Ch.8 Road to Almarion (Part 4: Keeper of the fort)

When Ricca went back to [My world] with Aku and Mossy, I also took the half-ghost Ema there. Maybe due to my meddling, I handed Ricca a Dark elixir to use on her, if her condition worsen.

"It seems like the knights are finaly calm. The captain's coming," Mika whispered as I started to pick up pieces of clothes that were soaked with ectoplasm. It all reeked with miasma, which was also enveloping Ema the Half-ghost.

"You two... did you defeat it?" the captain, a thirty or so years old warrior asked me. His eyes were glued to the ectoplasm soaked pieces of clothes I collected into a jar I took out of my Item box.

"Yeah, it was really powerful," Mika nodded.

"I see. A Sacred archer and you are a summoner, right?"

"Yes I'm a summoner, do you have a problem with that?"

"Oh, no, not at all. It just that... what you did on the walls, I never saw another summoner merge with his summon."

"I guess it's a rare skill to have."

"I thought so. I ordered all my men to stay silent about what happened here."

"I see, thanks," I gave him a warm smile.

"Oh no, not at all. To speak frankly, I don't think we could defeat you even if we all fought you together," the captain gave us a rather stiff smile.

"Well it's not like someone would even belive that a summoner can do something like this anyway," I gave him a warm smile and put away the jar with pieces of clothes.

"By the way, why are you collecting that trash?" Mika asked.

"Ema don't have any other clothes on her so I was thinking that I could use those pieces to make something new. It's not like half-ghosts can wear any other clothes anyway."

"Yeah, that makes sence."

After I collected all the items, I went around the battlefield to check if there is anything of interest, we could use and I returned to the fort.

"Did you find something interesting?" Mika asked as soon as she saw me return.

"No, not even a speck of dust remained there."

"I see. Well, I reported to the Keeper in charge and I'm supposed to brought you over to them," Mika made a sour smile.

"Is it something bad?"

"Not bad really... it's just... She's really cute," Mika murmured as I came closer to her.

I touched her hand and hold it in mine. "Want to go there together?"

"Un," she nodded cutely.

We went to the guard office immediately and when I opened the doors, I was met with a sight to behold.

The one in charge of the entire fortress, was strikingly beautiful young woman with crimson hairs.

"So you came, sir Flake Flameburst. I've heard something interesting about you. My name is Aika El Mayleen."

"It's an honor to meet you, lady El Mayleen," I bowed as a commoner should before a noble.

"Please, just call me Aika. I don't like the official talk anyway."

"I-if you insist miss Aika. Could I ask why did you call me here? I'm no one that interesting."

"Oh, you definitely are."

"???" I tilted my head and Aika continued.

"Well, how many summoners you know who can merge together with their summons?"

"I'm not sure, I never talked that much with other summoners to begin with."

"Then let me inform you. There are none. All regular summoner can do is to summon and order his monsters around. Summoner who can fight is low, due to their lack of physical strenght, but, there are none who can merge with monsters."

"I see... I guess I'm lucky then?"

"Lucky? Oh no, not just lucky. You are without a doubt in my mind a unique existence. I would like to ask you of something."

"And just what that may be?"

"You are adventurer, so you might now. I would like to be your sponsor."

"Sponsor? That's just for A ranked groups and higher no?"

"Mika's right, I'm just a measly E rank, the so-so level adventurer."

"Does that mean that this 'Measy E rank' defeated an S ranked monster almost on his own? I've seed the battle from here so I know you have some kind of transportation magic."

"Urgh... fine, you got me. I have Dimension home spell," I lied.

"It's not good to lie to a noble you know?" Aika's eyes shone with golden brilliance.

"Y-you have All-seer crest?!" I noticed a strange shape inside her eyes.

<All-seer. Supplementary information available: A crest that allows it's holder to 'see' anything. Be it far away, lies, strenght, skills, All-seer can see it all. In rare occurances, a glint of future can be seen too.>

"I have the power to forsee some parts of the future. I've seen the fight with adventurers two days ago and the fight with that Half-ghost yesterday. From what I've seen, I've deemed you worthy of my patronage. My father, originally planned to sponsor Lotus, but they've fall apart few days ago."

When I heard that, a small 'Yesss!' could be heard behind me.

"You were a member there, were you not?"

"I was, but I was deemed unneeded and thrown out."

"More like threaten to leave with death!" Mika added.

"Is that so? I guess that that party was always a little tight-lipped when it came to discussing the inner affairs."

"'All for the glory of Lotus.' That was their motto. But I personally, would add: 'And for the money!'"

"Mika, you are really blunt today," I made a wry smile.

"I guess, it was hard time for you right?"

"I was. So when they ordered me to leave, I packed everything I had in my room and left the city the very same day."

"I see, that must've been rough."

"It really was."

"So, what do you say? Do you want me to become your sponsor?"

"Actually, I don't even know the benefits of getting a sponsorship."

"Ah, I see. Well, to put it simply, I will provide the funds for your expanses in certain degree and can ask you to do special quests. The quests has to be approved by the Adventurers guild, that's a safety feature against adventurers becoming murderers for some coin."

"That seems reasonable."

"And for you, the only thing that is needed is that you challange dungeons and build up your fame."

"Build up my fame?"

"You see, for nobles. Having powerful adventurers under their sponsorship can boost their popularity as well. Imagine this. The king issued a request for some rare items. Nobles wanting to get cozy in kings presence pay the adventurers to do the heavy work for them. Then, when the item is found, the noble presents it to the king and recieves something in return, be it money, title or territory. Sometimes, the nobles reward their adventurers by granting them a title of their own."

"I see, it's not that bad offer. But tell me, why do you want to sponsor a summoner? After all, summoners are usually seen as the unneeded class."

"You have a potential. That's an undeniable fact. It may sound weird, but my intuition is telling me to watch you."

"So you base your judgement on intuition?" Mika snickered as she wraped her hands around my left.

"Well, let me tell you this. Sacred archer, Knight and Summoner with never before seen powers hade defeated an S ranked monster and make it their companion. If a single word get's out of this fort, I'm sure you will have eyes on you, wherever you decide to go in this kingdom. And it will not be just people like me. It will also be people who will try to use you or outright kill you," Aika glared at Mika.

"She's right about something," I agreed with Aika and whispered to Mika, "Plus we're getting short on funds too."

"I... I see," Mika looked dejectedly, but her grip over my arm tighten even more.

"Alright, we will agree to your offer."

"Good to hear! Think about a name for your party and prepare for tomorrow. I'm supposed to swich with another commander so I will be taking you with me to Almarion by Wyvern!" Aika beamed a happy smile and shake my hand.

"Oh, and you can use the guest room here instead of your lodging," she winked and hushed us out of the office.

Little did we know, that there was only one bed in the guest room.