Chapter 5
Old roads and new boots [https://imageshack.com/i/pmPJP2l7p]
”Dad, who is the old geezer and why is he naked in our house?” Orla screamed at her father.
“Be courteous, daughter! He’s a traveler and a guest,” Merlo said to her.
“Name’s Jack Mors. Nice to meet you, young lady!” Jack greeted her from her father's side.
“I gonna tell gran you brought your lover to our home!”
“You gonna what?” Merlo looked at his daughter wide-eyed as if his daughter had suddenly transformed into a scary monster.
“You heard me, old man! Get him dressed already! Divines!” Orla stormed out of the room with her raven black hair flying behind her.
After the girl left the room two men were left to their own accord. Merlo continued to dig through his closet to find some clothes that would fit Jack's well-built frame.
“Don’t mind my blood. She is acting like that last couple of months. Let's get you something fitting so you can finally stand before the Royal Protector.” Merlo fished out a simple long grey shirt and handed it to Jack.
“What’s her problem?”
“She is an adult now. I will need to awaken her any moment now. For that I will take her to the Westelwoods to hunt some slimes and she can step on her path,” Merlo gave Jack brown baggy pants with a black leather belt, “Her friends will not awaken here in our woods. They are going to travel towards the west border and my silly daughter wants to follow them. They all plan to awaken in the Riftlands and get uncommon class."
"Are these uncommon classes any good?" Jack asked.
"Uncommon or rare classes are desired by those young in age and ambition. Awakening there will allow them to get Delver class. But I will be damned if I gonna let my only daughter put herself in mortal danger.” Merlo explained
“Overprotective much?" Jack said, "My paps always let me run free and look at me. Lived long and healthy."
“You don’t understand the worries of the father. You mentioned that your world doesn’t have as many children as ours. Do you know why we have so many of them? Can you guess why every family in our village births them with no respite? Why Emperor pays donations to big city residents for every child born?”
" Well, no. You can explain."
Merlo faced Jack and handed him a pair of hard leather boots. Jack listened carefully to what Merlo had to say. Merlo’s eyes were unfocused and full of pain.
“It’s so because the peace we live in is built on the blood of our children. Rosmorre is not a nice place for those who like peace, but at the same time, millions in Empire live in a sense of peace. We birth children like rabbits and send them to our borders to safeguard humanity. That is the way of Empire. It’s a sacrifice we make. Life in combat will make you strong or it will kill you. I already lost too much. I will not lose my only daughter.”
Jack finished lacing up his new boots, “You are a selfish man. Not only towards your daughter but towards your country. ”
“You say that while wearing boots I gifted you. You are pushing your luck, Guardian,” said Merlo, anger flaring in his face.
“Never intended to. You can afford to gift me these boots because of those who guard your silly Empire. Guardian has to put humanity as their priority. And I will be damned if I will not be the greatest guardian who has graced your eye, my friend,” Jack said to his benefactor.
“It’s just the name of common tier one class,” Merlo lost his anger as fast as he gained it. "Once you hit level twenty, you will have to choose a new one from the list of tier two classes."
“Will I lose the benefits of my Guardian class once I hit level twenty?”
“No.”
“Then guardian I am! And guardian shall I be!” Jack said with conviction, “Do you have any undergarments?“
“Clothes under clothes? It’s summertime right now.”
“Haha! You are funny!” Jack laughed, “Let's go meet your Protector then!”
----------------------------------------
When they entered the village square, Royal Protector was already awaiting them. The middle-aged warrior stood there cross-armed wearing red aristocratic clothes made from silk or the magic equivalent of it. Despite his light attire man was anything but light. Three meters high giant wore an angry and irritated expression on his face.
Ironclad Jugernaut – Lvl 98
By his side stood a smaller old man in black mage robes with golden runic symbols etched on them. He had no hair left on his old scalp and his wrinkly skin was full of age spots. What stood out was the golden cross tattoo on his forehead.
Time Archmage – Lvl ???
He seemed ancient and yet he watched the younger man's wide back with a worried expression. Not many would dare to make Royal Protector wait. The position of absolute power in this village was granted by Emperor himself in attendance. No one had the right to challenge or disrespect it. And yet, now Royal Protector was made to wait for a low-leveled void traveler.
What made everything even worse, village residents gathered around them like flies around a pie. Not every day common villagers could see their own Royal Protector standing in a public square waiting around for someone. They whispered to each other and waited together with him.
Royal Protector had no choice in this matter. It was his direct duty to instruct otherworlder on the laws of Empire and assess the danger he provides to humanity. It was his duty as appointed voice of the crown here.
But he didn’t predict that they wouldn’t come to him directly from the very gates. Now he was looking like a fool in front of his people.
“Lord Protector, lets await them in your residence. We don’t have to wait in open,” mage said.
Royal Protector ignored his advice and continued to stare with scorn towards the road they should arrive by. When Elder Merlo finally showed up with Jack in tow, anger coming from Royal Protector seemed almost tangible. They were walking closer with no hurry in their step. The arrogant noble clenched his fists in anger.
----------------------------------------
“Holly smokes! That is not a man! That’s a giant! What did he eat as a baby to grow so huge?” Jack said.
“Be respectful towards Royal Protector, Jack! Your life is in his hands,” Merlo said,” As a member of the Royal house he was nurtured to achieve rare classes from tier I up to his current tier. He should have at least 200 Constitution stat points under his belt, to grow to his size. Each stat point enhances respective aspects of human nature by around five percent. Rare classes get three stat points per level which is a lot.”
“So that’s why youngsters wanna go die so badly for these classes. They want to be taller.”
“Every five levels you get to choose a perk and for each twenty you choose a new class from the next tier. Lower quality of class doesn’t necessarily mean worse perks, synergy between your stats and perks is important, remember that. Here in Rosmorre, we call it a build." Merlo continued his explanation, "What is undeniable is that higher-quality classes have higher stat growth. Often in combat raw power will overcome even the most dangerous build.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“What you can say about my Guardian class?”
“Weak,” Merlo answered quickly.
“Surely, not! How so?” Jack was shocked.
“Constitution is well known to be the worst stat of them all. It makes you tougher and bigger as a side effect, but that can be your death sentence. Human muscles, bones, and skin are soft in their base, and enhancing their toughness will not do much. You will gain the power of blows from your pure mass but it’s a double-edged sword. You will become slower," Merlo spoke," Warrior class with its Strength increase is superior to Guardian. Strength stat doesn’t increase your size too much, instead, your muscles are simply stronger. Besides that, every fighter wears armor in combat making Constitution redundant. Your skin will not block magic or blade, but good armor will at least slow it down.”
“What about Guardian’s perks?”
“Base talent [Will of the Guardian] is nothing special. Unless your strength of character is astounding, it will barely be an obstacle to any mental attacks. There are some useful perks in levels, but every class has something good.”
“Aj! You really think my class is that bad?”
“You have what you have,” Merlo glanced at Jack's muscular frame, “Class with growth in Strength would give you the most. You already look twice as strong as your average man and you don’t have any Strength stats in you. Gurdian's base upgrade at level 20 will be Iron Guardian. Don’t take it, if you have a choice."
"You really are making my mood sour, Merlo," Jack said sadly, "What I should pick at level 20 then?"
"You need to get requirements for any uncommon or better tier II class with Strength growth. That will be the best path for you in my opinion. Stats only enhance what man already has. By getting Strength stat you will get yourself the best deal,” Merlo went silent feeling the chilly atmosphere coming from Royal Protector,” if you gonna live till tomorrow of course.”
People around Royal Protector stood in silence waiting to see how this scene will end for Elder and his guest. Merlo made eye contact with the mage standing beside Protector and mage bowed his head in polite greeting. Both men understood what’s gonna happen now. All they could hope is that nobody gonna lose their life because of the irritated nobleman.
“Honorable Royal Protector, I present in fro…” Merlo started introducing Jack as he was abruptly cut off by the strong bass of Royal Protector.
“Kneel!” he demanded.
“As you order!” elder Merlo dropped to his knees and lowered his head.
Jack stayed standing watching Merlo lower himself with slight amusement, but he hid it quickly. Jack’s face was a mask. It had the same fake smile it usually had.
“Kneel!” Royal Protector demanded for the second time.
Jack felt excitement. He felt violence coming his way soon enough. His fake smile turned into a real one from the excitement.
“I kneel for no one, boy,“ Jack replied. The crowd around Square went silent.
It was not an answer born of pride. Jack was eager. He was eager to taste the violence this world can offer to him. Will he die? Will he even be able to resist? HE NEEDS TO KNOW!
There wasn’t a third demand. Royal Protector exploded in a blur of movement. He covered the distance between them in a single step leaving behind a hole in the ground, where he just stood. It took him a single step to cover the distance at a speed impossible for any human.
‘It must be a perk! No man can be so fast,‘ it was the only thing Jack had time to think.
Royal Protector picked up his leg and stomped on Jack’s knee. The knee didn’t offer any resistance as it bent inwards. That didn’t stop stomp in any way, shape, or form. As Jack fell, his leg was crushed between the pavement and the giant's boot. His leg popped and exploded in gore and blood. People gasped, kids started crying, women and men diverted their gazes towards anything else but blood streaming from the decapitated stump of Jack’s leg.
Jack laid there on his back with Royal Protector standing over him and after small delay pain exploded through his body. The pain was immense. Jack almost fell unconscious right then and there by sheer mountains of it. His body felt on fire. Every fiber of his existence burned in agony.
And he loved every part of it.
“Hahahahaha!” He couldn’t hold his happiness as laughter erupted out of him.
Royal Protector backed off from Jack in disbelief. Guardian lied in a pool of his own blood and laughed in bliss. Jack's eyes were wide open and crystal clear. They were locked on the noble. There was not a single hint of fear for his life in the man on the ground. He looked happy like a father holding his firstborn son for the first time. An unnatural feeling of dread took over Royal Protector as he watched a harmless man on the ground simply laugh about losing his limb.
“Hahhh!HAhaha!Hahahaha!”
“Poor soul! He lost his sanity from the pain!” somebody in the crowd said.
“Feral dog! Putting you down will be mercy!” Royal Protector shouted to the crowd and stepped forward to finish what he started.
“Sire! Please grant this man your pardon!” mage interjected, “ Old fool is not important. He is too old to level. But if you kill him after torturing him in front of the whole village, the Imperial court will hear it. Your cousin will make sure you get death punishment this time for sure.”
Noble stopped to think over the mage’s words. They held some merit in them. His advisor was always right. He was forced to let this disgusting creature live and he hated it.
“Gift him the law code of the Empire and get this dog out of my village! I will show my mercy!” he turned around and went back towards his villa.
The crowd spread in front of him and bowed their heads. Royal Protector proudly went through the crowd with his back straight and head high. He marched inside his residence with grace.
As soon as the doors closed behind him, he put his trembling hand on the wall and just stood there trying to calm himself. He had killed thousands of beasts and sapients but never had he seen eyes like that. As he closed his own eyes, he still could see Jack's in front of him.
Royal Protector’s hands didn’t stop trembling.
----------------------------------------
Somewhere in the crowd girl with raven black hair turned towards two young men standing behind her. Orla argued with a sick-looking man, while the bigger one just stood there silently listening with a serious look.
----------------------------------------
Jack went unconscious from blood loss. Elder Merlo was attending to him. He had pulled off his shirt to try bandage and stop the blood gushing out of Jack's stump.
“Elder, please, pull your shirt back on. There is no need,” mage said to him politely.
“Will you save him, Vecor?”
“You have a good heart, Merlo. Don’t worry! Just step back.”
Mage held his hands out over the unconscious Guardian. Vecor closed his eyes and golden light started to shine from behind his closed eyelids. Mana swirled around the square and wind suddenly picked up dust from the ground. Villagers watched in awe as a mage of the highest circle started to weave his magic over the fallen man.
Mage’s eyes shot open and nine of many runic symbols on his robe filled with a golden light.
“Triralkh arkh zorah!” he said every word filled with the power of ancient magic.
He touched Jack’s body and light enveloped him. Smashed gore and blood on the ground disappeared into golden sand. Sand swirled up in the sky in a beautiful vortex and then crashed back down towards Jack and entered his chest. Golden light formed in form of his leg and after the shine disappeared his leg was fully reformed.
The crowd cheered for the kindness of the mage.
----------------------------------------
When Jake came back to consciousness it was already nighttime. He was lying on hard wood in new sets of clothes. The ground shook below him for some reason. As he lied there and stared at the night sky, stars stared back at him. It was peaceful.
“There are two moons,” He noted to himself.
“He is alive!” said a girly voice.
“Whatever. We are busy trying not to die here!” came an annoyed response from a manly voice.
Jack turned and saw that he was sleeping in a simple wooden cart pulled by two horses in full gallop. They were riding at high speed through pitch darkness. The sides of the dirt road were barely visible in moonlight and torchlight from the cart.
Here he was joined by three others. A large youngster was griping reins and keeping horses on the road, beside him stood a lanky weak looking youngster holding a torch high up and shouting corrections to their direction.
The girl beside him was Orla, the daughter of Merlo. She was holding him so he would not fall out of the open back of the cart. She was clearly not doing a good job of it as his feet were already dangling over the edge.
“What is happening?” Jack asked.
“We are stealing you,” Orla answered.
“And why are you stealing me?”
“Because you have the honor to be the fourth one in our leveling party!” Orla grinned wide smile at Jack, “Welcome to Mad Dogs of Rossmore!”
She waved to the boys.
“Silent one is Zaun, weak one – Linus.”
“Who the fuck is weak?” shouted back Linus.
“We will be in your care, geezer!” Orla said with a smile.
Jack laid there in silence for a second taking in what he had just heard. Then he looked down at his cut-off leg. It was still there. His leg was there like nothing happened. What happened with Royal Protector? What of the last day was even real and what was his sick mind playing games on him?
“Haha! I understand nothing, but I love it. Goodnight!” he turned his back to Orla and went back to sleep.
“See? I said he will be happy!” Orla said to her companions, “Geezer is nuts!”
“Makes four of us,” Linus answered.
Horses continued to gallop through the pitch-black night.