Aldoria: Am I a hero...or not?

Kael climbed the wooden ladder, reaching for an old book on aura manipulation. Just as his fingers touched the book, his foot slipped.

"Whoa--!"

With a loud thud, he landed flat on his back. Groaning, he rubbed his head and sat up, but then...something caught his eye.

A faint glow flickered from the far corner of the library, partially hidden behind a shelf. Pushing himself up, he cautiously approached. As he got closer, he realized the light was coming from a small, barely noticeable gap in the wall. He reached out and pressed against it.

Click.

The wall shifted slightly, revealing a hidden alcove. Inside, a wooden barrel sat in the dim light, covered in dust. Kael peeked inside, and his brows furrowed.

The barrel was filled with strange, plump fruits, each one giving off a faint shimmer. He frowned.

He reached in, hesitating for a moment, but then pulled his hand back.

<...No. I need to focus on training.>

Shaking his head, he closed the alcove and left, returning to the bookshelves. He grabbed a few tomes on footwork, breathing techniques, and aura manipulation before heading outside.

{{Training Ground}}

The sun hung high as Kael stood in the training yard, rolling his shoulders.

He adjusted his stance, recalling the diagrams from the book. Slow, steady breaths. Foot placement firm.

Step. Exhale. Shift. Inhale.

His body protested with every movement, muscles aching from the unfamiliar exertion. The moment he tried channeling aura, a sharp pain shot through his chest, making him stagger.

"Gah--!" He clutched his ribs, panting.

Frustrated, he slumped against a tree, wiping sweat from his forehead.

"Kael!"

A familiar, cheerful voice rang out. Turning, he saw his younger sister, Selene, running toward him. She grinned, hands behind her back.

"Come play with me!"

Kael blinked, caught off guard.

Looking at her expectant gaze, he sighed and got up.

"Alright, alright."

They played for a while, Selene dragging him around the gardens, laughing as she dodged his slow attempts to catch her. But through it all, his mind kept drifting back to that glowing barrel.

Before he could think further, a maid arrived, bowing slightly.

"Young Master, Young Mistress, it is time for dinner."

{{Family Dinner}}

The long dining table was filled with dishes, yet the atmosphere remained heavy. As Kael and Selene took their seats, the usual cold stares bore into him. His siblings said nothing, their father's presence keeping them silent.

Lancelot Valor, the strongest man on the continent, sat at the head of the table, calm yet imposing.

One by one, he asked his children about their progress.

Cassian spoke first, his voice confident. "Training is going well, Father. I will be meeting with the Duke's men next week for strategy discussions."

"Good" Lancelot said.

Garrett followed, proudly reporting his achievements. Then came Kyle, who smirked before speaking.

"I'm doing great, Father. Unlike Kael, I actually know how to swing a sword properly."

A few quiet snickers followed. Kael clenched his fist under the table but stayed silent.

Then, his mother, Elysia, turned to him, her warm smile a stark contrast to the others. "Kael, I heard you've been training on your own?"

The table went silent.

Kael hesitated before nodding. "Yes, Mother."

Her smile deepened. "That's good. Keep it up."

His father, however, simply hummed before moving on.

After dinner, Kael returned to the training grounds, ignoring the judgmental gazes of the knights and servants. He practiced until exhaustion, forcing himself through every step, every breath.

Luke, his trainer, raised an eyebrow. "You're working harder than usual."

Kael wiped his forehead. "I just… want to improve."

Some of the knights whispered among themselves.

"He's probably just putting on a show for the lord."

"That troublemaker? He'll be back to pranking by tomorrow."

Kael exhaled sharply but didn't react.

{{Library – Late Night}}

After training, Kael wandered back to the library. His muscles ached, his mind tired, but he wanted to study more. He picked up another book, one outlining an intense training regimen.

"100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10-kilometer run every day…?" He muttered, chuckling.

Shaking his head, he set the book down. But as he stretched, his stomach growled.

His mind drifted back to the hidden room.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Kael slipped through the library, reopening the hidden alcove. The shimmering fruits were still there. He reached in and grabbed one, inspecting it.

Without thinking, he took a bite.

His eyes widened.

He took another bite.

And then..

Darkness.

???

Kael's mind swirled. Blurry images flooded his vision. Flames, war, blood-soaked battlefields. Figures clad in armor, clashing swords, voices screaming in agony.

His breath hitched.

His chest burned. His limbs felt like they were floating in a vast abyss. Then, suddenly...

"Young Master!"

His eyes snapped open.

Sylvia stood over him, arms crossed, irritation clear on her face. "Why are you sleeping in the library?"

Kael blinked, his mind still foggy.

Sylvia sighed, rubbing the side of her head. "Come on, get up. The library is not a place to sleep."

As they walked out, Kael hesitated before asking, "Sylvia… is there a hidden room in the library? With a barrel full of fruit?"

She frowned. "No. There's no such thing."

His heart skipped a beat.

But then. He felt something strange in his stomach. A warmth. A pulse.

He clenched his fist.

<...Maybe I was just imagining things.>

Shaking the thought away, Kael followed Sylvia back to his room. But deep inside, he knew...something was different.

{{Hallway – Late at Night}}

Kael trailed behind Sylvia, his thoughts spinning.

"Sylvia, are you sure?" he asked again, glancing back toward the library. "There's no hidden room? No barrel?"

Sylvia huffed, her patience wearing thin. "Young Master, I have worked in this household for years. If there were a hidden room, I would know."

Kael pressed his hand against his stomach. The warmth was still there, a strange pulse thrumming deep within him. But he had no proof. No way to explain it.

"…Fine" he muttered, giving up for now.

Sylvia simply sighed and led him the rest of the way to his room.

{{Kael's Room – Late at Night}}

The moment Kael's head hit the pillow, he was out like a light.

He didn't dream. No blurry memories. No strange visions. Just deep, dreamless sleep.

And then—

Ding!

A bright blue screen flashed before his eyes.

[ Welcome, New Player! ]

A robotic chuckle echoed in his mind, followed by a message:

[ First Quest: 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10-kilometer run! —Failure to complete this quest will result in an immediate penalty.]

Kael sat up so fast he nearly flipped off the bed.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!"

His scream echoed through the manor.