Chapter 3: Chapter 3

At the Divine Tower. An old man walked inside, wearing a maroon royal mantle while brushing his bushy white beard. The brightness of the weapons made the old man squinted his eyes. As he got used to the light. The man looked up to see the keeper of the Divine Weapons.

“Good afternoon. Keeper of Divine Weapons.” the bushy beard man greeted, lowering his hood to see his gentle smile.

The keeper floated down using his long sword. When he reached the floor. The keeper knelt. “Good afternoon, your majesty.‘

The old man nodded before asking, “So, how's the ceremony?”

“Good, good. Everything's fine, but...”

“But?” the old arched a brow, curious what the keeper was going to say next.

“There's this kid who lives in Virian Village and his weapon was...” the keeper inhaled and exhaled before continuing his sentence, “A Broken Hilt...”

“A Broken Hilt?” the man said in a confused tone. “Is there a mark?”

The keeper nodded. “However, the mark he got was a Hand.”

“What!?" The man furrowed his brows, making him more confused. “I thought there are only four marks?”

The keeper shrugged, then lied his back on his long sword.

“Hmm,” the man rubbed his bushy beard again while trying to think of an idea. “For now, keep an eye on that kid. It may be dangerous if we let him freely.”

“How are we going to keep an eye on him?”

“You.”

“Me?” the keeper said sheepishly. “I'm too old to babysit a kid. Besides. I know someone who's up for this task.”

“Who?”

The keeper smirked. “You'll see~”

“... Don't do anything stupid.”

The king turned around to leave and the keeper glanced at the king's back. Seeing a giant sword attached to his back. The keeper whistled calmly and a squirrel stepped inside the tower.

“You heard him.”

The squirrel stared at the keeper with a contemptuous look.

“Don't look at me like that. I'm too old.” the keeper floated up to sleep. The squirrel sighed and flee out of the tower.

 

*****

 

Nolan placed back the broken hilt on the table and a disappointed sigh occurred under his breath. Baffled about the mark, including the sudden transformation of his weapon. The fact that the keeper of Divine Weapons didn't even explain how the weapon's ability would work. Perhaps the keeper was testing them to realize that on their own... Is it?

“Mmm...”

Nolan jolted for a second, after hearing Albeit's moan. It seemed like he was enjoying his sleep.

There was nothing to do, and Nolan got off to his bed, then placed his blanket around Albeit's back. Nolan hoped that his mother wasn't worried sick. He opened the door to hear a squeaking sound. He turned at Albeit, who was still drowsy while swaying his head left and right. Nine seconds passed and Albeit was wide awake.

“Ah... Good... Afternoon,” Nolan greeted awkwardly and his eyes locked on Albeit's arm. “Does your arm still hurt?”

Before Albeit could answer his question. He removed the blanket and stood up. He stretched out both of his arms to feel no pain in his right arm. “It looks like the pain is gone.”

Nolan let out a relieved sigh, “I'm glad...”

“Nolan?” Nolan's mother was walking upstairs and saw her son, standing in the doorway. Her mouth opened a little in surprise, she moved closer and hugged Nolan tightly. “I'm glad you're okay.” she rubbed Nolan's hair gently.

“I'm sorry...” Nolan squeezed his fist. “None of this wouldn't have happened if only I didn't talk back to a noble.” tears started to flow in his eyes and he stammered, “A-and it's my fault that Albeit got hurt b-because of me!”

Nolan grasped his mother's back, shaking in fear.

“I-I'm sorry! I shouldn't have become a Wielder!”

Nolan's mother couldn't respond to what he said and only rubbed his back. Calming him down.

“Nolan...” Albeit moved closer, placing his hand on Nolan's left shoulder from behind. “Didn't you promise that both of us will achieve our dream together?”

Nolan mumbled, “I... Want to give up-”

“Liar.”

Nolan slowly shifted his head toward Albeit, smiling at him saintly.

“How many times do you have to say that you want to give up?” Albeit said. “Nolan, I know you more than anyone else. Did you seriously think you'll give up easily? The Nolan I knew isn't a coward. He's a warrior. Remember when we first met?”

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*****

 

“HELP!!!”

“Huh?” little Nolan looked around, curious where the faint scream came from. He blinked twice and shrugged it off. Then he glanced at the five apples he was carrying. “I can't wait to eat this~”

Nolan was around the age of eight, humming on his way. He kept his balance steady, deliberately walking down the steep hill inside the forest. But, one of the apples fell on the ground as it rolled away.

“Hey! Come back here!” he dropped the rest of the apples, ignoring them, and focused on the rolling apple.

He followed the apple until Nolan misplaced his foot.

“Ah...” Nolan rolled down and crashed his back on the rough-barked tree. “ARGH!!” he wriggled recklessly.

“HELP!!!”

He flinched and gradually got up. Yet, the ache on his back didn't leave. He grimaced and stood on the ground with a slight curve on his back. He glanced around the area and mumbled, “W-where is the scream coming from?”

“SOMEONE, HELP!!!”

Nolan finally detected where the scream was, and headed west. He was passing several trees, trying his best to run. After reaching the scream. Nolan discovered a deep cliff and distanced himself away.

“HELP! SOMEONE!!”

The scream was closer than earlier. Nolan carefully peeked on the cliff and there was an ash blonde-haired boy, hanging on the weakened branch.

At this point, Nolan began to panic and cold sweat ran down his face.

“What should I do!? What should I do???” Nolan walked in circles until he felt something beneath his foot. “Hm!”

“H-HELP!!” the boy couldn't keep his grip longer. “I-I can't hold on any much longer!”

Just as the boy was about to let go, someone yelled on the high surface.

“GRAB ON!!” Nolan exclaimed while struggling from holding the heavy long branch.

The gawked at Nolan for a second and snapped back. He grabbed the branch.

“HOLD ON!!”

The boy did what he said and grasped his hand on the branch. Nolan gripped his feet to the ground and started moving backward. Nolan pulled the branch with all his might, but sometimes, he was being pulled by the boy's weight.

*CRACK!!*

The branch wasn't tough enough and the middle part began to snap slowly.

“D-Dammit!” Nolan thought and his whole body started to boil.

The boy was almost at the surface... But... The branch snapped. Nolan fell to the ground after the branch snapped.

The boy reached out his hand to grab the ground. However, he wasn't able to touch it. He was in the state of death and the boy wasn't ready to die yet.

*GRAB!!*

“D-don't let go!” Nolan stuttered.

The boy grabbed his arm and Nolan was completely red. But he didn't give up and pulled the boy up to the surface. All the sweat made Nolan's shirt clung to his skin and his blood pressure had slowly gone down.

Nolan was puffing breath after breath and his eyes felt heavier. His head ached afterward.

The boy was in tears and hold Nolan's hand. “T-thank you!”

Nolan gazed at the boy's blue eyes and a weak smile formed on his lips.

“You're... Welcome...” Nolan whispered and fell into a deep sleep.

On that day, Albeit took Nolan back to the village and Nolan's mother thanked him non-stop.

 

*****

 

“Nolan, if it wasn't for you. I wouldn't be able to go this far.” Albeit pointed his thumb to himself. “We'll pass the Entrance Exam no matter what!”

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