~ Slavos’ Perspective ~

Just like any other day, I walked to the guild house. The large, towering building, was my information abode. Though it was not an institution that hoarded knowledge, they collected it for various reasons.

The second floor was where I spent most of my hours. The entire floor was filled with books and I could have my fill of reading so long as I did the guilder’s quests. It was an easy life.

It was during when I had finally finished one of the harder books on magical theory, Anzlan’s Kneus Ice Mechanism, that one curious adventurer approached me.

This child that stood across me had eyes as black as the void, and hair as white as the silver of the coins we used. His features were soft, but there was something strong with the perpetual smile on his face.

Mayhaps, this child did not know me.

I introduced myself to him. It was only natural to do so and I offered him my sharp claws. I had thought that once he had learned of my name, he would run off, scared of me. But that was not the case with this child.

He did not react at the mention of my name, a name that has been shrouded in deep gossip and hearsay, that people think it a name of a savage, of a person untrustworthy. It was I who was surprised by this child no older than 20.

He took my hand and gripped it with force. Even with the sharp claws, he did not hesitate. He introduced himself as he did.

I knew now not to think of this person as a child, but as a man. His immature exterior belying a maturity not found even among older adventurers. I would say that he is at least worthy of half my respect.

I asked him to sit down across me. No one would call out to me for pleasantries, it must be a request of my strength, or something else that requires my skill. Coin is coin, and so I would take it. And for someone like him who personally looked for me, I would still do it for half. That is the worth of my respect. Besides, coin was not a problem I had.

But, that was not the case. It was not a request in the conventional sense.

It was a spar.

Sed Immer. I will remember your name.

~ - ~

I had thought the man before me was a warrior such as myself, with how he held that spear and ran against me. I momentarily thought that he was naught but a weakling struggling against the strong, but I was wrong.

He was merely testing the waters against me in the first few blows. A magician that knew martial arts. They were few and far between in the lands, they were troublesome, but manageable. You would not be any different, Sed Immer.

My skills, honed in years of battle, could cut down the very essence of magic. I did not read books on magical theory only to sate my curiosity. It was also to learn of the weaknesses of such magciry.

I struck down the many spears of shadowy darkness that he shot against me, but I did not expect him to use the clouds to obscure one more spell.

Immediately, I felt something crawling in my scales. Something very forceful, something very distasteful. It encroached ever closer, and I felt my muscles weaken and slow.

It took me a few moments to realize that this was a curse. Damnable curses! I had not learned myself of curses. There were very few tomes in the Dominique Archives, and few more in the libraries of the guild.

They were considered the dark arts and so people view it as vile, and less palatable than spells. It is for this very reason that it was hard to find books on them, much less books that taught them.

I argue however, that everything can be used in the sacred forms of combat. It is the foolish that think upon it as a plague that die the earliest.

It seems that this person before me hid many secrets, but I am assured of my victory. He is mature in the worldly sense, but incapable in combat! He is strong, but he does not think when he acts. It is this very thing that convinces that he will never lay a strike against me.

Sed Immer attempted to strike me from behind this time as I was preoccupied with his earlier spell. Fool. Many have done the same, less have told the tale. You will be no different.

I jumped above him and disarmed him of his weaponry. It is unfortunate however, that I am also without a weapon. But no matter. I kicked him away and against his own spell.

I told him that brute force was not the way in combat. That a little ingenuity comes a long way. He seemed to be angered by this as he ran forward with no thought at all. It’s a shame, I wanted to find someone who I can use my full strength against, but it seems Sed Immer is not one of them.

As I clawed out at his nearing figure, a cloud of smoke obscured my vision, and my hands felt nothing in its touch. Was this his plan? If so, a truly wondrous plan. Still, it was insufficient. I had my ways against subterfuge.

But, before I could use any more of my abilities and skills in the combat, I felt a dull pain on my head, and before I knew it, the world had gone dark.

~ - ~

It was only in the morning of the day after did Doctor Octavia filled me in on what happened.

I had lost, and in the most spectacular way possible.

It’s laughable. Me, the warrior well known across the lands, lost to a young human, and all because of my underestimation. Maybe my glory for the last several years had clouded my vision.

It’s a disgrace to my honor as a warrior.

Regret. A most wonderful emotion. It’s only an emotion known to those who have lived. I truly regret not going against him with all of my strength. My arrogance consumed me.

I shook my head and left my thoughts there.

Doctor Octavia told me that Sed Immer would be coming along later, and so I waited.

I’ve decided to tell him my story, as someone I deem worthy of it. And to ask him, as someone worthy, what he thinks of my past actions.

I still remember the people that I have lost to, and their answers were varied. One such person became a champion of the arenas and he told my choice was correct, that I was a hero and should be hailed as one. Another told me, a famous knight of the Tribble Kingdom, that I was pathetic for striking my liege, that I was a traitor.

There were many others I could count on my hand, but all their answers were split. I still do not know if what I did was correct.

~ - ~

I told Sed Immer my past, and he answered in a way most surprising. None other had answered in such a way, only he did.

‘Does it matter what I think?’ He asked, a question to a question.

Yes, it did. It matters a lot to me.

I am a selfish person. I like to make a show of a stoic warrior, unfettered by the emotions of turmoil inside me, but I knew, in fact, that I was guided by those very emotions, and that I was guided by what people saw me as.

I only wished to feel good about myself. I wanted people to tell me I was a hero for what I did, and I ask people stronger than me if what I did was correct. Those that did, made me happy, made me feel like what I did was correct. Those that told me otherwise made me feel somber, for what I did, I deem correct yet the people rejected it.

Was it so bad of me to look my part as a dashing hero in a story? Maybe it is, but it was my childhood dream.

I tried to hide these feelings of mine. I didn’t want to accept this part of me. It was an ugly side of me that I didn’t want to face. Egotism.

But, he is correct. I only realized it now. People will see me as they see fit. As a hero, or as a coward. In the end it did not matter what people saw me as, as they will always coincide against each other, these differing views.

Those of blue blood would detest me for what I did, but the people, the commoners, would see me as something else.

Truly, did it really matter what people thought of me?

Maybe, it is fine to be called a coward. After all, I know for myself that I am a hero. I saved countless lives by halting a war before it happened. I am content with that.

To want to be showered with praises for deeds I’ve done. It is time I grow out of that. The court life has poisoned me beyond what I once was, back when I was still a vagrant. I suppose there’s very little growing in such a confined and pampered environment. How pathetic.

I should change, to believe in myself and my deeds more than the words of those around me. I have become far too servile for my own good. It is time I’ve lived for my own sake and choose what I am.

Maybe it is time to start another adventure, to learn and study more. I decided it was best to leave.

But, what did I not expect was the offer of Sed Immer just after the fact I’ve resolved myself.

To be part of a group. Truthfully, I’ve had very little chances to interact with people, and those that I have were only people I traveled with for a short time. It was merely professional, as dictated by the lodge.

Heh, guess I’ll give it a go. I feel like I’ll learn more under this child... no, this man. He might just be the positive influence I think he is.

There’s no such thing as too late to learn things. This is something I should know as a Knight-Scholar. There’s no shame in learning under Sed.

I accepted, if only to further the new resolve I have made.

~ Chris’ Perspective ~

I left the lodge’s infirmary and heaved a sigh of relief.

Man, I’m glad ‘Emergency Maintenance’ actually worked on his sword. It was a skill of a high-level blacksmith that improves a weapon’s durability to working condition using mana. Of course, it’s only up until working condition, so it wasn’t all that useful. Still, using it as a party trick is pretty novel idea, I think.

I’m glad he decided to take on my offer. The Crypt of Bastroll was no laughing matter now that the world was real, and I needed as much help as I could. Having a front-liner that I could trust, like Slavos, was a huge boon. I’m not all too confident that I can protect myself, much less Nis.

Now then, I should prepare for the next few days.

As I was about to leave for preparations, I found Nis running into the lodge’s hall. She wore her armor messily, and her bed hair was atrocious. She looked around for a bit until her eyes landed on me. A lazy smile formed on her lips.

I waved at her, and she immediately jumped me with a hug.

“Leaving me alone, you’re so mean!”

“Yes, yes. Anyway, it’s good you’re awake. We’re getting you a badge.” I told her and dragged her by the hand to the lines.

As usual, the lines were long and uneventful. After all, people just wanted to finish their jobs early in the morning and laze around in the afternoon.

Despite the problems that arose last time, it was apparently very rare for adventurers to have scuffles in the guild hall. If there were problems, they settled it in the yard under a guilder’s judgment. In most cases though, people just ignore each other for their jobs.

In a way, it was similar in my past world. The larger the city, the more apathetic the people became.

After a while, we managed to finally near the end of the line, but before we could process what we wanted, the guilder behind the counter shook her head and spoke.

“Apologies, but you are Sir Sed, correct? I have been informed that Sir Madriel will be in-charge of your matters.”

“Ah, is it because of my rank?”

The female guilder nodded with a smile and directed me to one of the private rooms at the back.

I did hear about this from Madriel, but I didn’t think they’d set it up so fast. I wasted all those minutes waiting in line when I could have just- ugh, fuck it. There’s no point.

I could only sigh in defeat and thanked the guilder. I walked up to the room when I met with Madriel holding quite a stack of paperwork with three of his fingers. He was pretty strong for someone with such a slender build.

“Ah, Sir Sed. One of my colleagues told me you were here. Please follow me.” He put on his usual business smile, opened the door, and walked inside.