Aida, Joshua, Mistie and Gil stand next to each other forming a group of their own , with Aida being the center of attention and the talk of the group.
"Still, to think he could take on adult while being at a disadvantage." Prince Joshua looked at awe
"Albert was always this shady?, how come I never noticed." Mistie had always been a good judge of character, or so she thought. Albert was that good of an actor.
"I'm more concerned about thjs Eric, he's not attuned magic but posses a power that could render magic useless." Gil clicks his tongue in annoyance
"He's that amazing of a servant, I who was betrayed by a commoner saved by a commoner from the woods. This is my servant a hero in all definition and a devoted servant. He'd console me when I'm down, he'd stay by my bedside when I'm sick and he'd serve me to all my whims."
"There she goes again in her own words, if you want to see him feel free to do see Aida." Mistie nudges at her
"Its not like that Mistie." Aida pouts "I-I want him to be by my side as his master .. yes as his master."
"I think I can see him in the back, should we invite him."
Prince Joshua attention to detail shocked the group , albeit Joshua is dense at times despite his sharp senses.
"You don't mind Prince Joshua?." Asked Aida.
"I don't, he's my future rival and I want to know everything about Theodore's student. I'm sure Gil would think the same." He turns to Gil
"Hmph, thinking about dining along a flea ridden commoner is gag inducing." Gil couldn't hide his prejudice
"I never asked for your opinion." Aida spits back at his vitriol
"There they go again, let's get along you two." Mistie eases the tension.
"Eeeeek!." "Get him off here!." "Hey get away from the tables." "Who's servant is this!."
"I'm sorry Madame, please excuse me." Aida hears a familiar voice
"What was that?." Prince Joshua cringes
"Eric is fooling around." Mistie teases
"That servant!." Aida yells
"Hahaha, that is one amusing commoner." Gil takes it positively
-meanwhile-
The Crows a reformist group seeking to do away with the nobility and mold the Eizenburg Kingdom into a republic.
The Kingdom during Leonard the 1st attempted to weed out the organization, however it proved to be impossible as their supporters blend in with every facet in our lives. It's hard to tell who is or isn't a member of this said group, their diverse recruits from all walks of life include the likes of minor nobles , merchants, guards and your everyday commoner.
"And this group has infiltrated the party, Yimir the acting president of the Crows was right in front of me." I grip my sword out of vexation
This is no time to lament, we've got saving to do.
The details of the Crows attack on the party is scarced as it happens before the prologue , but one thing is for certain they've planted a bomb before hand and it's in the ballroom building.
The orchestra's playing and the guests are busy talking to each other.
"Let's get this show on the road."
After amping myself I look around the
compound , making as little contact as possible. I reckon leaving the sword hidden at an angle made me look just like any other servant.
"I need to compile places of interest."
After studying the ballroom i outline potential target areas. So far there are 6 ventilation holes , two statues and the guest tables.
I start with the ventilation holes, peeking through each and everyone finding no traces of said bomb. What I do garner however is suspicious glares from the guards.
"You there what do you think you're doing."
A guard demands an answer
"I'm cleaning out the ventilators , my mistress nose is sensitive to dust."
"Mistress?, that narrows down no one here boy."
"Its Aida Von Lumere ,I follow my one and only mistress." I explain
"Oh , my condolences I hear that lass quite the slave driver."
"Haha nothing I can't handle, well see you."
"Crisis averted."
Now onto the next POI (point of interest) the statues of King Leonard I and II , father and son.
"Now where would they hide it."
I touch the statues all over in hope of finding a bomb, when I hear two guards on the way.
"You, been suspiciously looking at ventilators and now you keep touching his Highness statues. Explain yourself."
Speaks one of the guards, there's no goodwill I can explain here. But maybe I can try act like a country bumpkin.
"Ah, these statues looked so real and big. I wondered how they made these. I didn't know you weren't allowed to touch them. There's no sigh at all."
"You know there's an etiquette to abide with."
"Etti- what, I'm sorry I have no idea."
"I heard the boys raised in the woods." Another guard shows up
"Show leniency cap'n , this boy was raised in the woods."
"*sigh* hold your curiosity in and behave."
The guards smile as they follow behind the captain.
"Tch, nothing at the statues. Which leaves the tables. The left and right wings."
I start with the left wing tables , while trying to act as inconspicuous as I can.
I grab a plate.
"Excuse me ladies." I smile
The ladies blush and give way, seriously what do they see in you Eric.
I grab a plate full of food as I check the tables.
"Oops I dropped my food, oh how clumsy am I."
"Excuse me ladies and sirs."
"Aaah!." "Pervert!." "Someone grab the guards."
I continue moving beneath the table scaring the ladies witless.
The King and Lord Rufus look at Eric shenanigans from a distance , with the King being unamused.
"Rufus, is this your retainer."
"Friend I assure whatever this is isn't the Eric I know."
"This matters little, I want to meet this boy myself. My son spoke highly of him, at the very least I'd like to gauge him."
Having done scouting the left wing tables , I move beneath the right wing tables and likewise i find nothing. I come out of the table exhausted and that's when I realize that I'm surrounded.
I'm confronted by the King , Lord Lumere, Prince Joshua, Mistie , Gil (amused) , and Aida (visibly angry.)
"What do you think you're doing." Asks Aida in a cold voice
"I have a perfectly explainable answer to this."
"He's definitely fooling around." Mistie adds fuel to the fire
"Hahaha, i take back what I said about you commoner you could work for me as a jester." Gil takes it wrong
"Calm down Aida, I'm sure he has a perfectly explainable reason for his behavior." Prince Joshua comes to my rescue.
"So out of it." Aida folds her arm and taps on her elbow.
"Its as Ms. Mistie says I have been fooling around. I guess being here put me on the mood haha."
Before Aida attempts to speak, the King moves forward and gazes upon me.
"So you are Eric, Theodore's boy."
"Y-yes your highness." I stutter as I reply
"I see , you are a strong one." He approves of me somehow.
Just like his son Julius he sensitive to people's presence due to their passive sensory skill
"Not at all your highness I'm just a boy after all."
"I see, well get along with my son." He nods and leaves
"Be on your best behavior next time." Lord Lumere warns as he follows alongside him the guards
The King might have forgiven me but Aida hasn't
She grabs me by the collar and drags me along.
"Yo, skirt flipper." Mistie jester
"I wasn't flipping skirts , I was checking the furniture durability err. I dropped my food."
Crap I'm a terrible liar
"*sigh* This is unlike you Eric." Prince Joshua appeared exasperated
"Sorry."
"I told you commoners were no good." Gil gives his piece
"I won't allow you to disrespect my servant." Aida growled
"Aida sure loves her retainers or is Eric an exception."
"Mistie stop drawing conclusions."
"Joshua, what do you think would happen if I take her boy away."
"I suggest you stay your hand Gil."
"Grrr, it's not like that at all!."
The sight of the 4 of them bantering, Aida's expressions animated. Makes me wonder if I'd done right by inserting myself in here.
Do I feel left behind?
A maid brings three tables, two ontaining desert and a big one for the cake.
I move my eyes down and that's when I notice a beeping light.
Crap I don't think I can make it
A millisecond is all I can do ill-prepared but that's more than enough to save them. Master would chew me out haha, he's free to follow me to the afterlife
I shove Aida to Prince Joshua's embrace, and spread my arms to take the burnt of the explosion off Mistie and Gil.
And the bomb goes off.
*boom!.*
The bomb blows off chunks of Eric's body as he absorbs the shock.
"Eric.." Aida's eyes tears as she attempts to run to him
"Aida!." Joshua takes to covering Aida
"You!." Gil yells in desperation
"He.. died."
Half of Eric's face is burnt as he lies facedown dying.
His eyes turn lifeless as Aida rushes over to him
"Don't , Eric please don't leave."
"I'm sorry Aida.. I promised I would stay but."
"Don't talk , Don't say anything or I will punish you." Aida hugs my body
She talks inaudibly as I slumber off, beyond that I hear glass shattering and figures falling from the sky.
"We're under attack!."
"Guards!."
"Someone help us!."
-Gil point of view
"Eric!, wake up!. I apologize for my antics today don't leave me behind I beg you."
"Aida, he can't hear you."
"Stay out of it Mistie."
"But Gil, Aida she's
"That commoner is dying all the fault lies on me." did he notice the bomb, Gil clicked his tongue as he gazed upon the dying boy.
"Don't blame yourself Gil, and Mistie do whatever it takes to keep yourself and Aida safe."
The guards are fighting desperately to protect the high profile guests , overwhelmed by the sheer number of assailants Gil takes initiative to help the guards fight. Joshua takes in the carnage the smell of blood and screams of terror, until Gil awakens him from his trance
"Joshua , let's go."
"Y-yes, I'm sorry Aida." He gives Eric a sad look and departs to fight
They both obtain weapons laying on the ground from felled guards and begin fighting.
"Get the King! First kill all the nobles!." A crow issued the order
"Earth spear!." Gil thrusts a spear to the ground prompting a miniature earth quake followed by spikes that separated the guests from the assailants.
"Light saber!." Joshua enchants his sword with Light element before leaping and slicing two crows.
"What brought you two are here?, where is Mistie and Aida!." Lord Rufus's expression worried
"She's fine, that boy. He protected her." 'And me' Gil scowled .
"Eric...He died?."
"He's dying." Joshua interjected.
"Gil, Joshua. Why aren't you vacating!." The King demanded an answer
"The people's lives are at risk including yours father , I won't leave with my hide knowing that I let you and our citizens die." Joshua stood up to the King
"We won't vacate , not when that commoner risked his life to save mine and I intend to have my debt repaid." Gil glowered at Eric's dying boy.
Ah I died..
Back in my body ,back on my wheelchair in a dark expanse no light to be seen except for a grassy hill in the distance.
I steer towards the grassy hill and notice the sun setting, twilight has always been associated with death and a boy.
That boy named Eric.
"Good evening Mr..."
"You know my name?."
"Ofcourse I know you, we are one and the after all. You felt my presence as I felt yours."
"Haha at times , but if both of us are here it means we both died."
"Not quite."
"You mean we aren't dead."
"A Chromata can't die unless he wills it.
Do you desire death Mr.."
"To be honest with You, the thought of death scares me."
"Why is that?."
"I lost everything back on earth, my limbs and what little I had wasn't enough. I had a lot of things to do and a lot of missed opportunities. I lived a life of regret."
"I see , and what do you have here."
"I have this world Magical Princess, my sole escape from the life of misery. I can't list the things that I have as I haven't awakened for long , however Aida is one of them."
"Magical Princess? I kept hearing it in your mind but im not sure what it is."
"How can I explain it, it will be long after the sun sets if I get the down to the nitty gritty."
"That would be fine after all, after the sun sets our lives will return to the world.. if you still desire so."
"Haha then here goes."
I tell Eric all about Magical Princess , he listens intently and takes what I say in strides. That is until curiosity got the best of him and he asks that one question I could not answer.
"Where am I in that fantasy novel?." He asks
"Well, you weren't there neither was Master save for a mention of him by Chronos the dragon."
"I see, I know now."
"Could you tell me ,what do you think you were doing in the game."
"When master found me, he imparted a wisdom on my soul. It's eat or get eaten he said. And I ate , I ate more than I could handle. I let the past consume me and revenge take what little of humanity I had left and you saved me from such fate." (See chapter prologue)
Eric the boy grows taller as he recounts the life he had yet to live, a life he could have lived had I not entered his body. He wears a leather armor a scar runs through his forehead to his left eye and a black leather armor , a crow tattoo along his neck. His black hair grew down to his waist and bangs covering his face.
"You were a member of the Crows."
"This who I was destined to be not long ago."
"Then why are you helping you here, you should be against me."
"Being with you. Living life through you and seeing you devote your life to another instead of taking others it was that bright of an existence."
The sun sets as Eric whose body turned into a adult turns to face me, I steer to face him.
"I really didn't do much and I should be the one thanking you. Without you Eric I would have never met Master and Aida."
Eric smiles and so do I, as I reach my hand he does the same.
We shake hands.
"That's enough with the sentimentals , time is up. Mr.. We have people to save."
"Right there with you Eric."
The memories of this Eric floods my psyche
6 year old Eric
Forced to live life as an orphan.
7 year old Eric
Picked up by a lone adventurer
10 year old Eric
Consumed Master blood awakening his Chromata that almost killed him
13 year old Eric
He honed his skill, lived solely for revenge
16 year old Eric
He found those who wronged him were nobles
20 yearold Eric
He joined the Crows cause
25 year old Eric
He killed and maimed those against his ideals
20 year old Eric
He obtained his grail in the form of revenge
26 year old Eric
He became a senior member of the Crows and acting leader
28 year old Eric
He was brought down by his own Master Theodore
With this Eric and I joined as one.
Rewind the clock of thine time.
I awaken to my body fully restored and to a teary eyed Aida and Mistie standing watch.
"He's awake, Eric how."
"You idiot, idiot . Don't you dare do it again."
I stood up fully recovered , taking in the sights of carnage Prince Joshua and Gil fight off the Crows alongside the remainder of the guards. From getting pushed back
Patting Aida's head I give her these final words before departing.
"To save you Aida, I'd do it again and again."
-meanwhile.-
"Struggling against kids and two middle aged nobles just how far you've disgraced our movement."
"Vice captain look carefully they are running out of juice. No mage could pull off sequenced spells and not fall from mana exhaustion.
"Solaris!." King Leo produces light beams pierces through multiple crows
"Earth coffin." The ground shakes as boulders form entrapting enemies
"Flare!." Blinding light engulfs a section of room as Joshua dispatches a few enemies
"Aqua Dragon!." Lord Rufus summons a water dragon washing those that stand in its path
The battle continues as the group throw spells at the Crows, their mana or the fuel that wills these miraculous spells into existence depletes by the minute. Until there is none left.
It was Gil that falls first
"Gh." On his knees
"Gil!." Joshua fires the last of his spells before a crow shoots him directly at his sword arm. "Ahh!."
"Joshua!"
King Leo rushes over to his son putting a shield though the assailants consistent barrage breaks through "ah!." Thus he fell
"I won't let you harm my daughter and his majesty." Lord Rufus fires off an intermediate power spell hitting a few of his targets before he fell from a pincer attack. He notices a stab a wound on his abdomen before collapsing "Khgg!."
"See I told ya not to worry Vice Cap'n." Says the Leader
"I guess you're right Captain."
"I'm always right." He laughs triumphantly
"Now to kill that arrogant king and be done with it."
The Crowes leader Yimir procured a gun from a crow and walked to the fallen king.
"Any last word your highness." He says
"I have nothing to say to you cowards."
"An elitist to the very end , not something I didn't expect."
And he shoots.
Or so he thought
"Rewind the clock of time.."
I saw everything, the fight and the injuries they obtained to protect their fellow citizens.
The first to call Gil had his wounds closed up
The second to fall Joshua had the bullet leave his arm going back to the assailant gun
The fourth to fall Rufus had his mortal stab reversed
And the shot that was intended to fell the King froze in mid air.
"This is as far as you can go Yimir."
"What are ya kid?." Frozen in time Yimir speaks
"A Specter, a Chromata, the blood son. you can call me many things but I prefer to call me House Lumere's Butler."
The flow of time returns to the way it was, as if the universe had naught the intention to be manipulated by my whims.
"Get him!." Yimir yells as he fires his gun
"Infinity sword."
I activate my Chromata skills and synch in with the Eric of the future.
I cut open multiple enemies with a single strike, it started as a singular strike which multiplied into 2 , then 3 , then 4 , then 5 the strikes travel through time and space producing its very own paradox.
As crows limbs fly out, they scream in terror as they fail to register what had happened
"What's going on , how did you get here?."
I'm right in front of Yimir , my sword pressed right into his throat
"For my mistress tears, for making her cry, and for murdering all those guards Yimir . Im cutting you down."
With a cold glare that is out of place, I speak to Yimir.
Is this me speaking or is it Eric, we are one and the same. This new entity felt more complete like pieces of a puzzle put together.
I'm a Chromata , an otherworlder, a murderer and most of all a devoted Butler.
"Sate your thirst for vengeance with my head ,kill me and another appears the Crows ideals is never to be underestimated whelp."
"Rivein, Fiore, Eizenburg, Lut, Hightown, Drewfall, Ishavul.. and Gizult."
"These are our bases, who gave you this information."
"A crow did."
"So this is it huh?, defeated by a brat of all things. I shouldn't have contacted a monster like you."
"Die."
Thus , I cut down the Crow ending his life.
"Eric?."
Aida runs toward Eric, the prophecy she been told fresh on her mind.
Eric turns back to her somewhat different , that boyish youth she'd known replaced by the eyes of a killer.
"Mistress." He voiced gently.
"What was that just now, explain yourself you die and come back as this killer." Aida is in tears
"I'm sorry."
"No I'm sorry, you protected me and I did nothing but push myself onto you. If I'd let you be on your own you wouldn't have died."
"So you knew?."
"I was with you the whole time I felt your breath leave you, I'm sorry it was my fault."
"Aida."
I embrace my mistress, whispering the words I'd meant to keep to myself. I want her to be happy.
"Do not concern yourself with a servant like myself, I want nothing but the best for you. Seeing you with your friends made me realize how small my scope is. I cant gatekeep you away from your loved ones Prince Joshua , Mistie and even Gil. This is your world to selfishly fit myself in this environment is inexcusable. This is goodby..."
A resounding slap interrupted my speech, Aida shouting delayed the pain.
"Where do you think you're going you good for nothing butler ,spouting nonsense about Prince Joshua and my world. A world without a servant of your caliber is not worth living. So I'll say this..
You are my favorite and I lo.. lo.."
"Lo?."
"Look at you as a person!."
"person?, have I graduated from servitude haha." I just can't take her seriously
"No *sigh* I love you Eric."
Love? Me?
"Come again?."
"I love you Eric."
"But what about Joshua."
"I'll break of the engagement for you."
"No you can't.. mistress this will harm you more than it will harm me."
"Well I can't right now, but you'll see for yourself Eric I'll become a woman worthy of your affection."
For me, you got to be kidding me. Making the villainess fall in love wasn't in the script , my train of thoughts is suddenly interrupted by the voice of one naggy father.
"Aida!, my sweet Aida!, you're safe." " Eric thank you for saving my daughters and my life I see that the Apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
"Master isn't my father."
"Nonsense , he raised a fine young man." Lord Rufus pats my shoulder
"Now excuse me for a moment I believe I'm due to act like a dotting father."
He leaps and locks his daughter in a tight hug
"Father No, you're embarrassing me." Aida protests
"Haha, excuse him Aida he was worried sick about you." "Eric I'm glad youre safe and I'd also like to thank you for saving us." Joshua appeared behind Lord Rufus
"The hero of the hour, the legendary Chromata. I fell for you ."
"Mistie!." Aida yells
"Its a jest Haha." She turns to Gil "what do you want to say to your savior." Gil followed suit.
"Thank you, I'm not in the business of debts. I'd get at you back twice for today." He smirks "Commoner."
The remainder of guards on rush in as the King made his presence known.
The gallery watches his confident gait in silence.
"Eric , was it." He says addressing
"Yes that is my name."
"You were a great help." He gives a rare smile "don't do it again." He departs
The crowd of nobles clap their hand and cheer as they realize the worst was behind them.
The day ends with my name chanted by the nobility and guards alike.
Thus the curtain falls on the prologue.