The sounds of loud music totally drowned out the celebratory cheers and whistles from the room. Musicians fervently played their instruments as knights from all corners of the kingdom gathered in the barracks to reveal the defeat of the Evil Wizard and the triumphant return of the mystical gem. The people had reason to celebrate, much more so the soldiers who gave so much to accomplish all of this.
Toasts were given, new friendships were made and past friendships lost through conflict were mourned. Laughter echoed among the tables, some danced in front of the stage where the musicians performed and others just watched the party with smiles. It was a night of jubilation, where beers were exchanged as freely as tales of valor, and new friendships were forged amidst the camaraderie of victory.
The sounds of doors opening at the top of the stairs at the barracks entrance announced the arrival of four new figures, their presence completely halted the celebrations and even the music was silenced. Only for all those present in the room to let out a huge cheer with their mugs, weapons or whatever they had in their hands raised as they realized who the newcomers were.
Descending the staircase, the four figures came into view, each clad in armor adorned with vibrant hues that set them apart from their counterparts. These were the champions, the legendary heroes who had faced every adversity the world could overcome with unwavering resolve and unyielding courage. They had battled evil knights, thwarted cultists, braved treacherous oceans teeming with ninja pirates, and vanquished monstrous beasts and otherworldly invaders alike. Their valor knew no bounds, and their loyalty to the crown was matched only by their commitment to justice.
Nothing was capable of standing in the way of the virtue of the King's greatest Heroes.
As they stepped into the hall, the heroes were greeted with thunderous applause and jubilant cheers. The music swelled to even greater heights, and the celebration resumed with renewed vigor, fueled by the presence of these esteemed champions.
For hours the warriors didn't care about tomorrow, only about the present, as the past of suffering and struggles led to this, for victory. All thanks to the heroes, the knights could not ask for better comrades-in-arms.
The four, as always, were in the center of attention, the heroes danced and partied alongside their fellow knights. They were the focal point of the festivities, surrounded by admirers who looked upon them with reverence and awe.
But, amidst the celebrations, an unexpected turn of events unfolded. Just as they had been whisked away from a party before, on a fateful night when the Evil Wizard had stolen the mystical gem, the heroes found themselves once again at the center of a dramatic twist of fate.
As they celebrated, a strange phenomenon occurred. A circle of glowing runes appeared beneath their feet, emanating a brilliant beam of light that enveloped the four heroes in its radiant glow. In an instant, they vanished, leaving behind a stunned and bewildered crowd, their cheers turning to gasps of astonishment as they watched the heroes disappear into the unknown.
Line Break
Hero. A title that erases the darkness and strength of contempt and terror, that lights the flames in the hearts of the people who feel relief, veneration and inspiration in those who managed to rise above everything that threatens good and peace.
He couldn't hold back his proud smile as he opened his hands and prepared to recite the words that would begin the summoning ritual. Clapping his hands together, a gigantic rune would appear beneath himself and the other hooded figures beside him. Its glow would fully illuminate the dark room that was only lit with the light in the door behind them.
They would all start chanting, pooling their mana and giving their total focus so that everything in the ritual occurred without incident. There could be no defects in the process. If any error occurred during the chanting, or the spread of mana to even the smallest details in the inscriptions, the results could be catastrophic.
The greenish light would shine even more vigorously with their chanting. His smile only grew wider. 'It's working!' The light then changed to a golden color, and four figures materialized within the circle of Runes in front of them. All kneeling on one knee and covered in the beam of light that disappeared as quickly as it came. The light from the runes returned with their greenish tone.
And then, he looked at them. The summoned heroes.
Their armor shone with the brilliance of the runes, they were all identical, their only distinguishing characteristic among them was their colors, each one unique to the four. Red, Yellow, Blue and Green. The yellow knight carried the glorious bow, the red knight the wonderful spear, the blue knight the magnificent sword. 'They wear the colors of the legendary weapons they carry...' He thought with a smile. 'The Cardinal Heroes!'
"We have done it!" One of the casters exclaimed in happiness.
"The summoning was a success!" He exclaimed, agreeing with his companion.
Suddenly, the heroes jumped from their kneeling positions.
It was very quick, one moment they were suddenly standing and the next the four already had their weapons drawn and pointing at him and his apostles. The four in a defensive position, the red warrior with the spear used his left arm as a support for the sacred weapon while pointing at them, at his side the blue one with the sword had his weapon next to his head pointing at them as if he was going to start a piercing attack. Between the two, the green of the shield was positioned in an almost crouching position, protecting the yellow archer that was behind pointing towards them. It was obvious what they were doing was a battle formation with the weapons that were given to each hero.
'They have just arrived, without hearing a single order they are ready to protect each other and deal with the unknown in front of them.' Even with a lot of fear like the others, who already took a few steps back in surprise at the silent hostility of the newly summoned Heroes. He couldn't contain his excitement, these were actions of experienced warriors and true comrades of arms! Truly the weapons chose wisely!
He took a step, catching the attention of the four heroes who returned their attention exclusively to him, along with their weapons. The man swallowed hard, raised his arms and clasped his hands together as if he were going to pray. "Brave Heroes! Please! We need your help!"
This seemed to take back the heroes, who even though they still maintained their fighting positions, now looked at each other with what looked like confusion. Slowly they would leave their combat positions, but three of the four focused on a specific hero, the hero with the shield. Who without hesitation stepped forward, leaving the battle formation of the other three heroes.
His gaze pierced through the shadows, eyes narrowing with a mixture of determination and curiosity. With a firm yet commanding voice from a toxic aura, he addressed the summoner.
"Unknown wizard" the Shield Hero spoke, his words carrying the weight of authority. He was probably the leader, from what he could see and by the action of the other heroes. That was Worrying. "your call for aid is..." He hesitated. "Sudden and without warning, we seek clarity in these uncertain circumstances before any decision comes."
The Bow Hero stepped forward as well and stood by the side of the Shield hero with a fiery intensity in his eyes. His armor gleamed in the dim light, radiating the heat like his armor was a hot cauldron boiling, he addressed the casters.
"Answer him!" The voice of the yellow knight boomed, echoing the authority of the shield but with a hint of boiling anger, "Your mysterious magic has disrupted our revelry and gave us these weapons who attached themselves unto us! We demand a response!" His fists clenched tightly, flames flickering around his armored gauntlets around the bow as he continued, "Are you friend or foe? Have you tampered with forces beyond your control, seeking to snuff out the flames of our existence?!"
With a stance as imposing as his words, his gaze burning with determination as he awaited the wizard's response, prepared to unleash the full force of his fiery magic and weapon at any sign of hostility.
This made all of them flinch and worry, the Bow hero seemed to be the temperamental of the group and he was pretty confrontational to an antagonistic degree. But before any of them could attempt to calm him down and reassure him of their pure intentions, another hero stepped forward. The sword hero positioned himself by the side of the other two, a calm yet bored stride. His icy blue armor shimmered in the dim light, contrasting with the fiery aura surrounding the Orange Knight.
"Brother" He spoke softly, his voice cutting through the tension like a chill wind, "I understand your anger, but now is not the time for rash actions."
With a steady hand, The Sword Hero gently placed it on the bow's shoulder, his touch sending a soothing wave of frost through the air. "The circumstances may look suspicious, however we must not strike those who have a chance of being innocent for the crime of being misunderstood." he continued, his tone unwavering yet reassuring, "Remember to temper your flames with reason and restraint." This seemed to calm down the Bow, who looked a little ashamed in his stance at the lecturing of his comrade.
The Sword then turned his gaze towards the summoner, he addressed them with a piercing yet composed stare. "Wizards, priests or whatever you are," he said, his voice carrying a subtle hint of frostbite, "If you mean us no harm, then speak truthfully and all shall be forgiven. But if deceit lurks within your words, know that the King's Knights will not hesitate to strike any assailant down."
With his words spoken, his sword at the ready but his demeanor calm and composed, a beacon of icy resolve amidst the fiery turmoil of his comrade. The last hero, Spear Hero joined the other four in silence. All of them firm and ready, just waiting for his answer.
He ignored the excited murmurs behind him from the other casters. "Our world is on the brink of destruction! We had no choice but to call the four great heroes!" He explained as he fell to his knees. "Please! Brave Heroes we beg you! Save our World! "
The Shield and Sword heroes exchanged wary glances, each bearing the weight of their own convictions and doubts. While the Bow seemed to almost glow in a reenergized vigor, and the Spear hero seemed to get excited, with sparks coming around his body.
The Orange Knight, his fiery spirit unyielding and bow in hand, stood tall with flames flickering around his armor, his eyes ablaze with passion and anger. "This is preposterous!" he exclaimed, his voice booming with authority, "We cannot stand idly by while the world teeters on the brink of destruction! If these forces threaten this realm, then by the flames of this new bow, we shall smite them!"
Beside him, the Blue Knight remained stoic and composed, his icy exterior betraying little emotion as he observed the unfolding events with a skeptical eye. "This all seems too convenient," he remarked coolly, his voice carrying a hint of skepticism, "A world in peril, a mysterious summon with new weapons…." He gave the mages a chilling gaze. "Could this be but a ploy to lure us into another's machinations?"
The Red Knight, who had remained silent until now, seemed like he would jump in excitement with how much the spear in his hands trembled. He blew a victorious laugh "Hahahahaha! A chance for glory and honor once more!" he exclaimed, his voice crackling with electrifying energy, "Let us embrace this challenge with open arms, my comrades! Together, we shall vanquish whatever darkness lurks ahead!"
The Green Knight, looking at the shield on his arm in silence, listened intently to his companions' words, his gaze flickering between them with a mix of concern and determination. "Brothers," he said, catching the attention of the other three. "Let us not be swayed by doubt or by battle-lust. We are Knights of the Realm, sworn to protect the innocent and uphold justice. If this world is in peril, then it is our duty to heed the call of the innocent and confront whatever evils may lie ahead."
For a moment, silence hung heavy in the air as the knights looked at the Shield Hero.
With heat around his armor, the bow hero nodded firmly. "Aye," he agreed.
Beside him, the Sword Hero remained calm and composed, his icy demeanor a stark contrast to the Orange Knight's fiery fervor. "Acknowledged." He affirmed while pressing his sword in the ground and rested his hands atop of the handle.
The Red Knight, his spear crackling with anticipation, grinned eagerly under his helmet. Only nodded.
They were all on the same page and they turned their attention to the five mages who summoned them. All of them looked with awe.
'So... These are the heroes of legends...' He thought with reverence. They are exactly as everyone imagined, as the stories described, heroes united in their desire to protect the world for no reason other than the passion in their hearts. Knights shining with righteousness in their hearts... But...
He looked suspiciously at the Shield Hero. 'They seem to follow the shield, the demon has them in the palms of his hands.' He thought in disgust. 'The king must know this as soon as possible.'
"Heroes." He would catch their attention, and they would look back at him, apparently having finished their conversation with each other. "First of all. We would like you all to have an audience with our king of Melromarc." The middle-aged man would continue. "He will explain it better than any of us, we are just mere priests."
He would be surprised to feel a hand on his shoulder, the Shield would look at him with what he could feel was a smile. "There is nothing 'mere' about dedicating yourself to a cause you believe in." He says in a firm but friendly tone. "Don't belittle your profession sir."
"T-thank you Hero." His voice shook with nervousness.
He only nodded in response.
"Lead the way Priest."
The priest then turned and walked out of the room, with the four heroes in tow. They were going up a staircase that would be much brighter than the room they were in. Were they summoned from a dungeon?
Passing through a window they could see the beautiful scenery. A large city on the sun, which was already at the top of the sky indicating noon. The houses were extremely modern and well maintained. 'So far so good. Houses in good condition already show that this society is at least well enough to sustain residence.' Thought the green Knight. From the way and desperation in which the priest had asked for help for them, the shield had already thought that they were in absolute collapse. It looks like they won't have that much work ahead of them.
At least that was him trying to be optimistic.
"Ah, what a splendid view!" exclaimed the Orange Knight, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he gazed out at the city below. "A kingdom bathed in sunlight, bustling with life and prosperity. It warms the heart, doesn't it?"
The Shield Hero nodded in agreement, a faint smile gracing his lips as he took in the sight. "Indeed, it is a welcome sight," he commented, his tone tinged with relief. "To see a realm thriving amidst such tumultuous times as they claim is a testament to the resilience of its people and leader."
The Red Knight, always eager for adventure, grinned mischievously as he glanced at the Shield. "I must say, it's a refreshing change from the usual wastelands, monsters and plain corpses," he quipped, his voice filled with playful sarcasm. "Though I do hope our host has something more exciting planned for us than a leisurely stroll through his kingdom."
The Blue Knight, ever the voice of reason, chuckled low and softly at the Red's jest. "Let us not underestimate the gravity of our mission, brother," he admonished, his tone dry yet affectionate. "We are here at the behest of a desperate plea for aid, who came so far as to summon us with unorthodox magics for it. We must approach this with caution and humility."
Passing through what looked like a training area, they would enter a huge castle. Probably the residence of the monarch of these lands. Passing through a huge hall with a red floor, they could notice how small they looked in front of the throne room. It was almost three times the size of the King of their homelands.
Their conversation continued as they made their way through the castle, passing through training areas and bustling corridors. The heroes couldn't help but marvel at the opulence surrounding them, exchanging jokes and jabs with each other along the way.
"Don't you think he's trying to make up for something huh?" The red knight asked in a humorous tone while keeping his spear resting on his shoulder.
The Bow hero just shrugged with a laugh. "Maybe, but I must say it does it's job well, it is quite the spectacle," commented the Orange Knight, a grin spreading across his face beneath his helm as they approached the grand entrance. "I almost feel underdressed for the occasion!"
The Red Knight chuckled softly, shaking his head in amusement. "Fear not, my friend," he reassured, his tone light-hearted. "I'm sure our illustrious host will forgive any sartorial missteps in light of our noble intentions."
The Green Knight, ever the pragmatist, rolled his eyes good-naturedly at the playful banter of his companions. "Come now, let us not keep our host waiting," he urged, his voice tinged with amusement. "We have a kingdom to save, after all."
As they entered the throne room, the heroes couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the majesty of their surroundings. The towering thrones, adorned with ornate carvings and gleaming with gold, loomed before them, a testament to the power and prestige of the monarchs which sat upon it. Curiously, one of the thrones was empty.
As they entered the throne room, the heroes couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the majesty of their surroundings. The towering thrones, adorned with ornate carvings and gleaming with gold, loomed before them, a testament to the power and prestige of the monarchs which sat upon it. Curiously, one of the thrones was empty.
They immediately noticed that the king's eyes hit them. They got down on their knees, something that seems to have made a good impression on the monarch, who nodded positively.
"So these are the cardinal heroes of legend?" The monarch asked in his stiff, hoarse tone. He was an older-looking man with white hair and a beard. It somewhat resembled the appearance of their liege from their world, he wore royal attire which includes a purple robe with white fur on the edges and a crown with violet jewels adorned on it. "They seem like warriors, both in appearance and in mannerisms."
They did not respond, as it is etiquette to only speak if the monarch gives them permission to speak, if not. Keep low and wait.
"I am King Aultcray Melromarc XXXII." He says while making a motion with his hand. "Heroes, arise." They then did as ordered. "Please introduce yourselves."
The first to introduce himself was the Hero of the Shield. He slammed his fist firmly into his chest as a sign of salute. "Your majesty, I am the one who was bestowed the name Viper. I am the Venomancer Knight." This made the king raise an eyebrow. 'A fitting name for you Demon.'
"Viper...? That sounds more like a codename than a real name, Shield Hero." The Green Knight nodded at that.
"We abandoned our names and lives by becoming knights of our King. This helmet is my face and Viper was the name earned after proving my mastery and dominance with poison magic." The nobles who the knights hadn't noticed were in the room whispered among themselves in hushed tones upon hearing this information. Something that the king either didn't notice or ignored.
"I see, please continue." He says as he now brought his eye to the red knight, who placed his spear on his shoulder in response.
Imitating the Green Knight, he would slam his fist into his chest as well. "Your majesty, I was the one bestowed with the name Volt. I am the Electromancer Knight."
Then the blue Knight followed, more reserved than the other two. "Your majesty, I was the one bestowed with the name Frost. I am the Cryomancer Knight."
The orange knight followed and pumped his fist with much more fervor and passion than his other companions. "Your majesty, I was the one bestowed with the name Blaze, the Pyromancer Knight!"
The King listened to the introductions with a narrowed eye. But his gaze warmed as he nodded. "Volt, Frost and Blaze huh?" He repeated the names, neglecting the shield. Who chose not to comment at being left out for some reason.
"I believe I owe you brave Knights an explanation." His face returned to a serious expression. "You must have heard our pleas when summoned."
They nodded.
"Then you must know, This country, and moreover, this whole world is facing its demise."
"And what could possibly be this big of a threat, your majesty?" Frost asked as his hands rested on his sword that was pressed to the ground.
The king's expression turned serious as he began to recount the dire situation facing their world.
"One of the greatest of disasters dear Knight." he began, his voice tinged with worry, He paused, his gaze flickering with worry as he continued, "This era, this very year, marks the fulfillment of the prophecy. A giant ancient hourglass serves as a reminder, its sands slipping away, counting down to our doom." The king's voice grew more urgent as he described the events that had unfolded. "Just a month ago, the hourglass completed its first turn, and as foretold, disaster struck. A dimensional crack rent the fabric of our reality, unleashing a horde of grotesque abominations upon our land."
He sighed heavily, the weight of responsibility evident in his weary eyes. "Our valiant adventurers and knights fought bravely, but the monsters were relentless. We won, at a massive cost. And now, with each passing day, the next wave approaches, a more ferocious one than before, threatening to overwhelm us completely."
As the king fell silent, the heroes exchanged glances, their minds racing with questions. Volt's eyes sparkled with curiosity, eager to dive into battle, while Frost's expression remained cool and calculating, contemplating. Blaze, ever passionate, clenched his fists in determination, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
And Viper, silent and resolute, absorbed every word, his mind already searching for solutions, then decided to interject with a question. "Your Majesty, what exactly are these waves of calamity? Are they merely natural disasters, or is there something more sinister at play?"
The king nodded despite a frown being taken at looking at the Green Knight, acknowledging the inquiry. "The waves are not mere metaphor, brave knights. They are manifestations of chaos, fueled by dark forces beyond our comprehension. And unless we can repel them, our world will be consumed by darkness."
Tapping his spear in thought. Volt, unable to contain his impulsive curiosity, blurted out, "That's why you took us from our lands and made us the cardinal heroes, to face this threat?"
The king's eyes reflected a tint of sadness as he responded. "The foretold prophecy of heroes who would rise to defend our world in its darkest hour. You four were chosen by fate to stand against this encroaching darkness, to protect our people and our future."
The Sword Hero raised a critical question. Frost's voice cut through the tension, measured and calm. "Your Majesty, if what you said is right, the waves are months apart, correct?"
The king nodded solemnly in affirmation.
The Blue Knight then continued, his mind already working through the implications. "Then we have a month to prepare," he stated, his tone reflective.
"Exactly Sword Hero, this is why we summoned you. After the first wave, we now know that only the Four Cardinal Heroes can take care of them." He explained. "We then followed the legends, and summoned all of you!" He extended his hand into the air as if proclaiming a royal decree. "We have no time to waste!"
Blaze, his fiery spirit burning bright, pumped his fist with determination. "Let's use this time wisely!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with passion. "We'll train harder and get even stronger than we already are! And Together, we'll be ready to face whatever challenges the waves may bring!" The orange knight raised his bow to the air to emphasize his determination. Much to the amazement of the nobles present in the throne room.
Viper nodded in agreement, his mind already calculating the best course of action. "Agreed," he said, his voice calm and steady. "I am happy that we are together, I couldn't see myself saving the world once again without all of you my friends."
Volt chuckled and gave a thumbs-up while Frost nodded. Both of them trusted the Green Knight, and he trusted them.
The king watched them curiously. 'They know each other well from what their actions show since the summoning, they all came from the same world…' Aultcray made sure to keep this in mind, camaraderie between the heroes was not something expected.
"Now then, Knights please confirm your status. I would like you all to visually check for yourselves."
They all looked at the king and then at each other, clearly confused by their stances.
"Status… your highness…?" Viper asked.
"I think he means the magical runes in our eyes." Frost explained. While the Green Knight looked at him even more skeptical.
"Magical Runes? What in the world are you talking about?" Volt looked at him with his head tilted. The Blue Knight only sighed in exasperation at seeing the looks his other three comrades were giving him.
"Without moving your head, drift your eyes to the lower right, do you see it?"
"Wha-" He was about to ask once more before he looked baffled immediately afterwards. "By the king's beard…"
Viper could completely understand the sentiment, which he was sure was reflected by the unusually silent Blaze as he fixed his eyes on the discrepancy in his field of vision. The runes he spoke of were there, and as he focused his eyes on it as instructed by his brother-in-arms. The runes suddenly grew and jumped onto his eyes, almost making the Green Knight attack on instinct, however he held himself back from when what he could see was like a translucent book page that had transformed from the 'activation' of the runes. He could only observe in absolute curiosity at the massive assault of information that he was bombarded by. So many numbers, categories and subcategories.
[Viper the Venomancer]
[Class]: Shield Hero LV 1
[Secondary-Class] Knight LV 99
[Skills]: None
[Magic]: Poison Dart, Poison Sprint, Poison Jump(...)
'It's like a catalog….' he thought with fascination. "Lv…? What does that mean? HP, MP, SP?" Hell, even their equipment was here! That could come very handy if they needed to be kept reminded of their belongings!
"If I may interject great Heroes." A Villainous looking noble came out of the side of the king. He put his hands behind his back as he received the attention of the four knights. "Status Magic is an Ability that only the heroes can use."
"It is a unique catalogue spell then?" The Blue Knight interjected as the evil-looking noble nodded. "Lv must mean a strength classification…" Frost noticed as he looked at the others.
"1? What is this filthy coxcomb implying?" Blaze growled as he glared at his bow, almost feeling insulted by the inanimate object.
"That our weapons are weak." The blue knight deduced as he inspected his sword, its blue orb seemed to shine at the attention it was receiving by its wielder.
"Our… Weapons…?" Volt interjected on the conversation, seeming even more confused than before.
"Just think about it, Lv must mean Level, if Level is a classification of the power it wields, then it means our weapons are on the bottom of the bottom, fledglings who just left their eggs and will have to grow before they can inflict any proper damage upon our enemies." Frost explained while he caressed the tip of his sword. The information dawned on them as the other also inspected their weapons with a newfound curiosity.
"You mean… They are, following this concept, children's toys at this point and we have to make them better and better until they become proper weapons?" Viper asked as he gave a few knocks at his shield in curiosity. "But we are no blacksmith's."
"The Weapons cannot be tinkered by forges as you might be thinking Shield Hero." The Noble once again spoke. "They have special properties, where they absorb defeated monsters. And after a certain number of enemies are defeated, they evolve."
The Red Knight let out a boisterous laugh. "So you mean to tell me we have to kill enemies to evolve? That's a transaction that I am more than happy to partake in."
"And for that, you must embark on a journey to develop and further upgrade your legendary weapons that you have in hand." Aultcray interjected into the conversation after some moments in silence.
"These weapons are inconvenient…" The Green Knight spoke with a worried tone. "Your Majesty, wouldn't I be able to use an already decently forged weapon with my shield so I may be able to keep up with my brothers-of-battle?" The king's frown deepened.
"Unfortunately no Shield Hero. You may only use weapons of the same category that you have been assigned with. In your case, only shields."
He sighed in annoyance. "I understand your majesty, thank you for the information." The king only nodded in response.
"I will test this weapon more in our travels, these weapons are… Interesting. It will be something good to pass the time by seeing how my sword may interact with others. Who knows? Maybe I can create something unique." The Blue Knight mused while giving a few practiced swings.
"It seems we shall need to train once again, like the old times." The Bow hero gave a weak chuckle as he toyed with the string of his bow. Giving it a few twigs.
"It will be exciting to be the underdog once again! I hungered for so long for a good fight against strong enemies since our victory against the Evil Wizard!" Volt boomed his voice as he tapped his spear unto the ground in attention. "But I feel like nothing will be too difficult with all of you at my side." He said with a friendly tone. "Not that I would need the help, I just don't mind the company."
"Of course you don't." Viper merely chuckled at his friend's boisterous attitude.
"Heroes, one moment." All of them stopped and once again returned their attention to the noble by the throne. "Each one of you will form groups and go on different journeys."
"That… Will not be necessary sir." The Green Knight interjected, hiding his frown under his helmet. "Our weapons compliment each other and we are already long time comrades under our land, any group that we would make would be inadequate or mediocre at best in terms of teamwork."
"I meant no offense sir knight." The Noble shook his head. "But this is not a choice you can make, the weapons in their nature repel each other. If all of you stayed in a single party, the development of the weapons would stagnate completely."
As if to back up the Noble's claims, the runes acted once again and showed a page for the heroes.
[Attention: When two or more bearers of the legendary weapons act together, it causes an adverse reaction. It is highly recommended to work separately.]
"Who the hell created these idiotic rules?!" Blaze complained as he looked at the screen clearly livid. A feeling shared by the others who now could see that their legendary team wouldn't be able to work together because of a rule by inanimate objects.
"A journey alone….? This is bothersome…" Frost commented as he poked the sword's hilt with stress.
"Fear not heroes, tomorrow we shall have the greatest warriors at our disposal to be available to follow you in your journey." The Aultcray attempted to reassure them, with not much success. "The sun is already setting. Rest for today, at dawn you shall set out."
He was right, as the heroes noticed, the windows of the throne room now had a yellowish coloration. With the room being reflected with it. They must have been summoned late in the afternoon, they hadn't even seen time pass.
"Heroes, we have already prepared your rooms. Please, this way." A beautifully dressed female servant would introduce herself, extending her hand to guide them out of the room.
Line Break
As the heroes settled into their chambers, a heavy silence hung in the air, broken only by the occasional shuffle of armor and restless pacing. They all were together in one of the rooms given to them. Each knight bore the weight of their thoughts differently behind their helmets, their expressions varied between a mix of frustration, determination, and uncertainty.
The Green Knight was leaning against the wall of the room, his gauze fixed on the floor as if searching for answers in the patterns of the stone. "This is not what I anticipated," he admitted quietly, his voice tinged with a hint of resignation. "To be forced apart from one another, to embark on separate journeys..." He tapped his shield impatiently.
His comrade Blaze on the other hand, fiery as ever, prowled the room like a caged beast, his fists clenched in frustration. "I'll be damned if I let some arbitrary rule dictate who I fight alongside!" he exclaimed, his voice edged with defiance. "We've faced countless foes together, and stood side by side in battle... And now they expect us to turn our backs on each other? Just like that?"
Like almost an anathema to the Bow Hero, Frost was the embodiment of cool composure. He sat in quiet contemplation with his eyes focused on the blade of his sword. "It appears we have no choice but to comply," he commented, his tone measured and thoughtful. "If the development of our weapons is hindered by our proximity to one another, then we must adapt."
"Still..!" Blaze interjected with obvious fire behind his visage, but more controlled and cooled by Frost's temper. "To think that such outrageous rules were made in the first place! What juvenile thinking would lead them to such designs!"
And Viper couldn't blame him. It was like they were made specifically for the heroes to act as much as individually as possible, with no room to grow if the heroes decided to travel in close proximity to each other from what he could decipher from the writings that the runes entailed. Yet despite these setbacks, it was expected for them to fight together when the true enemy arrived, these rules were nonsensical at best and counterintuitive at worst.
They denied cooperation amongst each other yet it was expected for them to work together once they got strong enough? Bonds and teamwork were made by the journey in the path for strength,if the four knights weren't great comrades before the summoning, how would such teamwork materialize? The Green Knight couldn't help but to shake his head and agree with his livid companion.
Said companion who almost lost his composure upon receiving a strong slap on his back from Volt, who still kept his spear on his shoulder. Ever the optimist, it felt like he was jovial despite the tension thick in the air. "Come on, guys, where's your sense of adventure or daring and of passion!?" he exclaimed, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "Sure, it's a setback, but think of the challenges that lie ahead! New lands to explore, new foes to conquer at the request of the king... It's like starting our grand quest all over again!"
Viper pushed himself off the wall, his gaze meeting Frost's with a nod of agreement. "We can't afford to dwell on what we can't change. Our duty remains the same – to protect this world."
Though still simmering with frustration, Blaze seemed to relent slightly at the Shield hero's words. "I suppose you're right," he admitted begrudgingly, his fists slowly unclenching.
He received yet another slap on his back by a laughing Volt almost making him fall face first into the ground. "We've faced worse odds before and come out on top! This will be no different!" He exclaimed boisterously and ignoring Blaze's very pissed off constant and increasing slaps on his back.
The Cryomancer nodded in approval, a hint of pride in his eyes as he regarded his comrades. "Indeed," he agreed.
Volt's optimism was contagious, Viper thought with a smile as the atmosphere seemed to brighten with the exchange. "The food wasn't bad either."
"Quite!" The Red Knight nodded. "I felt very uncomfortable with the castle staff's level of servility... I know we are heroes but my god, they acted as if the ground we were walking on was sacred!"
The Bow Hero nodded stiffly as he crossed his arms. "It's almost absurd. I don't mind the ass-kissing but apologizing for any little mistake?" He huffed.
"It seems like 'Cardinal Heroes' is a very prestigious title, but this shows something more." Frost spoke, catching the attention of the other three. "We are not the first. It is obvious with all the knowledge that the King and his advisors have of weapons combined with the admiration they have for them, someone made something in history with them that gave them their legendary status."
"That's true." Viper agreed while holding his fist down his chin in a position of pondering. "The veneration we received from those priests and even the Nobles in the throne room does not seem worthy of foreign knights who only appeared suddenly one day."
The blue Knight nodded. "Exactly, perhaps they had past carriers who made some mark on the world. These waves must have existed for longer than we can imagine..." He looked at the window thoughtfully. "It's all unknown, we're going into this completely blind..."
The red Knight threw himself onto the bed in the room they were in and let out a sigh of contentment. "A whole world for us! I can't wait!" He commented, throwing his arms up to show his excitement.
"There is just one thing that has been bothering me in all of this." Blaze commented, now he is the one to draw the eyes of his comrades.
"You will have to be more specific Blaze." The Spear hero sat down and leaned on his weapon as he commented with a sarcastic tone.
"I mean-" He tried to continue.
"Give us a hint. Is it the compliments? Weapons? Food...?" Frost quipped in with a flat tone hiding his smile.
"No, I-" He tried to hold back his growl of anger.
"He is a tough crowd Frost, don't be harsh on them." Now even the Shield hero has joined in on this. Pretending to be the mediator in the 'dispute', finding the exchange and the test of patience of the yellow knight, who was already heating up the room with the heat emanating from himself with his stress, quite funny.
"That's-"
"It wouldn't be the first time!" Volt once again interrupted Blaze. Fighting to not lose his composure as it looked like steam was coming out of the Orange Knight's ears. out of frustration, and he finally had enough.
"By the blood of my forefathers must you practice like a flock of gossiping geese? If I wanted the braying of fools, I'd be with donkeys instead! Now, silence and let me speak without interruption!" He barked at his comrades who just burst out laughing at his outrage.
"Just a jest brother, just a jest!" Volt held his belly with laughter.
"Hardy har, hilarious exchange you three fools. If you weren't my brothers I would burn ye damn silver tongues!"
"Alright alright! We stopped!" Viper managed to control his laughter. "What worries you friend?"
"You Viper." This completely silenced the room.
"Me...?" The Green Knight was taken back.
"More specifically, your... 'Weapon', I don't even know if I can call her that." Blaze commented as she crossed her arms. "I'm sorry to imply that brother. But you've been demoted to mage."
Viper looked in surprise at his fellow knight's conclusion, raising his arm that contained his legendary weapon and looking at the shield on his arm. "That's true. It's a disadvantage not to have an offensive weapon like you to go with magic. But I'll still be able to do damage, I'm not THE venomancer of the kingdom for nothing."
Blaze still didn't look convinced. "I would agree if it were Volt or Frost, but both our spells, yours even more so, are very volatile. Imagine if we were fighting enemies mixed with allies? Or worse yet, with common folk? Theirs is precise and accurate, ours is crowd control and area damage. It wouldn't be good." The other knights would look at their comrade as if he had grown a third head. The same noticing the looks, his stress returning.
"What?!" He looked back at them indignantly.
"Nothing." As Blaze's concern hung heavy in the air, Volt couldn't resist flashing a mischievous grin. "Just surprised your flames haven't fried your brain completely yet," he quipped with a playful glint in his eye, earning a chuckle from Frost.
Frost joined in, adding fuel to the fire with a dry tone. "Indeed, perhaps the Orange Knight isn't a lost cause after all," he joked, his tone light-hearted but with a hint of mischief.
Blaze's face flushed with indignation, his arms crossing tightly over his chest. "You two find this amusing, do you?" he snapped, his voice sharp with irritation. "I'm not the fool you take me for!"
This only prompted further laughter from the other three.
Blaze huffed in frustration, shooting daggers with his eyes at his comrades. "Fine," he muttered, his pride wounded. "Forget I said anything."
As Blaze's frustration subsided, Viper stepped forward. "Blaze, I understand your concerns," he began, his tone earnest. "But you can trust me. My control over venom is second to none. Be a target at a distance, or amongst a crowd."
The expression of the Orange knight softened slightly at his friend's words, but his pride still lingered. "I know, Viper," he admitted gruffly. "It's just hard to shake off the feeling of you being at a disadvantage compared to the rest of us, when before we were all equals on the battlefield."
"It is understandable." Frost said. "Even more so when you have just a shield. You will have to rely entirely on your magic to do any significant type of damage upon enemies." He put his hand under his chin in thought. "From what I can see, we won't be able to stay in one place, I'm sure more countries must be in danger as well."
The red Knight turned his head in curiosity. "Oh? Do you think the waves didn't just keep appearing in one place?"
Frost shrugged. "That's the difficult thing, we don't know if this wave happens in one place at a time. Several places at the same time, if there is a time limit in which they happen and that we should hold them back..." He kept muttering as he raised his head to the ceiling in thought.
"If there are more existing countries. We don't even know if these waves have already destroyed the rest of the world and this country is what's left." Viper chimed in.
"There are many variables and no clear answer." Frost complained as he stood up from his mattress. "I'm going to go out and find a library, look for answers and tomorrow I'll get back to you all with what I find."
"I will accompany you." Viper got off the wall he was leaning against. "I'm very curious about these weapons and their attributes, having answers to them too will go leagues ahead in giving us advantages in combat."
"I will scout ahead then." Volt slammed his spear into the ground as he stood up from his bed. "It's better to know the city and its surroundings so we don't waste time wandering around in circles."
"Then I'll go with you. It'll be better as a pair to cover more ground." Blaze commented. "And I don't want to be lounging around in this room while you're all working." He commented, causing a chuckle from the others.
"Understood, we'll be back here in three hours to give us enough time to sleep for tomorrow." The other three nodded their heads.
The Four Knights left the room.
"Try not to die out there!" The red Knight shouted behind him while he walked. "Books kill!" He said with a laugh.
"We will be careful!"
Both pairs said their goodbyes as they split up walking in opposite directions of the corridor. The four were totally oblivious to two figures that lurked at the edge of one of the corridors hidden from sight just barely. Their gaze never left the heroes as they disappeared in the far end of the corridors. When out of sight, the unknown figures quickly left and disappeared into the darkness of the castle.