The Trial of Kings

The Trial of Kings has ended

The moon was high and lighting up the night sky as they emerged from the holding chamber. In future Anne had decided that she will use it and the entire course ground for future events. The trial itself would not be repeated but the same terrain would be used and the similar Monsters and Demons. She even made it so that those who qualified would also get a shot at the Trial of Kings and take home the title.

There were many things that would change from that day on and the events were going to be based on the design that the King had to go through. They were a short distance from the outer walls of Eros and the Goddess rode his back not having any shoes. She wanted to walk but he insisted that he carry her. The blood seemed to have stopped flowing from his head and he noted that it was the first thing he needed to have checked upon reaching the walls. His rib didn’t hurt as much as when he got it so he didn’t think it was as urgent.

“I have a confession to make,” said the Goddess with her arms wrapped around his shoulders and neck. “What is it?” he answered absentmindedly continuing to put one foot in front of the other, focusing on his breathing and willing himself to stay conscious. “I was never in any danger. I was working with Anne to pull this off,” she wanted to just get it out there, unsure of how he would react. Instinctively she squeezed a bit harder fearing that he’d stop carrying her. It never came, and he didn’t stop. After a long pause he responded, “The Music. It was you, not her.” She murmured into his neck in agreement and he smiled to himself. “That’s actually better,” he chuckled. Confused she tried to stretch her neck to see his eyes, “What do you mean it’s better?” The King of Eros stopped and turned his head to reach her lips and kissed the Goddess. The kiss lasted a few moments before he continued walking, “It means that you knew what to play and when better than a super computer with complex algorithms,” he smiled again and saw the smile light up her face. “It means that my work isn’t done and Anne hasn’t outgrown me yet.”

They reached the entrance and he slowly dropped her to the ground that was smooth stone leading into a large doorway that automatically opened. The King noted that Anne must have been watching and waiting. They walked for a short time until they were met by a medical team that quickly sat them down and did their checks and tests. The King had his head wound looked at and the Goddess only asked for water telling them that she was completely okay. He used the time to regain his senses and bring his thoughts together.  The Trial had taken its toll on him that was clear. He had designed it to be harder that what the current adventurers were used to, programming Anne to use the data she collected from the Adventurers in the Dungeon and make the Trial harder. He had no idea how far she would take it. The hours now felt like a dream as he sat there on the stone steps. The medical team wanted to continue but he waived them off and asked for some room to breathe. As he stood up a passer by noticed who he was and pointed. “It’s the King! HEY, IT’S THE KING!”

Moments later the streets were filled with the same audience that watched the Trial on the screens and the congratulations began. Hoisted above their shoulders they chanted. The Goddess came to his side and he gleefully jumped to meet her. They walked hand in hand towards the main square where he had made so many speeches in preparation for the events and celebrations. They climbed the podium together and once again the cameras were diverted to them. He asked Anne to turn on the microphone in front of him and looked at the crowd now formed before him.

Cheers of congratulations and tears from the Adventurers that lived every moment with him in the dungeon as he fought his way through the trial. More and more people poured out from the taverns and restaurants to come and see “live” what others were too far away to see. They stood on the podium waiting for all of the guild to gather as they had before in similar ceremonies. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted a small figure clasping her hands together. Guildswoman Tatum gave him a massive hug, her eyes red and slightly puffy. The King of Eros waited for the crowd to quiet down enough to begin talking. The head of the Guild was a tallish man with a decent beard making him look like a wizard. His name was Neil, known as Neil the Wise, appeared out of nowhere with a steel Crown in hand. The crown was quite plain, smoothed down and coming to a triangular point with the symbol of Eros at its’ center. Damons’ heart skipped a beat and he took a step back. The crowd roared yet again as the cameras caught site of the crown in the left hand of the Head of the Guild. Dramatic music with violins and a piano began to play as they made contact on the podium. He leaned forward to whisper into the ear of the new King. “Truly the proudest moment for us all. I am glad that you made it,” he straightened his gait and looked at the new King with a smile of approval maintaining his character as the Wise and noble leader of the Guild. Neil the Wise turned to the crowd and used a small microphone delivered to him by Anne. “Citizens, Visitors, and Adventurers of Eros. On this day, the General of the Dungeon – has completed the trial of Kings and thus, will now be crowned as the first King of Eros,” he gestured to Damon who took another look into the eyes of the beautiful Goddess Luna before stepping forward. He came into full view of the cameras present and the audience erupted once again as scenes of his triumph played like a montage on all the screens around him with the two main ones to the side of the podium only showing him.

Neil the Wise turned to him and boomed over the mic, “Kneel.” The crowd hushed as Sir Damon paused for just a moment and then bent his left knee and rested his elbow on his right, lowering his head.

“You are hereby sworn to protect the helpless, uphold the weak, destroy the wicked and defend your Kingdom” said Neil the Wise holding the crowd above his head. The crowd remained silent as the music continued to play, the piano softening the as he spoke.

“Speak the truth always and live well for that is your right as a citizen of Eros.”

“Destroy illusion, helplessness and become the beacon of light for others to follow.”

“I crown thee, King Damon, the First ever - King of Eros,” he placed the crown on the new Kings’ head just the music faded into drums and violins. The timing was perfect as the crowd was swept into the moment. He rose from his place and face the crowd, unable to contain his elation and seeing the overjoyed response of his new subjects, King Damon drew both of his swords and raised them high. The music rose as Anne read the facial expressions of the crowd and adapted using the algorithm she’d learned watching the effects music had on Damon during the Trial. Anne then immediately used the nearby Augmented Reality beams to create the flames around the Kings arms that he would have in the Dungeon. The crowd was beside themselves as the moment seemed to only get better. He held his swords up high, the crown on his head stained with his blood, King Damon took the center of the stage and screamed into the crowd, “VICTIMUUUUUS!” His arms still ablaze they roared with him. “VICTIMUS! VICTIMUS!” they cheered as he dropped his swords to deactivate the flames and sheathed them without effort. He turned to the Goddess and held out his hand. She took it and stepped forward to join him, he raised her hand to the crowd and the continued to chant. VICTIMUS – Latin for Victory is ours.