The Hero’s Ascension

Meeting the King

They had given me until sunrise the next morning, allowing me to spend the evening with Liza and her parents. We spent part of the time trying to rationalize why I had been called but never quite came to an answer.

Dinner was a bit more quiet than the previous nights. The shock kept all of our minds too busy to talk.

Morning came far too quickly, bringing my anxiety back along with the quiet sound of the town coming back to life. Kids could be heard playing as I laid in bed, dreading my meeting with the King.

Finally I brought myself to get out of bed at the smell of Liza’s Mother cooking, hoping that a good meal could calm my tied up stomach. Ham and Eggs were sat in generous portions on four plates on the dining room table. A sight I had grown accustomed to in my time here in Gaia.

“Clint, did you ever come up with a reason the King would ask for you specifically?” Celia asked while pouring me a glass of water.

“None that I could think of…” I replied, afraid to talk about the things I thought it could be. “I’m sure he just has the wrong name. At least I hope it's a mistake,” I stopped to think for a moment longer before finishing my sentence. “If it’s not, I’m not quite sure what I’ll do.”

Liza waited with me for my escort to the castle. With every passing second, the silence pressed harder against my thoughts until it became a near-unbearable scream in my mind. Then Liza grabbed my hand, pulling me back to reality.

When the son neared the ridge of the treeline, my escort arrived, in a carriage pulled by beasts that resembled a horse with wings. The royal guard stepped out, grabbed a rolled up scroll and walked over to us.

“Clint Voyer, we are here to escort you to King Jordan’s royal chambers. The King has also requested you come alone and unarmed.”

The word alone sent a shock through my entire body. My skin felt both hot and cold at the same time. My stomach hurt more now than it had after any beatdown from the bullies. All I could think was this cozy life I happened to find myself in was coming to an end. I wasn’t from this world and I didn’t belong. Maybe they figured that out and wanted to send me back home.

Thoughts of home shot through my brain like a firework. Every negative thing I had experienced began replaying vividly inside my head, like a song stuck on repeat or a video that’s constantly starting over halfway through.

“Clint, it’ll be fine,” Liza said, once again grounding my fears. “King Jordan is kind, you’re kind, there isn’t anything to worry about. Go see The King and come tell me about it, I’ll be waiting for you.”

My heart began to beat faster.

For a moment, I assumed it was anxiety again. The same fear that had been twisting my stomach into knots ever since the royal summons arrived.

But it wasn't.

The anxiety was still there, lingering beneath the surface, yet something else had slipped in beside it. Something warm. Something that made the thought of climbing into that carriage feel far heavier than it should have.

I was terrified of leaving, not because of the King. My eyes drifted toward Liza, she stood there trying to look confident for my sake, even though I could tell she was worried too.

The realization hit me so suddenly it nearly stole the breath from my lungs. I didn't want to go because she wouldn't be there.

The ride to the castle was magical but I was too scared to enjoy it, the feeling of flying made me nauseous.

Once we landed on the stone landing zone, the guard ushered me through the gates, their hinges creaked loudly as they swung open.

Down several halls and a few staircases the King's quarters were heavily guarded by armored personnel. Four to be exact. One of them turned and opened the door after a few knocks and pauses.

Once I was in the room, the doors closed behind me, leaving only the King and myself.

“So, you’re Clint. The ‘new’ guy in town.” The King used air quotes as he talked.

He looked far younger than I had expected. Maybe early thirties. Auburn hair hung neatly around his face, and despite sitting in what had to be the most expensive chair in the world, he somehow looked relaxed.

“You’ve caused quite the stir these past few days.”

“I… have?” I asked, immediately wishing I hadn’t.

“The guild’s appraisal mirror broke.” He raised one finger. “Garth’s Identify spell failed.” A second finger. “And according to my guards, you’ve spent the past week helping an old farmer repair fences and feeding chickens.”

He folded his hands together.

“You’re a very strange person to be causing this much trouble.”

“I honestly don’t know what I did,” I admitted.

The King studied me in silence.

I tried my best to stand still beneath his gaze, but after a few seconds I began shifting my weight from one foot to the other. My hands suddenly didn’t know what to do with themselves. I clasped them together, thought it looked weird, then quickly let them fall back to my sides.

The room itself wasn’t helping.

It was too large and far too quiet. Every little movement seemed loud enough to echo. I could hear my own heartbeat thumping inside my chest and became painfully aware that I was standing in front of the King while awkwardly fidgeting like an idiot.

I settled on staring at a spot somewhere over his shoulder. That lasted all of three seconds before I looked away again.

By this point I was ninety percent sure I looked guilty of something, I just wasn’t entirely sure what crime I was apparently confessing to.

“You really don’t know, do you?” the King asked quietly.

“Clint, you’ve been summoned here as a Hero.”