KINGDOM HEARTS 3.6 Chapter 150:
The Sailor, the Sea and the Ram's Horn 3.
"Finally...I'm here...the Kingdom of Balance, once again!" says Orichalcum within the flashback of a flashback, speaking once more after remaining "mute" for 1 or 2 Chapters. He exclaims his words at the top of his lungs and prostrates himself in a manner that catches everyone's attention. Namely the guard knights waiting at the entrance of Regnum Stratera's borders...that reveal they recognise Orichalcum!
"Huh? whose that idiot? some crackpot or something?" says the 1st guard, the other guard following up by replying "...Wait a sec. Ain't that the guy who ran amok around these parts a few years back? Oric-something?" says the 2nd guard. "Oh yeah! that kid! heh. He was funny as heck, running like a crazed lunatic all around the place and giving the knights trouble. Even though he had no combat experience..." says the 1st guard, the 2nd guard again replying "...Think we'll get a promotion if we catch him?" says the 2nd guard once more.
"I doubt it, they don't give low class knights like ourselves much credit partner." says the 1st guard again before sighing to himself. Whilst the 2nd guard all the same readies his spear to use to capture "Oric" with. "! Uh-oh. The guards...I don't want a repeat of last time, so...time to strut my stuff." says Oric, as he clicks his knuckles...preparing for a fight. The two guards circle around Oric…of whom smiles like a deviant.
Meanwhile...
At the castle of Regnum Stratera, a messenger is seen reporting to the current king of the Kingdom of Balance. An ancient and distant ancestor of the Characters-Viridian and Serena featured in both Vanitas Gaiden and Knights' Pilgrim respectively. "My lord, I have my latest report." says the messenger towards the king whom replies "Very well, let's hear it." says the king. Suddenly however, a very large ruckus could be heard across the city from inside the castle walls.
"W-What!? what was that!?" says the king, as he looks out a window of the throne room...to see slight smoke emerging around the area of the kingdom's entrance gate where Oric was elsewhere. A good few minutes pass by and the king, escorted by his personal royal guard on riding horses go to where the chaos was happening. Upon arriving...they find a badly bruised Orichalcum. Resting next to a pile of knocked out knights right behind him.
The king was flabbergasted...most of his kingdom's greatest warriors were amongst the pile...and Oric was able to singlehandedly defeat all of them! more then flabbergasted...he was astounded. "H-H-HOW DARE YOU, YOU HEATHEN!" shouts out the messenger from earlier, unbelieving at the sight he was baring witness towards. Oric during the time the king had just arrived had already fell unconscious...with the knights on riding horses preparing to execute him by using piercing lances.
"Stop you fools! that's enough." says the king, as with a wave of his hand...he stops his men from "silencing" Oric. "B-BUT! SIRE! HE HAS-" says the messenger, wanting retribution for "stolen pride". "Enough...tie him up and send him to the dungeons. I will decide what to do with him then..." says the king, making a royal declaration. Unable to fight the king's word, the messenger begrudgingly agrees and has the knights escort the unconscious Oric on horseback towards the castle.
Hours later...at night did Oric finally awaken. "!? HAH! … h-huh? I am...alive?" says Oric, checking his Body for any fatality wounds. "You most certainly are...outsider." says the king, sitting right outside the dungeon with a lit lantern by his side. "!? … Are you...the king?" says Oric. The king slightly chuckles, replying "So, you know the term "king" do you?" says the king. Oric makes the next reply "...Yeah. I mean y-yes. I spent a year in another country with a monarchy...so I know a few things." says Oric, referencing his experience back at Atlantica. "I see...you are not just an ordinary outsider alone. If that was the case, my knights would have been able to easily bring you in. Tell me, what's your name, lad?" says the king, wanting to know Oric's name.
"...Orichalcum." says Oric, introducing himself. "...Orichalcum? it's not a name familiar around these parts, highlighting further that you are an outsider. Still, you showed great promise. Not just in fighting...but the Character you are displaying in front of me. My name is "Torque" and I am the current king of Regnum Stratera-the Kingdom of Balance. This fair city was only created 20 years ago by my father, the 1st king of the kingdom. I am the 2nd king reigning...and I am in dire need of both strength and power. To compensate for my lack of charisma...unbefitting the name I was given at birth. You, my friend...might very well be the figure that this kingdom needs to flourish." says the king, now identified as Torque...seemingly offering Oric a proposition of some kind...
"...What are you getting at? … your majesty?" says Oric, trying to remain polite as possible and not offend the king. "Now, now. No need for a guard...I understand your hesitance. But I will say this...you seemed to have travelled many a place, far beyond my kingdom's borders. If so...perhaps you can share tales of the outside world with my city. Show the peoples living within...that there are far more things out there then what is just limited to certain extents." says the king, supposedly needing Oric's help with something.
Oric replies to this idea by asking simply "...Why?" says Oric. "...I have been receiving reports about strange creatures-goblin like monsters that appear and leave when and where they please inside the kingdom. They attack all the peace loving citizens...and show absolutely no remorse for their actions. I am afraid...that the public will think that this is the threat of the outside borders. But I just know...that is not the case. My name is supposed to mean "movement of force"...but if even I cannot force the public to open their minds, their Hearts...then I am afraid we shall be doomed to failure. I do not care about my position as king...only that the views of the public do not imprison themselves. We cannot afford to limit all of the potential possibilities for our still newly created kingdom that are ahead of the path in front. The future...that is the road we MUST walk, no matter the cost." says the king, tightening his hands together.
Sensing the depth of king Torque's resolve...Orichalcum without hesitation agrees to this request. For he could sympathise with the king...namely about narrowminded views. Oric sadly recalls the villagers of his island...and starts to think about home for once in a very long time that he has been away from it. Thinking he should return to his homeland sometime soon...Oric resolved to make his stay in Regnum Stratera the very last one. As promised to himself...Oric would commence a one year stay at the Kingdom of Balance, helping king Torque put the minds of the peoples at ease about the outside borders...by dispatching the invaders that would haunt them.
Every now and then, Oric would fight these invaders, at first, much to his surprise and especially shock...revealed to be the black demons that he had fought already. Eventually, Oric and king Torque coined a name for them...the Heartless. Creatures without Hearts...and if do possessing said such Hearts...were they still black-Hearted at their cores. A few months pass by with Oric's stay at the kingdom and he had received the official nickname of "Oric" itself by the knights. Although still bitter about their defeat towards Oric…they ultimately recognised him as the strongest one amongst them. The knights themselves even requested Oric to become their new captain, following the retirement of a previous elderly aged captain.
Oric's skills would become far renowned and wide throughout the whole kingdom and soon enough, everyone started calling him by the title of "Heart-stone". Because of the kind, caring and unyielding Heart that he possessed towards all...eventually, this gave him a rather unique idea. He had decided...to stylise his hair in the shape of a Heart! this hairstyle was met greatly with mixed reception. But overtime...it had become the signature trademark of Orichalcum-"the Heart-stone of Balance". Even king Torque had recognised that Orichalcum had become the most important figure in the entire kingdom...causing the king himself to feel a sense of jealously.
By the time it was the 7th month of Oric's stay in Regnum Stratera…a certain incident had occurred...between both him...and king Torque.
To be Continued.