‘’The Start of a Grand Adventure’’

I return with Astra to the Queen and Evander, who have been searching me for a while now. The Queen hugs Astra the moment she sees her walk in with the same happiness a parent would have if they just had their child released from kidnappers. ‘I was so worried…he didn’t do anything to you, did he?’ She suddenly gives me a glare of distrust. Astra tries to break from her mother’s grip, but she fails to do so. I smile reassuringly, as I turn my vision back to Evander as I walk towards him.

‘I’m sorry, Brandr. I should’ve told you, but I wanted it to happen so badly…’ I place my hand on his shoulder.

‘It’s okay now, Evander. I shouldn’t have lashed out as well. I’m at fault as well.’ We both joke laugh a bit, until the Queen interrupts us.

‘Young Hero…it seems you have embraced your role you have been bestowed upon since birth,’ the Queen suddenly says, as she releases her daughter from her grip. She walks up to me, still holding onto the same amount of charisma she initially had.

I glare at her. ‘Embraced is a big word you’re using. You make it sound like I want to help your country willingly,’ I snare at her, trying to get on her nerves. It might not be the smartest thing to do, but I don’t really care about her at this given moment. She’s arrogant, self-centered, unemphatic…just plain unlikeable.

‘Tch. You little…it’s fine. As long as you are going to help this country, I don’t care if you are going to act like an egocentric, spoiled little boy,’ she snares back. Her comment raises the attention of both Evander and Astra, who come to my defense.

‘My Queen…this young man has been forcefully separated from his family, and suddenly being told that he cannot return to his own world. It…its logical that he will resist to help us,’ Evander states, as he quickly sinks down to his knees, like a dog would bow his head to his abusive owner.

‘Mother, sir Evander is right. How would you feel if I was suddenly ripped away from you, without you even knowing what happened?’ Astra’s comment hits her hard, as her stone cold, charismatic expression she was able to maintain shows signs of worry and guilt. She looks me in the eyes, while I return the gaze while I remain behind Evander and Astra. She doesn’t say anything, but I can almost see her agitation in her eyes, as she has had her allies turned against her.

She signs deeply, as she rubs her temples with her left hand. ‘I figured Evander would say something like that, but to thing that you would say this as well, Astra. I seem to have overestimated you, my daughter. It looks like you still have a long way to go.’ Her gaze turns into a glare, as she refocuses on her beautiful daughter, who looks intimidated by the Queen, her mother. I quickly walk in between them, trying to cut of their conversation.

‘Thank you, Astra. You really give me the energy and will to do this,’ I tell her with a warm smile, while she returns with a blush of her own. ‘Don’t worry, I will talk it out with the Queen herself…alone…’ I look at her, almost glaring the Queen down.’

‘You want to speak me alone? the Queen says unsurprised.’

‘Yes, alone... I’m sorry, Evander. I…’

‘It’s okay, young man. Just do what you need to do.’ The Queen signs me to follow her, and we go to a separate room, without any guards or people around. I look around. It’s a blank room. Just another table with a few chairs, but unlike the previous room where the walls were refined and white, this room clearly has the brickwork showing. At any rate, I open the conversation. ‘I’ve decided to play hero with you guys, under one condition,’ I tell her calmly.

She looks angry immediately. ‘Do you think we’re playing a game or some-!’ I point at her, telling her to shut up.

‘Under one condition…I’m sure you can guess it without me telling you.’ She goes silent again, closing her eyes. ‘After I’ve rescued this country, you will send me back to my own. I will help you, but I would still need some things.’ I lower my arm, and she takes a deep breath.

She looks pissed to the point she wants to strangle me, but instead of lashing out once more, she puts her feelings aside. ‘What do you require then?’ she says frustrated.

‘A great sword, and some easy to move clothing. I don’t need an entire armor, and I doubt this place makes mail armor anyway. And as final, directions where I’m supposed to defeat this Abyss.’ She chuckles for a bit, which I don’t understand. Was all this as she had planned?’

‘The story goes a bit deeper, you know. So, take a seat, and listen to the tale of the Great Hero.’ She gestures to the chair and table in the middle of the room. I quietly sit down, opposite from the queen. Personally, I don’t feel like listening to a story, but I feel like she’ll be mad if I told her that, so I just shut myself up and listen to her.

‘The story of the Great Hero, one revered through all of Illuminia and beyond. Long ago, probably many years before my birth, the country of Illuminia was plagued by corrupted invaders named Abyss. While some of them looked completely human, there were those who had no known form at all. The armies of Abyss and Illuminia clashed many times, but Illuminia was on the losing hand. We despaired, but one day, a man, wielding the power of the Four Stars came, and wielding the Sword of Thousand Arcs came and drove out Abyss out.’ I get lost at this point.

‘Wait, wait, wait… Four Stars? Sword of what? I don’t understand…’ The queen just realized that I’m not from this world.

‘Ah…I forgot for a second that you don’t know about those. You see, even before the existence of Illuminia, God created Four Stars, blessing each of them, and let them fall to the earth. Those stars hold tremendous power, and when men found them, they started fighting over the Stars. God punished men, and made it impossible to use them, until our minds became of people and obedience. Those are the Four Stars, Illuminia’s greatest pride, as you’ve already seen on the city banners.’ I remember the banner very well. It’s very detailed, but you can make a great sword, and four stars out of them.

‘So those were the Four Stars?’ The queen nods slightly, and continues her explanation.

‘The Sword of Thousand Arcs, is a sword made from magical materials unknown to us. It’s a mixture of orichalcum and that material together, and some other things you need to ask an expert about.’ I smile a little, but quickly straighten myself. ‘The sword was able to draw the maximum power out of the Four Stars, if they were gathered by one person.’

‘Are these facts?’

‘No, they are not. These are merely myths since we hold very few records of the beginning of Illuminia. Maybe because there weren’t many people that could read and write. That too, is just a wild guess, and nothing has been confirmed off that. We need to come up with something to fill the many voids our ancestors left for us.’ I am starting to get the picture. I’d probably need to read a lot of books in order to figure that all out, but for the meantime, I would need to focus on the main goal.

‘So, my goal is to gather the Four Stars, and the Arc, right?’ She nods. I stand up. ‘Alright, point me the way. I’ll retrieve them as quickly as possible.’ She walks to the door, and calls someone. She whispers in his ear, and he hurries away. Within a minute or so, he comes back with a scroll in his hand, which the Queen takes. The man leaves, and she closes the door. She spreads the scrolls over the table, making a map visible.

‘The map of Illuminia…’ she says. I can see major cities doted on the map, along with the sea on both the north and south side. The giant mountains I saw during my drop are located to the west, and, other high hills are in the east. I can clearly see that the country is naturally defended for the most part, and you would need to go too far to create walls, as long as you keep a high level of patrol and security running. Before I know it, I start to run simulations on how they can defend themselves from outcoming invaders. I guess I have a bit of wronging blood in my veins.

She points somewhere on the map. ‘You have to go and retrieve Arc first. After that, you will go to the stars in multiple sweeps. The sword is located at the Hero’s Altar. I’ll make sure that you will receive the sword at arrival. After that, you will have to go to these three places.’ She points at three points. ‘First, you will travel to Fireroot Village, east from here.’ She points to a settlement located south-south-east from the center of the map. ‘After that, you’ll have to travel north, to the sea, and head for the port city named Leracia Harbor’. She points at the city’s location, located north-north-east from the center. I can see a small pattern. ‘After that, come back to the capital again. We will point you the way to the third star, near Ashen Mountains.’ I notice something off.

‘Where is the fourth star?’ She shakes her head.

She smiles for a moment. ‘You were there with my daughter not too long ago, weren’t you?’ I think about it, until it eventually concludes my mind.

‘The tower?!’

‘Indeed. The tower that stands highest in Lamia is called the Moon Tower, and it hold on of the holy Stars.’ It feels like a complete answer, so I quickly take a look on the map before I get down to business. Looking at the roads that connect the cities, I’d have to go through places like Rakenia and New Asonia, as well as the city of Queusia and Essassia. I am starting to see a pattern in the city names as well. It’s almost childish.

‘Wait, wouldn’t it be easier to send like a platoon of soldiers to each location, and have them retrieve the stars?’ I ask her. She shakes her head yet again.

‘Don’t you remember? A normal human can’t hold a Star. Only the Hero can do that. I am pretty sure that the activity of Abyss’ movement will increase once they realize that we’re making a move. Even if we can handle small squadrons, we cannot predict what other, powerful creatures they can summon that a normal squadron stands no chance to. Abyss will do anything to get their hands on the Stars, since they know from their previous war how dangerous they can be. Abyss outnumbers us greatly, and many died by the hand of the more powerful monsters of Abyss, and only the Great Hero was able to defeat them. Believe me, I have considered it.’ I gulp. If a squadron couldn’t make it, then how am I supposed to do it? I get scared very easily, and I’m not that strong at all.

‘Wait, since I’m leaving right now, am I going to get my old clothes?’ I just remembered that I gave them to a guard, and that I haven’t gotten them back yet.

‘I’m sorry, but you’ll get them back once you’ve returned to Lamia.’ Well, as long as I get them, I don’t truly mind.

In truth, I want to know more, but first things first. ‘Don’t worry, I will gather the stars. And save your kingdom. Just watch me.’

‘Then go, I’ve arranged a guide that will take you to your destinations.’ I turn around, and walk to the door.

‘It’ll be over in no time…’ I leave the room, while the Queen remains behind, seated, thinking to herself, while her bangs cover her eyes. I guess it is as stressful for her as for me. She has an entire country to rule over. That ought to weigh you down after all. I say a small prayer for her, before I head out.

……………………..

As I leave the room, I see a shadow quickly disappear around the corner. I already saw who it was…her face is unmistakable. ‘Astra, why are you hiding?’ I look around the corner, and startle Astra. She falls to the ground, but I react quickly, and catch her. ‘Ah…’ A familiar scene. The look on her face says that she remembers as well. ‘If I remember correctly, it was today, not a few hours ago…you’re a clumsy one, Astra.’ I lift her back up.

‘I’m not clumsy. It was your fault for scaring me like that.’

‘I think you were spying on me though…’ We look at each other, and laugh at the same time. ‘You’re going to leave Lamia?’ I nod to her. She looks a bit sullen, like a child.

‘It was short…but I loved it.’ I smile at her, and she smiles back at me slightly. ‘Thank you for standing up for me like that. I needed someone to stay with me when I felt alone…and you did that for me.’ She slightly blushes at my speech. I feel my cheeks warm up as well, as I grow conscious on what I just said.

‘Well, I felt like I needed to do something…I don’t know to be honest…’ I hold her hand and look at her in the eyes. I know that I am blushing, because she certainly is.

‘That’s the will you need to keep clinging on. You weren’t born into a life that would leave you caged. You are supposed to be free, running like the wind, and inspire hundreds of people.’ I smile brightly at her, as she gets embarrassed from my compliments. I’m sure you will find you answer to that question one day.’ I let go off her hand, and try to turn around, but she grabs my sleeve the moment I do so.

‘Wait!’ She even shouts, so I quickly turn back to her. She hands me a necklace. A white colored, half-moon shaped one, attached to a blue lace. ‘Please take this. It will keep you safe, so hold onto it.’ I inspect the necklace up closely and put it on. ‘It will be a lucky charm for you.

‘And something to remind you by while I take my journey.’ She blushes, but she is looking more upbeat that before. I clench the necklace in my right hand, as I put it on. ‘I’ll protect it…or more like it’ll protect me, right?’ I smile reassuringly at her. She finally drops her worried look. ‘I’ll come back, I promise,’ I tell her as I turn around.

‘Keep safe, and don’t forget our promise.’ She tells me, and I leave her. A promise with the princess… ‘Hehe, that’s kind of nice…’

…………………………

A guard shows me to the exit. When I go through the gate, I see Evander leaning against a building, with a straw in his mouth. ‘What’s with that getup?’ I quickly walk to him.

‘The adventurous look of course!’ He smiles confidently.

‘In the end, we’re inseparable.’ He smiles even more brightly.

‘Of course, someone needs to show the way.’ I laugh, and so does he. ‘I’ve arranged some horses at the gate. Don’t try to lose them this time.’ I didn’t want to remember that. ‘Well, things are different now, since we have a huge goal in front of us.’ He says before he throws a bag and something else towards me. ‘It’s your request.’ I unwrap it, and find a great sword in the wrapping.

‘Awesome! Now I can fight full strength.’ I bind in on my back and the backpack over it.

‘You ready?’ Evander asks as he starts to walk away.

‘Damn right! Let’s do this. I’m psyched up!’ I run towards him, as we head out…’

…Head out to our Adventure to collect the Stars…