บท 2: Knights
"How was your day, Sid?" An old man asked, his voice gentle as he fed the pigs.
"It's okay, Grandpa Ray. I saw some knights the other day, they were searching for an apprentice," Sid answered with a forced smile. He knew that with his weak body, becoming a knight was out of the question.
"Ah, the knights," Grandpa Ray said, nodding his head. "I remember when I was younger, I used to dream of becoming a knight myself. But life had other plans for me, and I ended up as a simple farmer."
"Do you regret it, Grandpa?" Sid asked.
"Regret it? Not at all. I may not have lived an exciting life, but I have lived a good one. I have a loving grandson, a cozy home, and food on the table every day. What more could I ask for?"Grandpa chuckled.
Sid smiled at his grandfather's words, feeling grateful for the simple life they had
They continued working on the farm, the sun rising higher in the sky, casting long shadows across the fields. The old man grunted as he lifted a heavy sack of grain onto the wagon, while Sid mended the fence with tired hands. The morning hours passed slowly, emphasized only by the sounds of their labor and the occasional distant cry of a bird..
"Grandpa, I'm off to the village this afternoon to watch the test. Is that alright with you?"
His grandfather nodded in agreement, and Sid began preparing to set off. As he went to the mirror to clean his face, he ran his fingers through his wavy hair. It was jet black in color and fell in loose waves around his face, framing his features. The hair looked a little unruly as if he had just woken up from a nap, but it added to his rugged and casual charm.
****
It was a quaint little place, surrounded by gently rolling hills and meadows dotted with wildflowers. As he walked down the dusty path that led to the village, Sid could hear the distant hum of bees and the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze.
The village itself was made up of a cluster of small, thatched-roof cottages, each with a little garden out front. Smoke rose from chimneys, and the smell of woodsmoke and fresh bread filled the air.
In the center of the village was a little square, with a bubbling fountain at its heart. Chickens pecked in the dirt, and children chased each other around, their laughter ringing through the air.
It was a peaceful, idyllic place, and as Sid looked around, he couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment and calm wash over him.
He walked toward the plaza where the event was being held. A sea of people had gathered there, cheering as 15-year-old boys battled with wooden swords in front of two knights.
The air was thick with excitement and anticipation, but as Sid got closer, he could see that the knights presiding over the event looked disappointed with the children's performance. None of them were lifting heavy stones, as he had expected.
He watched with envy as they battled with wooden swords in front of the visiting knight. He was already 14 years old this year, and despite his age, his body was still weaker than the children in front of him. He knew deep down that he had no talent at all for becoming a knight, so he did not join the test.
Instead, he watched from the sidelines as more children stepped forward to try their luck. Each child battled fiercely with their wooden swords, their determination and spirit evident in their every move.
Despite his disappointment, he couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for their bravery and perseverance. They were giving it their all, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of respect for them.
As the test drew to a close, Sid knew that his dream of becoming a knight was all but over. But even as he felt his dreams slip away, he couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, there was still a chance for him to prove himself someday.
The test finally came to an end, and the visiting knight stepped forward to the center of the village. The crowd hushed as he began to speak, his voice ringing out across the plaza.
"I have seen great potential in the children of this village," he announced, his words echoing in the stillness.
"And I am pleased to announce that I have chosen three of them to come with me to the castle, to be trained as knights under the Lord's decree."
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, and Sid watched from the sidelines with a mixture of envy and pride. Even though he had not been chosen, he couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for those who had been.
As the knights called out the names of those who had passed the test, his heart swelled with pride for his fellow villagers. He cheered and clapped for them, admiring their courage and skill.
But then, as fate would have it, the name of his bully, Zion, was called. At first, Sid couldn't help but feel disappointed. He couldn't imagine someone like Zion becoming a knight when he was always causing trouble and bullying others.
Then he shook his head, reminding himself not to be a sore loser. He had always been taught to be gracious in defeat, and he knew that the knights had chosen those who had shown the most potential.
In this world, power was the only thing that seemed to hold true value. It didn't matter how kind, clever, or hardworking a person was; if they lacked strength or influence, they were often overlooked and dismissed.
This harsh reality had always weighed heavily on Sid's mind. He knew that his own lack of physical prowess had already closed some doors for him, and he feared that it would limit his potential for greatness.
But as he walked through the bustling streets of his village, he couldn't help but notice something else: acts of kindness, compassion, and wisdom being displayed by those around him. These were things that couldn't be measured by brute force, yet they held a certain magic and allure that he found himself drawn to.
Maybe, just maybe, there was more to life than simply being the strongest or most powerful. Maybe there was something deeper, something more meaningful, that he could strive for. With this new perspective in mind, Sid felt a glimmer of hope and determination begin to stir within him.
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