Chapter 22: A King's Favor

Kenji

The Castle is way more opulent than I could’ve ever imagined. It makes the rest of the city look cheap by comparison! It's a towering structure, gothic in design. The castle looks like the Notre-Dame cathedral only three times larger with massive colored glass windows that depict epic heroic figures staring down at anyone approaching.

As we sit in a waiting room, I can't help but admire the architecture and design. Each wall is ordained with hand carved molding, beautiful portraits and tapestries. The furnishings are beyond extravagant, chairs and tables crafted from fine oak, the upholstery a soft crushed velvet. Overhead, hangs a massive crystal chandelier. If this is how the waiting room looks, I can't imagine what the throne room will be like. My friends and I look and feel out of place in the grandiose setting. I give a silent thank you to Guille for hooking us up with formal attire for the occasion.

I’m sporting a long white military style coat and slacks with gold trim. I adjust my visor nervously and inspect my companions one last time to make sure they look presentable. Kizzik is inexplicably lounging lazily on one of the fainting chairs without a care in the world. They are wearing a similar coat to mine but it’s all black with some chains as detailing. Their hands and feet are adorned with silver armor pieces decorated with filigree. Rina wears a corseted emerald dress that cascades down her frame. Her flowing white locks are done up in a tight bun. Dangling ruby earrings hang from her ears. She looks like a princess right out of a fairytale! She must notice me staring because she shoots me a hard look.

“Do you need something?” She asks.

“Sorry I didn't mean to stare. You just look really nice.”

She snorts at the compliment, a small smile touching her lips. Rina says something in elvish with an amused tone.

“Sorry what does that mean?” I ask.

She seems surprised by my question but answers me. “It's just something my mother used to say. It roughly translates to ‘A dress you can't fight in is a burial shroud.’ “

“She sounds like a smart woman.”

Before Rina can reply, the door swings open. Kizzik nearly falls out of their seat as a butler rushes into the room and addresses us with a curt bow. He's in a royal purple tuxedo, has the posture of an arrow and a face of stone.

“His Royal Highness will hear you now. Follow me, quickly.” The man takes off abruptly and we have to hurry after him to keep up.

As we enter the throne room, I am amazed all over again by the sheer scale of the space. The ceilings are impossibly high overhead, painted with a mural of an army fighting a dragon. It’s large enough to fit a commercial jet in here! Massive pillars flank us on either side as we approach the throne at the end. My heart starts to pound as we stop before the king. Sitting on the golden throne in his golden crown, he’s the embodiment of authority. Stoic, burly, his hands bigger than my face, a greatsword rests on the seat next to him. The king has the eyes of a man that’s seen countless battles in his lifetime.

“Behold, Sovereign Ruler of Dusud, Destroyer of Demons, and Dragon of the South Winds! King Pouria!”

The butler instructs us to bow and we do, only rising once we are told to.

“I present the adventurers from Provo, Your Majesty.”

The king speaks in a voice that sounds like groaning wood.

“Three backwoods adventurers have been sent to me with sensitive information regarding the demon army. This had better be worth my time. Say your peace.”

The other two look at me expectantly. You’ve got to be kidding! They expect me to talk to him?! This is going to be a disaster. My mouth is instantly sapped of all moisture. I feel myself shrink into the floor, unable to even raise my head. I’m about to speak when a soldier clad in silver heavy plate armor rushes from a side entrance and bows.

“My king, I bring news from the Tenko Mountains. Demon Lord Katariel’s forces have not been spotted for several days now. We believe they may have retreated.”

The king turns his attention away from us to the knight. “That wench. Tell General Argeus to be ready for an all-out assault. Katariel is cunning, deadly, and ruthless, she would never leave a battle unfinished. She is likely gathering forces for a sneak attack while our guard is down.”

The soldier bows again and sprints from the hall.

I finally speak up. “Um- yes your majesty we were in Provo when-”

“Speak up man! I do not have time to waste on mumbling fools!” King Pouria shouts.

Off to a great start of course. I clear my throat and try again.

“Your Majesty. We were sent from Provo to tell you about what happened there. A high ranking demon led a horde of his minions on an assault of the town. My friends and I were able to stop him but many lives were lost-”

The monarch raises his hand for me to stop. He glares at me, his dark eyes searching mine for something.

“Your story is ridiculous. Provo is well within our borders and protected like all of Dusud by our unbreakable blockade. Not one demon has crossed the line in over a hundred years. Even if what you’re saying is true, there’s no way you would be alive to talk about it.”

I try to explain but Rina steps forward before I can speak. She throws something on the floor that clacks loudly against the marble. Everyone goes silent and I instantly recognize it as the shadow demon’s void-like mask. The butler backs away in horror and begins to pray fervently.

“We wouldn’t have come all this way without proof… Your Majesty.” she says flatly.

The king’s expression darkens. “A shadowlord’s mask. How is this possible?”

“It was a surprise attack. We still aren't sure where they appeared from. More importantly though…” Kizzik says. “This man was able to defeat the demon single handedly.”

King Pouria is stunned when he hears this. He looks me up and down in disbelief.

“Surely not! This whelp is little more than a novice! He has an abnormal amount of mana, I’ll admit but you expect me to believe that he defeated a shadowlord? How?”

“With a Dawn Relic, Your Highness. He possesses a legendary weapon of the gods.” Rina says.

The king raises an eyebrow, his expression inscrutable.

Rina gestures for me to show him. It’s showtime I guess. I summon the suit to me in a dazzling array that fills the hall with light. In a matter of moments, the white and gold armored plating is all settled into place.

[Systems online and optimal, Void Walker. Your remaining power supply is at 64%]

“The demon came looking for me and for this suit. I wasn't able to stop the destruction in Provo but I promise to you now that I will use this power to fight alongside you in this war, to prevent more tragedies!”

The throne room goes silent. Everyone is still, waiting for Pouria’s next words. The King looks at me up and down then gets up from his throne and walks right up to me. I’m still unable to read his expression as he examines the armor.

“This is a day full of impossibilities it seems.” He speaks low and reverently, nodding his head.

“You are a most welcome ally in these dark times. You and your companions have my solemn apologies for insinuating your words were false. I simply cannot believe that you stand before me now. This armor is a mythical thing, something I thought was confined to fairytales and yet…” He pats me on the shoulder, testing that I’m not some kind of illusion I think.

The rest of our meeting has a much more amicable tone. The king asks me all sorts of details about the suit. Some things I can answer and some things I can’t like which god gave it to me. I do break the news to him that I’m from another plane of existence but he surprisingly takes it in stride.

“After all that you’ve shown me, I have no choice but to believe this as well.” King Pouria chuckles and shakes his head.

“We are here to be put to use against the Demon King. We would have you give the orders directly.” Rina says.

The king strokes his face ponderously for a moment before something clicks in his head.

“Ah! As it happens, there is something I think you would be well suited for. The man that made your introduction for you, Lord Guille, I met with him earlier today. There is something we should all discuss together. Reginald! Go and fetch Lord Guille now.”

The butler takes off without hesitation.

“You want us to help Guille with something? What was his request?” I ask.

“He is a representative from the island nation of Borikan. He approached me with an offer of alliance. They have been worried about some minor demon incursions as of late and are in need of assistance it seems.”

“You want to send us there?” Rina sounds surprised as she asks.

The king nods. “Borikan is a key location. We could use it as a naval base to launch more aggressive attacks in the west. You can work out the details of your departure once Lord Guille arrives. In the meantime, I will be adding one of my finest to your ranks. I won't see a Dawn relic go unprotected into a foreign land.”

The king snaps his fingers and from an adjoining room behind him, comes…

“Camilla?!” I can't help but exclaim.

She’s out of her workout gear now and wearing a tight fitting outfit that shows off her muscular form. It’s reminiscent of the taoist robes from my home world.

“Kenji?! Is that you? What's with that crazy armor? Oh and Rina! it’s good to see you again!” She waves at us cheerfully.

“You all know each other then? Good. That makes things easier. Camilla, you will join this party and act as commander. Protecting this dawn relic will be your top priority.” The king orders.

Camilla snaps to attention, her face becoming serious as she salutes King Pouria. “I will see it done, Your Majesty.”