42 Gaius

King Gaius felt like this was the end, he was old now, but none of his children were yet fit to take over the throne. 'Does our country end here?' He had spent a long time on the battlefield and felt he had grown quite strong. But now, an unprecedented crisis was upon them, the Surge this year was immensely larger than those in the past. Yet he was bedridden, hardly able to breathe let alone lift a finger.

Hating himself for his frailness, he watched helplessly as the city walls crumbled. If this was a few months ago, he could have slaughtered those enormous beasts before they got close, but now he could only wait for their fangs to rend him apart.

'Old Tanba is out at the southern fort, it would take too long for him to return...This is really it. Perhaps the western regions will survive, but can my children really handle the crown?'

A pain ran through Gaius as he sighed. 'Damn this sickness, why did it have to be now?'

*Boom* The sound of a thunderclap echoed through the clear skies. Suddenly a pillar of white light erupted from the ground, it tore one of the behemoths to pieces. 'What is that!?' Numerous more thunderclap sounds echoed while white pillars shot upwards. 'I don't understand, am I dreaming? How is this possible?'

Later that day, Gaius received a report from a general that a seasoned hunter was spotted by numerous citizens and soldiers using unknown magic and combat skills. Chantless magic, fists that tore through steel, movement so fast it looked like he vanished. 'I would think these reports were exaggerated if I didn't see part of it with my own eyes.'

'Right, we need to pull this talent in, how can I do this? Force? Impossible, the reason I want him is that power which exceeds my entire military. Wealth? Status? Someone with his power can easily claim that for themselves. Seduction? I still don't know this man's character, what will I do if he's a violent brute? I can't give one of my daughters to someone like that, even if it means my doom.'

Straining himself, Gaius passed down the order to arrange an audience with this man, they are to show him utmost respect while inviting him. The next morning, he got ready and sat upon the throne, every movement was laborious, he had to leave the talking to the Prime Minister. 'Keep it together Dyson, we need to recruit this man.'

The man in question entered. His face was rather plain and looked friendly like a random villager, in stark comparison to his well-built body which looked like that of a veteran soldier. An unusual aura of confidence eminated from him, like a spiritual being of unfathomable depth had entered the room instead of a human.

"Kneel before his Majesty!" This was the normal routine when someone comes for an audience, but Gaius was a bit upset. 'This man has just saved the city, we were the ones who requested his presence, we must not be rude.' Shooting a look at Dyson, Gaius hoped he got the point.

"You dare remain standing? Insolence!" 'Wha-what the hell are you doing, Dyson? You would be in a beast's stomach right now if it wasn't for this man, why are you treating him like this?'

The man began recounting a story. Gaius saw several flaws in it, the empire, emperor, swordsman, and swordsman's daughter all went unnamed. Wouldn't such an important fable have such details? 'It doesn't matter, this isn't the time to think about stories.'

Suddenly, Gaius noticed that his breathing had become lighter, his throat wasn't as sore. 'What is this?' "I will allow it, continue standing."

It seems the man's name is Jim Garrett. 'What kind of land is this America to produce such a formidable warrior?' As expected, the man before Gaius was unmoved by the coin and title bestowed. 'I need to keep him here longer, a bond must absolutely be formed.'

Inviting Jim to dinner, he wanted to see if his children could form a friendship with the man. Most of them were off enjoying themselves like a crisis hadn't just occurred. 'They really aren't ready. The only one currently in the castle is...Celes.'

Sigh...his lazy daughter spent all her time daydreaming and reading stories. He was delighted when she had expressed interest in learning the sword ten years back, but she began shouting something about being too mundane and quickly gave up on training. A few years after that, she wanted to learn magic, but after seeing the tutor's demonstration she started mocking magic for being useless and slow. 'It's common knowledge that magic takes time to use, what are you thinking, my daughter?'

Gaius was startled when Jim showed no interest in Celes' body, nearly every male member of nobility would uncontrollably stare at her when she was in public. He was startled again when Celes was so forward immediately after arriving. Thinking everything was ruined, he wasn't sure how to salvage the situation.

When Celes asked to start training again, Gaius left room for Jim to refuse, but he was startled yet again when the man actually accepted. 'Celes, my daughter, don't give up immediately again, please, I beg you!'

To his amazement, she kept to the routine that Jim had set. Furthermore she excitedly followed every instruction without question. 'What is happening? Have I gone insane? Is this reality?'