Chapter 10
He looks at the painting and then looked outside. If someone sees him, they know that Volya is anxious and restless. He always repeats one word for himself, 'You can do it, you can do it.'
Even though he already reading a lot of people future, even a n.o.ble, but this time is different as he will reading the future from the Five Great Knights of Haegia and also the King and Queen of Haegia itself.
He moves around the room in order to calm himself. But rather than becomes calmer, it makes him more restless and anxious. Until someone says,
"Volya, you are going to make a big hole if you continue walking around like that ahahahahaha. Just calm down."
"I can't calm myself, Romain! It's because I am reading your King AND Queen future!" says Volya as he looked at the knight that stands at the door.
That knight is Romain Ambros, the knight that become his protector at Ironforge and also at this palace while the Five Great Knights are preparing something.
Romain then laughs quite hard and says,
"I know that feel! The first time when I get an honor as a knight, I also feel anxious and restless. But, the moment that time comes, suddenly that's feeling gone into the thin air."
"It's easy to say rather than do it, you know. And I believe that only you!" says Volya as he gives Romain a cold gaze
"Come on... Just take a deep breath and..."
"Urgh... What if I see a bad future when I looking at your future? Will they execute me? Will they imprison me? Aarrrrgghhhh..." says Volya that still not convinced with that.
"Come on... I believe you could do it," says Romain as he encourages Volya.
Volya only sighs after hearing that and then looks at the window once more. Romain then says,
"I still remember something that you said before regarding the future..."
"Huh? What is that?" ask Volya
"The future that you see will happen in our life depends on the path we take. And from that path, there also a chance that we will change that future."
"Well... Yes, I am saying that..."
"Then, you could tell that as a disclaimer to them."
"But, what if the one that I see is something bad first? Arrrggghhh..."
Romain only sighs after hearing Volya make the pressure become heavier by himself. He then looks at the door, thinks for a while, and says,
"For some reason, they take a lot of time for preparing something. Did someone have a meeting with our King?"
"Maybe this has a connection with the coach that I see before entering the Palace," says Volya that overhear what Romain just said
Romain remembers about the coach that Volya just mentions. The insignia at the coach is from Ostonorid Empire, the empire that takes control the west side of Therious Island. He then mumbles, "Did they find out that we enter Wildespring without any permit and make some mess there?"
While Romain thinking about that, Volya then sits down and then looks at the ceiling. He closes his eyes for a while and tried to hear something. He tried to hear and see the string of fate of the people at that Palace. After a while, he finds all of them and mumbles, "At least I find their string... Then I could see their future faster than when I am reading the townsfolk fortune at Ironforge. Hopefully, I could get out of that room fast."
"Volya..."
"..."
"Volya!"
"Huh?!" says Volya as he quite surprised with someone called him.
He could see Romain that thinking about something. Volya then looked at Romain and asks,
"What is it, Romain?"
"Do you have a magic that could see around the building?" asked Romain
"Huh? No, I don't have it."
"Or maybe the magic that you used at that house back then... Could the trap triggered when someone already inside it?"
"Unfortunately, no."
"Is that so..."
"But, you don't need to worry..."
"Why did you say that?"
"Someone already put a barrier here and it is better than mine. If I intervene here, there is a possibility that it will do harm on us."
"Huh? Someone already put a barrier?"
"I could a.s.sume that one of the people that come from that coach is a mage just like me, but better."
"Is that so..."
Volya observes Romain for a while and then asks him,
"Then, why did you ask that to me?"
"Well when someone from another kingdom come, I'm afraid that they have some plot for our King and Queen. Especially after the last incident," answer Romain.
Volya looked at Romain and then sighs. He knows about the last incident that Romain says as that where he met with all knight and the queen of Haegia, Helena Estrudiantes, at Wildespring. Not long after that, Volya says,
"But, judging by the number of guards that come with the coach, I could say that it's just a mere meeting."
"There is no such a thing called as a mere meeting if a representative from another kingdom come. Especially if they meet with Our King and Queen," says Romain.
"Is that so..."
Romain then observes the coach and could see a knight with a silver armor and have a lion insignia on the crest. Not only that, but the knight also has a s.h.i.+eld with a lion and sun ornament on it. Romain then says,
"That knight is one of the higher ranks from the neighboring kingdom. From there, I know that it is someone important from there."
"Hooo... Then, where is the mage? I want to see them" ask Volya.
"The neighboring kingdom, or empire to be more precise, have several Royal Mage and most of them hold a high position in the country. So, there is a possibility that it's one of them that come," answer Romain.
"A Royal Mage, huh..."
Not long after that, two men walking towards the coach and enter it. And the convoy started to leave the palace yard. Volya looked at the coach and together with that, he feels that the magic surrounding the palace is gone. He sighs and then looked at Romain and says,
"Then, at least Sir Albert should come here soon, right?"
"Should be," answer Romain
"Good. The faster the better."
"So, you already calm yourself, huh?"
"Calm... Yes, I am calm... As calm as a rock!" says Volya smiles.
Romain knows that Volya actually still anxious about it, but he let it slide. And at the same time, they hear someone knock on the door. Romain then walks towards the door and opens it. There stands the woman knight, Ludmila. She salutes Romain and then says,
"Sir Volya, please follow me to the throne chamber. The other already waiting for you there."
"Sir, Yes Sir!" says Volya as he walks towards Ludmila.
"And Sir Romain, you could wait at the door of the throne chamber with Sir Petros. Sir Villias
"Sir, Yes Sir!" shouts Romain
"You need to find Sir Petros first, meanwhile you will walk with me towards the throne chamber, Sir Volya."
Volya nods and walks with Ludmila to the throne chamber. While Romain looked at Volya and Ludmila, and then smile at them. He mumbles, "Hopefully everything will be alright."
After that, he starts to search for Sir Petros. Meanwhile, Volya walks behind Ludmila in silence until she asks him,
"Sir Volya, could I address without 'Sir' in front of you?"
"That's alright. I am just a mere commoner after all," answer Volya.
"Then, Volya..."
Suddenly Ludmila stops and that surprise Volya. She gazes at him and then says,
"What did you do back then? Are you using our Queen for something?"
"Huh?"
"And who are you? A commoner suddenly comes out of nowhere and help our Queen like that..."
Volya observes every expression from Ludmila and he knows that she distrusts him. So, he closes his eyes and says,
"I don't have any plan at all with your Queen."
"Huh?"
"What I do is protecting Wildespring from any chaos that will come in the future."
"Are you implying that our Queen is a threat?"
"No, your Queen isn't the threat for the forest... The incident that happens back then in the Wildespring is the threat and it will cause a wildfire in this world."
Ludmila really surprised to hear that comes from Volya's mouth. A mere peasant that lived at the forest calmly says that. Volya then sighs and says,
"Wildespring is a neutral area, and every Kingdom in this world knows about that. The moment they know about that incident, everything will turn from bad to worse."
"Are you trying to blackmail us with that after knowing that accident?"
"No. What will I gain by blackmailing all of you? Nothing."
Ludmila observes Volya for a while and then nods. She knows that Volya answer everything with full of honesty and he didn't falter even after she asks those question. She then smiles at him and says,
"At least, I could believe you."
"Huh?"
"Sir Albert, Sir Clement, and Sir Aubert held high regard about you and it seems the incident back then is the one that shapes their opinion towards you."
"Then, why are you asking that Lady Ludmila?" asks Volya with a puzzled face.
"Sir Villias and Sir Vitaly are asking me to look after you. They seem not completely convinced that you are not planning anything with Haegia."
"And is that including you?"
"At first yes, I distrust you. But after I see your honest answer and your expression, that a.s.sures me that you are trustworthy."
"Eh?"
"And if suddenly you become the people of Haegia, I will not be surprised because of your honesty. After all, we really appreciate honest people like you."
Volya smiles after hearing that and then he hears Ludmila says,
"And I heard from Romain that you praise our Kingdom because we already abolished slavery, right?"
"Huh? Did Sir Romain tell you about that?" ask Volya surprised
"Ahahahaha... You don't need to be surprised like that. Everyone could talk to me as I am not as scary as everyone think, especially Romain"
"A... Alright..."
"And I believe there is a connection between that comment and your past, right?"
"Eh?"
"That mark on your arm... That's a chain bracelet mark, right?"
Volya looked at his left arm and could see the mark of chain bracelet there. He then looked at Ludmila that continues,
"That's the sign that you are formerly a slave. Did someone buy you or did someone save you?"
"..."
"It seems you..."
"My foster father save me when I am running away from the barrack. You could say that I'm grateful for my fate back then," answer Volya.
"Did your foster father that lived with you in Wildespring? And did he the one who teaches you about magic?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Ahahahahahaha... And I believe you are really glad that happen or did you curse yourself because you are the only one saved by your foster father?"
Volya really surprised to hear that from a stranger such as Ludmila. Meanwhile, Ludmila stops and looks at Volya for a while. Volya knows that Ludmila is smiling at him and hears she says,
"I think that hit a target, huh."
"..."
"Ahahahaha... I'm sorry if I open a closed wound, it's just I really want to know every crook and cranny of the people that I just meet. I'm really sorry about that."
"Ah... That's... Alright..."
Volya then sighs and from there he will remember that if he meets with Ludmila again, he must prepare himself with a lot of question like that. After that, they walk in silence until they arrived at the throne chamber. Ludmila knocks on the door, asks for permission, and then open the door. After that, she bows at the man at the throne and says,
"Captain of the Lady Knight, Ludmila Karychenko, come as you order My King."
"Thank you Lady Ludmila, did you bring the hermit here?" asked one man with a red tunic with gold silk and wearing a dark brown trouser together with dark brown shoes. He also wears a crown on his dark hair.
The man looked at Volya and gently smile at him. Volya then bows at him and then hears him,
"Thank you for saving my beautiful wife, young hermit."
"It's nothing special as it's our job as a human to help each other no matter the stature of each people in this world," answer Volya as he still bows in front of the man.
"Stands up and look at me. I want to know your name, young hermit."
"Yes."
Volya then looks at the man in front of him and says,
"My name is Volya Portar, a mage that lived at Wildespring Forest."
"Volya Portar... What a nice name..." answer the man.
Suddenly, the man looked beside him and he only smiles. Besides him, a woman with brown long hair until shoulder gazes at him and seem to scold him. The woman using a red dress until leg and wearing a crown. And both of their attire have the insignia of Haegia.
Volya peek at the woman for a second and he knows that she is Helena Estrudiantes, the Queen of Haegia. He then looks at the man and hears,
"Then, let me introduce myself. My name is Paulo Estrudiantes, the King of Haegia. Hopefully, you are quite content with my Kingdom, Sir Volya."
"I am really content with it, O Great King of Haegia." answer Volya.
"Good to hear that. And I believe you already know my wife name, right?"
Volya didn't answer his question as he didn't know anything about the King. Suddenly, two knights rush towards Volya with their spear pointing on Volya's neck. Volya really surprised with that and looks at the Great Knight of Haegia that standing around him. The five of them looks really calm and at the same time are preparing their respective weapon.
Volya then looks at Paulo and then hears him says,
"You know, what you do is an insult when you ask someone else wife name. Especially if she is the Queen of another Kingdom."
"Isn't it something natural for someone to ask that when something unusual happen?" ask Volya as he tried to think a way to run away from this situation.
"Still that's an insult. And did you know what happens when someone insults a King?"
"Death penalty," answer Volya with unfazed expression.
Volya takes a deep breath and tried to find a way to run from this situation once more. He calmly looked around his surrounding and then look for an exit. Either it pa.s.ses through the door or through the window as he can't teleport himself to Wildespring because of his location really far from Wildespring.
He clenches his grip and prepares himself for the worst. Meanwhile, Paulo really surprised to hear Volya's answer. At first, he gazes coldly at Volya. But then, he smiles and laughs at him.
Volya really surprised and see Paulo orders the knight to stand back and hears him says,
"Ahahahaha... I can't believe you will answer that with a stern face like that. It seems like you already prepared yourself for the worst."
"..."
"And I am sorry about it, I'm just joking. It's just a play, you know."
"My Dear, I believe you should apologize to him for that. Look at him, his face quite pale," says Helena suddenly.
"Ahahahahaha... I know... I know."
Helena then scolds Paulo about that, while Volya looks at the Five Great Knights of Haegia. He could see that the five of them looked really enjoying that, especially Ludmila that tried to hold her laugh with help of Phillip shoulder.
After a while, Paulo then stands up together with Helena and walk together to Volya. Paulo then says,
"I'm sorry about that. I know that you are really worried about that, right?"
"That's alright..." answer Volya as he smiles at Paulo
"Then, I will say it again. Thank you very much. I don't know what will happen if my wife died back then."
"You're welcome, Milord."
Paulo then looks at Helena and then asks her,
"Then, besides I tell my grat.i.tude to him, why is he here?"
"Did you didn't hear what Sir Albert just said before?" asked Helena with a little smile on her face
"Ahahahahaha... It just my mind still occupied with the sudden intrusion from Brigandy family before."
"It just like you, my dear."
"Then, could you tell me why is he here? Is it about giving him some gift or something?"
"He will look at both of your fortunes, milord," says Albert as he walks to the throne.
"Is that so? This hermit also a fortune-teller... That's impressive."
Volya bows after hearing that from Paulo. Paulo then smiles at him and then says,
"Then, could you see our future?"
"Yes, I am." answer Volya
"Then, I have a question for you," says Helena
"What is it, Your Highness?" says Volya.
"Could we believe everything that you will be said? And will that happen to us in the future?"
Volya looks at Helena, Paulo, and then to the knights behind him. He could see that Romain is peeking at them and he smiles. He then says,
"The future is something that you couldn't predict. But, I will a.s.sure you this, even if you take the different path you eventually will reach that, too."
"So, this future that you will say is something that we could set as a goal," says Paulo.
"Yes. But, do note one thing. Just like I said before, the future is unpredictable. There also a slim chance that it will not happen." continues Volya.
"Is that so..."
"Even after knowing this fact... Will both of you let me read your fortune, Milord?" asks Volya
Paulo and Helena look at each other and then both of them the nod. Paulo then says,
"Tell our future, Young Man. And we will treasure it as our grat.i.tude for you."
"As you will..."
Volya walks towards Paulo and Helena, and he read their future together with the other five knights. Before he knows it, he finished looks at all of their fortune and then he escorted back to Ironforge where he will spent his last day at Haegia.