For three days, Arthfael was on his way to the Esteria Palace. Arthfael's once enthusiastic spirit had dwindled completely. Even when the carriage he was riding in entered the palace grounds, Arthfael just slumped in his seat, staring out the window.
"Hey! Wake up! We have arrived at the Esteria Palace!" shouted Valentina, pulling Arthfael's hair to get him to snap out of it. But Arthfael's body felt too weak to move.
Finally, the carriage carrying Arthfael, Magnus, and Valentina stopped right behind the carriage carrying King Galen and the Princess. The royal guards in their armor quickly lined up to greet the arrival of King Galen's entourage, who had just returned from Suncrest City.
"King Galen and the Princess have arrived!" shouted one of the guards to announce the leader's arrival in the area.
The guards who had lined up from the front of the carriage carrying Galen and the Princess to the entrance of the palace immediately stood tall and puffed up their chests to show respect.
Arthfael, along with Magnus and Valentina, then got off the carriage and walked right behind Galen and the Princess. The guards immediately looked at Arthfael and Valentina, who was a fairy, strangely.
"Hey, isn't that a fairy?" whispered one of the guards that was clearly audible to Arthfael.
"Yes, I haven't seen that kind of species since I pulled out my baby teeth," answered another guard.
Arthfael forced a bitter smile, "Don't they know how to whisper? Why are they talking about me so loudly?" he thought to himself as he continued to walk with the newly arrived Kingdom entourage.
Behind the doors of the Esteria Palace, several servants also lined up to welcome Galen and the Princess's arrival. At the end of the line, a male head servant stood slightly bowed towards Galen to show his respect to the King.
"Welcome back, my King," said the head servant to Galen.
Galen nodded his head and walked past the head servant, then turned to a woman with yellow hair similar to the Princess's.
"That must be the Queen," thought Arthfael as he saw the woman, who seemed delighted to welcome her husband's return.
"My King, my Princess, you have finally returned." she said.
The Queen's gaze turned to Arthfael, who was standing behind the King with a puzzled look on his face. Then the Queen looked at Magnus and asked, "Magnus, who is that man?"
Magnus lowered his gaze slightly and did not immediately respond to the Queen's gaze.
"He is Arthfael, Queen Calliope. He won the match against Ogreking owned by King Galen without getting hurt at all. Because of his skill, King Galen invited Arthfael to come here," Magnus replied.
Queen Calliope smiled happily and approached Arthfael to greet him. Arthfael looked bewildered as he did not know how to greet the Queen. Arthfael immediately remembered to bow with his right hand in front of his stomach and his left hand behind his waist.
"Nice to meet you, Queen Calliope," said Arthfael.
Queen Calliope looked puzzled by Arthfael's greeting. "Oh, yes. Thank you. Welcome to the Palace of Esteria, Arthfael." she replied, then looked towards Valentina who was flying beside Arthfael.
"Isn't this a fairy?" Calliope asked, pointing to Valentina.
"Yes, Your Highness. I am a fairy. My name is Valentina." Valentina replied, then bowed her head slightly to greet Calliope.
Upon hearing Valentina's answer, Calliope was surprised. "This is the first time I remember seeing a fairy since the last time a tooth fairy took my last baby tooth." Calliope replied.
Several servants who overheard their conversation also eagerly looked at Valentina's figure flying beside Arthfael. Especially since the fairy race is the rarest race found since they live in the forbidden forest which cannot even be accessed by ordinary humans.
"Is this your pet?" Calliope asked.
Valentina was taken aback by the question asked by the Queen of Esteria. Meanwhile, the Princess seemed to be holding back her laughter, hearing her mother's statement.
"No, Your Highness. I am Arthfael's friend. We are a team." Valentina replied.
Arthfael quickly nodded his head.
"Oh, I see. In that case, you can go to your rooms... William, please escort them to their rooms," ordered Calliope to William, the head butler.
"I will also go back to my room to change my clothes, Mother," replied the Princess.
"Very well. Clean yourself and wash your hair with the aloe vera shampoo brought by the merchant from the city of Arcadia," replied Calliope.
The Princess nodded her head and then went with some of her female attendants to her room to clean herself. Arthfael and Valentina followed William to the room they would be staying in.
They walked quite far from their original arrival point, and through a corridor in the outer area of the main palace. Arthfael and Valentina, who had just arrived at the Esteria Palace, continued to look around and see every corner of the palace.
"By the way, does the Princess not have a name? I haven't heard her name since earlier," asked Arthfael while walking behind William.
"Actually, it is taboo to call the Princess by her name when talking. Unless the Princess allows it. The Princess's name is Arabella. She is the second child of King Galen and Queen Calliope," answered William.
"The second child? So there is still a first child?" asked Arthfael who was still curious.
"Right. His eldest child is currently waging a war in Ravenwood City to drive away the Firebelcher monsters that have been attacking the city for the past month." William answered again.
Arthfael was shocked to hear it. Just hearing the name was scary enough, let alone having to fight for a whole month.
"Is his eldest child also a girl?" Arthfael asked again.
"His eldest child is a boy. He is a Prince named Frederick." William answered again before stopping in front of a closed door and opening it using his magic.
"Please come in." William invited and gestured for Arthfael to enter the room first before he followed.
The guest room that Arthfael would be staying in was twice the size of the previous room. There was even a window that showed a mountain from the room.
"Since Miss Valentina is a fairy, I'm worried that giving such a large room will make Miss Valentina have difficulty. So I'll make a small room on this table." William said and waved his hand in the air, creating a replica of a small house that could be occupied by Valentina.
Valentina smiled happily and immediately flew towards the house, just as William finished creating it using his magic.
"Wow, the size fits me perfectly! Thank you, William!" Valentina said.
Arthfael was still amazed by the various magic performed by the people in front of him. It made him also want to have magic.
"If you need help, please move the bell next to your bed. The palace servants will come here soon," said William.
Arthfael looked towards the bell mentioned and nodded his head.
"Is there anything else I can help you with?" asked William.
"That's enough," answered Arthfael.
"Dinner will be held at 7 o'clock. Please go to the dining room before the King arrives. If the King has arrived, we will automatically close access to the dining room," requested William.
Arthfael nodded his understanding. After all the messages were conveyed by William, William said goodbye and left Arthfael's room, closing the door behind him.
Shortly after William left, Arthfael realized something.
"Isn't there a clock here?" asked Arthfael.
Valentina pointed to the black line on her wrist, "You can use that."
Arthfael immediately tried it and sure enough, there was a clock feature that showed the time in that world. Although the numbers were quite strange, Arthfael could easily read it and understand the writing on it.
"Ok. Then I want to take a bath first," said Arthfael, then headed towards the door in the room followed by Valentina behind him.
As the door opened, Arthfael and Valentina were both amazed to see the spacious and clean bathroom.
Before entering, Arthfael turned around and pointed at Valentina's face, "Don't come in until I finish bathing! You dirty fairy!" shouted Arthfael before entering and slamming the bathroom door, leaving Valentina stunned.
Valentina blinked her eyes repeatedly and tried to process Arthfael's words. Until her brain finally found the meaning of Arthfael's words and her face turned red instantly.
"Hey! I'm not dirty!" Valentina shouted while pointing at the closed door in front of her.
The Kingdom of Esteria, now ruled by King Galen, was located in the City of Evermore and was one of the four largest kingdoms in existence. The City of Evermore was known for its fertile plantation sources, and to protect the gardens from thieves who snuck into the Evermore region, Galen kept several S-class monsters that were released at night. Ogru, the Ogreking, was one of his monsters tasked with guarding the apple orchard in the back of the Esteria Palace. Ogru's departure didn't make Galen sad because he still had many other S-level monsters like Banshee, Bloodfiend, Cryptcrawler, and Juggernaut. These monsters, of course, followed Galen's orders as the leader of the region. Even Arabella was close to the Juggernaut monsters who were tasked with guarding the wheat fields in the Evermore region. "Ah, so refreshing!" exclaimed Arthfael just after he finished cleaning himself in a bathtub filled with warm water, after previously being unable to take a bath in the river for three
Knock! Knock!The sound of a knock on the bedroom door echoed throughout the room, causing Arthfael and Valentina to turn simultaneously. For a moment, they fell silent and exchanged puzzled glances."What should I say?" Arthfael asked, feeling confused, especially since his door remained closed."Just shout for them to come in. It seems like the person is still there." Valentina replied."Is that polite to say? I am a guest here," Arthfael retorted.Valentina scratched her neck, even though it didn't itch at all due to her confusion. Eventually, she flicked her finger and agreed."Just open the door, then." Valentina said."Alright." Arthfael said, approaching the door and opening it for the person on the other side, who was standing outside his room.Arthfael finally opened the door and his eyes widened when he saw a woman standing there in a white dress, her eyes filled with hope."Am I disturbing you late at night? I apologize for my rudeness," said Arabella, the Princess of the K
A bright morning greeted the man with shoulder length, tied back black hair, revealing his upright ears and sharp jawline.His eyes gleamed with a fiery spirit, clearly reflected in the mirror in front of him."Alright, Arthfael, let's begin our journey now so you can go home and marry your dream woman." Arthfael said to himself while gazing at his bare chest in front of the mirror.For some reason, he thought he preferred his appearance as Arthfael rather than Alvin in his original life.After finishing his reflection and tidying up his appearance, including changing into clothes provided by the kingdom, Arthfael left the bathroom.Valentina, who saw Arthfael, looked astonished and nearly stumbled from the two-foot height, enticed by Arthfael's handsomeness."Why are you flying like that? Are you enchanted by me or something?" Arthfael confidently asked.Valentina snorted. Initially, she wanted to praise Arthfael's handsomeness, but hearing his confident remark made her feel disguste
The night had arrived. The journey undertaken by Arthfael, accompanied by two guards from the Kingdom of Esteria, was forced to stop to prevent a monster attack during the night. It was common for monsters to be more active at night, hunting for prey, so they decided to take a break instead of moving at night and attracting the attention of hunting monsters.The horse drawn carriage carrying Arthfael and Valentina eventually came to a halt, and shortly after, one of the guards knocked on the carriage window to inform them of the reason for the stop."Lord Arthfael, we will make a brief stop here before entering the next forest because there is a Grimlash monster that likes to hunt at night," said one of the royal guards."Oh, I see. Very well," replied Arthfael as he stepped down from the carriage along with Valentina, who had just woken up from her sleep.For Valentina, who was very small in size, the carriage seating area was quite spacious. It was no wonder Valentina could sleep so
Arthfael stood in front of Valentina, letting the fairy dry his wet body after bathing in the river, along with his soaked pants from being immersed in the river to catch the Aquarus fish king he was targeting."Okay, we're done," said Valentina right after Arthfael was completely dry.Arthfael looked at his body from top to bottom and made sure it was completely dry. After confirming, Arthfael nodded his head and looked towards the pile of fish.There were at least 9 fish on the riverbank, impaled with the spear he had made a while ago.With so many fish, plus 1 large fish king, Arthfael now felt confused about how to carry them all."If I carry them all at once, it will be difficult. Should I go back and forth here to carry the fish bit by bit?" Arthfael asked."The distance from the river to the stopping point is very far and not efficient. What if we look for hanging tree roots? They are usually more elastic and can be used to carry these fish," Valentina suggested."That's true.
Arthfael returned with two tree roots he had obtained and handed them to Valentina with a delighted expression on his face, unable to contain his happiness.Valentina looked at Arthfael suspiciously and squinted her eyes at him, "What's wrong with you?" Valentina asked, confused.Arthfael approached Valentina immediately and carelessly placed the roots by the river, feeling enthusiastic about his own story."Valentina!" Arthfael called out, feeling happy because he had just met a phoenix named Flare in the middle of the forest."What's up?" Valentina asked lazily but still approached Arthfael, curious about his story.Especially since Arthfael had been gone for quite some time just to find two tree roots."I met a phoenix!" Arthfael exclaimed excitedly.Contrary to his expectations, where Valentina would be ecstatic, overjoyed, and even look at him with sparkling eyes as if she couldn't believe his story, Valentina reacted the opposite of his expectations.Valentina's face appeared fl
The journey of Arthfael, along with Zeke and Ian, which had been delayed, finally resumed as the sun rose again. The horse-drawn carriage continued its journey through the forest and passed through the valley.The sun, which had initially only revealed a small portion of itself, now dared to show itself higher. The weather gradually turned hotter, subjecting Arthfael, who was inside the carriage, to an extraordinary heat."Goodness, does the scorching weather here always feel like this?" Arthfael asked, removing his outer clothing and leaving only a white shirt to cover his upper body."Yes, that's how it is. We will soon enter the Blazing Arboretum," replied Valentina, who also appeared to be overheated and sweating profusely."What is the Blazing Arboretum?" Arthfael asked, as he had no knowledge of this new world."The Blazing Arboretum is one of the hottest forests in this place. It used to be a volcano filled with lava in its surroundings. But it was destroyed when the volcano er
For a fruit called Emberberries, located inside the cave where Inferno Falcon resides, Arthfael, along with Zeke and Valentina, began to devise a plan for themselves.Actually, their plan was quite simple. They would secretly take the fruit and then return to the horse carriage. But in reality, the forest they thought would be easy to pass through was not as they had imagined.The three of them now hid behind the bushes as they watched a flock of Thunderbreaks flying in front of them. They immediately took cover and were perplexed about what to do."So, what do we do now?" Valentina whispered to Arthfael and Zeke.Zeke shrugged his shoulders, unsure of what to do next. He looked at Arthfael, who was crouched beside him.Feeling Valentina and Zeke's gaze, Arthfael became confused as well. He was already feeling unbearably hot and on top of that, he had to hide in the bushes."Earlier, you said Thunderbreak was at what level?" Arthfael asked Valentina again to confirm."Level A," Valent
A week had passed since Alvin's initiation into the corporate rhythm of Graham Company. As he approached the office building on that particular morning, he noticed Marshall standing near the entrance. The two exchanged a friendly nod, and without hesitation, they walked side by side into the bustling lobby.The elevator doors opened just as they reached it, and Alvin and Marshall stepped inside. The hum of the elevator's ascent enveloped them in a brief moment of solitude. It was within this confined space that Marshall broached a topic beyond the realm of work."Hey, Alvin," Marshall began, leaning casually against the elevator wall, "how's Camilla doing these days? Last time we talked, she had just lost Richard."Alvin's expression softened at the mention of Camilla. "She's doing much better now," he replied. "She's formed a contract with Neptunis and even mastered the art of lightning magic. It's incredible how resilient she is."Marshall's eyes widened in genuine amazement. "That'
With the introduction to his new workplace, Alvin felt a mix of excitement and anticipation. Sophia led him to the 3rd floor, where his workstation awaited. Upon entering the spacious, well-lit office area, Alvin noticed the hum of productivity and the scent of freshly printed documents.Sophia directed Alvin to a desk where a woman was working diligently on her computer. Alvin's eyes widened in recognition — it was the same woman from the elevator earlier. Sophia approached the desk and tapped Felicia gently on the shoulder."Felicia, this is Alvin, our newest addition to the team. Alvin, meet Felicia, your colleague here. She'll be showing you the ropes," Sophia announced with a warm smile.Felicia turned around, her face lighting up with recognition. "Ah, we did meet earlier, didn't we? Good to officially welcome you, Alvin!" Felicia extended her hand, and Alvin shook it warmly.Sophia, pleased with the positive atmosphere, continued, "Felicia, please help Alvin settle in and guide
Alvin, with a head full of new memories and a heart carrying the weight of two worlds, stepped off the bus into the familiar hustle and bustle of the city. The urban landscape, with its towering buildings and constant hum of activity, seemed both alien and strangely welcoming after his fantastical adventures.He strolled down the busy sidewalk, a stark contrast to the forest trails and mythical creatures that once accompanied him on his journey as Arthfael. The echoes of his footsteps resonated with the rhythm of city life, and he couldn't help but feel a twinge of nostalgia for the simplicity of the human world."Missed this place," he muttered to himself, his breath forming a small cloud in the chilly air. Despite the bustling crowd around him, Alvin found himself longing for the solitude of the forest, where every rustle of leaves told a story and every creature held a secret.Approaching the Graham Company building, Alvin gazed up at its sleek exterior, adorned with reflective gla
A man with black shirt, still caught in the hazy transition from one reality to another, found himself in a small, cozy room. The remnants of dreams clung to his consciousness as he heard the persistent knocks on the door. The voice outside, insistent and slightly annoyed, belonged to someone who seemed to know him well."Alvin! Alvin! Wake up, it's already morning! I've cooked breakfast, and if the food gets cold, I'll hit you!"The words echoed in his ears, and Alvin groaned, trying to make sense of the unfamiliar surroundings. The name "Alvin" echoed in his mind, and he muttered to himself, asking aloud, "Who's Alvin?"Reality asserted itself, and with a jolt, Alvin's memory clicked into place. He wasn't Arthfael, the hero navigating a magical realm. He was Alvin, and this room was his own. He rubbed his eyes, willing himself to wake up from the lingering traces of the fantastical adventure.As he stirred, the room revealed familiar details—a worn-out poster on the wall, a collecti
The room, adorned with the regal elegance of the Kingdom of Dragomir, became a sanctuary for Arthfael, Valentina, and Flare. As they entered, Arthfael locked the door behind them, enveloping the space in a cocoon of privacy. The air within held a palpable weight, a prelude to the poignant moments that would unfold.Valentina, with her tiny form and delicate wings, sighed audibly. "This might be our last meeting, Arthfael. We may not see each other again."Flare, the Pyroblaze Phoenix, who had accompanied Arthfael through battles and triumphs, let out a cry tinged with sorrow. The fiery aura surrounding her seemed to flicker, revealing an underlying emotion.Arthfael, perceptive to their sentiments, inquired, "Flare, are you crying?"Flare, attempting to conceal her emotions, retorted, "No, it's just something in my eye."Arthfael, recognizing Flare's attempt to mask her true feelings, chuckled and pulled her into a tight embrace. Unlike her usual blazing form, Flare's body now held a
The night settled over the Kingdom of Dragomir, casting a gentle glow on the palace gardens. Arthfael, Camilla, Neptunis, Flare, and Valentina gathered under the twinkling stars, surrounded by the fragrant blossoms of the palace garden. The soft hum of crickets and the distant murmur of the celebration in the courtyard provided a serene backdrop.Seated on a stone bench, Camilla began reminiscing about the first encounter between her and Arthfael in the Esteria Kingdom castle during Prince Frederick's birthday celebration. The memory brought a nostalgic smile to her face."Ah, that was quite the eventful night," Camilla chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Who would have thought that a simple escape plan would lead to such extraordinary adventures?"Arthfael, leaning back against the bench, nodded with a grin. "It was a night of unexpected turns, and I'm grateful for every moment."Neptunis, the calm and observant one, added, "Fate has a way of weaving its threads in the most
The wedding celebration continued with an air of jubilation that permeated every corner of the grand hall. Arthfael, standing amidst the joyous crowd, felt a warmth in his heart as he witnessed the union of Zeke and Ian with their brides. The bonds of love, forged through trials and triumphs, now culminated in a celebration that seemed to transcend the boundaries of kingdoms.Camilla, with her innate grace, approached Zeke and Ian, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "Gentlemen, it is customary at this point to seal your vows with a kiss," she announced, her voice carrying across the hall.The guests, caught up in the enchantment of the moment, erupted into cheers and applause. Arthfael, smiling at the genuine happiness surrounding him, couldn't help but appreciate the beauty of this tradition. Zeke and Ian, their eyes locked with their brides, exchanged a glance that communicated a shared excitement.Zeke, turning to Molly, took her hands in his and pulled her close. The room fell int
The day of Zeke and Ian's wedding arrived, and the air in the groom's preparation room was charged with a mix of excitement and nervous energy. The room was adorned with elegant white suits hanging on racks, symbolizing the union of two souls about to embark on a journey of love and commitment.Zeke, a mix of anticipation and nervousness etched on his face, adjusted his tie in front of the mirror. Ian, standing nearby, mirrored his feelings, his hands betraying the subtle tremor of anticipation. Both grooms, resplendent in their white suits, exchanged glances that spoke volumes about the emotions swirling within them."How are you feeling, Ian?" Zeke inquired, turning to his partner.Ian, attempting a confident smile, replied, "My heart won't stop racing, Zeke. I've never been this nervous in my life."Zeke chuckled, his eyes softening with affection. "Well, they say it's a good sign. It means you're ready for this, and so am I."As the two grooms shared a moment of reassurance, the d
Arthfael, standing in the room that served as a temporary sanctuary within the Dragomir palace, took a moment to collect his thoughts. The events that had transpired — battles fought, alliances forged, and the sacrifices made — weighed heavy on his mind. He couldn't shake the memory of Freya's selfless sacrifice, a haunting reminder of the costs endured in the face of darkness.In an instinctive motion, Arthfael raised his hand, and a holographic screen materialized before him, displaying a series of information. His eyes focused on the screen as he rotated his hand, prompting a pop-up that revealed a number: 999.Arthfael's level, a reflection of his strength and capabilities, stood at the pinnacle. The enormity of his power, however, was juxtaposed with the feeling of inadequacy that lingered within him."Freya," Arthfael murmured, his voice tinged with regret. "I'm sorry. You sacrificed so much for me, and yet I couldn't protect you. I was too weak."At the bottom of the holographi