(CAESAR) LAW POV
After my conversation with Henry, I made my way towards the exit of the castle. It was a near labyrinth building and it took me a frustrating 23 minutes to finally find the way out. I may have passed by the exit three times, but I refused to admit it to myself. As I stepped out of the castle and onto the bustling streets of the marketplace, I took a deep breath and focused on my mission.
I spotted the guards at the gate and gave them a friendly wave, hoping to establish a good relationship with them. As I walked down the street, I couldn't help but notice the large number of beggars on the side of the road. It seems the kingdom isn't in a good economic state. I couldn't mind them. I was solely focused on obtaining Henry's package and uncovering the mystery behind my existence in this strange world.
As I made my way through the crowded street, I spotted a man with a tiger and an Asian fan cooling himself off. I couldn't help but stare at him for a moment, his handsome face making me wonder if he was the person I was supposed to meet. He looked up at me and smirked, studying me from head to toe. I could tell he was trying to figure out what kind of person I was, and I couldn't blame him. My posture and demeanor must have given something away.
"I am Caesar. I am here for Henry's package," I said, trying to sound confident and in control. I couldn't help but notice the size of his tiger. It was massive, and I couldn't even begin to estimate its weight.
The man, whose name was Haiko, handed me a box that was around the size of a phone box.
"So, you are Caesar?" He said, giving me a small smile. He seems... odd. How the hell does he have a tiger? He then set his fan as I nod, staring at the package. He then stares at me for a few more seconds.
"I know you know this, but don't trust Glare. That slimy bastard is plotting something against Henry." He says, looking around. A few people turning away from us when he looks at them... Very peculiar.
"I know. He... is a man of untold evil." I say, remembering not even a few hours ago. I won't lie, Glare terrifies me. He seems like the man who would have everyone you know and love be working for him. It honestly scares me. I don't want to be tricked again.
"Atleast you have some common sense. I would stay away from him. However, seeing how you are one of them he won't let you out of his sight." Haiko says, staring at his tiger and petting it. The tiger lets out a low purr and rubs against his hand.
"What do you mean 'One of them'?" I look at him with confusion. What the hell does he mean? Does he know I am a transmigrator? I try to push down the fear welling up within me. Does Glare want to suck the knowledge of my world out of me? Why am I here? Is there something else at work?
"You best be going now, don't want to get Glare suspicious." Haiko says, standing up and patting my back. "Also, beware the coiled snake." He says, staring at a roof.
I turned away and began my trip back to the castle but I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching me. I kept looking over my shoulder, but I couldn't see anyone suspicious. Was Glare behind this? Did he have more people working for him? I couldn't help but feel uneasy about the situation.
As I reached the gate and the guards let me in, the feeling of being watched disappeared. I couldn't help but wonder what was going on behind the scenes. Was Glare plotting against me? If so, I needed to be careful and start thinking about gaining more strength to defend myself.
These thoughts swirled in my head as I made my way back to the castle. As soon as I reached out to turn the doorknob, a arrow whizzed past my cheek with a deadly precision, narrowly missing my face. A sharp pain cut through my skin as blood began to drip onto the floor, staining the pristine tiles crimson. My heart pounded in my chest as I heard the unmistakable sounds of swords clashing, echoing through the entrance room like a battle cry. I quickly moved to the side of the door, my training kicking in as I hide behind the wall. I then slowly peeked out of the cover as my eyes darted towards the center of the room, where Henry and a Guy I had never seen before were locked in a fierce battle against two hulking figures.
There was also a man behind the 2 massive men with a bow and arrow. He went to fire another shot at me before Henry cut his arm off and stabbing him in the stomach. The two giant men swung their maces with deadly intent, parrying each blow with expert precision. The room was filled with the deafening clang of metal against metal, as sparks flew from the swords and maces with each strike.
My mind could barely process what was happening before my very eyes as I watched in horror as one of the buff men dealt a devastating blow, cleaving the upper half of the Guy clean off with a single swing of his massive mace. Blood sprayed across the room in a sickening arc, and I could only stare in stunned silence as the buff man turned to face me with a wicked smirk, his eyes filled with malice and hunger for more bloodshed.
I turned around and began sprinting, still holding onto Henry's package. The buff man barely made it out of the castle 4 steps before dozens of arrows burrowed themselves within his body. Another volley was released as the man stood his ground and looked towards the gate. His eyes widened as more arrows burrowed themselves within his body. He died standing.
I turned around as I slowed myself to watch hundreds of men and 3 dragons with riders pour into the castle as screams and yells sounded out. Along with a dragon screech. I then slowly walked up to the door to see the other burly man hacking away at the soldiers, each swing killed atleast 4. Their bodies fly through the air as they land across the room, cracking the wall from the sheer force from the swing. Their bodies mangled and torn, teeth and bones piercing other men as they yelled. The burly man swung and tore a dragon which was the size of those flying things from Avatar, in half killing it and its rider. The burly man eventually died from being swarmed as swords sticked out from all over his body and a melted face.
"W-What the hell..." I murmur as I witness doctors rush in, tending to the wounded and making sure Henry was alright. I stared at the bodies for a few more seconds, nearly throwing up at the sight. I was never deployed into active combat before. Although I did watch a few gore videos before I came here, I never seen in this close before. I then heard someone call out my 'name' as I looked up.
"Caesar? You alright?" He said, looking at me and the cut on my cheek before looking at the package I was holding. I nodded and gave him the package. I looked back at the 3 corpses of the men that attacked Henry.
"What happened while I was gone?" I said very confused. Who wouldn't? You've been gone for 45 minutes at most and then you come back to see your parents fighting 3 crooks and then police burst in and shots ring out. That's the easiest way I can put the situation.
"Vugon fuckers tried to assassinate me. Their king is well known in the underworld as a puppet but no one can figure out who's puppet. I think I have a lead, but I can't pursue it." Henry says, looking at the package before opening it. In the package was a Tooth and a philter. My eyes widened as I stared at it. It was identical to the one Glare had. I then feel a massive pull to it as it left the box.
"W-Where did you get that?" I say, feeling voices beckoning for me to take it. I slowly reached out for it but Henry closed the box, only taking out the philter and drinking it.
"Why are you asking?" He says, wiping his mouth and dropping the empty philter bottle, staring at me with suspicion and a bit of anger.
"No reason." I say, trying to defuse the situation. Henry probably doesn't trust me now... I need that thing. Even if I have to kill Henry for it.
"Huh, anyways I'll probably be off at war by tomorrow. Vugon has already tried to steal some land off of us during the defeat of the Slow Apocalypse." Henry says, still eyeing me and then turning around motioning for me to follow him.
"What do I do now? The castle isn't safe right now and I don't even have that much money." I say as I follow Henry, looking around at the destruction caused by his earlier clash.
"I'll give you the 500 gold I mentioned before. You can also stay at my Families mansion for a few months. My Father should be fine with it." Henry says as we walk to a carriage and enter it. He then leans out the side of the carriage window. "Take us to my Families mansion." He says as he leans back in.
"What was with the philter you drank?" I say, looking out the window at the architecture. It resembled Medieval England from the few games I've played.
"It's nothing." He says before pulling out a handkerchief from his pocket and coughing into it, and staring at it before putting it back into his pocket. Oh, he is sick. Why didn't he say? I'm guessing he doesn't have a heir. This is a medieval world with fucking dragon riders everywhere. If word got out that the Royal family was on the road to extinction, chaos would most definitely ensue. Dragon rider would compete along with nobles and other kingdoms coming in and snagging some land. This feels like a Dance of the Dragons situation.
We sat in silence as the carriage moved along with the occasional dragon flying over head, obviously patrolling. I managed to catch a few peeks at them and noticed the dragons are decorated with different colors. Definitely a DOTD situation. I'm not stay here when Henry dies. I'm gonna be on the opposite side of the continent.
"So, you have a wife?" I say, trying to atleast see if I have leave. If he says Yes, I might get to sta-
"No." Shit.
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Authors Note - 1861 Words. I was originally planning to add dragons later into the story during the Vugon war but I decided now would be the best moment. It would show how important Henry's life is right now. Don't expect dragons to be all powerful beings in this book. Their only good for harassing troops and scaring the dog shit out of horses. The bigger ones can destroy entire armies and cities. P.S There will be a DOTD situation.