Ashora stands frozen as Amitrochates finishes speaking.It is time to decide who will rule the kingdom.The words echo in his mind like thunder.He never expected something like this.His thoughts begin racing immediately.
No… I don't want this.
I don't want to become the heir.
His eyes briefly move toward Leona.She should be the rightful heir, he thinks.I don't want to be chained to the royal palace for my entire life.
Leona is equally shocked.For a moment she says nothing, trying to understand what her father has just said.Then she finally speaks.
"But Father… isn't this too early?"Her voice is calm, but the confusion in her expression is clear."You were announced as crown prince when you were thirty-two. Why do we need to decide the next heir so early?"
Before Amitrochates can answer, another voice speaks.
"There is a difference between you and your father."Androcottus with a firm voice.
"When your father was born," he continues, "I was still fighting to unite Baitali.".
"The kingdom was divided into many pieces after the wars fought between the previous kings and myself.""That struggle took many years. Even after victory, stabilizing the kingdom required more time."He looks toward Amitrochates.
"That is why your father was announced as the next ruler later."Then his gaze returns to Ashora and Leona."But things are different now.""Baitali is strong.""And both of you are already capable of bearing responsibility."
"The earlier you step into leadership… the better."
Ashora opens his mouth to speak."But Grandfather—"
"I do not agree with this."The voice interrupts him.It is Aarath.Everyone turns toward the grandmaster.
Androcottus narrows his eyes slightly.
"What do you mean, Master?"
Aarath speaks calmly.
"Amitrochates has ruled the kingdom for only thirty years.""He is strong and capable of ruling for at least fifty more years."
He glances toward Ashora and Leona."These two are still young.""They are still growing."
"If you place the burden of ruling on their shoulders now, it will hinder that growth."
Amitrochates listens quietly before speaking.
"Grandmaster… forgive me for interrupting your opinion."
His voice remains respectful."But we must at least decide who will be the next ruler."
Aarath sighs softly.
"If you truly insist on deciding now…"
He pauses before continuing.
"Then choose the heir in name only.""Let them live their lives freely until the position becomes absolutely necessary.""Do not force them."
Silence fills the chamber.
Ashora and Leona stand quietly while the three elders debate their futures.Neither of them knows what to say.
Ashora leans slightly toward Leona and whispers softly."Sister… why don't you become the next ruler?""I'm sure you would become the greatest queen Baitali has ever seen."
Leona glances at him."In that case," she whispers back, "you should become king."Ashora chuckles quietly.
"No."
"For two generations only men have ruled this kingdom.""You should become queen and show some diversity."Leona frowns at him and stops responding.
At that moment Amitrochates speaks again.
"Alright."
He looks at Aarath.
"Grandmaster, I accept your suggestion."
Then he turns toward Ashora and Leona."By tomorrow at this time… decide between yourselves who will become the next ruler."His voice grows firm.
"I do not want any conflict between the two of you over the throne."
"So it is better if you decide peacefully."
Ashora and Leona bow.
"Yes, Father."
Without another word, they leave the chamber.
As soon as the doors close behind them, Amitrochates claps twice.A servant quickly enters.
"Summon all ministers to the royal council tomorrow morning."
"Everyone must be present."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The servant bows and leaves.
Amitrochates exhales slowly.
"I also do not want to rush the matter of the next ruler," he says quietly."But the situation on the continent is becoming uncertain.
"You worry too much."Aarath speaks calmly."Nothing will happen to Baitali.""You have your father… and yourself.""The two of you alone are enough to stand against an empire.""If you are worried about the Hastover Empire, things will not escalate quickly there either."
Androcottus nods.
"Master is right.""You worry for nothing."
He slowly stands."The kingdom is yours now.""I will not interfere too much."With those words, he leaves the chamber.
Aarath pauses near Amitrochates."I know you care deeply for the kingdom.""But remember something."
"You are also a father."
A faint smile appears on his face."I once taught you that the kingdom comes before family.""But sometimes… you are too harsh on your children."
With that, he also leaves.
Amitrochates remains alone.
He walks slowly toward the large window overlooking the capital city.The golden light of the afternoon sun floods into the chamber.Ancient banners of the Meaders bloodline hang from the tall walls, gently swaying in the breeze.Below, the capital of Baitali stretches endlessly.Amitrochates folds his hands behind his back.His gaze remains fixed on the horizon."I hope… I am not making the wrong decision."
Meanwhile, Ashora and Leona walk silently through the palace corridors.The atmosphere between them feels heavy.Finally Ashora breaks the silence.
"Sister… I really don't want to become king.""You know I want to explore the world."
Leona sighs."I know.""And I didn't expect Father to say something like this either."She crosses her arms thoughtfully."Don't forget the promise we made.""That we would travel the world together someday."
Ashora nods slowly."But you want to rule the kingdom, don't you?"
Leona looks ahead."Yes.""I want to rule like Father.""But not this early."
She shakes her head."We're in a difficult situation."They reach the corridor near Ashora's chamber.
Ashora stops.
"Well… let's talk about this tomorrow.""Tonight I need time to think."
Leona nods.
"Fine."
Ashora enters his room and closes the door.He collapses onto his bed and stares at the ceiling.What should I do now?He sighs deeply.I can't give up my dream.I don't want to become king.
Images from the slave trading incident flash in his mind.The starving children.The fear in their eyes.There are many people suffering because of people like that mayor.Ashora turns to his side.
I want to travel the world.I want to understand why people hurt each other like that.Another sigh escapes his lips."I really don't know what to do."
He suddenly sits up.
"Wait…"
His eyes widen slightly."I completely forgot!"He jumps out of bed."I promised Ikshita we would spar today!"The time has already passed.Ashora quickly rushes out of the room and runs toward the training hall.The question of the throne can wait.
Ashora runs through the palace corridors as fast as he can, his footsteps echoing against the marble floor. The training hall soon comes into view, and he pushes the doors open quickly.
Inside, Ikshita is already standing in the center of the hall.
She has been waiting.
The moment she sees him, she crosses her arms.
"You're late," she says. "I thought you forgot."
Ashora exhales and walks toward the weapon rack.
"No chance," he replies. "Now… are you ready?"
Ikshita smiles slightly.
"I've been ready."
Ashora scans the weapons and picks up a spear. The long shaft feels balanced in his hands.
"I'm more than ready."
Ikshita raises an eyebrow.
"Oh? Using a spear today?"
Ashora twirls it lightly.
"With our sharper vision, I think a spear will be a good option."
Ikshita chuckles.
"Well then… I won't use a sword today either."
She walks to the weapon shelf and picks up two blades—each about half the length of her usual sword.
Ashora looks at them with interest.
"Dual blades, huh?"
"That's interesting."
He lowers his body into a combat stance.
"Shall we begin?"
Ikshita immediately rushes forward.
Her right-hand blade thrusts straight toward Ashora's chest.
Ashora blocks it using the middle section of his spear.
The metal clashes with a sharp sound.
With a quick motion, he pushes the end of the spear forward.
Ikshita steps back.
But she immediately follows with a vertical slash from her left blade.
Ashora raises the sharp end of his spear and blocks again.
The clash rings through the hall.
He pushes the spear forward once more, forcing Ikshita back again.
Ashora takes the chance and charges forward with a powerful thrust.
The spear shoots toward her.
Ikshita drops low to dodge it.
At the same time, she swings a rising slash from below.
Ashora jumps back, barely avoiding the strike.
"Huh… this is getting difficult," he mutters.
Suddenly, he twists the spear and separates it into two parts.
Now he holds half the spear with a blade in his right hand and a blunt wooden shaft in his left.
Ashora grins.
"Now it feels more balanced."
Ikshita wastes no time.
She jumps toward him with a right-hand slash.
Ashora blocks it with the wooden shaft in his left hand.
At the same moment, he thrusts the spear blade toward her neck.
Ikshita reacts instantly, blocking with her left blade.
The metal rings loudly.
She stomps the ground and leaps back to create distance.
"I think I need to get serious now," Ikshita says.
She rushes forward again.
Her dual blades begin moving in a relentless storm of attacks.
Slash. Slash. Thrust.
Her movements become faster and sharper.
Ashora blocks repeatedly, but each strike pushes him backward.
He struggles to keep up.
This won't work…
Ashora continues blocking while thinking quickly.
Then suddenly—
He throws the wooden shaft from his left hand.
With his now free hand, he grabs Ikshita's wrist mid-attack.
Ikshita swings her other blade from the side.
Ashora blocks it with the spear blade.
Then he kicks her in the stomach.
The impact forces the air out of her lungs.
Ikshita stumbles backward and falls to the ground.
Ashora calmly picks up the wooden shaft again and reconnects it with the spear.
He smirks slightly.
"Quite harsh to treat a lady like that, huh?"
Ikshita slowly stands up, still feeling the pain in her abdomen.
"Come on," Ashora says. "You're not that weak."
Before she can reply, he charges again.
Ashora rushes forward with the spear held straight.
But at the last moment, he pulls the blade toward himself and strikes with the blunt end.
Ikshita dodges by slipping to the side.
Ashora immediately rotates the spear back into a full grip.
Their weapons clash again.
The force pushes Ikshita's blades slightly aside.
Ashora thrusts forward again.
She blocks the attack and tries to create distance.
Ashora shifts his grip to the lower end of the spear, extending its reach even further.
He thrusts again.
Ikshita dodges once more.
Ashora pulls the spear back and charges again.
This time, instead of blocking—
Ikshita jumps.
While airborne, she throws one blade toward Ashora.
He dodges the flying weapon.
As she lands, Ikshita follows with a vertical slash.
Ashora moves aside again.
Ikshita quickly grabs the second blade from the ground and throws it as well.
Then she rushes forward with the remaining blade in her hand.
Ashora avoids the thrown weapon and clashes with her again.
Ikshita steps back briefly to retrieve her second blade.
Then she rushes again, stabbing forward.
Ashora blocks.
Her second blade swings downward.
Ashora jumps back to dodge.
He exhales.
"This is taking too long."
He straightens slightly.
"How about we end this?"
Ikshita nods.
"You're right."
Both of them take their stances again.
Ikshita crosses her blades, forming an X shape.
Ashora lowers his spear and focuses.
Then—
Both of them charge forward at full speed.
Ashora suddenly drops low.
At the same moment, Ikshita swings her crossed blades downward.
But then—
She stops.
Ashora's spear tip is already positioned near her waist.
A small piece of cloth from her outfit hangs on the spear's blade.
If the spear had moved just a little further—
It would have pierced her.
Ashora smiles.
"I win."
Ikshita lowers her blades and exhales slowly.
"Yeah," she says with a small smile. "It's your win."
Ashora spins the spear lightly before resting it against his shoulder.But before he can tease her, Ikshita suddenly speaks again.
"By the way… I actually came here to tell you something."
Ashora looks at her curiously.
"We won't be seeing each other for the next two years."
Ashora freezes.
"What?"
His face fills with confusion.
"Why?"
Ikshita sheathes her blades and turns toward the exit of the training hall."I'm going to train with my uncle," she says calmly. "He said that if I want to learn magic properly, I'll have to stay with him for two years."
Ashora's eyebrows knit together."Two years?"
Ikshita nods."He also said the training will be isolated from the outside world.""No contact.""No distractions."
She pauses near the door."So… goodbye for now.""We'll meet again in two years."
Ashora quickly steps forward.
"Wait!"
"Explain properly, Ikshita!"
But she doesn't stop.
Without turning back, she walks out of the training hall.Ashora stands there, staring at the entrance.For a long moment, he says nothing.
His mind feels unsettled.In a single day, two things have shaken him.First, the discussion about the next ruler of the kingdom.Now, his best friend—someone who has been beside him since childhood—is suddenly leaving for two years.
Ashora slowly lowers the spear in his hand."What is happening today…" he mutters quietly."Why are all the bad things happening at once?"He looks toward the doors again.Despite everything, a faint smile appears on his face.
"I hope whatever you're trying to achieve… you succeed."
"Good luck."
With a heavy heart, Ashora places the spear back on the weapon rack.
Then he slowly leaves the training hall.