Chapter 2~The Guild of Heroes
The Hero enhanced our house, adding a trophy mount. He put up the head of the wasp queen he killed when he first graduated from the Guild of Heroes. When I heard he killed the wasp queen in the Picnic Area, I wanted to go there so bad and see the spot where the Hero saved the innocent civilians lives. Now I loathe the thought of it.
One day the Hero came home and announced that he had finished another quest. The Guild offered him two quests; both had to deal with Orchard Farm. Orchard Farm was where Bowerstone got their cider from. The farmer there found some strange stones that he was sending away. He left a quest card at the Guild asking for protection.
"I got a hefty sum of money, too," he boasted.
"Someone was there to help you, right?" Mum asked worried.
"Of course. The farmer hired some guards," the Hero snorted, "It was mostly me protecting them."
"Hey!" I yelled. Remember, I considered guards my kin. Mum and the Hero looked at me funny so I added, "What about the other quest?"
"Ah, yes. Lady Grey left the other one. Bandits were trying to grab the boxes, and Whisper—I told you about her, right? — was just have to keep them alive. Sure she got more money, but—"
"Well why didn't you take that one then?" I asked. "You'd have gotten more money."
"But it wouldn't have been right. You should've seen Whisper right before I fought her. She had this look in her eyes that was vicious. Bloodthirsty even. It scared the living daylights out of me."
"But you beat her in the end, didn't you?"
"Yes, but—"
"I don't understand!"
"ENOUGH!" shouted Mum. "Blaze, it's getting late. It's about time for you to go to bed. I have a big day planned for us tomorrow."
"I have a big day tomorrow, too," said the Hero, stretching. "I'm planning on eliminating some troublesome bandits in Greatwood, and I've heard there's a fisherman who could possibly teach me a new hobby."
Mum just smiled, and then turned to me frowning. "Bed. Now!"
Once Mum was sure that the Hero had left the next day, she told me where we were going. "The picnic area."
Before I would have probably embraced the idea of going to the picnic area. Imagine, visiting the very spot where the Hero slayed the vile wasp queen! But of course I was harboring feelings of resentment towards the Hero since he's married Mum and took that quest we argued over last night.
But once me and Mum got to Lookout Point, I didn't care anymore. I was out of this wretched own for the first time since moving from Oakvale. I ran, no, more like flew towards the picnic area. Once I got over the bridge and up the hill, I stood at the center of Lookout Point. There was a statue pointing in no specific direction. There were a few traders talking and men sitting on the benches around the statue. To my left was a hill downwards with light hanging from the trees and a podium, a stall, and a huge door at the bottom of the hill.
"That's the Hero's Guild," said a trader right next to me, which made me jump.
"What's that?"
"It's where the heroes come from."
"What do they do there?"
"Magical things…" he said, spacing out.
Finally Mum caught up with me and put her hand on my shoulder protectively. She steered me straight ahead, towards an arch with a sign that said Greatwood on it. But then we sharply turned right and went towards the picnic area. Once inside, we sat at a picnic. I saw that there was a guard there, and I waved at him. He waved back and walked away.
Mum took out pies, red meat, and apples. While I was licking my fingers from the blueberry pie, Mum said "You're destined for great things, you know."
I only nodded, not knowing nor caring what she was talking about. "And I've been thinking about what to do with you lately. I know I can't keep you huddled in Bowerstone forever. You're too smart for that. And you're talk last night reminded me that I shouldn't prolong the inevitable."
I raised my eyebrows, wondering where this was going. "Blaze, honey, you're going to the Guild of Heroes." Now I was really paying attention.
"The Guild of…Heroes? Why? How? When?"
"Now, dearest. You get to be a hero!"
"But what about you?"
"Oh, Blaze, don't worry about me. Your fate will unravel before you before long. You'll understand in time. I just want a better life you than child of the slums."
We walked out of the picnic. When I passed the guard he nodded to me. It restored confidence in me. I can help guards protect traders in Greatwood if I become a hero.
When we walked into the Hero's Guild, a big man wearing armor with blue lines across his face was there. He looked at Mum and she placed her hand on my head. "So we finally meet, Blaze. I'm Maze," he said in a booming voice. My lips quirked at our rhyming names. "Are you prepared for training?"
Ignoring his question, I turned towards Mum. "What will you do without me?" I asked, knowing I sounded childish.
She smiled. "I'll make myself a new life back in Oakvale. I'll start anew, but I won't forget you, dear Blaze." She kissed me on the cheek and gave me a hug. And she left. I never saw her again.
Maze led me to a small bald man who looked wise beyond his years. He had a weird tattoo on his forehead. "Blaze, this is the Guildmaster."
"Excuse us for a moment," the Guildmaster said to me. Maze and the Guildmaster whispered a bit. All I could hear was "Son of a hero." So that's how I got accepted into the Guild of Heroes, I thought. Mum must of told them that the Hero was me dad. I wanted to object, but I didn't want to be rejected, alone, and live in a tent in Bowerstone.
"Come with me," the Guildmaster said. He led me to my rooms and towards my new life.