Serci and Veda have finally arrived at the castle gates. I can't tell if the two-day trip through the forest was a more difficult journey or if this last hour was, but hopefully, I won't have to experience that horrible feeling again.
The front gate wasn't as crowded for people weren't allowed to loiter around the front gates for various reasons. People were allowed to see the Queen but civilians were only allowed an audience with her twice a day for four days of the week. In this case, the southern gate opens for what is called "court" the only time the ruler of the kingdom allowed time to hear her people's needs.
When the knights of the northern gate see Serci, they immediately send one of them off ahead to notify the Queen while the others ask us to wait. According to Serci, this is one of the practices for those who return from their mission to ensure we don't interrupt any important affairs.
When the knight sent in returns, we got the ok to pass the gate.
As we travel up the walkway leading up to the castle's front doors, Serci stops before taking off the Counter Blade with its sheath from her waist before presenting it to me. "Now that I've been brought back safely, it's time I returned this. I appreciate everything you've done for me."
A feeling of reluctance hit me, telling me not to take it but I pushed that feeling aside, unsure why I wouldn't as it was Uldrei's beloved blade that was to be Verei's.
I give a bright smile, "Not at all! I doubt I would've been as safe when traveling alone. More so bored without your company."
Serci gave a warm smile in return. Maybe she thinks I'm being modest, but had she not been there, it would've been much more dangerous. All it would've taken for me to be in danger would be a Hobgoblin fighting both Verei and Veda at the same time, Veda likely to fall first and who knows what that would do. But all that was prevented thanks to Serci's appearance.
Just as we arrive at the front door of the castle, Serci stops and turns to me. "I mentioned we would give you lodging for my return, but if it wouldn't be too much trouble, I also want you present for my report to Her Majesty. Your grandfather was acquainted with the Queen, having met 30 years ago when she first rose to power and I'm sure she would be happy to meet you, his descendant."
'Wait, he met the queen?! I didn't know Uldrei met the Queen way back when!' That's when I recalled the achievements once spoken when I first met the Keepers, '"...established a trade connection between Siltria and Jiiruno." That may've been when Uldrei met her.'
Weighing my options, it sounds more beneficial to meet the Queen than ignore the request. 'Doing as needed could leave a better impression for the future. Maybe even getting the recommendation to the academy for Verei.'
"S-sure, but I don't have a dress for the occasion."
Serci was relieved. "Don't worry! Unless you're a noble, you won't be expected to have the best dress prepared for an unscheduled meeting."
With that settled, I follow her in to meet the Queen. Every Knight we pass by gives Serci a salute on our way to the audience chamber. The castle was a lot like the outer wall and city roads with the pearly white stone. The maroon furnishings of the castle put a smile on my face as I get a sense of security from this color, finding it fitting but unsure why as we arrive at the door to the audience chamber.
It didn't feel that long since we started walking, though I guess the audience chamber would be the one place easiest to get to from every entrance.
"Ready?" Serci asks.
I take a deep breath. "Yes."
With the doors opening, one of the Knights guarding the door announces our arrival. "Keeper of the Word, Serci has arrived! And has brought a guest from the Valley!"
The Throne room is massive, with pillars lining both sides of the maroon carpet. This space could fit hundreds of people yet only the Knights lining every column were between here to the throne.
We walk in, heading towards the throne at the top of a platform that could be reached by the five steps just in front of it. Where Serci stops is a few meters from the steps leading to the Throne, me a few steps behind her, as recommended.
Around the throne, two people stand on both sides with an older woman seated between them. Serci kneels and I try to follow her movements but the man to our right of the throne's eyebrow rises before giving a frown.
'Did I screw it up?'
The wrinkly man announces, "Knights are meant to bend down on one knee. Civilians are..."
But the Queen interrupts him. "This will be an exception, Galmon." He bows his head before the Queen gestures to Serci.
Serci clears her throat before announcing her return. "Your majesty, I return with a resident of Varen Valley, the location where the Meteor had fallen, as well as the information gathered after my forced separation from the other Keepers."
She nods to me and I proceed to introduce myself. "My name is Veda Deidura. I lived in Varen Valley for fifteen years alongside my brother and grandfather, Verei and Uldrei respectively."
Just like everyone reacted when Verei spoke his name around adventurers, the air grew thin as though the silence before were too loud.
The man in silver armor like that of the Keepers solemnly spoke. "Uldrei... a name I haven't heard mentioned in many years..." He stares at me for a second before sighing, "How did he die?"
It felt like a rather sudden leap of logic but maybe me being here alone told him enough. "He attempted to deflect the red light heading for our home... but he couldn't. Not fully, not anymore. It caused me and him to be trapped in a cavern under what was once our home while my brother was sent off who knows where now. Though I know he wasn't trapped there with us."
It took me a second to calm myself, the painful memory trying to resurge only for me to keep it pushed down as best as I could while finishing the last of my words. "I tried... I tried to save Grandfather, managing to get us both out of the cavern but... I was too late in healing him. At the last moment, he succumbed to his wounds."
Everyone seemed shaken, especially Serci who is hearing this story for the first time despite us traveling together these last few days. It's painful to think about it, making this something I wish not to bring up if I ever could, and she was someone who wouldn't push if I was uncomfortable.
It was the Silver Knight, the Captain of the Royal Guard, who broke the silence. "Uldrei died protecting the people he loved. That you are here is a sign of his granted wish. Do not worry, he will be remembered for the hero he has always been with you under our protection."
Those words made me feel better, even if only a little. The Advisor, Galmon, brings the conversation back on track. "My condolences but about the red light. The other Keepers had returned a day before your arrival, Keeper of the Word. They had told us the cause was an Orc of red skin with a powerful Artifact, a staff that crystallized blood as its blade, the legendary Berserker's Staff. Can it be confirmed to all be true?"
Serci puts a hand to her chest before validating the information. "It is all true. A Red Orc with a powerful artifact using blood as the medium. I wasn't part of the group who fought it face to face as there was another Red skinned creature that required our attention, a Goblin High Mage that..."
She began to hesitate, as though remembering something.
My own thoughts wandered to the scorch marks I healed off her hand when thinking about her mention of a high mage. 'If it was a lightning spell, it would explain the marks.'
When Serci finally recovered, she continued. "...the Goblin Mage also had an artifact. A Sash that allowed it to see everything it wanted from a mile radius around or a two-mile cone ahead. It had cast a lightning spell it hadn't cast among the many spells it shot at us before when I had dropped my guard, making me unable to escape being struck by the red light. I only stand before you today thanks to the quick thinking of the acting commander, Hektr, on his split-second decision that saved my life."
She pulls out the shield handle she kept hold of throughout the journey. I wondered how someone who was hit by that attack was only lightly wounded, especially when comparing it to the damage caused to our home by its after-effects but this thing must've been the answer.
Galmon gives a satisfied nod. "Good, if you have the Sacrificial handle, we can repair the shield at once." He lifts his hand for one of the guards on duty, who walks over to collect the handle to be repaired.
Galmon then clears his throat, "On a related note, I couldn't help but notice the Weapon on your back. If I'm not mistaken, that should be the Counter Blade, is it not?"
My body went stiff. "It is... was my Grandfather's Artifact, yes..."
He nods solemnly. "It is a true travesty, but seeing as you're a caster, we would generously pay you for it if you would be willing to..."
"Enough Galmon." The Queen shuts down her advisor's suggestion, who immediately bows before standing back in attention. "Very well your Majesty."
The Queen looks to Serci, "Considering you've seen the two red-skinned monsters firsthand, what would you classify them? Would you say the skin color of those Variants enhanced the threat they bring to our kingdom or are they just another variant?"
Serci thinks long and hard, choosing her words carefully to relay the importance of the information. "Though there were only two, they both were as powerful as they were intelligent. The Hobgoblins and wolves who submit to them weren't simple fodder sent out to weaken us. They surrounded and ambushed, using any tactic possible to get the upper hand."
"Even without artifacts, the Red-skinned variants are a force to be reckoned with. I would've ranked them an A-rank Threat on that alone, despite Orcs and High Mages commonly being B-rank. But for those two, as they are now, they should be classified as an Immediate threat to the Kingdom. Their strength and cunning make them dangers made disastrous with the artifacts they're matched with. On top of being only two days away from our capital, I fear what they will become if they were to evolve any further, and fear what would become of this kingdom if we don't take this seriously."