David had been walking for a few minutes when he approached a village. David entered an inn called 'The Luxurious Tower'. That was a bit of an exaggeration. NO. It was a huge exaggeration to call it luxurious. It was a three-storey building with a plaque, 'the luxurious tower', lying on the ground. David sighed, for he had no choice. When he entered the inn, he was greeted by a huge crowd. Some were drinking wine, others were dancing to folk songs and some had fallen asleep. David approached the innkeeper.
"I need a room," said David.
"How many guests?" Asked the innkeeper.
"One. A decent room, if possible."
"Sure, that would cost you 1 gold coin for a night."
David handed him a gold coin and the innkeeper beckoned David to follow him. David followed the innkeeper to the top floor. They entered the nearest room. It was a simple room with a bed, a table and a washroom. David was satisfied. The innkeeper handed him the keys and left. David laid down on the bed. The moment David touched the bed, he fell into a deep sleep. He was in the darkness again, but this was different. He had the feeling of being in a cinema. There were scenes on a huge screen that was familiar and unfamiliar to him at the same time. There was a somewhat intimidating woman with silver-white hair. She was talking to someone.
"Thank you, Estelle, truly"
"I am doing this for her, not for you. "
Then he walked into a swirling blue-black portal. It looked scary, but once he was inside, it was very peaceful. There was no wind, just David and nothing else.
The scene suddenly changed and a clergyman touched his forehead, but he suddenly began to cough. Before he finally died, he stared at David with hatred and disgust. His slightly red eyes seemed to bore into David.
"Ahh!"
David was shaken awake. His back was wet with sweat and his eyes were moist. David knew he had no connection with them, but why was his face wet? Why did his chest feel so heavy? And why did he feel that the two figures were familiar to him? David immediately left the inn and made his way to the kingdom of Fior. On the way there, he encountered many animals that were simply disgusting.
Like a big tortoise about a metre tall with pink and slimy skin and a shell with thorns, and a huge bear that was as fat as a bush elephant but as fast as a cheetah. Did that make any sense at all? By now David had a rough idea of what this world was like. It was like an alternate world where the laws of science did not apply. People here could sense the mana around them and use it for their needs, which made them instantly superior to others. Mana was like the molecules of magic and mages are the people who can sense the mana around them and use it. Mages were more valued for their abilities than the average citizen. Unlike mages who dealt damage from a distance, swordsmen were the opposite. They fought with their immense physical strength and skill with the sword.
On his way, he passed a wanted poster which read:
DEAD OR ALIVE
EX-CAPTAIN OF ELITE KNIGHTS, KABAAN SWANFELLOW
ANGST AGAINST THE AFOREMENTIONED ARE THE MURDER OF THE FORMER QUEEN EVELYN SILVERWOOD AND THE DEATH OF THE CLERIC ADDAM BOUGH
THE REWARD FOR CAPTURE IS 50,000,000 GOLD COINS IF ALIVE
THE REWARD FOR CAPTURE IS 10,000,000 GOLD COINS IF DEAD
BY THE DECREE OF HIS HIGHNESS GOLD FIOR OF THE FIOR MONARCHY
Under the poster was a picture of Captain Kabaan. He looked about forty, had golden hair like a lion's mane and eyes as sharp as a hawk, but he had a pure smile on his face. David could not imagine that Kabaan could have killed anyone, but appearances can be deceiving.
He approached one of the villages on the outskirts of the kingdom of Fior, but something was wrong. No one was on the road and the village was eerily silent. No sound of a blacksmith hammering on an anvil, no sound of a merchant, no sound of children playing and, more importantly, no sound of people in the inn.
David began to walk into the village. Every door was unlocked and ajar, but no sound could be heard. Where are the inhabitants of the village? David walked briskly towards the centre of the village. The village headman's office was in the centre of the village. David tried to open it. Locked. It was strange. Why would the office be locked when it was supposed to be open all day?
David went to the back of the office and entered through the back door. David was in the kitchen where dirty glass cutlery lay in a box and he smelled the aroma of spicy chicken wings. David could hear something, but he was too far away to understand what they were talking about. David moved closer.
"We did it! But what if the soldiers come to the village to take her back, chief?" Asked a man.
"They have no evidence. The Duke of Henken is in charge of this region, even the royal soldiers will not be able to do anything. Besides, it was the princess's fault for coming to this criminal-filled village." The village chief replied.
She? Who was the unfortunate girl? David felt anger and pity welling up inside him. He would not allow anyone to experience the pain and humiliation he had to suffer.
*Tap* *Tap* *Tap*
"Chief, she refuses to eat," said a female voice behind him.
David felt the hairs on his arms stand up as he realised he was trapped. Closer. He hastily grabbed a utensil and waited. The moment David saw the lady's figure, he threw the cutlery against a nearby wall.
*clang*
The lady stopped and looked at the dropped utensil. David took the opportunity to sneak past her and entered the nearest room he saw. He was safe. David looked around and saw a sight that frightened him to the core.
A girl was tied to a chair with a rope that closed her mouth and prevented her from screaming. Her hands were bound with metal chains. David now understood the dangers of this world. The world no longer looked as wonderful as before. He saw the harsh reality. David walked up to the girl and saw that she had cried herself to sleep. Dried tears stained her face.
Immediately, David got to work. By releasing her from her bonds and untying the rope that restricted her speech, he freed her. He waited until she woke up. After a while, the girl stirred and slowly opened her eyes. With blonde hair that was open and long and golden eyes, she had a striking appearance. Tears threatened to fall as she inspected her surroundings, but as soon as she realised she was free, she got up. Having not seen David yet, she yelped when she did.
"W-Who are you?" She asked.
My name is David, and I am the one who freed you. Who are you? " Replied David.
"Oh..that was rude of me. I am Freia Fior, the second daughter of his highness Gold Fior and the second-in-line to the throne."
"Oh wow…..all hail Princess Freia from Fior." Said David sarcastically.
It seemed too good to be true. How would the princess of Fior, who is certainly one of the most protected individuals, end up in this village? And tied to a chair at that!!
Freia understood that David didn't believe her.
"You don't believe me, do you?" Asked Freia.
"Oh please….this lowly boy shall not dare." Joked David.
"Oh please….stop." Said Freia and continued, "I don't care if you don't believe me but we have to get out."
" I already have it figured out. Just follow me." said David.
David went to the door and looked through the keyhole. Armed people were standing near the door. David massaged his temples and went to the window. It was sealed. Try as he might, he could not open it. He sighed.
"How can you open it? The lock is imbued with magic." Said Freia.
David's face lit up and he asked, "Princess, do you know how to recognise Mana?"
When Freia nodded, David told her to see where the magic was.
"Only the lock is imbued with magic. I can not sense any magic in the window, but how does it matter? If we can not pick the lock, how can we escape? Unless you plan to break the window, which only a madman would ......." Freia's voice trailed off as she looked into David's face. "Oh my god... You are a madman," she mumbled.
David grinned and wrapped the metal chains around his hands. He had seen this in a Bollywood movie once and couldn't help but want to try it out. With all his might, he swung his arm at the window.
*Crack*
Although it was a small crack, it still gave him hope. He swung harder.
*Crack*
A long crack. He swung once more and the window shattered into a million pieces.
Freia was shocked and pleasantly surprised. She jumped from the window and was outside. It was David's turn. He held the ledge and was going to jump when he felt a stinging pain in his arm. His knuckles were bleeding. A lot.
*Thump* *Thump*
The door was pushed open and the village headman stood shocked before him. He was a cheerful and innocent-looking man until he noticed the huge knife he was holding.
"Stop right there, you dirty little rat!!!! I will dispose of you like the rest of the villagers and leave you for the vultures!! " the village headman shouted and ran towards David, hoping to catch him. Well, now David knew why the village was silent.
He ignored the pain and the headman, jumped out the window and went outside. When Freia saw that he was bleeding, she made him sit and said, "Therapevo."
Slowly, the pain in his knuckles lessened and the bleeding subsided until finally, it stopped altogether. David was dumbfounded. Was this magic? So cool!
"Bring them to me!!!"
David had no time to think; he grabbed Freia's hand and ran for their lives.