Chapter 05: The Fate of the Saviour

“WELCOME!!”

A voice boomed from the front, at the very end of the Chambers of Solaris, opposite of the great door where I just entered. Way beyond in front, where the voice originated from, sat on top of a throne, The Throne of the Sun, adorned with beautiful engravings that were made of jewels and gold, was the one and only Lord Supreme Grand Master of the Brotherhood of the Sun, Solaris Primus the 103rd.

In another word, he is the biggest boss of the final-est dungeon. Lord Aldebaran. The old geezer.

As I began to take my first step, I heard a clap. An applause of some sort. Red Wolf, who was in front of me now stepped aside and let me pass by him. He too clapped his hands. And after that, I could hear more and more claps. In fact, it’s getting louder and louder as I took my step forward towards the throne. I could even see that even old geezer clapping for me. I wonder what is happening, right here anyway. What were all the claps for?

As I strived forward, I noticed some familiar faces. Among them were Blizzard Hawk and Black Rose seated in a small, yet another throne-like seat and if I recalled correctly, this was the Seat of the Solaris. But what were both of them doing here? And I could see more unknown faces. But somehow, they all seemed different. Even Black Rose and Blizzard Hawk looked different from usual.

I know, it’s their attire.

If I’m not mistaken, what they were wearing was the formal attire of Sun Masters, each with a different colour to depict their ranks beyond the Sun Master level. I had never seen the Sun Masters formal attire beyond certain events like my Initiation, or the yearly Parade of the Sun, or even the public ascendance of Sun Masters, but right now today was neither of those events.

As my mind wandered off as I take yet another step forward, I hear another booming voice.

“Welcome Hasty One!”

Another shout skill. Man… I’m beginning to hate shout skills. Can’t they just say in a normal voice in a more normal way? I’m getting sick of my brain and my mind going numb from these verbal assault. If you think someone in your life shouted right in your ears is called verbal assault, try a shout skill.

“Everyone, let’s welcome our hero, Hasty One!”

The clapping that followed was both thunderous and loud. The loudest I ever hear.

And wait… Did that old geezer just call me a hero?

Hero… Hero….

That particular word made me blush and I lowered my head in embarrassment. I never thought I would be called a hero. What more among all the esteemed people in here. And to receive such applause for that either. I walked with such embarrassment, my mind wandered at what was happening while my head was lowered even more to hide the fact that I’m now flustered beyond my wildest imagination. And also add to the fact that I because of all the weird feelings I had, I failed to notice my own step.

I lost my balance and fell down. Face first.

The thunderous applause just become louder, now both with claps and laughter.

Oh my god, I think I could die, I thought to myself.

What an embarrassing moment indeed.

However, before I noticed it, I fell down directly beneath the stairs that leads to the Throne of the Sun. As I lift my head towards the stairs, I noticed the familiar figure of the old geezer, the big boss, The Lord. I quickly resumed my proper positions, kneeling down in front of him.

“Stand up, Hasty One.”

The Lord Supreme Grand Master raised his hand and in that instance, the clapping stops.

“Today, we are deeply honoured, as one of our very own member of the Brotherhood, an Initiate, even more, has served our Brotherhood ethos and withhold our true meaning of Brotherhood in the face of adversity.”

A round of applause came.

“Also the fact that he, our beloved Initiate, Hasty One, has also served our Brotherhood beyond the normal call of duty, risking his life to save others and came out not only as a victor but also a saviour.”

A louder round of applause.

I could get used to this. It feels so, so, so, very good. People praising you while getting applauded.

“And because of that, today we celebrate our hero. Not only at my behest but also from the very person he had saved and sacrificed his life for.”

The clapping just became louder.

I wonder who did I save? Well, it felt good to receive recognition for all my hard works, especially since I have been providing non-stop supply of firewoods for the guild-city. But someone I save and emerge victor from, I wondered who…

As I thought in my mind, The Lord continued.

“And may I present you, with the greatest honour to our Brotherhood, The Crown Princess of the Kingdom of Elsigardia, Princess Sierra Elsmdor, daughter of The King of Elsigardia, King Titus Elsivier 17th.”

A small female figure, but with elegance and regal-ness of a royalty came out from a small door behind the Throne of the Sun. She was the Crown Princess of Kingdom of Elsigardia, Princess Sierra Elsmdor. I can’t make out her face and her exact figure until she stood beside that old geezer.

I could hear the drop of silence when Lord Aldebaran introduces the Crown Princess and when she appeared beside him. But not for long, as an even more thunderous applause follows after a brief of silence. Perhaps the crowd realized who I had saved and was cheering up for me.

The face seemed familiar though the attire seemed to be a little different. I can’t for my life of me recalled who she was. If I am to use my self-patented boob-meter, she ain’t on the large size compared to Sehanie (she’s an outlier, even for an elf), and so perhaps not on my radar to flirt. Hey mind you, it’s not just the size that matters, but I’m just very well aware of my own preferences. Though she looked very pretty and amazing in that white gown of hers.

Perhaps, due to my perplexity of the situation, Princess Sierra began to speak.

“Hasty One, I deeply thank you from the bottom of my heart. For you have bravely and unselfishly saved my life, even though I am just a stranger to you.”

Uh-huh.

I nodded nonchalantly.

No big deal, Princess. Consider it a normal duty for someone from the Brotherhood. I thought that to myself.

“As the Crown Princess of Elsigardia, no, as a human being who understand what gratitude is, no words could describe how thankful I am to you for saving me when I was on the verge of death, facing a foe who I could not ever imagine to defeat back in the forest.”

The forest?

“So, I humbly hope that these little gifts I have prepared for you will at least show you how thankful I am and how much gratitude I have for you and your Brotherhood.”

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Ah-ha!!

My face lightened up.

So you were that girl that I saved back in the forest. Now I get it. Somehow, I can feel a heavy burden was lifted from my shoulder. The thoughts that have been haunting me every single time I was awake, disappeared.

Just like that.

The princess, understanding that I now realize who she was, smiled and gave her royal bow. She lifted the hem of her gown and slightly bend her knees followed by a slight head bow.

I’m glad that you are alright. But somehow, you seem different now compared to back then. You seem more beautiful and amazing. It’s like my heart going to be stolen just from the sight of your beauty, Princess.

Somehow taken aback by my compliments, she blushed and it made her even more beautiful. Beautifully overload.

I need to calibrate my boob-meter. I need to adjust to outliers like her. She was extremely beautiful and regal. Just perfect. Sorry Sehanie, but my taste for big breasted beauties just altered a little. But I still love you… especially your breast… Hehehe.

“Ehemm!”

Lord Aldebaran cut short my words.

What with these people who seemed like to cut short my words? Perhaps he knew I am flirting, but hey I’m the hero here and it’s my heroic rights that I flirted with the beauty(s) that I just saved.

In another world, she would fall in love with me and gave her body to me and we lived happily ever after. And a princess to boot. I’m going to be a king.

Muahahahaha!!

I left out a laugh.

Oppsss…

“Enough Hasty One, time to come back to reality. Reality ain’t that bad since you will be rewarded just fine. Am I right, Princess?”

The Princess nodded, and she continued where she left off earlier.

“As for my gift, I bestow to you the Royal Medal of Valour. Though it brings you no title, since titled medals are under the prerogative of the King, this medal gives you a special official rank in the knighthood. In fact, if you may choose to listen to my selfish needs, I would love you to be part of the Royal Elite Knights of the Kingdom. This medal will bring you good stead, hero.”

Would love me ehh…. I’ll do anything to get your love, babe. And so I thought again.

“And after the discussion with Lord Aldebaran, he agreed to increase your current rank of Initiate to the level of Senior Journeyman.”

With that, another round thunderous applause went off.

Lord Aldebaran then continued.

“Come forward, Hasty One and received your gifts.”

I took a few steps forward and extend my hands. I received a new tunic, a Senior Journeyman tunic to be exact, light brown colour but mixed with light green decorations. I also received a ring, the Journeyman’s ring, a sword and also a scroll stamped with a red seal.

“Come and see me in my personal chamber this evening, Hasty One. There is something I need to talk to you, urgently.”

Lord Aldebaran whispered to my ears as he handed over me my rewards. I was thinking I’m going to get more, seeing that I’m saving a princess and such, but well, it’s the thoughts that count.

“What inside that scroll that bears the Royal Seal of Elsivier is more important, and dare I say, is your real gift. Be sure to read it back in your room, far from prying eyes and eavesdropper.”

I nodded as he finished handing my rewards. A new rise in rank and uniform to commemorate that, a royal medal and a scroll. Not bad, I would think. I smiled and wink at the Princess. Unsurprisingly, she blushed at my flirtatious attempt.

With that, the ceremony ended. After some brief congratulations with other Sun Masters, Black Rose included though I see no sign of Blizzard Hawk (perhaps he has to conduct his boring lore lessons again), I’m now back in my room. I have the whole day off it seemed. Just when I thought I wanted to be more hardworking.

Lying down on my bed, I break the seal and opened up the scroll. It reads:

Date: 4009AD, Day 18th of the month of May.

To Hasty One, Claude Leonheart, Senior Journeyman, Brotherhood of the Sun.

In this letter, I bring to you my humblest and sincerest thank you for your heroic deeds. As I struggle to think of the most suitable way to reward you, other than the Royal Medal of Valour, which the highest medal I personally can bestow upon you, I doubt that it will be enough. I attached to you the replica of the medal together with this letter.

Also with that in thought, I would like to invite you to the Elsivier, Capital Kingdom of Elsigardia, where the King resides. There, the King and I would be able to bestow you another medal, fit for your heroic deeds: The King’s Medal of Gallant Heart, which will bestow you the benefits that will be of your preferences, surely.

And your rise in rank will enable you to travel to the Elsivier without much hindrance to your journey. To which Lord Aldebaran has agreed to my personal request.

I look forward to seeing you in Elsivier, hero.

Crown Princess Sierra Elmsdor

This scroll contained the personal letter Princess Sierra wrote to me and also a replica of a medal.

So, this how the Royal Medal of Valour looked like then?

I wanted to talk to her but before I could find her, I’ve been told by the Sun Masters that would accompany her that she was already on her way back to Elsivier after the ceremony.

But for me? Travelling? What’s more, out of the Brotherhood?

I never thought of that before. I have been here all my life and suddenly requesting me to travel to the Capital of Elsivier was no joke.

I’m now in dilemma. What should I do?

-----

It’s evening and I’m now in the personal chamber of Lord Aldebaran, Lord Supreme Grand Master. Though we were not the only one here. Blizzard Hawk was with us. After I told them everything that transpired in the forest five days ago, I noticed that their expression somewhat changed.

Grim and dare I say, fearful.

“Hasty One, I’ll get directly to the point.” Lord Aldebaran said with a stern voice.

“The monster that you met, and ultimately defeated, was not from this realm. It’s from another plane of existence, which until today, myself and Blizzard Hawk has yet to find out. It was summoned here, for the reasons we too have yet to find out.”

I gulped at the severity of the issue at hand here. And there’s more to it.

“We first battled this same monsters – creature, whatever you want to call it eight times prior to the other day in the forest. And...”

A deafening pause. Lord Aldebaran seems to withhold certain emotions. However, Blizzard Hawk immediately took over.

“This is the same monster that destroyed your village where we found you, Hasty One.”

What?!

Suddenly, I feel all the energy left my body. I barely able to stand. I felt light headed to the point of near vomiting.

Blizzard Hawk continued, “Although it happened a long time ago, we are sure it was the same summoned creature.”

“Now, listen. As I said, these creatures that we fought, it took no less than 15 Sun Masters to battle a single foe. However, we noticed no one other than you, the Wood Elf and the princess that took out the ninth. Though we are thankful that the creature perished somehow, we still have to find out the source of the power, both the one that summoned the creature and the one that perished it.”

“Perhaps it is the same. Perhaps it is different. If it’s different, is it a friend or a foe?”

I noticed the tone of worries that came from both Lord Aldebaran and Blizzard Hawk. Being unable to stand properly, I take a seat nearby the window. I had loads of questions of myself that was running through my heads but without any answer. Not even a single one.

“Hasty One, I know you have thought about this, but let me make it clear.”

Lord Aldebaran resumed his words.

“The same creature that destroyed your village when you were five years old was the same creature that being summoned five days ago in the forest. We don’t know who summoned it and for what reasons it was being summoned, but we know one thing for sure…”

“We need to find out who did this and deliver his or her long-awaited judgement. And I need you to do your part, as a boy from that village and as a member of the Brotherhood.”

I looked into the eyes of Lord Aldebaran and then to Blizzard Hawk. Blizzard Hawk nodded, seemingly to urge me to listen on.

“I need you to investigate the source of the summon and ultimately who summoned it. To stop it in the bud.”

Wow, this was heavy.

I can feel that certain pressure was being handed down to me. Somehow, it was elevated by the next words that were said by Lord Aldebaran to me.

“We have done our part. We just need you to go to the capital and find out who summoned the creature. Our information had led us to the conclusion, that someone – or perhaps a group, the one who’s responsible for the summoning lies beyond the walls inside of Elsevier.”

Blizzard Hawk added, “You don’t need to do anything to endanger your life. Perhaps not by much. Nothing that you cannot handle. All you need is the literature proof, perhaps a scroll, a seal, a summoning altar or even perhaps tome of lore and such so that we can pinpoint who were the summoners.”

“And what better way it is for you, who has been personally summoned by the Crown Princess herself, to investigate. You will have less hindrance than any one of us, especially if the culprit ends up being one of the Noble House of Elsigardia.”

Now I see where this was leading to.

So, you need me to investigate without involving diplomatic dispute that might arise if our culprit ended up being a Noble House? And you will take advantage of the Princess fondness of me for saving her life in investigating these people?

“Yes. If what we initially fear, that the previously summoned creature was after the Princess’s life, comes true, then she too will be in danger. Although she might not have realized it, she is in some sort of danger unforeseen by her or even the King himself. All of us are if we don’t solve this issue as soon as possible. Keep that in mind.”

“And perhaps you will also find the culprit who destroyed your home, nearly destroyed your current ones, and nearly killed your childhood friend, Sehanie.”

Blizzard Hawks just helped me made up my mind.

I’ll avenge my home, though I have very little recollection of it now, but because the incident nearly took my life, my current home, my new family and the people who I care and love, especially Sehanie, I put down my resolution.

So, tell me, what should I do?

“Travel to Elsivier. Do what you need to do and find the proof of the culprit who summoned the creature. We will do the rest.”

With that, a certain fire emerged from my guts. With determined eyes, I gave out my resolution,

I’ll do whatever it takes, bet on it!

“Good. You will depart the day after tomorrow at dusk. And keep this mission a secret. Only you, me and Blizzard Hawk knows about it”

All of us solemnly nodded.

And thus, begin my new journey. Towards the Elsivier, the Capital of Kingdom of Elsigardia.