Her Friend

"What was that all about?!"

"You are feeble"

"There was an ultimate style?"

"Don't get too greedy, it's my family heirloom, I won't teach you"

"Then why did you teach me the nine forms, you taught Knight Barrister too"

"Knight Barrister needed something stronger to protect the country at that time...which was all useless in the end" Her voice trembled towards the end of her speech was went unnoticed.

"That makes no sense, if it was for Knight Barrister to protect the country, why did he want to teach me?"

"Because I commanded him to teach as many people as he could but only those that are talented"

"If it's a family heirloom, why would you teach everyone but not want to teach the ultimate... let me guess because it would put me on par with you?"

She giggled, "I've been training Moonlit since I was five, that's twenty years, you have just been training for two days and you think you can be on par with me?"

'Oh my God, she's twenty-five' "Then why did you get angry and kill me, you did it once before in town but I can understand that"

"The strike wasn't intended to kill you, and what did you mean I did it before in town...I haven't been in Kont'el until the day we met"

Leon looked at her with a dumb expression for a short moment.

"I was sure, the black cloak, I saw it"

"...Exactly like mine?" She asked, her expression more serious than before.

"Well, not exactly sure but I was sure I saw it, I died before I could get a closer look"

Lia mockingly scoffed at him, "Looks like you are quite adept at dying. I can't trust the words of a dying man"

"But I-"

She interrupted him by dumping a bag on him, "That's the leftover from the boars, they are all roasted, make sure you eat well. They'll begin to rot in fifteen to twenty days." "Now let's go"

"Wait? we are done with the training?" Leon asked in a rundown tone.

"Yes, we are, since you are quite the genius and you learnt all in almost three days. My plans have adjusted, besides I got information while you were on your altar of resurrection.

"What information?"

She paused and looked at him, "Barry would be executed tomorrow at noon. I must get him out today"

"Okay, so this is the part where I follow you to Ordeta to create a diversion?"

"Yes," She responded and sheathed her sword. Leon also grabbed the claymore and hung it on his belt.

"You are still going to use that?"

"I don't have a choice, even if I'm good with the longsword, this is what I have right now..."

"Whatever, don't die," she said as she started to move. Leon followed closely behind her.

"How long is the journey to Ordeta?"

Lia closed her eyes in irritation and did not respond to him.

'When last has it been, since I had just an enjoyable company' she thought to herself with a subtle smile.

[Your Affinity with Lia has increased by 150]

Leon grinned, 'She's doing honcho lady but thinking about me huh' "Do you like me?"

~Whish~

~Pow~

~Thud!~

She turned swiftly and punched Leon's face, he was slammed to the ground by the impact of her punch.

[You have received 211 damages]

'Wow...so fierce'

[Your Affinity with Lia has increased by 100]

'Theeeee...heeeelllll?'

...

...Templar Kingdom Castle...Ordeta...

...The Throne hall....

~Step~

~Step~

~Step~

The squared helm with a pointed of his armour, v-shaped opening leaving the eyes, nose and mouth exposed. Attached to its side are two wide bat wing-shaped ornaments. The shoulders are fairly squared, quite short and large. They're decorated with a wide piece of thick, deep green coloured cloth, draped over each shoulder plate and hanging over the edges. The upper arms are protected by rounded, layered metal rerebraces which sit nicely under the shoulder plates. The lower arms are covered by vambraces which have a skull-shaped metal ornament piece on each outer side. The breastplate is made from many layers of smaller metal pieces, mimicking the scales of a dragon. It covers everything from the neck down and ends at the groin, but the shoulder area is fairly exposed to allow for more movement space, with white clothe beneath. The upper legs are covered by pointed, fully covering cuisses. The lower legs are protected by greaves which have a small axe head attached to each outer side. Even though he was heavily cladded in metal, his steps were soft until he bowed on his knee.

~Claaang~

His armour made a clanging sound as he went on one knee.

"You are player Myong Yu," The king said as he snacked raspberries.

"Yes your majesty"

Myong Yu's blonde, greasy hair slightly reveals his lean, time-worn face. His smart blue eyes set concealed within their sockets, A scar reaching from the bottom of the left cheek, running across the nose and ending above his left eye leaves a pleasant memory of battles long forgotten.

"You look as fierce as the rumours claim," The King said.

"I am not worthy of your praise your majesty..."

~Slam!!~

The king slapped his hand on the arm of his throne seat.

"If I'm praising you, just f**king accept it!"

"I'm sorry your majesty, I am unfamiliar with the customs of royalty." Myong Yu said and immediately kowtowed.

"It's fine. Tomorrow, or even today, I want you to stand watch at the city gate and not allow anyone suspicious to get in. Anyone that resists, slay them on sight.

[You have received a new quest]

[Quest information]

> The King of Temper Kingdom has given you a decree: Personally go to the city gate and make sure no one enters, if anyone resists kill them on sight.

> Quest type: Privileged

> Quest rank: Gold

> Quest rewards; Rise in Nobility status, 700 Ternatis, 50,000 fame points.

> Quest failure: Affinity with the king will be depleted, Banishment from the kingdom, Death sentence.

'A gold rank Quest?... What in heaven's name is going on...to receive a gold rank quest from the king...'

"I Myong Yu, hereby receive the King's order and swear on my honour and a loyal Knight of Temper Kingdom. Nothing and No one shall pass through that gate from the moment I arrive there."

"Good, hurry and leave...the fate of the kingdom rests on your shoulders," The kind said, throwing a shoo-ing gesture at Myong Yu. Who turned with dignity and left the throne hall.

"Is that all right?"

As the king spoke a shadow rose from the ground and materialized to form a man in a black robe and a white marionette mask, from one side of the eyes cavity of the mask, glowed red.

"Yes, your majesty. I will also put some measures in place to make sure that she does not enter the city."

"Good and make sure you report all this to him, tell him I am holding my part of the bargain"

"Sure, sure. He would be delighted to hear how much you are sacrificing for his return" The man dematerializes into shadow and seeped into the ground.