Harbinger: The Four Knights

The Throne Of The Kings

A few minutes earlier

                [Freaking Liasu targets the part where he stabbed earlier. He really is a despicable- no wonder they told me to be cautious of him but to think that he would device a plan like this to kill the royal highnesses.] I told myself as I hardly block all of his attacks which are seemed to be focused on my wounded shoulder and because of that I ended up suffering much more injuries from my other limbs since he occasionally does feints and lands his attacks on my legs or body. [I don’t think I can last much longer, with this much injury on my body, it won’t long before I succumb to death because of blood lose. Their royal highnesses cannot provide with any assistance since they did not learn anything useful in combat yet since they just started learning magic and how to fight a few days ago.]

               Because of my incompetence, three more people are about to get dragged in this mess that my heart started to drown in despair when all of the sudden I heard Gus’ voice calling Liasu’s name. “Liasu!” I turned my head to the direction where he came from and saw him running towards us and so I thought that the three have already died by their hands but my conclusion was wrong. The closer Gus is, the more clear his expression is, and he is horrified like he saw a ghost or something, his skin is so pale that he already resembles someone who died a few hours ago which made me wonder what happened, and so as Liasu. “What happened? Where are the others-“ a rather peculiar weapon pierce Gus’ back and run through his chest, splattering blood around his wound and then the weapon immediately flew back behind Gus’ figure.

               The kids whom Liasu ordered to kill were alive and the one who annihilated their entire group is the one that raise his suspicion earlier and the weapon on his hands just proves that he really is the one who killed them all. “They all started running towards you so I expect that you are far stronger than them.” He swing his peculiar weapon to get rid of blood in the blades and stare at Liasu with a smile on is face. [Impossible- how can a kid like that deal with the others? ‘Stronger than them?’ Were they all weak for him? I get that most of the royal guards do not have secret arts apart from those who are apprentices of the royal knights but they are still far from being weak from my experience not to mention that most of them are the ones that I have tried to spar against!] I did not hear everything that happened from then on because I got preoccupied by my thoughts, he spoke some words to me but I did not hear a single thing.

               I watch them fight and they look like they are on the same level but then the kid started losing against Liasu, that is when I regained my senses and right after I did, her royal highness ask me if I were okay. “Kairon, I was talking to you for almost a few minutes now. Are you okay? And who is that person? How is he fighting Liasu who is the strongest of this group on the same footing?” she asked but to be honest I don’t have the slightest idea about it at as well.

               I turn my head when I felt two presence coming towards us and it was the other two kids acquainted with the kid who is fighting with Liasu. “Thank you very much for the help.” I thank them the instant I saw them walking towards us. The other one nodded his head and offered me some pill but then the other one stopped him. “Don’t bother master Marcus we are here to make money just as you proposed to us last night right? That pill must have cost a lot and you dare bring that hideous thing when you have me as a healer, do you not trust my ability?” he said with a little angry tone as he extended his hand towards me and a green light illuminated his hand. The injuries that I suffered started to heal in an instant that not even a scar remained.

               [Instant healing-! Impossible! This kid is able to use healing magic to such degree?!] I was surprised by one of them yet again and I am sure that I am not the only one, I’m sure their highnesses are also surprised as well since they have only learned magic and combat a few days earlier. And just as I thought, they are equally surprised when I turned to take a look at their expressions, and surely enough they had the expressions of people that are deeply interested in the things that they saw.

               “Thank you for your help yet again thought it might sound weird for an adult like me to thank a bunch of kids but I owe you our lives thus my pride doesn’t matter.” I said as I bow my head to thank them properly but the one who healed me brushed off the idea of helping them. “You must have misunderstood something Mr. our young master did not help you in the slightest bit. We did not want to get involved with you people but that person ordered to kill us that’s why the young master is dealing with him after cleaning up the weaklings that he sent for us.” He said with a serious tone that the one beside him told him to stop.

               “Stop it Abel, I’m sure Amon doesn’t think of it like that and besides, Amon think he is stronger than the rest. I’m sure that is enough to make Amon fight him head on.” He said as the other one who seem to be going with the name of Abel made a nasty expression. Then out of the blue, her highness asked the one named Abel how that Amon kid is fighting on equal footing against Liasu with a gentle yet excited tone and that is when I felt a little bloodlust coming from him, I was about to act since he might harm the princess in any way but then he suppressed it and turn the other way. “I have no obligation to answer a question such as that since the answer should be obvious just by looking at it.” He said with a stern tone as the one besides him shakes his head.

               “I may not be qualified to answer your question your highness but I think he means that that Amon guy got stronger because of training. I may be wrong or right at the same time but fighting with Liasu on equal footing requires at least a training moreover than 10 years otherwise it wouldn’t make sense.” I said as I turn to Abel to at least see his reaction that he agrees to what I just said but to my disappointment I got nothing.

               It was a few moments now, Amon seemed to be losing against Liasu that even the one beside Abel asked if Amon would be okay and Abel just said that it’s fine which I really don’t think so. [Is he not going to heal him? Amon is covered with injuries just like I had earlier.] But then something utterly ridiculous happened before our very eyes, something like a dimensional ring  would do but it was different. Amon hid away his weird weapon and grabbed a sword. [Are you telling me he is even adept with a sword?!-!]

               BOOM!

               And just as we are surprised by the scene, we are then greeted by the destructive power of what it seems the ability that he used. The rocks and boulders that were in the line of impact are split in half. I can even see Liasu’s expression after seeing that explosiveness of power that kid had in store with him from the very beginning. Their fight continued and the balance of power between them tilted to Amon’s direction as his attacks became more fiercer and strikingly polished but even with that level of mastery of the sword, he still got injured by Liasu who is also receiving not much damage thought I think his blade is dull as a rock from all of those blocking.

               It was then that Abel stepped forward and extended his hand towards Amon and healed his injuries in an instant. We saw Amon’s expression after he turn back to us with an enraged expression saying that it was not necessary for Abel to heal him but Abel made his excuses good enough for Amon to accept it. And now Liasu is facing a person who doesn’t have a slightest of injuries but Liasu seem to have concede defeat after admitting that he could not longer last much longer and so he takes out something from his pocket.

               The thing that he took out from his pocket is something that a royal guard would get his hands on easily, and that thing is an explosive artifact. It is said that I would be able to blow up a fourth of a city with just a single artifact like that but the production of that artifact is so hard that only a few are made every year. After identifying the artifact, I yelled for everyone to run away as I grab the royal highnesses. “Run!”  but to my surprise, the other three did the complete opposite of what I just yelled.

               Abel held the other one from running away with us which is utterly stupid. [They do not know what that artifact can do-!] and then I turn my eyes to Amon who is already in front of Liasu as his figure slowly disappeared. I stopped running along with the prince and princess and focused my attention to Amon who is still standing from where Liasu was.

               [I don’t know if that is the right thing to do but the mana that I felt from that orb felt like it could blow up a large portion of this land. I doubt all of us would survive if we were just to run away from it.] I thought to myself as I stare at the ring on my hand.

Inside the Ring of the Void

                              [Where am I? I’m sure I activated the artifact- is this heaven?]  I told myself but then I can feel my body. I opened my eyes and saw a pitch black and ominous space in front of me. I moved my hands and pinch myself and it seems like I am still alive. I tried touching around me but all I can feel is the floor that I am lying at. [There is a floor and yet I  can’t see anything? And where is the artifact? It should have exploded right about now!] I tried standing up  to look around but then I felt a presence behind me that is enough to make my body tremble before even taking a glance at it. I slowly turn my head behind me and saw pair of red eyes sitting on a throne with the artifact on it’s hand and it looks like that thing is inspecting the artifact with it’s eyes but then those eyes move and look towards me and then move back to look at the artifact.

               [What? Does the artifact more interesting than me?!] I hurts my pride that it has taken more interest to the artifact than me but now that I look at it clearly, it has a form like a human apart from it’s eyes and the protruding horns oh it’s head. “HOW DID HUMANS LIKE YOU GET A HOLD OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS? WELL, CONSIDERING YOUR RACE’S HUNGER FOR POWER AND STRENGTH ITS NOT A FAR FETCHED IDEA FOR HUMANS TO BE STEALING THINGS FROM MY PEOPLE.” [It spoke! It spoke in a language that I could not understand. Is it speaking to me?] I wanted to speak but then it crushed the orb on it’s hands like it was nothing but a pebble and then turned to me.

 [THAT KID IS REALLY SOMETHING, USING MY VOID RING TO SUPPRESS THE EXPLOSION THAT A FAKE IMITATION CAN PRODUCE. THE CANDIDATE IS REALLY GUTSY AND FOOLISH AT THE SAME TIME.] that thing then looked like he is looking behind me so I turned towards that direction only to find another set of white eyes with the same human form sitting on a throne but this on is quite different from the first one. It doesn’t have any horns nor emit such intimidating aura but instead it was soothing and yet mysterious.

[THERE IS NO NEED TO BE REACTING LIKE THAT ASTAROTH, THEIR GENERATION IS QUITE DIFFERENT THAN OURS. INSTEAD OF PATRONIZING HIM FOR HIS DECISION, I ADMIRE HIS GUTS. HE THINKS THAT HE CAN CONTAIN THE EXPLOSION WITHIN THE RING WHICH IS QUITE TRUE, EVEN IF WE LEAVE IT BE, THE EXPLOSION WOULDN’T MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DEAL WITH THIS HUMAN?] The second thing spoke in the same language that I do not understand and another voice appeared with a pair of pitch black eyes, this third thing has a single horn on its forehead and a pair of draconic wings behind it’s back, it spoke in human language.

[THERE IS NO USE IN KEEPING THIS VERMIN ALIVE, JUST THE SIGHT OF HIS RACE MAKES ME WANT TO VOMIT.] the instant I heard that it spoke human language thought it sounds like he doesn’t like humans that much but still I have to find a way to get out of here. “What is this place? And who are you?” I asked them who just stare at me blankly except for the last one that appeared with the pitch black eyes who looked like he is disgusted to even hear my voice.

[SILENCE HUMAN, YOU EVEN HAVE THE AUDACITY TO SPEAK IN OUR PRESENCE? AS TYPICAL FOR HUMAN BEINGS, LEAVE THIS VERMIN TO ME. I WILL ERADICATE HIS SOUL TO THE VERY CORE.] That thing said as it extended it’s arms and I immediately feel like my head is spinning like something is getting sucked out of my body, I fell on my knees as my body started to stiffen as my consciousness starts to slip away.

A black orb floats just as the body of Liasu fell on the ground lifeless. The three figures stared at the orb floating in the air as the third figure reached out to it. [HOW TAINTED, A SOUL THAT TAINTED COULD NOT BE SAVED NO MATTER WHAT. HAVE HUMANS FELL THAT LOW THAT THEIR SOULS TURNED THAT DARK?] the second figure took the orb and burned it with a red flame and disintegrated what is left of it.

Meanwhile

Amon and the others were waiting for something to happen but nothing happened, not a sound nor a rumbling occurred. The royal guard and the royal highnesses walk towards them after seeing that nothing happened after Liasu’s body disappeared in thin air. “What happened?” he asked but none of them had the answer to his question.

Seeing that nothing happened, Amon decided to take the body out and hopefully it is not messed up and after doing so, Liasu’s body appeared from his ring of the void with a disturbing appearance. His body looks like it was mummified, he is all skin and bones. He looks far from what he looks like a few moments ago. It looks so bad that the royal guard ask his highnesses to cover their eyes.

“What the heck happened to that guy’s body? He- how should I say this? He looks more like bones right now.” The one who offered me a pill earlier said as he covers his mouth. “No matter what happened. I’m just thankful that nothing bad happened. I know I am insisting but allow me to thank you all for everything that you have done to help us. I, alone could not repay this debt but I will do my best to help you in the future.” I thanked them but to my surprise, both of their highnesses also gave their thanks and even bowed down to Amon and the others.

[So they really are the royal highnesses. Its all good that we have the royal highnesses in our debt but it would be troublesome to get entangled with them in any way at all. For now, let’s just not think about it and plan for the next step.] I thought to myself after confirming their identities. We proceeded to pile the bodies in a row and confirmed that all of them are dead before going to our journey.

               “This is supposed to be training for their highnesses but to think that it turned out to be like this.” We guided them back to the entrance while carrying the deceased bodies of the royal guards and loaded them in a cart. “I apologize if we can’t do anything to thank you, I promise to make it up to you next time we meet.” Prince Japeth said as he boarded the carriage. “There is no need to be going that far. It was our pleasure to be in the presence of you highnesses.” I responded with a bow as the bow of them followed after me.

               Prince Japeth then turn his head to Amon who is staring at the distance and flashed a smile. “Amon was it? Next time we meet- I will be stronger and I will definitely ask you for a spar.” He said with a smile but Abel retorted with disrespectful tone. “There is no chance that you will defeat the young master.” I look at Abel with a disappointed expression but he just gave me the gesture that he is only telling the truth. “I know Abel, but that is something that you should not respond to.” I reminded him as he shook his head. “I’m just telling him the truth master Marcus, its better for him to know the truth than to hurt himself later on in thinking that he can do what he declared.”

               I was expecting the prince to be angry at Abel but to my surprise, the prince chuckled instead. “Haha! I like that straightforwardness of yours. I like you. There is not much people who talks like that to us you see. It is quite refreshing getting treated like that.” [Wow, I wasn’t expecting a response like that at all.] I told myself as I turn to Amon who responded a little better than Abel. “Then I will be waiting for that day.” He said with a smile on his face.

               After a few more words with each other, the carriage then left as it leaves a trail of dust along the way. We head back to where everything happened and decided to continue on our hunting. “Now that we are back here, we need to hunt a lot. Our hunting officially starts here!” I said with an enthusiastic expression that we all share now that we are the only ones here. We hunted different kinds of animals and their numbers doubled every time we move on for another kilometer or so. Their sizes got even larger and larger after a few kilometers.

               “Wow- I did not think that hunting these kind of animals is going to be fun and exciting!” Amon exclaimed as we clean the animals’ body and separates the core. “Are these things going to be expensive as you say?” Abel ask as he showed me the core covered in blood and it gave me the spotlight like they had earlier. “Heh- that may not look much but every core is expensive, the larger it is the more pricy it will be and looking at how much we already have, the cores alone would fetch a high price not to mention the meat and hide. How much do you think we are going to make?”

               Light sparkled in their eyes but more importantly Amon had a weird expression on his face that I think I don’t want to know the reason behind it. “Then how much would it to sell a huge core?” Amon ask with an interested tone. [A large core huh? I have never seen a large core than the one I saw a few years ago which was the size of an ordinary plate. That alone was so expensive that only aristocrats are able to buy.]  unable to answer his question immediately I shook my head.

               “To be honest, I do not have an idea. We’ll know when we get one but that opportunity is 10000 is to 1, there is no way that such an opportunity would just easily come to our hands right?” I said with a bitter smile on my face knowing that a single large core would be able to make us buy everything that we want and then almost immediately I felt a little uncomfortable as Amon had a huge smile on his face.

               [Huh? What is he looking at-] I turned behind only to find that a monstrous large ox is staring at my back a few meters away, my heart skipped a beat after seeing such a huge beast for the very first time in my life but the two of them had an entirely different expression. Its like they are even more excited to take that beast down than being afraid of the consequences of failing. Amon and Abel then jumped off and ready their weapons as the ox started running away after realizing their intentions are.

A days later

               We fell on the ground from exhaustion in front of the registration booth. “Freaking ox- gave us a hard time.” I panted and panted along with them after a few days of rallying. “This is the first time that I have felt this much fun in a long time. Who knows hunting a huge beast like that is so exciting and rewarding. We get to train ourselves as well.” I added as the both of them nodded their heads with smiles on their faces.  

               Now that I think about it, we hunted so much that my ring on my finger is actually heavy. I heard from father that there is a limit to how much a dimensional ring can carry and it if it exceeds from the capacity, the ring will slowly getting heavy. [That would only mean that this ring is loaded.] I thought to myself as I look at our haggard faces. “Why don’t we go back and sell all that we hunted. Thankfully the dimensional ring preserves everything that you put into it, otherwise all the meat would rot.” Both of them agreed.

               We then proceeded to got out of the hunting grounds making the heads of the registrar’s office turn their heads towards us, they may be puzzled as to how kids like us, hunting for the first time actually survive a few days inside. To be honest it wasn’t just animals we were fighting, there are people who were interested in our goods and wanted to take it for themselves but unfortunately for them Amon is always ready for a fight and let them off with a few broken bones and a straight from hell beat down.