"I'll train for an hour, two at most. Then I will head back in."
Blake whispers quietly to himself, planning his day as he walks out of the barracks and into the open air.
The breeze is gentle as he exits, an odd pairing with the absolute noise of the crowds outside. Cheering, laughter, playing, buying, and all sorts of other festival activities take place before him in the outside world. The festival is in full swing.
Blake scoffs at the sight, though he is still showing his awe at the sight of the crowd.
Though it is rather thin the closer it gets to the gate of the city, the further into the city they go, the denser the crowd of people becomes, until just as far as Blake can see in the direction of the center, it is so packed it seems almost impossible to break through the crowd.
"Hmm..."
Blake takes a moment, thinking as he looks out.
"Hey, you're one of the Adventurers helping to keep watch on the gate, yeah?" a guard asks, walking up to Blake from further down the right side of the wall.
"Yeah, I am. I was about to train since I had the day off. Did you need something?" Blake asks, somewhat annoyed at having been approached during his free time.
"Oh no, not at all, just wanted to thank you for coming out here and helping out! Say, what's your name?" the guard asks, extending his hand.
Blake stared at the hand, confused.
"Thank me?"
"Well, yeah. You are out here helping, right? You deserve to be thanked for your hard work!"
Blake was dumbfounded. Was this really it? His first steps into fame? A random guard in the city of Inchor wants to know his name.
"Blake, sir," he answered, firmly taking the guards hand and giving it a good shake.
"No need for formalities while off the clock lad. You said you were looking for the training grounds to train, right? Follow me, I'll take you there," the guards says with a friendly smile.
A sense of accomplishment spread throughout Blake's body, originating from his chest and radiating outwards. Acknowledgement for his work. Small steps though they may be, they were the first of many on his journey to fame.
"Lead the way," Blake replied, a look of confidence entering his eyes.
This alone was enough to make his day, enough to show him that he could really do it, no matter how slow the process may actually be. He could fulfill the promise made years ago.
"Oh my gosh, he just hit him!"
"Assualt! There's an assault!"
"Guards, come quickly!"
Gasps and shouts from the crowd pull Blake out from his emotions as he spins around to see the source of the commotion.
At the center of the crowd that was rapidly forming a circle was his teacher and mentor, and on the ground was one of the Adventurers from that famous Adventuring group, the Monster Party!
"Lionell?"
"Ah hell..!" the guard said as he watched before running forward and past the crowd.
Another guard moved in to back him up, and together, they pulled Lionell off of the Adventurer. Surprisingly enough, Lionell did not fight back, even as the guard Blake had been talking to started to tie his wrists together with rope, all while the Adventurer clutched his nose where he lay on the ground.
"Stop!" the Adventurer shouted, causing both of the guards to halt.
Lionell seemed to almost snap back into reality as the Adventurer shouted, just as surprised as Blake was to see what was unfolding.
"What do you mean?" the guard asked, clearly confused.
"Its fine, no big deal, just let him go!" the Adventurer answered,spitting out his own blood as it dripped into his mouth.
The guards looked even more confused, and so did Blake.
"But sir, he just attacked you!"
"I don't care! Just let the bastard go, it doesn't matter!" the Adventurer shouted back.
"Why is he letting him go?"
"Is he afraid of what he might do?"
"What if he attacks us next?"
The crowd was growing anxious by the second as they watched the scene unfold before them.
"I said to let him go!"
This spurs the guard that Blake had been talking with to move and untie Lionell's wrists, freeing him from the binding. As he does, he loudly proclaimed to Lionell so that all of the crowd can here.
"I don't know what caused this, but if I see you throw one more punch, you are going on the cell for a month, and you will be fined heavily. You would also risk losing your license as an Adventurer. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand," Lionell answers with a short nod.
The guard only sighs.
"Good, get out of my sight then."
Listening to the direct order, Lionell turns to walk away, making his way back to the barracks. As he is about to enter, the Adventurer he had just attacked calls out to him.
"Lionell!"
Lionell pauses, but he doesn't look back in the slightest.
"Be seeing you."
"Tch!"
Lionell continues into the wall and out of sight.
"That's enough gawking, nothing to see here, move along people!" the guard shouts, waving his arms and shooing the crowd away as they mumble to themselves.
As they dispersed, the guard offers a hand to help the Adventurer up, but he swats it away before picking himself up. As he moves to stand, Blake marches forward himself, looking for answers.
"What the hell was that about!?" Blake asks, his voice hushed but firm as he looks at the Adventurer.
The Adventurer only gives him a sideways glance before scoffing.
"None of your concern, kid. Move along, would you?" he answers, waving his hand to shoo Blake away, but Blake stands firm.
"It is my concern when one of my group member's attacks someone in broad daylight!"
"Oh, you work with him?" the Adventurer asked, his interest suddenly piqued by Blake's appearance. "Hmm. The name's Chris, leader of the Monster Party."
Chris holds his hand out for a handshake, but Blake doesn't even bother looking at it.
"I don't care who you are, I want to know what you did to provoke Lionell!"
"Easy, easy! No need to get worked up!" Chris said, raising his hands up as if trying to calm a startled horse.
Blake could feel his temper flaring up inside of him, but he managed to keep it in check with much effort.
"I just happened to accidently push some of his buttons, that's all."
"Why don't you stay away from him then, wouldn't want your pretty face to get more messed up than it already is."
"Hey now, no need to be insulting," Chris said, his interest turning to annoyance, but he sighed before it really began to show.
"What about you, huh? I don't think I've ever heard of your before, but considering you work with Lionell, you must be a pretty tough guy."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Huh? What do you mean? You work with Lionell Mukes!" Chris answered, clearly shocked.
"And?" Blake asked, still confused.
Chris laughed.
"You mean you don't know of THE Lionell Mukes? The one from the famous Hero's Party?"
"Hero's Party..?"
Blake's eyes went wide as he listened, his anger leaving him entirely.
"You really don't know, huh! Now that is funny!" Chris said before laughing once more.
"You mean to say that-"
"Yep, Lionell is an certified hero, which leads me back to my question. What about you? Why would one of the Heroes of the kingdom want you in their group?"
Blake's legs felt unsteady beneath his feet, like thin twigs ready to snap under the slightest pressure.
"Say, considering you guys are doing such small-scale quests, perhaps you might want to join my group? Do some real quests and make a name for yourself as one trained by one of the Hero's from the Hero's Party?"
Blake focused back on Chris, drawn in once more by the chance at fame being dangled right before his eyes. However...
"No..." Blake answered with a gulp. "I-I don't know why you would want me, but if Lionell doesn't trust you, I don't trust you."
"Oh man, if Lionell doesn't trust me? Kid, it sounds like you don't even trust Lionell right now!"
Blake flinched at the comment, almost recoiling backwards as Chris laughed once more.
"I guess the two of you are due for a conversation right about now, huh?"
Blake stumbled backwards, unsure what he should do.
"Why don't you go and talk to him, huh?"
Chris' words felt like a trap designed to ruin the group Blake was in, yet Blake couldn't ignore the cheese. It was too big to be overlooked.
Stumbling backwards even more, Blake slowly turned around, walking towards the barracks, his world slightly off-tilt with each step he took, the ground unstead and shaking beneath him.
No, that was just his legs, they were starting to give out on him.
"Lionell is an Hero..?"
He needed to talk to Lionell about this. Now.