The skill menu opened before our victor.
SKILLS SP: 91
STRENGTH 111
"strengthen the arms" to increase the strength, both physical and magical.
DEFENSE 39
"Toughen up the body" to increase the physical and magical defense.
PERCEPTION 100 (MAX)
"Good with the eyes" to increase the observation, perception, and intuition.
SPEED 140
"Quick on the feet" to increase the speed and stamina.
Huh. Oh, I collapsed. Did I win…? Lose? Fuck! If I lost— Argh! We were having such a good fight! Fuuuuuck! Haaah, my disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined… Why is the reward always 'anything you want' when there's a humble character... Anything I want... Wait! WAIT! That raccoon demi-human. I-I could establish a law since it comes in the "anything". I-I have to win this, for the demi-human race. Okay, time to wake up.
Current Skills
SKILLS SP: 0
STRENGTH 152
"strengthen the arms" to increase the strength, both physical and magical.
DEFENSE 39
"Toughen up the body" to increase the physical and magical defense.
PERCEPTION 100 (MAX)
"Good with the eyes" to increase the observation, perception, and intuition.
SPEED 200
"Quick on the feet" to increase the speed and stamina.
* * *
His eyes fluttered open to a blurred view of the quarter's ceiling.
"Mm… What?" His voice was a tired strain.
Rubbing his eyes, he found himself in the servant's quarters.
THE CASTLE'S guest room!
"What?!"
He frantically looked around lavish quarters—themed in white and blue.
"W-What am I doing here again? Why is this bed so… comfortable?"
"Under the queen's order, I—"
"WHAT THE F—"
THUD!
He fell off the bed, staring at the ceiling between his legs, body curled into a crescent.
"Oww."
He rubbed the back of his head.
"Also, continue," he said to the maid, peeking over the bed—her lips twitched upward in a smile for a millisecond.
"Under the queen's order, I must take care of you."
"O-Oh…"
He sat on the floor, legs back on the ground.
"I guess that's the perk of saving his Highness."
She dipped her head without answering.
He began standing up to leave.
"Thank you, if I need anything I'll—"
GROWL!
His stomach gurgled, pausing his walk.
He looked down, frowning.
"You were supposed to be quiet! Now I have to tell her what to eat—it's embarrassing. Can you believe yourself?"
The stomach replied with another gurgle.
"Haaah." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I wanted to eat in an inn because I-I don't feel I deserve high-class treatment, man."
His stomach protested the previous statement.
"What do you mean 'now'? I'll eat when I—"
The stomach gurgled with furrowed brows.
"Okay, okay I give in. Haaah."
He sighed, his head drooping.
"Just a… simple glass of milk, two eggs, and four slices of bread… please."
He gazed at the floor, his cheeks reddened.
She closed her eyes and gave a nod.
"Understood, it shall be done."
He heard her footsteps pass by him, the sound of the door opening and closing.
Groaning, he lay down on the floor, staring at the roof.
"Now I've done it. All the foods after this will be ruined. Because I know it's going to be delicious."
And he was correct.
She brought an omelet with four slices of sweet bread and a cup of milk, then left the room. All of it was served on a blue-gold tray with golden handles. The cup—which completed his sublime breakfast—was made entirely of blue-gold.
The first bite of the omelet, sandwiched between two slices of bread, triggered silent tears, his mom's memory flashing in his mind.
"How… How did she…? Damn it… it's so good."
He ate his breakfast as tears fell, accompanied by silent sniffles.
* * *
"How was it?"
She asked as they walked together down the hallway, heading toward the prince's room at his request.
"I don't know…" He gazed upward as the blue-gold candle chandeliers shimmered. "Does food that reminds me of my mother—count as a compliment?"
Her eyes widened for a millisecond.
"…Another thing the breakfast did for me… was ruin other omelets. No eggs will ever taste better than this. Haaah."
He sighed, his head lowering. "At least I got to taste what the monarchs eat, even if only a little. I can finally say they eat good! I-I mean, they eat marvelously exquisite!"
He opened an imaginary notebook, holding an imaginary pen. "The world would like to know: how do you make your food taste the best? Answer with honesty."
"It is a secret."
He groaned. "How is breaking the eggs in a bowl, mixing it until it becomes yellow or orange, putting it on a flat pan or area, heating it, and adding salt or pepper or both—before or after the egg was put on the flat pan—a..."
He inhaled deeply.
"Secret!"
After a pause, she answered. "There is more to it than merely breaking the egg."
Huh.
"If what I've tasted is any testament, then I guess there must be."
The two approached the spiraling staircase, its carpet winding upward toward the prince's room.
* * *
"We have arrived," she said, pointing at a large, blue-gold door with a golden doorknob.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
She knocked once before opening it.
EEEEK!
The prince let out an excited squeal, leaping onto Oswald and clinging to him.
"Savior! Savior! You were simply splendid!"
Oswald looked down at the clinging prince. "If you are saying that then…" He scratched his chin. "I guess I am. So, what part was great?"
The prince released him and walked farther into the room, Oswald following.
"When you fought and the dust flew all around you! And your last strike—oh!—even when you fell, you were just barely touched by the instructor's blade! It was all splendid!" he said with arms raised.
"Wait, I fell barely touching the blade?!"
He looked away, gazing upward, the image playing in his mind.
"Wow… I wonder how that'd look in slow motion…"
"Hehe, impressed by your own feat?"
Ha, it seem that way.
Oswald's eyes fell on an open yet ancient book on the bed, depicting four islands outward and an island in the middle—like the dots on the die representing the number five.
"What's that book over there?"
The prince followed his gaze. "Oh, that. It's the book on the islands, we're dwelling in the middle one—Aurelia Dominion."
The middle one, huh. Aurelia Dominion… its capital, Solara Prime. Wait! Why are they all islands and not countries?
Ahem.
"Interesting… So, what are the other four islands?"
Finally, lore!
The prince smiled, skipping to his bed and grabbing the book, holding it for Oswald to see—covering his whole face.
"The top right is Sylvian Enclave, island of the elves. Its capital is Lunara Glade."
That's Aelindor's homeland. Now I know where it is—and where he's from.
"The bottom right is Ferrum Tribes, island of the demi-humans. Its capital is Fangspire."
That's Korrin's home.
"This one on the top left is Bestial Dominion, island of beast-kind."
Zharrak's home…
"Finally, the last one is the Arcanum Sanctum, home to magic, healing, and other stuff."
Other stuff, he says. So basically wizards, witches, and the whole nine yards. Another thing, this world is just these five islands?
"Wow, what a great explanation. I understood everything… Maybe you can be my tutor."
"I'd love to."
"Heh, I'm sure you would. Well, Your Highness. I believe it's my time to head to the arena. See you later and thanks for sharing info."
"I see." The prince waved. "Come again soon!"
Oswald turned to the door with a wave. "Will do."
He exited the room, closing the door behind him.
Only five islands? Are there only five islands in this world? Oh, maybe it's like this country has five islands, then there are countries with islands scattered about?
He nodded.
Yeah, that's it… probably. Alright, time to head out.
He faced the direction to the stairs.
The maid stood in his path, holding a coin sack by its top, its bottom resting in her palm.
"This is your payment for the guild's quest."
My payment!
"Thank you."
He took the coin sack and opened it.
"Wait a minute, there is way more gold and silver than coppe—"
WHOOSH!
He looked up, an empty carpet and hallway where she once stood.
"Haaah," he sighed, head drooping."Great, so I got my reward after all. At least I can buy new equipment and not a chipped weapon. Silver linings, Oswald, silver linings."
He took his newly acquired money and headed for the blacksmith.
* * *
ns216.73.216.66da2
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