About a month had passed since I met Alis.
Our journey through the Forest of Ravatogh thus far had been oddly… underwhelming.
Though, I suppose that wasn't entirely out of place, considering the time I'd spent here myself.
Having a supposedly infamous noble child of Myreddin with me didn't change things as much as I thought they would.
Nonetheless, it wasn't as if everything was totally uneventful, and even if it was, there was nothing wrong with that.
After we arrived in Goldshire, things would be bustling, so it's better to have our time of reprieve now.
Throughout our time together, I'd come to learn more about Alis Vorlet, the only daughter of House Vorlet.
She was born to a household praised for their magical talents and capabilities, and as you would expect, was no exception.
In fact, she was considered among the best of the best, having learned her family's own divergent art not too long after awakening, although apparently it's more of technique than anything, yet it's been dubbed as an art by the official definition.
All in all, the girl was a bonafide prodigy.
…According to her, that is.
When I asked her about what kind of magic she wielded, she merely gave me a prideful smirk.
"My magic? Don't worry, little one, you'll find out soon enough," was all that she said.
When I confronted her further, pressing my concerns about her not having a wand on her, she replied like so, "A wand? That's too old fashioned, there's no need for it. With my magic, my weapon is always at the ready."
I considered pressing it further but felt as if I would arrive at a dead end, anyways, so I didn't.
I could more or less get the hint of what she was saying.
So she doesn't need a wand?
Then, her magic must be something she can fire off quickly, or maybe it's something to do with physical enhancements.
But then again, she's a conjurer, so I can't quite imagine a physical-focused conjurer.
…Ah, on second thought, I guess I can. But I'm looking to be more of a hybrid, so.
In any case, there were a few other things worth noting.
Like the conversation we had when I told her that I taught myself to be a triple-elemental mage before later on learning earth magic. For someone said to be surrounded by pure magical geniuses her entire life, she looked quite surprised.
Though it's not everyday you come across a mage younger than you, claiming to have pulled off something that only a very small percentage of people have ever done. One who is supposedly from a "humble" family, as well.
I tried to pass it off as luck, and that it was thanks to my teacher, but I could see her gaze sharpening in the same way it did the day we met, when she was picking apart my lies.
I concluded from then on, that it would be wise to watch exactly what I say around her and to not reveal too much about myself, lest she begins making connections between me and my prince identity.
But all things said and done, Alis and I got along much better than I would've thought.
It was as if that night we met, when she was all skeptical, critical, and untrusting of me, was years ago.
But, to be fair, that side of her persisted for a bit even after we began traveling.
One thing I noticed is that she would never show her back to me.
Not even when we slept in the same tent together, which led to very… uncomfortable situations of me twisting in my sleep and being met with her peaceful, sleeping face. Those nights were the hardest to sleep for me.
Knowing that she still harbored a bit of that distrust in her, yet she was forced physiologically to give in and lay unconscious near a stranger for an extended period of time, didn't sit right with me. Especially since I was equipped with the knowledge of her betrayal.
It was as if I hadn't earned the right to see her in such a vulnerable way yet.
The human body truly is quite limiting in its ways.
On one hand, it ached my heart to see her when I came to this realization, yet on the other, it motivated me that much more—to protect and save her throughout our time on our journey.
I was a Her… aspiring Hero, after all.
And so, I made sure to always wake up early, even when the pull of sleep weighed on me like a boulder.
Not just to show her—and to just maybe, instill into her that I was somehow more mature and responsible than I appeared—but also because of the new training regime I had.
Since I'd finally made the breakthrough into the final stage of my bronze core, I wanted to hurry and make as much progress as I can before I became an adventurer.
With the rate of things, it wasn't likely that I would become a silver core on our journey, but that was fine.
Hearing Alis briefly go over the things to expect as an adventurer and how the system works was what brought about this change, and I was hoping to at least break into the silver stage a few months or year into becoming one.
Ever since awakening my core, I, admittedly, had been slacking off just a tiny bit with meditating right from the get-go, but being in Testruam, under the watchful eye of the Endine Rex, had changed things for me significantly.
So luckily, I was familiar with meditating and practicing at the creek of dawn.
My swordsmanship was coming along nicely, as well. I was still training my katas and footwork, making sure every swing—every movement—was efficient, elegant, and wasted no essence.
The three E's of swordsmanship, according to Haldir. It was a sword art he referred to as the Wind Style, which was much different from a battle art, according to him.
Just like the wind, you were supposed to be swift, precise, and purposeful—flowing as either an extended breeze, or a brief gust. For it, I used my wooden training sword he had given us, which I kept as a memento.
While it worked for now, eventually, I'd have to equip myself with more appropriate gear.
I felt that my progress was coming along nicely, but there were obviously ways I could still improve. Overall, I just hoped I'd be skilled enough to not receive an E rating on my rank assessment, since it determined where you would start and what quests you could take on. Only by earning enough Merit or by retaking the test could you ascend.
But then again, I was the prince of Verlice, the Kingdom of Light, and the future successor to King Regius.
I was trained by the former king of the elves, who is widely referred to as the greatest of them due to his contributions in not just elven society, but in the world as a whole, and I had a witch in my head giving me revelations about the future.
Who else, if not me, would be qualified to take such an exam? To succeed, no less.
These years… I couldn't let them be for nothing.
As these thoughts of mine began to die down, I heard a soft noise of something unzipping from behind me. Pressing the tip of my sword into the ground, I turned to meet the source of the sound.
"Hmm. You're up earlier than usual…." Alis commented, yawning as I began to make my way to the small stream that was only a few feet from our tent.
"I can only surmise that you've begun to take our… or rather, your situation more seriously. That's good. The test examiners will hardly show you any mercy. Only about a tenth as much as the rules require."
Cupping some of the running water in my hands, I briefly splashed it against my face, ridding myself of the sweat that dewed my eyebrows.
Then I turned to her. "Could you go over some of the things you mentioned before? I'd like to make sure I'm fully prepared. Oh, good morning, by the way."
A slight frown creased her thin lips. "Sure. Good morning. Also, you know… that's not good for your skin. You shouldn't just… ah, what the hell. Who cares? Listen up, then! I hate repeating myself."
Pulling out a bottle of water and a small towel from her storage ring, she kneeled near me and poured the water over the towel, bringing it up to her face while donning a, "See? Like this!", sort of expression. "I went over the general basics last time: rank assessment, quests, team building, fundamental stuff like that. And while I'd like to tell you more, first, I must find the depth of knowledge that you currently possess. So go on. Tell me all that you know about being an adventurer."
"Hmm…"
All that I know, huh? Well, let's see…
"Well, an adventurer, in simple terms, is someone who simply takes on and completes certain tasks given out by the adventurer's guild, right? To become one, you must give them the necessary information about yourself, and in due time—typically either on the day that you do, or during a certain time period, according to the kingdom's rules—you will have to attend a rank examination, where you spar with a skilled, and highly trusted instructor until they proclaim your rank. Starting from the bottom, the general rankings go as such: E-tier, D-tier, C-tier, B-tier, A-tier, S-tier, however, there is the existence of plus and minus rankings, beginning at D-tier and above, which act as in-betweens in order to better manage the difficulty of rank assignment. Some people's strengths come from harder-to-measure aspects that they can provide to a team, such as utility."
I paused, catching my breath.
"I remember you mentioned how much the Merit System plays a role in your life as an adventurer. Each quest is assigned different amounts of it, and by completing said quest, those points will then be transferred over to your Adventurer Logbook, and kept within the records. Oh, right, you also went over how each ranking has a certain amount of Merit that you need to acquire in order to be eligible to ascend to the next rank, through use of another Rank Assessment Test, but there are methods that can potentially allow you to bypass the traditional ones. …Like being scouted by one of the guilds."
Suddenly, it felt as if the world had shifted in response to my words.
Like the birds had stopped chirping, the water stream grew eerily still, the wind had receded, and even Alis seemed to grow quiet.
Ah… Did I say something wrong? I wondered. Eventually, she sighed.
"I can tell what you're thinking just by the look on your face. No, everything you said was correct. Don't worry. That's such a bad habit of yours, wearing your heart on your sleeve. Be careful… One day, someone just might take advantage of that earnestness."
A dark glint flashed across her eyes. Only for a second, though.
"In any case, yeah. Being scouted by one of the guilds can indeed allow you to bypass the Rank Assessment Test used by the Adventurer's Guild—and is probably the most boon-bearing of them all. It works like so: A particularly influential member of a guild may offer you a deal, of sorts. Typically, it's a fight between you and another member of that guild. If they're satisfied with your performance and judge you to be at a level beyond that which your rank entails, they can put in a request for your ranking to be re-evaluated. In return, you usually are required to join their guild. …Oh, did I mention that it'd be a priority request, too? Though, to be fair, that one depends on the renown of the guild. The Great Five all certainly have the access to such a right, while the ones closely—well, as closely as one could possibly be to them—following aren't too unlikely to have this right, either."
She paused, wringing out her towel with a distant look.
"Those guys, though… I wouldn't suggest getting involved with them."
I raised an eyebrow. "And why's that?"
"Why? Because they're troublesome," she deadpanned, as if it was the most obvious thing ever.
"Sure, they possess "benefits" that would make any adventurer's knees buckle under their weight, but you know, there are bound to be equal repercussions, as well. Nothing in this life comes free—not even the air we breathe was merely given to us. No, it was the result of millions, if not billions of years worth of cultivation. And those guilds… their power is a lure. One that is so undeniable, it's frustrating. The weak and the strong all end up going to them all for one reason… Do you know what that reason is?"
Hm…
The reason the weak and the strong all end up together in the same place, eventually. Being with guilds, that is. Well, I'd assume it'd be because of the boons you can acquire. Surrounded with all of those resources and skilled people, you're bound to grow…
"...The look on your face tells me you've arrived at the correct conclusion," she cut in firmly.
Her polished garnet eyes seemed to scintillate.
"Yes, that's right. The answer is quite simple, really… It's strength. When you have the backing of a guild's resources and knowledge, it'd be impossible for you to not grow stronger. The weak and the strong all end up in the same place so that they may live yet another day. After all, no one can survive alone. Not in our world… No matter how strong you may be. It's a clever plan of theirs. One that, had I been in a Guild Leader's shoes, I would've personally enacted myself. I've managed to avoid being held by their restraints for this long, but the truth is: One day, I, too, will be lured in. Soon, probably. It's inevitable, so long as this is the life I wish to live."
She frowned slightly, the passing of many years flashing across her distant expression, making her seem much older than she was.
That sounds… dark. And very ominous. The Great Five of guilds, huh?
I guess that makes sense, though. The stronger you are, the harder the quests you take on will be, naturally. And of course, you'd want a party—or some type of numerical backing—in order to increase your chances of survival. The weak are drawn into the idea of being around the strong, meanwhile the strong themselves are lured in by the idea of also being around those with strength—a double whammy!
If even Alis feels like she won't be able to escape, then I suppose the same would go for I.
Especially since I plan to grow as strong as possible, so that I can…
…Actually, I'm not sure why.
Huh. That's weird. I know that I want to be strong enough to protect my family from whatever is supposedly coming, but also I can't muster a personal reason as to why I was doing this.
Or rather, something more inward and selfish. I guess the closest thing would be becoming a Hero.
Which makes sense, considering this is actually how Lucien Revalor started out. This is something I'll have to think about more: Just what exactly do I wish to get out of my time spent adventuring?
To what ends will my journey take me, I wonder?
The days played out like so for the next two weeks.
Up until we finally arrived at an extravagant town, surrounded by stone walls and a large gate that stretched for at least five square miles.
Countless guards were positioned everywhere, some even stood on the top of the wall itself. Some of them gave us curious looks as we passed, each of them varying in intensity.
They mostly seemed wary until their eyes locked with Alis' figure, and they suddenly straightened. I found that interesting but didn't speak on it.
For whatever the reason, they were on high alert… Ah, actually I guess that makes sense, considering who I'm with.
On our way through, I locked eyes with a sign that read the words, "Welcome to Goldshire."
We were here. We had finally made it…
***
As we entered the bustling town, I felt a sense of astonishment—pure wonder—at the amount of people navigating through their daily lives.
There were people of all races, all sharing the same living spaces.
Really, it was mostly surprising to me because of how long I had spent wandering in solitude.
Seeing so many bodies in one place seemed like such a foreign concept to me, by now. My jaw almost dropped.
Well… mostly solitude.
I cast a glance at my two companions, who both seemed no less excited and passionate than me.
Alis' face didn't tend to change very much on our journey, mostly hovering around the same expressions, so I had never been able to see her looking… normal, I guess.
But now, her features seemed to soften and relax, her tense eyebrows unfurling themselves, and her sharp gaze turning more gentle, a hint of relief scintillating deep within them.
The poor girl had been through a lot, after all. Making it back from such an experience must've felt like a boulder being lifted off your shoulders.
…However, she didn't allow herself to relax just yet. There were still things to take care of, people to check in on. Knowing the girl, she probably saw our entire journey as a prologue to what was to come.
Seraphina, on the other hand, looked just about as excited as a small fox could.
I had a suspicion that she was just thinking about the potential changes that could come about to her mostly fish-only diet, up until now.
Alis was the first of us who seemed to recover from her daze quickly. She stepped forward, crossing her arms and shifting her body weight.
"Alright, it seems like we've made it. That's a cause for celebration, I guess. But, I wonder… just where exactly would the adventurers guild be at?" She added that second part in a low whisper, as if she was talking to herself.
"The adventurer's guild?" I stepped in, "Hm… Couldn't we have asked one of the guards at the gate for help? Or maybe there's a sign somewhere to help guide us. If I know towns, usually that sort of thing is situated in the plaza."
"Ah. A good suggestion, little one. I like that idea. In normal circumstances, I would recommend that. However, there is one thing I'll add. Something you didn't seem to account for."
I frowned slightly. "And that is…?"
"...The fact that you have I, Alis Vorlet, daughter of Eheirborn, traveling with you. Wherever I go, things fall in line for me, naturally."
Before I could question the girl's seemingly arrogant comment, a loud marching of footsteps alerted us to a commotion just in front of us. The crowds of people began to slowly part and make way for another unseen entourage of people.
I was only able to make out the small group of figures once they broke through, settling in various positions surrounding us. They seemed to be the city guards, notified somehow by the ones out in front.
And by the looks of it…
They weren't too happy with me.
The most gruff one of them all stepped forward, locking eyes with Alis, his face tense.
Though his—well, seemingly his—men all held their weapons in hands; swords and spears, the man himself did not. Perhaps it was a confidence in the soldiers surrounding him (and us, primarily me), or a confidence in himself to not need to draw one to battle.
Whatever the reason, it left a bad taste.
…What the hell is up with this guy? Doesn't he know that the way you act will affect those under you? Even if you don't need one, at least keep up appearances!
That was one of the first lessons Esil taught me in royal standards and etiquette.
"Lady Alis of House Vorlet," he began, his voice loud and clear, subduing even the murmurs in the back, "we welcome you back from your… ordeal. I know it must've been hard for you. You did not deserve to undergo such a tragedy." He paused, armored hands folded behind his back as he scanned Alis up and down.
"...Where are my manners? I am the lead commander of the town guards here in Goldshire. You may refer to me as Captain Hardin. While you do not appear to harbor any grievous injuries, it will still be necessary that we treat you to the service of an emitter."
"Was this arranged by my father?" Alis inquired, seeming unimpressed.
The man looked at her for a second or two before shutting his eyes.
"The reception of my guards and myself is all but natural, in the grand scheme of things. It is the result of years of strict training and dedication, not merely born about by the will of one man. While I must admit that it is through his means that this town—all towns, really—have gone on a higher alert due to your situation, not very much has changed from our standard procedure. Is this an acceptable answer, Lady Alis Vorlet?"
She tilted her head to the side, almost nodding. "I suppose so."
"Very well then… I must also add that your disappearance, alongside your father's actions, have raised an already-growing concern for these matters in the kingdom, elevating it to another level entirely. To ensure that nothing of this caliber ever happens again, we will be looking into these matters extensively."
Suddenly, his gaze fell on me.
"And as such, surely you, boy, would have no issues with following us to my office in order to acquire your recount of just how exactly you've met with Lady Alis, would you?"
To an outsider's perspective his words may have seemed like they were born about by a genuine desire to research the matter of Alis' kidnapping, but really, they were anything but that.
I knew this since I was the one on the receiving end of them, feeling the true weight of each word, every pronunciation.
"...Of course not, Sir Hardin."
Crap… Just what exactly did I get myself into?
Something like this'll only make it harder to conceal my identity. If he starts asking too many questions, what will I end up doing? Crap, crap, this is bad!
"Splendid. Now then, this way if you would. I shall escort you both personally to my office—"
"Not so fast, Captain," Alis interjected.
As these sorts of thoughts were surfacing, I half-registered an unreadable glance from the young lady at my side.
Then, she stepped forward, in all her pride, and declared, "While I do not mind coming with you out of necessity, I will not tolerate it if an innocent boy happens to get tangled up in this mess. You understand, right? These are matters that should not be overheard by a mere commoner—one that I, alone, have undergone. This boy whose name that I have yet to even learn myself will be of no use to us in this investigation. Our meeting was purely coincidental, this much I can assure you of."
She paused only to allow her words to settle, and a slight smirk to play on her lips.
"And besides… We have both only returned to a civilization mere minutes ago. I believe it would be supremely inappropriate to not allow us each the comfort of a warm shower and meal. Of course, if that is how you prefer to treat me, a daughter of House Vorlet, then surely this is a matter we can resolve with more… legal methods."
The grizzly veteran didn't allow a shred of emotion to flash across his face.
If he felt any type of way about Alis' outward refusal and even willingness to escalate the situation, only he would have known.
Instead, he merely sighed.
"...Very well then, Lady Alis. I shall take your word for it. The commoner boy shall be permitted to leave. As for your concerns, the headquarters of my knights possess such amenities for you. Everything will be arranged. Now then, if you will…"
And with that, he turned his back, slowly falling into step, as did his guards around him.
He seemed to be expecting her to follow behind him without any delay… as did I.
Instead, shr turned to me, Alis' fierce expression melting ever-so-slightly as she met my eyes.
"Sorry about all of that, and… thank you, Sera, for everything. I'm not sure if we'll ever meet again, however, I do wish the best for you in your endeavors. If you ever need a favor, then please, reach out to me. I'm in your debt."
I waved her words away.
"Nonsense, Lady Alis. I didn't do everything I did for a reward, so it's all right. And besides, it's you who's saving my skin here. If anything, I'm in your debt."
"Regardless, allow me this one last thing in order to repay you for your help. It's the least I could do. Here, take this…"
She reached for my hand, placing some type of sigil in my palm, alongside a few coins. It was dark burgundy, and had the universal symbol for magic, alongside one symbolic for the word talent. An odd pairing, but it made sense, considering the way her House's name was spelled—Vorlet, which, in this world, shared some of the same letters as the word talent.
So, in reality, her name was sort of a play on words: Talented Alis.
Throughout our journey, she once mentioned a tale of how an ancestor of hers was once bullied for the name, as children would commonly make puns about it, which funnily enough, acted as a primary motivator for his grand achievements with magic.
I've called her Ms Talent as a joke once, and she practically stared holes right into me… never again, I promised. At least until I was strong enough to beat her in a magic battle.
"If you ever find yourself in need of something—anything—find my estate, and present this to them. Oh, but I'd prefer it if you didn't go around showing that off to everyone… It'd cause trouble for me. If you do, I'll have to find you myself…! Officially, however, it works as a sort of sponsor for the adventurer's guild, since you're too young to sign up by yourself. Just show it to them and everything should be swiftly resolved."
She paused, letting these words settle.
"But lastly, make sure you head straight towards some type of establishment after this so that you can wash up, before heading to the adventurer's guild. I've given you enough to last you for a month worth of shelter at least, including food expenses. I would give you more, but… I have a habit of leaving expenses to my group, so I never carry a lot on me."
Without even giving me a chance to respond, she spun on her heel and fell into line with the formation of knights, giving Seraphina and I one last whispered goodbye before disappearing around the corner of a building. I stood there for an extra while, staring at the items she had parted with, memories of our time together flashing across my mind.
Thus, my journey with Alis Vorlet had come to an end.
She left just as fast as she came. And to the very end she had marched to the beat of her drum, leaving me feeling oddly melancholic. That drum… I was sure that I would hear it again some day, though.
Pushing these thoughts away, I brought the sigil and coins into my dimensional storage, falling into step on my own, as well.
Right… I do have a smell to me, don't I? Like… grass and dirt.
I sighed, eyeing my bond's stained fur. "This is going to suck…"