The Uncrowned King

Hear ye! Hear ye!

XAVIER

Just when I thought that I am rid of Lucas. He decided to give me the bad news that I still have a lot of training to do. I would lie if I say that I am not tired. I have been training hard, working hard, and even been thinking hard. I just do not know how to handle this entire situation.

It is strange how he asks me the one question that I can not answer. Why would he ask me about my parents? This makes me wonder if he knows more than what he is saying but I just could not find the words to answer him. I guess it is because he is completely right. I do not know how to handle all the emotions that are running around in my heart.

First, I find out that my mother is not really my mother. Then I realized that the dragon king is the one that killed my real parents but the thing that bothers me the most is that Clara decided to leave, not for a day but for almost a year.

As the months go by, I have learned to make peace with the fact that my mother is not really my mother. I guess the training that I get is helping me to become a man and leave the things of a boy behind me. It is strange the things that he has me doing.

He wants me to help the elderly and then I should look after kids. I guess I will never understand his methods but it does feel somehow that I have grown into a man. We have been training for almost a year now.

My birthday was a few months ago. It was my first birthday without Clara. I remember how I got a letter from her on that day. That letter is still lying on my bedside table because I just can not get myself to open the letter. I wonder why I just can not seem to get over the fact that she left.

Through these few months that have passed, I have learned to accept my fate. I have been tracking the dragon king's movements every day and night as much as I can. I have made friends with the palace guards and I have friends in low places that give me the necessary information that I need.

When the time is right I will know exactly how to strike the dragon king and take back what is rightfully mine. I have also made some time to spend with Oliver and his father wants him to join a gentleman's club. I guess he is going in a different direction than what I am. We would trade training with each other every so often.

I have had a few teas with Isabella. I guess that she would make a suitable wife but I am just not focused on that right now. I have, ever since been promoted to manager in the blacksmith shop and have had some flexible time to myself.

My mother has become less protective over me as I guess she can see that I have grown into a man. When I look at myself in the mirror I see muscles that I have not even known existed and the women around the village have noticed it too. I have gotten a few invitations to have tea with the ladies but I can not spend all my time with them.

I have also bought myself better clothes and even some things for my mother around the house. I guess the money that my real mother and father gave me, really made our lives better. I am on my way from work to our training when a gentleman dressed in palace clothing with a scroll in his hand gets our attention.

"Hear ye! Hear ye!"

We all stop dead in our tracks and turn to listen to the man.

"Your beloved king has decided, after much deliberation, that every man in the kingdom that has the strength must compete in the upcoming Winter Games starting next week!! From these games, ten knights will be chosen to be part of the royal guard!!"

I almost can not believe my luck. How easy is it going to defeat the dragon king now. Then the man rolls up his scroll and turns around, walking back to the palace. I can not seem to wipe the smile from my face because today is my lucky day.

I ran back to the training place and then I find Lucas waiting for me as usual. I tell him all about the Winter Games and then suddenly I see something change on his face. He has taught me a lot of skills and some include reading body language.

"What is wrong?"

"Are you going to compete in the games?"

"Yes, most definitely. Why?"

"I just do not think it's a good idea"

"You sound like my mother. What is really going on?"

He sighs loudly and then he says to me.

"Do you remember the night we met in the woods"

"Yes, I remember it well. You lied to me and told me that there isn't something like the dragon slayers"

He does not look at me but he stares at the ground as he says.

"Well, you are right, I lied. I did not know what kind of a man you are and why you would want to join the dragon slayers but now that I have come to know you...well things have changed"

I realize that what he is saying is that there is indeed dragon slayers.

"So, are you one of them?"

"Yes. I have come to know you as a brave and honorable man. I would ask you not to go to the winter games..."

He is still not looking into my eyes and I can hear almost an urgency in his voice. Then I say to him.

"Why do you not want me to go to the winter games? What are you hiding from me?"