It's not a game

At the St. Patrick's home, concern was palpable regarding Kyriel's condition, as he still showed no signs of waking up. Fourteen days had already passed since his return, and the apple he clutched in his hand remained intact, retaining its bright, fresh red appearance. It seemed as if some strange force was preventing it from deteriorating. As for Kyriel, his coma seemed interminable, arousing concern in all his family members except Grégoire and Audrey, the latter too naive to grasp the gravity of the situation.

(For comparison, an apple stored at room temperature generally can't last more than a week without deteriorating.)

"He's been in a coma for about two weeks," Chloé said, standing in the courtyard of their house. 

"Yes, but Dad forbade us from calling a healer... without giving us any explanation," replied Key, lying on the grass with his hands behind his neck next to Chloe.

"Maybe we should ask Mom to ask Dad for an explanation..." he suggested.

"No point, we've already tried, several times, in fact," intervened Benjamin, who was heading towards the two brothers in the courtyard.

"Last week, I asked her why Dad forbade us from entering Kyriel's room and why he refused to explain the situation he's in, but nothing... She told me that we should have faith in him, just as she trusts him herself," he continued.

"What the hell happened in that damned clearing?" asked Key, pulling up some grass and throwing it away. 

"God only knows... But I can't wait for him to wake up... That little rascal is making me do his chores while he sleeps peacefully! How unfair!" exclaimed Chloé, sounding annoyed, making her two brothers laugh.

The brothers were there discussing their youngest's condition when they spotted a carrier pigeon from the ART Council in the sky, heading towards the gate of their compound. After placing the letter in Marie St. Patrick's hands, the carrier pigeon immediately flew back. Upon seeing this pigeon from the ART Council, Kyriel's brothers rushed into their house to find out the contents of the message. And when the mother began to read the contents of the letter, their shock was complete.

"Residents of the Geboku Kingdom, members of the St. Patrick family, the ART Council invites you to take part in the swordsmanship student authentication examination, which will take place in ten days. In the hope of a positive outcome, please list the members who will be taking part in this year's examination. Signed, Clovis II, Consul of the ART Council."

(A consul is a kind of president.)

"The ART Council is sending us an invitation to participate in the selection of apprentices who will become swordsmanship students," Marie declared.

"This is the first time in a long time that a letter of invitation has been sent from the Council to our city... It's fortunate for us," Benjamin added.

"Indeed, I think that from Nicole to Dylan, we should all take advantage of this opportunity and participate. Sam is still too young, even though he's already manifested his ART element, and as for Kyriel, he still hasn't manifested the slightest ART element, and besides, we don't know if he'll be awakened in ten days," said Bertrand.

"Um... I definitely don't plan on participating," replied Benjamin, who seemed afraid.

"But why?" asked Chloe.

"Are you all crazy, or have you lost your minds? Don't you know anything about the legends they tell about evil cities?" asked Nicole.

"What legend are you talking about?" asked Dylan. 

"The Devilish Cities is a nickname known throughout the kingdom and given to the seven cities that were the only ones in the kingdom so far to have passed the swordsmanship test... To put it simply, out of the fifty-six cities in the kingdom, only these seven have ever had swordsmanship students. However, only one apprentice swordsman in the Apple Tree City had reached the level of swordsmanship student. That apprentice was Dad," explained Bertrand.

"Only seven out of fifty-six? That's chilling," said Dylan, looking frightened.

"Yes, only seven cities. These seven cities are: the City of the Rising Sun, a city known for its eternal sun. It is said that night never falls in this city," said Bertrand.

"An eternal sun?" asked Dylan. 

"Yes, the City of Impetuous Winds. It is said that for half a year, dry, powerful winds blow there without interruption," continued Bertrand.

"But how do they manage to live there?" asked Dylan.

"Who knows!? " replied Clé.

"The City of the Sea of Blood. It is said that in this city, there is a sea full of blood of unknown origin. Some say that the inhabitants of this city often offer sacrifices to gain the favor of the gods. Human sacrifices," continued Bertrand.

"Why sacrifice human beings? And do gods really exist?" asked Dylan again.

"Will you stop asking stupid questions one after the other?" shouted Chloe, annoyed by her younger brother's incessant questions.

"The City of the Golden Rock, apparently a rock made entirely of gold, resides there. It is said that this rock is impossible to break, or even crack. Some master swordsmen have tried several times to destroy it to mine its gold, but no one has ever succeeded. They haven't even managed to make the slightest dent in it," Bertrand continued.

"This rock looks like it was made of the same material as the Everlasting Apple Tree, given how impossible that tree is to puncture," said Khey.

"Perhaps!" replied Nicole.

"The City of Eternal Ice. According to what they say, it's made entirely of ice. And the temperature there is -150°C," Bertrand continued. 

(By comparison, the lowest temperature ever recorded on Earth was that of the East Antarctic ice cap, at -98°C.)

"But no living thing can survive at such a temperature," Chloe exclaimed, fear etched on her face.

"The Illusive Lion City and the Mysterious Cave City... I have no information about either of those cities..."

"...But of all these cities, the one on the golden rock is the most feared, because it alone has recorded two divine kings," Bertrand declared seriously.

"All these stories are bloodcurdling! It makes me even less inclined to participate," Benjamin said, looking frightened.

"It's decided! I'm going to participate in their damn test," Key said determinedly.

"Me too, it's a given!" Chloe replied.

"Uh... I'm scared, but I'm participating too," Dylan replied.

"I can't let you go alone then. I'm participating too," Nicole replied.

"Oh, lalala! Seeing as how determined you all are to participate, I have to go along with you. I'm participating too," Benjamin said, sounding bored.

"Well, with my participation, there will be six of us then," Bertrand said. 

"Well well! What a bunch of losers!" said Father St. Patrick, standing by the front door. He had been there for a while and had listened to the entire conversation.

"It's all very well wanting to participate. But you must know one thing. The swordsmanship exam is a once-in-a-lifetime exam. Simply put, those who fail will never be able to participate again. And that's not the scariest part... During the exam, there's a test where anything goes. Murder too..." said Gregory in a firm and serious tone.

"...This isn't a game; you're putting your life on the line. Every city in the kingdom is participating. The most powerful cities, each with participants trained in combat since the day they were born. You, since you were born, have never received such training. Your mother and I have always watched over you, keeping you away from danger. And I won't be there to help you during this exam. So, I'm going to ask you a question... Are you sure you want to participate in this assessment?" said the father seriously, wanting to test his children's resolve.

"Anyway, we'll certainly die sooner or later... So, why not die trying something ambitious?" replied Key.

"As if I'd miss the opportunity to become a swordsman student... Your stories don't scare me, Dad," said Chloe.

"I'm scared... But I'm still participating," Dylan replied.

"Oh, lalala! I'll probably get killed first... But hey, when it comes down to it..." said Benjamin.

"Stop talking nonsense, Benjamin... I'll be here to cover for you just in case," Nicole replied.

"If Kyriel were here, he would have wanted to participate even without ART energy. As his big brother, I will honor his determination,"

Bertrand said.

These words made the mother and father smile, seeing the determination on their offspring's faces.

"So, go for it, everyone, with all your heart... Brave the dangers, crush the mountains of your determination, surpass your limits and change your destiny... And above all, show those snobs what it cost to have underestimated the city of apple trees all these years. The ultimate ART resides within the St. Patrick family," shouted the father, his tone serious and an overwhelming aura of determination emanating from his body.

And after delivering this speech, somewhere in a room of the house, lying on his bed, an apple in his hand, Kyriel opened his eyes.