Chapter 12:
Legacy of the Forgotten
I don't understand what's going on I saved this guy from this weird creature, and the next thing I know. I'm suddenly seeing my life flash before my eyes. Luckily Avorion had my back and drew his weapon at the last second, still though. Why is he so mad?
I looked to Avorion wondering if he could tell what the heck was going on, before looking at the tanned male that summoned four black knights.
"He-"
Avorion cut me off abruptly, and began to speak in a different language with the dark haired individual. Leaving being a bit surprised himself that my teacher knew their native tongue. I guess he still has a few tricks in the book that I can learn from. However before I could think about the situation any further, the other man began to speak to Avorion. At first it seemed calmed as he had his arms crossed, but then he got very loud with his words and pointed to the skewered creature. Avorion then make hand gestures as he replied, trying to indicate that we've been traveling for a very long time and that the whole incident was a accident. The man sighs and called off his knights, making a gesture to them for return to their posts. Upon being told to do so, all but one of them burst into flames and disappeared into smoke. However the remaining one looked at Avorion intently for a moment before being consumed by fire as well, with the only evidence of them being there was four black scorched spots in the sand and dirty: signifying where they stood.
The man turned his back to us and signed us to follow him as he walked away. Avorion gives us the thumbs up that it's okay to follow the man. I follow Avorion's lead and just straight up asked him what he said to deescalate the situation.
"I simply explained that you forgot your manners while on our long journey."
Avorion said in a quite frank tone.
"How'd he take it?"
Avorion replied.
"He said that he understands, and will lead us back the kingdom; but he said that doesn't know if he'll forgive you for interrupting his trail. So it's best to be wary and avoid interactions with him after we arrive, just in case he tries to challenges you to combat."
I sighed deeply and nodded in acknowledgement of my mentor's words before he signaled the others to follow us. Alicides, Jeremy and Navis followed us, leaving Corvus who chose to remain on the hill and make herself a small camp. She was always the most silent individual in our journey, but from time to time I feel a slight aura of resentment from that knight. This strikes me as a bit odd considering that Corvus worked under my farther, and I wasn't ever disrespectful towards her either. Yet even despite that negative feeling, I felt a deep pain that tugged at her heart. I look to Avorion who shook his head and just told me to follow the man for now. Alcides and Jeremy shook their heads when I looked to them for a second and third opinion. I sigh and finally gave in to their instruction, hating that we were leaving Corvus behind; but I force myself to put those thoughts behind me for the moment and do as instructed.
The man led us words the kingdom of Prosperum Ignis, and quite frankly I was at a lost for words. Just the walls of this place alone were enough to stir up the curiosity and excitement within me, making me feel like I was a young kid again. The first thing that caught my eye were kingdom's walls that seemed to be a single solid piece of darkened metal that surrounded the entirety of the kingdom itself had a another layer of liquid metal oozing from the top of the wall, coating the darkened metal. Honestly I was tempted to touch it, but before I could Avorion called me over as he and the others entered through the kingdom's golden main gate. I of course followed them as instructed, only to have my curiosity be stirred up even more with the sight of the people of this land.
Most of them from what I was able to see, were a lot more cheerful then the citizen's of Fortis Gelu, they had a tanned complexion to them as well. The clothes they wore as well were very much different that of the traditional fur and pelt like garments of my people. The garments of this placed seemed to go in either two was, one being loose and very breathable and or very tight and sealed off. I'm also drawing to the conclusion of this style of clothing could be so that no sand or dirt get in. Consider the climate they are in, I think that both options definitely have their merits when it comes to their practicality. However despite the diametrically opposite styles, they both shared similar color pallets that just screamed both passion are heat. As I follow Avorion and the others, I couldn't help but turn my head back towards the people that we passed on our way to the castle, with this burning feeling inside that called for me to join them.
It was just so different from where I grew up. Each day being determined by the amount of wind and snow we had from the blizzard prior, where only the strongest kind of people could've endured and made a life for themselves. However before I could get a chance to draw more comparisons between the two kingdoms I was met with a familiar gaze. As we made our way up the stairs, I could spot the eyes of resentment that were being shot at me by a few men in aprons that were hidden amongst the crowd. Their arms crossed and gazed were enough for me to know that, they didn't want to see me or my kind around here. Sure there weren't many people like that back home, but I still remembered their gazes of distain nonetheless.
I take a deep breath and slowly exhale , put those thoughts in the back of my mind as we made our way up the flight of stairs that led us to the current King of Fire. I was growing a bit more anxious with each step drawing me closer to the man that is the equivalent of my father. I wondered how he'd treat the kin of another King's, but before I could ponder anymore on the idea, a girl with eye patch bumped into me on her way down the flight of stairs. Her unique hair style was very similar to the man that tried to attack me caught my eye immediately. Could it be that her catching my eye was fated?
When we reached the final step, all thoughts about that stranger vanished as quickly as they came. I was quite overwhelmed when I arrived within the throne room of the foreign Lord. The fact that this throne room was made entirely out of gold threw me off quite a bit, considering that this material was mostly used in coins for trade and such. Furthermore, the walls behind the throne room had this place's flag hanging from the top of them. It was a red flag that had a creature on it, the creature looked to have some antlers of some kind, and was on fire. Another detail that caught me off guard was the fact that the left and right walls before the stairs of the throne had wide open doors.
The stranger's voice broke my train of thought as he spoke to the King, most likely explaining the situation that had just happened outside the kingdom. While they spoke to one another, I used the moment to get a better look at the man that held my life in his hand. He hadn't even a hit grey in his beard nor in his long black hair and ruby red eyes to compliment his tanned complexion. I immediately put together that these two were blood related. Besides that though I couldn't help but wonder why the man kept his forearms along with legs and feet were cladded in red armor, but not his torso. Instead dawning a red cloak that left the rest of his arms and torso exposed.
My body started to feel warm for some reason though, as if heat in the room was focusing in on me. I look around to see that Avorion and the others were kneeling to this foreign ruler, making me immediately follow suit and bend the knee as well. I slowly raise my head upwards to look at the King, to see if he noticed my unintentional disrespect, and unfortunately for me. I saw his ruby eyes look back at me, the gaze was one of curiosity but for some reason I felt as if my being was set a blaze. I quickly lowered my head, my eyes now widened with panic as I hoped my misconduct would be forgiven.
The two relatives finished talking with each other, with the King letting out a chuckle looking at me and the others.
"You may rise, son of bravery and frost. You're supporters may rise as well, after all this is a question for you all to answer."
The King said, as we all rose to meet his gaze. He paused and waited till we all stood up on our feet before smiling and continuing.
"Since I am honor bound by oath to not harm the kin of another King's without just reason to do so. I will still ask you all one question, mostly due to the fact that I can read the inner fire inside of you all and it makes me wonder. What do you seek from the land of fire and iron? Power, refuge, food or for light's sake , a place to fucking relax. Really any answer will suffice, but I'll be able to tell if your honest or not."
He points to Jeremy and spoke with a voice of slight excitement.
"You seem like a man that knows what he wants. So tell me, what is it you desire?"
Jeremy then replied in the most plain voice we ever heard from him.
"Honestly your Majesty, I really wanna fuck some hot chick since its been three years of nothing but traveling and surviving in the most hostile environment possible."
Everyone of us just face palmed and shook their head in disbelief, because we couldn't believe that after three years of traveling to his place. Out of all the things he could've answered with, he told the King that he just wanted to get some ass for the knight. However despite the absurdity of Jeremy's words, King just lets out at torrent of laughter. He was laughing so hard that he had to stop and catch his breath to wiping a tear that escaped from his left eye. He then looked at Jeremy and smirked with a man who had found a kindred spirit before saying.
"I can appreciate a man who appreciates the company of women, as I do myself. However we can get back to that later."
He adjusted himself in his seat, now sitting at the edge of this throne. He looked at Navis before pointing his finger at her and spoke to her in a more sincere tone.
"My my, I wonder what a pretty girl like you desires."
Navis looked down for a moment, unsure of what to say to such a question. Honestly I couldn't blame her, she served my mother and watched her, her sisters and everyone else in our home turn to twisted monsters. I remained silent though as she raised her head and replied in her soft voice.
"I-I'm unsure at the moment of what I desire. My apologies you Excellency.."
The King started eying her up, stroking his beard as he responded.
"Understand able, but don't worry. I'm sure we can make you feel right at home here.."
His Majesty chuckled for a moment before looking at Avorion. His gaze turned into one of curiosity, while gazing at the damaged armor of this man. The King simply smiles with a bit of excitement as he spoke.
"Now your a real interesting one. Unlike the others, your inner fire in shouted by a force that's equivalent to myself, so I have to ask. Why can't I see your inner fire?"
I looked to Avorion, with a similar question now forming in the back of my mind. My father was always able to read Avorion, as to what extent I'm unsure of, I don't know if it was intuition or just him knowing Avorion that well. So if this man claims to know what's in our "inner fires" then why couldn't he read Avorion's? Avorion then replied to the King, simply saying.
"Serving the King of Fortis Gelu came with a multitudes of reinforcements to my mind and body your Highness. However I can assure you that I have nothing to hide whatsoever, and that I desire to fulfill my Lord's request to make his son a capable man, as well as a respectable warrior."
My heart sank at the mention of my father, but the foreign King looked at Avorion and nodded, accepting his words. He simply replied to Avorion saying.
"You are truly a man of honorable Sir. Avorion. Serving a request of a Lord that passed takes real loyalty. I can respect that, however we both know that you need power in order to make any real change, but I digress. I'll take you for your word, stranger of frost."
The King then looked to me for a moment, making my heart race as I was unsure of what I wanted at this point. Luckily it wasn't my turn yet as his gaze moved passed me and onto Alcides instead. Alcides looked at the King with the Ruler of these lands saying in a demeaning tone.
"Surely you can't be serious? When I look into your inner fire, all I see is sadness, grief, and regret. Given your size, I had believed I found a man worth of hosting in Ignious Games but instead I find your fire smoldering embers. You have power, a gift hand crafted for it, and yet you wallow in self loathing. All because you think that you were of incapability saving your kin. Failing to protect those who were unworthy of even touching the soils of these lands."
I could feel the pressure in the room change as Alcides grew more angry with the King's words. However the King continued on, knowing he had full control of this situation.
"This land is governed by one thing, and this is strength. So if you are to live here as one of my people, then you'll need to forgive yourself and move along. Not only for your kin, but I can see by the craftsmanship of yours and Sir. Avorion's sets of armor. That you two served under the King of Fortis Gelu and thus were also entrusted with the protection of this young man. I can understand the death of a child of yours, but if not. I have one thing to say to you. Grow up."
The annoyed Ruler looked at me once more, taking a deep breath he started speaking to me and just ignored Alcides who at this point must've been seething with anger.
"Now then, lets see here...Your inner fire is very perplexing."
The King closed his eyes for a moment and tried to what I assume was focus on me at that point, but he abruptly opened his eyes with visible shock. He checked his body to make sure that he was really there, before taking a deep breath and getting up from his seat.
"I-I think that enough for today..la cena is almost ready and I'd hate for it to go cold. Since you're our honored guests, you may join us for dinner.
The King extended his hand to me and the others speaking in a more calm tone, that sounded a bit sensual.
"So please, come the night is young and we have so much to discuss."
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