Prologue - King for a Day

Alex sat upon his throne stroking his thick brown beard. The crown above his head glistened as the sunlight filled the room through the castle windows in the throne room. He looked at the man in front of him whose clothes were tattered and frayed.

“How long have you been a resident here?” Alex asked the man.

“Let me think...two, no, two and a half years, milord,” the man answered him.

Alex nodded. “And for those two and a half years, you have been farming the same plot of land on the outskirts of the kingdom, yes?”

The man pondered the question for a few seconds and spoke. “Yes, that is right. We’ve been lucky to grow the farm in recent months, but still the same farm on the same lands.”

He nodded again. “And in those two and a half years, a monster has never stepped foot on your farm, correct?”

“Correct your majesty--err, until today, that is,” he confirmed.

“Until today.” Alex repeated, still stroking his beard. He paused for a moment, still eyeing the man. Alex stood, straightening his girdle, then continued to speak. “It appears something is causing the creatures of the Darkwood to flee the woods. Most of my men are north protecting our border from the threat of the Guldar, but we can’t have one of the kingdom’s very own suppliers of food lay under siege.”

Alex pointed at a man clad in heavy armor standing to the side of the throne room.

“My dear friend Robert and I will personally head down to your farm and eradicate the dark wolves that have infested it. It’s been awhile since I’ve traveled outside the kingdom. I could use the fresh air.”

Robert turned and faced him. “Are you sure you should be traveling outside the safety of the kingdom?” he asked.

“With you at my side, there is no threat we can’t handle, Robert. Besides, the farm rests just outside the southern gate,” he assured him.

“Many thanks, my king!” the man said before turning around and leaving the castle.

King Alex and his knight Robert walked into the armory and equipped themselves for the fight ahead; Alex picked up his broadsword and examined it in detail. A few bolts of lightning could be seen shooting out from the hilt and down out of the tip of the blade. The sword had been named ‘Thunderguard’ for its longstanding use of protecting and guarding the kingdom. Robert grabbed two long swords from the weapon rack and sheathed them by his sides. The duo walked outside the castle gates and into the nearby stables.

“Do we really need a steed for this?” Robert asked.

Alex chuckled. “Need? Of course not. But seeing as I’ve not rode on horseback in almost a year, I think we’ll be doing just that! Besides, night is already upon us. The faster we take out the dark wolves, the better.”

Robert nodded as the two saddled and mounted their white stallions and strode out of the stables and down the cobblestone streets of the kingdom. A few moments later they reached the southern gate. As their horses stepped through the gate and outside the safety of the kingdom, a message window appeared in the center of their view.

You are leaving the safety of Lionhaven

and entering a dangerous zone.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

They both gave a quick nod as the prompt faded away and they continued out of the kingdom. Once they were clear of the kingdoms protection, a string of characters popped up above their heads.

Lord Alex Robert

Level 112 Level 92

Alex noticed Robert’s level and gave him a glare. “You’re...STILL...not level one hundred?” he asked.

Robert responded in an annoyed tone, “You have NO idea how hard it is after level ninety. You had the pleasure of defending an entire kingdom from an onslaught of monsters to gain your levels. I, on the other hand, have been confined to the lands south of Lionhaven. There’s not much experience to be gained there.”

“You know I keep the western and northern gates closed for good reason. A massive titan has set up home in the West, and the Guldar could siege us from the north at any moment,” the king said.

Robert simply nodded. “You are the king,” he said.

Alex erupted in a loud chuckle. “You got that right!” he laughed.

In the near distance, a large standing windmill and a cottage began could be seen.

“There is the farm,” Alex said, grabbing the hilt of Thunderguard.

They slowly approached the farm, keeping an eye out for the dark wolves. When they reached the windmill, they climbed off of their horses and tied them to a nearby post.

Alex began inspecting the ground for pawprints the wolves would have surely left in the dirt all around the farm.His search found nothing, however.

“I’ll check the cottage,” Robert said as he opened the cottage door and stepped inside. After a couple of minutes the cottage door flew open and Robert stepped back out. “No wolves,” he said. “But I found something. You’ll want to see this.”

Alex gave Robert a puzzled look as he stepped towards the cottage. Robert opened the door and they both stepped inside.

Inside the cottage on a large wooden table sat a large cask labeled ‘Grinfire Ale’.

“Is that...Grinfire Ale? I thought there was none left in all the world!” Alex shouted happily.

“That was my belief as well,” Robert said. “Care for a drink?”

“You’re damn right I care for a drink!”

Alex walked over to the table as Robert opened a nearby cabinet and retrieved two mugs, and then joined Alex at the table. They both unsheathed their weapons and placed them on the table before sitting down. Robert twisted a knob at the spout of the cask and fiery red ale began to pour out. He quickly filled both mugs and handed one to Alex.

“To the greatest king the world has ever seen,” Robert said.

Alex chuckled at him. “How would you know? I’m the ONLY king you’ve ever seen!”

The two laughed as they tilted back their heads and poured the red liquid from their mugs and into their mouth.

“Another?” Robert asked, already filling his mug with more of ale.

Alex thought about it for a brief second, then nodded. “Ah hell, why not. This stuff is too good to pass up!”

As they both finished their second mug of ale, Alex slammed his down on the table.

“And with that,” he said slowly, “Your king now has to piss.”

Robert laughed and began pouring himself another mug of ale. Alex walked towards the cottage door then stopped, looking back at Robert.

“You know, I never realized how realistic that is. In the real world, a couple drinks in and your bladder felt like it would explode. It’s no different here. Maybe that’s a constant in ALL worlds. Alcohol equals innate necessity to urinate.”

Alex continued out of the cottage and stumbled over to a nearby stream that ran by the windmill. He unclasped his heavy girdle and let it drop to the ground as he wiggled out of his heavy leggings.

Alex was midstream when he felt the hairs on the back of his neck begin to stand. He turned around to see his very own broadsword aimed at his neck, lightning crackling out of the tip. A notification popped up in front of him.

Your ally Robert has

declared war on Lionhaven.

“When I toasted to the greatest king the world had ever seen…” Robert said before plunging the Thunderguard into Alex’s neck, sending lightning bolts throughout his entire body. “...I meant myself.”