Note to the reader: *.......* means he's saying that in his head.

For those who want to know about Carnwennan. It was a dagger that was carried by King Arthur in some of the stories that could cloak him in shadows. He used it to kill a witch once and I'm going to expand on that power a little. Carnwennan also means white hilt.

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Chapter 19

It's been a week since the hero's arrived and they have been training. Jack wins every match he's in since no one can do any damage to him. Carnwennan allows Jack to turn into shadows so the only way to hurt him is through surprise attacks.

Jack got in trouble at first since he goes for the kill in every match. When Sam uses Gleipnir Jack is the only one who can fight him and it's to a stand still. Gleipnir protects any spot Jack tries to cut, but it can't bind Jack since he's a shadow.

The other races have summoned hero's, but I haven't met them yet. During some of my occasional visits to Helen in the red light district, I've seen Jack there wandering around. I don't trust him so I've kept my eye on him.

He seems to be interested in this world and is studying everything he can. I hope the other hero's are a little better than what we go. Sam is still pursuing Tessa, but she ignores his advances. I've had to talk to him a couple of times, but he won't listen.

Jack and Sam created there own teams today out of the knights and knight mages. The hero parties try to display which hero they are with by copying their color scheme. Both Jack and Sam have simple color schemes white and black.

Sam looks like a hero the people cheer for in all white while Jack looks like a dark hero in all black. Sam's party is all red headed knights that are tank characters while Jack mostly has blue haired people who are more assassin types.

I hope we didn't accidentally create a problem by using the blood summoning that gave us Jack. I had a meeting with Leon, Isaac, Wesson and Gaz now so I was heading there. When I entered they were surrounding a map of the Dranian Empire.

Leon:"I have received word that the demons abandoned the peasant section so the fights will mostly take place in the merchants and knights sections of the city."

Gaz:"There could be a trap set up for us in the peasants section."

Leon:"I had some men do reconnaissance and it seems like there are no traps, but bandits seem to be planning a raid."

Isaac:"Oh Falon is here so we can finally get down to business!"

I walked over to Isaac and stood next to him then Leon looked at me.

Leon:"Any updates on ways to defeat the Demon King using that book?"

Falon:"No Tessa hasn't even figured out how to fix my soul yet."

Isaac:"If she doesn't figure it out soon we may start the attack then you'll lose your chance to fix your soul. It's not so bad living forever and if you get tired of it just destroy your soul. You know I was born a dwarf once, then killed when my father dropped me while he was drunk. It was a short life but interesting."

Falon:"How did you defeat the previous Demon King?"

Isaac:"I've got no clue Tessa did it."

Falon:"Tessa the hero. I thought you did it?"

Isaac:"No I didn't do anything. By the time I was old enough to help it was over so I don't even know what happened. A couple lives later and here I am fighting a new Demon King."

Leon:"On to the important business. This is something only the people in this room know about."

Leon had a serious expression on his face as he looked at me.

Leon:"The entire royal family isn't dead."

Falon:"Who's left?"

Wesson:"The third crowned princess of the Dranian Kingdom Jeanette Dranian."

Falon:"I don't know that one."

Wesson:"She's only six and her existence was being kept secret since she was the child of a mistress."

Leon:"When the rest of the royal family died Wesson and I planned to go down fighting, but Isaac talked us into saving Jeanette and reviving the kingdom later."  

Wesson:"We don't believe the demons know about."

Leon:" We want to entrust her safety to you while we reclaim the capital."

Falon:"Wait! I'm going with you!"

Leon:"No you need to stay here and protect Jeanette."

I was a little angry, but I didn't see any reason why would need to bring me.

Falon:"Fine.........I'll stay behind."

Leon:"Thank you brother. I can fight without worry knowing you will be protecting her. I will have her brought to your room tonight and she will officially be under your watch."

I wanted to fight the Demon King with them and maybe fix my soul, but the girl was my job now so I gave up on joining them. I went back to my room where Tessa was studying Rauðskinna. I told her about my new job and she promised to help.

Later on she helped me cheer up, but we were interrupted by a knock on the door so we had to get dressed fast. I opened it and Wesson was standing there with a little girl.

She came up to my waist and had blue hair. She was dresses in commoners clothes which I assumed were to disguise her.

Wesson:"Take care of her."

That was all Wesson said then turned and left. I brought the little girl in and Tessa took her over to the bed.

Tessa:"Hello Jeanette I'm Tessa and this is Falon. We're going to take care of you for a while."

The girl didn't say anything and just stared at Tessa. It was night so we decided to go to bed. There was only one bed so we all shared it. I felt like I was a father sleeping with my daughter and wife and it made me feel really happy.

Jeanette spent every moment with me and Tessa. A week passed and she became very comfortable around us and started acting like a child should.

Jeanette:"I want to go watch the mages practice!"

Falon:"I don't have anything to do what about you Tessa?"

Tessa:"Nope I'm free."

Falon:"Ok Jeanette we can go."

Jeanette:"Yayyy!"

We took her to watch the mages practice for the upcoming attack on Gart. The elves soldiers had already made it to Haven so they practiced with our soldiers to get a feel for fighting along side humans.

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The elf hero was a woman named Felicity with short brown hair that came down to her ears. Her body seemed like an athletes but she was still very cute. The boots of Hermes was her weapon and it gave her super speed. They were golden with a symbol of a wing on the sides.

I found out that hero's have the chance to get new weapons to add to their arsenal if they were deemed worthy to wield another. The hero's so far only have one, but they could get more in the future.

After begging a few times I finally got Jeanette to call me daddy. She started getting use to it and now I'm daddy and Tessa is mommy. I felt a burst of happiness when she first said it. I couldn't stop smiling for the entire day and Ruby told me I seemed a little creepy.

Cal and Fraya come to play with Jeanette some times and it warms my heart. Things are going so good that I feel like something bad is going to happen soon, but that could be the pre-war tension in the air.

Jack seems to have a lot more followers lately including some of the elves. He must have some kind of charisma to get elves to follow him instead of their hero.

*****************Laya POV*****************

Keltor brought back some humans he's been playing with for the last few days. I was a little annoyed that they were all women so I ignored them for a few weeks. They became his personal maids, but didn't seem content with that after a while.

Jenny:"The three of us have talked and we would like to get stronger."

Laya:"Your just weak humans so being maids are all you can do."

I scoffed at them.

Jenny:"Well do anything. We can't have Keltor protect us forever."

I glared at them angrily.

Laya:"Maids shouldn't refer to Keltor by his name."

Jenny seemed a little angry that I pointed that out.

Jenny:"We can't have ........master protecting us all the time."

Laya:"That's better."

Jenny:"Please we don't want to be weak anymore."

Lucy:"Please."

Lilly:"Please."

Laya:"I know some some blood magic that may help, but it will hurt."

Jenny:"We will suffer what we must for strength."

She bowed to me and her sisters copied her.

Laya:"Very well then follow me."

*I'll turn them into blood warriors.*

***************Keltor POV******************

Laya told me what the girls wanted and I made her promise not to mess with their souls or minds. She agreed so I let her do it.

After about three weeks they finally showed themselves to me. They all looked about ten years older and had white hair like mine. Their eyes were red and they had fangs, but still appeared mostly human.

Jenny:"I've never felt so strong!"

Lucy:"It really hurt, but now I feel amazing!"

Laya:"Sun light will irritate your skin and decrease your strength, speed and regeneration by 30%. If you drink fresh blood it will temporarily double all abilities."

This seemed like a very useful modification so I wondered why she only used it now.

Keltor:"Why haven't you made these blood warriors before?"

Laya:"Because it's hard to collect all the right ingredients and it only works on normal humans."

Keltor:"Ok then I want these three to learn how to fight under you. Your close combat skill is one of the best I've seen. When you think there ready have them practice with Stef so they can also learn how to fight a Mage."

Laya:"I won't go easy just because you like them."

Keltor:"Of course you won't since they could die if their teacher half assed their training. I believe you will turn them into splendid warriors."

Laya:"I will make them some of the strongest in your army."

She had a smile on her face that sent shivers down the girls spines. As she left with them Hercules came in.

Hercules:"I have news."

Keltor:"What is it?"

Hercules:"The other races have all summoned heroes."

Keltor:"Do you think they will be a problem."

Hercules:"Yes there weapons give them incredible strength."

Keltor:"What so you think we should do?"

Hercules:"Some of my men tell me that one of the heroes seems like someone who may be swayed if offered enough."

Keltor:"Have one man make contact with him and try persuading him to join us. If he fails then he will not be allowed to come back unless it's with the head of one of the hero's."

Hercules:"Yes Sir. I have also received news that the beastmen have started marching soldiers towards us. They are being led by the second son of their chief."

Keltor:"Send an assassin to kill him that will demoralize them."

Hercules:"He seems to be strong so the assassin might fail. He just returned to his village after traveling to each races kingdom."

Keltor:"Then send another assassin to poison there food supply incase the first fails to kill......what's his name?"

Hercules:"It's Drexel."

Keltor:"If Drexel survives then losing a there food supply should weaken them enough to force a retreat."

Hercules:"Yes Sir."  

He turned and left after that and I rested in a nearby chair. I had regained many emotions since the girls started staying with us, but I was a ruler and I planned to lead my people to victory. I was no longer a human and felt no attachment to my old life, my new life was important to me.

I had people important to me and I feared the other me destroying it all one day. I new that he would exist for even longer than I will so I could never rest easy. I needed to capture him and lock him up for good.PREVIOUS CHAPTER-Back to Main Page-NEXT CHAPTER