"My son, do you really have to leave? You can stay here and live with us and one day you can take over the family business." Thon said this to his son while gesturing to their home and shop with pleading eyes.
"This is my true calling, Father … My dream is not to take over the family business, it is to become the greatest blacksmith in history, using my own skills and knowledge to do so." Fenrir said with determination in his heart, but tears in his eyes.
This was Fenrir's true wish, to one day become the greatest blacksmith in the world. However, the part he left out was that he was chosen by a God to kill the demon king.
"You think you will gain that ability in the capital?" Thon said, crying.
"I do, it is my calling." Fenrir said, hopping on top of a horse. "Once I am settled down, I will come and visit once a year. I promise."
"I love you, son."
"I love you too, dad." Fenrir looked at his house one more time, his mother and siblings waving him off. Fenrir whipped the harness causing the horse to run. When Fenrir and his companion reached outside the fortress, the two slowly descended down the mountain side.
Fenrir was equipped for the journey. Fitted with brown boots, blue pants, a black shirt, light black armor pieces on his chest, back, wrists, and shoulders, and at his hip was a blade crafted by himself for himself.
Before the journey he bought rations for two weeks of travel, and enough food for the horse as well. After the rations and other equipment purchases, Fenrir had about forty silver left to his name, from his work at the shop.
What Fenrir was not equipped for, was a sudden rock slide. A little over halfway down the mountain side, there was a large vibration in the ground, the horse immediately went as fast as it could, but rocks were on top of them in an instant.
They tumbled, fell, rolled down the mountain side. The horse eventually hit a cliff face, and died on impact. Fenrir hit the horse's body causing enough of a cushion that he could place himself between the body of the horse and the side of the mountain.
"Huhff … I am alive!" Fenrir said panting feeling shock and a rush of adrenaline
From the rolling and tumbling down the mountain.
Fenrir lost a lot of items; rations, coins, and pieces of his armor all fell victim to Thoronie, but at the very least, he was alive.
Fenrir slowly worked his way down the rest of the mountain. The journey took four days. Usually it would have only been a three day trip from the settlement, but with his injuries and the unstable ground caused by the rockslide, it took longer.
Fenrir looked before him, "The hard part is done, now all I have to do is … traverse a freaking forest!!! I wish I had a map."
He took a break and ate the rest of his food. After refreshing his mind, he walked into the forest. "I can't see anything, it's all just mist."
Fenrir, who was already lost, was now face to face with mist. He pulled his sword out in anticipation for any dangers lurking in the fog, but really he just wanted to know if he was going the right way.
After a while of walking, Fenrir's vision, which was previously filled with only a foggy white mist, suddenly was filled in by a black circle.
This dark circle that filled his line of sight, began to change.
It opened its face, causing four petals to spread out, and a mouth began to peel open, then in an instant the creature lunged at Fenrir.
Fenrir jumped back and then thrusted his sword forwards. With its nimble hard to see white body, Fenrir missed the attack, then the creature swiped at Fenrir with its claws. Only when the monster's arm was two feet away could Fenrir see it, barely moving out of the way.
As Fenrir dodged the attack, he turned and ran.
"Nope, nope nope."
Fenrir bolted in the opposite direction of the creature.
"I really don't want to fight a Tainted Clove. That is a B ranked monster."
Monsters are ranked from E rank to mythic rank.
The ranking from weakest to strongest goes: E, D, C, B, A, S, legendary, cataclysmic, and finally mythic rank.
E ranked monsters would be small unthreatening things like small slimes or bats. While mythic rank are things like ancient abyss dragons.
B rank is considered an advanced monster, above average, which is where Tainted Cloves are categorized.
A Tainted Clove has the body of a very tall monkey and the head of a four leafed clover. It has a sturdy body and it hides in the misty forest, and with its white body, it is extremely hard to see. However, if someone knows what they are doing, they aren't all that strong.
This was Fenrir's first time seeing it though, and since he was alone, he was outclassed.
Fenrir ran as far as his legs could take him, when he looked up he saw the ending of trees and a main road.
Huff huhf
Fenrir, having run out of stamina, looked behind him, only to see trees. The trees were all in front of him, none to the left or right, just in front of him.
Looking down, he was on a dirt road.
"Do you need a ride?"
Fenrir quickly turned around and saw a carriage, stopped in the road.
It was black carriage, clearly carrying someone or something important.
After admiring the carriage, he noticed the long red haired girl holding the door with one hand and her other arm reaching out to him.
Fenrir felt his heart skip a beat, not from a feeling of love, but a deeper connection. "Can I ask you a weird question?"
"Go for it stranger."
"Are you headed to the capital to kill the demon king?"
"You are too!?!?! OH. MY. GOD. This is my first time meeting another one of me. That isn't right … I mean, meeting someone who was sent by that God as well. Am I making sense?"
"Indeed. This is my first time meeting someone who was given the same mission as I was." Fenrir said with a smile.
"This is so exciting! I was wondering why I had this weird feeling in my stomach after seeing you. For a second I thought I was in love. Thank the God's that isn't the case. We just felt a soul connection is all."
"Hehe, I will try to not take that as an insult. You sure like to talk don't you?" Fenrir said, hopping into the carriage and sitting down across from Alexandra.
"I love talking to all animals, humans included! Sebby, please continue to the capital!" She yelled to the carriage driver.
"Right away your highness."
"You are royalty?" Fenrir said in shock.
"I am. My name is Alexandra Benika, daughter of Lord Benika, lord of the elves. You are?"
"Fenrir Ironblood, son of Thon, a blacksmith."
"Fenrir? Like the wolf? Being named after an animal kind of makes you an animal too, no?"
"I am not following."
"Anyway, can you make a bow?"
"I am not sure how to do wood working, but I can make arrows."
"Then you will be very useful indeed Mr. Fenrir. Good boy"
"I am not a dog!"
…
"My daughter! Alex!! Why must you leave me and your mother all alone?!?" The lord of the elves, considered by many to be the most level headed man in all the elven forest, was practically in tears at the sight of his daughter getting ready to leave for the capital city, Ebria.
"Daaaad, we have gone over this. I am to go to the capital to learn more of the world to one day be a good leader. I am to one day take over your position you know!" Alex's explanation was only a half truth.
Her real goal is to make it the capital by her fifteenth birthday because she feels as though that was what she was born to do.
Alex couldn't tell her family that she was chosen by a God to leave for the capital city of Ebria and kill the demon king. If she did tell them, she was worried that they would resort to underhanded means of stopping her from leaving.
Alex used the excuse of being a noble, the daughter of the elven lord, to travel around and gain real world experience which would make her a better political leader in the future.
"I know that! But fifteen years passed far too quickly … Oh, I know! Why not wait another fifteen years before departing?" Her father tried to reason with his daughter.
"Hell no!"
"Hrmph!"
"Are you seriously pouting!?!?!"
"Common honey, leave our daughter alone. She needs to experience this." Alex's mom, Mrs. Kassandra Benika, wife of the elven lord, said with a warm comforting look on her face.
"Yes …but honey."
"ENOUGH" and that same soft, kind hearted woman also just switched her entire kind look into a fiery being. Her long red hair waving around like an uncontrolled wildfire, her violent voice causing the poor lord to cower.
"Enjoy your journey, sweetheart."
"Thank you, dad, and thank you too, mom."
The two parents, along with her brother, waved Alex off as she entered a fancy black carriage driven by her personal attendant, Sebby.
The journey from the elven forest to the capital city, Ebria, would take nearly two weeks. Although the leaders of the elven tribe are in good relations with King Rosella and a path was cleared from just outside the forest leading to the city walls, there was still quite a distance between the two areas.
After five days of travel, they saw a young man with black hair and a beaten body running for his life. Sebby stopped the carriage. When Alex looked to see what caused the carriage to abruptly come to a halt, she felt her heart beating fast.
Badum, badum.
When she opened the door of the carriage and looked at the man. Her heart skipped a beat. "Do you need a ride?" Alex said, offering a ride to a complete stranger.
Thus queued the fun conversation between Fenrir and Alex, and how the first two members of those sent out to kill the demon king met.
…
Late in the night. Two weeks before her fifteenth birthday. Zena Vital, daughter of the viking chief, killed her entire clan.
Being her fathers right hand, Zena was allowed access to his sleeping quarters. In his sleep, the renowned and ruthless king of assassins, Wolf Vital, died to a dagger placed gently into his neck and was forced to choke on his own blood.
"Wh- blaugh" He tried to speak, but couldn't, he died holding a vengeful look towards his daughter.
She entered the room of each sleeping quarters, and slayed anyone and everyone. Many were sleeping, some were at their desks planning, others through experience felt something was wrong and were ready and waiting for the attack.
However, the outcome remained the same, men, women, children, all killed by this nimble child.
After killing the equivalent of a small town of people, she disposed of any evidence that could pin the blame on her. She stole any useful belongings: money, weapons, food, and after taking any and all useful items, she then disposed of the bodies.
She figured most would not care about disgusting bandits mysteriously disappearing, but she took the necessary precautions.
Then she washed her body off in the river, along with her blades.
She slept peacefully until morning, then left for the capital.
…
"Coco, today is the day you leave for the capital, is it not?"
"Yes master, for the hundredth time, I am leaving today."
Master Garrison had a puzzled look on his face, it wasn't sadness or anger, but confusion. "God, why must my dearest pupil leave to go on such a dangerous journey?"
"Master, the Gods aren't listening to your petty squabbles. Besides, which God are you even praying to?"
"The demon God of course. For you, I must pray to the demon God."
There are ten Gods that this world believes in.
Demon God
Human God
Light Goddess
Wisdom God
Dragon God
Water Goddess
Nature Goddess
Time God
Crafting God
God of God's (God^2)
Each race follows a certain God, and it is said that those Gods gain more power based on how much their followers believe in them and their existence.
"If the other dwarfs knew what you were doing, you would be exiled for treason."
"I would happily be exiled for the sake of my top student."
"Master, I am your only student."
"Very astute of you! You get an A+"
"Master." Coco looked upon Garrison with concerned eyes, wondering if he would be ok without her.
"Anyway! I have some gifts for you, Coco."
Coco was now the one with the puzzled look plastered onto her face. Coco and Garrison were extremely poor.
Dwarfs liked to fix and craft things. Relying on their physical prowess rather than their magic. Brawns over brains.
Having a scholar among their ranks, the chief's brother no less, was concerning. They did not kick him out, but they did make him an outcast. Since Garrison didn't make anything, there was nothing to trade, so money was always low.
Sometimes, Garrison would leave the stronghold and attend the university. The magic university, Crast, was a three day trip from the stronghold where they were located.
Garrison would travel to Crast and give a lecture, then began his journey back.
The pay was good, but with travel expenses, all Garrison would come back with was only enough money for some food and a book or two.
Garrison having multiple gifts to give Coco, was not just rare, its never happened before.
"Right, gifts. Don't worry, I do have savings for occasions like this, and I called in some favors as well. Do not worry."
Garrison left the room to grab the items. Coco looked extremely concerned. She knew more than anyone that when her master wanted something, a "no" was never an option. Even if that something was giving a gift to another person.
Despite her worries, she would happily accept them.
Garrison came back with a small wand, laid on top of some clothes. Coco's eyes went from worry to excitement as she saw the wand. A real life wand. She sprung up and started to analyse the wand. "An impure blue gem, water magic, the rod is made from ebony wood, it's small, easy to hold, and move around. It can probably only cast the water ball spell, but it will be useful."
"Feel free to hold it, Coco."
"Really, I can?" She looked worried about holding this magical tool, but her body was already holding onto the shaft of the wand as she thought this. The body works faster than the mind.
It was the size of her forearm. She waved it around and imbued a small amount of mana into it, a drop of water fell to the floor. The ends of Coco's lips coiled up. "This is really an impure mana stone!"
"I am glad that you like it. I figured it would be useful once you get to the capital, because people cannot see you cast your real magic."
"Yes, yes, I know. The church doesn't like demons and I would be exiled or at worst, killed."
"Right, which is why I bought you these clothes."
Small black boots, black pants, a black collared shirt, a white tie, new women's undergarments, and a white wizards cloak.
"Most of the clothes, the boots, shirt, and pants, are hand-me-downs, but should still be sturdy enough to handle your adventures. The undergarments are new, freshly bought from town, sorry if I got your size wrong. The coat is the best piece though, made from Tainted Clove skin. It is sturdy and easy to move around in." There was also a belt that goes around the coat, with a holster for the wand.
"Oh I also forgot to mention, hand the guardsmen this envelope. Showing this to them should ensure that you have no issues getting into the city walls." Garrison added this letter on top of all the other stuff.
"I am not really sure what to say to all of this. Thank you. Thank everyone who helped out with these." Coco said teary eyed for this was legendary equipment for a poor demon who was frail from malnourishment.
"You are very welcome. As for my last gift, there is a carriage at the bottom of the mountain that will pick you up. Don't worry it isn't anything fancy like those black carriages like nobles use. It's a merchant friend from the university."
"How can I thank you enough, master?" Coco looked up like a lost cat.
"Hurry up and kill the demon king, then come back here." Garrison said with a smile looking down on his pupil.
"Right!"
Coco left the mountain settlement, wearing her new equipment and a black backpack with some necessary items inside of it, rations, first aid kit, rope, and a book of magic for the road.
This settlement faced away from the capital, there was a lot of rocky terrain.
Coco transversed down the mountain side, which took two full days. Then she looped around the side of the mountain, another day's travel.
Finally, after half a day's walk, she was at the location her master said to meet the merchant. There was a small hand made wooden hut and a white carriage with a horse at the front.
"Run into any trouble?" The older man, inside the hut, asked Coco, who was wearing her coat with the hood up so he couldn't see her small black horns.
"No, I didn't, got lucky."
"Mmm, that's good, heard there was an increase in tainted cloves round these parts. We had better be careful." The merchant said almost as though he really didn't mind the rumors.
Given his old age, he must be quite experienced in these things. Coco thought to herself before responding to him."We should be careful then." Coco said this like she would trust the merchant with anything he has to say.
The two packed up the single horse drawn carriage and left for the capital. A journey that would take a week and a half to reach.
Coco was used to staying inside her room studying all the time, when she did go outside, it was either for groceries for the house or to practice her magic. So she wasn't used to the bumpy roads causing her to be sore after just the first day.
Due to the convenient roadways, the trip went without incident. After ten days of being on the road, they finally arrived at the capital city of Ebria.
"Have a good life missy." The merchant said before heading back to his shop.
"Thank you very much. You too." Coco said with a bow. Then she turned her attention to the giant city before her.
She stared at the architecture like the stone pillars which acted as a starting area for people to stand in line to be let into the capital. "Woah, this is much bigger than I thought it would be."
Ebria is the second largest city in the country of Aspril, and it is the most prosperous city in the realm.
The reason for it being the capital of this country is because it is in the center of all habitable places in the country. It is pretty much an equal distance from the elven forest as it is to the dwarven mountains. It is a two week journey from the ocean and it is an equal distance to the university. This mathematical location makes it the perfect spot for adventurers to reside.
Originally it started as a village, but it quickly developed into a large city from adventurers and merchants settling into the place waiting for work to present itself.
This city was now going to house four more people who were taking on the most important position in all the world. To kill the demon king.