Arthe was now back in Ymrheim after a month away, he was currently attending a ceremony at the church. A ceremony honoring those who had become paladins, it was also the time for the new paladins to choose which order they wished to join. Representatives from each of the orders were present: the one from the Arbiter order was a huge man with fierce eyes and a large claymore, in contrast the representative from the Order of Freya's Grace was a neat man in silver mail wielding a pair of hammers. But neither of these two came close to the sheer presence of the last representative, the Order of the Holy Light had sent a man so large that he could have been part giant. He was wearing massive full plate armor and wielding a huge tower shield with one hand and an even larger silver spear in the other, many of the graduates were staring at him with awe but Arthe was not one of them.
His attention was firmly focused on another man, one who did not stand out and yet seemed to exude an aura of peaceful ferocity. This contradicting aura seemed to have differing effects on those around it, some relaxed and others tensed up. The man himself was wearing simple half-plate with a black tabard on top. The tabard had a golden tree in the center and it seemed to glow with its own inner fire, around the mans waist was a belt the same as Arthe's. When he was seen by the other representatives their eyes widened and they examined the new graduates more closely until they saw the belt around Arthe's waist, then they signaled to the ranking priest there to begin the ceremony.
Much of the ceremony was ritual chanting and the singing of holy hymns, it wasn't until near nightfall that the priest began to call on the graduates to approach the altar and swear fealty. One by one the new paladins knelt at the altar of Freya and swore their devotion to the cause of good, as they finished they were presented with armor and weaponry by the priests and when they had received those they went to stand in front of the representatives. Finally it was Arthe's turn, he strode up to the altar and dropped to his knees. He could still hear the voice of Freya in his head and so consumed was he by these thoughts that he repeated the oath she had given him.
"I shall be a Light in the dark places, where others fall to hunger or fear I will persevere. Where others greed leads them to evil, I will give generously. Where there are those who would hurt the innocent I shall defend them. I am the light and the hope to those without either, none shall know my name but all shall know what I am. I am a Guardian. I am Freya's defender and champion, no other shall rule me save her and no other may command me save by her will."
The other graduates listened with wonder without realizing that the representatives and the priests had all fallen to their knees in prayer at the sound of these words, even the other guardian was kneeling to the image of Freya. When Arthe had finished he raised his head and saw the postures of the others, before he could speak the High priest presented him with his own armor back with a minor difference. His own helmet had been replaced with the one he had seen in Marshal Sif's office, as well as this a black tabard had been laid over the top of his breastplate. It had the same design as the one he had seen the other Guardian wearing earlier.
"May you wear these arms well and may they aid you in defending the weak and upholding the will of Freya." The priest intoned before bowing to Arthe with respect.
After that the new Paladins began to talk to the 3 representatives about joining their Orders and after some time every one of them had decided on an Order to enter, Arthe had hung back as he was aware that Guardians belonged to the secret fourth order and that he would receive his initiation from the man he had seen before. While he waited he decided to look at the helmet he had been given by Marshal Sif.
Helmet Of Freya's Justicar:
Durability:250/250
Defense: 150
This Helmet was said to have been presented to the last Champion of Numenor by the Goddess Freya herself. They create an aura of purity around the wearer that can defend them from dark powers. This Helmet grows along with the wearer as they improve so too does the power of this Helm.
Equip:
+100 Faith
+30 WIS
+20 INT
+20 VIT
+25% Dark Resistance
+ 1 level to Holy Mastery
When worn with the rest of the Freya's Favour armor set effects are doubled.
Requirements:
Level 300 for displayed stats, stats decrease by 20% every 100 levels
Must Have Faith stat generated
+50 STR
+50 Faith
+200 Fame
An hour had passed whilst he waited in the church, eventually the door to the church opened and the Guardian came in followed by the other 3 representatives, Arthe got to his feet and bowed to the 4 people.
"No Guardian you do not bow to us, we bow to you." The smallest representative said with a smile.
"We representatives of the 3 main orders are Freya's presence on the world of mortals but you Guardian are her will and her might. No one except other paladins will know of your unique existence, most will just see you as an ordinary paladin. If they see you at all." This comment came from the Arbiters representative.
"But those who do know of you are aware of your great calling, you will be the first line of defense and the first to strike against the greatest evils of the world. You will be alone against the worst foes imaginable, only the will of Freya shall accompany you. There will be no shelter where you go, no beds to rest your weary body and no Inns to eat your fill. You will be the only light found in the darkest places and as such deserve our respect. Where you travel no other paladin may ever tread, no priest will ever heal those you aid and no church will be built in any towns or villages you defend. For these reasons and more it is us who bow to you." After the giant man had said this all 3 of the representatives bowed deeply to Arthe and offered him their utmost respect.
The Guardian spoke for the first time after this, his voice was cheerful and friendly.
"Come now Guardian, it is not as bad as they make it sound. True you shall be alone for most of your journeys but the open road is beautiful and you will discover more great works of Freya and the other gods than are known by all inhabitants of this continent. You will feel more warmth from the sun than any other and see more good in people than is seen by any except for the gods. All these things and more are your reward for faithful service. I have served for nearly 10 years and have seen such wonders and experienced more joy than many people will ever do."
Arthe nodded to him, already thinking about all the things he would see and experience out there in the ever growing world of Royal Road.
"But before you will see these things I must initiate you into my order with these fine fellows as witnesses. Are you ready to begin?"
"I am ready to serve the will of Freya." Arthe replied.
"Good then i shall begin." Saying that the Guardian bade Arthe kneel at the altar and then he unsheathed his dagger.
"On your right hand is the symbol of Freya's acceptance and spirit, on the left will be the symbol of your own acceptance and courage. Take this dagger and etch the Holy symbol into your own flesh as a reminder that those without power feel the worst pain, and that you will bear their pain for them and carry them into the light."
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He then gave Arthe his dagger and instructed him to carve the same symbol that was on his right hand into the skin of his left. As soon as Arthe made the first cut he was hit with the most agonizing pain he had ever felt whilst playing Royal Road, if the pain levels had been any higher he doubted he would have stayed conscious. Nevertheless he persevered through the pain until the symbol was fully carved, when it was a bright light flashed from the wound. Arthe looked again at the scar only to discover that it had turned into an exact copy of the one on his right hand.
"Ding"
You may now change class.
The Hidden class of the Guardian of Freya is only granted to a few brave souls every decade.
Do you wish to change class? yes/no?
"Yes I wish to become a Guardian of Freya."
You are now a Guardian of Freya.
Stat bonuses in effect.
+50 STR
+50 STAM
+20 WIS
+20 INT
+100 Faith
Life increased by 500
Mana increased by 500
All Holy skills are increased by one level as long as this class is activated
Attack power increased by 50%
Block percentage increased by 50%
Holy Mastery permanently increased by 1 level.
New skill: Freya's Guidance
Freya's Guidance:
Once per week you may call on Freya for advice and guidance. This skill can be used to find new dens of evil and new quests to save the weak.
It can also be used to help you with any quests related to the Church of Freya. If used for personal gain you may incur the wrath of the goddess.
Cost: 1000 Mana.
Arthe was astounded at the class benefits granted to him by the guardian class and he was particularly impressed with his new skill as it would come in handy when looking for the final pieces of the Justicar's armor set. By the time he had finished looking at all the message boxes all of the representatives had left and only the other Guardian was left.
"Welcome to our Order brother, we haven't had a new recruit for almost 7 years. Now that you have been initiated it is time for you to hear the oath made by the final follower of the Justicar. This oath is not to be repeated to anyone save another Guardian and even then it should not be spoken of without care. Here read this." The Guardian gave Arthe a scroll of parchment to look at, which read like this:
The fourth follower was silent for a time, so quiet in fact that the other 3 were unsure as to whether he would even make an oath. However their fears were groundless as he opened his mouth to speak.
I vow on my very soul and by the grace of Freya our goddess, that neither I or those who follow after me will either eat our fill or rest our bodies until the very soul of Lokyi has been ripped asunder. Until that time happens I and my followers will seek for his hiding place relentlessly and we shall be unmerciful to any who aid him, we shall not abide in those lands where the peace of Freya extends nor shall be stay in any place where the presence of evil is negligible. Instead we shall traverse the darkest corners of the world seeking out any who wish for a better way of life; we will be the only light in the dark, the only hope amidst despair, the first strike against evil and the final shield for the downtrodden. There shall be no place we are not found and no evil left unchallenged, me and my brethren will fight unto our last breath and beyond for the will of Freya and the memory of the Justicar our leader. We will know no kings and acknowledge no command other than that of the goddess, none save her will know of our mission and none save her will ever remember our names. This I swear and so shall my followers swear throughout time until the very ending of the world.
As his oath was finished the 4 men were visited by a bright light from which issued a voice unlike any produced by mortal man.
I have heard your oaths and shall uphold them, to you who have sworn to destroy evil I grant this sword that you may smite them in my name. To you who vowed to defend the weak I grant this shield that you may protect them from evil, and to you who vowed to heal the wounded I grant this staff that you may repair the damage done to them by the forces of evil. You three have sworn an oath honest and true and so you are rewarded, but the fourth amongst you is the most honored for he has given up his very existence to aid my cause and as such is to be respected above all others.
To him I grant this belt, it will offer him sanctuary in the dark lands and will nourish him when he starves. His oath I hold most dear to me for he has willingly forsaken my grace to fight in places without it, his gift is all he will ever have and as such must be all he will ever need.
With that the light vanished and the men were left alone, on the hand of the fourth man a golden tree had been etched. The other three saw that this was a mark of Freya's respect and so bowed deeply to the other man, however he saw them not. He had heard a call from distant lands beckoning to him and requesting his aid, shouldering his sword and wearing his belt but nothing else he walked away from the light into shadow.
Nothing was ever heard from the First Guardian again save for rumor and gossip, some heard he had saved a town from ogres, others that he had brought down an evil tyrant. None however knew his name or why he was doing what he did. In time other guardians were chosen and they too vanished in the same way, but each of them had their own tales and rumors associated with them.
Much is known about the other 3 paladin orders but only the Grandmasters are aware of the mission of the fourth, although many among the paladins speak of the heroic Guardians who venture into areas other paladins dare to tread.
When Arthe had finished reading the other Guardian had vanished, he had left a short note telling Arthe to head west and to fight any evil he came across regardless of reward. Then the note wished him good luck and the writing stopped there.
Arthe left the Church feeling strange, there was a sort of insistent pulling towards the west in his head. When he tried to go in any other direction it got worse so he gave up and headed out of the west gate. There were a number of priests walking about the city as he left and they surprised all the other users around by bowing deeply to Arthe and praying for him as he passed, when he left the city the priests collectively knelt and asked Freya's blessings for him.
One of the users was a muscular knight with a large claymore, he went up to one of the priests to find out what they were doing.
"Excuse me, why did you all just bow and pray for that man as if he was going to his death?"
"Ah you are unaware of his calling aren't you, he has been chosen above all paladins for a mission so secret and so holy that only one other person in the entire priesthood of Freya is aware of it. We are not even aware of his name or his background and we never will be, we know only that he will battle great evil for no reward and that all those he defends will forever be delivered into the light of Freya. We pray for him because he has surrendered himself to Freya's will and as such will never be known by mortal man."
Steve was appalled, he had to log off later and make his brother tell him what had happened to him. It sounded like his brother was going off to his death with no one to help him.