A Tamia's Tale, first book: Omen of Death

“Let’s begin this special meeting,” the man with a handlebar mustache and a blue military uniform announced, his voice resonating with authority. Everyone present nodded in approval, their expressions serious. Luka stood in a corner near the maid, noting that Maria had entered the room and was standing near the princess at the head of the table. Safaran was fidgeting, caressing his mustache while smiling contentedly, with Archibald standing beside him.

A man with dark skin stood up and spoke in an urgent tone. “Sir Marsh, could you please tell us what is going on? I presume that most of us here were summoned without any further information as to why.”

The old man coughed before answering. “Yes, do not worry Mister Borone. We invited all of you here because we have a few important matters to discuss that are considered urgent by both the king and,” he turned to face Morgann, “the princess.”

“And what could it be?” interjected Safaran.

“Well, first, perhaps we should address the elephant in the room.” He turned to face Luka, who jolted in response as every person in the room gazed at him. “Somehow, information was leaked that this young man over here was summoned into our world, while it should’ve remained a secret. Sir Uther will speak about the details.”

So it’s not just Archibald who knew about me… Information leaked?

Uther stood up, brushing his long mantle before speaking in a loud and intelligible voice.

“Thank you, Sir Marsh.” He bowed to the old man, who sat down. “As some of you already know, we managed to replicate the spell that Desmond used to come and go from our world. Unfortunately, the spell didn’t work as intended and we only managed to summon Luka, who has nothing to do with our fugitive.”

Luka gulped loudly, his nerves starting to crack. He could feel the gaze of everyone in the room, almost accusing him of crimes he didn’t commit. Archibald's stare was the sharpest, radiating intense hatred.

“We heard of this, yes,” his father said. “I heard it from Julius.”

“Julius?” Luka asked quietly to the maid.

“Yes, he is Safaran's personal guard, similar to what Kanami is to the princess,” she explained.

Does every noble in this world have their own little ninja or what?

“Me too,” another man spoke up in a gruff voice. Until now, he hadn’t stood out, but now he was glaring daggers at Luka. He looked to be in his fifties, with a balding pattern starting to appear on his head. His clothes were elegant but not as flamboyant as Safaran’s; he wore a simple black military uniform.

“And who is this man?” Luka asked again to the maid.

“Sir Edgar Greyhood. He arrived in Sora two years ago and is the ambassador of Fyr, a neighboring country.”

“Thank you, and sorry if I ask too many questions.” Luka bowed slightly.

“N-No need, thank you again for helping me earlier.”

“I’ve heard that you had trouble with a traitor two years ago here in Sora. Given everything else, I’m starting to wonder if our country can truly trust you,” Edgar said, looking sternly at the young princess.

“Of course you can. We’ve indeed had a lot of trouble in the past but you have nothing to worry about.” the princess assured.

“At any rate,” Uther interrupted, trying to lighten the mood a little. “We have someone who leaked precious information, and the result was that Luka here was kidnapped.”

“And how is that our problem?” Edgar retorted, his eyes narrowing.

Uther was momentarily taken aback but quickly regained his composure. “It becomes everyone’s problem when it threatens the stability of our nations. Luka’s kidnapping is a breach of our security, and it shows that someone among us, or close to us, is feeding information to the wrong parties”

Luka noted how skillfully Uther navigated the accusation. Directly claiming that someone in the room was betraying the crown would have been a serious affront to their reputations, risking alienation and defensiveness.

Safaran spoke up first, eyeing Greyhood carefully. “So you’re saying that we should find whoever did this?”

Greyhood's eyes narrowed, his tone turning dangerous. “Are you insinuating that I had something to do with this?”

Safaran raised his hands in a placating gesture. “Not at all, Sir Greyhood. That would be presumptuous. I'm merely suggesting that, since you are a newcomer, you might have more insight on this affair than us.”

“Well, I don’t. And, to be perfectly clear, I firmly believe that this otherworlder over here shouldn’t be privy to our discussions.”

A tense silence followed his words. Morgann broke it with a calm, measured tone. “I understand,” she said, casting a glance at Luka, her expression unreadable. “Luka, could you please wait outside? The remaining matters are not for your ears.”

“Y-Yes,” Luka stammered, bowing deeply.

He quickly exited the room and sighed in relief. As the door closed behind him, he caught a fragment of the conversation. “Let’s move on to the matter of the king,” said Marsh, sparking a flicker of curiosity in Luka. But he quickly dismissed the urge to eavesdrop. He couldn't risk getting caught spying on such an important meeting.

“I have other things to do,” he muttered to himself while feeling the gun in his pocket.

His original goal was to find Kanami to tell her about his progress but he felt like this could wait. On top of that, he had a feeling she wasn’t far away from the meeting since she was the bodyguard of the princess.

“Though perhaps with someone like Uther, it could be overkill.”

That also reminded him that the maid didn’t comment on every person in the room. The black man in a suit wearing glasses who spoke the first during the meeting, who was he?

Safaran mentioned that the bald guy was the only stranger in the room.

He kept that thought to himself, feeling that he might get the answers soon enough. Somehow, even after everything that had happened, he felt something akin to excitement at the idea of seeing more of this world, but sadness overwhelmed him as soon as he remembered his parents waiting at home, maybe wondering if they were aware of his disappearance.

I need to go back to my world as soon as possible.

He shook his head and headed straight to the woods near Kanami’s house. It was the furthest place he knew of for now that was safe. And since no one was here, he felt like he could proceed with some experiments. After all, he needed to go back home, but safe and sound.

And to actually make it happen, he will use any means necessary.

He grasped his gun tightly, and drew it out of his pocket, examining it one more time. It was a beautifully crafted revolver with this weird gem in the middle, still feeling the intense swirl of mana inside it. It’s dangerous, he knew that, but morbid curiosity was telling him to at least try it.

“It’s not the first time I’ve used a gun after all…” he sighed and shook his worried thoughts away.

Grasping the grip, Luka familiarized himself with its texture and weight. It felt neither light nor heavy, perfectly balanced with its center of gravity around the trigger. But…

“Huh? There are no sights?” Luka murmured, his brow furrowing in confusion.

Firing a revolver without sights. Now that was something he didn’t expect and he felt dumb for not realizing it sooner but there was no hammer and no sights. Instinctively, he coursed some mana through his fingers that were holding the “gun”, and as he expected, he received an answer.

“Damn, the people that did this are something else,” he cursed, feeling more unnerved than ever.

The revolver felt alien, that much was clear. But now, he understood how to use it. The crystal inside served as a battery, providing energy for the bullets, and the person holding the gun acted as the safety lock. When he poured mana around it, what looked like solid blue light emitted from the top of the revolver, creating sights on top of it. With his own eyes, as if responding to his will, he could zoom in, zoom out, and see where the bullet would hit if he fired. Chills crawled down his spine. While he still needed to aim, he felt like someone with something like this in their hands could become a good sniper, even with such a small pistol.

He took a deep breath, steadying himself, aiming his gun at a nearby tree.

“Here goes.”

There was almost no recoil, only a faint sound and a brilliant blue flash. The projectile moved as fast as a bullet, but with sheer destructive force, it passed through the tree like a hot knife through butter.

Luka stood there, stunned by the power he just unleashed. This was no ordinary weapon; it was a marvel of magical engineering and a terrifying one at that.

He looked beyond the tree he had shot. The tree directly behind it was also pierced, while the one after that bore scorch marks.

“Sorry trees,” he muttered to himself.

He couldn’t help but feel conflicted. This weapon could help him survive against the people who tried to kidnap him but at the same time, he felt like it was too dangerous, too unpredictable.

I shouldn’t use this. I shouldn’t but…

“What are you doing?” a voice called out from behind him.

Luka quickly hid his gun away and turned around. Standing before him was someone he had never met, a young man slightly shorter than himself, wearing a mage’s robe and a blue scarf around his neck. His face, blue eyes, and black ruffled hair reminded him of someone but he couldn’t place who.

“Nothing,” Luka smiled nervously. “Who are you?”

The young man’s eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced at the gaping hole in the tree, then turned his gaze back to Luka.

“Nothing, really?” the young man asked, his tone tinged with skepticism.

Luka gulped loudly and looked down, not moving a muscle. “I can explain.”

The young man suddenly burst into laughter, casually approaching Luka and giving him a hearty slap on the back. “Relax, man! I saw you use that spell, it was incredible! Where did you learn to shoot concentrated mana like that?”

Luka blinked, taken aback by the sudden change in development. “Uh, I… I didn’t really. It was sort of an accident.”

“An accident, huh?” the young man’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “Whatever it was, it was impressive! Name’s Viktor. Viktor Faeborne,” he said, puffing his chest out in pride.

“Nice to meet you,” Luka replied, extending his hand for a handshake. “I’m Luka, a newcomer here.”

Viktor froze, looking at Luka in disbelief. “Wait, I said Faeborne. Really? You’re not going to say anything?”

Luka scratched his head. “S-Should I?”

“Aha!” Viktor laughed again. “Don’t you know my brother? Uther Faeborne, the best mage in all of Sora! I didn’t know that some people were unaware of his incredible talent!”

“Oh! Of course, I know him! I just didn’t know his family name, sorry.”

“It’s alright,” Viktor reassured. “It’s quite refreshing actually, not being compared to him for once.”

“You’re the one who said it though…”

“Y-Yeah, maybe I’m just too used to this. It’s hard not to mention him.”

“Well, it’s good to meet you, Viktor,” Luka said, bowing slightly.

“Likewise,” Viktor then pointed at Luka’s jacket. “By the way that tool you used earlier, can I see it?”

“So you saw me earlier, huh?” Luka’s shoulder slumped.

“Yeah, I did! That’s why I must take a look, it was awesome!”

Luka sighed. “Fine, but be careful, it’s very dangerous.”

“Don’t worry, don’t worry!” Viktor assured him.

Luka handed out the pistol to the young mage. Viktor scooped it up in his hand and examined it from all of its angles. His face turned sour as time passed.

“Yeah… I don’t know where you got this but this is a weapon. It’s kind of disgusting actually.” Viktor stated, not hiding his discomfort.

“You said it was awesome earlier?”

“Yeah because I thought it was some kind of magic tool that had more uses but… Nah, this thing is disgusting, as a mage, it makes me want to break it.”

“D-Don’t!

“Relax, I won’t. And besides I don’t think I would be able to do it. It has an Eternaüm inside it.”

Luka blinked upon hearing the strange name. “A what?”

Viktor showed the crystal inside the gun to Luka. “The crystal thingy inside it. It’s an Eternaüm. It’s an extremely rare crystal that contains a humongous amount of mana inside. This castle alone wouldn’t probably be enough to buy one of this size.”

“Seriously?” Luka shouted and then quickly lowered his voice. “But, how? Why?”

“Where did you even find this anyway?” Viktor asked, his curiosity piqued.

“I… It was in this jacket when I arrived. Didn’t really know what it was.”

Viktor narrowed his eyes slightly. “So it belonged to Desmond, huh…”

“Again with this name, was it the guy before me?”

Viktor clapped his hand in realization. “So you’re the guy my brother summoned by accident! That explains everything! And yeah, these clothes you’re wearing belonged to Desmond. He probably left it before quickly leaving our world.”

“Could you tell me more about him, or…”

“Nope, sorry. I don’t know much about the guy except that he killed a lot of people and was one of the reasons why the knights were disbanded. It kind of sucks since I wanted to join them, and...” He sighed. “My brother was deeply shaken by the events two years ago…” he muttered.

“Ah, there you are.” But before Luka could ask any more questions, Morgann made a beeline towards the both of them, accompanied by her uncle Safaran.

“The meeting is already over?” Luka asked, flashing a smile at both of them.

“Yes,” Safaran replied. “It was quite short but we managed to be effective and found some solutions with Her Majesty.”

“That brings us to something I need to ask you, Viktor. I thought I asked you to stay put until the meeting was over so I could find you afterward.” Morgann said, crossing her arms.

Viktor bowed quickly, his face red. “S-Sorry, Your Majesty. I got curious and wandered off. This won’t happen again.”

Morgann sighed, massaging her forehead. “Viktor, relax. Just give a message to Kanami next time, okay?”

“But she scares me…” Viktor muttered under his breath.

“What’s going on?” Luka asked, sensing that Morgann had another subject in mind.

“We have new pieces of information that might help us in saving father,” she said, a soft smile on her face.

“As you may know, Viktor, the king is gravely ill,” Safaran began, his tone grave. “Our doctors have failed to identify the cause. Therefore, we plan to send a team to Ryuuji to retrieve sacred water that flows from the top of the world. A trusted merchant friend told me it possesses rare properties capable of healing almost any illness or breaking any curse.”

“I… I will go?” Viktor asked, his face paling.

“No, you goof!” Morgann snapped, giving him a sharp slap on the head. “You’re going to the Blue Falcons mercenary guild. You’re a regular at their tavern, right?”

“What about me?” Luka interjected.

Morgann turned to him, her gaze cool. “You can accompany him if you wish. It’ll give you a chance to see the capital without being unconscious this time.”

Did… Did I do something to upset her?

Safaran leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Excuse her, Luka. The matter of her father is very sensitive.”

“I-It’s all good, don’t worry,” Luka replied quickly.

Viktor suddenly grabbed Luka by the shoulders, his eyes alight with excitement. “Well then, why wait? Let’s go, Luka! I’m going to show you around!”

Good luck you two!” the nobleman waved at them, a bright smile on his face.

Before Luka could fully process what was happening, he found himself at the front gate with Viktor giggling like an idiot.

“What’s going on?” Luka asked, pushing him slightly aside.

“I’m thrilled, of course! Miss Saki, oh yes, Miss Saki! I’m going to see her today!” Viktor exclaimed, almost bouncing on his heels.

This guy has some screws loose, Luka thought to himself, worried that he had embarked on a bad situation. He was happy to find someone he was getting along but he didn’t want to go outside the town for now. It was way too dangerous considering how little he knew of this world and his potential enemy.

“Sorry, but I really can’t come with you,” Luka said sternly, trying to sound firm.

“What? Come on! I’ll protect you!”

Luka’s eyes narrowed in response. Could he trust this guy to protect him?

“I’m paying you a drink as well!”

He tapped his foot anxiously, weighing his options.

“And the boss is super nice!”

“Fine! Fine! I get it. You’re Uther’s little brother, right? Please protect me then.”

“Yes! I can’t wait for you to see Saki! I just hope she sings today as well.”

“Who the hell is Saki?” Luka asked, trying not to sound condescending.

“Saki!” Viktor waved his arms in the air with enthusiasm. “The best itinerant singer, dancer, and seductress that melts the hearts of everyone she meets! A goddess I’m telling you. Now, let’s go.!”

Luka gave him a deadpan stare. He couldn’t believe what he heard and wondered what Uther would think if he knew his little brother was a fan of a woman like that. The more he thought about it, the more this Saki person sounded like a star around here. She had been traveling for a few months around the country and had done a tour of almost every village and every bar or tavern in the region.

Viktor couldn’t stop babbling about her so he decided to cut his rambling, and asked about the statue that was in front of the castle gates since it stood out the most. It was a marvelous statue made out of marble, representing a man wearing a hood hiding his face, and holding a bow and a sword and a mace and… Too many different weapons that he could count.

“Why does this guy have so many weapons?” Luka asked, curious.

Viktor stopped in his tracks and turned to look at what Luka pointed at. “Oh, this statue? It’s Luvon Cradan. A great hero that lived long ago. He wielded something called Luvon’s armory that could transform his weapon in any shape or form he wished for.” Luka nodded as he explained. “Oh, also he was a master of fire magic. This statue is here because he saved Sora, his homeland.”

A weapon that could change its shape or form, indeed that could be very useful, Luka thought.

“No wonder this guy was a hero, he looks menacing.”

“Yeah. There are even rumors saying that he used to light fires in his eyes to instill fear in his enemies.”

I-Isn’t that something a villain would do?

“Come on, enough about statues. We have a tavern to visit!” Viktor exclaimed, grabbing Luka by the arm and pulling him along.

As Viktor and Luka strolled through the capital, Eran, Luka couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty and the complexity of the place. The city was divided by a majestic flowing river, creating a natural boundary between the high city and the lower city.

In the high city, the grandeur and architectural prowesses were unmistakable. The streets were wide and paved with smooth marble cobblestone, lined with tall, elegant buildings made of rare blue painted wood and light grey stones. Statues and fountains were abundant, sometimes small, sometimes impressive that he even compared to the Fontaines de la Concorde, with pristine and sparkling water cascading from the mouths of three sculpted dragons, creating a soothing melodic sound that added to the serene atmosphere, which added to the fact that few people were roaming the streets.

As they descended toward the lower city, the atmosphere changed dramatically. The streets became narrower, except for the main street crossing the whole town from its entrances to the castle, and bustling with activity and life. The buildings here were more humble, constructed mainly from wood and bricks, giving the area a warm, earthly feel. The houses and shops were densely packed and the merchant's stands were at every corner, shouting the prices of their different, colored products.

It was a hub of commerce and daily life. Traders and travelers gathered here at the center of the city on a wide and spacious plaza. Spices, food, jewels, and trinkets, from the most simple things to the most expensive ones, everything was here, as if the world itself had decided to gather here.

Viktor, from time to time amidst his rambling on Saki, kept a steady stream of information, pointing out various landmarks and sharing anecdotes about the city. Luka listened with half an ear, his other mostly immersing him in the world around him and looking for any people with obvious ill intent. But as he looked around, Viktor suddenly stopped.

“We’re here, let’s come in.”

Luka’s eyes followed Viktor’s gesture, landing on a sturdy, timber-framed building that stood out among the surrounding structures. It exuded a rustic charm with its weathered stone walls and wooden beams, intertwined with ivy that clung tenaciously to the old stones. The sign above the entrance swung gently in the breeze, bearing the emblem of a blue falcon in mid-flight.

As Viktor pushed the heavy oak door and stepped inside with Luka, the atmosphere shifted drastically from the bustling streets full of carriages and merchants to the warm, serene embrace of the tavern. The interior was dimly lit by a combination of candles and a hearth that crackled in the large stone fireplace near the bar.

Meat, beer, bread, sweat, and a surprisingly soothing flowery perfume filled the room. People were all glued to their wooden benches staring at the middle of the room, where tables and barrels were pushed aside to leave place to a stage. On top of it, floating in the air, a young woman with dark brown hair wearing a revealing crop top and a skirt was dancing and singing with a melodious voice. Not a voice could be heard except her, nothing existed except her, that’s what Luka felt at that moment. Even Viktor who couldn’t stop talking had stopped completely, as if bewitched by her aura.

“Let’s sing, everyone!” she announced, her voice ringing out with enthusiasm as the crowd erupted in applause.

The musician next to her struck a chord, and the room fell silent once again, eagerly awaiting her next song. She began to sing, her voice a tantalizing blend of strength and tenderness.

"Underneath the neon lights,

Feel the magic, feel the night.

Come closer, take my hand,

Lose yourself, let’s make a stand."

The beat was infectious, and the crows started moving and cheering, drawn in by her captivating performance.

"In the shadows, secrets play,

Whispers soft, they lead astray.

Eyes that lure, a touch so sweet,

In this rhythm, hearts will meet."

Luka’s heart skipped a beat. He wasn’t a person interested in artists performances in general but even he couldn’t keep his eyes away from her performance. The way her body gracefully floated in the air, as if supported by strings, the way her hair waved with her movements, her voice ethereal. And somehow, her show reminded him of a pop star or an idol.

"Dance with me, the night is young,

Feel the pulse, the song’s begun.

Mystery in every glance,

In this moment, take a chance."

That was until their eyes met—or perhaps she merely looked in his direction—but in that moment, he felt something was off. The intoxicating perfume that had overtaken most of the other smells felt unnatural, and as he realized that, he shook his head rapidly and focused instinctively. Just as he did, the performance was finished and everyone in the room started clapping excitedly, save Luka who just stood there, sweating from his forehead.

“Did you see that? I told you it was worth watching!” Viktor exclaimed, seemingly oblivious to Luka’s uneasiness.

“Yeah, it was beautiful,” he replied, his voice lacking conviction.

“I just wish I could talk to her at least once,” Viktor added wistfully, his joy quickly fading.

Luka couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss, ignoring what Viktor was saying. That girl’s gaze, the unnatural perfume—it all seemed too deliberate, too orchestrated. He remained on edge, his senses heightened, scanning the room and noting the enraptured faces of the audience.

“Why don’t you?” Luka replied nonchalantly, his response almost automatic.

“Eh? Are you crazy? She is way over my league!” Viktor exclaimed. He cowered slightly, glancing back at the stage where the performer was now speaking with a few admirers.

“You never know until you try.”

“She probably wouldn’t even notice me.”

“Maybe, but you’ll never know if you don’t give it a shot. I will talk to the boss of the place in the meantime. About what the princess told us.”

Viktor looked at Luka, his eyes sparkling with a newfound hope. “Are you sure about this?”

“Yeah, I am,” Luka replied, though he was still on high alert. “Go for it, tiger!”

“O-Okay!”

Though puzzled by the term “tiger,” Viktor was encouraged enough to take a deep breath and move toward the young woman. Luka watched him go, then turned his attention to finding someone who could resemble the leader of the mercenary guild. After scanning the room, he spotted a figure that was impossible to miss. An imposing man, at least two meters tall with rippling muscles and long brown hair like a lion’s mane, was sitting behind the counter, talking to the bartender.

Just talk to him, he won’t bite you. Be normal.

“H-Hi there bartender!” Luka managed to say, though his voice was shaky.

The bartender turned to him with a welcoming smile. “What can I get you, lad?”

Before Luka could answer, the imposing man beside him glanced over with a curious look. “Huh? New face around here. What brings you to our humble home?” he said, with a deep voice.

Luka took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. “I’m looking for the leader of the Blue Falcons. I heard from the princess this is where they gather.”

The man's eyes widened slightly with interest, and a broad smile spread across his face, the corners of his eyes crinkling warmly. “Morgann you say? Well, you’ve found us!” He extended a hand, his grip firm. “My name is Darian Galterr, lead of the Blue Falcons. And you are, boy?”

“Luka,” he replied, feeling more confident. “She told us if you could help her with an important mission.”

Though Luka was quite annoyed to be the errand boy, he couldn’t ignore the fact that it was important to her. After all, it was to save her father.

Daran’s expression grew serious as he studied Luka. “An important mission from Morgann herself, huh? Come on, what is it?”

Luka took a deep breath, recounting the situation as succinctly as possible. “She wants the Blue Falcons to send a team to Ryuuji, whatever that is, to retrieve some sacred water to heal the king.”

Darian’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Ryuuji, huh… Not good. Not with the current times. But tell me, why the hell did they send you to ask me that?” His voice carried a hint of menace.

Luka gulped, trying to maintain his composure. “Actually, Viktor Faeborne was supposed to speak with you, but he’s a bit preoccupied talking to Saki at the moment.”

Darian’s stern expression softened slightly, replaced by a hint of amusement. “A Faeborne, distracted by a pretty face? Some things never change, ah!” He chuckled, then turned his attention back to Luka. “And by the ‘whatever that is’ you said, I suppose you’re the guy that is from another world, correct?”

“How does everyone know about that?” Luka shouted, almost slamming his fist on the table.

“Ahah! Bite me!” Darian smashed Luka’s shoulder by patting him on the back with his huge hand, before growing serious all of a sudden. “You have your work cut out for you, boy. I hope you won’t betray us like the last one.”

“I honestly don’t know a thing that happened so… No.”

Darian snorted and took a sip from his drink. “Well then, I hope we can be friends.” He extended his hand one more time with a smile on his face. “Let me introduce myself one more time. Darian Galterr, ex-captain of the guardian brigade of the knights of Sora. Glad to meet you.”

The bartender chimed in. “A true legend, the shield of Sora this guy! You should feel honored, lad!”

The “boy” answered and shook the man’s hand firmly. Though he could feel some of his bones crack from the sheer strength of that handshake…

“And about that mission?” Luka asked, massaging his hand.

“About that…” Darian’s shoulder slumped. “That will be a no.”

“W-What? Why?”

“Since you’re a stranger from this world, you might not know, but the current situation is grim.” he spun his tankard around, staring at the whirlpool of beer he just made. “With the demons coming back after three hundred years, and the menace of the empire of Fyr, we cannot leave the country.”

“Won’t she be disappointed?” Luka asked, feeling nervous at the idea of announcing this bad news to the irritated princess.

“Of course she will.” Darian chuckled. “She trusts me a lot, and I owe her everything. But I cannot go. I’m the shield of Sora, and my role is to protect the country.” His face turned grim, his eyes narrowing as if focused on an invisible foe. “And right now, I feel like a huge danger is approaching.”

He took a good gulp from his drink and sighed. “That’s all there is to it, boy. Sorry for the letdown.”

Luka shook his head, reassuring. “No, it’s fine. Thank you for at least considering on behalf of her.”

“Hmh, you’re quite the serious type, aren’t you? You shouldn’t let her order you around like that.”

“Isn’t that what you were doing when you were knight?”

“Ah! You might be right!” Darian chuckled, stroking his chin “But this time is revolute now. The knights are gone, Sora has been opened to the rest of the world, and the king is dying… I’m worried for her, you know?” He sighed once more before standing from his chair and picking up a huge piece of metal that was at his side. “A new age is coming, and not a good one. Our old days of peace are over and what could be our savior is now gone.” He braced his shield in front of Luka and flexed his muscles proudly. “That’s why I need to stay here. No, I MUST stay here. For the sake of our princess, and the inhabitant of Eran. Tell her that, and she might understand, boy.”

A sense of respect washed over Luka as he listened. He nodded back in response and stood up as well, admiring the black shield of the man. It was covered with bumps and scratches, witnesses of his battles, and its height was as imposing as its wielder. That person knew what they were talking about, and while Luka didn’t care that much about this world, he still felt the emotions and feelings coursing through him. That’s right, he just arrived here. He knew nothing of the people living in this world, what they fought for, their history, their struggles, or even their pride. But he could respect them, at least. Viktor seemed annoying to him for being pushy, Uther a bit too sophisticated, Kanami gloomy, and Morgann he pitied, but he never disliked them once.

“I see… I’ll relay your answer to her. Once Viktor finishes chatting with his idol.” He looked in the direction of the young mage, seemingly enjoying a drink with an idiotic face next to the performer who looked quite touchy with him.

“Ahah, you will have to wait for a bit! He seems to be in heaven right now.” Darian cackled, putting his huge shield back in its place.

Luka sighed. “I swear, is he always like this?”

“When women are involved? Yes. But usually, he is more of a friendly guy who has an inferiority complex.” he shook his head in disapproval. “A shame, he has as much potential as his brother.”

“An inferiority complex, huh…”

“Why don’t I pay you a drink while you wait? I bet you haven’t had a tiny bit of fun since arriving here.” He tossed a few coins on the counter. “Here, it’s on me.”

“Oh, I can’t accept that—”

“Don’t sweat it! A drink doesn’t cost much here. I know things are pricier in your world.”

“Something non-alcoholic then.”

“No alcohol? Well, alright.” He waved his hand at the bartender. “Hey, chief! A lemonade, please! I hope you like it; it’s a specialty here. Wrimbo loved these.”

“Wrimbo?” Suddenly, Luka was reminded of the tombstone near Kanami’s house.

“Yeah, he was a knight, the best of the best!” He raised his drink in a toast. “And also a dumbass.” And gulped it down with a sour face.

Sensing that he shouldn’t press the matter, Luka decided to refrain from saying anything, instead waiting for the bartender to pour him the drink. He took a sip, finding it flavorful, with a perfect balance of lemony tang without being too acidic.

Time passed. Darian had left to talk to some other customers while Luka was waiting patiently for his escort to end his conversation. Unfortunately, he looked more drunk than ready to leave. He sighed, suffering in silence while listening to the conversations of the people around him, something he was unfortunately used to, he thought.

“Remember what happened yesterday? That dog jumped right on top of the building!” Some men were playing cards on the table next to him, and chatting animatedly.

“Yeah, I remember! I swear, why don’t they just keep her in a cage?” Another added, shaking his head.

A third man, who looked like a priest in garments, asked, confused, “Can I ask who you’re talking about?”

“Oh right, I forgot. You’re not from here, Father,” one of the card players replied. “Her name’s Kanami, the princess’s guard dog. A truly despicable creature, I tell you.” He smirked, waving his mug before gulping down the contents.

“…”

Luka’s ears perked up at the mention of Kanami. But what preceded it made him both curious and another feeling he couldn’t quite place. He decided to keep listening, hoping to glean more information.

“And why is she so despicable, as you say?” the priest asked, clearly intrigued.

But the man leaned in closer and told the priest something that Luka couldn’t hear. The only thing he noted was that the priest’s eyes widened in shock as he gestured some kind of prayer.

Luka’s curiosity deepened. What could Kanami have done to earn such hate from the people around here?

“First the guards, now here…”

He made a mental note to ask her about it later, sensing that something was amiss. He needed to know her story before forming a definitive opinion on what was going on.

With his lemonade finished, Luka glanced over to where Viktor had been, only to find him missing, along with the girl who had been with him. Darian noticed Luka’s confusion and waved at him, signaling that they had gone upstairs.

“Seriously?” Luka groaned. “I have things to do!”

Of course, he didn’t. But he wanted to go back to the castle as soon as possible, considering the risk of him getting in trouble again was high. Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself to go upstairs to drag the man back before it was too late.

Or at least that was the plan. When he reached the top of the stairs, he realized there was no room but a balcony where Viktor was leaning over the railing, vomiting his drinks while trying to get some fresh air. The singer stood beside him, patting his back.

“I told you to stop.” she sighed. “But you didn’t listen!”

Viktor couldn’t answer, managing only to eruct even more.

Luka sighed as well, feeling both exasperated and sympathetic for the man who had wasted his potential romance. “Viktor, we need to go. You’re clearly in no condition to stay here.”

Viktor turned to Luka, his face pale and sweaty. “Man… I think… I had too much.”

He then collapsed, barely holding on to the railing. Just then, Darian arrived, laughing heartily.

“Ah, Viktor, you lightweight! Always biting off more than you can chew!” Darian chuckled, clapping Viktor on the back. “I’ll take him in the kitchen, give him something that will amp him up! Just stay there Luka.”

With one hand, Darian grabbed the drunkard like a sack of potatoes and went back downstairs. Luka was left alone with the singer, both sighing at the same time.

“What an idiot. Sorry for that,” Luka apologized on his behalf.

“Don’t worry, I’m used to fans like him. They always try to do too much to impress me.” She smiled brightly, her cheerful demeanor returning. “Hey, you! You look different from most people. What’s the story with those clothes?”

Luka hesitated for a moment. Ever since her performance ended, the flowery smell had subsided, but now that he was close to her, it was growing stronger, invading his nostrils. It wasn’t unpleasant—quite the opposite, actually—but he sensed something was off. He kept his guard up.

“Those clothes?” Luka replied, choosing his words carefully. “The princess gave them to me.”

“Hm?” Her eyes sparkled with curiosity, a small grin showing a hint of mischief. “The princess, huh… What’s your name?”

Her green eyes widened and sparkled, with her hands behind her and her face closing in, making him feel uncomfortable.

“L-Luka. My name is Luka.”

He couldn’t help but stare into her eyes, feeling as if he were being drawn into their depths. His head felt fuzzy all of a sudden as if he were floating on a cloud, and his peripheral vision blurred slightly. Upon hearing his name, the girl named Saki smiled weakly.

“Luka.” she echoed, nodding slightly. “Yeah, I like that name.”

Extending her hand, she introduced herself. “My name is Saki, itinerant dancer, singer, and overall performer. Nice to meet you!”

Unconsciously, Luka shook her hand. As their hands touched, something sparked in his brain, a cascade of questions inching toward an answer, an instinctive feeling perhaps heightened by his newfound magical abilities.

Darian mentioned demons earlier, creatures that can take many shapes or forms…

Luka was well-versed in mythology, considering himself something of a nerd. Legends, mythos, heroes—these were things he always looked up to, admired, and learned lessons from. But now, those stories seemed alarmingly relevant.

That smell, this fuzzy feeling as if I’m being irresistibly drawn to her…

And the last thing that confirmed his doubts, was his relations to women in general. While he found her without a doubt, attractive, Luka was used to setting boundaries when meeting new people, not just women. What he was experiencing now was alien—an overpowering attraction that felt almost supernatural.

A chill crawled down his spine. He wasn’t sure if this perfume had any magical energy imbued into it, which could explain his state, or if she was—

“You’re a succubus, aren’t you?”

He had no proof, no reason to say it. But deep down, he knew it was the case. A succubus, a creature of the night appearing in the dreams of men to seduce them, is a supernatural entity depicted in the Kabbalistic Zohar or in Sumerian epics. The most famous one being Lilith, though their depictions varied a lot through time. And if he was right, Saki had everything of what he could call a modern succubus. He didn’t know how dangerous she was or if he made a mistake by telling her outright, but he needed to find a way out of this.

Saki’s cheeks flushed pink, her hand still firmly gripping his. “A… Succubus? What makes you think that?”

“The perfume around you,” Luka managed to answer through gritted teeth. “And it looks like you’re trying to enter my head or something, like suggestion magic or something.”

"Shouldn't you be a beginner in magic?" Saki faltered, shock evident in her eyes. "H-How did you figure it out? This is so dumb!" She pouted, crossing her arms in frustration.

As soon as she dropped her guard, the effects of her magic faded, leaving Luka's mind clear as crystal.

“So you were trying to seduce me!” Luka stepped back in surprise, raising his hands defensively.

“No! I mean… yes! But listen.” She waved her hand dismissively, trying to defuse the situation.

Luka pointed at her accusingly. “I have nothing to listen to! Y-You demon!”

“Yeah, as if I didn’t know!”

“With your skimp clothes and your beautiful body… But ohhh nooo, I shall not be swayed!”

“Come on, it’s just mandatory attire for us! That’s dirty!” Saki shot back, pointing at him.

“Oh yeah? And what was the deal with the perfume and your… your mind-controlling powers? Huh?”

Saki looked away, embarrassed. “Just standard procedure to not raise suspicions.”

“Well, that was pretty suspicious to me! Were you trying to get Viktor too? Were you the one who pushed him to drink?”

Now, Saki was fuming with anger, lashing out at Luka. “Whaaat? How dare you think of me that way! I’m a respectable and caring succubus should you know! I would never do that! The idiot just couldn’t stop…” She sighed, hanging her hand. “And he only drank one beer…”

Luka patted her shoulder, sympathetically. “He can’t handle his booze, can he?”

“No, he can’t,” she replied, her shoulders slumping. “I was hoping to get a meal for once but looks like I will be alone tonight and—”

“I don’t want to hear more about it. Shut up please.”

“Anywho, I swear I wasn’t trying to trick you or anything. It’s just you have supposedly a higher resistance than others, I suppose.”

“You mean… Everyone here is under this spell of yours?”

“I’m not doing it on purpose most of the time. It’s just my natural ability as a succubus that inclines people to trust me more or be infatuated with me. It’s really useful, you know?”

“I feel like it would be more annoying to me…”

“Of course, it would to you, loner.”

“H-Hey! That’s mean…”

“I saw you being all alone at the bar, how lame!”

“You were watching me?!”

“Well, it’s kinda hard not to notice someone that stares at you…”

They both fell silent for a few seconds, with Luka growing even more exasperated.

“Fine, I apologize. But what you did to me was still unacceptable. Keep your charm powers in check, would you?”

“You’re really not scared of me now? You’re going to let me go, just like that?”

“Why? Should I be afraid?

“Succubi are very dangerous you know? We are like…” She looked at her fingers and raised one. ”The top priority for demon hunters right now. We’re super dangerous!”

Luka stared at her, unimpressed.

“I-I’m serious! I could eat you in an instant!”

“You don’t look that frightening to me… I feel like even I could beat you up.”

Saki recoiled in fear, her confidence disappearing as fast as her mood swings.

“D-Don’t say that! It’s as if you will actually do it!”

“I might if you keep annoying me.”

“Sorry…”

I swear I keep stumbling upon idiots today…

Luka sighed and patter her head. “It’s alright, don’t be sad, or else I’ll feel bad.”

The succubus started tearing up.“Sniff, you meanie…”

“Argh! Pity won’t work either! Stop being annoying!”

“Is everything alright lads?” Darian interrupted the both of them, arriving suddenly with a frown on his face. “Your friend is up and should be ready to go. He is still waiting in the kitchen though.”

“Fine by me! I needed to get away! Let’s go, Mister Darian.”

“W-Wait! At least promise me you keep quiet!” Saki called out, her voice wavering.

“I already told you that I would! Now, leave me alone!”

After waving her away, Luka followed the chief to the kitchen, where a confused and still weary Viktor was leaning on a table.

“Viktor, you alright man?” Luka asked, a bit concerned and angry that his bodyguard was recovering from a hangover, especially from a single drink.

The weakling looked up, his eyes bleary and his face pale. “Yeah… Juust gibe me a hand…”

Yeah, he really can’t handle his booze… I’ve never seen someone drunk like this before.

“Fine…” Luka stretched his hand and helped him stand up, passing Viktor’s arm over his shoulders.

Darian nodded in approval, flashing a thumbs up. “Okay, you got this! Don’t forget to tell the princess, boy.”

Luka grunted from lifting his bodyguard up. “Y…Yeah. See you later then. And thank you for helping him.”

“Don’t worry about it. He is Uther’s brother after all. I would feel bad if I had left him alone.”

As they made their way out of the kitchen, Viktor leaned heavily on Luka, his steps unsteady. The cool evening air greeted them, a refreshing change from the warm, moist feeling inside. The streets were empty at this hour, with the sun setting in a blaze of orange and pink hues. The road to the castle was long and winding, and Luka felt a chill crawl down his spine as he recalled the events of yesterday. Despite the eerie silence and his own fatigue, he walked slowly but steadily, making sure Viktor was alright. After a while, he stopped in his tracks, realization hitting him.

Did… Did I just have a fight with a succubus?

This world was full of surprises, he thought, and it was driving him crazy not even a day after his arrival. It was very different from his day-to-day life back in his world, that’s for sure. The sheer madness of the events that unfolded today had left him exhausted, but a goofy smile spread across his face.

I learned magic, sparred with Kanami, met a demon, and helped a maid. What a day.

His thoughts swirled chaotically as he struggled to recall the day's events in the right order. Soon, they arrived near the bridge crossing the river, its wooden planks creaking under their weight.

Suddenly, a shadow darted in front of them, followed by another. Luka’s instincts screamed at him, and he stepped back, tightening his grip on Viktor.

“Man, wake up, there’s trouble!” he whispered urgently. But Viktor stayed in a daze, incapable of moving.

From the darkening shadows of the sunset, a group of men emerged, their faces obscured by hoods. They formed a circle, blocking the way forward and backward, brandishing knives that glinted menacingly in the fading light.

“We don’t need the drunk, take the otherworlder only,” what looked like the leader said, his voice muffled by his hood.

Luka’s heart pounded in his chest, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. His mind raced, trying to think of a way out, but the fear gripped him tightly, paralyzing his legs. The men approached slowly but surely, menacing him with their knives. Turning around, Luka waved his hand in the air, recalling the training he had earlier that day.

It’s still a theory but if it works…!

He gritted his teeth and poured every bit of mana he had in the tip of his fingers, creating a brighter flame than usual around them, but that was not the result he desired.

“Shit… Guess I’ll have no choice but to use the—”

“What? Are you going to fight us with this flame?” one of the men mocked him.

“Saki kick!!!”

Out of nowhere, a figure shot through the air like a rocket—sending flying off the bridge and into the water one of the men. The remaining attackers stumbled back, momentarily stunned by the sudden assault and the pose she took after her attack.

“W-What was that?”

“Who the hell is she?”

Luka blinked, dumbfounded by her sudden appearance. “Saki?”

“Yes, Saki here! I saw you in a tiny little pinch so I decided to help out.”

“Were you following us?”

“...I’m not going to answer that.”

“Stalker! You stalker!”

“Hey! I’m your savior, not a stalker!” Saki retorted, crossing her arms defiantly.

“Stop bickering you two!” Another voice echoed through the streets. This time from behind Luka and the men circling him.

“What is that?” one of the men turned around, his voice tinged with panic.

“It’s coming straight for us!”

“Take the wrath of the shield of Sora!”

With a single blow from his shield, several men were sent flying into the sky and splashing into the river. Darian stood tall, carrying two shields—one as big as him and rectangular, the other smaller and triangular. He laid the larger shield down and stepped in front of Luka, his presence imposing.

“Darian!” Luka exclaimed, relief flooding his voice.

“Gyahaha!” Darian answered with a hearty laugh, echoing through the streets. “Let me handle this, boy! These small fries are nothing!”

He scanned the remaining attackers while Saki stood next to him, smiling broadly with confidence.

The men were visibly shaking in their boots and were hesitating.

“Shit, it’s him…”

“Boss, are we really going to fight an ex-knight? That’s suicide!”

But before they could come up with a plan, Saki moved with lightning speed, taking down one attacker after another with swift, precise kicks. Darian, using his shields with expert skill, deflected blows and countered with devastating force, bashing their heads in with the smaller one.

“Retreat!” one of the remaining men shouted, and what was left began to scatter, disappearing into the night.

“Phew…” Luka sighed, almost collapsing. “I don’t know how to thank you two… I thought I was going to die.”

“Eh? Somebing habened?” VIktor mumbled, still groggy.

Luka slapped Viktor on the head. “Shut up, you.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Darian extended his hand to help Luka stand up. “If it wasn’t for Saki, I wouldn’t have known that you were in trouble.”

“Talking about Saki…” Luka turned his head to face her, suspicious. “Why in the world were you following us?”

Saki pouted. “You should be grateful that I did.”

“I am. But that’s not the question here.”

She hesitated, searching for the right words, but ultimately decided to keep quiet, turning away and walking away.

“What is wrong with her…” Luka sighed again.

“That, I don’t know. She’s quite the mystery, that girl!” Darian chuckled. “When she asked if she could stay here, it was as if she was looking for someone. She was very insistent on staying for a while.”

“She was looking for someone?” Luka echoed, more curious now.

Darian nodded. “You should be safe from now on, but I’ll come with you to the castle, just in case.”

“Thank you again, Darian.”

“Don’t worry. By the way, did you know who these guys were? Unfortunately, most of them are unconscious so I can’t interrogate them,” he asked as they started walking.

“No idea. They managed to kidnap me yesterday but I was saved by Kanami.”

“Kanami…” Darian’s face soured briefly before his usual cheerfulness returned. “You keep getting saved, huh boy?”

“Could you please stop calling me ‘boy’? I’m 22…”

“Ahaha! Sorry! Force of habit! You remind me of someone I used to know, just a bit scrawnier.”

“Yeah… Kanami told me this too…”

“You should train more! Building some muscle might boost your confidence!” Darian flexed his gigantic biceps.

“I’m not sure that’s how that works but thanks for the advice.”

As they walked, Luka while feeling safe near his new bodyguard couldn’t help but look around just in case someone wanted to jump on him. While he was looking around, he spotted a familiar face that looked briefly at him: Edgar Greyhood, before walking away in a small alley.

“Is something wrong?” Darian asked, seeing that Luka had paused.

Luka forced a smile. “Nothing. Just thought I saw someone. Let’s keep moving.” He shook his head, trying to convince himself it was just a coincidence. Edgar had been hostile during the meeting, but jumping to conclusions without proof would only cause trouble. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling of unease.

As they neared the castle gates, Darian placed a firm hand on Luka’s shoulder. “Alright, leave Viktor here with the guards. They’ll take care of him.”

“Thank you, Darian. I appreciate it,” Luka said, feeling a wave of relief wash over him.

Darian gave a reassuring nod. “Like I said don’t worry. It’s my job to protect the citizens, and as far as I’m concerned, you are one right now.”

With that, Darian turned and headed back down the path, his large frame disappearing into the night. Luka watched him go, a mixture of awe and gratitude towards him. That man was a giant, both in heart and physique, he thought.

He sighed one last time, passed the check-in of the guards, and entered the castle, ready to turn in for the night. His body slumped onto the soft bed of his room, and before he knew it, his mind drifted off to sleep…