Chapter 29 - The Secret of the Knight

  The farewell was brief but meaningful. Waru, with his worn robe and his tired smile, shook Juan's hand firmly.

  - You're doing well, boy. Don't let power consume you... and remember, the true strength is in your heart.

  Juan nodded with a slight smile, still processing everything he had learned.

  - Thank you, Waru. I won't forget it.

  Waru turned to say goodbye to the rest of the team. Lightning made fun of his disheveled beard, Scarlett offered him a special potion as a farewell gift, Charlotte and Elizabeth greeted him cordially... but Valterion stood firm, watching the old man with a serious look.

  - Valterion? - Juan asked - Are you coming or what?

  Valterion did not respond immediately. Before following them, Waru nodded to him.

  - Wait a minute, gentleman. There's something you should know.

  ?

  Flashback - Waru's Warning

  Waru took him to the exact place where Juan had unleashed his new power. The ground was still cracked, the grass was burned and the air still seemed charged with energy.

  "What do you want to show me?" Valterion asked, with his arms crossed.

  "Look there..." Waru pointed to a specific point in the air.

  At first glance, there was nothing. Only the air vibrating weakly, as if something invisible was floating.

  - What am I supposed to be seeing? - Valterion frowned.

  - Focus better.

  Valterion stooked, activating his ability to see details at a greater distance. Then he saw it... a small white fragment, floating as if it didn't belong to this world.

  - What the hell is that?

  If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

  Waru took a deep breath, as if it was hard for him to explain.

  - That... is nothing.

  - Nothing? What are you talking about?

  - Exactly that... nothing. That shouldn't exist... -Waru said with a gloomy tone- It's as if a part of the universe had been torn from the fabric of reality. Juan not only released power... he snatched something from the world itself.

  Valterion remained silent, assimilating what he had just heard.

  - So... what are you trying to tell me?

  - That if that happened only with a first attempt... if one day Juan loses control of his power due to anger, despair or pain... the entire universe could be torn apart.

  - ...And what do you want me to do?

  Waru looked at him seriously, fixing his eyes on the visor of Valterion's helmet.

  - Protect them... at all costs. It prevents him from getting out of control, feeling an excessive anger or a sadness that destroys him. If you succeed, maybe you can save us all.

  "What if I can't?" Valterion asked in a low voice.

  Waru was silent for a moment, then replied in a gloomy tone:

  - Then it will be the end.

  ?

  Back to the present

  Valterion was silent, looking at the ground as the team prepared to leave. Waru gave him one last pat on the shoulder before returning to his cabin.

  - Good luck... Loyal Knight.

  ?

  Back at the Mansion

  The return trip was silent. Juan tried to calm the atmosphere by telling one of his funny anecdotes, but no one laughed too much. Valterion was still silent, worried about what he had heard.

  When they arrived at the mansion, each one went to their respective rooms.

  Charlotte and Elizabeth decided to take advantage of the last moment of the day to chat with Juan. Both approached their room.

  "Can I come in?" Charlotte asked, peeking out.

  - Yes, of course... - Juan said with a forced smile.

  Both girls sat next to him, Elizabeth on the edge of the bed and Charlotte on a nearby chair.

  - What's wrong? - Charlotte asked - Today I notice you... different.

  Juan sighed.

  - It's just that... this power, being a ruler... sometimes I feel like I'm not prepared.

  - What do you mean you're not ready? - Elizabeth said - Didn't you see what you did today? You stopped an attack without knowing what you were doing. Not just anyone can do that.

  - It wasn't just that... -Juan looked down- Waru made me realize something... that it's not enough to be strong. I need to be someone that others respect... someone who is not afraid to raise his voice.

  Charlotte approached and took his hand.

  - You'll do it well... because you don't want to be able to dominate, you want it to protect. That's the difference.

  Juan smiled slightly.

  - Thank you... really.

  Charlotte and Elizabeth gave him a few words of encouragement before going to rest.

  - Don't worry so much, ruler... - Elizabeth joked - If you get lost, here you have your entourage of madmen to guide you.

  Juan let out a genuine laugh.

  - Yes... that's clear to me.

  ?

  The gentleman's oath

  Elsewhere in the mansion, Valterion was in his secret room, meditating in the dark. His thoughts had only one purpose:

  - No matter what happens... I'll protect you, Juan. At all costs.

  The echo of his oath echoed in the room as he clenched his fist tightly.

  ?

  The chapter ends with Juan in his room, looking at the ceiling and thinking:

  - What am I really...?

  Outside, in the vastness of the universe... something began to move.