The Only Son Amongst The Daughters Of Eros

The procession of citizens continued into the late hours, their concerns as varied as their faces.

Some spoke of farms ravaged by pests, pleading for aid to save their dying crops. Others recounted horror stories of monsters prowling their lands, tearing apart livestock and endangering their families.

Disputes between landowners over boundaries and rights were presented, their tones bitter and accusatory.

But now, to Aeric, each case was a piece of the larger puzzle that he now saw more clearly: Starlight was under immense strain, and even though the Region seemed to be at one of its greatest times in terms of achievement, its people fraying at the edges.

Aeric listened carefully to each plea, his responses measured, though his heart grew heavier with each passing story.

Ilyon, standing at his side, diligently recorded the issues and offered logistical advice where necessary. Despite the steady rhythm of solutions and deferrals, Aeric couldn't help but feel like they were plugging leaks in a dam about to burst.

Throughout most of the petitions, it was Jerothicus Gainly's words that had ingrained in Aeric the most. Only that man had come to represent an entire town — two rather since he spoke on behalf of Mursbridge.

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Others were here for simple disputes, farmlands, or family benefits.

When the last petitioner left, the tent fell silent. It was complete dark now, torches flickered in the night's darkness. Aeric could hear Knightguards' barks, telling citizens where to go to leave the castle.

He could also hear their armor as they walked about, searching around the Castle and making sure that no one was hiding in the premises.

Aeric leaned back in his chair, his fingers rubbing his temples as the weight of it all pressed down on him.

Ilyon, his courier for the day, watched him with a look of respect on his face, seeing that Aeric took this quite serious.

After a long time in darkness, under the tent, thinking silently, Aeric broke the quiet with a question. "Ilyon, why exactly can't we offer aid to Gulydurk?"

The courier straightened, letting out a soft hmmm before answering. "Well, Son Aeric, it's not a matter of desire but necessity. The upcoming Wave War looms over us. The War and Food Tax is the most important tax in our history. Not just money is taxed, not just food, but men too. People are also a kingdom's commodity, especially in war."

"Every knight we send, every gold piece we spare, weakens our readiness. The other Regions watch us closely, waiting for any sign of weakness. At this moment, we are the Region to stand by for the first time in over a hundred Wave Wars. If we spread our forces too thin now, we risk being unprepared when the Snake Queen strikes."

Aeric's brows furrowed deeply. "But these are our people, Ilyon. Gulydurk is part of Starlight, and so is Mursbridge. How can we abandon them to monsters and famine?"

Ilyon's tone softened, though his words remained firm. "I understand, Your Highness. But as you have already witnessed, this is the reality of leadership. Sacrifices must be made in the short term to secure the long-term survival of our Realm. Queen Guinevere likely has plans for Gulydurk after the Wave War, but for now... every resource is precious."

"Those plans can only be put in place if Gulydurk even survives the war." Aeric said with a sinking heart. He had seen that town with his own eyes — the starving children, the hollow-eyed farmers, the desolation.

The memory burned in his mind, and guilt gnawed at him. "How can we call ourselves leaders if we leave them to suffer?" he muttered, more to himself than to Ilyon.

~ ~ ~

Minutes later, he stepped back into the Castle, exhaustion lining his features. Aeric found his mother in the grand hall, her crown slightly askew, her face pale with fatigue.

Any enthusiastic, agitated child would have stepped up to Mother Guinevere in that moment and given her a piece of their mind about what was happening in Gulydurk and how she could let it be that way.

But the sight of her tugged at his heart. She had spend the whole day listening and solving, she was tired.

So, Aeric walked up to her and embraced her tightly. Besides, he knew that she was doing what she was doing for the purpose of good in the end.

Guinevere chuckled softly, though her voice was weary. "My son, if I'd known you were this affectionate for the people, I would've held more Solace Days."

Aeric smiled faintly but didn't let go. "Mother, you should rest. You've done more than enough for one day."

She gently cupped his cheek, giving him her motherly smile once more. "I agree with that. I can't keep up much longer tonight, my dear. I need a fine bath and a proper rest."

Aeric nodded. "And you should get exactly that." He gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Good night, Mother."

"Oh." Mother Guinevere held her cheek in surprise, confused as to why she was she pink cheeked from her son kissing her. "Good night," she mumbled nervously before disappearing down the corridor with some maidens.

After watching her leave, Aeric entered his room, took off his clothes and instantly sunk into his hot tub.

Steam from the basin rose in wispy tendrils, filling the room with a soothing warmth. Aeric lowered himself into the water, the heat loosening the tension in his muscles.

He leaned his head back, staring at the ornate ceiling above. The face of Jerothicus Gainly kept reappearing in his face, causing him to see the faces of those beggars, the famine lands, the starving children.

"What can I do?" he murmured to himself. "I can't take knights without Mother's approval."

His mind raced, considering and discarding ideas. "Even if Ilyon was right, maybe Mother plans to help them after the war," he reasoned. "But how long will that take? How many more will die before then?"

The water lapped against the sides of the basin as Aeric shifted. "Those people are already suffering. And the war... it'll only make things worse."

After moments of thinking, like a bolt of lightning, an idea struck him. His eyes widened, and a spark of determination ignited within him.

"Wait, why couldn't I just do it myself," he thought.

It was a daring notion, reckless even, but the more he considered it, the more it made sense.

He sat upright, water sloshing around him. "Not alone, of course," he reasoned aloud, placing a thinking finger on his chin.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Delva would surely be enthusiastic to help. And since Alzera is training me, I can talk her into joining. Perhaps to prepare me, we could intensify the sessions from every other day to every single day, and she could bring the rest of the team. Kael, Ryn and Bel."

Excitement coursed through him as the plan solidified in his mind. He imagined Gulydurk free of beasts, Aeric and his team of Awakened Players standing victorious on top of multiple slain beasts with their beast cores in bags.

Excitedly, he jumped out of the basin, water dripping onto the marble floor as he stretched both hands in glory. "Ha! Ha! Ha! I can do it!" he declared to the empty room. "I can save my people."

Silence stretched.

Ding!

[Please begin cultivation exercise.]