"Actually, since Hero Kael seems so interested in this topic, how about you participate in the meeting as well?
Your presence there will be important, considering your title. Not to mention, you were the one who recognized that their Bond was Corrupted with your ability. You could provide valuable insights to us during the meeting."
Kael replied with a big smile on his face, and the King nodded.
"I will summon you when the meeting is held."
Just as Kael was about to nod,
Edric called out, interrupting him yet again.
Kael and Edric stared at each other for a brief moment. The Crown Prince then turned toward the King and,
"I believe it is still too early for the Hero to attend such meetings."
Kael narrowed his eyes at those words. The King, on the other hand, remained silent, giving Edric time to explain himself.
"The Hero still has a lot to learn. Yes, his ability is what made it possible for us to find out the truth, but in the end, the Hero has only been in this world for a few weeks. There are many things he does not know about.
This is a critical time the Hero should be spending training and getting stronger. Getting involved with politics would simply slow him down."
"Are you saying that I am weak…?"
Kael spoke as he stared at the Crown Prince. At the same time, his eyes turned draconic golden, looking at Edric's information.
Yes, it was considered rude, but the Crown Prince had interrupted him more than a few times in a single day. Kael had enough room to be rude to him.
[Name: Edric Dragonborn]
[Strengths: Balanced Warrior, Tactical Genius]
[Weaknesses: Low Mana, Overreliance on Physical Combat]
'Alright, he is good.'
The Crown Prince was much stronger than what he was expecting—a Seventh Stage Warrior who was about to become an Eighth Stage Warrior. He is almost as strong as Arlan, despite being a few years younger than him.
"Are you satisfied now?"
Suddenly, Kael heard a voice.
It was Edric, not showing as strong of a reaction as Kael was expecting.
"Hero Kael, I am not calling you weak. I, more than anyone, know how strong you have gotten within just a few weeks.
If it's about talent, someone like me can never be compared to you, the Hero.
And this is why I believe it is a waste for you to involve yourself in politics. With your talent, if you devote yourself to training like you have been doing till now, you will become a force so strong that no enemy will be able to stand up to you.
And while you train to get to that level, let people like us handle things you do not have to."
Edric spoke with a convincing look on his face. Kael narrowed his eyes at those words. He wanted to say something back, however, by the time he thought of anything, Edric continued,
"Not to mention your Bond is still facing the issue he has been facing since you were summoned here. No one here has seen your Bond even once, and that is not a good sign, Hero.
You may be strong on your own, but as you saw in the battle yesterday, Bonds are a Tamer's strongest weapons, and you cannot fight with a weapon that does not show itself."
"My Igni is not a weapon."
Kael retorted in an instant.
"He is a Weapon, Hero Kael."
Edric didn't back down.
"In Nerathis, Bonds are indeed one's weapon. No matter how much you love your Bond, you need him to fight with you."
"Crown Prince Edric is correct, Hero Kael."
This time, even the King stepped in.
"This is also the reason I wanted to meet you privately. Here in Nerathis, we grow together with our Bonds. How will that be possible if your Bond refuses to leave the Sanctuary?
You said he was shy and needed enough time to be comfortable. We believed you and gave you more than enough time, but if he is still being the same, then we might need to use force."
"That will not happen."
Once again, Kael's answer was almost instantaneous, standing up against even the King if he had to.
The King frowned, and Kael continued in a stubborn tone that showed that he wouldn't be backing down no matter what.
"Igni will stay inside the Sanctuary for as long as he desires. I will not allow anyone to hurt him in any way."
Then, the Hero frowned,
"And why are you all after Igni anyway? He is just a few weeks old. What could he possibly do in such a short time? He is still a little baby."
"He will remain a baby for the next few years. Does Hero Kael truly believe things will remain the same in the next few years?"
The Crown Prince spoke up.
He then stared at the Hero and continued,
"The Hero needs to understand the situation he is in.
The cases of Corrupted Beasts attacking border villages and towns are increasing. The number of Tamers who are falling to corruption is the same.
Twilight is getting stronger and more influential with each passing day, and now, Xenthalor has started using the Power of Corruption to strengthen their Bonds as well. This matter would attract attention very quickly. The smaller powers would soon be swarming toward Xenthalor.
The possibility of Twilight working together with Xenthalor cannot be denied either.
The entire Power Balance of Nerathis will be shifting. Chaos would spread. Sooner or later, more forces, with their own agendas, will be involved in this chaos, creating even more chaos."
Edric stared at Kael, and his tone turned solemn,
"The future isn't peaceful, Hero.
The spreading chaos will be accompanied by Wars, Destruction, and Deaths.
And during these desperate times, you, the Hero of Nerathis, will be the ray of hope. You will be the one the people will rely on.
And trust me when I say this, Hero.
You wouldn't be able to do this alone.
You will need your Bonds standing next to you. Bonds who will only be 3-4 years old by then, Bonds who will be no different than children.
Yes, Hero Kael, your Bonds, no matter how young, have to fight with you.
There is no other choice."
"So that's the grand plan?"
Kael retorted, a condescending smile forming on his lips.
"The future isn't peaceful, War is coming, and your solution to it is relying on a bunch of 3-4-year-old Magic Beasts?"
A self-deprecating smile appeared on the Crown Prince's face.
"Our solution to it is relying on a foreign Hero who has only been in this world for 3-4 years."
Kael's expression changed when he heard those words.
The Prince then looked into his eyes, and his weak smile widened,
I know. I have felt the same.
I hated the thought of relying on a child like you. It felt foolish.
What could a single man possibly do within a few years?
I always wondered the same thing in my head, but when I saw your growth and read the reports about how you saved Estwyn,
I finally realized it."
Edric's purple eyes then glowed with intense emotions and,
"We have no other choice but to rely on you because only you have what it takes to save us and Nerathis."