“So, Dallel, I want to recruit you to the Kingsguard as a captain.”

“What? Why?”

“After Royce’s death, no one is stepping up to the place he stood. I need someone with experience who deeply cares about the kingdom.”

“Then why not Jalad?”

“Because Jalad is needed as the captain of the guard, the men will listen to you, but with far less respect than Jalad. You, however, have been asked to join the Kingsguard before. They respect you, and each captain agreed you would be a great addition.”

“I... don’t know.”

“I understand, take your time, but I can assure you that if you do take the role, I will assign you a job you would like.”

“Thank you, but I need time to decide.”

_

“He asked again?!”

Jalad was ticked off.

“But this time, he asked me to take Royce’s place.”

“You’ve already denied him several times. Why can’t he just let it go?”

“Because he does want me to do it. I guess I used to be the prince of Calesen. He may see it as a boon to have me as a direct subordinate of his.”

“Either way, I’d suggest declining. I don’t trust whatever job he has for you, but there is definitely something fishy going on.”

“I would agree, but I think he’s a bit more frantic about losing his best warrior than doing a power play.”

“Either way, he shouldn’t try to force you into it.”

“I mean, the nation did lose a top fighter, Royce was as strong as a low S rank.”

“I know, but Dallel, I seriously doubt he wants you to take the role out of the goodness of his heart. As much as I respect the king, I also know that he manipulates very well. He is a good person, but he cares about the country too much.”

“I understand, but I still don’t know. I will consider it.”

_

“Aye, I hope she wakes quickly, Rose is a good fighter, I’m certain she’ll wake up and be fine.”

Mammon was announcing at the guild what Celios said about Rose’s condition. Only he and a few high-level adventurers knew that Rose was Purity, they found it out when Rose first revealed her aura at full power.

“She is not going to die; she’ll get back up as stubborn as before and fight with us in only 2 months. That may seem like a long time, but we’ve lasted before she showed up and we can last again.”

“But we also had Sir Royce defending us back then.”

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“Not the whole time. I’ve been a guildmaster since before Sir Royce was born. I know we can last even without those two.”

Mammon’s absolute confidence made everyone feel better, but Royce’s death still shocked everyone. Even using the resurrection technique that Elren made with his daughter Alice, they couldn’t revive him.

Celios explained that a smite would require a god’s power to revive the smited person. He explained that as him and Kala were both forsaken gods, their powers weren’t enough to overturn a smite. He was smiling the whole time and it resulted in him getting a hook punch from Jalad.

As expected from attempting to hurt a god, Celios was fine, but Jalad had a broken wrist.

“Dallel, how are ye holding up?”

Mammon’s sudden voice snapped me back to the present.

“I don’t know. I’m sad about Royce, but I can’t help but be happy that there were so few casualties... I... just don’t know how I feel.”

“I understand ye, I expected to lose almost all of my warriors, but instead lost one of the most important people in the nation. Plus, Rose is in a coma and people are panicked.”

“I understand; that army hasn’t moved for a whole week.”

“Wrath was purified, so her army is just lost on what to do.”

“Silas is negotiating with the demons in charge of it.”

“Do you think it will turn out okay?”

“I hope so.”

“Why don’t we just tell everyone that Rose is Purity? They know her body is Kala’s form now.”

“Because they also believe she can hold Kala back. If they knew that she was the core, then the trust would greatly diminish, especially after that display of absolute power.”

“I guess.”

“People fear what they don’t know, and most of their interactions with gods have been either fighting Wrath or watching Celios kill someone they respect.”

“I guess, I think it was still wrong to burn down the temple.”

After the battle between Rose and Celios, people burnt down the temple of the pantheon in Selethon, because they thought that if the gods would just attack them to get at one another than there was no reason to worship them.

“Though the statue in its place is nice.”

“The statue of Kala, they started worshipping her.”

“Well, she did save them, and all of them saw Wrath throw her goals to the dirt in order to save them.”

“Yeah, they even have a little statue of Rose next to her.”

“Everyone still thinks Rose is her priest.”

“Yeah, I hope she wakes up sooner than two months.”

“Maybe she will, she was a forsaken god before, now she is receiving a lot of worship.”

We sat silent, then I asked the question I came for.

“Can I ask a question?”

“Sure.”

“Do you think I should join the Kingsguard as Royce’s replacement?”

“That’s a question, alright. Did the king offer you the station?”

“Yes. Jalad thinks I should decline again, but the king says I will get a job I'd like.”

“I personally think that you should decline too.”

“Why?”

“Think about it, you and Royce were the closest to Rose, now that Royce is gone, he essentially has no hold on her. I think he wants you to have the job just so he can control Rose.”

“You think he’d do something that bad?”

“Let me put it this way. I wouldn’t call king Dalis a bad person, but he thinks that an individual is less important than a majority, so he isn’t afraid of putting single people in bad positions to help the majority. Now think of why he would want a best friend of a god as a direct subordinate.”

“To make sure she stays loyal.”

“Yes, I have no doubts about where her heart stands, but we all saw her rip Celios apart for killing Royce, he wants influence over someone who she’d get that angry for. And he wants to make sure that he won’t ever be the target of that anger.”

“I understand... I will refuse again and maintain my position as vice captain.”

“Good lad.”

I left the guild hall feeling certain of my decision.

_

“So, you are refusing again.”

“Yes, your grace. I must apologize, but I would much rather maintain my role as vice-captain.”

“I understand, I wish that you would take me up this time, but I suppose that there isn’t much I could do.”

I gave a sad look which the king quickly interrupted.

“Don’t worry, I am thankful that you continue to serve the nation, and I must admit I had ulterior motives this time. I suppose Mammon likely figured them out when you spoke to him.”

“He did sir.”

“I understand. Have a wonderful day, Dallel.”

“Thank you, your majesty, and sir.”

“Yes?”

“I hope you do find someone worthy of Royce’s position soon.”

I left the castle.