Okay so what do you call a prince, a dragon, a demon and an Angel…. Oh no it was not a joke but an actual question. It seems almost paradoxical though...it could be made into a joke but let's get back to the real story here, back to the False Heroes and what I would call a tough spot they are going through, it's the pain and loss of life that really defines a mortal…. An example of course. A rich kid who loses a dragon feels next to nothing while a present that loses a titian could go a day or two without eating or drinking…. But what would we know of such pain and tribulations without hearing or reading about it in a book...Oh! Some False Heroes!...What? I thought of an end to the question you turned into some tavern joke so now it has its end. But yes back to it
The sands were not yet scorching under the feet of the royals, Jericho and Orelia on either side of Mathis who was still using the grand pike as a humble walking stick, shooing off his brother but too afraid to say anything to his wife. Baarias was giving her younger sister and queen a ride on her shoulders as she used small amounts off magic with no words, no movement other than what she was doing with her sister but the sands started sprouting up like miniature fountains with her pink aura surrounding them, it seemed happy as they made the short trip into the town and made there way through with everyone shouting their greetings to Mathis as they walked into the bar seeing it full and go silent as they entered.
Regal, broke the silence, laughing and got down from his stool much slower than he had the day prior, making the prince look at him with uncertainty before he spoke,
''What's with the limp? I can't have you dying of old age before we regrow your families empire right?''
The old man laughed before making his walking stick hit Mathis in the forehead as he laughed,
''Still faster than you in that state boy!...Been feeling a bit tired is all but never mind that, your here to finally open the mines right?''
''Nope. Not yet anyways but I will be talking to the men and women who want a job today! Still need to go down the shafts to see if they are any good support wise.''
The old man looked confused at this before Evelyn came up beside him, making Orelia stand even closer to her husband as the woman spoke,
''How is he?''
Orelia looked confused before Baarias looked at the women with killer intent. Her brother grabbed her and looked like his strength had returned with the look on his face,
''It's fine she is talking about Drago...Sir Lakefield. And yes he is up and starting to move but you need to let him have a day of physio with the demon before you can go up.''
Mathis saw out the corner that Sophie was trying to hide in the crowd before he sighed,
''That goes for you to understood...Little girl?''
Sophie moved back to the bar with shock in her eyes, the same as the sister and old man but Mathis did not care, beginning his work as the family all sat and drank enjoying their time together.
Wilt woke himself up, having laid in for the first time in what felt like forever. As he stretched in the small bed, dwarfing his tiny stature as he got ready, pulling old clothes from his bottomless bag before picking up both his pouches as he did it revealed the pendant Kyu lost when the original medical hut was destroyed. Wilt poured a small amount of his reserves in, removing the dirt and shining the metal. He looked it over, never having a proper look at the pendant he had almost never seen the bird without but he never seemed to mention the thing. Looking over the three dragons before touching the sun they were seemingly trying to devor, clicking the small panel inwards as a harsh yellow glow dominated for a moment before dying down. Wilt opened his eyes, regaining focus as he saw inside a small picture of what looked like a young Kyu but not in the face, both eyes were shining green and the vacant look he was known for was full of emotion to the goblin making him chuckle before thinking he saw a hastily carved messages look like is was scratches in with a rock on the inside reading the language and muttering it aloud to make sure,
"My little Hachi."
Pausing for a moment before closing the pendant, wondering why Kyu had a picture of himself and what was a Hachi? The goblin was too tired to bother thinking about it as he pulled some black beans out of his bag, starting a small fire to prepare a large pot for the morning before calling on Kyu to do his start of the day routine of cleaning and reading everything for the men to move in.
He passed the angel a drink he pulled the pendant from his pocket placing it on the table then saying,
"You are someone who never loses things unless I'm involved right?"
Kyu picked it up, looking at its now fine shine confused replying,
"Umm yeah you stole it and cleaned it….why?'
Wilt drunk his black bean stew down before pouring in another while saying,
"Okay stop it bird. I've seen how you act now come on. I know your not as stupid as you let on."
Wilt spoke looking the angel right in the eye as he poured boiling hot liquids into his hand, dropping the mug on the ground, smashing as he began screaming obscenities as the fallen flicks his fingers, collecting the liquids back together before placing pointing at Wilt with a minor invocation,
"Undo the goblins' mistake made with mild disappointment."
A small light appeared around the goblins burnt hand as the mug found its way into his hand before Wilt placed the mug down shaking his limb as cold droplets of water fall off, Wilt looked to the angel with a look of pity and confusion,
"Kyu I was there when you changed the boy and healed Mathis. You can't pretend you just forgot about that and for the last time I did not steal your pendant. All I did was find it and give it a clean now come on bird, think."
Looking down to the goblin as he prepared himself some black bean stew, carefully considering his next words,
"All I did was...umm...just allow something to deal with it for me…. I think Drago and Seirai are fine right now."
Wilt thought for a moment thinking about what he knew of the fallen. Not a huge amount came to mind, family, friends, his home. He did not know any of these before he met Kyu and the others only a few short weeks ago. Deciding to question Kyu about it,
"So Kyu, what is your family like? Your birth parents I mean?"
Back in That Place, the royals had began there merriment with Baarias laughing through the slurs while Jericho was talking to some older men in the corner and Orelia was watching Mathis continue writing before she thought about how to say what she thought before he spoke,
''So I'm guessing the local seers have more news?''
She only smiled before closing her eyes,
''Possibly...You think you deserve good news right now? I'm still angry with you running around with girls...Give me one good reason why I should tell you?''
Mathis looked confused as he started putting a finger up with every point he made,
''I'm the father...I introduced the seers to you...I'm the one trying to find us a place to live...I'm also trying to improve the world and will be classed as a great hero like my father before me-''
Orelia placed her lips on his to make stop before she smiled even bigger,
''It is two...Boy and a girl...The seers said they both have your eyes.''
Mathis did not seem to be phased at first but the corners of his mouth betrayed him, starting to form a smile making Orelia begin laughing at him as Baarias butted in,
''You should call the girl Baarias! It's a great name!''
''Not a chance in the infinite hells.''
Mathis spoke with a smile but a cold tone, still not being able hide his happiness before Orelia spoke,
''Actually...I wanted to name the girl after my mother...Are you okay with that?''
''Of course...What is it? You never really wanted to talk about your home since we have meet.''
''True...You did kill a friend of mine when we met mind.''
Mathis took a sip of his drink before he responded,
''Aye...After you lot attacked us remember?''
Orelia made a face of embarrassment before going bright red, making the wood elf burst out in laughter until it was interrupted by Regal passing out into the old wood of the tavern's floor.
Jericho was the first to react, rushing to help him but the the druid got to his knees and ushered the man away with his hand before he spoke,
''Like I said earlier...I'm just a bit tired. I'm going to get some rest…''
He slowly started hobbling towards the door with silence and faces of worry before Evelyn walked up to the table, placing another round and one water for the pregnant woman before she asked Mathis a question,
''This is not tiredness. He is in trouble...I can feel it...Regal has been like a father to us since our own vanished and our mother...just after Sophie's birth...Please take care of the old man...Please!''
She bowed instinctively but was devastated by the response,
''No...If the old man does not wish to mention it then maybe he has decided his own fate...He is a good man and I will not go against his choices...Even if I agree with you and he is a vital part of the town...If he has chosen the end...Then let him turn the final pages his own way."
The royal simply nodded along, as the young Sophie jumped over the bar knowing over some of the patrons drinks as she grabbed a bottle.
Mathis did not move except his hand being placed on her stomach before she was sent flying through the doors, rolling in the hot sands out front. Her arm felt like it was out of place again and the ribs that were healed the other day started to bleed once more, staining her shirt and sands before she heard the metallic clink of Lytesbane being used to help the prince outside, The sounds of Evelyn's pleas were ignored as he came close to the girl and put his leg in her ribs. The sound of cracking only broken by her trying to catch the breath, Mathis continued repeatedly as she looked through her blurred vision to see the bar. Everyone was just standing there. Not helping and not even looking at the direction they were in.
Mathis brought it down a final time before he crotched and spoke with anger and venom,
''You are one of the most pitiful excuses of a fighter. You never deserved the term Prodigy...Even against men and women who have now power to call their own, I have had more respect since they knew that to get close to those who did required immense amounts of training. The injuries you feel right now was what I felt at the age of ten but I stood. Granted I fell back over almost right away but the fact is...I stood. I knew that this was only the beginning of my grand story that would rival....No...Surpass my fathers. I tried to the point that at sixteen I had beaten foes that grown casters and fighters in their prime would struggle with and with every time I was cautious about myself and the people with me...It slowly became more natural instead of forced care...You will not be fighting in this town's military while I am here...Understood?''
The girl attempted to stand before she spoke with her broken voice that was seething with rage,
''You knighted my brother?...A cripple who will never fight again! Why the fuck-''
Mathis raised his foot again, this time hitting her directly into her forehead, sending the back of her skull into the ground before Mathis spoke,
''That man has more chance being a great warrior than you have in your wildest dreams…''
He looked back to Evelyn who's tears of sadness had turned into anger before the prince spoke,
''She has threatened a royal...Spoke foul of her brother and did not care for your establishment's reputation...She will be apprehended and given trial...I will be one of the five judges...Evelyn will be another to balance any prejudice you think I will have. Elias, Regal and Matthew will make up the rest of the judges! It will be held tomorrow at dawn in the centre outside That Place! Understood?!''
Evelyn nodded before she walked up to the girl. Venom in her cold eyes before walking back to the bar, no words or even another tear was seen as she entered her establishment and the royal family walked over with Jericho speaking first,
''Five judges? Using Recocton law already? Why not the five royals that-''
''You are not of the lands...Neither am I but I am trying to be...Regal is the only royal of their lands left...Elias is the most respected man in town behind him and Evelyn and Matthew are her siblings so It should make everyone not think I'm stacking the cards against her when three of the five are relatives or close to the family...I should go and tell Regal and Elias about this...Start with the goliath since the shop is only around the corner.''
He looked at the girl who had started to move again before he looked at Jericho whose hands shined a brilliant white before stretching out and wrapping around the girl, lifting her into the air before he made his way to the mines with the royals before he spoke,
''We will handle this...Tell your judges of their tasks little brother.''
Mathis nodded as the group split, Mathis heading to the blacksmiths and the royals all heading back to the mines.
Bee handed a fresh dagger to the boy, struggling to hold it in his new clawed hand before the demon laughed,
''Don't worry about breaking it. We had the goliath make a good few for training new recruits...Seems like the royal asshole is testing me as well.''
Matthew seemed confused by this,
''Uhmm...Sir Bee? I'm sorry but how are you being tested?''
The demon seemed to like the sound of the name given to him as he laughed and spoke,
''Well after we took your sister to the cave to grab some things we ended up fighting a demigod...Well I did the majority of the work. Anyway! On the way out I said to Mathis that he should let me lead the Glassand military when it is formed...Your sister complained but when I said I'd fight her for the rights she quickly backed down...But the prince said he didn't know if I could teach newbies...See how I'm being tested now boy?''
The boy made a face of realisation before he tried again to get a grip on the dagger, placing it between his three clawed fingers and squeezed them on the guard, making the demon laugh,
''Four claw style is it?!"
The young man looked at his hand with the blade within his strong grip. Looking like the weapon was apart of himself more than just a tool, he began swinging the it to test his new draconic strength, each swing became faster and more powerful before he went for a two handed grip as a small shock pass as up his original arm, making him drop the weapon mid swing as it spun into the air before sticking into the ground tip first.
The man fell over his own tail as he recovered from the minor shock, causing the demon to start laughing at Mathew as he pushed himself off the ground,
"Don't think two handed is going to be good for you Drago. But try that again, that was great."
Bee said, still smiling at the young humanoid's antics and failures as he walks over and picks up the dagger, flipping it then passing it hilt first to Mathew, taking out his large hammer igniting the head before continuing to speak,
"Alright boy I'm going to show you what I know. The royal asshole has given me a task of training ya. So it's time to get pissed and for you to act like a man dragon boy."
Bee said, raising his weapon, turning and slamming it into the ground sending sparks of fire and glass around, creating small shockwaves as he collided with the sand, knocking Mathew onto his back. As he looked past the demon with eyes wide with both fear and awe making the demon also turn and make a sour face at what they saw.
Inside Wilt and Kyu looked around as small plumes of dust and started falling from the roofs and walls. Contaminating their drinks as Wilt got up looking at the angel before grabbing his stuff and speaking maniacally soft to the angel,,
"YOU WANT TO PUNISH SOME HERETICS KYUUWIN!"
Kyu was staring at his mug, beginning to shake quite heavily before placing the mug down and standing with a look of rage as he spoke soft,
''I literally...You know what Wilt? Let us purge.''
The goblin did not question the angel as they stood and aggressively made their way out the door but before they could shout anything they noticed the two men staring at the group that approached. Sophie with them in chains and over Jericho's shoulder, Matthew made a face of anger before standing to run before the burning head of the hammer was slammed in front of his face. Blinding him with sand before he looked at the demon with anger also painted on his face,
''Oi...She has not just been arrested for nothing you know...We will find out what she did from the family then wait for Mathis to hear his side got it?''
The boy did not like the news he was told but held his tongue as they came close.
Sophie began to look at her now dragon like brother and spoke with a soft and cracked voice,
''It...It was not just a dream...Oh gods...I'm so sorry...Sorry...I'm sorry.''
She continued looking at her brother who was frozen with shock as the family moved past into the mine and started to speak to the angel who's face showed emotion for the first time in a long time but not one that made the young man happy. The demon tapped him on the shoulder before they resumed the training, Matthew seemed much more stable and was actually pushing the demon back before Wilt walked out with a sad look, ushering over the boy before he was told something that made him drop to his knees and stare vacantly at the sand. The two helped him to his feet as they entered the mines with the tensions all high but knowing they all could do nothing but wait until the mourning trail began.
Ah so the family gets to see the results of these cursed sands, such a shame but there is not much I can do about his situation and what of the girl? Sure she tried to become a hero but I doubt she's made of the stuff…. Hmm don't you agree? Sure it's said that heroes come from anywhere but that's a lie. Almost all heroes have the same type of life. Little family, no connection to the lands they travel and an ungodly amount or arrogance and personally from her I only see the latter. Though with our False Heroes they don't meet these criteria for the most part but I know you know that already...now let's move from the petty arguments that we are seeing to more of a...hmm exciting part of this story…. Yes yes I know that they are not really heroes just think of the typical prefix I give them….just remember to think before you speak else is just noise with a pattern….for my sake just shut up thank you...now let's get back to it and I don't want any stupid questions for at least two minutes, if you can do this task I'll give you a candle. Nothing too fancy though.