Author's Notes
Hello, everybody, yey! This is a chapter for u, and u and u, and everybody else using RR who reads this. please point out mistakes and overlapping events. thank you.
Mature Content: None
Chapter Length: 2,300+
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After leaving the church, Vaax went to the local training grounds to get a sword. It was one of the things he learnt from the female guard called Lori, based on what she said “You could get a free sword if you train under the local training grounds. You just have to show dedication and keep practicing until the head trainer, Da- i mean Sir. Golrin notices you… well, it’s not always certain but you have to show that you are determined… since only few train under him… don’t worry you can Do it! I believe in you.” Her sweet words were a charm to the ear, but Vaax knew all too well of the want that’s mixed in it.
The free sword was a plus, and Vaax knew that there’s no one else with the same information as him right now, so he felt obligated to do it just for the sake of shortening the gap between his utterly will-be delayed character. So he immediately went marching towards the training grounds; a place behind the town barracks.
He reviewed the streets while ignoring the twinkling gazes of both female players and female NPCs that walked on the same stone-paved road as he tried to remember every nook and cranny of the streets, memorizing the alleys, the corners, and blind-spots. Just in case they might come in handy in the future. This was yet another one of his quirks; Vaax is paranoid and distrustful, distrustful in a sense that he always considers the possibility of betrayal in every aspect, it was something that was bestowed to him by one of his history "heroes" that would have succeeded in his dreams if he weren’t only stabbed in the back by his own blood-brother.
Other than his trust issues, his paranoia clashes with another one of his other quirks, Vaax is also a risk-taker, just as he chose the path of the Alfheimirian priest, which is actually not an ideal path towards his goals, but since it leads to greater benefits in the future he chose it… but it may actually put him in a greater-chance-than-not terrible situation.
(A/N: I lack metaphors… sorry)
After about half an hour of walking he was now in front of the Training grounds, the sight was something out of the ordinary, hundreds of people; both common militia and hired soldiers are training.
When the female guard pointed out this particular landmark their location was hundreds of meters away, turning the view of the whole place into something comparable to looking at stationary ants moving around. But now that Vaax was looking at it in a mere 3 meters out of the actual place, he was astounded at the actual size of the field.
He collected himself and prioritized his need, he looked around, Common people and soldiers fighting; training. Now that he was able to think more clearly, he was curious of why this people are all training as though their lives are on the line. The atmosphere was tense, as though there was an oncoming war.
He froze at the thought... ‘But, that’s impossible; it’s still the first day of the release. Why would there be a war at the very start?’ He pondered at the thought and only one thing came to mind, ‘An Event’, the unusual actions and the tense atmosphere all came together, ‘there must be an event.’ He nodded at himself; acknowledging his conclusion.
He started moving again, asking others of where Mister. Golrin for training, Vaax was pointed towards a large man towering over 7Ft. with his broad shoulders and muscular demeanor. He brought an air of strength and power while talking to a man in full-plate armor, that’s about as heavy-set as muscle man was. Just looking at the man had made Vaax tense, Vaax scowled inwardly at his reflexive actions, 'A proper overlord and future conqueror shouldn’t flinch at a man like that.' he told himself
So he walked towards Golrin, and Golrin noticed the handsome young man walking towards him. Golrin didn’t know the man, but he can see power and potential in the young man’s blue eyes. The assessment was coming from his “Gut”, an intuition and he believed it.
“Are you Mister Golrin?” the young man bellowed, his air oozing with nobility and greatness yet no arrogance can be felt in both his actions and words. “Yes, and who might you be little man?” he replied taunting the handsome lad, trying to uncover the mystery of his sudden arrival.
Vaax was by no means little, he stood at 6Ft. and 2 inches in height and about 170-190 pounds in weight but Golrin was just very tall compared to him and to everyone in the training grounds other than the Full-plated man that he was talking to before Vaax interrupted.
“I am Vaax, just Vaax. And Miss. Lori recommended me here to train” Vaax said to the towering muscle of a man. Golrin squinted trying to discern if the young man was lying but to no avail can he see any deception mixed in his words…
A single thought came to the gigantic man’s mind, ‘How did he know my daughter?’ a slight pang of hate came to his heart now that he thought about it. In his eyes the man was handsome, looked noble and kind but his daughter will always be his little girl in his muscly heart. ‘If anyone will take my daughters heart it would be someone that should be able to match against me.’ He vowed right there and then. not even trying to see the actual situation.
Golrin looked back at Vaax and saw his equipment; a fitted-cloth shirt, brown cloth trousers and black boots, ‘a foreigner…’ the handsome young man is still weak and the difference between them is like the heaven and earth. So Golrin decided to mold the man, train him to fit his criteria, and then leave him to go stronger. A man strong and enough and able to protect his beloved daughter and love her fully, if the handsome lad didn't. Golrin promised that would hunt the handsome lad to the depths of hell, if needed.
He would train the man and wait for him to go stronger, strong enough to fight him for his daughter’s hand; it might take years for the man to go stronger and that was good, that would enable him to be with his little girl longer,’ Yes that’s it’ he swore. “Well, I am Sword-Master Golrin Valcrest and I am the Master of the Training Grounds. What would you want of me?” he boomed, he boasted his title and his strength, wanting to scare away the potential taker of his daughter.
“I would like to train here, if you would take me…” Vaax said while bowing his head, releasing an air of greatness whoever looked upon him, the action pricked his heart and made his inner beast grumble but it was for his cause.
'wait, valcrest? isn't that Lori's last name?'
“Well, I can see potential in your eyes and your determination. I will take you under my surveillance but heed my warning; it is going to be hell for you. Do you accept?” Golrin said menacingly while thinking of the severe training that he would let the man undergo, if the young man gave up on his training, he would never accept him as a real man able to win over his daughter’s heart.
*Ding*
Spartan Training for a Maiden’s hand
Finish Master Golrin’s 7 days of Spartan Training of hell.
Quest Type: Training | Difficulty: F+
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Rewards: Father’s Consent, Iron Sword, Proof of Achievement and Skill book. Title…
Failure Conditions: Give up, refuse
Failure penalties: Lower intimacy with the common populace, Receive the tile “Weak” and -3 Strength and agility. No Consent.
Refusal Penalties: Lower intimacy with the common populace, Receive the tile “Coward” and -5 Strength and agility. No Consent.
Vaax was speechless at the quest ‘Seven FUCKING DAYS! And WTF is ‘Father’s Consent!? Why did the quest stated it as though I wanted to marry his fucking daughter!?’He screamed in his mind. He pondered at the quest… ‘Too many fucking downsides if refused… shit’
‘4 hours in-game is an hour in real-life, so 42 hours total…’ the thought of being delayed more made him cry inside but -5 points in both agility and strength is like losing 2 whole levels since player’s gain 5 un-allocated stat points per level… and the ‘Coward’ title could also bring its own disadvantages…' Vaax couldn’t care less about the intimacy with the common populace so after crying and pondering a bit…The choice was clear… (all of this was all processed in a single second.)
“Yes, I would like to train under you.” He said, giving it his all to hide his disgust.
Golrin was impressed, the man didn’t even flinch and immediately answered his question. This is the man he needed, precise, brave and straight to the point.
*Ding*
Due to recent actions, +10 Intimacy with Sword-master Golrin
Vaax sighed… he didn’t know whether to triumph or be sad at the notification, he looked back at Golrin who now had a menacing grin on his face, “Well, We shouldn’t be wasting time. NOW! Do 500 Push-ups!”
Vaax immediately complied, too scared to fail the quest. ‘500 push-ups…’ he sighed inwardly, in real-life he could only do a hundred as his max… now he had to do five times of that, the training was indeed hell…
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2nd Day, of the Release
“How is the Order of the Lights, Arch-Bishop Roynus?” spoken by a voice that lost all its past might…
“It is not ready yet your majesty…”Roynus replied with a solemn voice.
“The Undead is growing; thousands have joined their faction and more so is coming…” The king growled while gritting his teeth, the prophecy foretold of the coming of the foreigners, it stated their power, power able to rival demons and demi-gods, the power that can either change and save their world or destroy it.
He didn’t need a hundred thousand monsters with powers comparable to demons…
They knew of their coming… what they didn’t expect were the foreigners choosing to be monsters instead of the noble races… the sudden influx was steadily but continuously growing in numbers and it irked him. If this continued, it would pose a threat to the land— his land where his kingdom thrives.
The number of the Noble races also grows but the ratio is comparable to 2:4, and it was a dangerous number for them, the monsters are steadily increasing, double from what they gained in the first day.
Beads of sweat flowed down on his wrinkly fore-head, too many un-predictable things have been happening and the king felt stressed—weak more so… he wished that a hero would appear, for he needed an icon, he needed the foreigners to choose the noble races instead of the putrid monsters that traverse the dark lands...
He cursed his ancestors under his breath, why in the world would they build a kingdom— his kingdom now, next to the dark lands… lands governed by the death-borne, a land governed by monsters.
“I’ll give the church access to the royal treasury, just be sure to be able eradicate those god-damned creatures!” The king shouted at Roynus. He was desperate, he can’t let the undead grow in numbers, and he needed those monsters to be insignificant and weak, a fodder for his soldiers to get stronger. He now only felt foolish; he should have eradicated them when he had the chance, now it was becoming a threat.
“Yes your majesty” Roynus complied and turned his back at the throne with a smile of his own. The king acted just as he predicted, he walked slowly admiring the intricate designs carved on the walls, and he can’t help but feel happy that the foreigners were advancing his plan for choosing to be one of the monsters.
Seeing the Arch-bishop leave his presence, “Anton!” the king cried.
“Yes, your majesty” a man in his mid-thirties came running from one of the doors and kneeled in front of the king. Broad shoulders, brown hair and angular features, the man called Anton was handsome and more so as he wore an armor of silver with streaks of gold with a fiery form of a golden lion was stamped on his armor showing the symbol of his family.
“Call for the meeting of the Humas-Maximus Alliance, Go! This is urgent.” The king ordered.
“Yes your majesty” Alton said as he stood and went to do the order of the king.
“Oh, Gods, I pray to thee to please help my people” he prayed under his breath as walked towards his balcony, overlooking the kingdom of Ga’il.
The kingdom that rose, through countless wars where millions of lives lost, hundred millions counting the monsters that was foolish enough to try and challenge their might.
*sigh*, he couldn’t help but feel dread while overlooking the lively people walking the streets, Selling their wares, gossiping while unaware of the incoming disaster, a Disaster that may as well cause the destruction of their kingdom.
While looking at the scenery, pondering and trying to find an answer. Something caught his eye.
A man, as handsome as a man can be… his looked like he was hand-crafted by the Gods. The king couldn’t help but feel hope looking at the man despite the ridiculous thing he was doing… “Oh Gods, have you answered your servants prayer”… he muttered keeping his eyes on the handsome lad.
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‘This is fucking ridiculous’ he thought …
“Hah…”
“Are you giving up now? I thought I saw potential in yo—“
“No! I can do it” he butted.
“Haha! That’s what I’m looking for” Replied a muscling hulk behind him. That large piece of human meat was called Golrin.
“I can do this” Vaax muttered… “Hyahhh!” he shouted, putting more effort in what he was doing…
*Sheeeeeeek*, the ground resounded under the heavy weight of Golrin while sitting on carriage with no wheels…
“That’s the spirit Lad!” Golrin cheered on…
*Ding*
Due to recent Events, Strength +1
“hahaha…” Vaax laughed… while crying a bit. ‘I’m gonna fucking skin him when I get stronger’…
‘yes, I’m going to fucking skin him’ he concluded, taking in the bliss of his imagination while skinning the big gorilla that resided on the wheel-less cart behind him.
“Are you thinking of something bad about me?” said the gorilla with a booming voice…
“No… HYAH!” he replied pulling again at the wretched cart.
“…”
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Doing a 7-Day skip, since i got lazy in writing it... don't hate.
Maybe, Just Maybe next-time i'll right it in short side-stories :)