"Sol?" Caulot glanced at Sol, who remained upright.
"Sol, as in the soul of a body?" Caulot queried.
"No, not 'soul.' It's 'Sol.' It's not related to the soul of a body," Sol clarified.
Caulot pondered the name, and a comparison came to mind. "Like 'Saul'? That sounds quite unique." He remarked, snapping his fingers as if he'd struck gold.
Sol winced; he recognized that name all too well. "Better call Saul." he muttered under his breath, the cringe evident.
"Why would we want to call Saul?" Caulot tilted his head, attempting to comprehend Sol's comment. His cringe had turned into a chuckle. "You only call him for legal troubles."
Now Caulot was thoroughly bewildered. He might not have been entirely sure of the concept of 'legal', but he understood that it held significance.
"That sounds important. I think the nobles would know abou—"
A sudden realization struck Caulot like a lightning bolt. "Sir Knight! We can't stay here! If the nobles catch us, we might be in serious trouble!"
"You're right, but I'm not sure where I can go, I jus—"
"You can stay at my place!" The boy's hand slapped against his chest as he exclaimed.
"I'm not sure if it would be acceptable for me to stay at someone's house." Sol hesitated. He disliked the notion of freeloading on this poor boy's home; he'd always held a strong belief in personal independence.
"It's fine! I owe you for saving my life, after all." Caulot assured him. He met Sol's gaze with gratitude, a clear willingness to repay the debt. Not wanting to deny him the chance to fulfill it, Sol accepted.
"Very well, Caulot. But before we leave, I'd like to examine the corpses of those creatures I killed."
"You mean those Rojo Cuernos? Very well, Sir Sol. I'll wait here for you," Caulot replied.
"No need to call me 'Sir' or 'Knight.' I'm neither of those things." Sol insisted.
Caulot looked at him, puzzled, before nodding and stepping away to give Sol space to investigate.
These savages are called Rojo Cuernos, Sol mused. Interestingly, they aren't titans, which means they weren't genetically modified. Their souls remain unaltered. If they aren't titans, then what are they?
Realizing that mere contemplation wouldn't provide answers, Sol decided to call upon someone more useful.
"TEL, are you here?"
TEL appeared before Sol, its three gemstone eyes fixed upon him.
"Yes, master?"
"Take samples of those beasts, the Rojo Cuernos, and analyze them. I want to know if they are titans. Be discreet; we don't want anyone else to see you." Sol ordered.
"Very well, master."
TEL's three eyes merged with the ground, vanishing seamlessly like a soluble liquid dissolving in water. Sol, making sure to retrieve his sheathed blade and securing it at his side, decided to head toward Caulot, who was waiting for him on the dirt path.
"Are you finished, Sol?" Caulot inquired.
"I am. Let's get out of here. I'd rather not get in trouble with the law just yet." Sol replied, nodding in agreement.
Caulot led the way, Sol couldn't help but be enchanted by the world around him. Daytime painted a picture of natural beauty, and Sol found himself captivated by nature's brushstrokes. As he followed Caulot, he wondered if this world was as wondrous everywhere. If so, he was eager to explore it further. After about twenty minutes, Caulot turned to face Sol.
"Beyond this bush is my home. It may not be very comfortable; in fact, it's quite small. But I still want to offer you the best hospitality!"
Caulot pushed the bush aside, revealing a weathered and rustic wooden shack nestled in a grassy plain among the trees. Sol couldn't help but notice a village not far away from the shack, a village with a peculiar lack of trees. It seemed to be mostly farmland with scattered trees providing shade.
"Unfortunately, I'm not allowed in the village, so my mother and I lived in this shack." Caulot explained.
Sol surveyed the shack's cramped and derelict interior, wondering how two people could live in such conditions. It made him appreciate the comforts he had taken for granted.
Caulot opened the door, revealing an even dimmer and more modest setting inside. The shack's weathered walls allowed slivers of sunlight to filter through, and the scent of aged wood hung heavy in the air. Sol cautiously entered, carefully watching his head and footing to avoid any unnecessary accidents.
"Make yourself at home. I'll go get us something to eat." Caulot offered, leaving the door open as he departed.
Sol spotted an old wooden chair, and hoping it wouldn't collapse under his armor's weight, gingerly seated himself. To his surprise, the chair held. As he sat there, his black armor seemed starkly out of place amidst the shack's humble surroundings, its intricate design contrasting with the simplicity of the wooden structure. He couldn't help but ponder his situation.
Why was I the only one in that Phoenix chamber? Where are Jensen and the others? Why was TEL the only one there? So many questions and no answers.
As he sat in the chair, the sunlight bathed him in its white glow, beautifully reflecting off his black armor. A thought suddenly struck him, and he signaled for TEL.
"TEL, I require your assistance once more."
TEL emerged from the wooden wall to Sol's right, then assumed its regular form.
"Master, I have collected the samples and—"
"What is my name TEL?"
The robotic dog bowed respectfully before answering, "Your name is Ausar, master."
Sol turned away from TEL, he had recognized that name.
Ausar The Vile he was a deathless warlord right?. Vile? Why does that sound familiar?
He examined his armor, realizing it bore the detailed intricacies of the Vile armor. A realization dawned upon him.
I've been wearing this Vile armor this entire time. The Vile armor... Why does that name seem significant?
He tapped his helmet, contemplating how to respond to this revelation. He could choose to pretend to be Ausar, as TEL clearly believed that Sol was a false name. Alternatively, he could be honest and admit that he wasn't Ausar. Sol couldn't make up his mind, so he settled on a middle ground.
"Listen, TEL, I am not 'Ausar.' That's why I didn't know what I was doing. If it weren't for you, I'd probably still be stuck in that chamber."
"H-How is that possible? Master, I don't remember you wipi—"
"It's likely because we were summoned into this new world. But this is also an opportunity. I can finally become a better person, TEL. This is my chance at redemption." Sol explained.
TEL's three gemstone eyes flickered, conveying what would be a smile if he were human. Although Sol had technically lied to TEL, he believed it was the best way to avoid confusion. From now on, Sol will use his real name in this new world.
"Yes master!"
"Oh, and TEL, if you could, keep an eye on that village. I need more information than what Caulot provided. And continue analyzing the samples. I might spend some time with Caulot here."
Sol knew that in this new world, he had a chance to start anew, to redeem himself. And he intended to make the most of it.
"It shall be done, master," TEL responded, and with that, he disappeared into the ground, leaving Sol alone in the shack. Moments later, Caulot entered with a worn tray containing two fist-sized purple fruits.
"Sorry it isn't a lot, but I foraged these from the forest," Caulot explained, placing the tray in front of Sol.
"It's fine, but what are those called?" Sol inquired, his curiosity piqued.
Caulot glanced at the tray and then back at Sol, saying, "These are called Morpuño; they grow in trees."
"Those grow in trees?" Sol said, somewhat surprised, as he stood up from his chair. He picked up one of the fruits from the tray.
"Amazing, they are nice and plump." He admired the fruit's appearance, holding it up.
However, a dilemma arose for Sol. How would he eat it while wearing his helmet? He hesitated, not wanting to reveal his face, considering the potential risks. After all, Caulot looked European, and Sol was unsure how he would be received.
I think it'll be fine if I take off my helmet in front of him. After all, he did show his face to me; it would be disrespectful for me not to do the same.
With this decision made, Sol carefully placed the Morpuño back on the tray. He then began to unstrap his helmet, his hands moving to his neck. Once the straps were undone, he removed the Vile helmet, revealing his face to Caulot.
Caulot's eyes widened with surprise as they locked onto Sol's appearance. His skin bore a gentle tan, and a well-kept beard adorned his face. Neatly groomed hair framed his head, and his thick eyebrows added character. Striking brown eyes stared back at Caulot, making him blush slightly.
"W-Wow, you are quite handsome, Sol. You remind me of those stories of a young handsome knight saving a distressed princess."
Sol cringed at the compliment, modestly replying, "I'm not that handsome, but I appreciate it."
He retrieved his Morpuño and took a bite, exploring its unique taste.
Huh, it's rough but tasty at the same time, like an apple but with a mixture of pineapple to it? What a strange fruit.
Caulot followed suit, eating his share of the Morpuño. The silence that followed was awkward, filling the small shack.
Sol decided to break the silence with a question. "So, Caulot, why were you in the forest in the first place? I suspected you were bullied, but what happened exactly?"
Caulot squirmed, his nervousness palpable. Biting his nails, he glanced up at Sol. "It's because those two threw my bag into the forest. I was trying to find it, and I did, but then those Rojos came. I'm certain they were trying to kill me." He admitted quietly, still shaken by the experience of someone trying to take the only thing his mother had left him, all because he didn't look like a human to them.
Sol listened attentively, his empathy evident. "I see, but I'm thankful that nothing bad happened in the end. Don't worry; those two bullies you mentioned won't harm you if I'm around."
Caulot looked into Sol's eyes and felt the genuine compassion emanating from him. It reminded him of the warmth his mother had always shown him. Sol then reattached his helmet, becoming fully armored once more.
"Still, I find it weird how you would know quite a bit. If you aren't allowed into the village, how come you knew about the forest being barred for entry? I don't think any of those villagers would explain the rules to you."
Caulot confessed, a hint of shame in his voice, "It's because I spy on them. I know it's bad, but I didn't have a choice."
Sol understood Caulot's predicament and reassured him, "I see; sometimes, we have to do things we don't want to do to survive and protect what's important. You needed to know what was going on and how to respond to it correctly."
He appreciated his reply, but humbly said "I'm not that good of a person." Caulot began with a heavy tone, his voice laced with concern, "soon those nobles will kill all the beasts of the forest, turn this land into more farmland. If that were to happen, I'll starve, then I'll probably have to betray my mother and steal to survive. I'd probably get caught and executed."
Sol listened intently, his sympathy for Caulot evident in his eyes. "I see, don't worry. If I can work, maybe I can support both of us. After all, I do have to thank you for your hospitality. Perhaps the village could be a great place to start." He suggested, offering a glimmer of hope.
Caulot, however, offered a cautionary perspective, saying, "I wouldn't recommend that, Sol."
Baffled by this response, Sol inquired, "How come? Maybe I could find work as a guard or something."
Caulot explained, "It's because you are a foreigner. They probably wouldn't like you or give you a job once they learn you aren't from this country."
Sol froze, intrigued by how and why this could be the case. "Yes, it's true that I'm not from this country, but why would they dislike someone who is skilled with the blade?" Of course that last part was a lie, he was terrible with the sword. However he didn't want to distress Caulot. Instead added a touch of modesty to his claim, "I don't know much about this world, but I can handle myself in a fight, although I must admit, I'm not that great at combat."
Caulot nodded at Sol's response and continued, "I don't know, Sol. All I do know is that foreigners usually stay at ports and don't head inland. Maybe it's because foreigners aren't liked, that's what I think."
Sol nodded, understanding the complexities of this world's social dynamics. "I see, that's disappointing if true. Speaking of the country, what's this country's name?" Now this was a stupid question to ask, his original alibi would be that he had come from a faraway land. Came from the seas and should know what this country's name is, but this wasn't the time for Sol to be smart. He had to be direct even if he made a fool of himself.
Caulot hesitated for a moment before replying, "I-I'm sorry, I don't remember the name of my country."
Sol couldn't hide his surprise. How could one not know which country they were born in? He adjusted his helmet slightly, making sure it was secure.
Caulot, sensing Sol's confusion, explained, "Sorry, my mother once told me about the name of my country. I never memorized it though, I guess I never saw the need."
Sol accepted this explanation, realizing that not everyone placed the same importance on such details. "Alright, if you don't know about that, maybe you could tell me tales? You know, stories about your country or its history."
Caulot's uneven eyes brightened, and he flashed a warm smile at Sol. "Well, there are lots of stories I could tell, but we should get settled down. You should sit down, I'll go grab a stool."
Sol followed Caulot's lead and took a seat, being careful not to break the chair. As Caulot fetched a stool and sat on it, he began.
"Well where should I start? Yes, the thirteen heros!"
"Thirteen heros?" Sol questioned.
" Yes, legendary heroes who fought against the evil deities 200 years ago."
" Evil deities? Who were they? Judging by their name they seem evil."
" Of course, they had arrived after the eight greed kings. After which they destroyed anything on their path. Entire nations were wiped out by them, that was until the thirteen heros arrived and put an end to them."
" Interesting, eight greed kings? Who were they?" Sol queried further, while he was somewhat interested in this world's history. He believed that a surface understanding was viable, however Caulot had other ideas.
"I'll get to that, but first I should tell you tales of the heros and their accomplishments!" He exclaimed, his eyes beamed with excitement.
"Go on." Sol was annoyed a bit, he didn't want to know too much, after all it is just history.
Caulot chatted about the tales of heros, their names, the opponents they fought against. He also made an interesting point that there were more than thirteen members, but they weren't included since they weren't human. "You know, you remind me of one hero. The Black Knight, since your armor is all black and all."
Baffled, Sol asked, " I can't be that similar looking to him."
Caulot chuckled before responding, "Well, not quite the same, he had four arms after all."
"Four arms?!" Sol couldn't hide his astonishment, his body instinctively moving backward.
"Indeed, he even had four swords. Swords that are rumored to be in circulation till this day."
" Interesting, but what about the eight greed kings? Were they evil like the deities you were talking about earlier?"
Caulot, somewhat irritated, finally provided an explanation for his avoidance of the Eight Greed Kings. "Well, not quite, they did allow humanity to flourish by killing large amounts of demi-humans and other races, but I dislike them since my mother said they killed one of the great gods."
Sol was taken aback by this response. He pondered whether the Eight Greed Kings truly deserved Caulot's scorn. After all, they had contributed to the flourishing of humanity. However that wasn't everything that piqued his interest.
"I came from a land where these demi-humans weren't present." Sol remarked, seeking more information. "Can you tell me more about these creatures?"
Caulot appeared surprised, having never heard of someone from a land without demi-humans.
"You must've come from a faraway land then." Caulot said. "I've never seen a demi-human before, but from what my mother told me, they are beasts that stand on two legs, have claws, pincers as teeth, and are somewhat intelligent."
Sol considered this description. Demi-humans seemed somewhat similar to the titans he had encountered in Infinity Blade, although not all of them were intelligent.
"I see." Sol replied, deciding to change the subject. "Have you ever heard of the terms 'Deathless' or 'Titans' before?"
Caulot shook his head. "Never heard of them before, but they sound interesting. Mind telling me more?"
Sol hesitated for a moment, his mind racing with thoughts about his own situation. "Nevermind, they aren't that important."
Caulot looked disappointed, clearly wanting to know more about the black-armored knight.
"But there's one thing that's weird about you," Sol remarked, changing the direction of the conversation. "You seem to know quite a bit about history, yet you cannot name your own country."
Caulot blushed in embarrassment, realizing that Sol had seen through his general ignorance. He had immersed himself in tales of gods, Greed Kings, and heroes to escape the reality of his life.
"Well, I can't exactly blame you." Sol continued sympathetically. "After all, why do you need to know about this country anyway? The people here don't exactly treat you very well. I can understand why you've retreated into fantasy."
Caulot felt exposed but also strangely understood by Sol. It was as if the black-armored knight was understanding the type of person he was.
"Y-You're right; I'm sorry that I couldn't be more helpful to you," Caulot apologized, his embarrassment evident.
Sol gave a chuckle and reassured him, "It's fine. I doubt I would've learned more about this land's history from anyone else. I appreciate that."
Caulot smiled, feeling a sense of validation and usefulness that he hadn't experienced before. However, his joy was short-lived as something caught his eye.
"Oh no!" Caulot exclaimed, suddenly alarmed.
Sol was taken aback by his sudden change in demeanor. "What happened?"
Caulot hurriedly got up from his stool, a sense of urgency in his movements. Sol, still confused, quickly rose from his chair and followed the boy, jogging to match his pace.
"We need fire! It's about to be nighttime, we can't be here without light."
"Why do we need fire before sunset?" Sol inquired, trying to understand the situation.
Caulot explained, "It's because of beasts that awaken at night."
"You mean those Rojos?"
Caulot's expression turned graver. "No, worse. Nocterror. They might be small, but I remembered hearing that they've eaten an entire Lanca!"
Sol realized the severity of the situation. "And they are terrified by fire, right?"
Caulot nodded vigorously. "Yes, that's why we need to light a fire quickly!"
Desperation in his eyes, Caulot grabbed a branch and attempted to tear it off from a tree. However, the branch proved to be stubborn. Sol, observing this, decided to lend a hand. Using his considerable strength, he snapped the branch off with a single-handed effort. Caulot fell to the ground in his haste.
Caulot, now on the ground, quickly ordered, "Hurry, help me gather more branches and twigs. We need to light a fire before sunset, or the Nocterrors will come!" Caulot left for the shack, leaving Sol to his thoughts.
How dare he order me? Doesn't he know I was the one who saved him? Sol froze himself; why was he feeling angry? Caulot didn't say anything wrong; this is a bad situation. Ending his thoughts, he moved forward to collect more branches. After a while, Sol had collected about five decently sized branches. He rejoined Caulot, who was desperately trying to light a fire.
"Come on, come on!" Caulot muttered, furiously rubbing dry wood together. However, his efforts were in vain as the strokes weren't powerful enough to ignite the fire. Sol, witnessing this, stepped in to help. He took the dry wood from Caulot, gripping it like a spear, and began to stroke the grounded wood. Soon, a flame emerged, warming the increasingly chilly air. They exchanged glances.
"You saved me there; I thought we were going to die!" Caulot said, panting and sweating despite the relatively cold air. "Now we just need to tend to the flame."
Caulot moved past Sol to pick up the firewood he had brought. Both of them worked together to tend to the flame, keeping it alive like a newborn child. By sunset, this newly made fire was burning healthily. Caulot, panting and sweating profusely, looked at Sol. To his amazement, Sol appeared barely tired.
Caulot, trying to calm his breathing, muttered, "Man, you're amazing. Even with all that work, you're barely even tired."
Sol chuckled lightly. "Heh, I'm amazed too."
Sol looked at his hands, contemplating whether his near-endless stamina was because of the fact that he was a Deathless. He couldn't help but think about the world of Infinity Blade. Despite what Caulot said, he still believed he was in that world.
Taking a break from the strenuous work, Caulot got up and headed back to the shack. He grabbed a cooking pot along with the necessary utensils and returned to the fire. Caulot placed a griddle over the fire and put a pot on top of the round metal plate.
"This is a stew I cooked up yesterday, unfortunately it got cold. Heating it will improve the taste, but it won't be fresh. It'll take a while before it heated again."
After sunset left and night came, Caulot poured the stew into two cups and offered one to Sol. Sol removed his helmet and took the wooden cup, trying to hide his disappointment as he ingested the stew. To him, it was far from the tasty meals he had expected in Isekai worlds. After finishing the entire meal, he covered his disgust and disappointment with his helmet, looking at Caulot who seemingly enjoyed the meal.
"Ha, look at the starry night sky. I could eat anything while looking at that!" Caulot exclaimed, lying down and fully immersing himself in the beauty of the sky. Sol also gazed upward, but for him, it wasn't a moment of tranquility. Instead, it was a final piece of evidence that he wasn't in the world of Infinity Blade after all.
The moon, why isn't it blown up? Where are the shattered pieces? Sol wondered, his mind still grappling with the mysteries of this unfamiliar world.