Chapter 6: The Real Him.
"Hm~ I'll stroll around I guess." With nothing else in mind, Alaric made up his mind and decided to take stroll, to taks break from all the killing he had been doing the past days.
Beria Village wasn't a big village nor could it be called small either. The village layout itself was round, protected by a thick stone rounded wall. The life on the village wasn't bad, it's environment more peaceful than living on a town or cities.
Without the Adventurer Guild and other guild residing on Beria Village, the life of commoners here would undoubtedly be filled with fear from the forest. It was only because a guild was set up here that they could live in peace, something other village has no access to.
While Alaric was walking around aimlessly, he had come across a particular store. On top of its door a wooden sign hung, a weapon store. Tempted to go in, Alaric was reminded that he was dirt poor. He doesn't have money and he feels that taking quests would be too much of a work.
The interior of the store can be seen through glass panel acting as the store wall. Inside, weapons of various sizes and shape were hung and displayed, neat and tidy. His reflection could also be seen, a young man at his twenties with black hair slicked to the back, light brown eyes and a slightly brown skin tone. His body was good, not too bulky neither skinny.
He was also tall, standing at the height of 186 cm. Alaric himself is confident in his own looks, further strengthened after receiving the looks of few female villagers he had come across with.
Sighing to himself, Alaric resumed his stroll. He had visited a few stores only to look but can't buy. This frustrated him. It reminded of his past. Back on Earth, when he was still a young boy, he lived in the slums. He had nothing, he survived through eating garbages and leftovers, sometimes he would be forced to steal.
It was only when he was around 15, where a kind, old lady offered to shelter him after he helped her cross a street. She was really kind to him. The old lady had a daughter who lived far away with her husband.
He had only met her a few times. She was lovely and kind, just like the old lady, her mother and his benefactor.
"I'm only a few days gone, hopefully she's doing better." Alaric mumbled to himself, shaking away the lonely feeling.
The streets were filled with people, happily chatting with each others. Stalls and stores were filled with, carriages pulled by huge beasts roaming across the streets. Children playing happily with each other, seemingly without a care in the world. Such was a happy scene indeed.
"I need to leave this place fast." Alaric said, remembering one of the things Kai had told about during their walk home. Ilia Village, a near neighborhood village of Beria Village were built deep on the Enchanted Forest. Unlike Beria Village, Ilia has no Adventurer Guild. The level of beasts there ranging from level 20 to 35, unlike the outer part of the forest, only level 5 to 15.
While he asked if he could exterminate all of the beasts on the outer area, he was met with a harsh no from Kai. He had already massacred lots of beasts, causing the population of beasts to diminished. The reason he wasn't allowed to kill lower level beasts was because the lower level adventurer would be forced to kill higher level beasts and that result in them being killed.
He reluctantly agreed to kill only beasts level 20 and above and must flee at the sight of lower level ones. A few minutes later, he was already on his way back to the Adventurer Guild. His eyes then caught sight of a young man, probably at the age of 15, approaching adventurers with a pleading look.
Alaric watched the boy from afar who was approaching adventurers left and right, asking them about something. Some adventurers would shake their head and some would choose to ignore him. This went for many times, making the boy more desperate and dejected.
Then an older girl approached the boy, looking dejected as well. The two leaned on the wall of the Adventurer Guild with their heads down. Alaric's curiosity got better than him, he approached them.
"Sir, are you an adventurer?" As soon as he got close, the young boy immediately asked a question.
"Yes." Alaric replied, smiling slightly. "May I know what you were asking the other adventurers earlier? "
"Well, let me introduce myself first. I'm Endo Santos, and this girl here is my fiance, Alliah. We're seeking adventurers for help to decrease the amount of beasts in our territory area. And as you can see, no luck. Everyone we've asked has rejected us."
"Oh I see, but why not post a quest paper instead? Wouldn't that be faster? " Hearing their troubles, Alaric couldn't help but suggest something.
"No, it's slower actually. Not only will it takes days for our request to be permitted, not everyone is interested. No one wants to risk their lives." Aliah butted in their conversation, answering the questions Alaric had in mind.
Just then, something peculiar happened. A black hole suddenly opened beneath Alaric, devouring him. Too fast for him to react, Alaric fall down the infinite black void. Endo and Aliah, had a dazed reaction.
— In the Void —
"Hmm~ Too weak. The world you are in right now are too weak, too peaceful. This won't do, my liege, you need to get stronger fast."
Alaric was floating in the infinite vast expanse, unable to see or move and even feel his surroundings. He could only hear. Naturally, he heard the voice. He was confused. Who was it talking to, to him?
'Who are you' He asked. Yet he was met with silence. Then the voice spoke again.
"My liege, soon you and I will be reunited. Soon, I am always watching over you. But for now, it is time for us to depart."
"Ohh how long have I been waiting? Another thousand more years wouldn't hurt. Get stronger fast my liege~"
Alaric was now sure that the voice was talking to him. But who was it? And.. Who is he?