Hero's Story

A week later, Enderan began his final training lessons and packed for his trip to the capital. Victor got in some more training, though Tholm had to take over as his sparring partner at Victor’s request.

Victor also prepared Enderan for the journey, sharing essential knowledge of the world beyond and teaching him how to ride a horse.

Tholm had given Enderan one of the horses in the stable. It was a chestnut gelding named Rudy.

Victor rode Prancer, his golden maned horse with a white coat.

Enderan was now sitting by his window, his empty sleeve rolled up, set in place with a pin. Yoki sat on the window ledge, basking in the sunlight. It was nearing noon. His room was tidy. They said they would keep everything the same and ready for his return.

Victor walked up and knocked against the door frame. “Ready to head out?”

He gave his room one last glance. “Ready as I’ll ever be.” He gave him a melancholic smile.

As he walked through the house, memories of his friends flashed by. As he climbed down the stairs he remembered racing them up and down, getting yelled at by Carissa and the servants.

At the bottom, standing by the doors were Tholm and Emily.

Just before walking through the front doors, Enderan looked back and imagined all of the past kids, looking down and waving him goodbye.

He stepped out to the front of the house with their luggage loaded onto the back of their horses.

Carissa and Rose were out front with the staff.

“No you don’t!” Emily stepped out and grabbed the twins from the straps of their backpacks.

“We want to go on an adventure too!” Felis struggled.

“I want to be with Enderan!” Felisha cried.

“You two can’t come with us!” Enderan exclaimed. Then looking down at their teary eyes, he gave them a hug. “You two behave for me alright? And take care of everyone. You will have new sibling to join you soon.”

Rose stepped beside Enderan and looked down at them. “Enderan’s right. You don’t want to leave them alone would you?”

They suddenly looked appalled with themselves and shook their heads.

Enderan got up and nodded his thanks. “Take care Rose.”

“You too. Come back soon, so you could meet your nephew.” She walked up to him and pecked him on the cheek. He felt a little color come to his cheeks, before he hugged her.

Carissa stepped forward and presented Enderan with a red scarf. I immediately recognized it.

“Isn’t that Revian’s old scarf?”

She smiled fondly at it. “It is. Revian told me to give it to you before you left on your trip.”

At the mentioning of his name, many eyes watered. Enderan stepped up to his aunt and allowed her to wrap the scarf around him. It was a chilly autumn day.

Carrissa looked down at Enderan, and it reminded her of winter days she’d wrap up Revian before sending him out into the snow.

Enderan knew what the act reminded her of, and so he embraced her and she returned it tenderly. “Stay safe out there, you hear me?” her voice trembled.

“I will.” He allowed himself one last childish mannerism before parting. He wiped his face against her shoulder.

They all hugged Enderan before Carissa walked up and hugged Victor. “Thank for everything you have done for us.”

“It was nothing,” Victor said before reaching into his pocket and handing her a large red crystal.

“What is this?”

“It’s a ruby. It should be worth a thousand gold coins.”

They gaped at him. “Please, you don’t have to repay us! We are well off on our own.”

“Then use it to raise more kids. Use the money to turn this place into a proper orphanage, or for your own pleasures.” He smiled. “I have enough to take care of Enderan and myself. So please, as a thank you for my research, and as appreciation for all I’ve experienced here. I haven’t felt so at home in many years.”

Tholm stepped forward and nodded. “I believe it would be a donation well put to use.”

They bowed their thanks.

Victor stood before them with a determined gaze. “I promise you all. I will break the dragon queen’s curse and return your loved ones.”

Tholm sighed, thinking that such a young man shouldn’t make such a lofty promise.

“We will break the curse!” Enderan butted in.

“Right. We will break the curse.” Victor smiled at Enderan. This caused them all to smile with tear filled eyes.

Tholm relented with a weary smile. “Then I wish you the best of luck, you two just may be the ones to do it.”

Enderan gave him a beaming grin that reached his eyes and Yoki hopped up on his shoulder.

“Everyone, thank you for raising me!” Enderan bowed his head forward. “I love you all!”

Victor felt a surge of pride for the boy.

Finally they bid them farewell and they rode out beyond the gates with Enderan turning in his seat and waving them goodbye.

They rode through the town and the villagers called after Enderan and waved. They must have been told in advance about his departure. The village guards wished them luck as they left and Enderan’s head was looking all around them.

“This feels like a dream!” He laughed. “It’s like the beginning of an adventure from a book! A shut in boy sets out with a sketchy wizard to the city to become a knight!”

“Sketchy wizard?!” Victor asked in mock offense. “And slow down there, you are going to be a squire at best!” He smiled.

“But in a way you’re right. This is your adventure,” Victor exclaimed as he reached over and playfully shoved Enderan.

-

“Because, you’re the hero of the story!” I shifted in my saddle as Victor rode a bit ahead of me. But as he rode past I saw that smug grin of his. I scoffed trying to keep a smile away from my face.

“Heroes don’t get shoved off their horses by their companions!” I spurred my horse to move up ahead.

“Well this isn’t your average story.” He then looked around him before speaking. “Speaking of which, we also won’t be going to the capital first.”

“Wait what?”

“I didn’t tell anyone else but I decided that before meeting captain Nemo, we will be making a quick little detour.”

“Oh, then it should be all right, so long as it’s on the way.”

“Actually, it will be a drastic detour.” He smiled sheepishly, and I could only stare, speechless. “Although we have just said goodbye, I have a feeling we might be seeing Revian in the near future.”