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I stand in front of the king, my anger boiling within me as I argue with him. The king remains calm, his expression stoic as he listens to my heated words.

"Your majesty, Ilka gave her life to save mine. She deserves to be remembered and honored," I say, my voice rising in frustration.

The king sighs, "I understand your feelings, Arthur. Please accept my deepest condolences for your loss. I understand your emotions, but the people must not know of Ilka's sacrifice. They must believe that the hero is solely responsible for their victory."

I can't believe what I'm hearing. "What kind of reasoning is that? Ilka gave her life so that the hero could live, and you're just going to ignore her sacrifice?" I ask, disbelief evident in my voice.

The king's expression doesn't change. "I understand your anger, but this is for the greater good. The people must have faith in the hero, and Ilka's death would only cast doubt on the hero's power."

I'm about to continue my argument, but the king raises his index finger and, in an instant, a bolt of lightning shoots toward me. I already have my sword out, and I easily slice the lightning in half. However, the cut ends up splitting the castle in half.

The king doesn't seem surprised by my display of power. He simply sighs and says, "You're still too weak."

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As I sit on my throne, I can't help but feel a weight on my chest. The hero, Arthur, is begging me to build a statue in honor of Ilka. I feel a pang of guilt as I look at him. I offer my condolences for his loss, but building a statue is out of the question.

"Arthur, I understand your pain, but we have more pressing matters at hand," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "We're losing this war, and every day it seems like the demons are getting stronger."

Arthur's eyes narrow, and I can see the anger building within him. "What does that have to do with Ilka's death? She died a hero and deserves to be honored," he growls.

"Arthur, listen to me," I say, trying to calm him down. "We can set up a fountain in her honor, but it won't be in the center of the city. We'll place it in a small alleyway where it won't draw attention."

"That's not good enough," Arthur says, his voice raised. "Ilka deserves to be honored in a prominent place where everyone can see her sacrifice."

I sigh, knowing I can't give him what he wants. "Arthur, we can't do that. Statues are only built for nobles and heroes. Ilka was a commoner. Building a statue would only raise questions about the hero's power, and I can't risk that," I explain.

Arthur's eyes soften, and I can see the defeat in his gaze. "Fine," he says, turning to leave. "But at least make the fountain in her honor."

"I will," I say, watching as Arthur walks out of the castle. I can't help but feel a sense of sadness as I think about Ilka's death. She had been a brave warrior and deserved to be remembered. But in these trying times, I can't afford to raise any questions about the hero's power. I just hope that the small fountain in her honor will be enough to appease the hero. Out of all the gods he could have been blessed by, why did it have to be the goddess of faith? Although it gives the hero a significant amount of power, he's limited by the faith of others. The more people believe in him, the stronger he gets, but that's a double-edged sword. If people lose faith in him, he would get weaker. Releasing Ilka's death to the public would without a doubt raise concerns.

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It has been months since I last visited this alleyway, but it is a place that I can't forget. This is where the Fountain of Ilka is set up, a small tribute to my fallen comrade. Today, I find myself cleaning the fountain, wiping away the dirt and grime that have accumulated over time. The statue of Ilka is at the center of the fountain, her knelt form holding a replica of the cursed sword horizontally as if she were handing it to me.

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I sit at the edge of the fountain, admiring the work that has gone into it. It is neither small nor big, but it is a symbol of Ilka's bravery and sacrifice. I remember the day that I asked the king to build a statue in her honor, but he refused. Instead, he offered to build a fountain in the slums, a place where it wouldn't draw too much attention. Although it wasn't what I wanted, I am grateful for the gesture. The king is not a bad person, I'm sure he has his reasons, but it is still unsettling.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath, the sound of the trickling water calming my mind. I start to talk as if Ilka is actually there. "Ilka, it's been a while since I last visited you," I say, opening my eyes and looking at the statue. "We won a battle last week, but I lost many allies. I miss you, Ilka. You always knew what to say... I guess in every battle, you would watch over all of us."

I continue to talk to the fountain, telling Ilka about my recent adventures fighting a lich, my battle with the great demon Ducan, and my thoughts on the war. This is a place where I can escape the chaos of the world, a place where I can talk to my friend and share my heart with her. I visit the fountain as often as I can, knowing that Ilka is always there to listen.

As I stand up and prepare to leave, I whisper a final goodbye to Ilka. "Until next time, my friend. I'll be back soon." The fountain is a symbol of Ilka's sacrifice, but it is also a place where I can find peace and comfort. Although it isn't grand, I will always be grateful for the king's gesture and the small alleyway where the Fountain of Ilka stands.

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As I approach the fountain, the stench is unbearable, and I have to hold back from gagging. But I know that I have to clean this place if I want to get that cursed sword. So, I take a deep breath and get to work.

I start by pushing all the piles of trash and debris to the side. The task is physically and emotionally draining, but I don't give up. After over 6 hours of hard work, the area around the fountain is finally clear. I take a moment to catch my breath and rest my aching body.

That's when I hear a river under a crumbling building not far off from where I am. I know that is my solution to cleaning the fountain. I make my way to the river, and I am surprised to find several old buckets lying around. They are probably ancient. I fill the buckets with water and return to the fountain.

The river is a sight to behold, it flows peacefully through the abandoned building, surrounded by lush greenery. It is quite surprising that only a small amount of trash is around. I am grateful to find such a place, and although the water is perfect for cleaning the fountain, what catches my attention is a flower surrounded by weeds. "Tsk," I think, "I want to get it. It's a mythical blue Taurea."

The petals of the flower are a stunning water-blue color, almost as if they were dipped in a clear blue ocean. The color is so pure and vibrant that it seems to glow in the dark, illuminating the surrounding area with a soft, ethereal light.

These flowers are located near rivers in secluded caves. The caves are filled with the sweet, fresh scent of the flower, and the sound of the river flowing in the background creates a peaceful and calming atmosphere. The walls of the cave are covered in a layer of moisture, and small droplets of water can be seen dripping from the ceiling, adding to the peaceful ambiance.

The petals of the flower are soft and velvety to the touch, and they are as delicate as feathers. When the wind blows, the petals move gently, creating a mesmerizing dance. The center of the flower is a bright yellow, and it is surrounded by delicate, star-shaped stamens.

The mythical magical flower is not just a beautiful sight to behold, it also has powerful magical properties. I'm not sure how one grew here, but it must already be a couple of thousand years old. It's too bad I can't get it right now. The second I pick it up, it would die. Keeping it here is probably the best option. I will retrieve it when I'm prepared.

I make several trips back and forth, carrying bucket after bucket of water to the fountain. I start by carefully removing the black sludge from the fountain with a bucket. It is a slow and tedious process, but I don't give up. I use old rags and sticks I find lying around to scrape off the remaining sludge. When I finish that, I scrub the entire statue with all my might, making sure to get rid of all the moss and stains. I then use more water to rinse off the fountain and the statue and finally fill the fountain with clean water from the river.

The whole process takes me over a day, but when I'm done, the fountain and the statue are shining, free of any filth or contaminants. I can't help but smile at the sight, all my hard work has paid off.

Now, the reason I put so much effort into cleaning the fountain is to ensure that Ilka's spirit will not be provoked. Her tomb is built directly underneath the fountain, and the cursed sword that is said to have sealed her spirit is within it. My novel's protagonist, Mason, accidentally stumbled upon the tomb and woke Ilka up with the stench. When he asked if he could use the sword, she declined. I am trying to prevent her from waking up before I have the chance to bond with the sword. The cursed sword and Ilka's spirit have been merging for thousands of years, and it is said that because I am cursed, I should be able to soul-bind the weapon. However, if Ilka were to wake up before I am able to bond with the sword, she could intervene. She hates the sword and would not allow anyone to use it in my novel. That is why I must proceed with caution and clean the surroundings carefully.