Chapter 34: Wizards and Saviors

Regis looked at Ben, then without moving his head. He glanced at everyone else with his eyes.

Regis: “What I am to say here… stays within your minds. No word is to be uttered. For this secret is something that the public has yet to know of.”

Regis looked more serious as he continued to talk. Siz and Derek also turned to Ben with a more serious look as they began to examine Ben to his true potential.

Regis cast a spell, an illusionary rose appeared beside Ben.

Regis: “It would appear that Ben has managed to earn Rose’s gaze.”

Derek Kel: “Rose? The spirit that follows fighters that it recognizes?”

Regis: “Yes, although it is a common spirit, however, it’s a sight to see the potential in warriors is not to be mistreated. However, Ben, may I see your dagger?”

Ben produced the dagger from his belt sheath and handed it over to Regis. Who simply chuckled at this gesture.

Regis: “It would appear that you have a way of storage… something that I have not seen for a while.”

Ben could only lift his eyebrows warily.

Regis: “What you have, is one of the abilities of the wizards that I know of. The wizard of the Dark, Exon. The power to wield the power of darkness and absorption, storage, and the very stereotypes that everyone thinks of darkness.”

Derek Kel: “Does that mean, Ben is a wizard?”

Regis lifted his hands and nodded no.

Regis: “No, he is a different entity. His soul is pure and original, he is a savior.”

Everyone’s eyes widened. Siz’s shock ended and quickly frowned the next moment.

Siz: “Saviors? This child? Does that mean another tide is coming?”

Regis: “An upset to the balance of the world has already come… yet the Saviors have not appeared in so long… however, this one is here.”

Siz: “Why did the oracles not tell us of this? There was no indication of a savior, there was no information of the saviors leaving this world?”

Regis: “The original saviors… are still in this world.”

Siz’s eyes widened. His eyes scowled slightly.

Siz: “If the saviors are still in this world, where are they!!!”

Siz’s sudden change in character caused everyone to look at him. Regis turned his head slowly towards Siz.

Regis: “Out of all the wizard’s eyes, we only have seen one.”

Regis turns to Ben.

Regis: “Your predecessors have left their legacies, however… They are missing. As a Savior, one of your duties is to go to each of the temples and to trace their steps. Find the answer needed to their mysteries.”

Ben looked at Regis.

Ben: “What is the difference between the saviors and the wizards? From what I’ve been hearing, the wizards have the same and similar power.”

Regis: “Saviors are reincarnated or summoned people, they can choose to save the inhabitants of this world, or they can choose to free themselves. Wizards are the inhabitants of this world. They learn through the age-old process of studying magic to the prime age and their duties are to teach and uphold the balance within the world of magic.”

Ben: “What of the Saviors?”

Regis: “The goddesses’ blessings, and your abnormal potential to grow.”

Ben: “Abnormal?”

Regis: “For some reason, every summoned person have the potential to grow faster than the usual inhabitants of this world. It is said from one of the few theories that the soul's vessels are different compared to our world and yours.”

Ben: “What does the vessel have to do with growth?”

Regis: “We’re unsure… perhaps more capacity for growth? Potential? These creations of the gods and goddesses are beyond us. We could only speculate what their designs could entail."

Ben: “Then, what now?”

Regis; “All, I want to say to you. Is that with your summoning, reincarnation, or whatnot? This only prophetizes the tide of the world. As a savior, you hold the power to change this world.”

Ben: “Why depend on me, the saviors. You all have the power to change this world as well. You don’t have to depend on a stranger in this world.”

Regis: “There’s something… that the wizards know. However, it is not the time to reveal this. We can only assist this world as is, and we can only hope the strangers of another world choose to help.”

Ben: “What happens when the saviors turn evil? Not the heroes that you would want?’

Regis: “Naturally, to kill them.”

The atmosphere immediately turned cold as Regis’ straight answer dwelled on everyone’s ears.

Regis closes his eyes and opens them once more, with a strong gaze at Ben.

Regis: “What do you think the wizards are here for? As I have said, we uphold the balance of this world. Killing a savior is no different to us. Before you say saviors are needed for the tides or whatnot. New ones will be summoned by the goddess’ decree, once the old is gone.”

Ben: “If the old is gone, why haven't there been the other saviors?”

Regis: “Because ... (Regis bit his lips as he thought for a moment, only to nod his head slowly as if he had resigned himself into this) they haven’t died… contained within a world that we wizards do not know of. Yet, you’re the only one that remains. I plead with you to find them for I’m sure that fate will lead your path.”

Ben: (Fate… to find the others, to follow the biddings of the goddess? Yet, the feeling of being expendable, the feeling of being easily replaced does not feel good… What’s the point of them… I feel like we’re simply cleaners to their world.)

Regis: “Ben, I hope that you have been searching for the temples. The temple of the red is within this forest. It may provide an answer for your identity.”

Derek Kel: “Although, the temple of red is within this forest. The goblin king is also here. It’s not so easy as a walk towards there.”

Regis closes his eyes as his thoughts were a couple steps ahead of the present time.

Regis: “...Apologies, I’ve forgotten that we had such a problem ahead of us. My excitement in finding a savior, had scrambled my thoughts a bit.”

Siz walked up and looked at Regis’ content face and Ben’s dumbfounded face. Only to slightly nod towards Regis’ direction.

Siz: “Then… what are we to do with… him?” He points at Ben as his confusion.

Regis stood up and looked at Ben and Siz.

Regis: “... Patience… patience… Ben, as the savior you have a duty. However, right now is your time of learning. Siz does guide Ben in his adventuring days, when the goblin king is finished we will call upon you Ben, and I hope that you are ready to leave your party at that time.”

Ben only looked forward. There was turmoil in his mind.

( My path seems to be decided… Am I really going to face these monsters just because I have the title and powers of the savior? )

Ben: (I’m so confused… I’m so lost… in this world.)

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With the following orders from Regis, Ben and his party packed up their bags under the orders of Guildmaster Siz to recuperate and send a message back to the adventurer guild for more reinforcement and to delegate more supplies back to the base camp.

Wilmot was sitting on the bed nursing his head wound as he looked at Liz and the others packing up silently.

Wilmot: “I guess we’re leaving… Did we fail our dire wolf quest?”

Liz: *Shook her head* “No, Guildmaster Siz, marked all quests here as completed and paid reward money whether we had the materials or not. They paid extra for the ones who had the materials, so that was nice.”

Liz pulled out a small pouch of silver and four gold coins.

Scarlett picked out a gold coin and several pieces of silver to put into her wallet with grace.

Scarlett: “Everyone grabs your portion, don’t make Liz hold this weight herself.”

The party nodded and started to split the rewards. As the bag emptied, Liz placed it into her backpack and looked at Scarlett and Ben.

Liz: “What now?”

Scarlett: “Guildmaster Siz said to avoid this area for the time being. I suppose we’ll have to return to town and hope for another easy mission or perhaps an exploration.”

Ben: “I was hoping to learn more about camping.”

Liz: “Ben… camping isn’t fun.” Liz’s eyes were dulled as she looked at Ben.

Ben: “I think it's leisure?”

Liz: “Monsters, bloodsuckers, the dark, and having to take watches is leisure to you?”

Ben: (Ah right… keeping watches, and monsters was a thing.)

Liz: “Ben, I know you came from the slums. But you should’ve probably heard stories from the adventurers where camping within the wilderness is dangerous, even with the monster repellant powders.”

Ben: “I don’t mind a story if you want to tell it.”

Liz: “Well, I do have a favorite one.”

Liz smiled as she thought back to a story that one of the veteran adventurers had within the bar that she had worked in back in the village.

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As Liz worked as a server, regulars would often show up. Some would tell stories, others would stay silent and drink their beverages. Yet there was an old man with rugged leather armor with a bastard sword sheathed on his back, he would often tell stories to the young adventurers who would enjoy a good story or two.

Camping is dangerous, little ones. Most people think that the monster repellent powder is enough. However, given enough reason, the creatures will ignore the smell and still enter your camp. That’s a rare occasion, most of the creatures you need to fear in the night are the flying creatures. The smell doesn’t reach them as fast, and their weapon of choice is often stun and swift kill. Small flying creatures travel in droves, larger creatures go for the neck, and the strongest of them will simply cause destruction without looking at you.

One time, when my party and I were camping under the moonlit skies near the demonic valley, Erskin Hollow. We were tasked to observe the frontlines of the demonic boundary, yet one day a flash of red lit up the skies. The trees near us, burst into flames. The screams of the nearby monsters and beasts could be heard through the flames. One of our party members immediately combusted into flames just for being close to the campfire.

We tried putting the poor man out, the flames turned blue and red. It wasn’t until after he perished did the flames go out. As if the flames pulled the souls out of this man. I looked up to see what beast or monster did this. They were the legendary creatures of this world, beyond our comprehension. A truly born phoenix, the heat it radiated was hot and melted the nearest trees to it. We quickly packed up our stuff and left the scene. As we ran through the blazing forest, the monsters and creatures we would often avoid were hiding or fleeing for their own lives. I must say, the phoenix was a rare sight… Although it killed my companion, its blazing beauty was unmatched. Comparable to the early sunrise of a new day.

As Liz finished speaking, Ben’s face was awed, yet inside Ben felt a little fearful.

Ben: (Just the appearance of the phoenix will kill someone?)

Liz: “I’m sure that I might’ve weakened the story with my words, but just imagine seeing one of the legendary creatures within our life. Just the sight of something so remarkable is worth it.”

Wilmot: “What’s the point of seeing something that could kill you with just its appearance?”

Liz: “Our lives are so dull compared to such a magnificent being. It lives with such an elegant style, flies wherever it wants, and just simply it's being can brighten up the day. To feel the fires of such a beast, I'm willing to even give my life for it."

As Liz continued to daydream a gruesome end, Wilmot's mumblings began to come louder and louder.

Wilmot: “Our lives are blessed to us by the goddess of Ghymera, you should cherish your life… Don’t you remember your teachings!”

Wilmot gently placed a fist on Liz’s head, who only looked up with her eyes. Wilmot’s arm slowly closed in and executed its plan as a snakehold took place around Liz's neck, and her head steady as Wilmot's fist kneaded on her head.

Wilmot: “Don’t you remember teacher Soven! He was a nice man trying to teach you and I for free! He was so generous to the village, yet you keep forgetting his good teachings.”

Liz: “All he taught was money, trade, and some history around our village!”

Wilmot: “You never came to his religious teachings! I always found you fooling around with the cows and chickens.”

Liz pouted, and Wilmot let her go. Liz rubbed her head with both of her hands. Wilmot looked at her, breathed out with a short sigh, and got up from the bed, and started to help her pack up. Ben and Scarlett could only smile as, it would seem that Wilmot have gotten better under Liz's care.