The Eden Not Found On This Earth

Chapter 4: The K(night)ing Of

Chapter 4: The K(night)ing Of

Wenek, the Royal Adviser to the Monarch King Jongun, clears his throat and announces in a loud voice,

"Here we are today on the 28th day of the 5th ember, Solunar 1112. As decreed by Monarch King Jongun, the challenger to be tested today is Aiden Beaufort of Lunduk in hopes of attaining the honor of the position of His Highness the 1st Prince Drewan's personal knight. The challenger will be going against the Captain of the Royal Guards, Liger Beastman Urthur. Should the challenger fail to best the beastman's strength, wit, and chivalry; he is to be exiled to his home town, never to set foot in the Kingdom Capital for the rest of his remaining life."

From below the platform, the prince shifts uneasily on his feet. Now 13 solunars and barely a hand shorter than Aiden, he still tugs on Aiden's garments.

"Ar-, Aiden, they're not really going to make you go away forever if you fail right?"

"Prince Drewan, I believe that Father Monarch King is the law and truth. He would not lie to his citizens, or you."

"He's right, Your Highness. If Your Father decrees it, then it will surely happen. The Monarch King's words are valued by Gleaf, and even the whole Royal Treasury of it cannot compare."

The Prince jumps at the sudden appearance of the Royal Scribe, "Heimor! Stop sneaking up on people all the time! Also, why didn't you tell us that this had consequences?"

"I informed Aiden of the consequences, Your Highness."

"What? Aide-"

"And the challenger, Aiden Beaufort!," blares from the megaphones from all sides of the arena.

Aiden steps away from the Prince and continues without looking back, but murmurs in a low voice,

"Wish me luck, my Prince."

Aiden, with his satin light pink hair tied up into a high ponytail and his leather armor donning his body, jumps onto the stage and into the sweltering heat. Opposite to him is the Captain of the Royal Guards, Urthur. The liger beastman stood at a towering height of 3 meters, his pale golden fur with faintly seen darker stripes shining in the sunlight smattered across the exposed parts of his body, which was everything but his trousers. For this duel, Urthur was bare-handed and almost bare-chested, his body being the finest weapon and honor a beastman could bring. He was heavily built, his arms like cannons, the leather straps crisscrossing his chest barely containing those pectorals.

And Aiden, with his light cerulean blue eyes glinting and his small frame of 1.73 meters crouching to the ground, unties and discards his longsword at the sight of the beastman. Compared to his opponent, Aiden – with his thin and light muscle tone – looked like a frail coward conceding his defeat even before the duel commenced.

Oh, how wrong it is to assume.

With a raise of the Monarch King's hand and a sole gunshot, the duel commenced.

Just like Aiden's frame suggested yet opposite to his prior attitude, he launched lightly off the ground. Leaping high over his opponent that charged at him head on, Aiden somersaults and grabs Urthur's scruff, unbelievably flipping the entire beastman around in midair and slamming him into the ground. With a roll, the liger recovers on all fours and charges once more towards Aiden who just landed.

This time, Aiden places a foot backward seeming to brace for impact. The entire crowd roars as Urthur roars and bares his fangs as if to swallow the pink-haired fool, but Aiden raises his two hands and receives the maw of the beast. With the beastman's entire momentum stifled by the small challenger, the crowd gasps in awe at the inhuman display of strength.