Past memories

"Do you want to join our guild?"

Everyone froze with shock and stood a moment of motionless emotion then a slap of reality kicks and alter their speech.

One of them we're the men, stood in place and confused to the words that Landerthal spoke.

"Hey…what the hell are you talking about…?"

"I miss heard that, right…?"

"You're a great man, I sense a potential on you."

"A potential, you say?"

"Luke, what the hell is he talking about?"

"Are you ganna…"

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT LAN! KILL HIM!"

A part of the man's hair suddenly falls off as Landerthal slips back his sword back on his scabbard.

The man looks down and saw a part of his hair falls off.

He fells a pain on his check and touched it and looked on his hand found blood.

"AHH!"

"You should keep your mouth shut, cousin or not, your still a worthless sack of human flesh."

"Harsh, you shouldn't say that to your own family."

"I'll speak whatever I want, you, will you join or not?"

"I appreciate your kind offer, but you see, I'm already in a guild."

"Ha? You mean with those coppers at the back?"

"Those coppers are my comrades."

"A shame, but you see… I was send here to kill you."

"No need to say it twice."

"I'll offer you once more, join me or be killed. Make your choice."

"You've already lost your element of surprise, are you sure you can kill me?"

"*Hmmd* Your pretty cocky, it would be a waste to kill you."

"This is the first that someone has told me such a compliment."

"Sad to let your go waste, I'll see you again."

Landerthal then began to walk past Luke and the other two to walk out on the inn.

"Your very sure that we'll meet again?"

"Having the ability to block that, I'm sure I'll meet you again."

He went out of the inn and walked in the streets of the city.

"The hell?"

"Now then, if I'm correct, I heard that you men are the reason why he came to kill me."

The men start to shake in fear as Luke lift his right hand.

Outside, the men burst out of the door's and went flying out then falls in the street dirt.

They looked up and found Luke staring down at them with disgust.

The slammed shut and the men got scared and starts running away.

"That's one less problem to deal with, where were we?"

Luke found the two sitting on the chair and sat their arms on the table.

"You two don't look surprise to what I've did."

"What?"

"Dude, we've seen you putting dragons on their place, nothing really surprises us now."

"Is that so?"

"Mister Luke, are you staying here including them two here again?"

"Ah yes, please put out name once more in the book please."

"Okay, same price as before."

"Alright, wait a moment."

In Luke's hand, he holds a sack of coins.

He searches for the right coins to pay as the Toru and Cecilia looks at him with curiosity.

"Where did you get that, Luke?"

"We don't remember you having that…"

"Owh this? It's the money of the men that tried to kill me."

"You stole it?!"

"They tried to kill me, it's not much for a few coins, is it?"

"A–haa…"

Luke then went to the counter and puts the money on the table.

"Here."

"Thank you, if you like you can pay to stay for another night here."

"Hmm?"

"If you pay for a week, you'll only pay for 3 gold coins and for a month, 12 gold pieces."

"Ahh… that would be nice, but we won't be staying here for far too longer."

"Is it a quest?"

"Yes… a quest…"

"I understand, enjoy your stay in the bathhouse."

Luke notice a grape colored bottle of wine in the standing in the middle of the shelf with the other stored at the side.

"I see that you have wine at the back, is the for sale?"

"Yes! But that's our most expensive drink here, you migh–."

"How much for the wine?"

"It's 2 gold pieces, are you sure you want to buy it?"

"2 gold is a small amount for me, I'll take it."

"Small? Okay…"

Luke pulls the only gold coins on the sack and placed it on the counter.

"Place it somewhere safe, I'll come back for it."

"As you wish, sir."

Luke then began to walk back to the two and sat down on the chair that they sit.

"Luke!"

"No need to shout, I'm close, what do you need?"

"Your pretty calm with Landerthal back then, do you know him or something?"

"That was the first time we meet, and also, I'm always calm."

"He was talking about something back there, what did you block?"

"Technically, I did not block it, more like endured it."

"I don't understand…"

"His attack was a wind slash, it's a spell that is invisible in the naked eye."

"The attack in the front was a diversion, the attention was to attack me in the back of my neck."

"You mean you tanked an attack in the back of your neck? Awesome."

"This is the first time I've heard a spell called wind slash…"

"Wind slash is a technique or should I say a spell that requires both Mana and stamina to use."

"Wind slash is invisible in the naked eye and the only way to counter it is either dodging or blocking."

"Although, using it on a common folk is a bit too much, even if I not so much of a common folk."

"Woaw… so that's why he's a diamond ranked adventure."

"Yeah, with that ability, he could reach an obsidian rank."

"If you two are surprised by his abilities then you two are far from reaching your goals."

"That technique is one of the common skills used in the old ways of assassination."

"It's still in used to this day, but only a few left that are masters with this ability."

"So, it's not common if only a few know this."

"To a normal human that is, to me, this is but simple spell that even a child can do so. To my standards at least."

"Once we're done with our mission, I'll teach you far greater techniques and martial arts that I once taught to the ten."

"Woa!"

"Yeah!"

"Now then, take some rest, we have a great quest that up ahead us in dawn."

"Aye captain!"

"Sure thing!"

The two starts running upstairs and went to their room and sleep in a not so peaceful way.

'Hmm, didn't actually thought that would work…'

"Miss keep."

"Yes, Luke?"

"I would like to have the wine please."

In the castle, Nichole and Lee is sitting on Alex lap while Brute is sleeping on the corner.

"Grandpa, why papa doesn't want to see me…?"

"His busy dear, you'll have to forgive him for the time being."

"What about Luke, when will he come back…?"

"He'll be back, I just don't know, but he'll be back."

"But it's lonely without Luke…"

"Is that so? What about me, I'm a that boring?"

"No!"

"Ahh! Then how about I'll tell you a story."

"A story?"

"Yes Lee, just for you two."

"What is the story grandpa? Tell us!"

"Haha, okay, this Story is called A friend's Love."

"Friend's?"

"Love?"

"Yes yes, Long ago…"

The next morning comes and still the two is sleeping.

Luke opens the door and found the two sleeping like a tired boar, loud and noisy.

The cloth of their bed suddenly wraps them and pulls them off the bed.

The both drops from their bed with Toru hitting his head twice from the table and a book hitting Cecilia's head.

"Get up and get dressed, we have work to do."

Because they woke up early in the morning, the mind of the two stops for a moment.

Then the two suddenly realized and grabbed the towel and rushed out and went to the bath.

"I'll be waiting downstairs!"

"Okay!"

"Yes sir!"

"This early and they are already filled with energy."

Luke went down and said hello to the inn keeper then sat down waiting for the two.

Half an hour later, they finally finished their bath and puts on their clothing.

They went downstairs and found Luke with a bottle of wine and a basket of fruit and vegetables, along with rice, an unknown meat and an unknown soup.

"You two are finished, now come, eat."

"Sweet, I'm starving."

They sat down on the table and stared eating.

They put on a very satisfied face and quick stab of déjà vu hits them.

"This meat taste very familiar…"

"Is this cow meat?"

"No, that is a bear meat."

"What?!"

"Are these spoiled meats?!"

"Don't panic, it's completely safe to eat."

"The meat it stored in a very safe and cool place, so it's not spoiled in any way."

"But… to what place?"

"Did you store this on your pants or something?"

"No, I don't get how you came with that conclusion but this is stores on my pocket dimension."

"You mean the little floating thing?"

"Yes, the meat is not spoiled, so don't exaggerated yourselves with it."

"How long–."

"Next questions that doesn't involve the meat please."

"…"

"…"

The two shut their mount and starts eating again.

Half way on their feast, Toru stopped and remembers about the gaunt ogre.

"Ah yeah, Luke, they said something about the Ogre king or something like that and it's was defeated by Alex."

"Yeah, was that true Luke?"

"Hmm… yes, the monster did indeed exist and it's the same monster to what Alex fought."

"These species of giant ogre are known as Grundun, known to have extreme regeneration and the tough skin."

"Long ago, there was a army of this monster led by a Demon lord."

"All ogres was defeated by Alex by in the land called Grunduwn Stull."

"The ogre is so strong that one can easily destroy a whole city."

"Like the story, it attacked a city and was defeated by Alex."

"Sadly, the fight where Alex fought an army of this monsters was not told by the people."

"Grandfather defeated a whole army of those monster…"

"Woah… I know grand Alex was strong but… that was too much for me to handle…"

"I was surprised that one is still living, fighting a monster like that requires a weapon and that weapon is what you wield here today."

"This…?"

"Yes, However, the weapon grew with the user."

"That means of the wielder is weak, the weapon is weak as well."

"Wait, are you saying the weapons are connected between us?"

"More likely yes."

"I don't get it… weapons…connect with me? And Cecilia as well?"

"Let me explain where you can understand, you strong means weapon strong, your weak means weapon weak."

"Understand now, Toru?"

"Yeah pretty much."

"Why are you so dense?"

"What about if the wielder dies or something?"

"Hmm…"

"Did I said something I'm not supposed to say?"

"No no... *sign*."

"These weapons are connected by its user that means it has only one wielder."

"If the wielder dies, the weapon becomes very heavy and lose its glistering shine."

"That is if the weapon found a worthy user.

"Oh…"

Both of they looked at each other and to the their weapon with amusement.

"These weapons has a mind of its own, it chooses it's next wielder will put its mark to whoever it has chosen."

"The weapon can no longer be used by any other than its new owner, if someone does, then it's really unpredictable to what may happen."

"What happens?"

"Those spikes come out?"

"Yes, it does."

"Woah really? I was just joking."

"If someone holds the handle of the weapon, spikes will come out on the handle or heat up and burn your hands."

"But usually, nothing happens."

"Like I've said earlier, the weapon has a mind of its own."

"Let's say someone tried to steal it, then the weapon become heavy till it could no longer lift it."

"Woaw, now that's some next level protection."

"How does that even work?"

"Let's continue that later, we will be late if you don't that."

"Ah–right."

They eat up their meal as fast as they can till the plate gone dry.

They then grabbed a glass of water and drunk it all up.

Cecilia then notice the wine and the basket full of fruit and vegetables.

"What's with the greens and the wine?"

"Are we having a picnic?"

Luke then touched the wine and the basket and it disappears in a dark mist that flows to the sleeve of Luke.

"No need to worry yourself, let's head to the adventurer's guild before we're too late."

"Okay."

They went out leaving the plate in the table and starts heading to the adventurer's guild.

As they are closing in the adventurer's guild, they saw a girl with a big blue hat and a familiar staff.

They got close and it's was Ray.

"Ray, what brings you early here today?"

"It's you guys, I was just waiting for you three because…"

"Hmm?"

"I want to join the hunter fest with you guys… that why I came here early here today…"

"Sure, you can join. I don't mind and I think they too."

"Yeah."

"I don't mind at all."

"Really?!"

"Yes, now come, we don't want to waste time, now don't we?"

"Yes! We don't."

They opened the door and found many adventurers already inside with many having new shining weapons and armor.

"Hey guys! They're here!"

"Ah finally, we can go now."

"Alright them, gather to the magic circle please!"

There the adventurers went and gather in the middle of the hall with magic carving laid and ready to be activated.

"You four, get to the circle, we're about to teleport in the forest of Rhuth."

"Right… you three can go first, I'll be there in the moment."

"Okay, be quick."

The three went to the circle like the rest while Luke went to Lucy.

"Mass teleportation magic, that requires lots of Mana."

"Luke, glad you here, go to the circle and wait for a moment."

"Hey Lucy, we got problems."

"What?"

"The wizard is not here yet."

"What? He's the one guy we know who can cast mass teleportation magic, what do we do now…?"

"What seems to be the problem?"

"The wizard we pay to cast the teleportation magic is still not here, dammit, I knew we shouldn't have payed that lazy old man."

"Is there no one can cast magic then?"

"Yes…"

"I know someone who might help."

"Really? Who?"

"Miss Ray can help you."

"Ray? The leader of your guild you're on?"

"Yes, I've been teleported by here back then with the other, I'm sure she can do as well."

"That's a great idea, Lucy tell her to cast the teleportation magic."

"She can cast mass teleportation magic but with such big crowd, she might pass out."

"No need to worry, I can help with that. Ray, come here for a moment."

"M–Me?"

"Yes, we need your help with this."

"Ah–okay…"

She starts running towards Luke and tripped on her ankle but Luke was there to catch her.

"Careful now."

"Th–thank you…"

"Ray, can you cast a mass teleportation magic?"

"Mass teleportation magic? I can but…"

"You lack mana."

"Yes…"

"Here, hold my hand."

"Ah–okay…"

She held Luke's hand and Ray starts felling light on her body.

"Now, cast the magic, I'll be here."

"Okay…"

"Are you guys sure, she might pass out."

"It's okay, now start."

"Here I go then."

"From the heaven's and earth and sea to land, may we touch the skies and go down to the land we desire. Bring forth, Telimetaforá!"

A bright light appeared in the magic circle and the we're enveloped by the light.

As the light disappears, so does the adventurers.

"Ha…! That was the first I casted that spell! I can believe I actually memories all of that."

"You did well, now how do we go the forest ourselves?"

"Here, take this."

They then gave Luke and Ray a teleportation scroll and while the other two already has one.

"let's meet in the forest, I'm looking forward to this fest."

"Very well then, let's go Ray."

"Ri–right."

They opened the scroll and a bright light envelope them and they disappeared.

They opened their eyes and found themselves in the forest of Rhuth where the other adventurers are already preparing for the hunt.

They we're noticed by Toru and Cecilia and they start running towards them.

"You guys finally made it."

"I want to hunt big monsters!"

"I have to go somewhere first, you three should come as well."

"Where is that place?"

"It's...a… certain place that I need to visit."

"Yeah sure, I'll come."

"I'm curious to what's this place is."

"Uggh, fine I'll come as well, that sounds boring though."

"Then follow me."

They then start to head deep to the forest while the adventurers have now gathered for a quick announcement.

"You guys already know what I'm gonna say, but I'll tell the rules you won't forget."

"Don't go the kingdom of Rhuth and the forest of death."

"Your forgetting one thing."

"Ah right, no stealing other catches! That's all, go hunt those bastards!"

"Yeah!!"

"Yeha!!"

They then started to run towards the forest in search for monsters to present.

"The adventurers is very early now ha?"

"Yeah, probably because of the high rewards now."

"By the way, have you seen Luke and Ray, we haven't thanked them."

"Ah yeah, where are they! I tried looking for them when I announce back there, maybe I missed them…"

"Either way, we need to thank them, it's the least we can do."

"Okay okay, we just have to wait for the next seven hours to thank them, until then, I'll be sleeping."

"Me too, I'll be sleeping as well, my back still hurts."

Luke, Ray, Toru and Cecilia is walking in the deep forest of Rhuth.

And Toru is starting to get bored and starts complaining.

"Are we there yet?"

"not yet, please be patient."

"Uggh, what's so special about this place anyway? Is it like a remembrance of something?"

"Yes… you'll find out when we get there."

As we continue walking, they then stopped at a barricade that leads to a particular unknown forest along with the smell of sweets.

"Barricades?"

"Wait isn't this the forest that Lucy warned us about?"

"We should get back."

"No, our destination is still up ahead."

"To the forest?! Are you crazy?!"

"Haha, I guess you could say that. Now then."

Luke then touch parts of the barricade and it started to turn into dust and made a clear way ahead.

"Let's continue and stay behind my back, I don't want you three to get hurt."

"This is dangerous."

Then then start heading to the first with the three cowers behind Luke while they watch the scary trees.

They watched as they exotic plants with eyes and teeth looked at them and large insect glaring at them.

They also see few ruins and carved rocks but this ignored to continue following Luke.

"Can we go back now…?"

"This forest really lives up on its name."

"We are almost there."

They continued walking until they reach a plain grass field with a bug tree in the middle.

"What is this place? Is so pretty…"

"You three can rest easy now, it is safe while we're in area."

Luke then starts to walk towards a tree.

The tree has a brownish colored leaf with flowers on the tip of each branches.

"This tree looks beautiful."

"Indeed."

The wine and the basket of fruit and vegetables appeared on Luke's hands.

He then puts the wine and the basket in the roots of the tree.

"Is this sort of a offering gift?"

"No, it a souvenir."

"To who? To that tree?"

"Yes…"

Cecilia then pulls Toru's ear and dragged him away.

Cecilia and Toru stopped at the distance with Ray and seems weirded out by Luke's current state.

The atmosphere seems low, like mourning over the dead.

"Do you guys understand what's happening right now?"

"Don't ask me."

"Do you guys know this place?"

"No, I don't know."

"This place is where the last breath of a god stood… the place of my friend's last breath…"

"This forest was not like this before… in the past, humans lived in this area with joy and hope knowing that the gods are smiling down upon them."

"This place was so peaceful that even other non-human civilization lived together here with peace and harmony."

"But then…"

The three went silent as they wait for Luke to finish his sentence.

"A great war… Luvier if only you listened."

They kept their mount shut as Toru signals Cecilia to get closer to Luke.

He uses he's head to point at Luke with Cecilia's response waving her head left to right.

"What if we all go there…?"

The two nods in agreement.

They then slowly walk towards Luke and stopped just a meter away.

"Hey umm… who was this Luvier?"

Cecilia then smacked Toru's head with great force.

"Don't ask like that you idiot."

"She was a friend… I should not bore you with this, today is fest of hunt, we should go back."

"Yes!"

"If you say so."

Then then start to head back to where the adventurers gathered.

They all walked in silence while Toru is running a head.

As they walked through the forest, thy heard a scream from a distance that sounded like a man.

They all rushed to the area they think the scream came from and found the adventurers in caged with knights guarding them.

"Why are you doing this?!"

"Its an order of the majesty, King Clark, that we capture to those who trespassed out lands!"

"Clark? Is the new– but the king signed the form we—."

"The contract you signed us from the previous King not to King Clark's form."

"That's bullshit!"

"Watch your mouth, you cur!"

"This is the first time I've heard King bark or whatever his name."

"You shall not stain the name of our king, you adventurers' scum!"

The knight then lift's up his sword and was about to pierce his body when suddenly Luke interrupted them.

"Hello!"

"Your one of the adventurers! knights, capture him!"

The knights then draw their swords and ready to attack Luke.

"Hands where we can see them!"

Luke then puts his hands up.

One of the knights then grabbed Luke's arms and cuffed him.

"Now then, put him in the cage like the others."

The knight that holds Luke then escorts him to the cage where the others are inside.

As they got to the cage, a string gust of wind blows away the knight.

The cuffs that strained Luke suddenly turn to dust the Luke touched the bars of the cage and it turned to dust as well.

"Go, I'll hold them."

"But–."

"You got it!"

They adventurers didn't hesitate to Luke's offer and starts running off to the woods.

Some of them weren't captured and some escape from the distraction to which Luke caused.

They knight got up and found the adventurers trying to escape I'm the woods.

"Get them!"

The trees began to move and blocked the path of the knight and they no longer have any way to chase them.

"Dammit!"

Luke then stood silently as he waits for the knights to cuff him once more.

"Well, I guess you'll do."

They once again cuffed and even put tight ropes on Luke.

"Damn, how in the hell did the trees moved?"

"Sir, they are already out of reach, we can no longer catch them."

"Dammit all! Fine! I guess we him, go!"

They then went on their horses and starts to ride towards the kingdom of Rhuth.

Is the forest, they took a rest to a nearby river and washed their oily body.

"Damn, I thought I could make money to this event."

"The fuck! Are you seriously worrying about that?! Luke just saved our asses and you only give a fuck now is money?!"

"Ha? His the one who said to get out of here!"

"The hell! What are we supposed to do now?"

"Are we ganna save Luke?"

"Can't, if we can't fight those guards or we face crimes."

"Does that mean if we go back, we still committed a crime?"

"We can reason our way out of this because the signed the form. But injuring or killing a knight, that a deferent story."

"Then what do we do then?!"

Cecilia, Toru and Ray then appeared with sweat dripping all over their body.

"Hoo!"

"Glad we made it."

"Where's Luke?"

The adventurers went silent.

"No…NO!"

"Cecilia stop! You can't go back."

"I will!"

"I thought he said that he'll be running with them!"

"We can go back."

"Wait, you guys are the daughter of King Arthur, you just need to tell him and maybe he can talk to the new king and get Luke out."

"That a great it idea."

"Then all we need is to get back, right?"

"How many hours does it takes to run back to the kingdom?"

"…"

"Three days by foot…"

"What?!"

"Then how about we teleport?"

They then looked at Ray.