The castle was filled with anticipation. Why wouldn't it? The prophesied ceremony of 'Hero Summoning' would finally be fulfilled. The floor was scrubbed clean, then a circle was engraved there. Strange runes were written by the members of the clergy and the mages of the tower.
Ah. Don't mistake me as one of these noble people, mind you. I am only a servant whose job is to clean the room afterwards. I hid behind the pillars, with a fellow servant, Brenda.
"The prophecy is going to be fulfilled", she said to me, "they spoke of five heroes that'll save Monad."
"Four. It's four", I corrected, "Where did you even get that extra one?"
She snorted, "No harm in adding one. More heroes means more chances to succeed. Right?"
I felt my left eye twitch by itself. This woman… We continued to argue in whispers, until the circle lights up. We immediately held our breaths.
The room was filled with a bright light. When it died down, I saw four people standing above the circle. They were young, no less older than my son or the Princess. Their clothes were strange, unlike any peasant or royalty. Really out of this world.
They have one in common: black hairs. The rarest hair color in the entire Monad. The King welcomed them, then each of the Heroes introduced themselves.
I couldn't really catch their names. It was unfamiliar to our tongue. Brenda herself seems to be watching them intensely.
"They're the heroes? I thought they would be… older." She whispered quietly.
"Hush. What if someone heard you? It doesn't matter how old they are as long as they are here to save us." I scolded her with a low voice.
Then, they used magic and weapons so powerful that it even left the King impressed. Glowing sword, healing that restored a guard's eye who were lost in battle, a shield that reflected attacks, and magic of all elements that matched even the High Wizard.
Everyone was left in awe, even myself. They were young, but already this strong? Monad is saved! The fiendish demons stood no chance with this one!
Unfortunately, the joy was cut short. The circle glowed, but it was not as bright as before. When the light died down, the one who stood there was a tall man. His expression was stoic, just like stone.
He was the tallest man I've ever seen. Towering over the young heroes and, dare I say, even the King himself. With pale complexion, short black hair and his posture that never wavered in front of the King. He didn't carry a weapon, not that I could see him that clearly from behind the pillars.
"See? What did I tell you? It's five." She whispered with triumph.
I really wish to scold her, but the King's voice cut off all small conversations.
"Who are you? The Prophecy spoke of no fifth hero. Declare yourself, Outsider." The King's voice was firm and demanding.
"Albert." The outsider spoke flatly. Now that I look at him, the man wore a grey glove in his right hand. It seemed like the gauntlets used by the guards.
The King glanced at the outsider, like a dragon eyeing the younglings of an enemy. After a while, the King stood up from his throne. Such a rare moment. Not even an envoy from a neighboring kingdom warrants such a gesture.
"Sir Albert. A man with such few words. Seeing that you too, have been entangled in our summoning ceremony…" The King stepped down from his throne.
He stopped before the outsider. The young heroes stayed on the side, hands on their weapons. Likely to act should the outsider make a move.
"Sir Albert. The world of Monad had been plagued by demons and monsters alike. Humanity suffered through their torment all the time." The King told him.
Brenda and I didn't understand why the King would do this. Sir Albert, by all means, was only a stranger; an outsider. He had yet to show any of his magic, but the King seemed to favor him more than the four heroes.
As the King opened his mouth again, a question was uttered, "Sir Albert. Do you find it in your heart, a desire to help us? Humanity will hail you as a hero, you will possess wealth and many women will flock unto you."
"Or will you abandon us, and live aimlessly in Monad? The choice is yours, Sir Albert." The King finished him with two choice.
The outsider considered the King's word, or so it seemed. His face remains the same throughout: cold, blank and stone-faced. His final answer was, "The former."
The King seemed satisfied with his answer. He then told a guard to escort the heroes to their room. Finally, Brenda and I were called upon to clean the floor.
There was dirt, soil and mud scattered to where the heroes once stood. The King had a discussion with the Pope and High Wizard. The latter put up a soundproof barrier.
I scrubbed the floor of any filth. That's the least I could do. But even so, my mind reels back to the outsider.
He never bowed to the King, stood straight even when the King addressed him directly. He was a man immovable as a rock.
Brenda and I didn't linger long after cleaning. We went back to the building beside the castle. It was where the servants and their family lived.
My wife welcomed my return. But my son had yet to return home. He was an adventurer, still an E-rank, but that was enough for me. The fact that he could be one, where no one else in our family had was a miracle in itself.
Dinner was simple. My wife had baked me bread with honey butter, with a glass of wine for drink. It was a simple one. But I appreciate it deeply. I told her what happened at the castle, how the summoning went and all, and especially about the outsider. She seemed to be interested, but didn't probe further.
We went to bed afterwards, yet I couldn't help but to feel as if something big would happen. I slept with unease in my heart.
'Was his gesture one of tenacity, or was it born of disinterest?'