New Beginning
William's Perspective
I stomped my way out of the manor with my father, a few hours after the meeting he had. Upon learning what had happened, I was furious.
Azrael, Barren, Dimmal, and my father all approached me, telling me that I am to be branded and bound to Azrael, but that didn't sit well with me. They thought I would roll over and take it. No. I have heard how servants and slaves are treated in Drakelene.
But after about thirty minutes of wrestling, we concluded by talking. I became Azrael's official personal Knight against my own wishes. Supposedly, it would be a better position for me. It was either that or death.
It wasn't a nice process either. It involved magic ink and a complex form of magic, a combination of both me and Azrael, which burned onto my skin. I don't know many details of the process besides Azrael applying the ink while the others had to hold me down.
That was about an hour ago.
Pressing my fingers against my jawline and slowly dragging my fingers down to the midsection of my neck where the Servant Mark was, I can still feel the burning sensation. It took the shape of a filled-in black mirrored three-pointed crown going sideways up and down my neck. The "top" of the crown had uncolored "jewels" at each tip, pointing to the back of my neck. One side of the crown was directly on my jawline, while the rest was on my neck.
My father didn't seem to care much about how I felt right now, because he was dragging me across town. Looking at my arm, I can still feel the tingling sensation when Art took it off. It felt like my skin was getting prickled very gently across my arm, every so often.
As I follow my father, I notice the city's appearance for the first time, and I realize that everyone here is very different from those in Hearthglen. All the building designs changed based on who lived there and their culture.
I saw beastfolk and demihumans, even elves, and sometimes a goblin. It was bizarre. I have never seen so many different kinds of people. The only thing close I've seen was Azrael, who was a half-elf.
However, the folks gave me weird looks. Upon seeing my Mark, they would all immediately avert their eyes and attention elsewhere. When a couple of lizardmen walked out of a store and looked at me, they gave me this wretched look, almost snarling at me.
But that feeling left as my father shouted at me. "Hurry, poke. Markus is supposed to meet us along with Dimmal." My father's voice made me feel at ease. He still treated me the same.
Despite all the looks, I ignored them and chased after him. Following him brought me to a massive wooden building. The doors swung open to any of the entrances or exits. Many people of different cultures and races dwelt inside. My father took my hand and pulled me in.
Inside was a ruckus. Everyone inside was an adventurer or a mercenary, jabbering, drinking, and dancing. At the far left of the establishment, a long counter stretched from the far back wall to the front. People ordered food and drinks from the counter, where an old-looking man served them. Tables were laid out all about, with customers seated, all being rowdy. The other side had a couple of windows where the receptionist and all sat and discussed what I would assume were guests and money exchanges. I even see people turning in monster materials.
This place is the Guild. The one I'm familiar with wasn't this loud or cramped. Most likely due to the laws and regulations that Drakelene put on every Guild hall in the country. Here, people were able to make money and profit, and take advantage of the Guild.
Looking around to see where my father went, I couldn't help but notice a few of the people who looked at me. Everyone had a pitiful look and ignored me.
A sense of guilt and concern hit me, gnawing at my stomach. The people saw me as a servant to a noble. Figuring this is Asgard, the Kingdom of Slaves. It makes sense that the people here treated both slaves and servants, being beneath everyone.
Soon, my father grabbed my hand, pushing my concerns to the back of my mind. "Why are you standing there? Come on," he said, chuckling loudly. He dragged me along while pushing a few of the patrons.
Soon we were standing in front of the receptionist. There was a girl just older than me with brown hair and what looked to be cat ears, standing with a smile.
However, when she looked at me, her smile cracked. I furrowed my brows, feeling a sense of anger and guilt rising back up. She then looked towards my father. "Good afternoon, sir, welcome," the girl said. "I'm Mia and I'll be happy too…" Mia went quiet as she squinted at my father.
"Its good to see you again Mia," my father said with a gleeful smile. "I see you are now a guild receptionist."
Mia startled me when she squealed, jumping up, and she reached over to hug my father. "Gwyn it's so good to see you," she squealed out loud. "Where have you been?"
"Spent time with my son here in Drakelene," my father said, placing his hand on my shoulder.
I was worried about what she would say to me, knowing I am bearing a servant mark. Her eyes went wide when she looked at me.
"Oh my god, my sweet boy," she cried out as she lunged over to the counter to grab me. A surprised yelp escaped my lips as she pulled me close and slapped kisses across my face. All sense of guilt, concern, or anger was immediately replaced with confusion and embarrassment. I tried to move back, feeling my face getting warm. Soon, she finally let me go. "Did those shitty nobles do this to you? Or was it your father playing a terrible prank?"
"Why would I put a Servant Mark on my son?" My father gasped, looking insulted.
Mia slapped my father's arm, the sound echoing in the room over all the shouting and chanting. "I know how you are with your stupid pranks," Mia hissed at him.
My face was burning from how tightly Mia was holding me. "You guys know each other?"
Mia gave me a bright smile. "I known your father since I was five. When he first started."
"That was a long time ago," my father responded.
"Then many many years later, you just vanish and apparently went to Drakelene," Mia said with a bit of hurt in her voice. "Without a single word. Rude." She then turned to me, caressing my Mark. "But you.. What happened?"
Stuttering out, "I broke a law in Drakelene, but I couldn't be executed so they have me serving the Princess as her personal knight." I exclaimed to Mia, calming her down but also giving her a look of pity.
Mia finally let me go and fixed my clothes up. "I see. At least you aren't dead." Next thing I felt a firm slap on my arm. "Why the hell are you breaking laws, you idiot?"
Jesus
"Wait a second, if you are bound to the princess, how are you here?" Mia asked.
My father stepped in, leaning against the counter. "He has a month before he heads to Drakelene. I want to spend time with him while I still can. I was hoping you could give him a Guild Card." My father started to walk suspiciously to Mia, his hands giving a mischievous gesture. "I also hope you can pull a few strings, and let Little Will here be somewhere up on the ranking scale. Sure he lacks experience but he has the power to back it."
Mia wasn't having it and whacked my father with a stack of paper. "Even if I could, he can only go from rank F to D."
My father sighed out loudly.
I was still confused. There's something my father isn't telling me.
"While I do all the paperwork, you both should sit down," Mia exclaimed. She then turned toward the other side of the Guild, where all the patrons sat and ate. "Hey Steoff, Gwyn is back with his son William."
Turning around to see how she was talking to Steoff, the clerk serving the adventurers and mercenary. They were the older gentlemen, their faces wrinkled with beards. Still, their bodies were built very steadily, just by looking at their nice tuxedos.
"Merlin's beard," Steoff spoke with a heavy accent. "Gwyn! Great to see you back!"
Soon, everyone started looking at us as they began to call out my father's name.
"S Rank Adventurer Gwyn?"
"The Hunter Gwyn?" An adventurer asked out loud.
"He's back?" They all shouted, making the whole guild hall cry out in celebration.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
"S rank?" I uttered, turning to my father, surprised. "You are an S rank adventurer and never told me?"
All my father did was wink. That really pissed me off.
"Is that your son," Steoff pointed towards me.
"One and only," my father answered.
"Willy, my boy?" Steoff shouted, soon gesturing with his neck, indicating he's referencing my Mark. "What did you do?"
What? At first, no one even bothered to look at me. Why are they suddenly turning a blind eye? Is it because my father is famous?
"William here stole a dragon egg," my father blurted out, making his way over to the counter, pulling me along.
Everyone in the room spoke out in unison, "ooooooooh."
"Did he get away with it?"
"Of course he didn't. Don't you see his mark?"
Soon, a wave of relaxation flooded into me, and my body, which had been tense, now felt this warmth come over me like a wave. All sense of anger I had is now gone. It was Aurum. I relaxed my posture and gave a smile. "Uhhh," I said nervously. "I did. Sadly, the nobles caught wind and got me. But Lord Ryu managed to wiggle me out of an execution. I'll be in service for a month from now. It's just me."
Everyone burst into laughter as a man in light leather armor stood up on a chair and pointed at me. "Hey Will," they shouted. Then they took off their armor and clothes, revealing a mark on their chest. It looked similar to that of a diamond. "Don't you worry, William, most of us are all marked anyway."
What? How?
"Most citizens of Asgard are marked with a special brand that allows Lord Ryu to sense great catastrophe from us if something were to happen," another adventurer spoke out. "We see people not from Asgard with a servant mark every so often. We do try to help them out, but nobles would start making our lives more difficult if we get involved."
"Sometimes nobles will try to make the servants do quests and bounties that don't belong to them and ultimately get the poor souls killed."
"But you Willy my…" Steoff shouted, raising a glass towards me. "Your father has done the Guild itself a great service. And since you start your newly acquired job in one month, we welcome you with open arms."
I was startled when everyone cheered, raising their drinks in unison. The atmosphere was in an uproar, celebrating and cheering my name.
Before I knew, someone threw their arms around me and dragged me into the crowd, asking me about how I stole a dragon egg.
For a moment. Everything that has happened just blurs, and the only thing that matters to me is what's happening in front of me.
Gwyn's Perspective
Leaving Will on his own as few of the adventurers took him away, I moved through the crowd. Those guys who took Will most likely are going to ask him to join up with them.
I won't let them, though.
Looking around the mass, I managed to spot a surprisingly gloomy Dimmal sitting down at a deserted table. He was all by himself. He obviously is looking around at everyone, out of place and sticking out like a sore thumb. Especially with his cloak over his shoulders.
Trusting Will to take care of himself, I pushed past a few of my fellow comrades, making my way over to Dimmal. He was keeping to himself, observing the scene. Learning. This must be his first time in an actual Guild.
Grabbing a wooden chair, I move it to sit down in front of Dimmal. "Enjoying the scene," I asked him.
"Just surprised at how easily it took everyone here to accept him," Dimmal answered, giving me a soft smile. "People in Drakelene treat servants and slaves poorly. Especially the Riders."
Shaking my head as I chortled, I explained to Dimmal. "People with Marks are treated as second-class, if not third-class, citizens across Kalos. Here in Asgard, people treat those marked individuals well because most people here were once slaves or were servants at one point.
Dimmal gave a look of understanding. "The Kingdom of Slaves."
I nodded. "Most of everyone here was once a slave or a family member was," I answered. "People here pity servants and slaves. It's not the Mark they care about; it's the person behind the Mark. Will's Mark is on his face for all to see, and it is that of nobility. Everyone can clearly see its a sign of, this person belongs to me, their life and their will is too."
Dimmal took a sip from his mug, closing his eyes as he processed my words. Setting the drink down, he sighed. Loudly.
Dimmal chuckled. "'Those who are slaves can't refuse their master or else the Mark will punish them. Those who are servants can voice their own will, but only for the benefit of their master. And anyone who gets in my way will suffer.' That's how a lot of nobles are in Drakelene."
I smirked at Dimmal. "Exactly. The Mark here in Asgard, though, only allows Lord Ryu to track individuals, but only when the individual channels magic into the Mark and is under extreme circumstances. Like, Lord Ryu ain't going to save someone who's getting mugged or killed. The Mark won't activate."
Before I could finish my statement, everyone started to sing. I recognized the song. It was a local song here in Asgard when Lord Ryu slayed a dragon the size of a small city. Looking at the crowd of people, they just got louder and louder, all singing in unison.
Turning back to Dimmal, with a bright smile on my face. "But if a dragon comes to Asgard and starts destroying everything and the military or adventurers of sorts can't stop it, the Mark will activate. And Lord Ryu will come."
Riding on the devil's horse
Down the dragon's corpse
The sun shall rise
Upon our King
Everyone erupted in cheer as they finally sang the final verse of the song. Dimmal was caught off guard by the sudden euphoria. He has most definitely never been around such a rowdy bunch. Drakelene's strict professionalism really has its downsides.
"They idolized Lord Ryu," Dimmal bluntly commented. "But with good reason."
"Power only gets you so far, but it won't win respect and loyalty. Only fear." I expressed. "Choice does. Lord Ryu knows this very well. Which is why they idolized."
"Hmph," was all Dimmal could respond. His eyes fell to the table where a mug sat in his hands.
Now, looking at him, I wonder why he hasn't returned to Drakelene yet. He could've easily returned. But that thought was taken away by the howling of a few adventurers. Looking over to the direction of the screams, turns out a few adventurers were arm wrestling Will. And losing.
Soon, a lizardman tried to beat Will. The massive muscles bulged with tension while Will stood his ground. Not even a movement came when the lizard man tried to overpower Will. Will gave a gigantic smile that I haven't seen in such a long time. It moves me to see him having fun. He is young and deserves to be a kid once in a while.
"He seems to fit in," Dimmal chuckled, looking more at peace watching Will. "Reminds me of when he and Bide used to play together."
"Who's fitting in?" said someone behind us. It alarmed both me and Dimmal.
It was Markus. I hated the fact that I couldn't sense him for someone so powerful, just like those Prophecy Breakers.
"Can you not sneak up on us," I exclaimed.
Markus gave me a cheeky grin, "I can't help you with that." He pulled up a chair, flipped it around, and sat down. "So, how is the new recruit doing?"
Dimmal uttered before I could. "He's fitting in pretty well for someone who's a servant. Took us a long moment to put the Mark on him."
"Do you expect anyone to be fine with such an idea?" I asked.
Markus let out a laugh, "You'd be surprised how many noble women would turn themselves into slaves just to marry Ryu." He reached over to grab Dimmal's mug and took a drink from it. His attitude and demeanor suggest he didn't care for or respect Dimmal's response at that time. Are the rumors about Markus true? "Ryu himself is supposed to be King of Kalos after all."
"I never understood that?" Dimmal stated with interest. "Why is he known to many as the King of Kalos?"
Markus set the drink down, then gave Dimmal a look that made him look downright scary. The sudden change was akin to how water and oil separate when mixed. Markus explained, coldly but honestly.
"The King of Kalos isn't a title that's given openly. It's a title given to those who have the most influence and direct or indirect control of all things in Kalos. With a snap of their fingers, countries could fall, mountains destroyed, forest leveled, oceans boiling. Or even create cities by words, bestow kings and queens with a flick of a wrist. Ryu can do all of these things at any given time. Sure there are people with Kingdrils, Titans and Gods, but Ryu stands equal if not over them all, and has directly improved Kalos even when it's still scarred from the Holy War. Kalos is how it is now due to Ryu's influences and choices. He's a lot older than anyone here currently."
Markus' explanation sent chills down my spine, and as I looked at Dimmal, I could see he felt it too. It was odd, Markus talking like this, along with his description of Ryu. But a part of me knows it's true.
No, it's as if those words were considered valid, even if they didn't feel true. Like something inside me knows that it wasn't a lie.
Dimmal had a similar reaction as we looked back at Markus, his eyes scowling at us with a serious look that made it seem he was going to kill us if we disagreed. It left us in silence, and only the cheers of the Guild were heard.
Markus then gave us a big smile. "Anyway, I got letters for William and the Guild. I'll be right back." This sudden change, when Markus stood up and headed over to Mia, made the atmosphere shift to something that Dimmal and I could breathe in. It was odd. I know Markus through my connections with the Guild. Rumors and stories of him didn't match him at all.
Markus was somewhat of a serious person when needed, while having a slightly helpful and laid-back, soft, respectful attitude. He would help others out without a care in the world. But one thing was clear. He had an excellent level of respect for others, including nobles of other countries. He would care and look out for those he was with. But his disregard for Dimmal was evident when he took his drink, and his sudden threatening attitude was also noticeable. They didn't belong to him.
No. They did. But only after rumors of him changed when he returned from the east.
Where he fought the Wolf King.
William's Perspective
Feeling the scaly hands of the lizard man named Zuraru, we engaged in an arm-wrestling match. His hand and body were far bigger than mine. However, I could barely feel his strength while I taunted him.
"Come on!" I yelled. "Is that all you can do?"
Zuraru was snarling at me, gripping the table while trying his best to make me budge. "For an egg thief, you got monstrous strength," He yelled, his voice straining while making the table crack from his grip.
Giving Zuraru a massive smile, I slowly exerted more strength and pushed his arm down. He let out a howling scream as the crowd around us shouted my name. Slowly but surely, with a gleeful look on my face, I slammed his hand down with a thunk on the table. Everyone erupted in a loud cheer, patting my back.
I let go of Zuraru's hand, watching him step back to check his hand. "Sheraka Blessing boy, you got one strong arm," he said with a loud, agitated, yet playful chuckle.
I gave him a cocky smile. "What can I say, I'm just a lot stronger than I look?" I answered. It's nice to know that I can keep up with everyone.
Everyone gave a blaring laugh to my response, making me laugh alongside them. I actually felt happy. A lot more than I have been. Ever since we were in Hearthglen, my closest friend Bide left when he became a Dragon rider. Leaving me behind. Sure, I had socialized with people, but he was the only person I truly considered a friend. The only person I had was my father, and we trained most of my life, even skipping out on festivals and events.
Even if I went back to Drakelene now, everyone would treat me harshly because of the Mark. But here, I can be myself. I can truly be myself. Not looked down. It filled me with peace.
The sensation in my arm is now gone. Like the feeling of it missing is no longer there.
"Willy!" Steoff shouted, standing across from Markus. "Mia said you have a letter from someone." He stood there waving a letter.
I have a letter? From who?
Pushing my way through the crowd, I made my way to Steoff. Markus, standing there, watched me.
"Steoff, whose the letter from?" I asked.
Steoff shrugged. "Mia didn't say, but it does have instructions," he stated, handing me a white letter.
The letter clearly states:
You will know when to open this
When you lose yourself and life fades
And you are all alone
