The heavy, overwhelming sensation of pure physical exhaustion had barely begun to lift from our tired minds when the sharp, undeniable reality of the new morning broke through our shallow rest. After just thirty minutes we woke up from our incredibly short and brief slumber, our bodies still feeling immensely heavy, deeply sore, and completely drained from the massive, world-bending events that had taken place throughout the previous day. The short thirty-minute period of sleep had done almost nothing to truly restore our spent energy, leaving a thick, heavy fog of deep grogginess clinging to our senses as our eyes slowly fluttered open to face the soft morning light that filtered gently through the windows of our large room. Beside me on the mattress, little Salphy let out a tiny, tired sigh as she rubbed her small eyes with the back of her hands, trying her absolute best to shake off the intense sleepiness that pulled heavily at her frame. Elphyete sat up right next to her with slow, deliberate grace, her long hair falling softly around her shoulders as she quietly accepted the rapid, unhurried return to the waking world. We all knew that the rest of the household was already awake and actively moving about the estate, so we could not afford to waste a single moment lounging beneath the warm covers of the massive bed. We carefully slid our feet out from the blankets, letting them make contact with the smooth floor, and spent a few quiet moments adjusting our travel-worn clothes and preparing our physical appearance for the day ahead. Once the three of us were completely ready to face the household, I reached out to turn the heavy brass handle of our bedroom door, pulling it open smoothly to lead our small group out into the quiet residential hallway.
We walked with steady, somewhat sluggish steps down the wide carpeted corridor, carefully navigating the grand architectural turns of the mansion's upper level as we made our way toward the central staircase to join the rest of our companions. The rich, incredibly enticing aroma of a freshly prepared morning meal drifted up from the lower levels of the estate, acting as a welcoming guide that slowly sharpened our senses and awakened our dormant appetites after the incredibly brief rest we had just experienced. We headed downstairs into the grand dining room where the massive wooden table was already completely surrounded by the lively, bustling presence of our classmates, companions, and the royal family. We took our places in the large, cushioned chairs that were arranged neatly along the sides of the long table, and we all ate food together in a state of comfortable community, filling our empty stomachs with the wide variety of warm breads, savory roasted meats, and refreshing drinks that the kitchen staff had laid out for us. King Nishighi sat formally at the absolute head of the long wooden table, his posture completely straight, dignified, and majestic as he quietly observed the entire gathering of students and warriors enjoying their morning sustenance. We sat and ate for a long time, the quiet sounds of clinking silverware, soft chewing, and low morning murmurs filling the expansive room as everyone focused entirely on recovering their physical strength. The hearty breakfast provided a much-needed boost to our exhausted bodies, slowly clearing away the deep fog of our thirty-minute nap and preparing us for whatever events the king had planned for the rest of the day.
The long, highly satisfying breakfast gradually drew to a complete and natural conclusion as the final plates were neatly cleared away by the attentive household staff, leaving a relaxed, comfortable silence hanging over the large dining room. This peaceful atmosphere was suddenly shattered when King Nishighi shifted his weight in his grand chair, turning his intense, commanding gaze directly toward Eufrien, who was sitting quietly further down the long wooden table. The remaining murmurs in the room died down instantly as a palpable sense of tension filled the air, every single eye locking onto the king as he prepared to speak with absolute gravity to the companion sitting among us. After eating, King Nishighi suddenly said to Eufrien that he knows that Eufrien is the first hero, his powerful, resonant voice echoing clearly against the high stone walls of the dining hall. "I know that you are the first hero, Eufrien," King Nishighi declared with absolute certainty, his words hanging heavily in the profound silence of the room and causing a wave of intense shock to ripple through the gathered companions. Eufrien remained perfectly still in his seat, his calm demeanor entirely undisturbed by the sudden, grand revelation, though he slowly set down his wooden cup and looked back at the ruler with an intrigued, focused expression.
Wanting to understand exactly how his carefully guarded identity had been uncovered so easily by the monarch, Eufrien asked how did he know this, keeping his tone perfectly measured, polite, and steady as he addressed the king. "How did you know this?" Eufrien asked, his voice calm and clear as he waited for the ruler to explain the reasoning behind his sudden statement. King Nishighi suddenly said that he recognized Eufrien by the sword that he's holding and his physical traits of having long blonde hair and left deep vibrant emerald eye and right piercing, sapphire blue. "I recognized you by the sword that you are holding and your physical traits of having long blonde hair, a left deep vibrant emerald eye, and a right piercing, sapphire blue eye," King Nishighi explained clearly, his eyes narrowing slightly as he pointed out the unique, unmistakable features that set Eufrien apart from any ordinary warrior. As the king spoke, we all turned our heads to look closely at Eufrien, noticing the striking physical details that perfectly matched the ruler's precise, descriptive words. His long blonde hair fell elegantly around his shoulders, catching the bright morning light, while his distinct eyes shone with a brilliant, contrasting intensity that was impossible to ignore. His left eye was a deep, incredibly vibrant emerald green that seemed to hold an immense amount of depth, while his right eye was a piercing, brilliant sapphire blue that looked incredibly sharp, focused, and completely unyielding. The unique sword he was holding rested firmly against his side, its distinct craftsmanship, elegant hilt, and legendary design further confirming his true identity to anyone who knew what to look for.
The profound realization of Eufrien's true identity left the entire dining room completely frozen in absolute awe, with nobody daring to make a single sound or movement as we stared at the legendary figure sitting right among us. Before anyone could even begin to ask a follow-up question or discuss the matter further, King Nishighi stood up from the head of the table, a sudden spark of intense competitive energy and warrior spirit igniting within his eyes. Suddenly the king asked Eufrien to spar with him, proposing an immediate, high-level physical match to directly test their skills against one another in a proper combat setting within the estate. "Will you spar with me?" the king requested firmly, his voice filled with a strong, undeniable desire to witness the first hero's capabilities firsthand on the field of battle. Eufrien offered a calm, respectful nod of agreement, rising smoothly from his cushioned chair and ensuring his distinctive weapon was securely fastened to his side as he accepted the monarch's sudden challenge. King Nishighi turned away from the table and toward the side exit of the grand dining hall, and they went to the basement of the massive estate to find a suitable location that could withstand the intense forces of their upcoming match.
The moment the two powerful figures began to walk out of the room, a wave of intense excitement washed over the entire gathering of students and companions, who were absolutely determined not to miss such an incredible encounter. We all followed to watch, quickly pushing our chairs back from the long table and forming a quiet, highly eager procession directly behind King Nishighi and Eufrien as they led the way through the mansion. We walked through a series of narrow, winding lower corridors, our footsteps creating a continuous, rhythmic echo against the heavy stone walls as we descended deeper into the secure structure of the estate. The king guided us toward a heavy, reinforced iron door located at the very end of a secluded hallway, pulling it open to reveal a massive, winding stone staircase that plunged deep into the underground foundations of the mansion. We carefully followed them down each individual stone step, the cool, damp subterranean air brushing against our faces and causing a slight shiver to pass through our bodies as we left the bright morning world completely behind. Salphy held tightly to my hand as we descended into the dark depths, her eyes wide with anticipation, while Elphyete walked gracefully beside us, everyone completely silent as we moved closer to the hidden training grounds.
At the very bottom of the long, winding staircase, the narrow passageway suddenly opened up into a breathtakingly massive underground space that lay completely hidden beneath the grand estate. There's another big room waiting for us down there, its immense ceilings, massive stone pillars, and wide open floor creating a grand, cavernous arena that felt completely isolated from the luxurious living quarters above. The vast subterranean chamber was initially cast in deep, heavy shadows, with only a few scattered wall torches providing a dim, flickering illumination that barely cut through the profound obscurity of the space. King Nishighi walked with confident, heavy steps across the solid stone floorboards, leading Eufrien directly toward a specific section of the rough wall where a massive, ancient rock formation was built into the structure. King Nishighi pressed a rock firmly into the wall mechanism, using his physical strength to push the heavy stone block deep into the recess until a loud, mechanical click echoed through the empty cavern.
The exact moment the stone rock was fully pressed into the wall, a sudden, massive surge of hidden mechanical and illumination energy coursed through the structural channels of the entire underground space. A big arena lights up with an incredibly bright, blinding flash of white illumination that instantly banished every single shadow from the center of the subterranean room. Powerful overhead lanterns, brilliant glowing border lines, and massive light fixtures flared to life all at once around the perimeter, revealing a massive, perfectly circular combat field that was completely prepared for high-level sparring matches. The intense, brilliant light illuminated the entire expanse of the grand room, showing the sturdy stone boundaries and the immaculate, reinforced floor that was specifically designed to contain the immense physical impacts of a battle. Seeing that the combat field was completely illuminated and ready for the match, we all moved toward the elevated stone benches and seating sections that were arranged neatly around the circular border. We sat to watch the upcoming encounter, settling into our places with absolute focus and quiet anticipation as King Nishighi and Eufrien walked out onto the very center of the brightly lit arena floor, completely ready to begin their legendary spar while we watched silently from the stands. Salphy and Elphyete sat closely on either side of me, our eyes completely glued to the bright arena as King Nishighi and Eufrien drew their positions, completely silent and ready to observe every single motion of the upcoming sparring match.