The Duke had watched from his elevated seat, his stern face softening with a rare pride.
watching Gon stand victorious in the arena, the Duke felt a deep satisfaction settle in his chest.
The boy had exceeded his expectations, bringing honor to him in a way few had before.
Even if Gon failed to win at the kingdom stage, it wouldn’t matter to the Duke. He was already impressed, and that was no small feat.
What the Duke didn’t know, however, was the depth of Gon’s ambition.
The title of duchy champion, while a milestone, was rely a stepping stone for the young mage.
Gon wasn’t content with pleasing the Duke or earning his approval.
His hunger ran deeper than that, down to the marrow of his bones.
He wanted to be the best mage in the world, not just in the duchy or the kingdom, but in all the realms known and unknown.
The years of being dismissed as a nobody had carved a cavernous void within him, one he intended to fill with greatness.
He wasn’t fighting for accolades or glory; he was fighting for himself, to prove to the world, and to the ghosts of his past, that he was capable of extraordinary things.
Now that he had the chance to rise higher, to compete on a larger stage, Gon wouldn’t let it slip through his fingers.
He embraced the opportunity with a fervor that bordered on reckless.
The responsibility of representing the duchy at the kingdom stage didn’t intimidate him; it thrilled him.
Every challenge, every opponent, every grueling mont of training was another chance to show what he could do.
He rushed into it without hesitation, his mind already racing with strategies and skills, his body itching to push itself further.
The Duke, unaware of the storm brewing in Gon’s heart, smiled as he rose from his seat and walked off the viewing platform.
He felt a quiet pride, not just in Gon, but in himself.
The boy was his seed, his discovery, and seeing him triumph filled him with a sense of accomplishnt.
At the door to the arena, he t his wife, the Duchess, her face glowing with the sa quiet joy.
He gave her a small peck on the cheek, a rare gesture of affection that spoke volus. "Let’s go in, dear," he said, his voice warm.
She smiled softly and followed him inside, her hand slipping into his as they made their way to the feast hall.
The victory had done more than just crown a champion, it had brought a spark of joy back to the duchy, a lightness that had been absent for too long.
The people had gathered in the hall, their laughter and chatter filling the air as they celebrated Gon’s triumph.
The young heir had beco a symbol of hope, proof that even the lowliest among them could rise to greatness.
Gon hesitated for just a mont outside the hall, his hand on the heavy wooden door. The weight of the day, of the tournant, the victory, the expectations, pressed down on him briefly.
But then he squared his shoulders and stepped inside, the roar of applause greeting him like a warm embrace.
The feast was a blur of food, drink, and endless toasts in his honor.
Gon ate and laughed with the others, but the exhaustion of the day clung to him like a second skin.
By the ti the last course was cleared and the guests began to drift away, he could barely keep his eyes open.
His thoughts flickered briefly to Elsa and Ana, the two won who often kept him company in the quieter hours of the night.
But even the prospect of their playful shenanigans couldn’t keep him awake.
He stumbled to his chambers, his body aching with the day’s exertions, and fell into bed without bothering to change.
Sleep claid him instantly, a deep, dreamless void that swallowed him whole.
The next morning, the sky was barely tinged with the pale gray of dawn when a knock jolted Gon from his slumber.
He groaned, his voice rough and groggy as he croaked, "Co in."
The door creaked open slowly, and tentative footsteps padded across the stone floor.
Gon turned his head, his vision still blurry with sleep, and squinted at the figure standing a few feet from his bed.
Through the haze, he recognized Ana, her delicate fra silhouetted against the dim light filtering through the window.
She stood shyly, her hands clasped in front of her, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Gon sat up slowly, rubbing at his eyes. "Ana, I’m too tired and sleepy to..." he began, his words trailing off as he waved a hand vaguely.
He wasn’t in the mood for company, not after the whirlwind of the previous day.
But Ana shook her head, her smile widening slightly.
"No, Master Gon," she said softly, her voice tinged with amusent. "The Duke has summoned you outside to the courtyard."
"The courtyard?" Gon muttered, flopping back onto the bed with a groan. "Why the courtyard? Is the tournant still on?"
His mind, still sluggish with sleep, struggled to piece together why the Duke would drag him out so early.
He had just won the blasted thing, couldn’t he at least have a day to rest?
Ana giggled, the sound light and musical. "No, Master Gon. You have a new teacher."
That caught his attention.
Gon’s eyes fluttered open fully, and he propped himself up on his elbows, staring at her. "A new teacher?" he repeated, his voice tinged with suspicion.
"Yes, Master Gon," Ana replied, her tone brightening. "A swordsmaster."
Gon groaned again, louder this ti, and let his head fall back onto the pillow.
Of course. The Duke had decided he needed to start training for the next stage of the tournant imdiately.
There would be no rest for him, no reprieve from the endless grind.
It was just like being a mage, there were no days off, no monts of peace.
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