Chapter 5: "The Aftermath of Courage"

As dawn broke over the kingdom of Astralon, the arena stood silent, a stark contrast to the chaos of the previous day. Daichi, still unconscious, lay in the infirmary with Princess Amra by his side, her emerald eyes filled with a mix of relief and curiosity.

Princess Amra brushed a lock of hair from Daichi's forehead, her fingers trembling slightly. "You really did it, Daichi," she whispered, her voice soft and shy. "But what comes next?"

The door creaked open, and in walked King Alden, his stern expression softening as he saw his daughter. "Amra, how is our hero?" he asked, his voice gruff but tinged with concern.

Amra quickly stood, a hint of nervousness in her demeanor. "Father, Daichi is resting. He was incredibly brave."

King Alden's eyes narrowed as he approached the bed. "Brave, indeed. But I still question whether this boy is truly worthy of my daughter's... uh... admiration."

Amra blushed furiously, her hands fidgeting with her dress. "Father, it's not like that! He saved us all. The Blade of Eternity chose him."

King Alden's eyebrows shot up. "The Blade of Eternity, you say? That old relic actually picked this... this gamer?"

Just then, a bright light emanated from Daichi's mark, and the Blade of Eternity materialized, hovering above him before sinking into the mark on his hand. The room filled with a celestial glow, and Daichi stirred awake.

"What's happening?" Daichi mumbled, blinking at the bright light.

Princess Amra leaned in, her shyness momentarily forgotten. "The Blade of Eternity has chosen you, Daichi. You're the true hero of Astralon."

Daichi's eyes widened as he looked at his hand, now adorned with the glowing mark. "Does this mean I can pull swords out of my hand now? That's... kinda cool."

King Alden cleared his throat loudly, causing both Amra and Daichi to jump. "Young man, you may have the blade's favor, but you still need to prove yourself. Especially if you plan on getting close to my daughter."

Daichi turned beet red, glancing nervously at Amra. "I-I don't plan on... I mean, we're just... friends."

Amra's cheeks flushed pink, and she stammered, "Yes, just friends! For now, anyway.

King Alden's stern expression softened slightly. "Well, friends or not, you've done a great service for Astralon. You have my gratitude, Daichi. But remember, if you ever hurt my daughter, you'll have me to answer to."

Daichi gulped, nodding vigorously. "Understood, sir. I'll do my best."

Princess Amra giggled, the sound like a delicate chime. "Father, stop scaring him. He's already been through enough.

King Alden's lips twitched into a rare smile. "Alright, alright. But Daichi, remember: courage is not just in battle but in everyday actions."

Daichi nodded, feeling a new sense of responsibility. "I'll remember that, Your Majesty."

As the king left, Amra turned to Daichi, her shyness returning. "Thank you, Daichi. For everything."

Daichi smiled, feeling a warmth in his chest. "We make a pretty good team, don't we?

Amra's cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink. "Yes, we do. And maybe, just maybe, we could be more than just a team someday."

Just then, Liora burst into the room, her enthusiasm infectious. "Daichi! Amra! You did it! I knew you would!"

Daichi chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "Thanks, Liora. I couldn't have done it without your encouragement."

Liora grinned, her eyes sparkling. "Of course not! That's what friends are for. And now, with the Blade of Eternity at your side, who knows what adventures await?"

Daichi glanced at Amra, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, who knows?"

With the kingdom safe and their bond growing stronger, Daichi, Princess Amra, and Liora faced the future with hope and determination, ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.