Reborn

Gary started crying as happiness overwhelmed him. After all, it had always been his dream to become a knight. Seeing this, Ray was reminded that despite his usual mature demeanor, Gary was still only five years old.

As Gary walked off the stage, his eyes met Ray's. He quickly rubbed away his tears and gave Ray a thumbs-up. It was a side of him Ray had never seen before, and honestly, he didn't know how to respond.

Several more contestants took the test after Gary, but their results mirrored those before him. So far, Gary remained the only one to have passed.

Finally, it was Ray's turn. As he stepped onto the stage, positioning himself opposite the training doll, murmurs spread among the villagers.

"It's him, the cursed boy."

"Did you hear what happened to his father?"

"Does he really think he can become a knight?"

Their words were meaningless to Ray. He had only one goal in mind. Drawing his sword, he held it firm in his grip, ready for what lay ahead.

Wilfred and Barnado sat together, observing and discussing the village candidates.

"Looks like there will only be one from this village," Barnado remarked.

Just as he said this, something caught Wilfred's attention. His eyes locked onto the boy stepping onto the stage.

"The boy has red hair!" Wilfred exclaimed, jumping out of his seat.

"Ah, yes. That makes him the fifth one," Barnado said, placing a reassuring hand on Wilfred's shoulder to calm him.

Meanwhile, Delbert, now in charge of evaluating candidates, observed the village folk with disinterest. He never expected much from commoners and had little regard for them.

When Ray appeared on stage, Delbert noted Wilfred's excitement from the corner of his eye. This only fueled his frustration. Delbert didn't believe in the prophecy and was convinced that true knights came from noble bloodlines. How could a hero emerge from a backwater village like this?

Ray stood firm, his sword at the ready. Delbert could see the confidence in his stance. A cruel smirk formed on Delbert's lips as he subtly adjusted the training doll's settings. Leaning close, he whispered, "Level 3."

Unlike with previous contestants, the doll immediately lurched forward, dashing at full speed towards Ray.

Wilfred sprang to his feet. "Delbert! How could you?!"

Delbert remained impassive. If the prophecy were true and this boy was destined to be the kingdom's savior, then this should be an easy task.

The training doll closed in, its strike mere inches from Ray's face—when suddenly, its head rolled across the ground. The doll came to a halt, its attack unfinished.

Ray had moved so fast that none of the villagers had seen the strike. Only the three knights from Roland recognized the sheer speed behind his movement.

In preparation for the exam, Ray had continued hunting basic-tier beasts after learning of his father's illness. Through this, he had absorbed additional crystals, increasing his power. Now, his points had reached 36 compared to the mere 7 he had before. His body felt completely transformed, as though he had stepped into a new realm of strength.

With the test completed, the knights instructed Ray and Gary to bid farewell to their families and gather their belongings. Ray had expected this—his father had told him that once they passed the test, they would leave immediately.

Back at home, Ray gathered his few belongings. Material things meant little to him; none of it held any real value. Before leaving, he visited his father's room.

There, his father lay, muttering the same cryptic words about the shadows.

"Dad, I passed the knight exam. I know you probably can't hear me... but I will find a way to make you better."

For a brief moment, his father's muttering ceased. Ray wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he thought he saw a faint smile twitch across his father's face. His father was still in there, fighting.

Before departing, Ray went to say his final goodbye to his mother. Tears streamed down her face from the moment she heard the news.

"Ray, I want you to take this with you before you go." She handed him a blue circular pendant and placed it around his neck. "It's a family heirloom. Hopefully, it will bring you good luck, just as it did for me."

With his farewells said, Ray headed toward the carriage waiting at the village's edge. He was relieved to finally leave this place behind. The town held few good memories for him, and those he did have—his time with his family and Amy—had been tainted by recent events.

At the edge of town, the three knights sat astride their horses. Inside the carriage, Gary was already seated. Without hesitation, Ray climbed aboard, choosing a seat away from him.

As the carriage departed, Ray glanced back at the village one last time.

Three hours passed in silence. Gary and Ray hadn't exchanged a single word. The quiet was suffocating, and Ray, being the more mature one, decided to break it first.

"So, what happened to Amy? I didn't see her around," he asked.

"She went to Roland Academy. Didn't she tell you?"

"The mage school?!" Ray stood abruptly, shouting in surprise.

Of all the times they had spoken, Amy had never once mentioned possessing magical abilities.

Before they could continue their conversation, the carriage came to a sudden halt.