The King's Decision

Six months have passed. Greg has trained during this time, perfecting his skills as both a swordsman and a mage, mastering them to perfection... Apparently, the King will arrive at the kingdom in a week...

Greg was still studying in the library, but now he wasn't studying alone. He was accompanied by Emma, who was now his friend...

"Hey Greg, I see you're still studying. That's good."

"Oh, hello, Prince Robert. Yes, I have to study. In a week, I'll leave, so I'm preparing, and Emma helps me study. She's quite smart."

Robert thought the best thing would be for Greg to stay, so he could train him and keep an eye on him, since Greg carried the power of a god, capable of devastating an entire kingdom...

So, Robert went to speak with Abby about Greg's future, as the decision would have great consequences...

"Abby, we need to talk about Greg."

"Tell me, what's going on?"

Robert started telling her what he thought about Greg staying in the kingdom to protect him, as rumors about the Divine Key had started spreading across several kingdoms and villages...

Abby listened carefully to Robert, because what he said was true. But Greg was just a child, and he carried an enormous weight on his shoulders. However, Abby knew she couldn't accept it—Greg still had to explore the world, not be locked up in a castle training every day...

"Robert, I can't accept it. Greg is just a child. I can't do that to him."

Abby was being honest with Robert, although she was somewhat afraid of his response, as he seemed really convinced that Greg should stay...

"Abby, I understand your point of view, but you're not making this decision with your head. You're letting emotions guide you."

Although Abby seemed very upset with Robert, she made a decision...

"Sorry, Robert, but I can't do that to Greg."

For a moment, the conversation was silent. Robert nodded.

"I understand."

Then Robert walked away slowly. Abby sensed something bad, but didn't pay much attention to it, and the days passed until the King, Ross, arrived. He was an older man, with white hair and wearing a grand mage's robe. The entire castle awaited his arrival, and Prince Robert quickly said he needed to talk to him...

Abby watched the meeting from afar, so she went to check on Greg to make sure everything was fine... Everything seemed fine, so Abby decided to stay close to watch over Greg...

But that same night...

"Father..."

"What's wrong, Robert?"

"I heard they're searching for the Divine Key. Is that true?"

"Yes, it is. It's said that the Divine Key has found a new bearer, which means the Demon God will come after it again. We've made a pact between all the kingdoms: whoever finds it will use it to defeat the Demon God and prevent too many lives from being lost."

There was someone hiding and listening to this conversation. It was someone small... It was Emma...

"P-... Father, the Divine Key is here, in this castle."

"What are you saying?"

At that moment, Robert told the king everything about Greg—who he was and that he was the bearer of the Divine Key. The king said...

"I want to see him."

Upon hearing these words, Emma ran as fast as she could to Greg's room to warn him they were coming to find him...

"GREG!" A loud voice echoed outside the room...

"They're coming for you!"

Quickly, Abby grabbed her sword, asking Emma, "Who is coming, Emma?"

"My grandfather. My father told him you have the Divine Key, and they're coming for you."

"Alright, Greg, when they arrive, greet them properly. I'll be here in case something happens, got it?"

Greg nodded. In a moment, the king arrived, accompanied by several guards. He knocked on the door.

Knock, knock

Greg stepped out, bowing.

"Hello, King Ross, it's a pleasure to greet you."

The king looked at him seriously and made a gesture to shake his hand. But as soon as he reached for Greg's hand, the king grabbed it tightly and lifted Greg's sleeves, revealing his mark...

"Oh, fascinating."

"LET HIM GO!" A loud voice shouted. Immediately, Abby launched an attack at the king, intending to cut his hand off, but a guard quickly intervened with his sword.

Grrr

"You must be Abby. I thank you for what you did for my granddaughter, but this is none of your business, so step aside."

At that moment, the king cast a spell, hitting Abby in the stomach so hard that it shattered the walls, and Abby was thrown out of the room...

"ABBY!" Greg tried to move, but the king was holding him tightly. Then the king spoke words that greatly affected Greg...

"Take Abby and kill her for defying the king."

When Greg heard this, he imagined his only friend in the world would be killed, and in that moment, his left hand began to form a ball of fire, growing larger and larger...

The king watched him with a smile, as though the power wasn't much, but soon his smile would fade...

Greg's spell began to shift into various colors, finally turning dark... It was...

"D-dark magic!"

Suddenly, an enormous explosion shook the entire castle, alerting everyone, but this did not stop Greg. He quickly jumped outside to help his friend Abby...

"Abby, get up, we have to go."

Even though Greg spoke to her, she wouldn't get up. So, he made a decision. The entire castle was coming for him, but someone was approaching... It was Emma.

"Here, Greg. Give this to Abby. It's a strong medicine. Give it to her and run, I'll miss you, Greg."

"Thank you very much, Miss Emma."

Greg gave the medicine to Abby, who was able to open her eyes, though she still couldn't walk on her own. Abby then said...

"Greg, leave me. Run, they're coming for you."

"No way, Abby. I have a plan."

Greg used wind magic to lift Abby, and they began to run as fast as possible. His plan had begun. He ran toward Tersi (Abby's horse), which was in a nearby stable...

When he arrived, he quickly mounted Abby on Tersi, and he got on as well. Then, he conjured a thick fog that covered everything around them... And they began to escape as quickly as possible. They left the kingdom, and Greg headed toward a forest...

In the distance, a loud whistling sound grew closer. It was a massive magical lance heading directly toward them...

Fuuuuui!

It passed by them, and in a moment, a large blue dragon appeared before them. It began charging a powerful attack, and in a moment...

Fuuuuuuuuu!

It was the dragon's powerful attack. Greg wasn't going to just stand there. He dismounted from Tersi, stood in front of the dragon, and aimed his sword at it. He managed to stop the attack just as Robert had taught him, but that wasn't all—the dragon didn't stop. It kept coming, and its power grew stronger...

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Greg, with his right hand, began to form a spear of stone and fire—a massive spear that spun at incredible speed, and in a moment...

Shhhhifff

He threw it directly at the dragon's head, killing it with a single attack... It left him exhausted...

Robert watched from a distance, amazed by Greg's power...

"DON'T LET HIM ESCAPE!" A voice echoed from afar. Robert quickly mounted Tersi and rode as fast as he could, heading toward a cave. When they arrived, Greg used earth magic to seal the entrance, and they stayed there until everything calmed down..