"Because you are The Evil King's Strongest Warlord."
For a moment, the Young Man remembered the day when someone with a soft voice told him that he was stronger than he thought. But when he tried to remember more deeply, the memory faded away as if it were being washed from his mind. Bewildered, he could only assume that it was a side effect of forgetting his given name.
"But I failed. I am not worthy for such title."
"That doesn't sound like you. Does sleeping for two thousand years really broke your mind?"
"It's not like that. But the guilt remembering that day where I've been beaten and failed to keep The Hall Gate still haunt me."
The young lady was peeved. Despite all the beautiful things she showed him, the Young Man still looked depressed even after his long slumber. But she didn't give up just yet; she had a trick to bring his excitement back—a trick that was also a procedure for him to gain freedom like hers.
"Then, I suggest you to choose a name for yourself since you are no longer bounded by anyone anymore."
"A name?"
"Yes! Let me introduce my self first then. The name's Anna, Anna Marigold. I am a free spirit from now and not be bounded by anyone."
Her appearance was now clear in front of the Young Man. The young lady he saw before him was no longer the same one who wore the same cape as him in the past. She was now a very beautiful young lady from the elven race, with pointy ears and golden hair.
Her eyes turned azure, her skin became white, and the shady appearance she had vanished in the blink of an eye after she spoke the name. But despite the rapid transformation, the Young Man did not shiver; he still saw her as she had been in the past. Appearances may be deceiving, but he knew who she truly was and could not be fooled by her filthy magic. After all, in the past, she had used the same trick to conquer an entire country and turn it into a sea of flames.
The Young Man's mind spoke louder than his mouth, and Anna immediately realized that he saw through her disguise right off the bat. Instead of getting angry because her trick didn't work, Anna tried to talk to him, as he might not have known everything.
"It is clear in your eyes right..." Anna then hold her chest by both of her hands, "Our body might change but the evil deeds we do in the past may never be forgiven."
"I... wouldn't count it as evil deeds."
"Speak to yourself, we cause so much trouble in this world, at least not you." she then reach the Young Man's hand, "But it's all in the past. Havoc, chaos, even failure such as your defeat against him if I would say."
The Young Man drooped his head even lower. His guilt felt like it could never be healed, even after two thousand more years of slumber. But a new warm hand was there for him, a hand he never knew could be this warm.
"That's why we've given the second chance. The second chance to live and fix our mistakes in the past. The second chance of live from him, our Great Evil King."
At that moment, the Young Man's eyes opened. Several questions flooded his mind immediately, craving answers. He remembered the title he once served in the past, and then he recalled the silhouette of a great, dark, and intimidating being who brought fear to all who looked upon him. And if what Anna said is true...
"Then for what purpose... he gave us the second chance to live?" the Young Man ask Anna with bewildered face.
Surprised by his question, Anna herself had never asked the same. She had simply lived until this day, when she reunited with him. But her appearance before him had a reason; she smiled confidently, as if she had the answer all along.
"Did you want to know? Then I guess we have a deal."
Anna reached for the Young Man's hand to make a deal with him. She whispered to him, and he agreed to the deal. What she whispered was more than enough to move the Young Man's heart, as she was experienced in controlling people's emotions.
.
.
.
A month had passed, and the hand that once shook Anna's hand to make a deal was now used to carry a bucket of flowers. The Young Man still had no name even after a month of working at Anna's place. But among the people he met, they called him Steve, thanks to Anna's quick thinking to avoid suspicion in the neighborhood.
The Young Man now spends his time wandering around the shop, the neighborhood, and even the city, just to deliver buckets of flowers to clients. Thanks to his physical appearance, which is almost similar to most humans, the Young Man faces no prejudice from the locals and successfully blends into society. He just needs to cover the red orb on his chest and the few scales that stick to parts of his body so he can live peacefully as if nothing ever happened. Wearing long sleeves and a hoodie does the trick.
"Thanks for becoming our regular, come back soon you hear!" Anna shout to the customer.
"Yeah, I'll contact you if our date is successful." answer the man while in hurry leaving the store.
The Young Man stared at the rushing customer leaving, a happy smile on his face as he held a bucket of flowers against his chest. So many things were going through his mind while looking at that person, but it wasn't the answer he was searching for.
"Steve, how's it going? Did you enjoy your stay here?" ask Anna.
"Don't call me that. And I wasn't looking for a place to stay in the first place." answer the Young Man uninterested.
"Yet you are looking for someone to serve, aren't you?"
Can't argue with that. The Young Man averted his eyes and nodded in agreement. The fact that Anna has become his lord for a while can't be denied until he finds out why his former lord, The Great Evil King, gave him a second chance at life.
"Well, it's our break time anyway. You can enjoy yourself for the time being."
"Then, excuse me."
The Young Man left Anna's side and proceeded up the stairs where Anna's and The Young Man's rooms were located. He entered his room and reminisced about the memento of The Evil King, The Cursed Blade, Havoc.
In the past, The Evil King had six arms and held a weapon in each. The Haunted Cursed Blade, The Soul Defiler Scythe, The Lust Attractor Whip, The All-Eating Hammer, The Blood Collector Spear, and The Skin Ripper Nail. These six weapons symbolised The Great Evil King's true power and dominant prestige over the world—a being who brought chaos, alluring the darkness that came from within.
Pitying him while looking at him, Anna caught him red-handed, staring blankly at the worn greatsword as if it were his beloved wife.
"Caught you. Stole it from my treasury?"
"Said, I can do whatever I want to uncover the question in my head."
"Whatever, that just old worn blade. Nothing special about it."
"I can feel it, the surge power from the blade. It's calling me... my lord?"
"Cut it out, you sound like a twelve years old that just discover magic."
"..."
"I think if you want to uncover the truth, you should go out for a while and look for the answer on your own."
"But your shop? I'm bound to this place."
"Not when you're on a break."
The Young Man then decided to leave the store and wander around the city to find any information related to his former master. Anna gave him 10 Diu in case he wanted to have a treat along the way. However, since he was unfamiliar with the concept of money, he would just hold onto the money until he got back.
In the town, The Young Man saw thousands of faces—different yet the same. People held conversations to strengthen their bonds with each other and walked in sync as their destinations remained the same.
This atmosphere and environment, which The Young Man had never seen in the past, made his heart throb. There were no sounds of people screaming in fear, no dark red sky overwhelming the entire world, and no powerful beings spreading fear to dominate. Just a peaceful world where a reassuring wind blew in a direction nobody knew.
Not long after, The Young Man encountered faces similar to those from his terrible nightmare. A group of five, who had fulfilled their dreams and ambitions through their own efforts, caught his attention. Especially the man in the middle, the leader of the group, who seemed capable of taking him on alone.
The Young Man's blood boiled in an instant; he clenched his fists and frowned as if he held a grudge against them. But in reality, he had been defeated, and it was entirely his fault that he failed the mission The Evil King had given him—the only mission he had ever received. He had no right to hate them or seek revenge under the same conditions. Moreover, they were no longer mere men; they remained like sculpted stone.
The wind then blew softly against him, giving him both a chill and a sense of tranquility. It swayed his long, messy hair and momentarily blinded his jade green eyes with stray particles of dust. He then left and took shelter in a nearby coffee shop.
And then, a new problem emerged for him...