Knight 'n Gale

Chapter 20

"Your what?" Alexander couldn't help but to frown at the sudden revelation. "Are you making a fool out of me?"

"I wouldn't dare deceive you, my lord. I... I couldn't believe it before as well. But this is a fact. It will never change should your highness choose to believe me or not." Cedar met the Crown Prince's cold eyes with his determined gaze.

As he lifted his head, Cedar noticed the sword in Alexander's hand.

It was a thin, flat sword which has a blade not wider than his thumb, akin to a fencing sword when seen from afar, and it's crystal like appearance stood out, with the soaring dragon that was carved on its blade.

Cedar's eyes lit up, "It seems like Caerus' blessing really is my passive skill, huh?"  As of this moment, he couldn't help but be thankful that he had the god of opportunity on his side. "And that guy too..."

Before their journey, Yrhan had given him a small hexagon jade amulet with an image of a rising phoenix. It also has three small dark gemstones in it. The Priest said that it was a gift given to her by Thanatos, the god of death. It seems that the latter was really repenting on his mistakes and wanted to do her a favor. Therefore, he gave him this amulet. Although he can't revive him if he ultimately died, he could atleast make Cedar avoid death three times by using this artifact. This could save him in times of emergencies.

With that in mind, Cedar steeled his resolution. "To prove that I am indeed Cedar, I beseech your highness to use the sword of truth to test me." He pleaded as he clenched his fist, trying to calm his nerves.

The sword in Alexander's hand was none other than the sword of truth.  As what the name implies, it was a sword that could allow the wielder to determine whether someone is lying or not. In Gale's original world, it's like the perfected version of the lie detector test.

Although this product was a defective one. It was accidentally produced by the Yv empire's first king in his younger days, but since it was such a beautiful sword and the only one of its kind, it was passed down to the country's crown princes ever since, as an accessory.

Besides it being a fancy sword that could detect lies, it's use was only just that, and the damage that it can inflict--if it's not the target's heart, was just on a level of an ordinary sword and could only be used once every 100 days. Not to mention that to use this sword, the wielder must directly pierce through the target's heart while being interrogated.

In this reason, upon hearing Cedar's request, Alexander's frown went even deeper as he was in a dilemma.

He wanted to know the truth as to why the Cedar accompanying him had a different, yet similar trait to the Cedar he knew. That's why although it was unheard-of, he deemed this person's excuse as a possibility.

If it so happen that this Cedar was the real one, Alexander could never forgive himself if Cedar died, since the would in the heart that was caused by the sword of truth-- although it won't be painful and wouldn't kill the target as long as the sword wasn't drawn out, it  can't be cured by magic and would only rely on the physical strength and natural recovery with the help of herbs.

On the other hand, if that excuse was indeed a lie, Cedar's life might be in grave danger and Alexander was afraid that he'll be too late to save his only friend if the imposter refused to tell him the truth before dying.

So whichever he choose, he would still put Cedar's life on the line.

"Even so, I still have a third choice..."  Alexander seriously contemplated on what to do. After all, he can't afford to be careless.

It only took a second or two for Alexander go make a decision.

Who knew that in such a short time, Cedar would actually grab the sword with both hands and tried to make the sword pierce his heart!