The Rise of the Forgotten Prince

Liam was very much in the mood inside the lightless dormitory. The Tower notification further deepened the burden on his mind.

12 Days Left Until the Death of the King.

"He had comrades; evidence; and a well-thought-out plan, but the heart of his operation-the youngest prince-still did not have the strength to stand as the rightful heir. "I first must make him strong-I need to," Liam thought, clenching his fists tightly. He opened the Tower's shop window, very much ready to exploit every resource available to him.

Step 1: Healing the Youngest Prince

Liam navigated through the Tower's store, looking for a remedy for the prince's frailty. After scanning through many items, he finally laid his eyes on the very best:

Essence of Vital Bloom: When achieved, a rare potion that permanently restores physical vitality and refines the immune system. (Price: 10,000 Tower Points)Crystal Nurturing Aura: An artefact that promotes healing during rest and sleep. (Price: 5,000 Tower Points)

Without a moment's hesitation, Liam snapped both up. "Nyx, it's time we went to the prince," Liam muttered, disappearing under the cover of invisibility.

In the darkest quiet of the night, he crept into the youngest prince's chambers. The boy was pale and sickly and slept fitfully on a grand but cold bed. Liam placed the Nurturing Aura Crystal by the bedside, a light dim enough to fill the room in a warm, soothing glow.

He dualled the Essence of Vital Bloom with a goblet of water, and then waking the prince gently, put it to his lips. "Drink this, Your Highness. It will help you."

The prince blinked at Liam, befuddled but compliant. Then there was a shift in the flow of the potion into his system:

The first blush of color returned to his cheeks.

His breathing steadied.

His thin arms, once unable to carry his own weight, roused, even the muscles in them energizing with newfound strength.

"W-what is this?" the prince stammered as he slowly rose to a sitting position.

"Strength," Liam said. "It is the first stage in your ascension, Your Highness."

An Introduction to Training the Youngest PrinceThe dawn brought wakefulness to the prince, far superior as it was to falling asleep. Liam, however, was aware that mere recovery would not suffice. The boy required skill, endurance, and faith in himself. Thus, Liam returned to Tower's store, purchasing:

Step 2: Training the Youngest Prince

Skill Script Body of the Warrior: A scroll capable of granting hasty muscle growth, an endurance allowance, and the beginnings of reflexes for combat. 

Cost: 15,000 Tower Points- He held the glowing script in both hands. "This will fast forward your physical training, but it won't be pleasant," Liam warned the prince.

The boy narrowed his eyes as a flicker of determination appeared in them. "If I want to prove myself, I'll endure it." Liam nodded. "Good answer."

For three days, he worked the prince without ceasing. Liam made use of the Skill Script to conduct her extensive hours of training in exercises, sparring drills, and combat movements. The knowledge and instinct little by little were embedded into the prince's body.

Under the watchful eyes of Liam:

The prince became lean and muscular.

He built up his endurance, running laps around the castle courtyard before sunrise.

Strikes and punches became sharper, more precise.

"Again!" Liam barked as the prince lunged forward with a wooden sword, sweat pouring down his face. "Your enemies will not go easy on you, and neither will I!The prince, panting heavily, fell to the floor but got back up with clenched fists. "I am not weak anymore... I won't let them call me weak!"

Liam smirked. "Now you're starting to sound like a prince."

Step 3: Showing Strength Opens to the Public

Recognizing this, Liam had the youngest prince develop himself in the eyes of the public. And with Madam Orla's help, Liam staged an "accident" during the castle's combat training ground, where nobles and knights pitched arms against each other to show the fine power they all had.

This morning, when the gathering of knights and nobles was near its peak, Madam Orla spoke. "The youngest prince wants to try himself on the training grounds!"

Gasps echoed throughout the onlookers. The youngest prince? The weak, forgotten child? Whispers flew like wildfire. The eldest prince's adherents exchanged smug looks, expecting the youngest son to make an ass of himself.

The youngest prince stepped into the sparring circle, dressed in light armor Liam had selected for him. His stance was strong; he raised his unbroken gaze.

One of the knights of the eldest prince sneered. "Will I have to go easy on you, boy?"

The youngest prince raised his wooden sword. "Come at me with everything you got."

The knight scoffed and charged. The crowd held their breath -

CLANG!

In a swift movement, the youngest prince parried the strike and countered with a sweeping kick, knocking the knight off balance. Before he could react, the prince had the sword at his neck, stopping an inch away.

The crowd gasped.

"He won?" a noble whispered.

"That's impossible. How did he...?"

The eldest prince, watching from the sidelines, gritted bars between the teeth in disbelief.

Liam could only chuckle quietly among the servants. Good. Let them see the truth.

The youngest prince turned to the crowd, standing tall. "Hold my words well; I am not weak," his voice echoed across the training ground it filled, resonating. "I am Prince Lucien, son of Lady Seraphine. I will scorn letting this kingdom be plunged into darkness."

At this first hint of whispers shuddering through the massed crowd, those knights who had wavered concerning him regarded the boy with astonished respect.

Liam murmured to Nyx, "Phase one of the display is completed. The youngest is no longer incognito."

Ending Scene: The Eldest Prince ReactsIn the shadowy side of the courtyard, the eldest prince was observing the scene, his fists curling down.

"How... how could he change so fast?" muttered the prince to himself as the cursed jewelry round his neck pulsed faintly.

A sudden voice boomed in his mind-the echoed voice of Harbingers.

"Calm yourself. We can easily put out the boy's spark. Trust in us."

When the prince's fury evaporated, it was replaced by steely resolve.

Meanwhile, Liam stood at a distance watching both princes. His Tower notification flickered:

9 Days Remaining Until King's Death.

"Your move, eldest prince," murmured Liam, "I'll be ready."

To be continued...