"Will, Will." Sandra gently moved Will to wake him up from his sleep.
"What is it?" Will, who was dead tired, woke up.
"Will, can you do me a favor?" Sandra asked, for some reason her tone sounded as if she wanted to cry.
"What's wrong?" Will noticed her tone, and he began to worry.
"Please let me go. It wasn't your fault you shot me. You were hurt."
Before he noticed, Sandra disappeared as if she was only a hallucination.
Suddenly, memories that weren't there before appeared in his mind. He had killed himself after Alex died. But before that, he shot Sandra as well so they could be reunited in heaven.
"SANDRA!" Will woke up sweating intensely. After calming down, he realized he was just dreaming.
"Just a dream. A horrible nightmare is more like it." Will said. The thought that Sandra was a hallucination this whole time made him feel scared like never before.
On his side wasn't Sandra but a note on her spot, it was written in her handwriting.
"Will, I have to leave for a bit. The king called me back to the kingdom for some reason. I wanted to go back anyway since there was some stuff there I wanted to buy for us and the villagers. I'll message you when I return. I could have asked you to fly me, but you were so asleep I couldn't wake you up."
After eating and showering, Will returned to his cave and stayed there for as long as he could.
It took Sandra a few hours to arrive back at the kingdom. She found herself in front of the king, and beside her was the Great Sage.
She started to get nervous all of a sudden. She knew she didn't do anything to get in trouble, still she felt as if something was going to happen to her.
"Hero Sandra. How's life outside of these walls?" The king asked politely.
"It's… okay."
"Good. That's good to hear. So, how's life with the missing hero, I believe it was hero Will? It seems your wish to reunite with him has been granted."
"Life with him has been great."
Like most heroes, Sandra wanted to go back because of the people she loves, her family, her friends. Even now she wants to go back to her family, but knows it is not possible.
The Great Sage read her mind. So far nothing out of the ordinary as he can tell.
"I'm a bit curious so I hope you can answer some of my questions: what is it like inside… those stone walls of his?" The king didn't know what to call Will's kingdom.
The king does have a rough detailed map of Will's kingdom. Some sorcerers he had sent there flew up and drew an outline of his kingdom.
He just wanted to trigger Sandra some memories of her that might reveal some of his secrets.
"It's not just walls, it's more like a kingdom. And besides, we already named it the 'sun kingdom.'"
"The 'Sun Kingdom' I like it. Still, how is it that the weather suddenly changed from scorching heat to what it is right now?"
"Um… I don't know."
Sandra finally realized what this is about. She knew Will changed the weather but didn't know how exactly as he wouldn't tell her for this exact reason, because of the Great Sage.
The Great Sage looked at her in silence, it was hard to tell exactly what he was thinking.
"That so? Did you know that hero Will went to the Empire lately?"
"I do know that. He even brought some things from that place like salt and fish."
Sandra didn't know the real reason Will went to the Empire.
"Uh-huh. Listen, hero Sandra, I am tired. And I still have some questions I would like answered. So would you do me the favor to stay here for a few days? Two at most."
Sandra didn't know what crap the king was pulling but it was obvious that he wanted her away from Will for some reason.
"I have to get back to Will."
"He won't mind a bit, hero. I also require your help on something, if you are up to the task. A few nearby villages are plotting to revolt for unknown reasons, and I fear that this revolt is being led by a criminal named Clement. I thought that you, a hero, can convince these villages to not revolt. Or else they might… die."
'Pretty sure they are only revolting because of the tax laws.' Sandra thought.
The people could revolt, but it would be for nothing. The kingdom has sorcerers, heroes, soldiers.
But if more people start to revolt, it could ruin the kingdom. What is a kingdom if it doesn't have people?
Too bad that the king hasn't realized that important factor. To him nothing was more important than the life and health of the heroes.
"King, wouldn't another hero be… no I see your point." Sandra wanted to mention another hero, however there was literally none who could take her place.
Majority of the heroes are still too chicken to leave the kingdom. The Great Sage could care less. Bruce was sparring and training with Shaun 24/7. Henry and Britney are always together. Victoria is a sadist and would be the worst choice.
Sandra on the other hand is a hero, popular because of her red hair, is brave, likes to help others.
"It's settled. My nobles will gladly accompany and guide you and protect you."
Two nobles in enchanted iron armor showed up beside Sandra.
Sandra knew that the king wanted to keep her away from Will's kingdom, the question is why exactly? Or was he simply afraid that she would live in the Sun Kingdom instead of the Reyes kingdom, and thereby lose a hero?
Sandra could say no. But remembering the people who made a village right in front of their kingdom, she made friends with them, they have helped each other, those people all had family and friends.
And they all had the same story: they just wanted a better life.
"I'll help them out." Sandra said. But the way she intended to help them was by possibly bringing them to the village outside the Sun Kingdom for a better life, free of taxes, free of monsters, free of worries.
"Thank you, hero." The king smiled.
Sandra left with the two nobles to protect and guide her to these villages. Later she would send a message to Will explaining that she won't be back in a few days at most.
"Sage, what does she know?" The king asked. The reason the Great Sage was here was for one obvious reason, to read her mind.
"Nothing. All of your worries were for nothing. I'm going to bed now." The Great Sage teleported to his room in the black tower.
"Ah…" The King wanted to pull his hair out.
That wasn't an answer. He knew that the Great Sage is starting to care less due to his age, but would he really not care if there was someone who could control the weather despite knowing the risks?
Spoiler alert: Yes.
The Great Sage already knew about the item that Will has because the hero of the past, Christopher, also had it but hid it.
The Great Sage felt that as long as Will didn't do anything that would harm others, he saw no need to take action. If anything he was doing a good job as a hero. And lastly, he knew what the King would do if he could control such power and he didn't like it.
'Whatever, I already did my part Victoria. Let's hope the other heroes find something.' The King thought.
First part of Victoria's plan, get Sandra out of the Sun Kingdom.
Second part of Victoria's plan, infiltrate the Sun Kingdom.
Meanwhile…
The three heroes, who Victoria likes to call 'disposable heroes' , were riding on top of a wyvern. A sorcerer had helped them out by giving them a lift.
"I think your face is good enough." Corbin said to Shane, whose face looked like Sandra's.
They used a picture of Sandra to copy her face. Pictures were expensive to use.
A hero from 100 years ago wanted to develop pictures. He died of old age at around 67. His apprentice would be the one to complete and invent pictures
"What about my voice? Does it sound like hers?" Shane asked. His ability also lets him change his voice.
"You already asked us and we don't fucking know. It's not like we know Sandra enough to recognize her voice." Jessica said.
"Won't Bill(Will) recognize that his GIRLFRIEND'S voice sounds different?"
"First, it's Will not Bill. Second, just say you have a raspy throat or something. Victoria did say he was an idiot and probably won't even realize it."
"We are here." The sorcerer said. They landed a bit far away.
"I thought it would be hotter here and more… dessert-y?" They didn't see sand but a lot of grass. Afar they saw giant stone walls.
"Holy… Bill actually built that?" Shane was impressed. They thought the King was exaggerated when he said that a hero, just like them, made a castle.
"Bill… are you an idiot? Why do you keep saying Bill?"
"I'm sorry. The movie Kill Bill has been stuck in my mind lately, and I just keep thinking it's 'Bill' instead of 'Will' you know what I mean?"
"No, I don't know what you mean."
Corbin and Jessica put on some masks to cover their faces. While they may not be easily recognized, there were some hard core fans out there who have taken the time to memorize every hero's faces and names.
Corbin and Jessica would accompany Shane to possibly manhandle Will. Even without proper combat training, Victoria knew that Will would find it difficult to overpower 3 heroes at once. She didn't believe that Will was strong enough.
Shane read that Sandra would always jump over the castle walls to exit the kingdom. He also read that everyone in the village that was outside the Sun Kingdom admires and adores her, as she has always helped them out.
Most of the 'houses' were just tents. Some people have already started to construct wooden houses. If Will were to help, he could make stone houses with furniture for everyone in half an hour.
"Hey, it's Sandra!" People swarmed her(him) . They either gifted her gifts, asked for her help, or just wanted to chat.
"Hey… uh." Shane has never experienced this in his life. He felt overwhelmed.
"I gotta go." Shane moved through the people and jumped on top of the stone walls.
"Is this what happens to Sandra everyday?" Corbin asked Jessica.
"God, I feel sorry for her for being surrounded by pests all the time." Jessica said. Some heroes, like Jessica, have started to feel that they're basically gods and everybody else was beneath them.
"Uh-huh." Corbin just hated people in general.
Shane, on top of the castle, was a bit disappointed.
"Huh, I mean it's big but that's it. There's no life. It's all just stone with wood flooring."
Shane has been living in the Reyes Kingdom for nearly half a year. Comparing the Reyes kingdom to the Sun Kingdom was like comparing shit and diamonds.
Shane took the stairs and went to explore the kingdom.
"Where is he? Where is… Will?"
Adaline, who was sleeping, noticed someone she wasn't familiar with roaming around the kingdom.
She thought it was Sandra because she is the only one who jumps over the walls. However this time the footsteps, weight, breathing, of this person felt different yet almost felt like Sandra.
From inside room, that Will made for her especially, she kept a close eye on this intruder. For all she knows it might be a friend of Will's she hadn't met before, or someone Sandra knew.
Using her roots she dug deep down to notify Will.
"Woah… what is this?" Shane caressed the waystone that was planted at the center of the kingdom. It was a giant, smooth stone in the shape of a rectangle, with blue fire surrounding it like a tornado. The blue fire did not feel hot or anything, it felt as if it wasn't even there.
Shane tried to push the stone, but even with his strength it wouldn't move.
"Strange. I can move boulders bigger and heavier than this stone, but I can't move it at all."
Shane ignored the smooth stone for now and continued exploring.
"Maybe this mine area has something in it. Or maybe not at all."
Shane found the cave that Will was in. The entrance was basically a giant rock with a hole in it.
Looking at the cave and how dark it was, Shane decided that it wasn't worth it. Shane has a fear of dark and tight places. With no light to guide him, he decided to skip that part.
Will didn't need to use any light sources because his mask has night vision. The only thing that has a light source is his secret room that was at the bottom of the cave. That was only for when he dies and respawns at his bed.
Shane then entered the throne room.
"This room is kinda bland for my taste. Ooh. Hello there, beautiful." Shane saw something beautiful.
In the throne which was made entirely out of stone was a golden crown.
The crown was made entirely out of diamonds, with several other valuable minerals embedded in it. It was covered in gold to make it look valuable. And best of all, it was enchanted giving it an extra glow and value.
This crown has no meaning. Will just made it for fun because that is what usually what kings wear in the movies he's seen.
"Holy cow. This shit is beautiful and expensive. I wonder how much it would go for?"
Before anything happens, Shane hid the crown inside a storage ring the king gave him.
"Somebody there?"
Shane heard a voice and turned.
"Sandra?" Will stared at her(him) confused.
"Bi-Will!" Shane started to get nervous for some reason. This is the first time he is breaking and entering and it made him feel weird.
"Are you okay? Your voice sounds weird."
"Yeah, just a raspy throat." Shane covered his mouth and started speaking softly.
Because of the mask Will wears Shane could not tell what he was thinking. If anything it made him feel even more nervous.
"I thought you left to do something for the king or whatnot?"
"I came back because I forgot something. And I was just about to leave. Bye." Shane decided to leave now before his cover is blown.
'Shit, what the hell was I supposed to do here again?' due to his nervousness he had forgotten his goal in infiltrating the Sun Kingdom.
"Hey, Sandra."
"Y-yes?" Shane halted in his steps.
"Wasn't there… Nevermind. So long. And… take care."
Shane ran out and jumped over the walls without saying a word.
Adaline walked besides Will. Both looked at each other before turning their heads to where Sandra(Shane) jumped over.
Will looked at the throne room to find anything missing.
He then entered his cave without saying a word to Adaline, came out with a chest full of gold, iron, and so many diamonds as well, he also carried a pickaxe with him.
"Adaline, take care. I'll be back in a few hours."
Will left his kingdom by flying far away to build something that only he knows.
Shane met up with his other hero buddies. He jumped over the back of the kingdom so that people wouldn't notice him. He turned his face back to normal.
"Dude, that was quick. What did you find?" Corbin asked.
"I found this." Shane decided to show them the crown.
"Shit man. How much do you think this will go?"
"I thought the exact same thing."
"Did you find more?" Jessica asked greedily as her hands leaned closer to the crown.
"No, but I think there is more in there."
"How do you know?"
"Dude, I found this crown in a throne unprotected and just there, waiting to be stolen. Don't you think it's common sense to hide something you find valuable?"
"What you say makes sense. But this is… wait, gimme the crown." Jessica asked.
Shane handed her the crown almost as if he didn't want to.
"That's strange. It's light."
"I mean, duh. It's a crown." Corbin said.
"No you idiot. This crown is bigger than the current king's crown which is also made out of gold. And yet when I tried it, it was a bit heavy. But this, despite it being bigger it's lighter."
Gold is relatively heavy.
"When did you touch the king's crown?"
"Shut up. Anyways, I don't think this is made of gold but covered in gold instead." Jessica inspected the crown carefully.
"What's underneath it?"
Without warning, Jessica used one of her long fingernails to cut through the crown leaving a scratch mark.
"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING!" Shane shouted by instinct, then people started to look at them.
"Mommy, why is that man screaming like my uncle? You know like the time when we were playing hide and seek and he tried to find us with a knife in his hand?" A little girl tugged on her mother's shirt as she pointed at Shane.
"I give up." The mother covered her face, tired of explaining to her daughter all these weird things that her uncle did.
"We should move." Corbin led the other heroes away from the eyes of everyone else.
"Guys, look." Jessica showed him the part of the crown that she cut.
"Yeah, that's what happens when you scratch… wait, is that… no way." Corbin squinted his eyes to have a better look.
"What? It's just shiny." Shane didn't think much of it.
"This crown is made entirely out of diamond! Covered with gold!" Jessica said almost couldn't keep her happiness contained.
"Shiiiiiiiiiiiit! Please tell me diamonds are worth more than gold!"
"THEY ARE! Especially in this world where diamonds and minerals have a use!" Jessica wanted to scream out of pure happiness.
Gold is still useless in this world but it's valuable as a currency since people use gold coins.
Diamonds and other types of minerals on the other hand are not only valuable, what makes them even more sought out than diamonds is that they are used for enchanting.
"Shane, for the love of god!" Corbin gripped on Shane's shirt. "Please tell me you saw more of this! Tell me what you saw!"
"I didn't see anything. Then again I couldn't explore everything because Bill(?) saw me and I had to quickly leave."
"We have to tell the king." Corbin suggested.
"Should we?" Jessica said. "We can just enter the kingdom again and steal everything he has for ourselves. Shane has a storage ring so it should be easy."
Right now they are willing to believe that Will has so much more valuables. Even if he didn't, they were willing to take the risk to raid his Kingdom.
"And then what?" Corbin questioned Jessica. "What would we do with the other gold and diamonds we find in his castle? Keep it to ourselves?"
"We sell it. No big deal." Jessica crossed her arms.
"Let's not forget that we are stealing from another hero, someone who is like us. If we do manage to steal it, Will could just complain to the king."
"I think Corbin makes a good point, but not really. We can just steal it from Bill-"
"It's Will!"
"Forget it! First we steal everything he has, armor, gold, everything of value. We then sell it to the king in secret and split it amongst ourselves. The king is desperate for money so we can convince him to agree with us to sell it in secret. This way Will will have no idea that we were the ones who stole it."
Despite the kingdom being deprived of money, they could have the king owe them a few favors and maybe even make them magical weapons.
"That is IF he has anything valuable, Shane. And besides it's not like he's not going to notice that someone stole his stuff!"
"And that's why we can just frame the villagers." Shane pointed to the people living right outside Will's kingdom.
The other two came upon a realization. These villagers were poor, lived very close, and are large in numbers. Most likely Will would pin the blame of the villagers instead of anybody else.
"And here I thought you were an idiot." Jessica said.
"It's settled. Follow me." Shane was about to run to the kingdom again, but Corbin stopped him.
"Are you an idiot? We can't just steal it from him right now since he is awake! Let's wait until he's asleep. If he finds out it's us, what will be the point of framing the villagers?" Corbin said softly.
"Right. Let's wait until he's asleep."
At first they just came here to find out if Will has an item that can change the weather. They had forgotten once they realized how rich they could become in one night.
But they did accomplish the one thing that Victoria had been hoping for secretly, to mess with Will.
For the time being the three disposable heroes decided to wait it out until night came.
A few hours later, Will returned from god knows where.