Chapter 7: The Golden Heart
Imported from SF2 with no description.
_ Hello! Sorry for not uploading in a while but I am back and my internet connection will not go nuts again so more things to look forward to! _
_ *See ya! * _
_ Ban _
Farewell dear ones but not forever,
We shall once more meet again when the time is right and across the dark sky that covers this land, we salute the dawn.
And this journey shall be the first light.
Normal POV
The city of Wenbvel, also is known as the City of the Dawn for its wonderful view in daybreak. The glasses of the Rainbow's Tower shines beautifully at the first light of day.
A city of beginnings and aspirations turns this city into a very hot spot for adventurers and guilds to capitalize upon, ranging from quests to even trade. As well it's known as the “Dreamer's City" for its bountiful opportunities for people who aspire to be anything.
People from across the land who would want to be equipped with either a specialization or trade can refer to this city for education. Nobles and non-nobles alike are welcome in this city of free thinking and innovation, and these two are no exemption.
“Welcome to Wenbvel, travelers!" A guard greeted a bear and a hare in their late teens. “Good day to you sir." The bear saluted to the guard who smiles back and wished the two that they'll enjoy their stay. The two travellers are awestruck by the city's infrastructure.
A few rounded buildings that are huge can be spotted and tall buildings that are varying from shapes and sizes exist and every corner a signboard for services from blacksmiths to magic and finally inns.
“*Growl*" a sound emanated from the bear's fat gut. “Well, time for breakfast anyway." Harry picks up his coin bag and took out ten gold coins. They asked around for a nice inn and they recommended the inn near a guild called the “Golden Heart" which is called “Dreamer's Place".
“A left and a few steps to the right…" Harry and Rum walks along to find the inn. “Oh! There!" as they found a modest wood cabin inn with a sign board “Dreamer's Place" hovering over the door.
The two walked over to the inn and let themselves in as they saw a fairly crowded dining hall and two human female waitresses, one with blond hair and the other with black hair goes around, serving men and women who are equipped for adventure.
But the most prominent of the crowd is four humans, two males and two females. Are sitting together in the far end of the hall, chatting up and talking about their next move if one would guess.
The guy in the right, is dressed with a short robe but it ends at knee height and a pair of glasses seems to be wary of the beast around him. There is an orange hair lass who looks like the youngest has two ponytails smiled. Another lady who was next to the lass has short red hair and seems to be the leader wears light armor is talking to the guy leaning against the wall, just nods looking like he has not a care in the world.
“Loufe, better take this seriously!" the red haired girl yells at the person on the wall. “Yeah, yeah!" then suddenly she turns to the direction of Rum and Harry.
“Oh excuse me!"
As she approaches the two.
“May we ask? How can you get to Eldeow?"
“We actually lived there. Why do you need to ask this?" asked Rum.
“We need to speak with the captain of the guard and the prince, we need help training for recruits. They say they are the most skilled warriors in all of Eldeow." Then the two are nervous as the lass actually asked for them without her knowing.
“Oh you 'ment Harry and Rum! Both of them are actually…" then the hare elbows the bear at the side. “Anyway, We can't talk about it here. May we speak this in private?" then suddenly…
“*Crash!*" the blonde waitress slipped and spilled stew at a knight who is cladded in silver armor turns to the girl. “What have you done!? You will pay for this!" then the waitress apologizes. “Hmph! Then today we will triple your taxes."
“Hey! You can't do that!" the red hair lass yelled at the knight. “Oh yeah? You're gonna challenge me to a duel my lady?" then the girl started to be red with rage. “Why YOU!!" suddenly she was stopped by a large hand gripping her arm.
“Ok then. Are you a knight or just a puppet?" the bear stand up, towering everybody in the crowd. “WHAT'S WITH YOU! DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?!" then the bear replied “I do not know who you are but…" then Rum points his finger right at the abusive knight “You have no right to do this to others!"
Then the hare helps the waitress up. “Okay then, we shall settle this outside." The knight replied and the bear said as he cracks his knuckles “With pleasure". Then the two went outside and the others follow.
The ones outside of the street are Rum, Harry and the four humans. Opposite them is the knight and his troop. The waitress is crying as she looks outside the window with the other beasts.
“That ursan's gonna lose." “I know right. Nobody can beat Wesen" the waitress had faith in the bear as much as the others who are behind her defender clasp her hands together. “Good luck" she muttered to herself, believing that the Ursan can win the fight.
“Where's your weapon?" asked the Ursan. “Here." Then there was a red sword that appeared suddenly. “Oh, such a shame that you ended up with a “Dream Weapon"." The bear commented as he brought out his Earthbreakers. The knight was shocked that the bear can summon a weapon.
The knight shook his head as the knight in between them explained the rules.
“No fighter can use magic."
“The duel is over when someone concedes or is knocked out."
“Are there any objections?"
“No"
“Then start!"
The knight went in for a swing, only to be blocked by the bear's huge gantlets. And another slash to the right and blocked again.
“Are you goin' to block my attacks all day long?" the knight taunted as he blindly assaults the bear.
“No." then the bear found his opening. He parried the knight's red blade upwards, forcing the knight to stagger as Rum quickly shot a punch to the knight's face.
“Gah!!" the knight met the full impact of the punch. Forcing him to fly towards a wall and he made a huge dent on it.
The boom that was heard at the moment of impact shocked all besides the two travellers that just stayed silent. The most shocked of all is the troupe of the knight. The squad went to their commander a few seconds after the knight fell to the ground unconscious.
“Cap!" the squad went to the knight as everyone else cheered for the abusive knight was defeated in one blow. The waitress who was waiting outside ran to the bear and flung herself towards the bear.
“Thank you! MY HERO!" then the female pecked the winner on the cheek, earning a blush from the noble knight. “Y-your welcome" Rum smiled as he looks at the group of the knight once more.
The squad looked at the bear with fear and ran with their defeated commander to their base. This seems that they got the message.
“Oh how can we repay you?" asked the black haired waitress who was beside the blonde one all this time.
“No need for such." And the waitress insisted and suggested that every time they come by the city, they can stay for as long as they needed.
“Thank you then." Then the blonde waitress bows to the two as everyone else besides the four humans and the two were left behind. “So." As the female with the red hair approached the two.
“This is the strength of the captain of the royal guard." Then the hare's jaw drops as they were able to find out who they were exactly. “Looks like you caught us" then the pair faced the party of four.
“I am Harazamn Dalsert Garcels. You may call me “Harry" and here is the captain of the guard: Aurum Barazan." Then the hare extended his hand to the leader. The leader took the prince's hand and introduced her party members and herself.
The leader's name is: Ine, the other girl with the witch hat is Namena, the one with the cloak is Staics and the last boy who has two pistols behind him is Loufe.
“Follow me. We have much to discuss, but not here."
The group entered a dome with the name “Golden Heart" was embedded on its signboard. Then the two encountered a few adventurers, from the new to the veterans that have seem to know who they are.
“Excuse me." Then Rum turned his head to see a tall Leoan with a gold mane cladded in orange and gold.
Rum's POV
I see this lion that is dressed like some god if I do say so myself. His entire gear is golden with a streak of orange, as such. Also he has a sword sheathed on his waist. The shape is rounded at the end and the handle is not surprisingly gold, there is a gem on the center of the armguard that seems to change color constantly.
“Alimun! We found them!" then the lion smiles and thanks the red haired girl and her friends. “Thank you, now shall we go to my quarters where we can discuss a few things?" then I replied “Lead the way."
We head for the lion's quarters. The room is actually well lit with fire crystals that illuminates the wooden walls covered with artifacts and the center of the room lays a table for a few people.
“Sit please your highnesses." I always wondered why I am addressed as royalty by most people. I just don't have a feel for it I suppose and we took our seats.
“I am just the captain, I am no royalty my dear sir." I told the lion. “Oh non-sense, you may not be royalty in blood but you are in spirit. Besides I enjoyed the show you put on this morning. I have to say, That was spectacular!" the lion replied
“I… yes thank you, but please call me Rum." Then the lion nods. “Ok Rum. Then your majesty may I ask." Then he looks at Harry who was next to me.
“Can you train the new comers?" then the lion looks at the door and nods. After a few seconds a few beasts and humans came in. One of them is a boar and beside him is a lioness and a goatman.
“Why would you need us to do that?" Harry inquired. “May I speak?" asked the lioness. “My dear this is a free guild, no need to ask permission. Just get our attention, ok Leona?" the friendly lion told the lioness.
She nods and said “We need to save our town! Barbarians are raiding it constantly and Nightmares are trying to enter our walls. Please help us be strong." Then the newcomers bowed.
“Stand up." Harry ordered.
Then the youngsters stood up with teary eyes.
“Don't cry. You have to be strong, sure you need brute force but you have the most important thing for a knight." Then I made my gauntlets appear once more. “Heart, and with it you can be the hope of many." Then the soon to be warriors stopped crying and they nod at us.
“We'll start tomorrow. But for now tell us more on what happened to your village." Then the golden-maned lion took his leave.
“I have to be somewhere, it's nice meeting you. Harry and Rum." Then he left.
“See our town is a small town of farmers and traders." Then everyone told me their stories. The boar's name is Gwar, his father is actually the blacksmith of the town but without anybody skilled enough to handle weapons he is not going to help anybody soon.
The goat's name is Ryel, his parents are farmers that have been robbed of their land and the lioness, Leona is actually the govenor's daughter. She explained to us that the only reason why the people cooperated is due to the fact that they themselves are ued for leverage.
“OK, here is how we got away." spoke Ryel.
FLASHBACK
“Hey shut it!" the guard banged at the cage containing a group of 7.
Four humans and three beastmen.
“I want to go home!" the youngest of the group yelled. Then the guard suddenly took out his dagger and aimed it at the ten year old girl, and the guard said “Listen to me. We will keep you here until we are satisfied. We could care less if the village will be crippled with debt, as long as we can get what we want for free…" the guard lifted up the girl with her neck at his grip.
“You will stay here. Is that clear?" then the girl nods as she is dropped to the ground, catching her breath. “Grrr!" the boar grit his teeth as he watched his fellow villager get abused like that.
“*Tch* I am bored, I'll take a stroll." Then the guard leaves the room.
“Did you get it?" asked the lioness.
She nods as she lifted her arm, revealing a key that has been tied to his waist this entire time.
“Ok. Let's go." The lioness spoke up as she unlocks the door.
The group now went in a line as they walk towards the entrance of the warehouse. Then they peeked outside the door if there were no guards running around. Fortunately for them, there were none and the guard could have gone far.
“Run!" then the group ran towards the forest. Not daring to slow down or even look back, faster and faster the group went until they found the main road. It's cleared out and paved with a cliff to the right.
“We're here!" then suddenly a group of rugged dressed people yelled “Get back here!"
“Crap!" then the only option was to run and they did.
The bandits keep on yelling as the children ran as fast as they could. “Help! Help!" the goat-man yelled out. Then one of the humans tripped, “GO!" the human boy ordered the others who has stopped to keep going.
“NO!" then Ryle quickly grabbed the human's hand as the other went up and continued with the goat.
“Too late goat!" then right before the bandit even laid a finger on the two youngsters; a strong gust threw the bandit to a tree. “Are you alright!?" then the two saw a golden maned lion cladded in armor.
The lion quickly knocked the bandit who was trying to assault him out. Then he quickly dashed to the group of thieves as they needed the children. “You will have to go through me!"
Then the lion swiftly hits each person who was heading for his direction out cold.
“Leave these children alone." The lion looked at the remaining conscious rouges with a cold stare. The now-afraid criminals nodded and ran into the woods.
“Are you ok?" then the seven children nodded.
“Come with me. Quick there will be more soon." The group ran towards the north.
Then the lion seems to have found a spot to rest and all seven of them collapsed of exhaustion. Then the lion came back with a few fishes and wood to burn.
“May we ask your name?" then the lion replied “Alimun of the Golden Hearts." Then the lioness asked the lion something unexpected.
“PLEASE TRAIN US!!" then the lion said.
“I can't teach you. But come with me and I will help you with a teacher."
“We have to go back. Not as children but as warriors, we can't bare the sight of our parents anymore!" the ram quickly replied earning a nod from the lion.
“Understood. I see resolve in your eyes, so I am glad to help." Then the group continued to trek their way around the mountain. Until they reached the top where the city of Wenbvel was in view.
“We are here." Then the rest of the trip was silent until they made their way to a building that has the nameplate “Golden Heart" is displayed. The children are in shock as the lion went inside, and signaled the others to come with him.
“Boss! Who are these children?" a velvet female fox asked the lion. “These are refugees from the nearby village. And they need to learn how to fight so if you please?" the fox toured the children around the premises.
“For now before you start training under the teacher we will give to you." The group of children was led to an armory.
“Pick a weapon."
Then they each picked up a weapon.
The lioness picked up a shield, the boar a halberd that is slightly taller than he is. The goat picked a chain connected to a hook at one end and a steel ball on the other.
“You have chosen. Now go to the field and try to find out how your weapons work, until we find you the best teachers we can find." The group thanked the fox for helping them.
“You're welcome. The Golden Heart always wants to help others be able to help others as well. I see your future as a bright one, be seeing you." The fox left the group to their devices.
“Let's train to be stronger!" the goat cheered “Yeah!".
They have been training by themselves for a few months. So far all of them can handle their weapons without any problems. But they can't use them efficiently.
END OF FLASHBACK
“Ok then. Get some rest. We will prepare the training grounds for tomorrow." The bear told the students.
“In what name we will call you?" the boar asked his to be teachers.
“Call me Rum, and this guy is Harry." As Rum points his head towards his company.
“Sleep well Rum and Harry!" then the group left.
Normal POV
“This guy is the one the entire town has been talking about right?" one of the humans said to the goat. “Yeah. From what I can tell, he is going to be an awesome teacher." The lioness now is staring at the window.
“Heart huh?" the lioness mumbled to herself.