Chapter 36: The King’s Call

Chapter 36: The King’s Call

The very next morning after the visit to the maze, a messenger from the king rode up to the Boartooth saddled on his wyvern mount. With a letter of announcement and a fire-dragon horn in hand, he blew into the horn to wake up everyone from inside.

Awoken by the ear-piercing noise, the first to wake up was the owner of the Boartooth–a man who didn't appreciate his sleep being cut short. Stomping out of his bed, while the messenger named everyone from the Hero's party, Dune Boartooth was about to unleash hell on the unexpected visitor.

"And lastly Raven the mage–the king has summoned you all to his grand–" Before the messenger could finish the letter, Dune slammed the entrance door wide open.

As massive as a troll with but a loincloth around his waist, he was a demi-human pure and pure with grey fur all over his skin. Had it not been for his human face with all the fur-trimmed every day, he could've easily been mistaken for a werewolf.

"THE HELL YOU THINK YOU ARE?!" Slamming his feet on the ground, he knocked not just the messenger but his wyvern off balance. And the man tried to compose himself again, Dune rushed towards him with his massive arms ready to unleash the strength behind his muscular body.

"FATHER WAIT!" Thankfully, however, having followed her father storming away in fury, Moxy managed to stop his fist inches from the messenger's face. Rushing down the steps, the demi-fox quickly walked up close and pulled his hand away from the man. "HE'S OBVIOUSLY HERE WITH A MESSAGE FROM THE KING! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"

"Y-yeah!" Witnessing his life flashing before his eyes just moments ago, the messenger pleaded alongside Dune's daughter. "T-the king won't appreciate that! Please!"

With his hand being squeezed by Moxy's, Dune's rage slowly dissipated. Even so, growling at the messenger, he warned her with a gaze sharp enough to chill the bones of the dead. Turning around, the demi-fox male finally left the messenger to do his job.

"Hey, you!" Staying behind after her father left, Moxy glared at the messenger with her hands folded tight. "Next time you pull that crap, I won't stop him!"

Still blaming Aria for what happened, he really wanted to take out his frustration in some way. But alas, with the king's summon, he knew he couldn't spare any time to do something stupid.

"Fine, let's get going," taking charge as the new leader of the group, Raven had his whole party stuffed inside a carriage to make their way directly to the upper city.

On their way, however, he had the coachman stop by Darius's shop, but since it wasn't yet opened and he didn't seem to be inside, Raven had them continue their ride. The messenger rode before them on his wyvern, he was helping the coachman traverse through the upper city streets. After all, commoners like him weren't allowed in the upper city, and had it not been for the Hero's party riding in his carriage, he would've never been allowed to even step foot into that region.

'Last time I brought Mel here to confess my love...' Reminded of their date as they passed by the same hotel, the hatred in Amedith's heart burned a new flame. Glancing sideways at Aria looking out the window, he wanted to the very least scream right into her face.

"Hey look! The upper church!" Erika yelped with joy, breaking Amedith's and everyone's attention from whatever they were watching. "I wanna go there! Can we?"

"As if they'll let us orphans inside," Mel responded in the most monotone of voice. Shifting her gaze toward Amedith right after, she added. "Only the chosen were allowed in even after we were graced with divine blessing, remember?"

"Special treatment as always," muttered Raven, looking at the church with Erika.

"It's not my fault, alright? The head priest was looking down on me as well when I went in!" Though he tried to relate to the rest, Amedith's pleas fell on deaf ears. And he wasn't blind to the shift in the dynamic of the group either.

Aria had always been a free bird, and Raven was rowdy but at least he tried to help him before the incident at the cave. Erika on the other hand, never truly placed her trust in him–but rather it was the fact that he was the goddess's chosen that made her keep her lips shushed against him.

"Whatever, Amedith..." And with that last line from Mel, the carriage fell silent until the party was finally at the castle.