44 Chapter 44: Becoming one of the vip

 3'rd person pov:

The princess, Victor, Alistair, and Count Laurence emerged from the tent, strolling through the bustling camp. The air was filled with the murmur of soldiers engaged in lively conversations about the recent battle. Stories and anecdotes about Favian's fight against the powerful demon circulated among the troops, creating a buzz of mixed emotions - relief, excitement, and for some, a heavy weight of losses endured during the struggle.

Amidst the chatter, many spoke of comrades and friends who had fallen during the raid. Yet despite these losses, they all recognized the success of their expedition. Less than 20% of their vanguard had perished, a remarkable achievement considering the dangerous dungeon they had raided.

"I swear, I saw it with my own eyes," one soldier exclaimed to a group of his comrades in the royal army. "The young master stood at the front line, looking down at the demon with a fearless determination. With one swift swipe of his blade, he beheaded it and then threw its head to the surrounding monsters." 

Others nodded eagerly as he recounted how it was like witnessing a scene straight out of their childhood hero stories.

As word spread of a boy single-handedly slaying a powerful demon, disbelief turned into awe among the soldiers. They went around asking others who were part of the vanguard, and to their surprise, each one described an identical tale. The triumphant return of the vanguard, proudly displaying the body of their fallen enemy only added to the credibility of this incredible feat. The young master had become a living legend among them.

The princess stood amidst the bustling camp,as she turned to face the count, a smile tugged at her lips. "It seems your son has become

a legend among these men," she remarked, her voice filled with awe.

Count Laurence's rugged features softened as he scratched his cheek, a mixture of pride and disbelief evident in his expression. "I still can't believe my son has accomplished such a feat," he admitted, casting a proud gaze towards the camp where the stories of his son's heroic act echoed among the soldiers.

Victor, his sharp features furrowed in concern, joined the conversation, as much as he hated being a buzzkill, it needed to be said . "However, we cannot ignore the seriousness of the situation. Your son has now become a high-priority target for the demons. And unfortunately, there is little we can do to protect him. He must learn to fend for himself."

A look of worry crossed Count Laurence's face as he turned to face Victor. "I don't think he truly understand the danger he will now face? He is alone out there, with only a handful of individuals capable of fighting against demons, there will be no one to help him , except himself.The boy is like a rough diamond," Victor replied solemnly. "He needs to be polished and honed into a strong warrior. His own strength will be his greatest weapon against the dangers that lie ahead."

The princess turned to the count as she then asked "Lord Laurence may I ask what your intentions are regarding Favian? Have you considered sending him to the magical academy?"

The princess regarded Count Laurence with an inquisitive gaze before she continued . "I must agree with Victor on this matter. It would be best for Favian to receive proper training and become stronger in order to protect himself and our kingdom."

The count stopped on his walk his gaze raised to the sky

"As much as I would have preferred for Favian to stay home and learn the ways of administration and ruling, I must acknowledge that the situation has changed," Count Laurence sighed. "It would be for the best if he receives training and becomes someone that can protect himself ." His words held a hint of sadness, knowing that his son's life will be now filled with the harsh reality of war and danger.

Victor spoke earnestly, his voice laced with urgency as he tried to convince the Count that he was making the right choice. "War is drawing near; yesterday's expedition was just a taste of what's to come. Your son may hold the key to balancing our lack of strength, leveraging the power of the eleven high-ranking nobles in service of the demon king. With his presence , we would only have five members capable of putting up a fight against them."

The Count's expression grew somber as he processed Victor's words. "I understand that you are speaking the truth. It is in everyone's best interest, especially for Favian, that he becomes stronger. We have no future if we continue to lose against the demons." He let out a heavy sigh, knowing that this decision would not be well-received by his wife

"Although it may not be an easy decision, I will do my best to make her understand," Count Laurence continued, feeling a pang of guilt for considering sending his own son into harm's way. But he also knew that in these dire times, sacrifices had to be made.

Victor nodded gratefully at the Count's words. "Thank you for seeing the bigger picture. Every individual's strength matters greatly in these trying times, and Favian has the potential to be a significant one''

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 Favian's pov:

In the dimly lit tent, I lay on the soft bed, my mind reeling from Baalkaroth's shocking revelation. "What do you mean I've developed a soul projection?" I questioned, my eyes narrowing in a mix of confusion and curiosity.

Baalkaroth's voice reverberated in my head, its resonance steady and confident. "I can see it clearly now. Your mana pool is intricately linked with your soul. It has developed even beyond my expectations."

Doubt crept into my expression as I probed further, "Are you certain?Seems too good to be true..."

The demonic presence within me chuckled, its tone a strange blend of amusement and conviction. "I am certain. Your soul was already primed for it; it just needed a strong enough mana pool to bring it forth. And your recent encounter with that demon's soul projection only served to strengthen the bond between your soul and mana pool, it seems also to have had a great impact on your mentality, there is no need to hide it I can clearly see the aftermath of it.... However, your projection is still weak compared to others. For now, you can only extend it up to ten meters. With proper training, it may become more powerful. "

A smile tugged at the corners of my lips, a mixture of satisfaction and anticipation coursing through me. Chuckling softly, I realized that this newfound power would ensure my victory when Lucas comes for me. He had yet to discover his own soul projection, making him vulnerable to my attack - as he would develop such skill only on the later part of the story. It's a bit sad I could have used him for my plan , It would be a waste of potential to kill him nonetheless he is my enemy, and I literally have no other choice..

Now the only thing that remained was to see my new ability and, strengthen myself to use it.