“Attention beloved citizens!” an authoritative but warm voice echoed across the kingdom. “The sudden and strange appearance of this mysterious obelisk is being looked into by the most brilliant minds in the kingdom!”
This was the power of one of Regemendax’s most powerful relics, The Scepter of the First King. Passed down for centuries from monarch to monarch, it allowed the ruler’s voice to reach every subject in the land.
“I have heard your fears that this may be the work of the rogue guild members that have been conspiring against the kingdom. While this has not yet been determined; they are the most likely culprits. I assure you, my dear subjects, that your safety is my prime concern and we shall soon be rid of this terror! For the glory of Regmendax!”250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ucs18AgNM
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxTjvh71Nt
To call the “Mysterious Obelisk” enormous would be an understatement. It absolutely dwarfed the numerous towers of the city. Easily 300 meters tall, but somehow only about 20 meters in diameter. Whatever it was, it simply stood still, looming just outside the city walls. The mere sight of it filled me with a sense of overwhelming dread.
But we would have to worry about it another time, as Magnus was making his landing outside the guild.
Truth be told, it is hard for me to recall that evening. We were quickly swarmed by the medical staff who took Gus away to confirm his death and prepare his body for the funeral. We all returned to the barracks to change into our best clothing before making our way to the Great Hall.
Gus’ family was already there, both Giant and Human sides. Who I assumed to be his younger sister, crying quietly as she hugged her mother’s leg. We made quick introductions and expressed our sympathies. They were extremely kind and were exactly as Gus always described. Reggie handed them Gus’ belongings, including the piece of the Bonecrusher Hammer. Gus’ mother gave him a delicate hug as if trying not to squish him. Katherine and I left Reggie to talk with the family more.
The ceremony was short but sweet. Priests of Golung and Maria sang the requiems for Giants and Humans respectively as Gus was laid to rest in The Adventurer’s Rest, where all those who lose their lives on missions are buried.
None of us lingered at the funeral long. After saying our final farewells to our friend, I took Katherine to the infirmary to get her leg checked out.
It had been at the back of my mind for days at this point. I refused to entertain it for long, as I knew that he wouldn’t want it, and I couldn’t leave Katherine alone, but still. Despite this being the life I had signed up for, the reality was that I was nothing but a rodent. Not just emotionally, but physically unable to be anything but a burden to my team. Sooner or later, I would get the rest of them killed. In order to protect them, to protect Katherine, I needed to go back home.
“I don’t want to do this anymore,”
My head jerked to face Katherine as my words left her mouth instead!
“What?” was all I could utter.
“I promised not to hide this stuff from you back at the Abbey, and I won’t,” she said as she stopped and leaned against the wall of the empty hallway.
“I told myself I was prepared for this since I was a child, but seeing Gus’ sister… All I could think of was… that night when I was her age,”
To say I was shocked would be a massive understatement. Quite frankly, I had to try not to smile as I was filled with hope that we could go home together, no longer risking our lives. I could have my safety and not lose my sister.
“But I can’t leave now,” she said as she began to walk again.
I felt my heart sink deep into my stomach as if I swallowed a lump of coal.
“Why not?” I asked, practically squeaking as I tried not to show my disappointment.
“We have to finish the story,” she replied, “What kind of finale is our teammate sacrificing himself just for us to retire in our first year as adventurers! No, he deserves better than that,”
I held back tears as we walked in silence the rest of the way to the infirmary. There was no arguing with Katherine when she had her mind made up like that. And how could I argue? She was right, but I was so very weak. She was the kind of person to be the hero of her own story, I should never have even been a part of it. A rat in the background as her parents died. Even if she didn’t feel that way, it was impossible to argue that I was out of place here.
I wasn’t sure what to do so, after I made sure Katherine was in Glenda’s care, I decided to go to Wisebeak’s workshop. Probably because the small, underground room reminded me of my first home to some degree. I didn’t have any plans to work on anything and, for some unknown period of time, I just sat in silence at the desk Wisebeak had set up for me.
Eventually, my gaze drifted towards a pile of blank paper. Likely left there for drawing up plans and designs. Without even thinking, I picked up a page and began writing… and writing… and writing.
Writing the account that you are reading right now.
I was no aspiring poet like Gus, no hero like Katherine, but I wanted to make good on his last request. I wanted to chronicle the story of our group, at least up to this point before I left.
Not sure how to start, I decided I’d just go from the beginning. Rather, my beginning, and see where I went.
I do apologize for the apparent lack of direction.
At some point in the night, I fell asleep at my desk. My face resting on a pile of papers.
ns 15.158.61.12da2
