Chapter 14: A Hero Arises (Part 1)

"Tell me, young one. When do you become a hero? Is it when your names are sung and praised by the others? Or is it when you claim the credits and fame for your deeds? Or is it when you are knighted and given recognition for your heroic actions? Or is it when you finally knew that your time has come?"

- Anonymous

4.45am, 4009AD, Day 26 of the Month of May. The Day of the Parade of the Champions.

I woke up early. Honestly, I couldn’t sleep at all because I was so excited about today. What’s not to get excited about? It’s the D-Day. The day of the Parade of the Champions. Held annually at the end of Festival of the Spring, it was one of the biggest events in the Kingdom of Elsigardia, especially for a new Elite like me. I, for once in my life couldn’t wait for it to start. I couldn’t wait to feel the excitement and to see for myself what the Parade was all about. Everyone seemed to get so excited and super hyped about it and as a result, I too became enthusiastic myself.

As I stared out of the window from my bedroom, I looked up at the sky. It was still dark and foggy, but I could feel that it was warm somehow. Like the warmth was emancipating from the unseen sun above. Perhaps the patron Goddess of Kingdom of Elsigardia, Goddess Athenea had blessed this very day. I could get the feeling that it was going to be a good and wonderful day today.

I returned my gaze towards the corner of my room towards the object of my current pride. My new Royal Elite Knight First Uniform. It was a white set with yellow lining and embroidery, like what most other new Elites would wear. But since it’s my own uniform, it was perfectly fitted to me.

My mind recalled the time when I took my uniform, back to yesterday’s late evening.

“First Lieutenant, Ser Claude’s uniform please!”

The guy at the counter beckoned to one of his colleagues. The search for my uniform didn’t take very long. About 2-3 minutes later, a girl came over and lay down my uniform on top of the counter.

“Ser, please allow us to refit this uniform to your size.”

The girl came forward with a measuring tape of some kind in her hands.

“Please Ser, allow me.”

I followed her instructions, stretching my arms and such as she took my body measurement. After a while, she was done. It was weird having someone, especially a girl measuring my body but it was not uncomfortable. Though I did feel itchy at first. Besides, it was done before I knew it.

“Thank you, Ser Claude. Please wait for a moment while I refit your uniform. It won’t take long.”

As I looked towards the girl who was expertly refitting my uniform, Captain Rizzou came over inside the tent.

“Claude, I need to tell something before I forgot.”

I looked at him, with a little surprise on my face.

“As a First Lieutenant, you have the option to stay in your current room, which in the Elemental Circle itself or to choose to stay outside.”

“H-Huh? You mean I can stay here or somewhere... I mean, anywhere outside?”

Captain Rizzou nodded.

“Hmmm…”

I rubbed my chin, thinking about what he had just said to me. This was kind of sudden.

“I know I should tell you earlier, but I was very busy with the preparation for the Parade. I apologise for that.”

“It’s alright, Captain Rizzou. Let me think for a moment. But before I can make my decision, can I ask you something?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“If you were in my shoe, would you stay inside the Elemental Circle or outside?”

“Hahaha, Claude. You are clever indeed. You are supposed to make your own decision but instead, you are now asking for your superior’s decision to ease you out, huh. Though I thought you would be asking me something else, I could at the very least help you with this. The answer is easy, though. I would rather stay outside.”

“Any reason why?”

“Well, first, you have that beautiful guest house Mr Bannen gave you the other day. He came to see me the other day and insists that you make use of that house. Besides, staying in the small room of yours would not help you in your training right, Claude? You definitely need a bigger space and perhaps a little more privacy too.”

Captain Rizzou did make sense after all. I cracked a smile as I finally decided where to stay in Elsivier.

“I-I think you are right Captain. At first, I wanted to stay here. But when you mentioned about training and such, I would agree that staying in my current room did not help me much.”

I continued on as I held the hilt of my sword hung from the side of my waist.

“And my training… all I did was meditating and entering my trance state while practising the mental image of all my physical training. It would do me a world of good if I could get back to real physical training, not just imagining stuff.”

“Glad you can see it that way. Honestly, most of the First Lieutenant ranked Elites would decide to stay outside of the Elemental Circle. The reason was the same as what you have given to me. But I was worried at first though.”

“Worried?”

“That’s because you are not from Elsivier and I thought you might have trouble finding your own accommodation. That’s why I would welcome you to stay in your current room. But when Mr Bannen dropped by a few days earlier, he urged me to tell you to use his guest house fully.”

“I see. Perhaps I could make use of the guest house then. He did mention to me to use it as if it’s my own house. Though I never own even a room before in my life, what’s more of a house. One can’t push away his good luck, right Captain?”

Both of us laughed heartily. However, our laughter was cut short by the girl who was refitting my uniform. It seemed she had finished.

“Ser Claude. Sorry to interrupt you. And forgive me, Ser Rizzou. Ser Claude’s uniform has been refitted. Please try it on.”

Captain Rizzou looked at me and gave a nodded approval.

“Well, Claude. See you tomorrow here at 7.00am sharp. If you are late, we won’t wait for you.”

“Alright. I’ll be early. I won’t miss it for the world.” I answered him enthusiastically.

“Good. Now, please excuse me.”

Captain Rizzou stood up and walked out from the tent.

“Ser, please give it a try now. Please?”

The girl urged me as she put the uniform on my hand. I took it, let it hung from my hands and after taking some time to feel the texture of the cloth and its immaculate tailor-ship, I went into one of the changing room.

Before long, I came out while wearing the uniform.

“How is it, Ser Claude?”

The girl was looking at me anxiously. Perhaps she wanted to know whether she did it right with my uniform. I looked at her and gave her my thumbs up.

“Perfect!”

Her face beamed with happiness and joy. I guess she was happy that I liked her craftsmanship of refitting my uniform.

After trying on my new uniform, I signed an acceptance sheet by the counter of which I stated that I personally had taken my new uniform and am happy with it. The moment I stepped out of the tent with the uniform, if there were to be any damages, I needed to fork out my own money to repair it. Or worse, bought a new one. Initial uniform for new recruits was given for free, hence why I needed to sign the acceptance letter.

Well, time to pack up my stuff in my room and head for the guest house. After saying my thanks to the guy at the counter and the girl who refitted my uniform, I went back to my room.

Since I didn’t have many items with me, packing up was easily done. However, to my dismay, I couldn’t find Leah anywhere. I wanted to say my thanks to her, having taken care of me for the past few days, but it seemed that I have to choose another time for it. My business here has been completed, so I needed no further delay to leave the room. I have no sentimental attachment to this room, except for the bed sheet that Sierra sat on when she first came and visited me.

An idea suddenly came to me, albeit a naughty one.

Hmmm… I think I’ll just take this along with me. They won’t mind a missing bed sheet anyway. I could take the whole bed if I wanted to, but that would be an overkill. Besides, if the whole bed was missing, it won’t be good that I’m known as the bed thief. I couldn’t explain my reason to take the bed was just because there was Sierra’s smell on it. No one would ever believe me. Besides, the bed sheet alone was more than enough.

I folded the bed sheet neatly so it could fit into my small backpack. But before putting it inside my backpack along with my new Elite uniform, I took a smell of the bed sheet first.

Ahhh… her smell still lingers. I could go into many nights of sweet dreams with this. I wondered what fragrances she wore that makes me feel so at ease.

Even with the bed sheet packed inside my backpack neatly, I could see that my backpack was a little bulging though. It looked a little suspicious with the weird bulge but it was a risk I needed to take. I better not get caught red-handed anywhere here with this bed sheet inside my backpack. Outside of the Elemental Circle, I would be safe, but it’s not safe while I’m still here. And so I better watch my step and proceed as quickly as I could, albeit ever so carefully.

After inspecting the room for one final time, I left a note of thanks for Leah. I would return here to give her my proper thanks, but I needed to make a move now before other people came by this way. As soon as I closed the door to my room as quietly as possible, I took a jog out of the Elemental Circle past down by the main courtyard. There were not many people left, but I still needed to be careful. I’m now officially had lifted a bed sheet from my room, thus becoming a bed sheet thief on my very first day. Not something I would be proud of really but for the sake of a good night sleep, it was very well worth it

I let off a dry smile as I keep on moving towards outside of the Knight’s District.

When I stepped in front of the main entrance of Chief Bannen’s guest house, the day was already getting dark. I got lost a few times finding my way to the house. I did not have a map with me and besides, Ilvean basically ran at full speed with me playing catch up with her the first time I was shown the way towards the Knight’s District from this house. It was a week ago, and understandably, I was a little confused with the way. But nonetheless, my perseverance paid off as now I have arrived at the house’s main door.

“Muahahaha!! “

I gave out a loud laugh. At last, I’m here. After all that trouble, it’s good to be back.

“W-W-Who’s there?”

A voice shouted from the top of the balcony.

Hmm? Someone’s here? I thought I’m the only one who has the key to the house. Might it be a thief? Scum! How dare you steal from my house!

I was frantically searching for my keys. The thief must be caught at all cost. But before I could do anything as much as to muster the key to the keyhole, I heard yet another shout.

“Master Claude!!! Is that you?”

The voice again came from the same balcony. It was dark, but I couldn’t see what was on top. Unlike the dark balcony, the front door where I’m currently standing was properly lit up, so my face could clearly be seen.

I looked up to the source of the voice. I squinted my eyes and made use of every light source around to actually to try and see what or who was on top. As soon as I lifted my face up, I heard the same voice yet again. This time it was louder. It was so loud that it pierced right into my ear.

“IT’S YOU, MASTER CLAUDE!!!”

I have to cover my ear because of that shout.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll get the door open for you!!”

Huh? Opening the door for me? But I had the key. And why did a thief wanted to open the door for the house owner anyway? Was this a trick or what? Or someone saw me leaving the Elemental Circle with a stolen bed sheet and now they were here to reclaim it. That’s mighty efficient of them.

While I was still pondering, I could hear footsteps coming from within the house. Moments later, the door sprang opened. I was able to get away just in time before it hit me right in my face. And standing in front of the door was a familiar figure. A girl with cat-like ears with long tails which seems to sway around slightly, wearing a maid’s uniform.

“Reena?!”

That was the first word I uttered as soon as I saw the girl.

“Master Claude!! You came back!”

She suddenly jumped at me, hugging me by the neck.

“Ughh… what the heck? Reena…? Reena?! Get a hold of yourself. You are strangling me.”

Perhaps because she was too excited to see me that she hugged me so tightly to the point of suffocation. The ever so professional maid, Reena who was always calm and collected suddenly behaved so wildly.

Upon realizing what she has done, she pulled her arms away and reverted to her usual demeanour. That ‘wildness’ attitude did not last long. And also perhaps because she realized that she nearly strangled me out of her excitement, she bowed down profusely, apologizing to me. The sudden change of her behaviour in less than few seconds made me chuckle.

“Hahaha… I’m back, Reena”

I patted her head as I step forward inside the house.

“Master Claude, welcome back!”

She greeted me warmly. I smiled at her knowingly.

“Reena, I had a long day today. I wish to rest in my room for I have to get ready early for the Parade tomorrow.”

“Yes, Master. Do you need anything for me to prepare for you before you sleep?”

After I thinking through for a while, I shook my head.

“Not even a hot bath or dinner?”

She was curious.

“That can wait until tomorrow morning. I need to get up early.”

“As you wish, Master. Do you need anything else? Shall I be here earlier than usual tomorrow morning to prepare for you Master?”

I looked at Reena from bottom to top. Her words earlier surprised me a little.

“Hmm… Where do you live, Reena?”

She was taken aback by my sudden question.

“Uhhh…”

I can see that she was hesitant to answer. Not wanting to wait for her answer, I decided to give her my command.

“Forget about it. I’ll talk to you tomorrow morning instead. You don’t need to go back. You can stay here for the night and prepare my breakfast early. And also a hot bath would do me great early in the morning.”

“Y-Yes Master!!”

“Good. Now, please excuse me. And good night, Reena. See you in the morning.”

I patted her head one more time before I proceed up the stairs to master bedroom. The room that I slept the first time I was here. It was well maintained without even a minor speck of dust anywhere. To be able to keep this huge room with such cleanliness albeit the absence of the master sure takes dedication up to another level.

Reena sure was a diligent maid. I’m impressed by her skills and dedication. I’ll be sure to say my thanks to her tomorrow.

I looked around and put the backpack on top of a table nearby. I opened the backpack up and began unpacking all my items. As I lay all the items in front of me, I have now in my possession two of my precious treasure; one which would be my new Elite uniform and also the bed sheet which I lifted from the room I previously stay in Elemental Circle. The bed sheet with Sierra’s smell on it. This bed sheet would surely now be my new found treasure. Or stolen treasure.

Whatever. The details how I got the bed sheet did not matter now.

As I hang my uniform on a cloth hangar, I place the bed sheet on top of the bed. With this, I think I’ll have an easier time to sleep. And perhaps I might meet Sierra in my dreams too. Hehehe. I can’t wait.

And I did not have to wait too long to fall asleep. As soon as I put my bed to rest on the soft pillow, my eyes were immediately shut and I was brought to my dreamland.