After asking for directions from a maid to the library, Frost and Viper made their way through the corridors of the castle, passing by guards and maids that occupied the castle despite being very late at night. Heading towards the library, Frost couldn't help but notice the subtle glances and bows of reverence directed his way. He glanced over at Viper, who walked beside him with a focused expression, seemingly lost in thought.
"Did you notice that?" Frost asked, his curiosity piqued.
Viper glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "Notice what?"
"The way the other knights and maids looked at us," Frost replied, gesturing subtly with his head towards the passing soldiers. "Since we arrived in this world they seem to regard me, Volt and Blaze with respect and admiration, you saw how they acted at dinner..." He glanced at his friend. "But you... well, it's almost as if they're ignoring you."
Viper's expression darkened slightly at the observation. "I noticed," he admitted, his tone betraying a hint of frustration. "It seems for some reason I'm often overlooked."
Frost frowned, puzzled by the discrepancy. "But why? You're just as much a hero as any of us. One of the Cardinal Heroes they are supposed to 'Worship', not to mention your skills in magic have saved us countless times."
Viper shrugged, a shadow crossing his features. "Perhaps they don't appreciate the subtleties of poison magic. It is horrifying to see it in action. And it's always the flashy swordplay or bold feats of strength that garner attention."
"I suppose so," Frost mused, sympathy tingeing his voice. "Well, I, for one, appreciate your talents, Viper. Your magic has been invaluable to our cause."
A small smile touched Viper's lips in the gesture of solidarity. "Thank you, Frost. It means a lot coming from you."
As they continued their journey towards the library, Frost couldn't shake the feeling of unease at the disparity in treatment between him and Viper but he shrugged it off as they saw the entrance of the library in sight.
"Shall we?" Frost gestured towards the entrance, his excitement palpable. Viper couldn't contain his snicker as he saw the child-like excitement that emanated from his normally cold comrade, he nodded. Prompting the blue knight to push the door.
They both found themselves in a huge room. The library loomed before them, a grandiose chamber filled with row upon row of towering bookshelves, their wooden frames stretching towards the vaulted ceiling. The air was thick with the scent of old parchment and dust, lending an atmosphere of antiquity to the room.
Soft candlelight flickered from wrought iron sconces mounted on the walls, casting dancing shadows that seemed to breathe life into the ancient tomes that lined the shelves.
The floor was polished marble, gleaming underfoot as they ventured further into the library's depths. Sunlight filtered in through stained glass windows, casting colorful patterns on the floor and walls, adding a touch of warmth to the otherwise solemn atmosphere.
"That's... Big..." Viper couldn't contain the comment. Frost chuckled in satisfaction.
"It's what people usually say when they see libraries," The blue knight commented with a certain tone of pride. But his stance seemed saddened as he looked down the aisles between the bookshelves and empty tables. "and as always... Totally neglected..."
"It could be worse," Viper commented as they passed through aisle after aisle of bookshelves. "At least the books look well taken care of."
"Why thank you." They stopped when they heard a third voice cut into the conversation. The fountain came at the end of the hallway, on a table with a singular candle illuminating a woman's face. "I am proud to keep this great source of knowledge intact."
As they approached her, the heroes noticed that she was reading something alone on a counter. The counter where the woman sat was a sturdy oak structure, its surface worn smooth by years of use. On it lay a leather-bound tome, its pages yellowed with age. The candle that illuminated the woman's face stood in a wrought iron holder, its flickering flame casting a warm glow over the immediate area.
Around the counter, the vast expanse of the library stretched out even more, with row upon row of towering bookshelves lining the walls. Each shelf was filled to the brim with books of all shapes and sizes.
The air was heavy with the smell of old parchment and ink, mixing with the faint aroma of candle wax.
Despite the grandeur of the surroundings, there was an undeniable sense of tranquility in the air.
"Greetings my lady." The green knight stepped forward and bowed at her. "Pardon our intrusion upon your reading."
Frost arrived next to Viper and imitated his colleague and bowed as well.
The Librarian seemed taken back by the gesture, a small blush creeping across her cheeks in the flickering candlelight. "N-no need to bow, dear knights! I am not important enough," she stammered, her voice soft and slightly trembling.
"Nonsense!" The Green Knight dismissed her concerns with a hidden smile as he approached the counter. "It's just common sense to respect a lady." With gentle grace, he took her hand, lifting it to her lips and pressing a chaste kiss upon her knuckles. The Librarian's blush deepened, her eyes widening in surprise and embarrassment.
The Blue Knight watched the exchange with a mixture of amusement and exasperation hidden behind his helmet. 'Smooth, Viper,' he thought, his expression deadpan. However, as he observed the Librarian's reaction, he noticed a subtle shift in her demeanor. Her gaze was no longer fixed on the Green Knight's face but instead lingered on the hand that clasped hers, more specifically on what lay beneath it – his shield.
There was something in her expression, a blend of shock and something else that he couldn't quite decipher. Was it admiration? Veneration? The Blue Knight couldn't be certain, but there was a newfound curiosity in the Librarian's eyes that piqued his interest.
"Y-you are the shield hero..." That wasn't a question, which made Viper nod his head as he gave the woman space, letting go of her wrist.
"I am Viper, yes I am the Shield Hero." He said giving another bow to the woman who was left with mouth agape upon confirmation of his Cardinal Hero status.
"I-I..." The Librarian was stuttered, clearly overwhelmed by the revelation. She struggled to find her words as she continued to gaze at Viper with a mixture of awe and disbelief. Frost decided to finally break his silence and 'rescue' the librarian who could barely form a word to respond to Viper. He seemed very amused by her extreme nervousness. The Blue Knight stepped next to the Green Knight and caught the Librarian's attention.
"And I am Frost, Sword Hero." He copied Viper's bow.
Finally, she managed to speak, her voice trembling slightly with awe. "I-I can't believe I'm in the presence of the Cardinal Heroes," she murmured, her eyes darting between Viper and Frost.
Frost, couldn't resist making a comment. "Quite the charmer, isn't he?" he remarked in a teasing tone, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he glanced at Viper. This elicited a laugh from the Green Knight and another blush from the Librarian, who seemed to be struggling to regain her composure.
Clearing his throat, Viper shifted the conversation. "But jokes aside, we're in need of some information about the country we find ourselves in. Do you think you could assist us?" he asked, his tone earnest.
The Librarian nodded eagerly, her earlier shock seemingly forgotten as she stepped forward to watch them. "Of course, esteemed heroes, what books do you need?" she replied, her voice regaining its composure.
"We seek information about this country and this world in general," Frost explained, his voice earnest. "Any books or documents you could provide would be greatly appreciated."
"I will do my utmost to assist you in your quest for knowledge. Please, follow me." She answered, leaving the counter and walking through the aisles of books with the two heroes in tow.
It didn't take long for the woman to gather a pile of books on a table that was offered for them to use for their reading. There was a large amount of books, which made Viper feel intimidated. Frost on the other hand looked like a child, he picked up the books with his eyes almost shining with wonder.
'So many books, so many knowledge that I can have, all in my hand.' He had already been to the library of the king of their world, but everything that could be read he had already done. But now? He had a whole other world to read and it made the child in him scream with joy.
Viper couldn't contain his laughter seeing his friend's excitement.
"Eager aren't we?" He commented, being completely ignored by the blue Knight who quickly opened the book and began to leaf through it. The Shield Hero just let out a sigh as he picked up another one from the pile.
It was a brown leather book with no spelling on its cover, he had no idea how the library had managed to know which books were which, but he wasn't going to question it. Leave the work to the appropriate professionals.
He reached out his hand to open the ledger.
"What is this?" Frost exclaimed, catching the attention of him and the librarian who was content to just watch them from the sidelines.
"What's the matter, my lord?" She asked worried about the knight, who was shaking with the book in his hand.
"I-i... I can't read this!" Frost exclaimed again as he held out his book in front of him in utter shock.
The librarian let out an 'Eeep!' "I-i a-am so sorry sir hero! I didn't know the book would offend you!" She bowed quickly to his side in despair.
He looked at her with confusion and then surprise.
"Oh no no no! You didn't offend me dear lady!" He explained as he placed the book on the table. "I mean literally, I literally can't read this!"
Viper opened the book to confirm what his friend said and was surprised to see that he really couldn't understand anything on the pages! He thumbed and thumbed and could only see gibberish written, it was nothing like their language. "This is...Strange..."
He then turned towards the library. "Is this written correctly?" The green knight showed the open book to her and she just nodded with a clear expression of nervousness.
"Yes sir... This is written correctly, it has been seen and reviewed by our royal scribes."
Frost then suddenly jolted his head onto the book, scaring the librarian with the sudden movement. "OF COURSE!" He then hit his helmet a few times in frustration. "Damn! How did I not think of that before!"
"What's up Frost?" Viper asked curiously.
"We can't read because we speak different languages!" Both the Viper and the Library.
"What? How? We're talking to the librarian right now!" The green Knight exclaimed.
"It is the skill of our weapons, translating the language of others." Frost explained. "When we were having dinner, I was reading the 'Status' rune pages and one of our 'passive' skills was language translation."
"That... Acutally explains a lot..." Viper let out a sigh. But even so, this made it very difficult for them, with them speaking to the king in the throne room, the knight hoped that they would share the same language and around the same writing. It appears that this was not the case. He could see that Frost had visibly deflated.
The librarian who had been silent until then gathered her courage. "I-i can help!" Both heroes turned to her, making her shame return even stronger. "I-i w-would be more than honored to help you heroes in reading these books!"
Frost was thankful for the helmet hiding his face, for his cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he realized he had unintentionally overlooked the Librarian in his frustration. "I-I apologize, dear lady," he stammered, his voice tinged with regret. "Thank you for offering your assistance."
The Librarian's nervousness seemed to dissipate slightly as she straightened her posture, a shy smile gracing her lips. "N-no need to apologize, sir hero," she replied, her voice wavering slightly. "I am here to serve and help you in any way I can."
Viper nodded in agreement, offering the librarian a reassuring smile. "Nevertheless, thank you dear lady. Your help is highly appreciated." She blushed. "What is your name if I may inquire? My lady?"
"Please…" The Librarian's smile widened. "Call me Helena…" Unseen by the heroes, her tail began to wag.
Line Break
The city at night was a sight to behold, a tapestry of shimmering lights and bustling activity that painted the streets in a vibrant mosaic of color. Despite the moon being high in the sky, the city's activity continued even if in drastically reduced numbers.
It was perfect terrain for exploration, the night dimmed the vibrant colors of their uniforms, and the infrastructure was excellent for navigation. Locate and move around the capital without raising a fuss or causing an incident.
"Curse you and these cards" But he could only grit his teeth as he threw his cards onto the makeshift table. "I fold." He then leaned his back against the chair as he looked at the other players. Clad in armor adorned with various emblems and insignias, some without helmets and a few with only leather protection, these knights exuded an air of rugged camaraderie as they gathered around the makeshift table, their faces illuminated by the flickering torchlight.
"Ha! Looks like the Bow Hero's luck has run dry again!" one of the knights exclaimed with a hearty laugh.
"Luck? Its cowardice I say!" Another commented as he threw some fake coins from the game into the pile in the center of the table. "Folding three times in a row? Do you have no guts?" He teased as he placed his cards face down hidden from others.
Beside the orange knight, Volt was clearly having fun. Having dragged his fellow hero into the ruckus that had formed at the city gate. They were planning to pass, but the Red Knight and his friendly but proud attitude prevented them from proceeding when he was invited to a game of cards. Completely ignoring Blaze and his insistence on staying focused, he was dragged into this situation that he didn't know how to get out of. Don't even talk about trying to understand the rules of the game, Blaze was still learning as he played, but gambling games had never been his strong suit. The Orange Knight was at least able to feel reassured by the fact that all the money bet was fake.
"Don't you dare to call my comrade a coward!" Volt exclaimed dramatically, his hand pressed against his chest in mock offense. "I will have you know that when barbarians invaded the castle walls in our world, Blaze was the first one to charge head first into the fray! The mark of one of if not the most courageous man!" He proclaimed, his voice ringing with pride.
The Bow hero can't contain his snicker at his friend's proclamation hiding a sincere smile. "The drunkest you mean." he retorted, eliciting another round of roaring laughter from the group.
One of the knights, a bearded one. He added more fake coins to the pile. "Barbarians huh? Are you fellow war veterans then?"
Both heroes nodded.
"Yes, that was how we were given our quest to stop the threat of our world." Volt commented casually, totally ignoring the looks of shock and surprise from the surrounding knights.
The bearded knight's eyes widened in awe as he listened to Volt and Blaze's words, his mouth agape in disbelief. "You... you mean to say you've saved a world before?" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with awe and admiration.
The other knights gathered around the table leaned in, their interest piqued by the revelation. "Truly?" one of them asked, his eyes wide with wonder.
Volt nodded, "Yes, that was how our journey to save our original world had begun," he confirmed, his voice with a hint of pride.
Blaze, ever the nonchalant one, added casually, "Why do you think the king summoned us?" His tone was matter-of-fact, as if saving worlds was just another day's work for them. And for the most part it was, after fighting for so long, it became almost part of them of what makes them what they are.
The bearded knight leaned back in his chair, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Well, I'll be damned," he chuckled, shaking his head in amazement. "To think we are just playing cards with THE heroes." As the game continued and the night wore on, the conversation turned to tales of their past adventures, each story more thrilling than the last. Blaze and Volt almost returned to the castle late by the time the game ended. While the detour was less fortuitous than what Blaze would've wanted, it still gave them a good insight of many things in this kingdom.
Line break
After a few hours of sleep and breakfast, once again, the four heroes found themselves in the grandeur of the throne room, kneeling before the imposing figure that was the King of the country that now they knew the name; Melromac, whose majesty bore the same name.
The four heroes had learned much during their time in the capital, situated at the heart of the country and known simply as Castle Town. Their visit to the library had proved to be immensely fruitful, thanks in large part to the assistance of the librarian, Helena. Despite her protests, Frost and Viper vowed to repay her kindness in the future, for knights always rewarded their friends.
Meanwhile, Volt and Blaze returned from their foray into the bustling streets of Castle Town with a wealth of speculation and information gleaned from the common folk and fellow knights. They now had a clearer understanding of the challenges that lay ahead and the tasks that needed to be undertaken upon the start of their journey.
Unlike the previous day upon their summoning, they now faced an audience, for above their heads on a second floor balcony, several nobles and other prominent figures observed them with keen interest. Among them unto the first floor were adventurers and courtiers alike, their eyes fixed on the heroes while standing before the throne of their king.
As they awaited the king's words, a sense of anticipation hung heavy in the air, mingling with the weight of responsibility that rested upon their shoulders.
Nothing new for the four great champions.
"Arise Heroes." Again they did. "We have gathered brave people who will fight the waves with you, Legendary heroes." The King declared as they stood and were able to observe their future new companions, there were fourteen in total. These were the best that the kingdom could gather to help them in future battles.
Viper held back a sigh. What he saw was far from what he had expected or hoped for. Instead of seasoned warriors and battle-hardened veterans, the group assembled before them appeared to be a chaotic mix of knights, mages, and even a few nobles. Only two from what he could see were over the age of 30. Their youth was evident in their demeanor, and there was an air of inexperience and naivety that hung over them.
The green knight exchanged a glance with his fellow heroes, his disappointment mirrored in their eyes hidden beneath their helmets. It seemed that their task would be even more challenging than they had anticipated, for they would need to not only face the enemy but also guide and train this inexperienced band of allies if they were to have any hope of success in the battles to come.
But the numbers matched, three companions for each hero would make groups of the same number as they had when leaving the castle on their original journey. And they would need that help to cover a lot of territory.
His thoughts were cut off by the king raising his hand. "Now then, future champions! Please set forth with the Hero to whom you shall swear your allegiance to!" He proclaimed much to the heroes' confusion.
'Wait what?' That was the thought that passed through the minds of the four heroes. The king's proclamation left the heroes bewildered, their minds racing with questions and concerns. It was supposed to be the opposite; they were meant to choose their companions based on their skills, personalities, and compatibility. How could they be expected to lead a group of strangers into battle without knowing anything about them?
Frost, Viper, Volt, and Blaze exchanged uneasy glances, a silent understanding passing between them. They could not voice their protests without insulting the king and violating protocol, but they shared a common apprehension about the haphazard method of forming their battle parties.
Resigned to the situation, they steeled themselves for the challenges ahead. With a collective nod, they prepared to lead their assigned companions into the unknown, determined to make the best of the circumstances despite their misgivings.
"Now, heroes!" the king declared once more, his voice echoing through the throne room. "It's time to embark on your journey!" And with those words, the group of adventurers started walking towards them.
The Shield Hero just sighed. 'Let's just get this over with.'
As the adventurers pass by. Viper glanced back to see who his and the others' companions would be on the future journey.
He saw a different scene. Frost had gained 5 companions, Volt had 4 and Blaze 3. Viper took a look back to see who his companions would be.
Nobody. Viper's heart sank as he realized that he was left without any companions. It was a bitter blow, a stark contrast to the groups assigned to his fellow heroes. Despite the shock and confusion swirling within him, Viper maintained his composure, his expression unreadable as he stood before the king. He raised an eyebrow when he saw the situation that the Green Knight found himself in.
"I must admit, even I didn't expect this." The king said with a tone of concern that is contrary to his face of total disinterest.
"Without volunteers? There's quite a difference in charisma amongst them..." The nobleman who looked like a villain commented with his eyes closed and his face lowered apprehensively.
'Charisma? How would others know? We only got here a day ago...' Frost thought while Viper just frowned at the comment. 'Unless...' The blue Knight's eyes bulged.
A servant then arrived at the king's side and approached him and spoke something in his ear. The king's Frown increased.
"I see, so there are these rumors." The king commented loud enough for the heroes to hear.
"Rumors...?" Volt asked in surprise. "We've been here for less than a day, how come there are already rumors going around?"
"Did you two actually go scout the area-" Frost asked in an irritated tone with his eyes narrowed. "Volt?"
He gave a nervous laugh as he scratched the back of his neck. "Weeeell..." He flinched a little when he saw the chilling look the blue Knight gave him and the blaze. "Maybe we had a little... Detour-"
"Volt dragged us into gambling with the town guards." Blaze deadpanned, ignoring the betrayed look he received from the red knight, who was trying (And failing) to calm the freezing fury he was receiving from Frost. The magic emanating from the blue knight's body in silent anger was already making the temperature of the entire throne room drop.
"Neither of these rumors were caused by the sacred Spear or Bow wielders. Mister Frost." To the red knight's happiness and gratitude, the king came to his rescue. Who showed concern about the tension that grew in the room and was a little amused with the back and fourth between the heroes. "What little has started to spread from the guards about them is only positive. The Shield Hero on the other hand..." This caught Viper's attention, who had been quiet in the discussion until now.
"What are the rumors saying about me your majesty?" The green knight asked with growing concern.
"The whispers that have reached my ears speak of your venom powers, Shield Hero. Tales of their potency and unpredictability have spread throughout, telling of a volatile and dangerous individual for his allies and civilians alike." Viper clenched his jaw, his hands curling into fists at his sides as he struggled to maintain his composure. He knew that his venom powers were not to be taken lightly, but he had spent years honing his control and discipline to ensure that they were used responsibly and judiciously. To be branded as a threat based on exaggerated rumors was a bitter pill to swallow.
"Someone was evesdropping our conversation last night." Volt commented irritably.
The yellow knight just growled at the revelation. "Damn rats, crawling on walls in search of relevance at the expense of others." He released a burst of heat with his anger, but controlled it to be nothing more than a display of his emotions, still causing surprise and gossip among the nobles and priests above the room.
"If you want, I can borrow two of my companions for now, Viper." Frost commented to the shock of those adventurers who chose him. "Until you can better establish yourself and recruit your own members."
"No need Frost, but thanks for the offer." Viper declined with a grateful tone. Much to the discreet relief of the Sword Hero's group. "I don't want to force others to fight battles with me. I will fend for myself if I don't have volunteers who want to help me."
"Wait sir hero!" A hand rose from among the group following Volt, which for some reason was made up entirely of women. But Viper ignored that to look at the one who caught his attention, a lovely girl with wavy semi-long crimson hair that is tied up in a ponytail with chest-length hair strands hanging on either side, emerald-green eyes. She smiled at him as she approached.
"Would you accept me into your group?" She asked in a friendly tone to the pleasant surprise of all the heroes.
Volt gave his signature proud laugh as he gave her a quick bow. "Fair Maiden, you don't know my relief at having a good soul who wants to help my companion in need."
She bowed to the spear hero with a big and bright smile. "It's no problem, hero sir." She turned to the shield hero. "My name is Myne Suphia. I count on you from this day forward."
The Green Knight bowed to her in gratitude. "I thank you deeply for the vote of confidence, dear lady. I swear in my honor that no foul ill shall come before you while i am able to fight."
The king's face seemed to soften with this development. "Isn't there anyone else who wants to join Viper's group?"
Only silence was the answer, making the king let out a sigh.
"It's not use." He returned his attention to Viper. "Brave knight. As the sword hero said. You will have to recruit members on your own." The Green Knight gave a nod in response.
"Every month, we will provide the money the heroes need. This time, due to his recent difficulty, the shield hero's payment will be higher than the others." The four heroes bowed in silent gratitude as four members of the castle staff, one of whom the heroes could recognize was the woman who had guided them the day before, marched towards them, handing each a heavy pot with real coins inside.
"Viper will receive 800 silver coins. The rest 600." He continued. "Use it to buy equipment and other items needed for your journey!"
The four heroes then pounded their fists on their chests. "Yes your majesty!"
After this proclamation, the four heroes left the throne room and marched to the gates, led by Volt and Blaze who had already left the castle at night. Both were even recognized by the guards at the castle entrance who greeted them as they passed and were absolutely amazed when they received the greeting in return. The red knight seemed the most excited by the attention. For while they were also recognized and admired in their original world as heroes, the other knights treated them as friends and companions, they were first among equals after all. But here it was different, everyone looked at them and worshiped them as if they were idols and monuments of reverence.
As they passed through the castle gates, Viper felt a sense of relief wash over him, grateful for the opportunity to leave behind the confines of the throne room and the scrutinizing gazes of the court. Out in the open air, he could breathe more freely, the weight of his armor suddenly feeling lighter.
As they walked, Blaze couldn't resist making a deadpan remark about the attention they were receiving, particularly directed at Volt. "Looks like someone's hogging all the spotlight again," he said, his tone sarcastic and teasing.
"Indeed. I think we should start charging for autographs, Volt. We'd make a fortune." Frost chimed in with a chuckle.
Volt laughed along with them, taking the jest in stride. "Hey, what can I say? I'm just a natural born star," he quipped, flashing a grin that seemed to brighten the path ahead.
Blaze raised an eyebrow, his deadpan expression unwavering. "More like a firework—loud, flashy, and over before you know it."
Frost chuckled at the analogy, nodding in agreement. "True, but at least you bring some excitement to the party, Volt. Can't say the same for some of us."
Volt playfully rolled his eyes, feigning offense. "Hey, I'll have you know I bring plenty of excitement. It's just a different kind," he retorted, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
"Said the maidenless." Frost deadpanned. "Tell me, when was the last time you charmed a young lady?"
The banter paused for a moment as Frost's comment hung in the air, eliciting a mixture of amusement and surprise from the group. Volt's playful facade momentarily faded, replaced by a look of mock anger and indignation.
"Hey now, just because I haven't found my perfect match doesn't mean I'm lacking in charm," Volt retorted, his grin widening. "Besides, I prefer to think of myself as a free spirit, unencumbered by the responsibilities of courtship."
Blaze chuckled, shaking his head. "Ah yes, the eternal bachelor, destined to roam the lands in search of adventure and excitement."
Frost nodded in agreement, a playful glint in his eyes. "Indeed, Volt, like the errant knight of old, with no lady fair to tie you down."
Volt feigned a dramatic sigh, placing a hand over his heart. "Alas, such is the burden of being a hero. But fear not, my friends, for I shall continue to dazzle and amaze you with my unparalleled wit and charm."
They all laughed together while ignoring the confused and bewildered adventurers that walked with them. But Volt's laughter died down as he looked at Viper. The Green Knight had been silent for a while now and wasn't even laughing along with his comrades. As Volt noticed Viper's subdued demeanor, he slowed his pace slightly, falling into step beside his fellow knight.
Placing a hand on Viper's shoulder, he offered a concerned smile. "Hey, Viper, you've been awfully quiet. Is everything alright?"
Blaze and Frost, noticing the change in atmosphere, also joined in, their expressions reflecting curiosity. "Yeah, you seem a bit off. Is something bothering you?"
Viper glanced at his companions, grateful for their concern. He took a deep breath, considering his response. "It's just... everything that happened in the throne room today, the rumors, the scrutiny... It's been weighing on me," he admitted, his voice quiet but steady. "Why would someone go so far as to listen to our conversation silently just to spread such rumors about me?" He gritted his teeth in frustration.
Blaze listened intently, his expression softening with understanding. "It's rough, Viper. Rumors have a nasty way of spreading like wildfire, especially when someone's trying to stir up trouble."
Frost nodded in agreement, his gaze sympathetic. "Unfortunately, not everyone has the best intentions. There are always those who thrive on causing chaos and discord, even at the expense of others."
Volt frowned, his brows furrowing in frustration. "It's not right. But remember, those rumors don't define who you are. You're a skilled and honorable knight, and we all know that."
Viper's shoulders relaxed slightly at his companions' words of support. "Thanks, guys. I needed to hear that," he said, a hint of gratitude in his voice.
Blaze clapped a hand on Viper's back, offering a reassuring smile. "Anytime, buddy. We've got your back, no matter what."
Frost then stopped in the middle of the street, making the others stop along with him. "Banter and rumors aside. We have to have a plan, are we currently in the center of Castle Town?" He asked, turning to Volt who nodded, leaning towards the knight who had a general idea of the city after their trip yesterday.
"Aye, if we go further down the road there is an inn we can settle for a few days while we explore the area around the city." Volt commented while Blaze nodded vouchering for his friend.
The orange knight then turned and pointed to a street to the right. "And I heard from some guards that in that street down by that market there is a very good blacksmith for us."
The other two knights nodded in agreement. "After we get equipment and items, we can split up and fight the local fauna to test our weapons a little." Frost offered a plan. "If everything goes well, we will gather at the INN at night with our discoveries, news and information and we will continue from there."
Viper nodded in agreement with Frost's plan, grateful for the opportunity to focus on something other than the rumors that had been plaguing his mind. "Sounds like a solid plane," he said, his voice more steady now. "Let's make the most of our time here and gather whatever resources we can."
The Green Knight had been a little shaken by the situation he had never been through in his career as a knight, but he still had high hopes for this world and his future with his companions. He was so caught up in his thoughts that he wouldn't notice the mischievous smile that would grow from Myne next to him.