Save the Handsome King!

"You want me to do what?" I asked looking down at some weapons placed on the ground.

A long sword, two daggers, a bow and arrow, a huge war hammer, a wand, and a golden staff were on the floor. I couldn't believe my eyes. I had no idea what I was supposed to do with all these weapons. I looked up at Tomas in front of me holding a piece of paper, unsure what to say.

Tomas coughed before looking at me. "I want you to pick a class from these categories; the barbarian, the monk, the wizard, the ranger, the rogue, or the cleric?"

I thought for a moment before answering, "I'm sorry, but what do these classes mean?"

Tomas explained, "Each class has its own unique skills and abilities. The barbarian is a physical fighter, the monk is a master of martial arts, the wizard is a spellcaster, the ranger is a master of the outdoors, the rogue is a master of stealth and the cleric is a healer and protector of the faith."

Tomas gasps. "Don't tell me your old world didn't have adventurers!"

I shook my head, "Nope, never heard of them. What are they?"

"Adventurers are brave souls who explore the unknown, seeking out new and exciting experiences," Tomas explained. "They take risks, but those risks often come with great rewards."

He continued. "In this world, they are ranked by tiers with E being the lowest to S being the highest. Adventurers with an S rank are seen as the most elite and are often given the most challenging and dangerous tasks. They are also rewarded handsomely for their achievements. Adventurers with lower ranks often aspire to reach higher ranks, and the competition is fierce. S-rank adventurers are respected and revered by all, representing the pinnacle of success in adventuring."

"Um, okay but what does this stuff have to do with me?" I asked.

"Well, choose a class you can train in, of course!" Tomas replied, which made my mouth drop.

"What?" I said in disbelief. "You want me to learn a new skill?"

Tomas nodded and smiled. "Yes, you have to train hard to break the curse that was placed on the king. But to do so, you'll have to pick any of these classes to gain the skills you need. You can choose from magic, swordsmanship, and archery. Your choice will determine your path toward breaking the curse."

I looked down at the weapons in front of me, then at Tomas. "And how long would I train?"

Tomas smiled. "It depends on your commitment and dedication. But if you're willing to put in the effort, I'm sure you'll be able to break the curse in no time."

"In no time?" I said raising my eyebrows before pushing the weapons away from me. "But I got no time for this! I have school tomorrow and my Mom would be worried sick if she found out I was missing."

Tomas paused. "But can you at least try some of these classes?"

I shook my head. "I'm sorry, I really can't. I really wish I could, but it's just not possible. You see, I'm scared of knives, so swords and draggers have to go. I suck at archery. No matter how hard I try, I can't hit the target. I'm NOT physically strong so holding that huge hammer or becoming a fighter is completely out of the question. I could be a magic user but magic can take so much time so I'm not sure if I can handle all the studying and practice."

I looked at the king and Tomas who were all sitting silently. I feel guilty about letting them down. I wanted to be helpful but I just didn't have the right skills. I don't know what to do.

Then I wondered, "Is there another way to break the spell? Or another class I could take? Maybe there's something I can do that I'm unaware of."

Tomas looked at me. Lucifer seemed to be considering my suggestion. "Aimi, did I recall you advertising music?"

I nodded. "Yes, I can play several instruments."

Lucifer looked intrigued and motioned for me to continue. I began to list all the instruments I could play - guitar, piano, drums, and flute. I could also sing and compose music.

Lucifer seemed impressed. "How about you be a bard?"

I looked at her blankly. "Excuse me? Your Majesty?"

He smiled. "A bard is a person who composes and recites poems and songs," he said. "They can cast spells by singing or playing music," he continued. "It's a form of magic that allows them to influence the listener's emotions and even control their minds."

I was stunned. "Me? Become a bard?"

"A BARD?" Tomas yelled. "But your Highness, a bard is one of the weakest classes! Hardly anybody learns from it because of how low-rated it is! My suggestion still remains for the girl to learn swordsmanship, archery, or magic to break your curse."

Lucifer shook his head. "It is her choice to make, and I will not interfere. I trust her judgment, and I believe she will make the right decision."

The king turned to me and smiled, touching the front mirror gently. "You will know what to do. I know you can do this."

My heart raced as I felt the weight of his words. I looked deep into his eyes, feeling a mix of emotions. He is so handsome and dreamy like he's the perfect husband that every girl dreams of. I could feel my cheeks turning pink and a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. I wanted to stay in this moment forever, to never let go of this feeling. I knew then that I had found the one.

I took a deep breath and stepped forward, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead."Yes, I'll do it. I'll be a bard and free you from your curse!"

He looked at me in surprise, his sapphire eyes full of disbelief. He smiled slowly, a twinkle in his eye, and with a single nod of his head, he accepted my offer.

"So, Tomas, do you have a musical instrument for me?" I said turning to the small man. "Because bards are the perfect class for me."

Tomas shook his head, blushing. "Uh, no. I wasn't expecting someone I summoned to become a bard. Bards are underrated, you see. In general, people do not consider them to be true adventurers. Most of the time, people choose as a profession the more 'glamorous' ones, like knights or wizards."

"So, what you're saying is you don't have a weapon of choice for a bard?" I said.

"No, not necessarily," he replied. "A bard's most powerful weapon is their voice. With the right words they can inspire courage, rally allies, and even charm their opponents into submission."

I gasp. "I have a voice. I can sing! I can break the curse!"

"Now wait a second!" Tomas waved his hands and I stared at him, confused. He continued, "You can't just break the curse like that! It would help if you found the right words and the right tune to break it. You'll also need a magical musical instrument for it."

"But where could I get one of those?" I asked.

"I might know someone who can help you," Tomas replied. "But it won't be easy."

Tomas pulled out a map and some gold coins from his pocket. He pointed to a spot on the map. "You'll have to travel to this location and pay the guard here with these coins. Then you can talk to the person who can help you."

I glanced at the map, which resembled a small village. I hesitated, not sure if I wanted to take on such a task. "I have to do it alone? What about you? Can you take me there?"

"No, I'm sorry," he replied. "I can't leave the king alone in this cave. You'll have to do it yourself." He gave me a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, you'll be fine. It's just a few minutes walk. You'll be there and back before you know it."

He grabbed my hand and squeezed it. "You can do this. I know you can."

"But," I paused. "But I have no idea where he is. I don't know what he looks like."

Tomas gave me a photo of a man in his mid-thirties. I stared at it briefly, trying to remember every detail. I had to find him.

"This is him. His name is Bobajin and he ruins and sells magical artifacts." Tomas said, handing me his photo. "You'll have to travel to his shop called "The Wizard's Den" in the city of Mortha. Tell him you know me and he'll help you find what you need. Good luck."

I still felt uncertain but I looked at the king. Tomas summoned me for him so I guess I had to take his advice.

I took some coins, a map, and a photo. I grabbed a bag that was handed out to me and headed out of the cave. I had a long journey ahead of me, but I was determined to find the magical artifact I was looking for.

As I went out of the cave it was already morning I looked at the map and decided on my route. As I was doing so, I heard a call from the cave.

"AIMI!" It was Lucifer's voice. I knew it instantly. He was calling my name. I froze in my tracks, waiting for his response. Slowly, I turned around and re-entered the cave, but stopped once I heard it again.

"Aimi, I just want to say, good luck on your travels and thank you."

I smiled. I knew this was an important moment. I bowed deeply, then walked out of the cave and into my journey, feeling more confident than ever before.