Today marked three weeks since the Heroes had been summoned, it was also the day where the conference between Kingdoms would take place and we would be formally introduced to the other Kingdoms. Since the arrival of Allain's Knight Commander, he had been continuously pestering me and the Heroes for a fight. I had managed to hold him off with the promise of fighting him today but after talking with my father… I should have just flatly refused. A Demon Lord however never backs down on his word, although he may find loop holes to sneak around it….
The Heroes and I were in the throne room, before us were the ambassadors and the King of Elsbeth. The King stood from his throne to welcome us and bowed lightly,
"I humbly introduce the Heroes who have pledged to save our lands." We began to step forward one by one as the King called us. "First the Heroes from the other world, Carlton Smith, Alicia Stallworth, Gary Stallworth and Sayuri Shizuka. Secondly the Hero summoned from our very lands, Davios Flint. These are the Heroes who have answered our call and the youths that we entrust ourselves to. May we all look upon them kindly as we help and support each other."
The ambassadors clapped. There was one from each of the major countries and numbered four in total. While smaller Kingdoms also existed on the continent their influence wasn't strong enough to be invited to the conference.
"I ask the ambassadors to introduce themselves," the King sat back down and gestured for them to speak.
They began from left to right of the King.
"Tobias Evanry of Rentolt, on behalf of the responsibilities bestowed upon me I offer you the support of my Queen, Lisanna Evangel Rentolt and her country."
"Renfa Carper of Felinas, on behalf of the Archmage and his council, I offer you our support." She was the only female of the ambassadors.
"Polton Drake Verenbell of Allain!" he smacked his chest and the force of the impact reverberated around the room. "Although young, King Raffery offers you his support. Also my offer is still standing for a fight anytime." The Heroes backed away slightly.
The last man stepped forward. He was slightly hunched and wore a thick robe. "I am Portuga, priest of the Klerical Kingdom and servant to our most high Lord, the Klerical King. We offer you our assistance." I didn't like the look in his eyes, it was like he was openly trying to take us for himself, no, it was like we already belonged to him.
"As the five major Kingdoms of the human side, we bow our heads to the Heroes." The King stood up once more and led the others as they bowed. The Knight Commander of Allain winked at me as he did so. "Now let us discuss."
A table was brought into the room. The King was at the head with the Heroes and I beside him. The ambassadors were on the sides. The talk was mostly about our job as Heroes mixed in with a lot of sly politics and suggestions that went over the Heroes heads. I listened silently for the most part but the whole thing was a bore. I also had more important things to worry about as the Knight Commander kept flashing me smiles.
"Davios Flint may I inquire a question to you?"
I snapped awake, it had come from Tobias the ambassador from Rentolt, my supposed birth place. "Yes?"
"Your origins are our humble country, yet, for us not to notice such a stunning Magician, I must inquire from which of our many prosperous town were you born?"
The Heroes looked at me curiously and I answered naturally, "I was raised in a town of little importance along the border. The reasons for my growth I believe you understand."
"Of course, the border is a dangerous place but I must ask further for the name of this town?"
Without missing a beat I smiled, "I choose to remain silent. My home is special to me and I would like to keep it secret in case word spreads to those who seek me harm."
Tobias nodded a little solemnly, "That is an understandable statement. We shall not pry."
"You have my gratitude." Thank you! That was close, although I had a town in mind that could hold my story together, that town was technically not the most normal of places to live. It was best to leave that stone untouched till later.
The conversation stretched on and food was bought in as we continued to talk. Hours passed and I could tell the Heroes were beginning to get bored, especially Gary. Unfortunately I was not the only to notice this and the Knight Commander stood up.
"Enough of this talk. The Hero Davios and I have an agreement to fight. Let a Hero show you his skills in practice!"
The other ambassadors looked at him then me expectantly. "I believe it would also be time for a break," Renfa said. "Let's see how the Heroes have grown since coming here."
I waved my hand, "No please don't expect too much. We're still young and compared to the Knight Commander we still have a ways to go."
"Nonsense, Master Heafest himself and our young Knight Captain Rafhound tell me your skills are already on the levels of high praise." The King smiled happily, "Let us all watch this fight." Was this guy still bitter about me not being dead?
And like that we were all moved to the Knight's training grounds. The Heroes looked at me with sympathetic gazes but when I asked for a substitute they all turned away. Traitors. Though really I was the one who threw them under the wagon last time. To my disappointment it wasn't only the King and ambassadors but many of the staff and Knights of the palace had come to watch. A reality plane would be set up to prevent destruction but Heafest was the one creating it and he was allowing it be viewed from the outside.
People cheered as the Knight Commander and I squared off in the centre of the field. Hopefully my escape plan would make it in time. Now you might be thinking, why not just go all out and let everyone know your true power, a Hero is meant to be that strong right? Well you would be correct, but! The problem occurs when I do go all out. Mana can be traced and it's different for whoever uses it. For high ranked magic and some of the easier master level magic I can pretend I'm human but once over that point, for anyone who can read mana it would come across very quickly that I'm not human. Then how about I just let him beat me? Nope. From the Knight Commander's personality and skill he likes to push his opponent to the limit. I already saw it when he fought the Knight Captain and the Heroes. My acting weak won't be enough to prevent someone as experienced as him from stopping. Thus right now all I could do was grin and bear it!
"Are you prepared?" Heafest asked from the sidelines.
"Of course!"
"Sure…." It was clear who said what.
The sky turned red and the clouds shifted black as everyone around us vanished. I breathed in and slowly exhaled. The Knight Commander smiled, then he was in front of me. Tch, this guy really wasn't going to let me get off easy. I blew myself back and cast a cloud to ride on. He chased after me as I retreated. I conjured Earth Lances to fire at him from the front and behind but he cut them all down with a cheery smile. I could see why my father didn't like dealing with this guy.
"You're quite skilled! Let's see how far you can go. Burst Raid!" he swung his sword.
Burst Raid already!? The ground around me was torn apart as the wave of energy approached. Damn it, that wasn't an attack I should take head-on. I teleported behind him and cast magic from almost zero range. The blast hit him squarely in the back and he was sent flying towards the destruction he had caused. Of course that wasn't enough to take him down and he landed smoothly. "Teleportation? Fufu you're stronger than I was led to believe."
"That one is a new trick I learnt," I lied while heaving. This time I was properly acting out my fatigue, though if this continued long enough, it really wouldn't be an act anymore.
"But can it match my flash step?" he vanished and appeared on top of me. He swung his sword down and I blocked it with a barrier. The resulting crash shook the earth and cracks spread from where I stood. The barrier began to creak but just in the nick of time I teleported away. As soon as I appeared he disappeared and came straight back at me. Argh he really was just annoying!
"Gravity press!" before he could swing I cast the magic and it slammed him down but he remained on his feet. I felt mana begin to poor into his body as he stood up like nothing was wrong.
"Let's get serious."
"Please no…" I sighed.
He came at me like bull and slapped me away. My barrier broke instantly and I let the force carry me across the field. Come on, just how much longer did I have to play with this guy? Just as I thought that a voice broke between us.
"Stop, we have an emergency!" Heafest yelled and the reality plane collapsed. It looked like my escape plan finally arrived. It was honestly earlier than I had actually expected but that was all the better.
"What? I was just getting into it," the Commander complained like a spoilt child.
The sight that welcomed us however was certainly one to behold. The King, ambassadors, Knights and Heroes all had their eyes glued to a single figure standing not far from me. He was tall and had sharp features but one thing was clear, he wasn't human. His skin a light blue and his ears pulled back. He wore a refined black suit over a skinny body as his arms stretched unnaturally long, for a human at least.
I pretended to grimace and teleported to the Heroes side.
The King stepped forward, "Why is a demon here?" his voice was tinged with anger and hate.
The demon however just elegantly bowed, "I am here on the behalf of my sire, the Demon Lord. My name is of no importance but my master wishes to send his regard to the Heroes."
"How dare you come here!" Portuga snarled. "Be gone foul creature."
"Is this not a conference to welcome the Heroes? My Lord feels that it is only right to participate." The demon rose. This man was a rare cross between a fay and a dragonkin. You couldn't tell because the suit but beneath his clothing, uncharacteristic to normal fay, smooth scales covered most his body. That and his eyes were like a reptile's. His name was Alferir and a trusted secretary of mine and my father's. He turned to the Heroes "We welcome you to our world."
Carl grimaced, Sayuri looked at him determined, Gary watched enthusiastically and Alicia was just confused.
"For such a reason he sends one of his men. Is this an act of war?" Renfa asked lightly.
"Of course not. Such things are below my Lord. My eyes are his and he simply wanted to see the ones who would see him dead."
"Regardless you coming here cannot be taken lightly," the King raised his hand and Knights surrounded Alferir.
His eyes became cold, "Then shall I take this treatment as a call for war? Will your history books declare this as the day you began your call for death?"
The King put down his hand.
"Stand down!" Knight Captain Rafhound shouted.
"A wise decision. Before I depart, may I just say one thing? My Lord is closer than you realise." Then he winked towards the Heroes and vanished.
"Ah wait! Come back! Damn it I forgot to ask him for a fight," the Knight Commander sighed.
Ignoring him the training field became a flurry of movement.
"Heafest how did he come inside the palace!" the King yelled.
"I don't know your highness. I will investigate immediately," Heafest ran off.
"Heroes, I ask you to retreat to your rooms."
We nodded and a troop of knights guided us away. Behind us the ambassadors and King began to quickly discuss what this meant. With all the commotion my fight with the Knight Commander was forgotten.