Chapter 2 - New Here

Chapter 2 - New Here.

Rent takes a few more minutes to breathe in the view before finding a path to his left, heading down from the temple. The small dirt road eventually transfers into a cobbled road that leads straight into the city’s main gate. He looks like a total mess, stumbling down the road in his baby-blue long-sleeved shirt and plaid pants, the spitting image of a hero.

When he reaches the front gate, he stops and observes the white stone gateway and the metal grate hanging above, guards leading travelers inside; humans, elves, and wolfmen, travelers, and what look to be merchants.

Taking in this view, he suddenly breaks into thought. “Can’t say this was ever on my bucket list-not that there’s ever been one-but I guess it’s fair enough. I kill whatever King I gotta, then go back home and play video games and do that job interview...ah, what the hell, might as well not show up, not like my ass is getting that.”

“You new here?!” A voice interrupts his thoughts, the accent sounding not too dissimilar to a British accent.

Rent looks up to find a guard approaching him with a spear in hand and wearing simple iron armor with blue accents and stripes running down it. He replies, “Yeeesss, I am, sir.”

“Hmm, shoulda known, I am good at remembering faces. Where are you from, and what is your business in Soleo?” The guard demands.

Rent raises and lowers his hands as he speaks. “Earth... aaand I’m the hero.”

“Hero...?” Following a few silent glances of Rent up and down, more specifically his clothing, he sighs and points to the gate with an open palm. “Under most circumstances, I would throw you to the guards' post for questioning... but currently, we have no choice.”

“What’s that mean?”

“It means even fools like you could be of use. Head for the castle and ask for Princess Sarada, then explain yourself. Number 13.”

“I have a name.”

“The other 12 did too.”

Rent just sighs and walks past the guard. He thought the gates were busy., but the streets are even worse, he seems to have entered through the market gate, evident by all the small stalls selling fruits, vegetables, and all sort of trinkets, as well as the stores- or what he believes to be stores, after all he can’t read this world’s language, to him it just looks like a few squiggly lines and dots.

He tries his best to read the signs, but in the end, just shakes his head and continues walking, needling his way through all the pedestrians until he claws his way out of the market district and reaches a bricked road, crossing and nearly getting hit by a speeding carriage.

“Left and right, Rent. Left and right.”

Despite the stares of civilians and the occasional side eye from guards, Rent eventually manages to reach the grand castle, and he takes a moment to be awed by the sheer size and beauty of it, those near-stainless white walls and the dark blue roof. From where he’s standing, it looks like it touches the sky...while two guards at the front door just look at him and then at each other and then at this utter buffoon again.

“What’s your business, sir?” The first guard asks.

Rent snaps out of it and looks at them while pointing at himself. “Oh, ahm... I’m the hero.”

The two of them merely stay quiet and look at him.

“Guy at the front had the same reaction.” He points behind him.

The guard steps from the gate and allows Rent to enter. He gives a thumbs-up before stepping inside. The grandiose of the inside matches the outside, with tiles so clean they’re nearly reflective, with curtains hanging off pillars, lining a path to a vacant throne at the end of the hall. “Now, where’s that princess?” He looks around the main hall, and no one is in sight. He walks down and looks past a few doorways, no one in sight... only one thing to do.

Rent gives a few more glances around the room, walks up the steps, turns around, and plants himself firmly on the throne, arms on the rests, his head hits the backrest, and he lets out a deep breath.

Unfortunately for him;

BANG

The door to his right swings open, and two people march inside, arguing with each other.

“This thought of yours is simply outrageous, Valian! We are already on the brink here, and you want to sacrifice more?!” The woman yells; she has long black hair and blue eyes, and is dressed in formal attire with a purple vest, white shirt, and black pants.

“I do not suggest sacrificing anything, your majesty, not any more. We have waited long enough; the King grows more powerful by the moment, who knows when he will attack.” The man returns, blonde with dark eyes, he is adorned in silver armor with blue underneath, far from regal and decorative than those of the guards. “Please! Allow me to lead the knights and guards to the Corruption’s domain!”

“No!” She denies it firmly. “The tales foretell that a hero summoned by the gods will be the one to defeat the King!”

“You said that about the previous 8... and now look at them, lives wasted! We have spent decades fighting these monsters, we have learned their weakne-”

She cuts him off instantly. “And what would it be?!”

“...”

Valian just stands there in silence and rubs his eyes, while the woman continues. “We simply cannot lose any more lives, we shall wait for the 13th hero, and I know it, no, I feel it, he will be the one to defeat the King.”

He nods his head and then looks her in the eye. “I will take it into my own hands if this fails, prophecy or not. No more heroes or lives will be lost.”

Need I remind you, Rent has been watching all those unfold while sitting on the throne in his pajamas like a jackass. The two of them finally notice him and stare at his sheer audacity with confusion.

“Who are you?!” Valian asks.

Rent awkwardly raises his hand and waves. “H-Hero...”

Her eyes narrow as she looks at him. “What planet are you from?”

“Earth.” He says, almost sounding unsure as he does so.

She relaxes and steps back, looking at Valian. “Very well. Valian, return to your quarters. I wish to discuss matters with the hero.”

“Wha-?!” His eyes widen and jaws fly open as he flies between looking at Rent and the woman. “Your majesty?!”

“Valian.”

With that, Valian forces himself out of the room, knowing there is no point in arguing with her when she's like this.

When he’s out, Rent speaks up. “You Princess Sarada?”

“That is correct, may I have your name?”

“Rent Starté.”

“And may you please remove yourself from the throne? I know you may be new, but it is reserved for members of the royal family.”

He carefully stands up and stretches, with that awkwardness aside, he asks, “He didn’t seem enthusiastic about the hero.”

Princess Sarada takes a deep breath. “Valian is the captain of the knights, and he has grown tired of the inflow of failed heroes this year, with all honesty... I cannot blame him entirely, having to constantly watch as these heroes come in to defeat the King of Corruption, only to fail and have more innocent lives perish, including their own...” Her face falls content as she truly recognizes the severity of the situation.

“I’m the 13th hero, right?”

“That would be correct, yes, the 9th this year.”

The thing he wants to say most is “What are you people doing with them?” But he simply states, “I see. Anyways, gimme the breakdown, who am I fighting, where am I, all that good stuff. Goddess lady told me I'm in Renovare and gotta kill some King, lay it on me.” He beckons with his hand as he speaks.

“It is a long story. Have a seat.” Rent complies by immediately sitting on the throne again. “Not there.” And he complies again by standing up and sitting on the steps.

“You are in Soleo, the capital of Prima, situated in the center of Renovare, and one of the last bastions of humanity, freedom, and purity, with only the snow kingdom of Nieve to the North.” She begins to explain.

“East, South, and West?”

“East used to belong to the desert kingdom of Nisip, and West was the river kingdom of Agua. I say in past tense because... to the South lies the very enemy you were sworn to defeat.”

“Sworn is a hard word, but-”

“It is home to the incarnation of evil itself, the Corruption. A vile force, we know not its origin, only that it holds the power to transform, to change all that it touches into mindless, powerful creatures. We have been at war with this force for countless years, and it has already managed to wipe out the East and the West.” She suddenly remembers something and turns around. “Stay right here.”

Rent is only capable of letting out a quiet “I...” as he processes this info; this is not what he signed up for, or maybe it was, and he should’ve read the fine print.

A few moments later, she returns with a rolled-up map and a leather journal and sits beside him. “This was left by the previous hero; it should help you in your fight.” She places it on his lap.

“Aand...this King I’m supposed to defeat?”

“The King of Corruption... as you may imagine by the name, he is at the core of the Corruption. We know nothing about him aside from a few accounts of his appearance, but we believe that it will not stop until he is defeated. It will be no easy feat, but please Rent Starté...” The sun casts on her face as she softly takes Rent’s hands in hers and squeezes them. “Be the hero who breaks this cycle, this loop. Defeat the King... save whatever is left of the world. 13th time is the charm.”

Rent cannot help but look at her for a few seconds before pulling his hand back and looking away. To be honest, he’s kind of forgotten the feeling, but he chuckles anyway and responds, “Heh, well, I’ll... try.”

The two just quietly sit there for a few moments, Rent trying to formulate a plan in his head while flipping through the journal and Sarada wondering about something...

“What is your divine treasure if I may inquire? Every hero is granted one, surely...”

“Oh, that? Yeah, I think it was something like ashes of the phoenix or fire or whatever.” He replies absentmindedly while paging through the journal.

But Sarada immediately drops, and she pulls back. Her face, far from the strange comfort he felt moments prior, is now replaced with horror and anxiety. “What?” It is the only thing she musters.

Rent closes the book and looks at her, not understanding what the fuss is about.

...

...

...

“Something wrong?”

CHAPTER 2: END.