User blog:Ziharku/Log 23: A Meeting With The King

Three days.

For six days I slept. I can faintly recall various parts of our leaving the dungeon, though even that much is a blur. Waking now, I can’t seem to focus. A room…highly decorated. The furnishings, truly exquisite. The building I’m in must be in the Northern half of the city, perhaps even- "Ah, you are awake now! We had begun to worry so." Decorated gown of crimson and light, long hair braided back, she stood at the doorway as (I presume) the medics came to check me. Fidgeting for a pulse, checking temperature, perhaps even making sure I was unarmed, I don’t even recall. Just those warm eyes showering me with light from the door. “When you feel that you are able, please come to the Audience Chamber. Father would like to speak with you."

When the medics are satisfied that I’m fit, they bring my embroidered black and blue from another room (noticeably not my weapons though), and hand me a crutch. The confusion displayed on my face, my sheets are pulled back fully to display my right ankle in a wrapping. At some point in the fight a beast had nearly wrest my Achilles tendon, hence the necessity for a crutch. It does not hurt so much to walk, but I will admit the crutch lessens the pain.

The Audience Chamber…! This is, in fact, the very Chateau above the dungeon. Entering, four figures are at the end. King Destin, the princes Trion and Pieuje, and the girl from before, I can only presume princess Claidie. Walking a bit closer, I (with the help of my crutch) kneel in respect before the royal family. “Arise, countryman. This is a glorious tiding, and you have done well by your king." With a bit of help from an attendant, I stand. I feel quite weak. The stress that my body had undergone and having not eaten in so long have truly taken a toll. Taking a second glance, I see armor and blade very familiar. Trion had been with us in the fight! I hadn’t noticed at the time, being far more wary of the surroundings, but I certainly recall the figure clad in white and gold armor. As if to confirm, the king continues. “My son tells me that you played a key point in the outcome of the battle, having been able to rally the men and keep them safe. Just how many do you recall him killing again son?"

"I was among the last to join the grouping, but in the time after returning to the gathered main force, he managed to slay fifteen," Trion replied, a slight smirk on his lips.

"Fifteen, my word. Not many of your troupe would boast so high a number, especially in so little time." The king’s words seem to cause a feeling of unease. My senses dulled, how did I not notice the royal guard lined on every wall. I can hear them shifting with a bit of discomfort. “I did speak with many more of the men that were with you. Such tales they wove, how you would kill some of those monsters with just the impact of air from a punch. How you could strike three or four times with just a wave of the arm, motions unseen. Where ever did you learn to fight so well?" His eyes stared into mine, some curiosity, some distaste. The distaste perhaps for my garb, foreign, though I cannot say for sure.

Hesitantly, I decide the truth is best. Well…not the whole truth. I claim to be a mimic of sorts. With reference to the Colibri and their uncanny ability to copy attacks directed at them, I claim to do the same with magic, though with nearly eidetic (photographic) memory. “You may recall, your majesty, a young Red Mage that played his hand at tactician during the crystal war."

This causes a spark to catch in the man’s eye. “Ah, yes, the young fellow that so often recommended we secure supply routes. Even with the tightest of security, you would still come to the suggestions desk with the same word: logistics!" A full grin broke across his aged face.

With a bit of a laugh, I reply, “Yes sir. I…do suppose that little Scholar’s words really got into my head a bit."

"Ah, well he did know well enough in that matter I suppose. The soldiers were always grateful to see supplies make it to the battle safely. Enough reminiscing though, I do have to ask you. As no other person seems to know just what you found, Trion included," the prince’s face tightens slightly, looking down to avoid the side-glance his father paused to shoot in that direction, “do you perhaps have any ideas?"

"A Vampyr, sir." Disbelief, in the old man’s eyes, I continue. “The bodies we found on the way were entirely drained of blood, and yet there was little to be found around the corpses, suggesting that they didn’t bleed out rather…something consumed the blood instead." The king’s brows furrowed as his hand came up to stroke his chin in thought.

With a sneer, Pieuje interjects, “this man obviously needs more time under the watch of the medics, the IS no such creature in existence! Those rumors have been long dead since the crystal war!" A spark in my mind, I can recall now. This isn’t the first time I’ve encountered such a creature.