“I’m sorry to have call for both of you but Vefal and Ruigne, you two are needed to give testimony to the Inheritors before the day ends. That aside, I’m glad you are alright, Ruigne. Everyone was worried about you.”
Kiefy looked quite relieved when he saw me and flashed me a smile. Unlike me and August, he didn’t felt any anxiety or shock from the kill or be killed situation. That was kind of expected from someone who said he was a knight. He was trained and had weathered through battlefields during his time. He was a warrior who had constantly dealt with the threat and dangers of fighting.
“We’ll be there after he is done recovering, brother.”
“Understood, I’ll be at the dining hall then.”
After Vefal said that, Kiefy nodded, bowed and left the Fhagec. The two of us stared at the entrance.
“I wonder where Akujin and Erganisu were.”
“I believe after giving their testimonies, Akujin were meeting with the other group about weapons or something. Erganisu had accompanied just in case. They came here earlier while you were still asleep.”
I thought they didn’t bother to even check on me but they did. I wouldn’t believe Erganisu would do that to me. He’s a very kind soul although he is a bit taciturn and serious.
I felt lighter after eating those pills. My breathing felt stabilized and I felt more vigorous. These magical pills are more effective than I thought.
With this, I was able to stand without wobbling even though Vefal was beside me, holding me on my left side.
“Can you stand?”
“I believe standing comes in many form. I am merely practicing on one what most call ‘standing straight’.”
“Then you don’t mind if I let you go then.”
“By all mean.”
I promptly lose my support on my left side but I was fine. I was able to do this much.
“Well, it’s better if we don’t linger around here anymore since I’m half-recovered of a sort. Let’s get it done with as soon as possible.”
“You’re right.”
After I assured Vefal, we left the Fhagec.
--
“Ruigne!”
As we arrived at the Inheritor’s chamber, Aeriasus, with a relief expression came running towards us. My eyes were glued to one of the wonderful fundamental of physical motion.
She stopped in front of me, examining every nooks and cranks of my body. She then breathes out in relief.
“I’m glad that you’re alright. After the battle had been won, I heard Vefal was calling out your name. I ran to where you two were and I found you lying on the ground, bleeding on the side. I tried to use [Limitless] but I had exhausted my limit. I was worried that you had suffered grievous wound but thankfully that was not the case.”
She smiled warmly towards me as the rest of the Heirs behind her had catch up. There’s a joke I had thought of about her special ability [Limitless] having a limit. Heh.
“Thank god, you’re alright Ruigne. When I heard that you were down, I was worried.”
The Ubersmench also had a relieved expression upon seeing me.
“Sir Ruigne, the way you took charge of the command was worthy of a military genius of one in a hundred generation!”
As always, Stryklos the bard exaggerated my feat of the battle as it was unworthy of such a grand compliment. It’s quite insulting for someone like Napoleon or Alexander the Great to be compared to someone like me.
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
What I did was good but not to that level of tactical genius. It was simply taking the right initiative and also everyone had done their role properly.
“I’m glad you’re not dead yet, I still need to get back at you.”
Herkaloi said that offhandedly.
Only Kimiko was silence and most the Heirs seem to just leave her be.
Kimiko with her passive expression was beside the Ubersmench. Her passive expression was tinge in a barely visible anguish and as of now, she seems to be preoccupied with something on her mind. Perhaps what had transpired today had also rendered her speechless and scared.
She’s just like August and I then. We three are trying to sort out the complication in involving ourselves in something dangerous and the fact that we had taken out other people’s life.
Every human with a conscience would at least thought thoroughly about these.
The one seems to be unaffected by this was the Ubermensch. Perhaps he had been through something like this before or he might be hiding his anxiety with a mask.
I been entertaining myself by calling him Ubermensch but I guess it stuck as an endearing term because I find him quite a likable and polite fellow.
“Thanks for your worries guys. I can’t leave my title of being the most perverted of the Tenth Summon without leaving a worthy heir to the title.”
I jokingly said that but it felt like the stares that all of them were giving at me thought I was serious about it.
Aeriasus chuckled, understanding my quip.
“If you can crack a joke like that, then you’re fine. Perhaps you need an official witness to fully cement the title legitimately? I have some understanding in law so I will volunteer to commemorate your valiant defence of the hallowed title.”
Let’s not go crazy here, Aeriasus.
After our exchanges, I was looking past the inheritor and the Elf-majority group in the centre of the hall. Currently they were giving their testimonies to the gathering Inheritors.
“They’re about to finished at any moment. We’re giving ours after this, would you two like to join us?”
“It won’t bother the protocol of being in a different group?”
Aeriasus asked but I had my concern.
“… I don’t think they mind. They’re not going to let something small like that bother them. Besides, they know what had happened to you anyway. Also, I think a lot had testified for what you had done today.”
What I had done? That’s sounds ominous coming from the Ubersmench.
The elf-majority group had finally finished their testimonies after and were walking towards the portal. The falskilan elves pair just walked past us without looking at us although I do felt that silent treatment girl was giving us a side glance.
The Doctor elf and the Tattooed elf walked towards us. The Doctor elf was checking me from head to toes.
“You looked better already. Good. If you have any problems, you can consult me in my Fhagec. It’s the least I could do for you after you had galvanized our forces into action.”
I nodded and she promptly left. On my left side-
“Thanks again for the bow, lass, I got the shorty to agree in making me a bow, so I’ll be giving back this.”
The Tattooed elf unstrapped the bow behind him and proffered it to Vefal. Vefal simply took it back and the smiling Tattooed elf left our side.
Ghrukka and the manticore had also walked, crawled or moving in front of us.
“We are glad to see you are well, Ruigne.”
“Thanks, Ghrukka. How about you? You got any injuries?”
“Fortunately, it was nothing grievous, only some small wounds.”
Ghrukka reassured me as they said that. The manticore on his left side looked at me with the same, feverish gaze that it had casted on that day.
“Can… Can I help you eh, Fyrphov is it?”
The manticore snapped out from its gaze and stared at me with an unapologetic expression.
“Ah, sorry but you looked really delicious, you know?”
……
I’m not sure how I should feel about that. Should I feel complimented or horrified?
“We are sorry that Fryphov had made you uncomfortable. He has a very candid and brutal honesty when it comes to food. He has the habit of rating everything that has flesh and is edible. Please do not mind him that much.”
Ghrukka tentacles were flailing around as though they were flustered.
“Eh? It was a compliment. Most of my meals had a satisfying smile when I had said that before they died.”
“Fyrphov! The time and place, the time and place! Don’t say something like that nonchalantly especially to our fellow summoned.”
Still, Fyrphov the manticore looked quite perplexed. Ghrukka shook his head from side to side and turned towards me.
“W-we’ll take our leave.”
That was quite strange. I never have seen Ghrukka losing their composure. I guess Fyrphov is just that sort of existence to them.
All of them promptly left and we were ushered to the centre.
From above, the Inheritors were floating up in the air surrounding all the four side of direction, overlooking us.
“The Heirs are here along with two others from another group. I guess that’s fine. Let’s begin then. Ghaez, begin recording the testimonies again.”
The Head-priest whom we haven’t seen since the summoning was standing on our left. On his hand there was a disk-like stone tablet. When Thomas the human Inheritor ordered him to record, the tablet then glowed with the colour of light grey.
“Initiating recording for the Heirs and other testimonies starts now.”
Sir Thomas of the Inheritor intoned as such.