I ended up dragging the convicts all the way to the Guild tavern with the Platinum Enforcement already sending out parties to look all over the place to find me.
They would find me, wrap me in a warm blanket as they dealt with the convicts. It seemed they had a bounty for kidnapping, robbing, raping, and stealing rewards off request papers from other adventurers.
I'd give the puppy from the request to Tina, who was very happy to find it alive and well. Tim would inform me that their friends were in the infirmary being treated for their injuries.
Platinum enforcement would pull me aside for questioning, asking how I held off 4 gold adventurers all by myself as a copper rank.
Before I could explain, the convicts barked out of the holding wagon. Claiming I was a Raid boss, and I had a BIG FAT health bar like those bosses that AREN'T MEANT TO BE DEFEATED.
The platinum enforcers didn't buy their yapping or their reasoning. They're criminals. I had informed the Platinum enforcers that I didn't hold them. I basically outpaced them in the snow due to my gear, and I also lured them into traps.
"Traps such as?" the platinum officer questioned as he raised an eyebrow from his report clipboard.
I sighed and once again unclipped my cloak using my copper sword as it slid off my shoulders.
"Oh! Ah, I see. I'll uh document that," the platinum enforcer blushed as he walked away, embarrassed that he asked for such details.
I quickly reattached my cloak again, irritated, "God, what's so appealing about a girl removing their cloak?"
The guild receptionist, who stepped out of the tavern, then comments, "Anyone with a right mind would like to see a girl like you undress!"
Tim blushes instantly, getting smacked by his sister.
My mouth hung open for a bit, then I gritted my teeth; today had been a rough day already. Plus, I didn't want any more rumors circulating about me, so I threw another coin at the Guild receptionist while I made my way up to my room.
"Oh, miss!" Tina shouted as she still cuddled the puppy in front of her.
I stopped before ascending the stairs to my room.
Tina pulls out 4 gold coins and hands them to me, "Your share, since you found the puppy."
I looked at the coins, then closed Tina's fingers around them, "You keep it, you need food."
Tina looks at me with curiosity, nods, and rejoins her brother Tim.
I smiled when I saw Tina and Tim buy food from the guild maid.
I turned around and headed upstairs to my room. I'd lock the door as soon as I entered. I sighed at the long day I had. Unclipping the cloak, I set down my armor, took off my boots, and began writing in my diary once more. Still, something bothered me: the circles I had made the night before had left their indented marks on the back pages.
I got irritated before writing, and I turned to flip it back to where I made the circle around the words "Command of the Unfallen King."
Why did I circle this?
Oh, that's right, I remember someone using this spell; now who was it?.. Someone who looked like Tim, right?
Then a flash of a newbie in Tim's gear. "Command of the Unfallen King" and phantom soldiers appeared to protect Kit and Exiled with diamond bright lights swirling like a storm.
I gasp—a HUGE Gasp. The Left Hand is…
I quickly ran out of my room to go ask the guild receptionist for that DUMB book she had been reading the night before, to compare.
And I connected the dots.
The book was open right next to my diary, there was NO MISTAKE.
The KING taught only two of his most trusted Knights, his paladins. His spells, one of which was "Command of the Unfallen King," per the book.
While the spell name "Command of the Unfallen King" with multiple circles drawn from my diary…
"Noobie…you are…" I couldn't contain myself, thinking in my head.
Wait, I thought, there's got to be a mistake, right? There's no way.
The details run through my head, but all that echoed was Mercy.
OF COURSE, that's why Noobie showed Mercy.
IT ALL POINTED BACK TO: MERCY.
She then hears cheers and such, and she heads out of her room, with no gear, just her in her bed wear, not even her adventuring clothes. As she stops at the top of the stairs, she sees Kit and Exile turning in their request form for their reward.
She doesn't say anything; she slowly steps down the stairs and greets them.
Exile notices her first; he nods.
Kit then notices after his first count. He smiles and waves as I walk past them.
I'd skim the tavern, no…He's not here.
Then a hand touches my shoulder, and I get brought back to reality.
"Hey, you should wear something warmer, it's cold out here." Exile comments as he hands me a blanket.
I then took a moment to study myself; I was so wrapped up in the moment that I had forgotten myself, and I was embarrassed. I took the blanket and retreated upstairs.
"What's wrong with her?" Kit asked.
"I don't know…" Exile shrugs.
God, what's wrong with you? You learn about someone's history and how tragically they fought for their kingdom, and now suddenly you want to STICK to them?
God, think about yourself, you practically ALMOST waltzed downstairs almost naked…
N A K E D!
Sigh, I pulled out the 3 coins to observe once more in the darkness.
Then, there was a gentle knock on the door to my room.
I quickly ground myself, buckled my armor, and put on my boots in a panic.
I cleared my voice and answered the continuous knocking, "C-come in…"
The door swings gently as it creaks open, and Noobie steps in, covered in snow hue from head to toe, leaving snow footprints as he travels. His first observation is the coins by the candle that I had set down to make myself presentable.
"I'm not intruding anything personal, am I?" Noobie asked.
"N-NO! I just…usually don't get visitors." I interrupted him instantly without trying to sound weak.
Noobie proceeds in. He looked at the desk, the chair still in place, with my diary and the book still open.
"May I?" Noobie asks.
Silence. I didn't know whether to allow him to see or not, but nothing I'd do or say would've stopped him.
Noobie smiles, "If it bothers you, I'll go wait downstairs-" He turns to leave.
"WAIT!" I grabbed him around from behind without realizing it.
His cosmetics then shedding off, and I saw his REAL armor gear he was wearing…a ragged, plated armor with his worn sigils still present of the Fallen Kingdom's standard, with his Visor still unable to close.
I slowly let go of him as I back away from him.
"So, you know?" Noobie whispers without turning to look at me.
I couldn't answer, I couldn't lie to him.
"Noobie, I-," I started.
"It's okay."
I was surprised. He wasn't going to argue, nor was he going to blame me or anyone else.
"This is who I am," Noobie said proudly.
I nodded slowly.
He then turned and handed me a talisman, "It'll summon the little flame sprite to keep you warm in the darkest hours."
"Wh-why are you giving me this?" I questioned.
He then straightened his posture with his sheathed sword tip touching the wooden floor once again.
"Team Omega is going after an Abysmal dragon…and we MAY not return," Noobie replied.
I moved, trying to rebut his statement, and he gestured his hand to stop me in place.
"If you have any words for me, Exile, or Kit. Let me know now or forever hold your peace," he declared.
I felt the tears dripping and dropping from my chin as I slowly spoke, "Do y-you have to go?"
Noobie doesn't answer; he just nods, "If we don't go, others will have to."
It was quiet. He then shifts the tone, recognizing the book. He chuckles, "Danalord6687, your book is still here…"
I stopped sobbing, "You know the book's owner?"
Noobie turned to me, "Of course, as did the rest of Team Omega. There were 38 of us in total."
38 of them??!! So what happened to them?
Noobie sighs, "I must go rest for the travelling and preparations ahead. Should you need me, we're bunked at the inn nearby to prep up for our scouting patterns before we head out."
He was about to turn to leave once more, but this time I dropped the talisman and held his one hand with both of mine.
"Hey! Noobie! The inn closes at 10 pm, come on!" Kit yelled.
Noobie turns off his cosmetics for me once more, to see him. I saw him now fully plated in knight armor, with a visor that couldn't go down, sigil and banner all tattered and worn from his fights, his plume on his helmet no longer present—the face that bore all the shame, all the honor, and dishonored deeds that befell him.
Noobie would kneel on one knee, his sword still sheathed, the tip touching the floor. He held my hands with his left hand as he knelt, his head low, and bowed so low I noticed all the scratches and dents in his armor from his many engagements.
Noobie would get up as soon as I touched his shoulder, which I had held.
I couldn't help it, the tears continued, what do I do? What do I tell him?
As he turned to leave for the last time, he waved his tattered cape, his sigil, his banner of his fallen kingdoms, his cosmetics, then turned back into a poor adventurer in leather gear.
I whispered it loud enough for him to hear me, "Come back, Unfallen, the world-This world still needs YOU!"
Then, with heavy footsteps, he descended into the first floor of the tavern as he left with the others.
I picked up the talisman that he gave me, and I closed my eyes as a small sprite of flame sat on my shoulder just like Noobie.
The guild receptionist would come to cheer me up later by entering my room and asking if everything was okay.
I'd inform her about the request that Team Omega had accepted.
The guild receptionist frowned. It's not just any request; it's a request by the head of the guilds, meaning it's a catastrophic battle, and Noobie might not even return. She sighed.
Then I'd ask her about Team Omega's history.
She'd be excited to explain to me over if I share some details of what Noobie and I did in my room.
Clever girl…