The head splitting ringing of bells pulled Eric out of his slumber. He opened his eyes to be met with towering stone archways. Beams of colored light danced along the stone bricks. Turning his head to look around he saw the stained glass window of the Veldia Cathedral, he was on what seemed to be a primitive hospital bed.
"Well, well, the brave hero awakens." The captain's voice interrupted his brief feeling of peace.
"Save it." Eric replied.
"Come on, is that any way to greet an old friend? You can't be so cold after saving my life." The captain teased.
"Don't. Just don't mention it. That was so stupid." Eric said with a sigh.
"It really was. You got lucky. You know that you got lucky, right?" The captain said, showing sincerity to Eric for the first time.
"Yeah. Well, lucky as I can call getting spiked with an arrow and brain damaged." Eric said with a chuckle.
"Probably wasn't much in there anyway for you to do that in the first place." The two men shared a laugh at this.
"So, what's the damage?" Eric asked.
"All things considered, not much." A new voice emerged from the distance, bouncing off the stone walls and arches, "The Gods truly smiled upon you for your wounds to be sustained so close to the cathedral." The voice was deep and paternal.
Eric turned his head to see a man in purple robes with gold trim, the dancing lights from the stained-glass windows bounced off his shiny head. A white beard hung low on his chest.
"Here he is, the man who saved your life. Say thank you, giant." The captain said, tapping his shoulder.
"No need, my child, the light of the Gods surely blessed you for your heroism." The priest said, finally reaching Eric's bedside, "I am afraid, however, I was unable to properly heal your left shoulder and your arrow injury to your calf. See, it is to my understanding that the shoulder was a prior injury and well, the calf was healed on site. I am afraid it pierced a major artery. It was rough work but, you survived. It will be stiff the rest of your life."
"Oh, that's no problem..." Eric probed for a name.
"Father Elianas." The priest replied
"Father Elianas." Eric said with a smile, "It's good enough that I survived doing something so stupid." Eric said with a laugh and a cough.
"Nonsense child. You saved the captain of the Veldian inquisition conclave. You're a hero. The men are preparing a feast in your honor to match."
Eric's eyes darted towards the captain, who nodded slowly in his mask. Eric's eyes widened at the realization that he would be spending yet more time with these people.
"I believe a representative from the Imperial Guards will be in attendance also. The captain mentioned something about a letter of recommendation?" Elianas added.
"I can't possibly accept, I mean, I hardly did a thing, and, and I don't have anything to wear, I couldn't possibly attend a feast with such esteemed guests." Eric tried to protest.
Elianas smiled, "My boy, it has all been taken care of. We have bought you clothes fitting of your new status and stature and, although I should not be encouraging such things, I hear there is a substantial reward in wait for you." His smile turning mischievous, wrinkled cheeks glowing a hearty rose color.
Eric forced out a smile and begrudgingly accepted his invitation to a feast in his honor, a feast which would have him surrounded by dangerous zealots, who could each end his life should he slip up even for a moment. As Elianas strode off from the infirmary of the cathedral building, the captain looked around, saw that they were alone and very quietly said to Eric, "Thank you."
Eric was shocked, "Don't mention it." Eric said, slowly clambering out of bed. As he stood up to fetch his new clothes from the ornate wooden chair, his right ankle buckled under his weight, "Oh. That kind of stiff." Eric said, hobbling to the chair.
"You didn't have to do that, it's only right we thank you. You probably saved a lot of lives." The captain said.
"I threw out a sneak attack and two lucky shots, man. I don't know how to use an axe." Eric said solemnly, "I should probably be dead. Probably won't walk right for a while."
"Yeah, we had to quickly heal you to stop you bleeding out. It won't be like that forever but we couldn't get it perfect. I'm sorry."
"It's fine. Really. Again, I should probably be dead." Eric said, disrobing from his tattered white sheet and slipping into his new clothes.
They were exquisite. He wore a tunic of emerald green, natural themes embroidered on it, flowers, trees and vines. Over top, a tan leather waistcoat, embossed with Celtic knots and braids, golden studs in floral patterns around the two buttons. Even the trousers were extremely comfortable.
"Check it out, new shoes." Eric said.
"Yeah we lost yours in the fray, sorry, again." The captain replied.
"Is it normal for captains to apologize to commoners this much?" Eric said, teasing the man.
"Only when he saves his life." The captain replied laughing.
"I don't know the rules here, am I allowed to see your face or..." Eric asked.
"I'm afraid only the bottom half of the mask comes off. It's part of the vow we take. We aren't meant to exist as the people we were, just who we can become in service of the Gods." He replied.
"So I suppose a name is out of the question?" Eric said with a smile.
"... It's Alren." Alren said.
"Well, I like who you've become so far, Alren." Eric said.
Eric tried his best to walk unaided to the end of the infirmary wing, with the exception of a few moments of a buckling ankle, he did better than expected.
"Maybe it won't be sobad." He thought.
His new leather shoes echoed as he walked down the hall, "So, where's this feast?" He asked Alren, who was moving in his signature glide besides him.
"Oh, it's at Castle Veldia." He replied.
Eric turned, wide eyed, to be met by Alren chuckling, "Not to brag but I'm pretty important around here and you saved my life."
"Oh well aren't you humble." Eric replied, "Also, you've got to teach me how you move like that man it is, frankly, terrifying."
"Oh this? It's a fairly simple rapier step pattern, they'd teach it to you in the Imperial Guards. Inquisitors just refine and focus on it because we're usually dueling single opponents." He explained, darting in a circle around Eric, "Honestly, after seeing you fight, I'd say do it, you have terrible fundamentals but you've got real courage, you'd make an excellent swordsmen."
Their conversation about the prospect of Eric joining the Imperial Guard carried them all the way through the cathedral. Colored windows depicting all manners of Gods and fables lined the grey stone walls. They were all maintained to a degree of perfection. The main hall was dotted with worshippers who sat in pews, there was no service on yet they prayed. They prayed for health or success in business, they wore ragged trousers and ornate robes. At the front, a carved marble bowl stood, overflowing with coins. Copper, silver, gold, all manner of valuables sat in the collection bowl.
"Guess that's still the same." Eric thought.
Stepping out of the gargantuan wooden doors, Eric had to bat his eyes under the glare of the evening sun. Once his eyes had adjusted he looked up and out. The two highest points in the city were where he was stood and Castle Veldia, from where he was he could see a web of sprawling towering stone buildings, tile rooves, streets paved with flagstones that horses and carts flowed through. Looking further still he could the river on the far side of the city, small boats traveling its breadth. The unavoidable sight, of course, was Castle Veldia. A mass of stone towers and flying flags, a heavy iron gate at the center of its walls. At the very peak of the tallest tower, its cone roof was capped with gold.
"Wow..." Eric couldn't contain himself.
"Impressive, right? Richest city in Aldburg behind the Capital city. All the gold in Aldburg comes from here." Alren said, "Can you tell Lord Veldin is proud of that?" He added with a laugh.
"Mhm. I don't mean to be a bother but, I think I'm going to need a cane for a little while." Eric said, dejected.
"We'll have to look through the market and see what we can find. Shouldn't be too hard, think I know where to look." Alren said, taking the lead.
As they walked downhill, monks could be seen handing out bread, water and even meat to a gathering crowd of those who were less fortunate, the monks were dressed all in white and each wore an expression of sincere care. Eric turned to look away, following tightly behind Alren, who was gliding through the increasingly dense crowd with ease. Eric, less so. His ankle kept him from moving with any haste or grace, occasionally stumbling and bumping into someone.
"These stares are getting a bit much now." He thought, noting the heads turning to look at him.
As he walked through the paved streets, the splendor of the view from the cathedral grew more real, more base-level. On the sides of the roads he could see beggar children holding empty bowls, pleading for change, ignored by those whose means outweighed their humanity. There were areas, those tucked away from common sight that Alren deemed fit to use as a shortcut, where drainage systems were exposed to the air and the 'homes', if they could even be called that, were crumbling to dust. The sight didn't seem to bother Alren, who just kept moving through and parting the crowds.
"Ah, here we are, this is where most of the furniture and carpentry shops are, shouldn't be too hard to find one that sells canes here." He said, looking around, "Actually, wait here."
With that, Alren was upon a man, a particularly wealthy looking man who caried an exquisite cane, a clear fashion choice as he held it under his armpit rather than using it as a walking aid. Alren was clearly questioning him on where he had got it from before moving back to Eric.
"Okay, change of plans, follow me." Alren said before darting off again.
After finally catching up to him, the two stood in front of an ornately decorated store, with glass windows no less.
"Oh this is going to be expensive." Eric thought.
Alren and Eric strolled into the store to find an assortment of fabrics, woods, metals and leathers sitting in respective cases, Alren walked up to the dark-wood counter and asked a short, portly, balding tailor if they have any canes available in stock.
"Well, I'm afraid all the ones we do have would be a rather uncomfortable fit for your friend here, however, if it is a matter so urgent for somebody such as yourself, I'm sure we could have one made in an hour or two." He replied, his voice miserly by nature.
"Ah, I'm afraid we're already running late, take all the time you need, we'll be busy for the rest of the day, we'll come to collect tomorrow." Alren said before walking towards the door and beckoning Eric to stop looking at the fabrics.
Eric hobbled along, his leg, while still stiff, was loosening up to a degree.
"It's not actually that bad right now, I'll be fine for tonight, at least." Eric said.
"I'm glad to hear it." Alren said, "I'll admit, I was worried when I saw you stumble."
"Ah, can't keep me down for long, right?" Eric responded.
Their journey, while stumbling and slow due to Eric's unfortunate leg structure, concluded upon their arrival at the gates of Castle Veldia. Eric looked up to the sky and the walls, now up close, seemed as if they towered up forever. Solid, heavy stone bricks stacked atop each other until perspective made the features indistinguishable. The gate was just as unimaginably large. Thick iron beams held up by thick chains, on gargantuan pulleys. Eric had never seen anything of the sort back on Earth. He had seen big buildings, yes, obviously. But this sense of towering weight, the ancient-looking mechanisms and rusting iron made him feel as though he was stood in front of something sacred, a monument to human grit, an alter built with nothing but the hands of men.
Alren showed a guard, clad in heavy steel armor and brandishing a longsword on his shoulder, a piece of paper, the invites presumably. With a nod and a wave the two were allowed into the castle walls. The courtyard was paved in tan and white tiles forming a gorgeous flower mosaic, all around maids, butlers, laborers, guards and gardeners scurried about around corners, down passages, through doors then up and down stairs.
"Come on, you'll get lost if you stand around too long." Alren called back to Eric, tugging on his sleave to lead the way.
Darting through the castle hallways, ceilings as high as you could imagine, the old saying was proven true for Eric, five colors blind the eyes, the five tones deafen the ear. On each and every surface was a new work of art, a sculpture, a painting an case of gem stones, golden ornaments, decorative furniture, vases, flowers, instruments hung on the wall and all manners of taxidermized birds and wild animals, all to the backdrop of the flickering lights of candles and stained glassed windows. A thousand voices bounced off the walls and arched ceilings, all of this culminated in Eric being genuinely overwhelmed.
"Oh come on, this is insane! I can't be in front of all these people! I can't be with 'Alren', for God's sake he could kill me at any moment. The only reason he isn't suspicious is because I got lucky and saved his life. Oh there's no way I pull this off. Sorry Alfred, I don't think I'll be seeing you again." Eric's mind raced as they approached a pair of grand wooden doors, opals inlayed into the wood surrounding two heavy gold handles. Eric could hear many, many voices along with the faint sound of music in the background.
The doors swung open, and through some miracle it was even brighter inside the main hall. Eric squinted his eyes as the room fell silent. By the time the stars had cleared from his vision, he was confronted with an entire room of fifty or more people all staring at him. He took a deep breath, sure that something was about to go catastrophically wrong. The silence lasted for just a few moments too long and the feeling of awkwardness threatened to send Eric to the next life all on its own.
As he was contemplating making a run for it, an inquisitor, mask half off, drink in hand stood up and cried, "There he is!"
The guests, all sat around colossally long banquet tables, got up in applause. Eric could feel his face turning bright red.
"Alren. I'm going to kill you for this." He whispered.
"Oh yeah? Just wait until I arrange a parade." He laughed back.
"Don't even think about it you monster." Eric pleaded.
All the while the thunderous applause continue.
"Oh, yeah, you're about to meet the Lord of Veldia, just follow my lead." Alren said, slowly walking towards the man on the throne at the far end of the hall.
"Wait, what?" Eric asked in outrage.
It was the first time Eric had seen him walk in a normal pace, he followed behind, trying to seem as dignified in posture as possible. When the two reached the foot of the throne, Alren took a bow to his right knee, covering his heart with his left hand. Eric followed in turn, any appearance of dignity fading away as he had to physically move his leg into place, his calf injury getting in the way of any grace of movement.
Lord Veldin was a man whose face was unbecoming of his station. He had narrowed, furious eyes as if by default, his eyebrows were thin and barely visible due to his unnaturally blonde, borderline white hair. He had a recessed jaw and pig-like nose. Fifth of his lineage he had assumed the title of Lord at just fifteen, now, at age fifty, he was jaded and bitter. His sunken eyes looked right passed Eric.
His thin lips parted, "So... you're the reason my hall is filled up again. I... don't see the fuss." He said, his voice was hoarse and tired.
"Hah, me neither." Eric replied on instinct, eyes widening as he realised he spoke out of turn.
The two men stared at each other for a moment, men whose lives and station couldn't have been more different. Lord Veldin's eyes narrowed and then, without warning, he broke out into bellowing laughter. Totally crumbling, hands clasping at his stomach. Once the fit was over, he wiped his eyes and began to speak again.
"Oh, oh wow. You really don't see the fuss?" He said, laughter occasionally cracking through, "Is killing orc chiefs just part of your daily life, perhaps?"
"Oh well I just got lucky, to tell you the truth my Lord, I hope to never see an orc again in my life." Eric responded.
Another laugh escaped the lord, "Well, I think a few men here today are going to try to convince you otherwise." He looked in two directions, one, a man clad in the same heavy steel armor of the Imperial Guardsmen, with the exception of a gold trim. The other, Father Elianas, who was also in attendance, looking at Eric with a particularly odd look in his eyes.
"Well, for tonight, just enjoy the feast. Speaking of, you'll be sitting in the Seat of Honor, next to me." Lord Veldin said with a smile.
"Oh... great." The thought of being in eye-line of everyone in the room, next to the most important man in the room terrified him.
Eric had been to some big weddings during his time on Earth, but never before in his life had he attended an event on this scale. It wasn't just a feast, it was a never-ending stream of dishes, small plates, large plates, entire roasted birds, stews, so much wine his head was spinning off his shoulders, all the while, the Lutenists were creating incredible music. It had become dark outside, perhaps midnight from the depth of darkness in the sky, yet the energy in the room seemed boundless.
The food had finally stopped and people were now dancing in the center of the hall. Eric, feeling the effects of his injuries, was instead stood on the fringes by the tables. People had been approaching him all night, regaling him with the tale of his conquest that he himself could barely recall, all the while he wished he could find somewhere to sleep. He had lost track of Alren many hours ago, last he saw he was talking to Father Elianas, but the sun was still in the sky at that point.
Eric felt confident that he had avoided any major suspicion or catastrophic social taboo and he let out a sigh of relief at this realization. Maybe it was the wine, maybe it was the downtime finally allowing him a moment to think, but he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of sorrow in his heart. He had been gone four days from his home. His parents must have been worried sick. He imagined them waking up that morning, waiting for him to come downstairs, only for him to never arrive, his room empty. He rest his elbow on the hardwood table and his head in his hand, his breathing growing deep and mournful.
"What am I going to tell them when I get back? Will I-" His thoughts were interrupted.
"Well well, what do we have here? Hero of the evening can't handle his wine?" The voice was seeped in regal tone, pomp and pageantry.
"Oh God, what now?" He thought, turning to look at its source.
Stood before him was the man he had deduced was the head of the Imperial Guardsmen. A man of average height, with ocean blue eyes and chestnut hair, stubble growing on the pale skin of his chin. Throughout the evening he had been informed that Veldia was their main training post and as such, was where the Head of The Guard lived. He had also been informed of a lot of information about the man in front of him.
"Aldros Van Aldburg. It is an honor to meet you, your highness." Eric said with a bow.
"I see my reputation precedes me." Aldros exclaimed, "I trust you understand why I am in front of you then?" He asked.
Aldros was third in line to the throne of Aldburg, not Veldia, all of Aldburg. Throughout the night, Eric had heard an unbelievable amount of gossip in passing about the man. See, he was actually the oldest son in the kingdom, yet, he was third in line after a series of catastrophic military blunders had caused his demotion twice, his brothers vastly out performing him in their monster subjugations of Franvenian territories and minor skirmishes with the nation to the south of Aldburg, Helenia. Most of all, he had heard he was a man with a short temper.
"Something tells me I do." Eric replied in a dismissive tone, still emotional from his previous thoughts of home.
Aldros furrowed his brow, "Well? What is your answer then?"
"Perhaps another time. I'm not in the best condition to be making commitments like that." Eric replied.
"Oh ho ho!" A laugh came from behind Eric, "Turned away so bluntly, my, my, how will the damsel cope." The voice was familiar to him, it was Father Elianas' voice.
"What do you want, priest?" Aldros asked as Elianas positioned himself next to Eric, distain in his voice.
"I just wanted to check on the man of the hour, I treated him earlier today, I wished to make sure he's well healed." Elianas responded, a twinge of sarcasm in his reply.
"Well, check another time, we are engaged in serious business." Aldros demanded.
"Hey, well, hold on for just a moment now." Eric interjected.
"What? Do you suppose to tell me what to do now?" Aldros accused.
"Well, if this is how you treat your healers, I think I am perfectly fit to give you your answer now, actually." Eric said, putting his glass down on the table.
"Now now, Eric, it is merely a misunderstanding, I'm sure dear Aldros here-" Father Elianas tried explaining before being interrupted.
"No, it was not. You are both aware of who I am and the pair of you should do well to show me more respect!" Aldros raised his voice, drawing a significant crowd.
"And what is there to respect? Your demeaning of the clergy? Of the man who saved my life? I'll 'see fit' to show respect to who I like!" Eric raised his voice in turn, mocking Aldros' speech pattern in the process.
"Guest of Honor or not, you are still a commoner, don't you dare speak to me in such fashion!" Aldros was growing irate.
"Or what? You gonna fail another subjugation at me?" Eric questioned.
The room gasped in unison, then fell silent. Aldros' face turned red with rage and a vein bulged from his pale forehead.
"I cannot tolerate this disrespect any longer." He reached into the satchel at his waist and threw down a gold coin, "It's a duel then. Right. Here. Challenged party may decide upon the weapon."
Guests stood in stunned silence. Eric sighed.
"I knew I shouldn't have drank so much. Wasn't the idea to blend in?" He questioned himself in his mind.
He now had a choice to make. He knew outright he couldn't best this man. He had no weapons training at all. There was only one thing left to do.
"Fists." He said decisively.
Eric wasn't big for no reason back on Earth. He had been an armature boxer. Not the best of course, but he still had a few wins to call his own. He reasoned that in a world filled with swordsmen and magic, the average fighting ability, even of somebody like Aldros, would be fairly low. He knew there was a real chance of him losing this.
"I'm injured. I'm drunk. I'm nervous. What could go wrong?" He thought.
Aldros' face contorted in rage, "Hah! What else could be expected from someone like you? Fine. Make way! I need to show this commoner his place." He beckoned the crowd to form a circle, which they did.
Stood across from the armored man, Eric understood his goal was exclusively shots to the head. A serious drawback. He steadied his breath, took his orthodox stance and raised his hands.
"Come on Eric, you've fought for bigger crowds, it's fine." This reassurance actually did steady him a bit, his nerves of the crowd dimmed.
Aldros' stance however was terrible. He stood right foot forward, as if he were sword fighting, his chin remained untucked and his hands low.
"Oh. Ohhhh." Eric realized just how inexperienced his opponent was and smirked right at him.
Aldros let out a grunt and charged in, throwing a wild overhand right aimed at Eric's head, he leaned back, Aldros hit nothing but air.
Pop
Eric flicked out a jab which landed right on Aldros' cheek. Aldros blinked and shook his head before throwing another wild punch, this time a left, also aimed at Eric's head. Eric bent his arm further and presented his right elbow forward, Aldros' fist crashed into it with a gruesome crunch, Aldros staggered back in pain. Eric had yet to take a step, he looked at the man with open pity. People began to whisper.
"That's the Head of the Imperial Guardsmen?" One questioned.
"Can he really not take on one commoner?" Another added.
Aldros grit his teeth and ran right at Eric again. This time, it was Eric who moved first. He flicked out a jab, landing square on Aldros' jaw, he pushed of his back leg, engaging his hips to throw his most powerful punch, a textbook right cross. Half way through his step, his leg seized, robbing his punch of its power. It landed flush but lacked the power to do real damage. Eric was stook in an awkward position, his leg to stiff to move. Aldros threw a wild right but Eric moved to block it, his left arm was too stiff to follow his command his time and Aldros' fist shot straight across Eric's cheek, splitting him open and rattling him hard.
"Fucking goblins, I should be faster than this." Eric recalled the hastily healed stab would on his left shoulder and his right calf.
Aldros gave a cocky smile. Eric grit his teeth and dashed towards Aldros, resolving himself to simply cope with the pain in his leg, he spun his hips hard and threw a right hook in an arching motion directly at Aldros' temple.
Thud!
The strike landed clean and hard, with all of Eric's weight behind it. It echoed of the hall ceiling, onlookers stood wide-eyed in shock. He wasn't finished, as Aldros staggered back, Eric shifted his stance, leapt forwards and threw a left-sided, rear-hand smash punch directly into Aldros' turned up jaw, pushing of his good leg as hard as he could with a vicious sounding exhale.
Aldros' head whipped back and he collapsed head first towards the hard marble floor of the castle floor. Just before his head could crack on the cold marble, Eric dashed forward and grabbed hm by the collar of his armor and set him down gently, preventing an untimely death.
Eric looked up to see Father Elianas beaming ear to ear, he scoffed and turned to leave the hall, the onlookers were too stunned to stop him. As the hall doors shut behind him, Eric heard the entire room roar in excitement.
"Congrats, Eric. You fucked it."