Chapter 3 - "Hero"

Chapter 3 – Take A Chance on Me

“Is... something wrong?” Rent asks, staring blankly at Sarada’s worried face, her hands begin shaking, and she stands up abruptly.

“E-excuse me, hero.” With her hands covering her face, she rubs her temples and then drops her head back. “You merely being here spells desperation from the gods.”

He looks down at himself before looking at her again. “That much is obvious.”

“It is not about who you are, but what you hold.”

Sarada paces back and forth constantly, her boots clinking the floor like seconds ticking on a clock. Rent himself doesn’t know what to say as he fears either seeming stupid ( he knows he is, but c'mon) or insensitive. Eventually, she stops and speaks up:

“Not much is known about this treasure... The ashes of the phoenix are a treasure that was...how do I put this, condemned by the gods. Not for the power it holds, not for the danger it presents to foes, but rather the user itself. Put bluntly, Rent Starté. You. Cannot. Die.”

His eyes bounce around the room to anything that isn’t her or her eyes; the gears in his head need oiling because they aren’t working. “That a threat?”

She groans and takes his hand, pulling him up with surprising force. “The gods have lost hope. Fail and they will destroy this entire world and start over. That is what the ashes are, a marker of the end.

...

“Oh.”
An “Oh,” really? Rent, you just learned you are a sign of the end times, and all that you have to say is “Oh.”

“You simply cannot tell anyone. If people know the ashes are walking now, mass chaos will ensue. We are already pushing with the refugees from the East and West; a mass panic is simply not affordable.”

“Consider my lips sewn shut.”

Sarada gives a simple nod and sits on the floor across from him, letting out a relieved breath. “Good.”

“Now -ahem- for the hero’s accommodation.”

As both continue discussing, they are unaware that Valian is with his back to the wall just around the corner, his ear raised to catch every word of this conversation. “The ashes. Ashbearer.” He mutters under his breath before stepping away.

The Next Morning

Rent tosses and turns as he slips into consciousness, feeling the unfamiliar fabric on him and the foreign mattress pressing on his back, and when his eyes open and he sees a chandelier hanging over him, he now knows it wasn’t a dream, he just lets out one long exhale.

It doesn’t take long for him to notice the sound of someone else breathing next to him, at first he turns to his left he sees no one just a table and a wall, but when he looks to the right he lets out a short yelp as he sees none other than Valian idling over him, sword at the ready. “DUDE WHAT THE HELL?!”

His hold on the sword relaxes as Rent scrambles off the bed. “Ah, Ashbearer. I was at your side the whole night. I had to ensure you do not fall victim to anything.”

“Ashwhat-?”

“I overheard you and her majesty last night. To ensure this world does not get wiped out, it has become my duty to ensure you survive. No matter what.” Despite his cold words, Rent himself can't help but feel a second side to his statement.

“Uuuhh...thanks?” As he says that, he falls off the bed, back first. Not even trying getting back up.

“Make no mistake, hero. I barely know anything about you or what your intentions truly are; what I am doing is for my world and my people, nothing more.” Walking around the bed, he picks up Rent with force, but gently enough to ensure he isn’t hurt. “...” His hand glides around his neck and takes the chin, forcing him to look eye to eye. “I will protect you, hero. For my people, my world, and to ensure no more lives are torn away from here."

Rent forces an awkward nod through the grip and smiles uncomfortably. “Can I please get out of my pajamas now? I’ve been wearing this for a day.”

He slowly lets go of his jaw and stands up, arms crossed and observing Rent. “The servants left clothes for you on the chair. I shall stand here and keep you safe.”

“No, you won’t, get out.”

“No.”

Moments later, Rent pushes Valian out with all his might, just barely managing to get him past the door that he immediately slams shut and barricades with a small drawer. That’ll hold 'em.

“Hero!!! Open this door at once, THIS IS A DEMAND.”

“20 bucks to watch blue boy!”

“What?! Blue boy-” He starts rapidly banging on the door. “I am the captain of the knights, son of the grea...”

Rent drowns him out by singing the lyrics to “All Out of Love” by Air Supply hard enough for the people on the ground level of the castle to hear as he dresses. They left him a simple dark green shirt with black pants and brown boots. When he’s done, he moves the drawer and opens the door, finding Valian standing there with a contemplative look as he stares at the floor.

“Yaaalright there, bud?”

“Who is this person who left you and hurt you? And why do you feel lost...?”

Rent just shakes his head. “It was a song, and a trick I learned from my dad. Sing loud and bad enough, then people are sure to leave you alone.”

“Hardly the wisdom a father should pass down.”

“Well, if you had parents like me, you should count yourself grateful for any at all.”

“Why...?”

He opens his mouth to say something, but just stops, luckily for him, Princess Sarada approaches, signalled by the stomp of the guards behind her. Valian instantly bows as she comes to a stop. It takes Rent a moment, but he bows as well.

“At ease. What are you doing here, Valian?”

“Your majesty, I was simply... ensuring the hero has a well morning, and what about you?”

“I came looking for whatever may be screaming like a banshee, but when I realized it was our hero, I came to deliver this instead.” When she reaches into her bag, she pulls out a golden circle with even more squiggly text on it, holding it out to Rent, who takes it.

He tries to read the room to find a reaction for himself, but with Sarada’s blank face, Valian’s side eye, and the guards’ covered faces, he can only let out. “Uh oh...? Thanks...? This is uuhh... goodbad.”

“It is a crest handed out to heroes. It entitles you to 50,000 gold at the bank and a free armour set and sword at any blacksmith. And allows official recognition world-wide. We used to have it be unlimited, but after number 7 nearly drove us into an economic crisis, it was pulled back.”

“Oooooooh.” He leans to the Valian and whispers. “50K is that a lot?”

“Considering some nobilities are only worth 300 000, it is ‘substantial’, yes.”

“Nice.”

“All of them have said that.”

Sarada clears her throat and speaks up again. “Before you set off on that, your presence is required elsewhere. You are to attend the hero ceremony outside the castle and be sworn in. Follow us. Valian, you stay here.”

“Negative, ma’am. Protecting the hero is my duty; I stay at his side.”

Knowing she cannot have another argument, she just nods and begins walking, Rent following and Valian behind him.

He takes a moment to take the castle in once more, the banners hanging off the walls, a blue flag with a circle split in half surrounded by a spiked hexagon around it. He's seen this emblem on the guard uniforms before.

When they reach the outside, they step onto a pedestal, preparing himself for a massive crowd. When Rent opens his eyes, he is immediately disappointed by at most 3 people standing there, even then that’s a stretch as one of them continues walking.

It doesn’t dissuade Sarada from speaking with her full might. “PEOPLE OF RENOVARE. OUR NEW HERO HAS ARRIVED.” With outstretched arms, she points to Rent just standing there with a small smile on his face. “THE GODS HAVE SENT RENT STARTÉ TO DEFEAT THE CORRUPTION. TO SAVE THIS WORLD. TO SAVE EVERY INNOCENT LIFE.” She turns to a nearby guard holding out a sword in his palms and takes it. “On your knees, Rent.” When he complies, she places the sword on both his shoulders, then on his head, and states: “With the sword of my father and his father before him, I now enswear you as the official 13th hero of Renovare. Rent Starté. You may stand.”

There is no fanfare as he stands up and looks at the “crowd.” Well, aside from one guy giving his entire soul into a “YEEEEEAAAAAAAH.”

“Now, Hero... what say you to your people?” Sarada asks as she steps aside, allowing him to stand at the pedestal.

He thinks and thinks while looking at Valian, Sarada, and the two people standing in attention; all he can say in this crucial moment is “Iiii... shall try.”

Without much explanation, this causes Valian to facepalm and the last two in the crowd to disperse. The facepalm soon turns into a slow and hard series of claps.

Rent turns to look at him, but just says nothing before Sarada takes him by the shoulder and pulls him away, his face smeared with an awkward smile. “It may be for the best if you get some gold and buy some equipment. Meet me in the throne room when you are ready to discuss our plans, Valian-”

“I am staying with him. He needs not only to be protected from threats, but he requires a guide.” He takes Rent by the other shoulder, creating a game of tug of war for this poor man who just wants to go home.

“I am the Princess, and those are my orders.”

“If memory serves me well, your father appointed me as your superior until you become Queen. The captain of the knights orders so.”

Getting tired of being pulled by both, he tries to pry himself free; however, neither of them lets up. “And I am Rent Starté, hero and university student, LET GO OF ME!”

Neither of them budges.

Meanwhile

In the far southern corners of the world sits the fallen kingdom of Meridies, formerly acting as a home to the world’s scholars, inventors, and mages. It lies on what could undoubtedly be considered the largest and strongest magic reserve. But that is all ancient history, what its claim to fame is now being home to the corruption and their king.

The sky is constantly red and clouded regardless of the time or weather, no grass or vegetation ever grows here anymore, and the only signs of humanity are the burned ruins of towns and the citadel. At the centre of this citadel lies a large castle, which blends into the surroundings with its black walls, broken windows, and caved roofs.

If it was not obvious enough from that description, what lives inside that castle is the textbook definition of evil, the King of Corruption. He sits on his throne, cloaked by shadow that obscures all but his long white hair.

A fly buzzes up to him that he holds his hand out to, and when it lands, it crawls up to his face. The room falls in silence once more until he speaks up, his voice dark yet quiet and barely human.

“Another hero. Admirable desperation, Theia.”

CHAPTER 3 - END