ready?" asked King Otto.

"Ready for what, Your Majesty?" asked Quentin, squinting.

King Otto nodded, turned his body around, and looked at Duke Howard, the middle-aged man who had previously gone to see Quentin.

"The civil war in Tregaron has gotten out of hand. The royal alliance, House of Roderick, is facing defeat," Duke Howard replied.

The middle-aged man reached into his shirt pocket and handed an unfolded letter to Prince Quentin. Quentin received the letter and read it. Thanks to the memory of Quentin's soul, he could read the characters in this world.

"Lord Roderick asks for help," Quentin explained.

"We must win Tregaron," said Duke Howard.

King Otto walked back to his throne with audible gasps. His health has worsened lately, "Tregaron is an important land that we must defend. There is a free trade route that House Roderick rules."

"If you think it's important, why didn't you protect it from the first? Why are you making such a fuss about it today?" asked Quentin.

The surprising words were delivered by Quentin, a prince who was usually shy and always agreed to anyone's orders. However, the current Quentin seemed different to them.

"We were miscalculated. The House of Hartwin gained additional troops from its ally, Sir Jason Romarich," explained Duke Howard.

"House Romarich has never left the Silkway. It's a surprise they sided with Hartwin," replied the Minister of War, Harold Ivo.

"What about the Northcrest? The distance from Wintercrest to Tregaron was much closer than Telmarath," revealed Quentin.

"Archibald? We can't expect those braggarts!" complained the Minister of Science, Archmage Dieter.

"Enough!" insisted King Otto.

Everyone who had been speaking began to close their mouths and bow their heads. King Otto stood tall again, assisted by Crown Prince Edmund Reingard.

"I, Otto Reingard, King of Athalaris, One of the Seven Myths, Commander of the armies and protector of the world, command you, Quentin Reingard, to control the peace of Tregaron and to bring down House Hartwin forthwith!" King Otto drew his sword, holding it in both hands with the blade pointed downwards.

Quentin fell silent, then nodded obediently while kneeling before King Otto, " I'm willing to accept the duty."

"You will lead 5000 troops from Athalaris' capital, Telmarath, to Tregaron," declared King Otto.

"Allow me to make a favor, Your Majesty," Quentin pleaded.

"Go ahead."

"I would like to take Mary Reingard with me to ensure her safety, of course," Quentin replied, glaring sarcastically at Edmund, who had been rude to Mary earlier.

King Otto nodded, allowing Quentin to take Mary away. Quentin smiled as he stood on his feet.

Before Quentin left the throne hall, Duke Howard handed him a necklace with a sapphire gem. 

"Thank you, Duke Howard," Quentin stated.

They shook hands with each other. However, something surprising happened. Quentin faintly heard someone speaking, a voice similar to Howard's.

'The poor prince. He must be sacrificed for the sake of Prince Edmund's throne.'

Quentin just realized the voice was coming from Duke Howard. Quentin could read Howard's mind by how the two shook hands.

"Be careful, Prince Quentin," Duke Howard pleaded.

"Don't worry, I will win Tregaron's battle."