Chapter 5

I was just about to enter the gates of the castle, I suddenly stopped. "Wait."

Olriad and the three other knights i was with stopped. 

Olriad pushed is golden hair to the side, "Is there a problem hero?"

"I was just wondering, why would a Corrupt monster go so...I mean venture so near the castle. " said, fixing my wording. 

I gave myself a nod, acknowledging how I'm fitting in already. Well, at least thats what I told myself. 

"Ahh, yes. It's been like this for several days now. We've started some investigation as to the reason. That's why I was adamant about letting you venture too far." Olriad explained. 

I glanced down at my leg.

The injury I'd received during the fight with the Goblin Chief....former Chief, had already been healed by one of the knights using healing magic.

I'd expected some pain to remain, but there was barely even a bruise.

Another reminder that this world didn't play by the rules of my old one.

I flexed my leg.

Apparently, the old goblin hadn't done as much damage as I'd thought.

"Don't worry," I said. "I'm fine."

Olriad gave me a skeptical look.

Before either of us could say anything else, a sound came from behind us.

Crunch.

Crunch.

Footsteps against the gravel.

I turned.

The sunlight caught the figure approaching us.

White.

Or silver?

The prince's hair reflected the morning light as he walked toward us, his usual calm smile resting on his face.

Prince Cisum.

I'd only known him for two days, yet somehow, we'd already become friends.

At least...

Something close to it.

"Your Highness," Olriad greeted, bowing his head.

"Commander." Cisum returned the gesture. "I see you've returned."

"Yes, Your Highness. We encountered a Corrupt Goblin Chief near the forest."

Cisum's expression changed slightly. "A Corrupt?"

"Yes." Olriad glanced at me. "The Hero fought it."

Cisum looked at me.

His eyes widened slightly.

"You fought a Corrupt monster?"

"With some assistance." Olriad coughed.

I gave him a look.

Cisum laughed. "I see."

Olriad straightened. "In any case, I have other duties to attend to. I shall leave the Hero in your care."

Cisum nodded. "Of course."

Olriad looked at me. Turned then walked away with the other knights.

Then I turned toward Cisum.

 "So..." Cisum smiled."You still remember our plans?"

I blinked. "Plans?"

His expression became dramatically offended. "You forgot?"

"No." I paused.

"I was testing you."

"Of course."

He laughed.

"Come on."

We entered the castle grounds together.

Over the past two days, Cisum had shown me around the castle. The throne room. The library. The dining hall. The gardens. The western towers.

Even some of the older parts of the castle that weren't usually open to visitors. Today, we'd planned to explore the grounds beyond the main castle.

Part of me felt like I should have been training instead.

I had a world to save.

The Calamities would eventually return.

And I had just discovered that my combat ability was nowhere near where I wanted it to be.

But then Cisum smiled.

There was something about his presence that made it difficult to refuse him.

So I followed.

We walked along the outer courtyard.

The castle grounds were enormous. Stone paths stretched between gardens, fountains and training fields.

Servants moved between buildings. Knights passed us occasionally, bowing as they recognized Cisum.

Then we reached the training grounds. I stopped.

My mouth opened slightly.

Hundreds of knights were training. Some practiced swordsmanship in pairs, wooden and steel blades clashing beneath the morning sun.

Others stood in formation, casting spells.

Flames danced between their hands. Sheets of ice formed in the air before shattering against reinforced targets. One knight raised his hand. A gust of wind tore across the training field.

I stared.

"Wow." 

Cisum looked at me.

"What?"

I barely heard him.

On the monitor, it had never looked like this. I'd seen the training grounds hundreds of times.

I'd watched Araleon walk through here. I'd even completed several scenarios involving the knights.

But this...

This was different.

The sound.

The heat.

The smell of steel.

The impact of every strike.

The feeling of magic passing through the air.

It wasn't a collection of animations anymore. These people were alive. I took another step forward.

A knight's sword struck another with a loud clang.

A mage beside them shouted an incantation. The ground trembled as a spell exploded against a target.

My eyes widened.

Cisum noticed. "Impressive, isn't it?"

I nodded. "More than you know."

He laughed. "Don't worry. Soon enough, you'll be using magic far beyond anything they're capable of."

I glanced at him.

"And then you'll save us yet again, Hero."

He laughed.

It was a genuine laugh.

Not the restrained smile of a prince surrounded by court etiquette.

Not the careful expression I'd seen during formal meetings.

Just Cisum. A young man enjoying himself.

I probably would have liked him even more if I didn't know what came next.

My smile faded slightly.

Prince Cisum.

In the game, he was one of the more complicated characters.

Kind.

Charismatic.

Popular.

But beneath that...

Ambitious.

He had plans.

Plans concerning his half-brother.

I looked at him.

He was smiling.

The knowledge felt strangely heavy. I had known his story before I ever met him.

But knowing something in a game and knowing it about a real person were two very different things.

I cleared my throat.

"So..."

Cisum looked at me.

"Do you have any brothers?"

He almost choked on air. "I... excuse me?"

"Brothers."

"Why would you ask that?"

I shrugged.

"Just curious."

Cisum stared at me for a moment. Fortunately, he didn't seem suspicious.

Obviously, how could he?

There was no reason for Araleon to know about his plans.

He smiled again. "I do have a half-brother."

I almost laughed.

The wording was technically a lie.

"He is currently away, dealing with issues concerning trade with Heliocast, a neighboring kingdom."

I nodded.

Ahh. Heliocast.

I didn't need him to tell me about it.

I knew Heliocast.

There wasn't supposed to be an issue this early in the game.

The trade dispute only began much later.

It was minor.

At least, in the main route.

But it caused problems in several scenarios. Some of them were surprisingly difficult.

I looked at Cisum. He was still smiling.

For a moment, I wondered how much of the person I knew from the game was already present in the man standing beside me.

Then I smiled back. "I see."

Cisum nodded. "Yes."

We continued walking. For several minutes, neither of us spoke. The sound of the training grounds slowly faded behind us.

Eventually, I stopped. "I should probably find the Guardian."

Cisum turned. "The Guardian?"

"Yes."

He hesitated. I could see the reluctance in his eyes.

He had already planned the rest of our day.

But he knew.

Everyone in Chronix knew about the relationship between the Hero and the Guardian. The Hero's summoning is her responsibility.

And, in every cycle I'd played, she remained one of the most important figures in his journey.

Cisum sighed. "Very well."

He smiled faintly. "I suppose I cannot keep the Hero all to myself."

I chuckled. And turned. Thanks to my tour of the castle yesterday. I was familiar with the important directions.

As I walked, I thought about the details so far. Trying to narrow down whichever scenario i had been transmigated to.

The strange timing.

And now the trade issue with Heliocast.

None of these things should have happened yet.

At least...

Not in the scenarios I remembered.

I looked ahead.

Maybe this was an issue with my memory.