Few days ago...
Elara served as a Knight Spearwoman, a path not commonly pursued by her contemporaries. Opting for the life of a warrior, she rejected the alternative of marrying into nobility, where her role would have been to continue the family line through childbirth.
Elara set herself apart. She yearned to make a mark, to be recognized for her own identity, rather than being known merely as a wife, a daughter, or a mother.
She dedicated immense effort and even secured the role of the Princess's personal guard and confidante, a privilege reserved for the most trusted officials in the Kingdom. Following her achievements, marriage proposals flooded in, day and night. She consistently dismissed them, leading many to believe she simply lacked interest in romance. Perhaps even Elara believed she was just unique, destined never to experience love.
However, that changed the moment she encountered Arion. The slender, pale, yet strikingly handsome man with the deepest blue eyes, who battled countless foes effortlessly. He was remarkably resilient, seemingly invincible, and possessed an enigmatic aura despite lacking any magical power. The instant Elara locked eyes with him, she felt her heart stir for the very first time.
With each heartbeat, she became acutely aware of her own vitality, her senses heightened even amid the cacophony of metal knights clashing in the background.
Elara was heartbroken but couldn't bring herself to trust Arion, as protecting the princess was her top priority. The situation worsened when Arion was labeled a boss monster by the dungeon, making Elara question her feelings for what she thought was a human. Despite these challenges, Arion showed his true character by forgiving Sir Roland, even though he had been mistreated.
As Princess Sera taught Arion their language, Elara joined in. They spent a lot of time talking. Elara taught him about their world, its geography, and maps. She tried to learn about his past, but Arion avoided most questions about where he came from.
Arion's gentle nature and his extra efforts to assist children deepened Elara's fascination and respect for him. She began to consider that perhaps Arion wasn't a monster. Maybe her affection was placed rightly. The next step was finding the right moment to reveal more about her feelings, though she felt discouraged by his reluctance to open up.
"What are you thinking?" Albert inquired.
Feeling disheartened, Elara admitted, "Why doesn't he talk about himself? We've told him so much."
She further lamented, "What is he hiding? Why won't he trust us?"
Albert, drawing from his own dark past, shared, "I have lived my entire life in darkness, Lady Elara. I know a dangerous one when I see one. From my experiences, I can say that beneath those blue eyes lies an ocean of secrets so deep that not even the brightest light can reach its surface."
Elara questioned, "Does that mean we should just ask him to leave?"
Albert reasoned, "So far, he hasn't given us a reason to, and the Princess trusts him, thinking he can help us achieve our goals. I believe in the Princess, and if he really is wrong, I think I will be able to at least protect the Princess."
"But I don't trust him; I don't trust anyone. I think he was in the same line of work as mine, so I understand him. At least he isn't telling you an outright confident lie," Albert disclosed with a meaningful look. "People like me and him have seen the true darkness the world has to offer, but we are and will always be humans; we will always crave to be loved. I think he too yearns for love," Albert concluded, leaving Elara to contemplate his words while she continued to stare at the sky illuminated by two bright moons.
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"...And by the way, my real name is not Arion" The pale skinny man, she once knew as Arion told her as he went back to his slumber. "Head to Havenbrook" is what she heard him say at the very end.
Elara found herself speechless. She had confessed her love to him, and he had reciprocated, yet just as she began to embrace a love, she hadn't known she desired, it was snatched away. But it wasn't solely the work of the goddess; the man she loved had chosen to return to slumber himself. Why had he made such a choice? Moreover, what would this mean for his ability to aid the princess? Initially, Elara hadn't even anticipated his survival; she had prepared herself to retrieve his body for a final farewell, never expecting him to make it through.
Elara was confused, she had questions... and now her only lead was Havenbrook.
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few days had passed...
"Elara found her way to Roland and the Princess."
"Did you recover his body?" Sera asked with sadness in her expression.
"H-he was alive" Elara responded
"Goodness, he really is unkillable" Roland commented
"So where is he? he didn't come with you?" Sera asked
"No, the goddess gave a quest... a quest with dire consequences if I failed" Elara responded.
"Oh, so what was the quest?" Sera asked
"The quest was to trick Arion into slumber. It was to make him the prisoner of the dungeon again" She replied.
"Ah... sad... Goddess's take such tests of faith every now and then" Roland chimed in
"But how did you convince him?" Sera asked
"Well when I read the contents of the quest, he just told me to go along with it" Elara responded.
"Knowing him, he must have a plan, he won't go down that easily" Roland said with a knowing expression
"That is the weird part, he told me to head to Havenbrook" Elara said
"On that note, how is Albert?"
"The healing process for Albert has been finalized, though we must continue to monitor him. It's uncertain when he will regain consciousness," informed a priest from a modest village temple to the princess, incognito as Sera, and Roland, a retired soldier without a title.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Their location wasn't far from Havenbrook. In fact, they had found sanctuary in this very village after fleeing from the violent attack by machines.
The villagers swiftly came forward to assist, seemingly familiar with encountering wounded travelers, given their village's proximity to a jungle inhabited by perilous creatures.
The temple lay in disrepair, its roofs compromised and buckets strewn throughout the village, presumably to catch rainwater during periods of precipitation. Directly in front of the temple, water streamed by, emitting an unpleasant odor, suggesting its unsuitability for drinking. This environment, marked by neglect, hints at the broader challenges faced by the village.
The priest donned a frayed robe adorned with numerous patches, exuding a kind-hearted demeanor.
"Forgive us for living under your care and not asking about you all. What is your name good sir and what is the name of this village?" Roland asked the old priest.
"Please, it's our job to tend to the weakened travelers, spread good word about us, so merchants may pass the village. We heavily rely on the travelling merchants to do our trade. This one is called Eldrin of the Temple of Hera. The name of the village is Verdent's End"
"Verdent's End? Isn't this the village from where the Vanguard of the hero's party come from?"
"Ah yes, you might have heard of this village in stories. Yes, this is...was the same village." The old priest replied, reminded of the lush history the village once had.
"I hear the Lord of Havenbrook is a direct descendant of the Hero's Vanguard" he added.
"T-that he was..." Unease showed itself on Roland's face for a second recalling how the fat man had perished in the attack from the metal monsters.
"Was?" Old priest, his eyebrows lifting he asked "what do you mean?"
"He was with us when we were attacked by those dangerous monsters"
"Oh, that is strange... our village falls under the territory of Havenbrook and their lord is also our lord. Just two days ago, the village chief received the notice for tax payments and other news letters that are regularly sent to us and every neighboring villages. It mentioned of no such things. Perhaps they are keeping it a secret?" The old priest pondered.
"Even so, it is strange. If the lord have not made public appearance, it becomes suspicious and people become restless. After all every town and near by territory must be governed by a lord else the protective barrier gets removed and monsters can just enter as they please." The priest said.
"So far we have not encountered any issues" This time Roland pondered.
'If he is dead, it is already bad, if he is alive it is worst. Because the new monarch's men will be on their way to Havenbrook and he would simply tell them about where we are heading. I saw his head explode though. How is he still alive?' Roland thought.
"By the way, Sir Eldrin, could you possibly adapt this metal leg to serve as a prosthetic for Albert?" Elara inquired of the priest.
Priests wield powerful healing magic, and although regenerating a missing limb is beyond most of their capabilities, they possess the unique ability to bind inanimate objects to the body. With divine favor, these objects can sometimes become functional replacements, though success rates fluctuate based on various factors, including the object's compatibility.
"Is this leg from a metal monster?" Roland questioned.
"Yes, I thought we could try that instead of giving up on Albert entirely." She responded.
"My healing abilities are somewhat limited, young miss," Eldrin confessed.
"No worries, we can collaborate on this. I, too, have been granted the gift of healing," she responded.
"May I ask, from which church do you hail, priestess? Forgive my oversight; your attire led me to believe you were a knight," Eldrin said.
"Indeed, it's a lengthy tale, but no, I'm not currently tied to any church."
"Ah, so you were expelled from one. I understand, young miss," he surmised.
Sighing... "Ok let's get to work Sir Eldrin"
"H-healing magic?" Both Sera and Roland asked with shocked expressions
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The priest guided them to the upper floor of the temple, where Albert lay on a bed, feverish and unconscious. Elara positioned the metallic leg where Albert's missing limb once was.
With a mutual understanding, they both began to chant.
The healer initiated a prayer to Hera.
"O Divine Hera, Queen of the Heavens, whose benevolence knows no bounds, we humbly seek your grace today. In your infinite wisdom and compassion, lend us the strength to mend what has been broken, to restore what has been lost. As your humble servant, I call upon your sacred power to infuse this vessel, that it may serve as a beacon of your healing light. Guide my hands and bless this endeavor, that through your will, we may witness the miracle of renewal. Let your divine essence flow through this prosthetic, making it whole, functional, and a testament to your mercy. Protect and heal your child, Albert, and may this act of healing embody your eternal love and grace. In your name, we pray, Hera."
As soon as the priest's long chant/Prayer ended, Elara with a dead pan look on her face, stretched her hands and chanted
"Heal"
As the priest and Elara intoned their sacred chants, a luminous aura enveloped Albert, casting the room in a celestial glow. It was as though the forces of two divine entities converged upon him, amplifying the potency of their ritual. Under the watchful gaze of those present, the metallic leg began to integrate seamlessly with Albert's body, a testament to the extraordinary power of their combined faith and the grace of the gods. The once inert piece of metal assumed the warmth and appearance of a natural limb, melding with flesh and bone in a miraculous fusion.
"Now, we must patiently await Albert's return to consciousness," the priest finally spoke, breaking the charged silence that had followed their efforts. "Only when he awakens and regains his senses can we truly ascertain the success of our endeavor. Let us hope that our prayers have not only restored his body but will also hasten his recovery back to full awareness."
"Lady Elara, you... you only uttered a single word," Roland murmured to Elara, his voice barely a whisper in her ear.
"That's the reward Sir Roland... but I wish I could be with Arion instead" she replied.
"I-I understand," Roland replied, his voice tinged with a mix of respect and a trace of sadness.
"I'm sorry, Elara, that you were faced with such a hard decision," Sera said, placing her hand gently on Elara's shoulder, her expression one of deep sympathy.
a few days later...
As Albert regained consciousness, his eyes darted around, taking in the humble surroundings that seemed to echo the poverty of his childhood. For a brief moment, he was transported back to the days of his youth, where life was a constant struggle for survival. The familiarity of the scene before him stirred a deep sense of déjà vu, but he soon realized that he was not trapped in a memory; rather, he was in the present, within a village that mirrored the conditions of his past home.
Feeling a rush of confusion and curiosity, Albert attempted to rise from the bed, only to be met with an unexpected sensation that halted his movement. He swiftly removed the sheets that concealed his legs, revealing a startling truth: one of his legs did not resemble the one he was born with. Instead, it was crafted from metal, meticulously shaped to mimic the appearance of flesh, yet its texture was unmistakably metallic, possessing the unwavering strength of steel.
With a mixture of awe and trepidation, Albert cautiously shifted his weight, attempting to stand. The alien nature of his new leg caused him to falter, seeking the stability of the walls around him. Each tentative step was a challenge, a delicate dance of finding balance and adjusting to the strange new part of himself. As he leaned on the walls for support, Albert embarked on the arduous journey of relearning how to walk.
Albert's initial steps were tentative, each movement a battle against the unfamiliar weight and feel of his new metallic leg. As he steadied himself against the walls, his gaze wandered beyond the confines of the temple, taking in the stark reality of the village around him. The sight of dirty water spilled across the ground near the temple's entrance, the haphazardly placed buckets intended to catch the rain, and the dilapidated houses spoke volumes of the poverty that gripped this place. Children ran about, their laughter piercing the somber atmosphere, blissfully unaware of the world's cruelties and the existence of a life far removed from their own simple joys and struggles.
This scene stirred a deep sense of déjà vu in Albert. He recognized in these children a reflection of his own past, growing up in conditions not unlike the ones before him now. The similarities between his childhood and the current state of the village were striking, and he couldn't help but feel a connection to this place, bound by shared experiences of hardship and simplicity. Despite the challenges he faced in adjusting to his new reality, Albert found a sense of solace in the familiar sense of community and resilience that surrounded him.
As Albert navigated his way through the room, his eyes eventually found those of his companions and the Princess. Seeing him on his feet, her face lit up with a warm, reassuring smile, and she finally spoke.
"Welcome back"
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