Just as the blue holographic screen showed the completion message, Arthur's consciousness blanked. A few seconds later, his consciousness started to return along with his own memories. Interestingly, the memories of Ruthra were no longer present in his mind, but he still felt the experience.
Slightly disoriented, Arthur's slowly opened his eyes as he found himself lying down at the center of a gently lit large domed hall. After a few seconds, he shook off the disorientation and stood up, feeling refreshed. However, at this moment, twelve knight statues that were symmetrically placed in the hall all lit up. One by one, figures made of light rapidly formed. They were all men garbed in similar armor, with each giving off a unique feeling.
Suddenly a voice laughed. "Ah, at long last, for so long, we have waited for this day, and at last, our wish has been fulfilled. Our continuous travel around the realm has not been for naught. "
Judging by the sound of the voice, Arthur couldn't help but note that it sounded very similar to Ruthra's. However, after turning in a full circle, he didn't recognize his face among the twelve figures that just materialized.
As though he would see Arthur, Ruthra's voice laughed again. "Be at ease child, just know that I am here but not here at the same time."
Understanding that the voice of Ruthra was most likely an embodiment of his will, Arthur nodded and asked. "What is going on?"
"Good question, allow me to explain. "Responded Ruthra as he humanely cleared his throat.
"As you can still somewhat recollect, I was once captured by my kingdom's enemy and escaped, albeit not the way you did – spectacular job by the way. Anyways after my escape, I found out that Nolova had been destroyed in my absence. With no home, I started to wander the land, and it was then that I met him, a man shrouded in questions and mysteries. He came to and said that he had been looking for someone like me to start a legacy. He handed me three items and immediately disappeared. However, my current self can only remember one, a ring."
Suddenly at the mention of a ring, a thrum of energy reverberated through the hall. After a moment, it slowly started to condense into a small orb before Arthur.
"With those three items, I eventually met these twelve men standing in the hall right now to build and carry the legacy. With them, I accomplished many things. But alas, all good things must come to an end. After we reached our olden ages, we began forming a way to pass on the legacy, and thus we came up with a trial. We all wanted the next legacy holder to possess the specific traits that made each individual one of these men special. With these traits, it was assured that the next legacy holder will bring the legacy to new heights. Thus came the Trial Of Character. The trial blocks out a candidate's memories to test who they really are; after all, a person's true character is something that is engraved in their soul, something like losing their memories won't change who they really are. But finding someone to pass the trial proved difficult, very difficult. Even with the dungeon traveling and appearing all over the realm, a worthy legatee was still not found, until well today. As for what the characteristics we were looking for are, I believe these gentlemen can handle the explanations."
At this moment, the closed eyes of the twelve knights made of light all opened as their faces showed signs of life. As their eyes opened, a large translucent screen appeared above Arthur.
One of the men spoke as the screen displayed scenes of Arthur being tortured by the head executioner. "Dignity. Even when trampled upon, you refuse to beg or plead, carrying an air of purity. You have my approval." 1/12.
"Nobility. To stand before other's with your head held high despite their malic and resent. You have my approval." Said a knight as the scene showed Arthur's resolute look as he stepped into the execution arena amidst eyes of venom and hatred. 2/12.
Another person spoke as the scene moved to when Arthur killed Suisorbma to ease his suffering. "Generosity. Often times, the kindest thing we can do is oft the cruelest. You have my approval." 3/12.
The screen then displayed when Arthur summoned the dungeon inmates.
"Fairness. To judge the heart in search of the truth goes in hand with having a mind virtuous enough to dictate between what right and what is wrong. You have my approval." 4/12.
"Courage. It takes a special person to stand before their potential demise, with a calm and unyielding mind." This time the scene showed was when Arthur stood before Dredrom's puppets with a calm and unwavering look. "You have my approval." 5/12.
Another knight spoke as the scene of Arthur kill Dredrom appeared. "Honor. The respect and trust others have in you based on your achievements. Even in death, your friends and allies know that all their pain and sacrifice were not for naught. You have my approval." 6/12.
The scene then shifted to when Arthur spared Dredrom's queen and allowing her to leave in peace. "Chivalry. Aid the helpless, it said a strong man can save himself, but a stronger man can save another. You have my approval." 7/12.
"Loyalty. The belief others have in you that you have their best interest at heart." The scene of Arthur warning the inmates to leave was promptly displayed. "You have my approval." 8/12.
The scene of Arthur running through Dredrom's city while being chased by Dredrom appeared. "Tenacity. The determination to succeed even when the odds are against you. You have my approval." 9/12.
Another knight spoke. "Valor. The merit of your actions in benefit to your cause" A scene of a partially destroyed city appeared, courtesy of the rampaging Dredrom and the seemingly random but purposeful movements of Arthur in his attempt escape. "You have my approval." 10/12.
"Prowess. To do what others can only imagine." The screen of Arthur using his chains to topple Dredrom was promptly displayed. "You have my approval." 11/12.
And at last, the final knight spoke. "Faith. It takes just a little belief to make miracles happen." As he spoke, the scene of Arthur calmly grabbing onto Spirit's mane as he prepared to jump over the gorge was shown. "You have my approval." 12/12.
After all twelve knights had spoken, they all pulled out their sword in practiced motion and pointed it at the feet of Arthur. They all opened their mouths and spoke in unison. "Legatee of the Twelve Knights, carry on our legacy well."
As they finished speaking, they all burst into particles of light as they flowed toward the condensing orb of energy before Arthur.
Ruthra, who had been quiet the entire time, spoke again. "Live well, our legatee. Find the other two items, they will assist you well." And just like that, his voice disappeared.
After Ruthra's voice disappeared, the small orb of energy condensing before Arthur slowed as a ring began to form.
A few seconds later, silver and white ring was floating before Arthur. It was a unique ring in the fact that two small silvers rings were held together by a depressed band of white in the middle. On each silver part of the ring were six small diamonds evenly spaced out, and for the white part, it was engraved with large runes.
Hovering for a few more seconds, the ring then flew towards Arthur's left hand and right onto his ring finger.
Lifting his hand in surprise, Arthur took a closer look at the ring. As he looked, he noticed that the runes engraved into the ring began to light up in a light blue color. And as it did this, a runic circle appeared, evenly sized with the height of the ring. The circle was comprised of twelve smaller circles as it methodically spun.
It was at this moment when a display popped up, courtesy of omniscient eyes.
[Ring of the Twelve – (!@#$%^#@#) 1/3]
[Ability: Speak, And It Shall Be] - Infuse power into your words and bend anything to your will. Note: the stronger a target the more energy this ability consumes.
Unlocked Words: Break/Fall/Bind - Renderations of unlocked words are acceptable.
[Void Space] - Stores Non-living objects
[Special: Thy Knights – 0/12] - A knight must fit one of twelve traits. When a potential candidate is near, the ring will light up. Each knight upon being knighted is granted a unique power.
[Hidden....][#$%^#$%^&*&^%$]
After taking a look at the ring, Arthur surmised that there is definitely a lot more to it than meets the eyes, as the undeciphered parts showed. Pity his current strength is too weak to fully utilize omniscient eyes. But for now, this was good enough.
Scanning through eh ring's storage space, Arthur was immediately dumbfounded. Withing the storage space was pile and piles of gold coins and other treasures. Just guestimating the amount, he could safely say that the amount of gold was more than enough to start an economy.
However, what Arthur didn't notice was that the moment the ring wore itself on his finger, an ethereal red string had tied itself to his left pinky finger. As to where it led….
…
…
…
Elsewhere in the dungeon, a bloody scene was taking place. Sent flying through a few trees, Henry laid against a slightly dented tree trunk with his condition unknown. Moving forward past him was a small clearing leading to the mouth of a cave. With tall trees casting a light shade over the area, it would be an excellent place to relax. However, the whole scene was bathed in blood, with the ground uprooted and damaged in various spots.
In this bloody scene stood a man and two feline beasts. As to how this scene even came into being. It all started when Cisse's bloodline started to boil, almost as if something was calling to it. Pausing their exploration of the dungeon in favor of identifying what was calling Cisse's bloodline. Both Cisse and Henry eventually made it to this clearing, but they had arrived a bit late. When they arrived, a five-meter tall white tiger and a six-meter tall golden lion were in the midst of a clash. Noticing the two new arrivals, the two beasts immediately put aside their clash and pounced on the duo, thus leading to the current scene.
WHISH!
One of Cisse's axes flew through the air, dashing toward the profusely bleeding white tiger. The tiger tried to jump back, but due to its current injuries, it too slow. With a crack, the ax bit into the top of its skull, breaking it as it sunk to into the tiger's brain. Releasing a soft whimper, the tiger immediately collapsed onto its side, dead.
Reach his hand out, Cisse's ax flew back into his hands. Covered in blood from head to toe, some his and some not, the current Cisse bore a striking image of a war god. As his blue eyes focused on the golden lion, the Celtic-like tattoos that covered his body began to glow even brighter red.
"Heed my call!" Roared Cisse as he threw both axes into the air, and as he did so, he leaped into the air.
In the air, Cisse's now crimson red tattoos glowed even brighter, bathing his whole body in a red aura. Just as he reached the climax of his leap, he stretched his arms out to the sides. Bending down to face head first, he began his descent.
As the wind whistled past his ears, Cisse boomed. "Ohene and Ohenemaa, QUAKE!"
Just as he said at that, his two axes whistled down into his arms, coalescing themselves in red light.
However, the golden lion on the ground upon seeing Cisse's descent gritted its fangs as a golden aura enshrouded it. Crouching into a leaping position, it leaped to meet Cisse in the air.
BOOM!
The collision sent a ripple of energy through the surrounding, causing some trees to bend and some of smaller ones to even break in half.
Another BOOM sound as a golden blur was sent crashing into the earth. A split second later, a BANG resounded as Cisse smashed into the downed golden lion. The ground cratered from the impact, and the land shook, causing even more trees to topple over and break.
PUFF!
Cisse coughed up a mouthful of blood as his body swayed weakly on top of the now-dead golden lion.
"Lets…lets not do that again anytime soon." Sighed Cisse as he slowly walked off the lion and towards the collapsed Henry.
Exhaustingly he dragged Henry into the cave to recuperate from their injuries. Laying Henry on his back while applying some rapid first aid, Cisse then slumped against the wall of the cave as he closed his eyes.
…
A few minutes later, Cisse's eyes abruptly opened, however, his crystal blue eyes had now turned into a crimson red. Still heavily injured, he shakenly stood up and began making his way deeper into the cave in a daze.
After a few minutes of dazedly walking, Cisse's body found itself in a small cavern before a crimson red pond. Looking at the pond for a few seconds Cisse, began walking towards its center. Upon reaching, he suddenly sat down in a lotus position and closed his eyes once more.
While Cisse unconsciously sat there, the blood that covered his entire body started to flow into his body through the various claw cuts all over his body. Some of the blood was his, while some came from the white tiger and golden lion.