I awoke to the sound of the church bell tolling in the distance. I heard six bells. I looked up at the familiar ceiling, and I felt my body was giddy with happiness. After all, I realized that I was still in my guest room at The Big Oak Tree rather than being kidnapped in the middle of the night by some dastardly evildoer. Furthermore, I thought that I had made tremendous progress the past few days, and the end of my long journey was finally in sight.

I had stayed in this gaming world for less than two months, but I recognized that I had changed significantly over this short period. I used to be anti-social and preferred to be alone in my apartment while fighting off procrastination and working on my manuscript. I was pulled out of my comfort zone and forced to endure harsh physical training under Kalistra until my body was reshaped and molded into that of a genuine hero in a role-playing game.

Me, a hero? I chuckled lightly at the thought.

I sat up on my bed and stretched. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I peered into the inner part of my soul, and I took satisfaction in seeing the strands of ley lines connected with my soul. I wondered if I will lose my connections once I returned home.

Home? The thought of going home gave me pause. Where was my real home? Was it back on Earth 1, where I lived a lonely, bachelor life? Or was it here on Earth 2, where the people worshipped me as a devout servant of the Gods and a brave hero of the kingdom? I took another deep breath as I pondered this question.

As much as I enjoyed adventuring across the land of Britannia, this was not my home. I was a creature of the modern age stuck in a medieval world. I did not belong here. Furthermore, my encounter with Merlin Hubert Jackson was alarming, and it shook me to my core. Here was a man who was my archrival as a PC gamer. I knew him as arrogant, brilliant, and frustrating. But the Merlin who I met at his mage tower in Carmarthen was a broken man.

The Gamemaster and his Gods were the culprits who turned Merlin into a mere shell of his former self. They kept pushing and prodding him like a plaything until their toy broke. If I overstayed on Earth 2, then this, too, shall be my fate.

The Gamemaster didn't care about me one iota. The Overlord of the Gods only saw me as a form of entertainment. The longer I stay in Britannia, the more trials and tribulations the Overlord will throw at me. My reign as the King of Merlin will be a tumultuous one. Thus, I should endeavor to complete my quest ASAP and return home.

Of course, going home wasn't that simple. After all, I had fallen in love with Amelica. To return home meant to leave her behind. The thought of Amelica brought a warm, fuzzy feeling in my stone cold heart. She was the light and joy of my feeble existence. Her radiance defeated the darkness within my soul.

In the end, I resolved to visit The Noble Lady as often as possible until I had to depart to face off against William de Vere. Since I could cast Recall, it would be easy for me to make daily trips to the western frontier town of Tregome. The Recall spell allowed instant teleportation to any shrine or temple which I had previously visited. There was a Room of Summoning in the basement of the Chuch in Tregome to receive visitors via Recall. There was a similar room in the basement of the Westminster Abbey in London as well.

I decided to make the trip to Tregome this morning and have breakfast at The Noble Lady. I got off my bed and walked across the room. I shook Van gently by the arm. "Wake up, Van," I said.

The paladin's eyes immediately opened; it took a moment for his eyes to focus on my face. "A blessed morning to you, Brother Mulligan," he said with a big smile.

"And to you, Van," I replied with a nod.

My roommate got off his bed and quickly put on his armor. When he finished donning his suit of armor, Van looked at me. "Thank you for waiting. Where are we going today?" he inquired.

"I want to visit Tregome and have breakfast at The Noble Lady. Then we will cross the bridge and retrieve Bila from the dojo. I may also ask the Headmaster for additional instructions if she's available," I answered.

The paladin grinned. He knew that I was going to see Amelica.

Once my roommate grabbed my shoulder, I cast Recall. The spell took us to the basement of the Church in Tregome.

A bell chimed, and an attendant soon entered the small room.

"We're just passing through," I said.

"We'll exit through the Watch Headquarters," Van added.

The bald man in white robe nodded. "Very well." He led us down the right passage and stopped in front of the steps. "May you have a blessed day, Brothers," the attendant said with a slight bow. He turned around and left.

Van climbed the stairs ahead of me. When the guards stopped us at the checkpoint on the next floor, my companion used his status as a paladin to get us through without trouble. Soon, we walked through the hallway and headed toward the exit.

As we walked, I noticed something strange. Fewer guards were walking around than usual. And the Watchmen who I encountered were either excited or nervous for some reason.

I asked one of them standing guard at the exit. "What's going on?"

The Watchman noticed my attire and answered very politely. "Brother, news has spread that The Twelve leaders of the Church are gathering. Rumor has it that they will recognize someone as the Champion of Order and, after a victorious battle against evil, make him the next King!"

"Everyone is busy training so that they could join under the Champion's banner," another Watchman added. "That's why the halls are so empty right now."

"Do you know when The Twelve will meet?" Van asked.

Both Watchmen shook their heads. "We're only Watchmen. They wouldn't tell us."

"Thank you," I said with a polite nod and quickly exited the building. I made a left turn and headed toward the east. As we walked, I activated my Spirit Sense to check for any sign of assassins lurking nearby. Since there were few people on the streets, I was able to read all the auras quickly and found none. After walking a few blocks, we reached The Noble Lady.

Without delay, I entered the building and walked through the lobby to enter the dining room. To my relief, there were many seats available.

"It's the dragonslayer!" someone called out.

Every eye immediately descended on me.

I gave a cheerful wave to the crowd and claimed a table toward the back of the room.

The other patrons respectfully returned to their food and conversation, although I felt glances from them on occasion.

Finally, my darling angel made her appearance. Amelica approached my table with her usual fast pace, and she stood in front of me. "I'm delighted to see you again so soon, milord."

I immediately rose from my seat.

We embraced and shared a long kiss.

The patrons started whistling and catcalling.

We reluctantly released one another, and I sat down.

"Did you visit the Lucky Shrine?" she asked with a neutral tone of voice.

I winced inwardly. I had forgotten all about it! I gave my girlfriend an awkward smile. "I'll go after breakfast. I promise."

Amelica gave me a frown. The beautiful woman cleared her throat and asked in her professional voice, "What would you like for breakfast, milord?"

"If your chicken soup is ready, I'll have a bowl. Otherwise, I'll take the oatmeal," I replied.

The waitress shook her head, and her lips tightened. "We sold out of chicken soup already."

"We'll both have oatmeal and honey tea," Van spoke up.

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Amelica nodded and walked into the kitchen.

My companion turned toward me. "We'll have more chances to eat better food later," Van said.

I shrugged helplessly. My eyes wandered around the room. I looked with jealousy at all the bowls of chicken soups that the other patrons were eating. UGH! Now, I understood how Bila and Kalistra felt when the cat girls couldn't eat meat.

Like an executioner, Amelica returned carrying a tray. She set her tray on our table, and placed the dreaded, awful tasting oatmeal in front of me and then Van. Thankfully, she added a few slices of apple to add some taste to our food. Then she handed a mug of hot honey tea to each of us. "Will you drop by for lunch? I can set aside something for you," she offered.

I looked at Van, and the paladin shook his head. He didn't think we would have the time, and I agreed with him. I gave my girlfriend an apologetic smile. "I have a lot of things to do for today," I answered her honestly. "I won't have time to return for lunch."

"That's fine," she said kindly. "But please remember to visit the Lucky Shrine before you leave town," Amelica reminded me.

"Yes, I will!" I replied and nodded. My girlfriend was a devout follower of Lady Luck, and she was unhappy with the fact that it had been a few weeks since my last visit to the Lucky Shrine. I didn't have the heart to tell Amelica that I saw the Goddess yesterday when she, along with the five other patron deities, accompanied me as we flew from Carmarthen to London. Thus, it wasn't necessary for me to visit her shrine. But since I made a promise to do so, I intended to keep my word.

Amelica gave me her bright smile. "I guess I will see you tomorrow." She twirled her body like a dancer, and with a light step, walked toward the other tables.

"She sure is a handful," Van muttered quietly.

I cast a cold glance at him. "Amelica is the light in my life!" I declared proudly.

The paladin held up his left hand to apologize to me. He resumed eating his oatmeal.

I concentrated on finishing my breakfast. When my bowl was empty, I washed the cardboard taste from my mouth with the honey-sweetened tea. I looked at Van, and I saw that he was already finished eating. I left five silver pieces on the table and rose from my seat.

I looked around the common room. To my disappointment, Amelica was not around. She was probably in the kitchen currently. With a sigh, I walked across the room, gave a nod to Vern, the orcish tavernkeeper, and exited The Noble Lady.

I paused for a moment to activate my Spirit Sense to check for assassins while Van searched with his own eyes. Seeing none, we nodded at each other.

Mindful of the promise I had made to Amelica, I headed in the northern direction. A few blocks later, I stopped in front of a windowless storefront. I opened the door, and the sound of dice and card flips invaded my eardrums.

"Um, is it okay for me to wait outside?" Van asked suddenly.

I turned around and looked at my bodyguard with surprise. "What's the matter?" I asked.

The paladin looked at me with mild embarrassment. "This is not the sort of establishment that a holy warrior should enter," he explained sheepishly.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Fine, please wait here."

"Thank you!" Van said with a big sigh of relief.

I shook my head and stepped into the gambling hall. I was surprised to learn that gambling was considered a sin by the paladin and that Van would abandon his duty as my bodyguard to remain outside. I guessed even he had his limits. Fortunately for me, this place was also the Lucky Shrine. Thus, I was confident that no assassin was lurking in the shadows here.

I moved across the wide hallway. There were many table games available involving dice and cards. But I was not tempted to play. Nor was I allowed to, frankly, because Lady Luck blessed me and therefore, I could inadvertently influence the games in my favor.

I continued walking past the gaming tables until I reached the end of the establishment. There was a simple desk and sitting behind it was the person I sought: Mistress Selune, the human avatar of Lady Luck! I walked up to the counter and bowed deeply to show my respect for her.

"Welcome to the Lucky Shrine, my child," said the Asian woman wearing a tight-fitting red silk dress.

"Amelica insisted that I visit your shrine," I admitted with embarrassment.

Selune chuckled. "Yes, she is a very faithful child. I am lucky to have her devotion. Did you know that she visits my shrine daily? And that during these visits, Amelica asks for me to watch over you?"

I shook my head. I was astonished that my girlfriend would do that. Since Amelica had the breakfast shift at The Noble Lady, her workday starts at six in the morning. To make her daily visit to the Lucky Shrine, she had to leave the tavern at least 15 minutes before that. Amelica was indeed a devoted person!

Selune smiled as the human avatar read the thoughts in my head. "Is there anything you wish to ask of me while you are here?"

I shook my head again. "I'm already receiving your daily blessing through Amelica. What else do I need?" I answered with a smile.

The attendant placed a finger on my forehead. "You need knowledge, my child. You will soon become the Champion of Order. In the upcoming days, you will lead an army to fight against your counterpart, the Champion of Chaos. This conflict will be terrible, and many people under your banner will lose their lives. However, you must have the resolve to accept their sacrifices for you. You must emerge victorious against William de Vere, or else Chaos will consume the continent of Britannia. Every drop of blood, every tear shed, and every life lost will be worth the sacrifice if you can defeat the Champion of Chaos."

Mistress Selune grabbed my hands and squeezed them softly. "The very fate of Earth 2 is in your hands," she said while staring into my eyes.

"I will win. I promise."

The Asian woman's swirling dark eyes lingered on mine for another moment. "Good," she replied and finally released my hands. Her hot lips brushed against my forehead. "Go," she whispered and took a step back.

I bowed deeply to Mistress Selune, and I quickly left the gambling hall.

When Van saw me step outside, he asked, "What happened to you?"

I looked at him with confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Your body is glowing," he pointed out.

I laughed. "I received a blessing from Lady Luck," I explained.

"I see." The paladin was visibly impressed.

"We need to cross the bridge and visit the Village of Kalistro," I said.

Van nodded and started walking.

However, I remembered something that the Watchmen had said when Van and I were exiting the building. The people were training and preparing for war. While the Public Square, which was between the Watch HQ and the Church, was the natural location to conduct training sessions, the place was not big enough to accommodate the ordinary people as well.

I had a suspicion, and I decided to make a detour. "Van, let's swing by the old location for the dojo," I suggested. I activated my Navigation Sense to call up my mental map. I started following the route and headed toward the south and then toward the west.

As I walked closer and closer to my destination, I heard the sound of grunts and the beating of sticks. When I arrived, I saw that the partially destroyed wall surrounding the former dojo was still not repaired. And through the wide gap in the wall, I saw a group of commoners practicing in the courtyard!

I watched their practice session for several minutes. To my trained eyes, I noticed many mistakes in the way the commoners were holding their sticks, the way they were attacking, and in their postures. It was clear to me that no experienced instructor was available to teach them the proper techniques.

But my heart swelled with pride. The people before me were willing to put themselves in danger to answer my banner. I saw the resolve in their collective spirit, and it moved me.

I turned toward Van, and I saw the look of dismay and exasperation on his face. "Let's spend some time teaching them the proper forms," I suggested.

My companion nodded in agreement. Van marched straight through the gap in the wall and entered the courtyard. He clapped his eyes to draw their attention.

The people stopped and stared at him. Many of them wore sheepish looks on their faces.

"Who is in charge here?" Van demanded to know.

A young man approached. He wore plain-looking clothes, but he had a sword scabbard resting on his left hip. "I am."

Van looked at his caption, and the man's name read as "Galveon." "What are you teaching these people?" he asked.

Galveon looked at his feet. "These are volunteers who wished to learn to fight. Because I've had some training with the Watch, they have asked me to teach them."

"Van, why don't we offer a demonstration?" I suggested aloud, drawing attention to myself.

The people turned toward the sound of my voice, and they finally noticed me.

"It's the Dragonslayer!" someone gasped out loud.

The common folks started bowing deeply toward me. They were all familiar with the story of how I helped defeat the evil red dragon which had terrorized the town. Therefore, I was a genuine hero in their eyes!

I held my Staff of Merlin in both hands and adopted a fighting pose.

Van's brows rose. He didn't expect me to fight with the staff for our demonstration because I had learned to use this weapon yesterday. The paladin took his shield and strapped it to his left forearm. He then pulled out his mace from its sheath. "Ready whenever you are, Brother Mulligan."

I activated my Sprint skill. In the blink of an eye, I crossed the courtyard and stood before him. I jabbed the end of my staff at his chin. Dice started rolling inside my head as my opponent attempted to block with his shield. However, I was quicker than Van, and my blow landed.

My attack forced Van to reel back several steps. Seeing that my opponent was off-balanced, I immediately hooked my staff to the back of his knees. I lifted my weapon with all my strength!

Van's knees were taken out by my attack, and he landed flat on his back. *SPLAT*

The crowd started clapping and cheering.

I walked over to my partner and peered at his face. "Are you okay?" I asked.

"Damn, you're nasty!" Van complained. He was shocked at how quickly I had incorporated my sword skills into my attack while using a staff. He grudgingly accepted my hand and returned to his feet.

I turned around to address the crowd. "Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of time to spend here with you. I will walk around while you train, and I will help correct your form and how you attack. Please continue your training," I said and clapped my hands.

The crowd dispersed across the courtyard, and the volunteers resumed their practice.

Van and I split the courtyard in half, and I took the left side. I observed quietly as the commoners trained. I noticed the boy standing near me was holding his wooden sword incorrectly. I borrowed his weapon and showed him how to hold the sword properly. Then I demonstrated the correct swing with it.

I returned the weapon and watched another pair in training. This time, I showed the two older men, who looked like farmers, the proper stance for their feet. Their feet were too close together, causing the two men to become off-balanced when they either attacked or blocked.

I continued my slow walk across my portion of the courtyard, and I spent a small amount of time with every volunteer. By the time I finished correcting the last person, the church bell had tolled twelve times already.

I looked around until I found Van. "We need to leave now," I called out. As I walked past my students to leave the courtyard, they bowed deeply to me.

When Van rejoined me outside the wall of the former dojo, we headed toward the east. Our destination was the bridge to leave Tregome.