The Power

Laudis opened his eyes, but he wasn't in his room. He was in the white area without any walls, floor or even ceiling. This space wasn't normal, it was filled with the air with the density of water. In the middle there was the eye. The eye had a radius of 5 meters, its iris was black the same as the pupil. He decided to swim up to it, but something intercepted him in the middle.

"What shall be thy offering mortal?" asked the unknown, echoed voice.

"W-what sacrifice? Where am I and who are you?"

"Didst thou not invoke a secluded power through a mickle oblation? Furthermore, ought thou not be afeared of a phantasm?"

"Should I be afraid of you? If you are really a supernatural being, then I don't have anything to say. I can't make you change your mind. Also I don't recall anything like that. Still you haven't answered my questions."

"You are the first one to enter this area without a purpose. That's something very abnormal..."

"So?"

"You can address me as The Will. I am the being without the beginning nor the end. I was, I am and I will always be present. Your kind would call me a God I suppose. I created all the life, planets, universes and of course those mere "gods" of the Olimpia. They were a tragic civilization of the past, it's good that someone else took care of them. About the place you are in. You are in the Shrine of the Omnipotence, where time isn't present. It is a space beyond all the universes, dimensions and laws of physics"

"Why did you say I should address you as The Will and not your real name? Also the gods of Olimpia were real?"

"I don't have a suitable name for the human mind. If I would reveal it to you, you would be dead due to its complexity. The Will is a good name, because it represents my true intentions. I pursue neither evil nor good, the only thing I search for is to find a mere man, who can impress me. Now about the gods. So called gods behaved like kids, helped humans, showed empathy and such. Instead of being the visible divine power, they became weak and wicked. Some even made heroes, who are still present. I created them to entertain myself, not to bore the hell out of me. Nonetheless there is a greater problem. That anomaly is you."

"Me?"

"Yes. In normal circumstances I would just erase your existence from reality, but there is something unusual about you. You resemble a late human, who intrigued me. Since the creation of the universe I didn't have any man question myself. But then he used the power, and proceeded to say something so absurd, yet logical that after his visit I had to rethink everything. Just by the fact of the resemblance alone I will grant you an ability to contact me in your sleep. I am here to answer your questions, solve your problems or even to grant you power, of course with a suitable sacrifice. You will be an experiment. Also I will show just you mercy and let you keep the memories."

"Is it mercy?"

"Indeed. No one who comes to me leaves with memories. I delete them to keep the mystical aura around the power usage. I don't like to be known by the rest too. Also just so you know, I limit my powers to an extent to use my intelligence instead of my knowledge. I still want to experience the surprises, even so they are very rare they still occur."

"Okay… Now, am I free to leave now?"

"Wait! Just shake my hand before you leave. It will activate the contract."

"Huh? What hand?"

The eye transformed into a black silhouette of a man with white light around him. Will reached his hand to Laudis. He shook the hand with uncertainty. Kid felt like his hand was pierced with many needles, therefore he quickly drew it. The area changed color into black. Everything started to fall apart. The floor, which had not been there before suddenly started to fall down, leaving him on the small space.

"Before I leave last one question. Did I lose my memories?"

"Ask me about this tomorrow. I will reveal the answer," replied the being with a creepy smile.

"Right…"

As the handshake ended Laudis was sucked into the pit. The last thing he saw was a Will floating above him. He couldn't catch any air. The kid panicked and tried to escape out of the black liquid, but the density was too low for him to swim out.

'I guess it is the end of my life. I guess he wasn't the good guy after all. Hah, life is a cruel joke...'

The darkness covered his body fully. The boy lost consciousness and accepted his fate. He disappeared into the shadows, without leaving a single trace of his life. After a while Laudis hit the bottom of it. His soul left his body, it distanced itself from the body and floated away.

"Wake up it's morning already!" shouted Dantenium.

"Wha, ha, he… What?!" replied Laudis with heavy breathing.

"It is what you heard! Get up already."

'I am alive? So I didn't die? That fool wanted to make a joke or what?! I really thought I was going to eternal sleep. Man, that was something else… I cannot tell if he really wants to help me. He seemed off. A God with emotions? That's something uncanny. Also he limits the power? Will is one of the most dangerous beings I've met. It is better just to ignore his proposals and have at least neutral bond with him. Now it's better to dress up,' thought Laudis.

After a while, Laudis finally got up from the bed. He started dressing up, but then he noticed something. There was a black package with a note "King would dislike your worn clothes, so treat them as a necessity. ~ D"

"Hm… To be honest I didn't find my old clothes worn, but they gave me the new ones. I guess I can use them…"

While dressing up he was constantly looking into the mirror. The black coat was with the Crusaders emblem on the back. The trousers were also black just as the boots. The only thing that contrasted was the white leather belt.

"I look like some kind of fool in these clothes. Especially with that stupid symbol, I'm not even a Crusader… Oh hell no! They probably take me to the king for that matter. Shit…"

Laudis tried to leave the tavern with the back entrance. He sneaked up and left, he thought it was over. Then someone laid a hand over his shoulder.

"This is the back entrance. Why didn't you use the main one?" stated Gladius.

"Yeah… I must have mistaken them, my bad."

"Hard to mistake single doors for double ones. Besides, the transport awaits. Walk in front of me. I will tell you the directions."

The carriage was waiting for him indeed. The rest was already inside. Solisia was wearing a green dress covered with red rubies. Udania had a long blue dress with white accents. Dantenium wore a red shirt with black pants and Gladius his armor as always.

"Why are you all looking at me that much, huh?" asked Solisia.

"You aren't a type of a woman, who wears dresses," replied Udania.

"And what? It doesn't change the fact, that I don't like being watched. Take Laudis for example, he is looking out of the window and minds his own business."

Laudis was silent, there were more important things to think about. It was better for him to minimize the contact with anyone.

'Now, the priorities. The Will is first, then the king and the last is the band of those idiots. I won't share my knowledge about the Will with anyone, just for my own safety. I know what is the purpose of this meeting, yet I don't think it would be the only thing we do there. The magical powers vary wiedly, so it's very likely that it is possible to read minds. I can tell for sure, that the Crusaders can't read my mind, so I'm safe. King on the other hand is a different story. I have no knowledge about him. Better to play carefully and don't think about Will whatsoever,' thought Laudis.

After a 30 minute ride the horses stopped the caravan. The streets became clean, which was an indicator of royal area, where there was not a single litter. The gardens were filled with various plants ranging from single poppies and red roses to magical herbs or even black palm trees. The castle was about 50 meters tall, built with red bricks. Painted black on the outside and gray inside. In the center of the palace grounds stood a fountain with a figure of an embodiment of the justice. It was a woman holding a scale in her left hand with both scale pans kept at the same level and a sword in the right one. Her eyes were covered with a blindfold.

"Welcome to His Majesty's Palace. I am his servant, you can address me as Thomas," stated man in his 40's.

"Yeah..." replied Laudis with apathy.

"Oh, so you are already here, that's good. Come after me, you can take only one visitor to attend the meeting with you."

"I will accompany you," responded Dantenium.

"Not the knight?"

"Not the knight."

While walking through the halls of the castle boy saw many paintings on the wall. All captured scenes of the triumph over monsters such as dragons, vampires or even golems. The knights were in shining armor without any cut, bruise or even the drop of blood. On the other hand the conquered creatures were many times headless, armless, lying in the puddle of blood and depicted as wicked. Laudis thought to himself, that the painters were either the biggest hypocrites he had ever seen or they were paid to paint these scenarios. After a while the three men arrived in the throne room.

A loud fanfare echoed through the room.

"Before you sits the King of the Luxaris, Leopold the Great!" introduced the king officer.

Dantenium knelt with an displeased face, Laudis soon joined him. Monarch greeted them with a simple hand gesture.

"I have been expecting you," stated king.

'Incredible,' thought Laudis.

"Do you know, that I have the Blessing of the Justice allowing me to hear people's minds?"

"Okay and? I knew it already."

"And I know that is a lie, because it also tells me when people are lying."

"Nonetheless I know the reason behind this meeting."

"Then can you enlighten me?"

"You want another Crusader, don't you king?"

"Indeed, but who said that you will be the one?"

"Then why do I have this coat?"

"You gave him your old coat Dante?"

"Yeah... He had old rags, so I gave him my old clothes. They are in good condition after all."

"So that's the reason why I have that foolish symbol," responded Laudis.

"Foolish you say? Many died just trying to achieve it."

"And? I don't see any good sides if I become your slave."

"I can grant a salary if needed and access to the library."

"How much and what does the library contain?"

"You are playing rough, that is something uncommon. Especially for me, when most are too scared to talk. Salary starts as 600 golds with a possibilty to increase it. About library, it contains many books which are banned in the other countries. Books about vampires, monsters, mana, magic, history or even auras."

"Do you know something about power with great consequences?"

"Yes. Every spell, curse, blessing, aura or even magical weapons gives you an upper hand at the cost. Basic ones with less power up cost you mana, but the most powerful can even cost you limbs, ability you've learned or even your life. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't seem to be introduced to magic right?"

"Yes, yesterday I saw it for the first time."

"Okay... So what do you think? Can you use it and become the Crusader?"

"I might accept the proposal, but with 2 conditions. First of all I will have a private access to the library, so I can be alone and read whatever I want. Second of all I want salary no lower than 800 golds for the first 4 months, becuase I need to buy equipment for journeys and fights."

"Big words from someone like you kid. I can grant you those only if you pass the 3 trials. Many left during them, so I advice you to rethin-"

"Okay, okay. Just start them already, I don't have much time you know."

Leopold looked over him with disappointment, because of his bold attitude.

"Hm! You are really an impatient one. First trial will be held now, second and third will be executed by the Crusaders. Are you ready?"

"Yes."

"Imagine scenario. There is a vampire kid next to the man. He lost his left arm and still bleeds. On the other hand the monster's mouth is dyed crimson red. What will be your action?"

"Firstly I need to nulify the threat - vampire. I would tie his hands behind its back using my shirt and a stick if needed. Then gag his mouth to protect both of us from his fangs. After the safety protocols I would help the man. Using the same method as for the primitive handcuffs I would stop the bleeding tightly securing his arm, call for the doctor and that's it."

"What if the vampire is aggressive?"

"Then I would kill it. Human life is more important than monster's one."

"How will you achieve that matter? Let's say you don't have any weapons and the area you are in is a village attacked by the vampires."

"I would pick up five stones at least. Depending on the surroundings there might be forks, rakes, shovels or even hoes. If they are not present then I will opt for some kind of long and pretty strong stick. I would say that a dismembered wooden fence can be especially useful. Firsly I would need to close the distance using the rocks, then attack his head with a stick. If he blocks it, I would deliver a side kick to his internals causing an internal bleeding. After all he is a kid just like you've said, his skin isn't that strong yet."

"That's an acceptable response. Then you can stay up to three days and use the main library, there are also smaller ones in the city if you need something more."

"Right..."

King signalized end of the meeting, guards opened the doors. The three men left him through the royal halls.

"Why did you ignore his arrogant behavior king? It is unacceptable for a peasant to talk to you like that!" stated officer.

"He reminds me of my younger self. Back then I also hated old people, but unlike me he is way smarter. When he talked to me I had to nulify my blessing, because he had too many thoughts for me to comperhand. He can be a very strong ally. Laudis, you are truly an interesting kid..."

Now something was different, on the other side of the halls the paintings were opposite. The knights were defeated by monsters, without limbs, headless or even surrendering to them just to spare their life. At the exit there was a motto: Memento Mori Homo Misere.

"How did it go?" wondered Gladius.

"Kid completed the first trial, but he wants to stay here for 3 days due to the library," responded Danteniun.

"And why is that Laudis?"

"I don't know anything about magic, monsters or even most of the weapons. Three days will be enough for me to learn the basics."

"Okay... We are going to leave you here, when you are over with it just call for Thomas and he will assist you to the city center."

"What? When I said I am going to be a servant of his?" replied irritated Thomas.

Gladius handed him a sack with money.

"I guess I can help him after he's done."

"Are we leaving?" asked Solisia peeking from the carriage.

"Yeah, I'm coming! Just don't overtrain yourself," stated Dantenium.

"Right..."

The caravan left the castle. Laudis finally was partially free from his overvision.

'The only one who can disturb me is the king, but I don't think that he wants to look after me for 3 days. Nonetheless it's already evening. I will go to the library and search for books about Will, Olimpian Gods or that power, which he talked about. Then I can check the magic usage, monsters - mostly vampires and history wouldn't hurt. To be honest if I was alone in there I can also sleep to leave more time for books. Yeah, that's not a bad idea. Nonetheless I have to acquire the key,' thought Laudis.

"Do you have the key Thomas?"

"Me? No, the librarian keeps it. She is at the library."

"Great..."