Aldrich stood breathless, a triumphant look on his face as a defeated Crudel laid on the ground. A smile evident in Crudel’s voice, he said,

“Well lad, you are fairly decent now.”

Aldrich rolled his eyes as he helped him up, although a bit of pride filled his heart. Crudel looked at Aldrich and he cleared his throat,

“I thought about it and I could not just send you empty handed on your way back home.”

Crudel handed him his sword,

“I was hoping that you could deliver this to my descendants and my armour as well, they were important heirlooms.”

Aldrich nodded, taking the sword out of Crudel’s hands. Crudel place his hand on top of Aldrich’s head, saying,

“I have a personal gift for you.”

Aldrich felt power surging through him, knowledge he never had entering his mind as if they had been there his entire life. Crudel’s voice became fainter, weaker than Aldrich had ever heard it before,

“Use my hard work wisely lad, be something great. I shall tell you my true name, I am Declan Chavdar, the fifth king of Arlo, you should have enough resources to find them, eh prince?”

Eventually Declan disappeared, his armour that had fallen to the ground was all that remained. Aldrich quickly took up the armour in a makeshift bag made of clothes and rushed out as the labyrinth began to crumble and collapse in on itself. Aldrich safely made it out, turning around he found that the labyrinth no longer existed as a hill face had replaced where it was once. Aldrich stared at it for a few minutes lingering, sighing as he walked away, he began making his trek back to Duxhaven.

Aldrich had left during the afternoon and soon enough evening came and the sky started darkening. It was around this time that Aldrich heard a loud commotion. He dashed towards it to find a band of thieves surrounding a carriage. The small group of knights who were visibly there to defend the carriage were in the midst of fighting, though some were on the ground unresponsive. Taking out Declan’s sword, Aldrich sprang from the bushes and onto the road, dispatching some of the thieves, while also using mesmer techniques to deal with others. Soon enough most of the thieves had been dealt with and the remaining fled. Aldrich approached the knights on the ground using mesmer to heal their injuries.

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The knights thanked Aldrich for his assistance, Aldrich accepted their gratitude but quickly prepared to go on his way. Before he could a young girl around his age came out of the carriage with a woman closely following the girl as she approached Aldrich. She introduced herself,

“I am Galadria P’ar Rykel, a princess of the Silehirian Principality. The Alvakian radiation that I abide by dictates that I must demonstrate gratitude in a way that is equivalent to the assistance that I have been given, therefore, I wish to, in a more grand way than simply words of thanks, show my appreciation for your bravery.”

Aldrich remembered his lessons when he was taught of the Principality of Silehir, primarily inhabited by a species known as Alvakians. Alvakians were renowned for their great beauty, slender bodies and long life spans. Aldrich bowed low,

“I am simply a fellow known as Aldrich, I simply desire to complete my journey, your highness.”

Galadria cocked her head to the side,

“Where are you travelling to Aldrich?”

“I am planning to go to the capital, Duxhaven, to reunite with my family.”

The woman there scoffed,

“What a coincidence we are travelling to the capital as well.”

Aldrich shrugged,

“I’m sorry but it really is the truth. You said that you are travelling there, did you not? I think for a show of gratitude, I would like to accompany you all as you travel,” gesturing to his legs, “These could only carry me so far so quickly.”

The woman grumbled as the princess almost instantaneously agreed. Aldrich went to take a horse when Gladria invited him into the carriage. Aldrich reluctantly accepted as the woman stared daggers at him. Aldrich eased into the plushy seat then pointing at the woman asked Galadria,

“Does this one have a name?”

Before the woman could stop Galadria, she replied,

“This is Lady Octavia P’ar Lorame, my lady-in-waiting.”

Aldrich grinned,

“It is a pleasure to know your name Lady Octavia.”

“I hope that pleasure is sufficient enough for you to refrain from using it.”

Aldrich continued talking with them, stressing Octavia’s name whenever he said her name, relishing in every ounce of her annoyance. Their daily routine consisted of them either stopping on the side of the road and setting up camp or they would find a city or town where they would find food and board. Eventually they reached the rural outskirts of Duxhaven, the actual city and its walls well within sight. Both Octavia and Galadria sat in the carriage staring awe-struck. Aldrich beamed with pride as he said,

“Welcome to Duxhaven, capital city of the Archduchy of Wylan and one of the largest cities in the world.”