New Life (I)

"Anthony, don't stand there in a daze. This is your first time meeting His Majesty. Make the most of this rare opportunity and leave a good impression on him."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Lord Freed."

The boy called "Anthony" looked a little flustered and quickly caught up with the group.

He looked to be about fourteen or fifteen years old, with a rather handsome face and a slightly thin build, dressed in simple clothes.

Just now, Anthony was gazing up at the magnificent gate of the palace, which was tens of meters high, until Freed himself reminded him, and he came back to his senses.

"In any case, remember the etiquette I taught you."

He paused for a moment.

"Also, His Majesty admires brave people, so please don't faint in the main hall."

Freed's gaze was clearly fixed on Anthony, causing cold sweat to break out on Anthony's forehead.

Anthony nodded quickly in agreement, and then walked silently down the road. He couldn't contain his anticipation and nervousness; his heart was pounding.

The distance from the palace gate to the main hall is a full kilometer. In training, this distance is nothing more than a trivial punishment, but Anthony felt as if it would never end. He couldn't help but recall his tragic past and his experiences after joining the "Dragon Oath Hall".

From a dark, cramped, and filthy basement to the magnificent palace it is today.

The giant dragon carving on the door is lifelike and majestic, as if it is scrutinizing all visitors.

It opened slowly, making a heavy sound.

"This is unbelievable."

Anthony couldn't help but think that.

The Wyvern guarding the stone pillars on both sides of the road raised their heads and roared loudly, which made him even more uneasy about his upcoming audience with His Majesty the King.

After all, this magnificent palace was already far beyond the imagination of the impoverished Anthony. And what kind of power must the legendary "Purgatory Calamity," the "Embers of the Burned King," the dragon lord who single-handedly destroyed tens of thousands of troops, possess? Although he had observed it from afar, he had never been so close to it, let alone had an audience with it.

The remaining eleven boys were about the same age, and their youthful faces still revealed an undisguised tension and shock—together with Anthony, these twelve were the first batch of "Dragon Oath Paladin" candidates selected by Freed.

Most of them were young men of impeccable character who had received favors from the kingdom. After rigorous selection and arduous training, they were about to be brought before the Red Dragon to receive his blessing. As a former Black Lion Knight, Freed was adept at this task.

Walking on the wide road, Freed turned around and whispered the instructions:

"Ah"

The stark contrast made Anthony almost doubt that he was having a grand dream, but he knew perfectly well that he could not have imagined such a scene.

Anthony's father was an ordinary peasant, or more precisely, a "serf" bound to the manor, one of the hundreds of serfs under Baron Solly.

His father was fortunate enough to find a wife, allowing him to be born in a stable. Anthony originally didn't have a name; he was simply given the name "grain of Wheat Grain."

Following the normal trajectory of life, he would have become a lowly serf, spending his life in toil and hunger—just like his grandfather who starved to death in his early thirties.

However, as Anthony grew older, the steward managing the estate was surprised to find that he was not as emaciated and repulsive as the usual "Gray Livestock," but instead displayed a rather handsome appearance.

So the steward bought him from his father for three bags of soybeans.

According to the steward, Anthony was going to "go to the city to enjoy life with the Noble Lord." Perhaps it was for the precious food, perhaps he really hoped that his son could live a good life, or perhaps he had no choice but to accept. The father readily agreed, and at that time, Anthony was only eight years old.

The steward transported him by carriage to the bustling North Wind Fortress and then to the magnificent Baron's Manor.

Young Anthony didn't understand what all of this meant.

And so, the nightmare began.

Baron Solly warmly welcomed Anthony and then led him to the basement, where it was dark all around.

This is the moment it all began.

The Baron finally tore off his mask of refined nobility, revealing his devilish nature.

Anthony was locked in a dark and damp basement, praying every day that the guards of the Baron's Manor would throw him scraps of food. He always hoped to regain his freedom and escape this Hell situation, but it never came to pass.

He often hoped that the "gods" in the manor church could save him, but there was never a response. It made sense; how could a god who could protect a devil like Baron Solly respond to the pleas of a victim like him? Baron Solly would often wear a neat white robe and chat happily with the church's Cleric, but the gods never brought down any reproach.

This situation continued from age eight to age thirteen.

Gradually, Anthony became somewhat numb and even accustomed to this kind of life.

Until that day—the earth shook violently, and even he, in the basement, could hear the sound of gunfire.

Ultimately, he was rescued from his basement by the Tiefling army of the Embers of the Burned Kingdom. In Anthony's eyes, although the Tiefling looked like devils, they were far better than the Baron, who was gentle in appearance but had a devil in his heart.

When he saw the light of day again for the first time in five years, he was not used to it and had to shield his eyes from the glaring sunlight with his hands. But the sight between his fingers was unforgettable—a huge Red Dragon stood on the city wall, spreading its broad wings as if to cover the sky.

The dragon raised its head slightly and let out a loud roar that resounded through the sky. This sound was like the death knell of the Old Era order, and also like the beginning of a new one.

That scene was deeply etched in his mind, like a miracle.

Let him be reborn.

Later, despite having no status or position in the city, he was personally chosen by Freed of the Dragon Oath Hall to become a Dragon Oath Paladin Substitute. Freed even named him "Anthony," meaning "brave one."

Freed simply told them that the great Red Dragon had changed their fate, that there was no place for them in the old order of the Northern Nobles, and that the only option was to join the new order of the Embers of the Burned Kingdom, gain the power of the Dragon Oath, and become part of the Great Blueprint.

Anthony, who was eating white bread for the first time in his life, swallowed the food with difficulty, his eyes filled with determination.

Thus, he underwent rigorous training and passed numerous strict selections before finally arriving at the royal palace, where he was about to become the Dragon Oath Paladin, a figure of supreme glory and immense power.