The Hidden Kingdom

The warriors' attention had been successfully diverted by his wolf, causing the slayer to chuckle. Their attire, consisting of heavy skirts, metal caps, and swords hanging from their backs, led him to assume that they were indeed warriors. Seizing the opportunity, he rushed into the bathhouse.

 Inside, he encountered an elderly woman whose displeasure was evident upon laying eyes on him. However, he managed to persuade her to grant him access to a bath by waving gold coins in front of her. He was then shown to a room with a door crafted from pure gold. With a press of his palms, he opened the door and stepped into a scene of numerous beautiful girls, merrily laughing and swimming in the hot water pool.

The warmth of the pool embraced his skin, prompting him to close his eyes and surrender to its soothing effects. Suddenly, a sharp and irritated voice interrupted his tranquility."What's this freak doing here?"

 Annoyed, he sighed, pinched the bridge of his nose, and retorted with equal sharpness, "I am here for a bath, can't you see?" Without dawdling, he pushed past the girl, who seemed to hold some sort of authority within the group, as she arrogantly tossed her ginger-brown hair onto his face and shoved him aside.

Along with her followers, she declared, "Girls, let's leave before this peculiar individual transforms into a monster," and they all departed, filled with giggles. The slayer, on the other hand, found solace in the fact that he was left alone. Shedding his noxious garments, he eagerly plunged into the pool.

"This is exactly what I needed," he marvelled while leisurely swimming. With each stroke, his muscles surrendered to the warm water, effectively eliminating any future reliance on a healer for his physical well-being. Once finished, he proceeded to dress himself in the recently purchased black jeans, a short-sleeved black shirt that snugly embraced his arms, and draped a black coat over his shoulders. Equipped with his trusty sword, he exited the bathhouse, only to be met with dismay upon discovering the presence of the last individuals he desired to encounter looming at the doorway.

"What is it now?" he inquired with mild annoyance directed towards the men donning blue uniforms, who responded with the same request as before.

"Our king wishes to see you," knowing he had no alternative but to comply, he reluctantly followed them. Thankfully, this group proved to be gentlemen, refraining from bullying him or delivering blows to his head like their predecessors. As they rode ahead, he trailed behind while engaging in his customary banter with his loyal wolf.

"Where do you suppose they have disappeared to?" inquired his furry companion.

As he gazed ahead, he realized that the men had vanished. It seemed as though they had disappeared into the thick air. In an attempt to find any trace of them, he sniffed the ground, hoping to catch a scent. Perhaps they had employed the same trick he used to become invisible, but they had not. "There is only one way to find out," he whispered to his wolf companion, extending his claws. With a low growl emanating from deep within his throat, he circled around, catching a faint whiff of a scent. Without hesitation, he clenched his fist and released a beam of purple light in that direction.

A resounding "Crack!" filled the air as he watched the door, concealed by some sort of power, swing open on its own accord. Unsheathing his sword, he approached the door. What lay within was a sight to behold. Children frolicked about, women attended to their laundry, and elderly men and women tended to their livestock. Scattered among them were a few men, presumably having ventured out to gather provisions for the day. In short, everyone appeared content and the place exuded a comforting ambiance.

"Do you think this is an illusion?" he asked his wolf, contemplating the possibility. "Perhaps the king who sent those men realized our longing for a family and has created this illusion to ensnare us," his wolf responded. He surveying the surroundings and nodded in agreement. While he still struggled to distinguish between illusions and reality, he found solace in the fact that he possessed the power of purple light at his fingertips. If it was an illusion, it would dissipate upon his light's contact; if it was real, it would remain.

"They are real," he murmured, returning his sword to its sheath and draping it across his back as he surveyed the scene. "I am certain that whoever sent those men will reveal themselves," he informed his wolf, who had already begun protesting, claiming his sanity was at stake due to the sight of a basket filled with various dishes tucked away in a corner of the building. With the sun high in the sky, he knew it was lunchtime and the women were busy setting the table.

"The legendary monster slayer has arrived. It's a pleasure to see you," a charming voice called out from behind. He spun around, offering a smile to the woman in the flowing blue gown and a white scarf adorning her head, and replied, "Likewise, nice to see you too."

"I am Heldah,"she introduced herself, extending her hand for a handshake, to which he readily obliged.

Appearing not to possess any malevolent qualities, she emanated a fragrance that reached his nostrils as she drew nearer to him, reassuring him that she was not a monstrous being masquerading as a human.

"Oh, Alexander," he exclaimed, finding the mellifluous sound of the name roll off his tongue, "Alexander is the appellation by which I am known."

"Alexander? Astonishing!" he heard the sardonic voice of his wolf reverberating in his mind. He knew that they had no designated name, or perhaps they did once but had long since forgotten, and he paid it no heed. He shifted his focus solely onto the woman whose verdant locks subtly peeked out from beneath her scarf, as if endeavoring to catch a glimpse of the world beyond.

"Alexander, I have been well-informed about you by my courier," she disclosed, extending her index finger to gesture towards an owl that fluttered its wings, its enormous black eyes intently fixated on him. He had encountered the avian frequently; in the mountains, amidst the snowy woods, at the abode of the monarch, during mealtimes, and even at the bathhouse. All he knew was that after vanquishing any of the fiends, the owl would depart, never once considering that it served as someone's emissary.

"Oh, I comprehend!" He cleared his throat, his gaze still fixated on the bird, which valiantly sought to conceal its head within its plumage.

"He is rather timid. Shall we depart from this place, and I shall divulge the reason for summoning you? Moreover, I must commend you. Nobody is aware of the existence of a concealed portal over yonder, leading to this enchanting realm. I dare say you possess great power," she beamed, guiding him towards a lavishly adorned table replete with set of dishes, and he could swear he could hear his wolf's melodious song echoing within his mind.

"Glutton!" he muttered softly to himself.

"So, those individuals clad in blue uniforms mentioned that there was a monarch who required my assistance, and now..." he stuttered, pondering how he would address the antithesis of a monarch.

"Naturally, you shall have an audience with the ruler, but first, indulge yourself with as much sustenance as you desire. I am the monarch's herald," she smiled, selecting a plate and serving him a generous portion of beef accompanied by rice. Once finished, he was presented with a glass of wine and emitted a minor belch, signaling his contentment. 

It had only been a matter of hours since he had ventured into the human square, and they were already lavishing him with such delectable fare. If this continued, he would never wish to depart from the Majoori mountains, a place that had become his abode ever since he found himself within this human realm. Despite realizing that it was high time to embark on a quest to uncover his true origins and discover his true self, he would never forsake his cherished mountain home.

The woman interrupted his semi-conscious state with a gentle tap on his shoulder, proclaiming, "You are disoriented." She then informed him that it was time to meet the king, and obediently, he followed her to the nearby abode.

As they entered, the woman signaled towards him, catching the attention of King Zane. The king's eyes widened as he observed the stranger, his mouth agape before he cleared his throat.

With a hum, the king gestured towards a chair, indicating that he should sit. The room was considerably larger than the one where he had collected his rewards for slaying the water monster. It was filled with numerous books, and if he wasn't preoccupied with finding his people, he would have requested permission to peruse the texts at his leisure. Piles of documents cluttered the table in front of him, while a black raven captured his interest at the window. "I presume it a messenger bird," he silently pondered, observing as it attempted to hide its head within its plumage.

"Strange," he muttered under his breath.

Having encountered various types of birds in the past, he was well aware that they typically flew away when startled. However, this was the first instance of witnessing them remain motionless, concealing their heads within their feathers.

"My sibling spoke of you, King Xander of the West," King Zane revealed. "He stated that you single-handedly vanquished a dozen water monsters and presented their heads to him as proof. Allow me to express my admiration, young man, deep admiration," the king imparted, reclining in his leather chair and swiveling upon it.

When the monster slayer nodded at his introduction, King Zane then proceeded to convey a task to the young man, and with a deliberate gesture, he slid a piece of paper in his direction.

Perplexed, the young man squinted his brows and inquired, "What is this?" It turned out to be nothing more than a depiction of a solitary mountain, situated amidst a dense forest.

"There exists a woman at this location," he disclosed. "My proposition is for you to eliminate her on my behalf, in exchange for a chest filled with gold coins. Word has it that you possess a propensity for commencing lethal acts in exchange for monetary compensation," he stated.

"You have erred in your assessment," the monster slayer responded. "I do not commit murder for monetary gain, but for self-preservation. I do acknowledge that your brother, King Xavier from the West, may have informed you of my involvement in dispatching those aquatic creatures, in return for a mere handful of gold coins. However, that particular incident was solely prompted by my dire necessity for a proper bath and a fresh set of attire. Furthermore, I am incapable of putting an end to a fellow human being's life!" he exclaimed vehemently, rising abruptly from his seat in the office. Anger surged within him, fueling his intent to depart the premises. How could they entertain the notion that he possessed the capacity to end someone's life?

"Wait a moment!" he was urged, causing him to pivot in response to the altered tone. In that instant, he recoiled in shock. Before he could utter a complete sentence, he found himself under attack, as he was forcefully thrust to the ground.