Will, the man who had caused this entire storm, ignored the pandemonium he had caused and happily ate away at the feast. Will ignored the gazes of the crowd and shamelessly stuffed himself. He had not even hesitated to take a seat at the head of the table; after all, Tsimikas was his Town. Why would he need to ask where to sit?
To Will's left was ever cheerful Duke. His blonde hair glistened in the flickering torchlight, and his piercing blue eyes held a glimmer of wit and mischief. He carried himself with the poise of a true right-hand man, his every movement emanating a sense of purpose.
Beside Will on his left sat Letty, her regal demeanour and grace accentuated by her flowing purple attire. Her black hair cascaded down her shoulders, framing a face that bore the mark of royalty. She exuded an air of confidence, her eyes ablaze with intelligence and passion. Letty's beauty and charisma drew all eyes upon her, a true embodiment of leadership. But today, she was more than happy playing second fiddle to a figure few here had ever seen. Will and Letty happily chatted away, and it was clear from the latter's mannerisms that she greatly admired the former.
'It will take some time for us to get used to this.'
Most of the observers found it hard to see the usually arrogant and overbearing Queen Abyss being so humble. Will did not make things easier by completely foregoing the disposition of a leader with his casual manner.
To Duke's left was a formidable warrior. Clad in simple leather armour adorned with intricate designs, he radiated an air of strength and discipline despite his laid-back expression. His muscular frame hinted at years of rigorous training, and the scars that marked his armour spoke of battles fought and won. This warrior was, of course, Achilles. He had earned his place among the elite, his swordsmanship unmatched and his loyalty unwavering. It was Duke that had assigned Achilles to protect Alice in his absence, and Achilles had taken his duties seriously.
Duke had also taught Achilles a few things about archery, as Achilles was also quite talented in using the bow; thus, he considered Duke to be a mentor.
Seated opposite next to Letty was a wise and enigmatic figure, his presence emanating a sense of mystique. He was a skilled mage that had earned the respect of the locals, his robes woven with strange threads of mystical linen. His eyes glinted with arcane awareness, and his gestures carried an eerie grace. This mage, known as Lyra, he possessed an innate connection to the elements, channelling their energies with practised finesse.
Lyra was a summoner that was an expert in summoning water and metal-type spirits to help him battle. He also had an affinity for nature and could use nature magic. Thus he had been taken in as a student by the knowledgeable metal and water element Necromancer Letty. Merlin was stronger than Letty, but when it came to pure knowledge of the mystic arts, she fell far short of the Eridian princess. Only Woodsy could say she knew more than one of Earth's former premier guides.
On the opposite side of the table was the ever-enchanting Alice, smiling and laughing. She had finally been freed from the worry of not knowing where Will was and thus allowed herself to loosen up. She laughed merrily with some of the locals that had gotten along with her. Only maidens dared to approach because any man that had funny ideas would receive a death stare from the ever-aware Achilles. Only one male local could keep his calm around her and thus sat next to her.
The high table was completed by this man's scholarly figure, his demeanour reflecting a thirst for knowledge and an insatiable curiosity. With spectacles perched upon his nose and parchment scattered before him, he delved into the depths of ancient texts and scrolls, completely uninterested in the festivities. This scholar, named Tobias, possessed a keen intellect that surpassed many, his insights invaluable in the growth and development of Tsimikas. Alice was essentially his 'teacher', educating him on the knowledge that Alice had gained from beneficial 21st-century Earth knowledge.
Tobias, Lyra and Achilles were the most influential locals in Tsimikas and followed Alice, Letty and Duke, respectively. These three took the highest seats on the council, representing mages, warriors and none combatants of the village. Achilles was in charge of the armed forces, while Lyra was in charge of research and intelligence. Tobias was the administrative leader and dealt with the day-to-day running of the city and thus barely left.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
As the feast unfolded, the conversations at the high table were filled with the weight of wisdom and experience, yet they also had laughter and camaraderie only found between those extremely familiar with one another. Duke engaged in lively discussions with Achilles and Will, their words laced with tactical insights and military expertise, while there was the occasional comedic banter between the two earthlings. Letty, with her regal bearing, would from time to time offer counsel and guidance to Lyra, sharing the intricacies of magic, governance and leadership. Tobias, the scholar, though anti-social, often exchanged knowledge and ideas with all that were capable, his inquisitive nature a catalyst for intellectual discourse.
The atmosphere around the high table was one of respect and admiration. Onlookers observed with awe as these esteemed individuals discussed matters of great importance, their words resonating with authority and wisdom, or so one would expect.
"Now that was a proper post-time-skip flex, bro!" Duke laughed as he slapped Will's back.
"I was actually going for something along those lines. But a week doesn't count as a time skip."
"Nah, it counts; it wasn't just a week for you, right?"
"It was more like a few weeks, so there isn't much of a difference."
"You went through crazy changes, man; it's like I'm looking at a different guy; you look like you just came out of a hyperbolic time chamber."
"It was worse than that; I lost life span."
"Wait, what?"
Duke's conversation with Will was a bit confusing for the listeners as they often used words others could not even comprehend, such as 'NPC' and 'yeeks'.
Duke had a lot in common with Will, as they were both somewhat anti-social nerds before the system arrived. They were also both arrogant and had a similar sense of humour based on certain pop cultures. They ignored the setting and drifted off into their own world.
"I'm telling you man, she had yams for days. But her arrogance put me off, so I beat the living daylights out of her."
"Equal opportunity beat down; you are indeed a feminist."
"I know, right? My violence does not discriminate." Will nodded as if he was a saint. The duo's conversation caused Alice to smile wryly while Merlin could not help but frown.
The blonde mage had been defending Tsimikas but was still able to see what had happened. It was easy for a scholar with the right skills to record and project memories, so Merlin had seen what Will did thanks to Alice and Tobias cooperating. Merlin was disgusted by how strong Will had become. But it was only Woodsy and the still-hidden Alexa that understood the full scope of what had occurred.
'Sword Force.'
Woodsy eyed Will as she munched on a drumstick. Will had gathered Sword Force and unleashed it with such speed and precision no one even noticed.
'It took him less than a fraction of a second to gather Sword Force that could spread a few miles long. He no doubt used concepts, but I couldn't even tell what concepts he used.'
Woodsy had prided herself on her knowledge after coming from the Gate of Knowledge. During her time there, she gained a wealth of knowledge that few people in the Middle Worlds even had access to. Yet despite this, she still had no clue just how Will had done what he did.
'How can one apply such a powerful concept and Sword Force without kicking up a fuss?'
Alexa also had internal struggles regarding Will's battle prowess. She was in a similar situation. But unlike Woodsy, she did not have much information regarding the mechanics of the mystic and martial. Just like her understanding of Intent, her knowledge of Sword Force was extremely weak. All she could do was identify it, thanks to her high level and experience with force users from the Empire such as The Supremes.
'If he could make such an attack without even alerting me, then he can probably detect my position.'
As Alexa pondered this, Will looked at her position and winked. Alexa gulped because she was standing in a corner far removed from anyone of importance. This meant one thing.
'He can see me? It seems I need to make my report now…'