Chapter 3: What it Means to be a Hero

"Welcome to Caeleus young man." The king toasts his chalice of wine over his head. It seems as though it could fall any moment in his skeleton hands. The kings wispy grey beard is stained a dark red around the edges of his mouth from prior drinking. His sunken, yet lively eyes play contrast against his emaciated appearance. The sides of the throne room are packed with people desperately awaiting for news.

"Kneel." Cynthia whispers to me, to which I quickly obey.

"It is an honor to be here before you, your highness." I stutter as respectfully as possible, my face angled towards the floor.

"Stand, young hero. Show me the face of our savior." The king's voice hollers, I push myself off my knees. The scent of wine hits my nose. I gaze up at the king upon his throne with confidence.

"What a fine gentleman. I'm sure you'll make for a popular one." He inspects me closer, leaning forwards in his great chair for a better look.

"Your name, young hero?" He demands.

"Darwin. Darwin Bright."

"So, Darwin, how did you die and land upon Caeleus?" The king asks, thin brow raised.

"I saved a young girl from getting hit by a semi truck."

"And did you know this girl?"

"No." The crowd gasps and clapping emerges.

"What a noble sacrifice, Darwin. Sacrificing yourself for a stranger is not something everyone can do in a lifetime." He says, eyes glowing in approvement.

"Now, Darwin, by being chosen by Order you have a special task to fulfil. It's been a hundred years since the last hero was brought to us and it is about time we find new hope in saving Intercaleus." The king announces, I listen intently to the speech.

"The demon king must be slain! Only then will Intercaeleus be safe and the void portals will be closed. Only you can slay the demon king Hero Darwin. You will be the nations hero for all eternity. You can have whatever reward you wish."

I step back, dumbfounded. It all sounded completely nonsensical but if defeating this demon king could bring me back to my family, I would give it my all. I nod my head towards the king.

"Yes, your highness. I will do everything in my power to kill this demon king." I announce, the crowds around us go wild with hollers, whistles and shouts. The kind raises a bony hand slowly and the hysteria quiets in a mater of seconds.

"You will train alongside the other heroes brought into this nation and prove yourself the one worthy of slaying the demon king. Cynthia, take him away."

Cynthia perks up at her name.

"Yes, your highness." She then takes me by the arm and escorts me out of the room which erupts into cheers once again.

"There are more people like me?" I ask, almost shocked.

"Well, yes. A new hero is chosen by Order every century and sent here as long as the demon king remains alive. Heroes don't age in this realm like normal humans do so they can be around for as long as they desire."

"And none of them have managed to kill the demon king?"

"None have, one got close but then disappeared off the face of Intercaeleus."

I think for a moment, Cynthia squeezes my arm reassuringly.

"Do not worry yourself Hero Darwin, many of the other heroes get lost in the lavishes Intercaeleus has to offer and fear disappearing like the lost hero." She explains, twirling her golden hair with her other hand.

"No one will judge you if you decide to not go after the demon king. They'll just forget about you once the new hero arrives in a century." Cynthia's gaze turns cold as we approach another room, this time the door is far smaller yet none the less grandiose in style.

"This will be your room for now, if you wish to stay in the palace at least. Most heroes decide to move out somewhere private after they can handle the world on their own." She sighs, still gripping my arm as she pushes the door open.

"Who is this big hunk?" A sly, female voice taunts from within the room. As I step in I make out two figures. One slender woman with a sharp face dressed in red with dark straight hair at shoulder length and a stocky bald man with a Viking beard.

"Hero Veronica, Hero Garth, this is Hero Darwin." Cynthia introduces me to the rooms occupants. Veronica's eyes contort into slits as she watches us enter. She flips a small dagger between her fingers menacingly.

"Mind if I have a word with pretty boy here, sweetheart?" Veronica hisses to Cynthia who simply nods quietly and backs away from me. I shudder at Veronica's icy glare as she paces towards me, dagger still in hand.

"Listen, what was it again?" She hesitates, tapping the hilt of her dagger to her crimson lips. I hold my breath.

"Ah, right. Darwin was it. Well, I don't really care but listen up." She spits, face centimeters from mine as she tosses the dagger into the wall a ways away. I let out a sigh.

"This place is no heaven, no Valhalla. It's imprisonment. Purgatory if you will. You can't kill the demon king. The last kid who came here tried and he got devoured by the void. You can never leave." She says icily.

"I've seen hundreds disappear when trying to challenge the demon king." Garth adds in a gentle low tone.

"How long have you two been here?" I ask, eyeballing the dagger across the room to avoid eye contact.

Veronica's sharp gaze softens as she leans back from interrogating me to a sullen expression. She paces back and turns away from me.

"Over six hundred years." Veronica mumbles.

"Over a thousand for me." Garth grunts, his eyes unfazed.

A wave of panic washes over me, my eyes darting between the two in disbelief. I look over at Cynthia searching for some sort of comfort upon the detrimental realization of what my fate entails. Her fawn like brown eyes only look sorrowfully back at me with an echo of hopelessness. I collect myself, running my hand through my dark hair as I stand to face the two, my fists balling tightly.

"You're wrong. You're both wrong. The king said if I kill the demon king I can have anything I want." I struggle to push the words off my tongue. "No one's actually killed this thing yet, so no one actually knows what happens if you do."

"Oh dear, seems like someone's a bit delusional." Veronica snickers, pulling her weapon from the wall. "You can't kill the demon king. It's practically a suicide wish at this point." She scoffs turning away from us towards the exit.

"We tried to give you a prewarning. Just lose yourself in lust and luxuries, it's better that way." She laughs hastily before kicking open the door with a heeled boot.

"Hope I don't have to attend your funeral." She smiles sarcastically, Garth lumbers after her.

"If you need anything kid, just give me a call." He says with a nod. I watch them leave in silence. I sit myself down in one of the chairs around the table in the center of the room. The white walls feel almost daunting and disorienting. I bury my head in my hands. I hear the light footsteps approach my side. I really do wish I was dead.

"Master Darwin?" She whispers. I lift my head from my hands and look up at her with tired eyes.

"Is what they say true?" My voice cracks as my breathing gets heavy.

"Am I really stuck here forever?" I say through gritted teeth. Cynthia clutches her hands against her chest, pursing her lips in discomfort.

"Yes, Master Darwin it is true. No one has ever left Intercaeleus alive."