Eliant ended the verse with a theatrical wink at the camera, gunning her fingers directly at Eligant. "The fans are eating this up, El! You're trending before you've even put on your shoes! Hey guys, make sure to vote for my brother at the weekly rankings! And I'll make sure to show you one of his embarrassing baby pics as a reward for your support!"
Eligant let out a long, dramatic groan, burying his face in his hands. "Argh, here she goes again… selling me out just to gain favor with her viewers…"
The mother just laughed, the rhythmic clack clack of her spatula against the pan providing the final beat to the performance. "Alright, my little superstars, that's enough fire for the kitchen. We have a real hero to feed. Boys! Set the table. Now!"
"ON IT!" the little brothers shouted, vanishing instantly as they scrambled toward the cupboard for the silverware.
In the corner, parked by the sun drenched window, was his father. Though his legs were stilled by a wheelchair, his eyes were bright with pride. He watched Eligant enter with a look of profound gratitude.
"Come here, son," his father said, his voice thick with emotion. "Let me look at you. The scholar of the family, the pride of the district. I hope you're ready to show them what a real man looks like."
Eligant knelt beside his father's chair, taking his calloused hand. "I'm ready, Dad. This isn't just for the school or the sponsors. It's for us. All of this," he gestured to the full table, the medicine bottles neatly arranged by his father's side, and the siblings' school uniforms hanging on the wall, "is just the beginning."
"Look at this, Eligant," his grandmother called out, her voice warm but puzzled. She pointed to a small, hand wrapped box on the table. "Another one came this morning, dear."
"From who grandma?" Eligant asked, tilting his head with a curious half smile.
"We dunno!" Eliant chimed in. "We just heard a knock, and then the moment I ran to open it, I just saw this box. As I checked the hallways, I caught a glimpse of someone... It looked like a girl with pink hair! And… and her perfume was still in the air— she smells great!"
Eligant's face flushed a soft, embarrassed pink. He rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes darting away from his sibling's teasing grin.
"Hmm pink hair… Who is that? People shouldn't be spending their money on me like this," he murmured, his voice humble but clearly touched by the gesture.
He carefully opened the note attached to the box. It was a simple, cute drawing of a shy girl cheering, with the words 'Please be safe and hoping you be the next conqueror!' written in delicate script.
Eligant traced the ink of the drawing with his thumb, a small, puzzled smile forming. "Who might this be…" he murmured, the mystery of the anonymous fan bringing a light blush to his cheeks.
"He can't help it, Eliana," his father boomed, breaking the silence with a playful wink at his wife. "It's a dangerous combination, really. You didn't just inherit my devastating looks; you got your mother's genius brain. An elite scholar and a natural born athlete— you're the full package!"
His mother laughed softly. "You are right for once, Gantler." She reached over to squeeze Eligant's hand. "Between your father's strength and my wit, you've become something truly special. You're a radiant one, El. You carry the light for this entire family."
Eligant laughed, a warm, contagious sound that seemed to brighten the very walls of the room. He didn't puff out his chest or boast; instead, he looked at the note again, his expression softening with a quiet, genuine sense of responsibility.
"I don't know about 'radiant,' Mom," he said softly, his eyes shimmering with sincerity. "I'm just lucky. Lucky to have you guys to come home to. If I'm going into that Tower, it's not for the glory. It's so we never have to worry about a knock on the door being a bill collector ever again."
He picked up his fork, looking around at the family he had worked so hard to sustain. "Now, let's eat. I'm going to need every bit of your 'genius' cooking if I'm going to win this thing."
After the family finished their breakfast, the day truly began. The sun had barely climbed over the horizon before the plaza surrounding the Fantasy Tower became a sea of people. Thousands of spectators crammed into the streets.
Eligant stepped off the bus, his school uniform pressed and pristine despite the early morning humidity. He moved with a practiced gentleness as he helped his father's wheelchair down the steps, ignoring the growing murmur of the crowd around them. "Careful now, Dad," he murmured, his voice steady even as the massive shadow of the Tower loomed over them. "The ground here is a bit uneven, so hold on tight."
Inside the bus, his mother was making sure everyone within a three-block radius knew exactly who he was. "That's my son!" she shouted toward the back of the bus, pointing a wooden spoon at the empty seat where Eligant had just been. "The boy who is going to conquer that Tower and make us all rich! Look at him, isn't he the most handsome thing you've ever seen?"
Eligant's face turned a shade of crimson as he waved a shy, apologetic hand to the passengers staring out the windows. "Mom, please, everyone is trying to get to work," he called back, though his smile remained soft. A few commuters nearby were already snapping photos of him on their phones, whispering about the "Elite Scholar" who looked more like a movie star than a warrior.
His sister, Eliana, was already in full professional mode, her drone-phone circling her head as she spoke to her thousands of live viewers. "We are here, everyone! The vibe is absolutely electric, and I can literally feel the history being made!" she chirped, spinning around to catch the Tower in the frame. "My brother is officially about to enter the gates, so keep those likes and donations coming for the future champion of District 7!"
His mother finally hurried off the bus, clutching a massive, overstuffed bag that smelled strongly of home-cooked spices. "Take this, El! It's got enough fried rice and dried fish to last you at least a week," she insisted, trying to shove the bag into his hands. "You can't fight on an empty stomach, and I don't trust whatever food they give you inside that metal cylinder."
Eligant gently pushed the bag back toward her, laughing as his younger brothers began to cling to his legs. "Mom, I've told you a million times that the rules are very strict," he explained patiently. "Nothing is allowed inside except for the player and their key. If I show up at the gate with a week's worth of breakfast, they'll probably kick me out before I even see the first floor."
The brothers looked up at him with wide, teary eyes, their usual bravado replaced by the sudden realization that he was actually leaving. "You have to win, okay?" the youngest whispered, burying his face in Eligant's blazer. "And you have to bring us back a piece of the moon since you're going to be so high up!"
As they reached the heavy security perimeter, a uniformed staff member stepped forward, his eyes shielded by high-tech scanning glasses. "Stop right there. Identify yourself and present your credentials immediately," the man said, his tone professional and cold. "Only those with a verified Fantasy Key are permitted beyond this point."