Rev scoffed at his stats. It didn't make much sense. Granted, his strength is what one would assume to be maxed out yet the gap between that and his other stats was nothing short of unsettling, specially with a couple of the stats being question marks.
To be expected of the Hero, foretold to save Humanity.
[I'm not even sure if the intelligence and wisdom part is supposed to be an insult.]
He thought to himself. While he pondered on that subject, he noticed the two women arguing.
"I'm so sorry, my inspection skill might really be too low" Yana said in a panicky tone.
Rev spoke up.
"What's wrong with it?"
"When using the Inspection skill to determine an adventurer's level or stats. The inspector uses an object as a medium which is usually a crystal ball to check the level and paper for the stats. The numbers are printed onto the paper through magic so your paper being unreadable only means Yana may have made a mistake in the process"
Victoria's explanation was straight to the point and Rev was still confused. If he could read it clearly enough, why would her choice of words be "unreadable"
After a brief exchange, Rev was surprised at the fact that to Victoria and Yana. The record was scribbles that did not make sense.
"It's fine, let's just get this over with" Rev said.
Yana agreed and took the paper from him.
On top of a desk, a small box with a small slit on top. Yana mumbled her spell again and light shone from the box upward. The paper floated into the light and stayed there briefly until something popped out of the slit and the paper glided back down to the desk.
Yana picked up the object which to Rev's delight was a familiar rectangular item. An ID card.
Upon receiving the card, Rev looked at it closely, it wasn't made of plastic but it appeared like it was made of glass. The words on the card were as if they were inside the card itself and not written or etched on.
It had his name on it, plain old "Rev", his age, gender, height and weight, even his level being shown as a large number on the right side along with a small picture of his face. On the other side was his stats. Exact same numbers as the one on paper.
Rev looked at Victoria
"If you don't mind me asking, Veronica. What are your stats?"
"Me? Well ahem, my stats are:
Agility: 121
Dexterity:120
Strength:216
Intelligence:75
Wisdom:40
Vitality:60
"
[There're some considerable gaps between our stats. From what I've heard, she's one of the strongest in the Kingdom so I guess this much is to be expected if I'm supposed to be the hero]
"Lord Hero, may I request that we ride off. Time is against us and I wish to depart as soon as possible"
"We're leaving? Okay then, lead the way."
When they exited the building, two horses clad in armor; one black and one white awaited them.
Victoria hopped on the white one which was presumably hers and Rev clumsily got on the other one.
Their mounts galloped towards the town exit. Streets looking dirtier as they got closer to the edge.
The gates were in view. When they were seen by the guards, they were opened at haste to prevent any waste of time.
Rev marvelled at the sight of the outside world. Nature was in full control and life was blooming. He inhaled, and into his nose entered a refreshing breeze of air.
Riding the horse was a strange, familiar feeling. Like it was natural, his hands moved by themselves, skillfully controlling the reins.
Some birds flew over the horizon and under the blue sky. Rev couldn't help but smile softly.
The sun was on its way to setting which meant it was some time past noon.
Victoria's horse slowed down until they were side by side with Rev. Victoria shouted
"Lord Hero! We shall set camp just before sundown! It is not safe to travel at night."
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Rev gave her a thumbs-up.
After a couple of hours of riding and a slightly sore bottom, the sun was slowly setting. The blue sky was replaced with a calming shade of orange.
After finding a small clearing in the grass plains, Victoria tied their horses down.
While Rev only watched, Victoria took out sticks from the bag on the side of her horse and set them up in a campfire fashion.
Rev raised his brow in interest when Victoria shot a fireball at the sticks to set them alight. She also pulled out two sleeping sheets and laid them out on the opposite sides of the fire.
The sky grew darker.
Victoria walked off, telling the "Lord Hero" that she was just going to set uo some alarm spells in case monsters try to attack.
Rev, sat alone and observed the flames. The fire danced about while spitting out embers every so often. It got him thinking about himself again.
[Who am I]
He looked at his clothes and he was wearing clothing. Not too flashy nut looked expensive considering the world he was in. The pockets on his side and within his suit were all empty. One thing was certain, he knew that he wasn't of this world.
[A Hero? I don't know who I am but I guess being a hero would be better anyway. I should ask Victoria about stats more when she gets back]
From the darkness, untouched by the light of the fire, Victoria emerged with the dignified and disciplined look that she always had.
"Lord Hero"
"Victoria, let's drop the Lord Hero bit. It's making me feel nervous."
"Then what do you wish I call you?"
"Just call Me Rev."
"Then Sir Rev."
"You don't have to speak like that anymore. It's just me, no nobles or formal anything"
"I cannot. It is part of my being to be dignified"
"What do you mean."
"Female Holy Knights must stay pure and honorable until the age of 26 where they are sacrificed to the Great Goddess"
"As in killed?"
"Yes"
"Why?"
"Faith, Sir Rev. Faith. It simply just is."
[Hmph]
"Well who am I to question someone else's belief. Anything else I need to know?"
"Then I would like to relay the plan to you."
"Right, the plan. Go on."
"We have received reports that on the day after tomorrow, a skirmish will take place in a small town near the border marking the first of the prophesied onslaught of the Demon Lord. We believe that if we cut them off there that it would potentially slow down their entire force down."
[Simple minded, too hopeful and relying on a report and a prophecy. Oh boy.]
Rev sighed "I'm not really hungry but did you eat anything before we got here?"
Victoria's stomach grumbled in an amazing timing. Trying to maintain her composure, Victoria replied without hitch.
She cleared her throat. "We will pass a small merchant village tomorrow so I did not bring any food. I apologize" and she prostrated herself.
"I get it, I get it. No need to do that"
"Thank you"
It was once again quiet. The night air blew against Victoria's hair. From Rev's eyes, it was as if her hair had blended and become one with the flames.
The hypnotic image calmed his nerves. It made his fear of so much of his situation being unknown, slightly dissipate.
Out of the peaceful blue, Victoria jumped up and drew her sword and turned around.
"Sir Rev, en guarde"
Rev stood up not sure what to do. Large thumps began to shake the ground. Hard enough to be noticed by the two.
Victoria backed off, leaping over the fire and warily moving backward pushing along Rev with her. And from the darkness emerged the first enemy Rev would have.
[A Giant Golem has appeared. ]
A large golem stomped in, far taller than both of them. It was at least twice their size if not more. Like a walking statue, it's movements were rigid and slow.
The being grumbled his words.
"Abomination. Monster."
He repeated those words until he came to a halt, standing atop the fire and towering over the two.
The golem wound up to attack, materializing a stone broad sword proportional to its own size.
"Get back!" Victoria shouted and Rev quickly walked backward in response to observe from a safe distance.
Then like a spring being pressed down on, the golem swung its sword at Victoria with force enough to put out the fire with the wind.
In the darkness, a spark illuminated from the point their swords clashed. Despite the obvious difference in size, Victoria managed to block the golem's attack without being pushed back.
[One of the strongest in the Kingdom isn't an overstatement, huh? Being above the 300 mark is pretty amazing]
But without the fire, Rev couldn't see anything and he feared Victoria was unable to see as well.
"Kor's blessing"
Upon hearing that, Rev could suddenly see in the dark. Though not as well as he would see in the day but he could follow what was happening in the battle.
With amazing speed Victoria ran up the golem's large blade and jumped, slashing at its head but with the golem being made out of stone it just cracked the outer helmet. Bits and pieces of rock fell off.
As Victoria maneuvered herself to fall feet first behind the golem she was struck with its elbow completely unaware when the golem pulled back its arm to retrieve its massive sword.
Her helmet dented inward, while on the ground Victoria struggled to pull it off.
She looked at the golem and saw it no longer had interest in her and was going for Rev.
Outside of her knowledge she was damaged badly. The blow to the head was disorienting her and she had trouble standing back up. There was a ringin in her ear.
Victoria looked at her health bar and saw she had ay least more than half of her health. But being hit in the head with blunt force was more than enough to make her dizzy.
Desperate, she attempted to crawl and get to Rev. He must be protected. For the prophecy, for the people. For her sister. She simply cannot afford to let him get hurt.
Victoria's vision blurred and could only hear the repeating grumbles of the golem. "Monster. Abomination."
A loud bang followed by a gust of wind interrupted the groans of the golem.
Rev swung his fist upward and hit the golem and using the wind pressure from his punch, the golem was dismantled.
Pieces flew everywhere leaving nothing but the stone legs being intact.
His body recoiled from his attack. He dislocated his arm from below his elbow that grotesquely hung from the rest of his arm. It wobbled once before fixing itself but still some stinging pain lingered.
[Well that's inconvenient]