The Laughing Swordsman

A slow and majestic voice reverberated throughout the trial room, congratulating Otis.

As for Otis, he looked up with confusion.

The gargantuan stone dragon statue came to life.

It moved smoothly, as though the stone was stretchy skin.

A layer of thick red energy wrapped itself around Otis.

His shut eye slowly opened. The flesh of his maimed eye squirmed, reforming into something... different.

The sclera, or outer white part of his eye, became a faint shade of pink. Otis' iris and pupil shrunk considerably while transforming from a hazelnut color to a deep red.

The effect of these new changes was not immediately apparent.

His new eye joined his old one in staring at the overbearing stone dragon statue.

Otis recalled his father's remark about the final step.

"Son, if you make it to the fourth step, you have, in essence, made it. Our ancestor will personally judge you and determine if you are worthy of the inheritance."

His father smiled.

"So hope, with all your heart."

The stone dragon statue seemed to be smiling.

"Now... kneel."

Otis didn't realize this at first, but the pressure from the fourth step didn't increase compared to the third.

But then, the pressure suddenly multiplied several times over.

Otis saw a mountain above him, attempting to crush him into a paste.

His knees bent...

Then straightened.

He refused to kneel down.

The stone dragon statue hummed with interest.

"All you have to do is kneel. Why resist?"

Otis grit his teeth, forcing words through grunts of pain.

"...I have already decided. ...No matter what stands in front of me..."

His eyes narrowed.

"I will not run... I will not cower... and most of all, I will not be afraid"

Otis coughed up blood.

He could feel his bones cracking from the pressure while his muscles shivered.

The stone dragon statue chuckled in amusement.

"Even if that means you won't receive the inheritance?"

Otis smiled disdainfully.

"Sometimes there are things that a person must live by."

Blood trickled from his ears, nose, and eyes.

He was in a bad state, to say the least.

Suddenly, the pressure vanished, making Otis gasp from the sudden change.

The stone dragon statue laughed.

"Very well... I suppose I can waive this requirement. However, there is still one last test."

Otis calmed himself down before staring at his ancestor silently.

The stone dragon simply smiled.

Then waved to Otis.

As for Otis, he blacked out.

...

Otis found himself laid down on a grassy plain.

He was in the courtyard of his house.

Otis rubbed his forehead.

What was happening?

"Son!"

His father ran over. Then, he placed his hands on his knees and began panting.

"What are you... doing all the way out here?"

Otis turned his head over.

"...Dad?"

His father smiled.

"Yes, son?"

Otis rubbed his forehead again.

"How are you here?"

His father raised an eyebrow, then burst out in laughter.

"Haha, what are you talking about? This is our courtyard, no?"

Otis furrowed his brows.

...That's right. This was his courtyard, why was it so strange that his father was here?

He got up on his feet.

"Ah, sorry for being weird, dad."

His father waved dismissively.

"It's fine, it's fine. Come on, your mother is waiting for you for dinner!"

A fleeting thought flashed by Otis' mind.

His eyes gleamed... What was it?

Otis' father had already gone up ahead.

He peeked over his shoulder, finding out his son was daydreaming.

"Son? Are you ok?"

Otis broke out of his stupor, blinking rapidly.

"Ah, yes!"

He hurried after his father and the two of them made their way into the palace.

Otis was greeted with the savory smell of food.

There was a long dining table, but there were only a few dishes placed near the edge.

Otis' mother set down a plate of food before turning to the pair.

"Ah, you're here!"

Tears uncontrollably streamed down Otis' face.

His mother gasped and rushed over to Otis.

She wiped away the tears with her palm.

"Why are you crying, dear?"

Otis swallowed.

"I... don't know."

His father patted his back.

"Then let's eat first. If you remember after we finish, feel free to tell us."

Otis nodded.

With that, Otis sat at the end of the long table while his parents sat to the left and right of him.

He picked up a fork and started eating.

At first, Otis could've sworn that the food was there.

But as time passed, it seemed to turn to white mist. For the life of him, he could not remember what he just ate.

There was a small frown on his face.

Otis' mother looked concerned.

"Are you ok, dear?"

Suddenly, Otis stood up.

"This... isn't real."

Memories flashed into his mind. Otis saw his mother leaving him and his father dying in his arms.

His father laughed.

"Son, you seem a little tired. Why don't you take a nap?"

Otis shook his head.

"I'm sorry, but I can't"

His father raised an eyebrow. A concerned expression formed.

"What is wrong, son?"

Otis took a deep breath.

"...I need to get revenge."

His mother stood up as well.

"What happened, dear? Did someone do something to you?"

Otis bit his lip.

"Not me... but you two."

He sighed, then turned around to walk towards the palace exit.

His mother quickly caught up, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Dear! Where are you going?"

Otis did not look back.

"I must leave."

His father hurried over and put his hand on Otis' other shoulder.

"Son, why are you in such a hurry to leave? You haven't even finished your dinner."

Otis closed his eyes.

"I must kill the people that wronged the both of you. Please, mom and dad."

Otis clenched his fist.

"Let me go."

His mother and father reluctantly let go of him.

Then, his father smiled bitterly.

"We don't mind if others have wronged us. We would much rather you live happily."

His mother beckoned him.

"Now come, let's finish dinner."

A tear trickled down Otis' face.

"I'm sorry."

He walked out of the palace.

...

Otis found himself back in the trial room.

The stone dragon statue hummed.

"You have finished the trial.... now for my judgment."