I opened my eyes and see complete darkness — "Did I really open my eyes? Why is it so dark? Is this the afterlife?"

I can't breathe, my tongue is dry and I feel the skin of my mouth starting to peel off. This thing around my neck is obstructing my throat — I can't make a sound nor swallow my words. This thing that covers my head is suffocating and I'm incapable of doing something about it. My hands are tied behind my back and my feet are tied where I sat. Suddenly, a sliver of light passes through this layer of fabric covering me — Is this a light from heaven? Unexpectedly, the "thing" around my neck and the fabric covering me starts to loosen and was removed completely.

I see a faint light, a candle in a pitch dark space — trying to adjust my eyesight — I see a silhouette of a man behind the table where the candle shines, standing tall and brave with the aura of a beast.

Amidst this silence, a deep voice pierced through space — "Who would have thought that the Hero is here with us gasping for air." exclaimed the man,

"Do you want some water? Are you that thirsty? Here, drink my piss" one of the men among the crowd surrounding me; impelled,

I had no choice but to drink it. The audience burst into laughter because they knew that the drink that I was drinking was not urine — the look on my face, driven by hunger and thirst, was undeniably horrible. Then, a thunderous voice came out of nowhere — silencing the crowd.

"Hero, how long are you going to act like a weakling? Aren't you supposed to be the renowned beast with monstrous strength and incomparable intelligence?" said the man behind the table,

My eyesight finally adjusted to my surroundings. I feel murderous intent within the atmosphere. I was surrounded by seven sturdy men and the one behind them, the one behind the table, was certainly their ring leader.

"Wh-whe-where... am I? I-is this... an interrogation room?" I tried to gather my strength and answer,

"What interrogation room? Are you an idiot?" one of the men answered,

Everyone burst out laughing, so hysterically that their leader seemed to chuckle. The heavy-looking man who could send a shiver down your spine only with a gaze; smirked? What an embarrassment.

"This room is called Table Light, you didn't even know that?" someone answered.

I was clearly confused about this, a dimly lit room with only one source of light with a bunch of people flocking on me like they were trying to harm me —

Wait... where did that come from? Interrogation? what does that suppose to mean? Where did I learn that?

"What the hell... my mind is full of knowledge" I murmured,

"You were saying something? Repeat it! Now!" the one closest to me shouted.

"No-nothing, I was a-about to ask..." I was reluctant to answer.

"What! Say it! Don't waste our time" the man behind the table interrupted. The crowd around me was shocked by the intensity of his voice.

"Wh-where did I co-come from?" I stuttered and answered softly,

"We found you lying near a mysterious thing where the way, that looked like a giant circle, appeared" one of the men answered,

"Wait... By a giant circle, do you mean a portal? Do things pass through one side and disappear on the other side?" I answered hastily,

"Psh... Portal... psh" the crowd muttered,

They clearly brushed it off. The crowd couldn't help but wonder what was a portal —

The mumbling noises filled the room. The man behind the table stood up and came closer, I could feel the air around me get heavier and heavier by each step that man took. He stopped, only a few inches away from me but I could feel his presence right in front of me like we were face to face.

"Hey..." the man stoop down and whispered, "Do you want to know what happened this past five years?" the man slowly stood up; anticipating my answer and continued to glare at me with those ominous eyes.

I simply nodded, I couldn't bear the excruciating pain that those eyes were putting me through. I didn't have the courage the look at his face. — I was completely vulnerable.

"Remove those rope that is tying him. Provide him food to eat, a new set of clothes and enough medicine for him to be able to walk. After all of that is done, bring him outside" the man ordered, He took a deep sigh and got out of the room.

The crowd hurriedly prepared the things mentioned by their leader. They began to untie my cuffs and provide me food and medicine for me to regain my strength and heal my wounds. They even provided me a new pair of clothes and a refreshing bath. But during that span of time, not a single sound came out of their mouths — Do they trust me? Or do they feel... fear?

I was escorted outside the room because I could barely walk. To my surprise; mountains of metal scraps, used items, unknown objects were surrounding me and I couldn't help but wonder how and who did these things for it to be accumulated like this?

"You did this, Arc. You destroyed this kingdom" said the man in front of me — the one who seemed so strong-willed and intimidating yet I only see a lonely man lamenting for the things that he lost.

Suddenly, I started to recollect something. No one knew what my real identity is. Except...

"Hey, how do you know my real name? The only ones who called me by that name were Nicholas and the Ki..." I yelled with all the strength I could gather.

"Arc, it's because..." the man in front of me, the king of the kingdom I demolished, replied.

"I was your King"

Year 2901, Kingdom of Maulaphete, before the Arrival

"Hey, have you heard? Our kingdom found a Hero candidate within the slums. What was it called again? Mous? Mo- " the crowd murmur suddenly stop as the kings' royal knight, Nicholas Schwatt, passes through the center of the market district riding Maulaphete's mightiest steed. His golden armor was so polished that it reflected the rays of the scorching sun and blinding the citizens. The crowd didn't say anything even though it was irritating in the eye as a show of respect to the leader of the royal knights — the champion of Maulaphete.

Nicholas dismounted his horse and when he dropped down, everyone around 10 lengths could hear the weight of his armor; as it collides with the floor, nearly destroying the terrain.

The gossips continued as Nicholas stopped by the Book House. Everyone disregarded the noise Nicholas made and started talking about how extravagant royals are.

"Did you see that? Who would wear a heavy aurum armor in broad daylight? It's not like we will fight in a war. I would rather see him carrying liqueur in broad dayrays." tattled by some nobleman as they drink their morning booze.

"There they go again spouting garbage. I heard the Hero canditate is handsome and they announced that he'll arrive here at sunrise. I also heard his name, I think it was Arc Seb–" the gossips of the two famous madams were getting louder and louder that the merchant interrupted their conversation.

"Why do we need a hero? Maulaphete's gate guards' strength matches other kingdom's royal knights. That's how powerful and strict our king is when it comes to manpower." stated by a nosy merchant; fixing his tent and opening his antique and material stall.

"Maulaphete is the strongest kingdom *hiccup* as far as I know. No king is brave enough to *hiccup* start a war against our kingdom. Mhalau and Hadayoo don't *hiccup* stand a..." a drunkard added as he dozed off in bliss.

"Maybe his highness is planning to subjugate the demon valley at the outskirts of Maulaphete; or maybe our king is planning to invade other kingdoms as well. Should I start forging tens of thousands of metal plates and stabbers?" implied by the district blacksmith as he giggles and collects materials for forging equipment and weapons.

On another perspective; Inside the Book House, Nicholas walks towards the receptionist; rather Book Keeper.

"WHE- *ahem* Where is the Book of World Artifacts, Book of World Wonders, and Book of World Terrain?" Nicholas demanded,

"Le-let me get i-it for you, sir" the Book Keeper was gibbering as she exits her station to find the books. It took her at least 1000 ticks to realize that these books where nowhere to be found; inside the Book House.

"I - I sincerely apologize sir but the books are nowhere to be found in the meantime, thus we would like to send it to your chamber as soon as we find it." The Book Keeper stated as she bowed down — that her upper extremities were parallel to the ground.

"It's fine..." Nicholas proclaimed as he turned around to the exit, "Just do not forget to deliver it in my house as soon as you find it"

Nicholas walks out of the Book House carrying his heavy armor. As he approaches his horse, Nicholas instructed his steed to sit in order for him to mount it.

He notices loud conversations from the stalls but decided to disregard this chatter and continue to ride towards the castle.

Then a wanderer — wearing a robe covered with dust and specks of blood; while holding a piece of leather — unknowingly obstruct the route of Nicholas.

"Look behind you!" one of the commoners shouted,

The march of the noble steed was halted and the steed started to neigh. The horse was clearly startled — knocking its rider to the ground. Nicholas pats off the dust from his armor as he stood up; unsheathing his sword and pointing it at someone who has a world of his own looking at the castle.

"Look he-" Nicholas asserted with a faint yet manly voice, but he was suddenly interrupted by the young man in disoriented robe robe.

"I'm finally here. Is that where Molly is?" said the man as he pulls down his hood; looking at the castle.

The young man then removed his robe — showing his extremely toned body covered with very light leather armor without any damage nor bruise. Around his waist was the triad books of knowledge — the Book of World Artifacts, Book of World Wonders, and Book of World Terrain — and a dagger with a special shape.

He then starts to speak and the words that came out from his mouth was,

"This is the Kingdom of Maulaphete, the strongest and mightiest kingdom. Yet why do I see destruction?"

Year 2901, Kingdom of Maulaphete, before the Arrival.

People were astonished by the display of the young man; the same goes for Nicholas. People could see the hard work that the young man went through just to get to that point of time — a toned body full of battle scars; you could see it from his shoulders down to his seemingly big hands.

Nicholas snapped off his trance and dismounted his horse to confront the young man. Everyone around could hear the heaviness of Nicholas' the aurum armor except for the young man who is fixated on the view towards the castle.

"What do you think you are doing here in the middle of the street? Hey! Who do you think you are?" Nicholas approached the young man, angrily, pushing a finger on the young man's nape. Nicholas noticed the books that the young man was carrying.

"Are you the one who was supposed to bring me those books? Give them to me now and I'll give you your payment" Nicholas tried to grab the books but the young man noticed it and was able to dodge.

"Do that again and I'll –" the young man replied; not realizing who his facing. When the young man looked up to see Nicholas' face, he sees a silhouette of a muscular man yet the young man thought that the thing in front of him is a honey-glazed chicken; rather a honey-glazed turkey because of how big and shiny Nicholas' armor is.

The young man started to drool and approaches Nicholas with eating intent!

"H-he-hey I don't like how you look. Don't come near me or else I'll kill you" Nicholas points at the young man as he retreats slowly,

The young man blindly attacked, trying to devour, Nicholas. As a precautionary measure, Nicholas leaned back, raised his right hand and slaps it across the aggressive young man's face. The crowd gasps because the young man collapsed from Nicholas' strike and one by one surrounded the unconscious young man.

Coincidentally, a maiden passed by and saw what happened. She was curious as to why a crowd is surrounding something. She got closer and noticed a body laying on the floor. She then approached the crowd hastily.

"What do you think you are doing? You're not supposed to surround an unconscious person like that!" her remarks startled the crowd and people started to disperse as to give way to the lady. "And you? Aren't you supposed to be the one that ensures the safety of these people? Answer me!" she points at Nicholas as if she was going to stab his throat upfront.

"Who do you think you are? Are you an adviser of the King that you could point at me with those hands?" Nicholas stated as he grabs the hands of the maiden.

"Let go of me, you scum!" she yelled loudly, "I am a War Saint and an Apprentice Healer. I am under Master Sahamrak Bonafid, an Oracle, and my name is Julie Von Schmirtz" the maiden implied.

"Did you hear that? She's the disciple of the Oracle. Our kingdom's Oracle; the one who arranges the messages of the Celestial Beings. Nicholas is in big trouble now." a commoner whispered.

Julie Von Schmirtz, also known as the Herbalist or Herb Seeker. She is known mostly in her contributions to the kingdom; one of the best at identifying the medicinal properties of herbs and its applications and the youngest to actually participate in war as a War Saint, a kingdom hero who focuses on defense strategies, healing and recovery spells.

"I'm sorry for neglecting my responsibilities, and I'll use my stabbers to pierce my heart if this happens again." Nicholas was shocked that he subconsciously let go of her hands and forced to bow down and ask for forgiveness.

Julie rushed towards the young man disregarding Nicholas' apology. She picked the young man and fix his position for easier diagnosis and after seeing his face, she immediately asked for help to bring this man to the closes Herbarium; a place or a store that can accommodate patients and with an abundance of medicinal herbs.

"Why are you taking him to the Herbarium? This young man won't be able to pay for it. Look at how poor his equipment is." Nicholas stated with a mocking expression

"If I'm not mistaken, the King ordered that we should welcome a young man that carries the Triad Book of Knowledge and goes by the name of Hiro. As you can see he carries the books and we'll only know his identity if he is not injured, many thanks to the headless turkey." Julie declared, then she added

"This young man will play a big role tomorrow, during the King's Declaration"