Arc 7. Death to what came before
Road to a Hero:
Three Chances in Another World
Chapter 8. To be the next
The clank of Rick's smithing hammer echoes through his blacksmith shop, repeating over and over, only being overpowered by the sharp whistles of the freezing wind outside. Peter stands beside him, goggles on, protecting him from the sparks flying in the air, lighting up the dark room with each strike of his hammer. As the strong dwarf shapes and molds the last piece of dragon stone for the explosive prosthetic, Peter prepares the water, holding a large tub for Rick to set the piece into. Rick moves his long white beard out of the way, wipes the sweat from his brow, spits to the side, and grabs the piece of metal with a pair of tongs, placing it in the water.
The sizzling sound of the metal rapidly cooling in the ice-cold water is soothing to both of their ears, getting a nice wave of hot vapers in their face right after. Peter then removes his goggles, looking around the small shop at all of the various miscellaneous weapons, pieces of armor, and everything else of the sort. As they wait for the scolding hot metal to fully cool, they take a break and walk into the shop's main room, taking their cups of tea from the table. Rick removes his stained apron while Peter rubs his blue overalls, getting his thick brown gloves dirtier than they already are.
Rick: “His armor’s finished, he didn’t have a new sword, and this new…what are we calling it?”
Peter: “I dunno, an arm cannon?”
Rick: “Y’know what, it doesn't matter.”
As Rick steps into the back room, Peter watches the front door open, finding Gordon there.
Peter: “Oh hey, you need something?”
Gordon: “Yeah, our visitors are here. I wanted to see if you and Rick wanted to talk to them.”
Peter is about to go ask Rick, though with his knowledge of his character, he assumes he won’t want to, as the small man is much more involved with his work than his social life.
Peter: “He’s good, I can come through. Rick’s just gonna finish working on Edward's armor while he complains his brother can’t make a simple breastplate.”
Gordon smirks, leading Peter out into the snow-covered roads of Greenvale, completely silent. This constantly stern Gordon is quite a bit bland, as well as a bit scary to the easily startled Peter, as Gordon's hawk eyes are so strong it feels as if he’s staring into your soul.
Peter: “So, have you talked to them yet?”
Gordon: “No, but I know they’re coming up the hill. We’re going to meet in my old house, or I guess it’s Lincoln's house now. But they may already be there.”
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After they take a few turns, and one long walk down the slowly rising dirt road, they make it up to Lincoln's oddly Japanese-inspired home. Strangely enough, even though this world is completely disconnected from both Japan and the period of the building. Inside they find Lincoln in his wheelchair, Edward standing tall behind him, and the ever-quiet Ryo standing on the second-floor balcony, looking over everyone.
Lincoln: “What, no Rick?”
Gordon: “He didn’t want to come.”
As they’re talking, a few members of the Leviathan army open the door, and five people follow behind them. Henry Barclay, JJ, Boid, and Todd all enter the house, with an unknown man with them. While Henry and the others are wearing the uniforms that Gray had met them in, the other older man, looking around fifty or so, with orange hair and a long black coat. He also possessed a magical staff made from a nonexistent wood with a large crystal on the top, being a mix of Red, Blue, Brown, Green, and Yellow.
Henry, with a large wondrous smile on his face, runs right past Gordon to Lincoln.
Henry: “Lincoln! The Lincoln Valentine! You’re my hero!”
The still-recovering Lincoln can only scoff at Henry's words, as to him, they’re filled with pity.
Lincoln: “Look, kissing my ass isn’t what you’re here for, what you’re here for is to talk to Gordon.”
Henry freezes up with embarrassment, looking to his squires to find them chucking under their breath. He’s about to begin arguing with them, but Peter breaks the tension with a simple question.
Peter: “What are you guys here for? And aren’t you the two dudes that helped us back in the raid?”
JJ and Boid both step up, though Boid struggles as his large size makes it difficult to move through the house.
JJ: “That’s right! Thieves turned squires!”
Boid: “From rags to riches rags!”
Todd: “And me!”
Everyone turns to Todd with a dismissive look on their faces, causing him to back up to the door. The older man steps up, brushes his fading orange air back, and begins speaking with an old English dialect.
Frederick: “I, Frederick Gole, am here as Gordon, my king, has requested my presence. And young Dark Elf, as you seem to be confused, we are here as we are in line to lead. Lead the Walgonian Knights, or lead the Leviathan army, but I’ll have to step out now.”
Gordon: “What!? Really!? You came from Valor School of Magic, all the way here, to tell me no?”
Frederick: “Yes I know it seems a bit much, but as Headmaster I mustn't step down but when I do I must show passion. I have been put on a leaf of absence, as I’ve been saving my days of rest for a situation like this. And if I need to push forward past such days, I will, as that is the strength of my vigor.”
Gordon: “Well to be blunt, the Leviathan army isn’t what it used to be. We don’t have many soldiers, we don’t have many that reach B rank in swordsmen ship, we only have two mages and not a single soldier over the age of twenty-eight. The Leviathan army…no, the state of Walgonia including all of its protectors are falling, failing, losing, but you and Henry can stand above the rest. While Henry, I know you don’t have a blessing or affinity of any sort, you do have the will that used to run through the blood of every Walgonian. If you’ll allow me, I’d like to entrust Jong's previous position to you, I want you to be the new commander of the Walgonian Knights.”
Henry quickly gets down on one knee, getting his squires to do so as well. Jong was commander of the knights for over twenty years, had no children, had no living family, and had no one in line to take his place. But what Song did was live, his personality stood out among the rest, as even if he wasn’t a god, he was a man, a leader. People like to follow those who enjoy what they’re doing. Strength isn't everything, it isn’t the strongest form of power, as what truly is the strongest is your connections.
Ryo steps down the stairs, handing Gordon Jong's old naginata. His naginata was custom-made, having an enchanted water crystal placed on both sides of the blade, just above the top of the handle. This was due to his mid-tier affinity for water magic, but other than that it was a normal weapon with a large blade and a long white staff-like bottom. Gordon holds it high, and lowers it onto Henry's shoulder, letting it rest on his blue cape stressed down his back.
Gordon: “Henry Barclay, forty-two years old, member of the Walgonian knights for twenty-seven years, and leader of the northern province of Walgonia’s knights. You will take the position once held by Jong Long, you will be the passionate, strong, and dignified commander of the Walgonian Knights.”
Henry: “Thank you, my king.”
Everyone is silent, absorbing the sight in front of them, but Edward and Lincoln are uncomfortable. Lincoln stares at his shriveled hands, while Edward looks down at his prosthetic leg, feeling as if they’re both unworthy. They are no longer what they were, and in front of them are people who are either in their prime or have yet to reach it, but this pushes their will further. They must surpass them once more, if not in strength then in reach, but it’s a long road, on which they’ve yet to begin walking.
End of Chapter Eight