It's on the posters, paintings, newspapers, and displayed in every corner of almost every shop.
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The fearless expedition of a knight who eradicated a demon who tortured and manslaughtered human everywhere he went through, and the cause of the two kingdom's war that killed hundreds and thousands of men, women, and children.
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It's been three months then since that certain demon disappeared in this world. Every empire united for reaching the peace that only took one person to happen.
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I stared at the plaza this time of the night, watching how the street lights and lamps overflowed with much brightness, kids running and playing while holding their wooden swords and shields, lively stalls that's been build during the day selling antiques, street foods, and other materials that can be displayed outside and inside of a home. What the most mesmerizing of all was how every people I've seen was smiling, as if that happiness won't be taken away.
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Maybe because right now, we have been delighted by the news received from the palace. This first day of night festival, the hero will arrived to join us celebrate this year's feast for a whole week while going on to his mission to find the hidden type of monster in the Terao Forest, part of our homeland.
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"Sister! Sister!" My eyes sighted a small kid running towards me while holding a piece of red tulip. He's smiling from ear to ear, and I wondered if he even sees something when he beamed like that. "For you, sister!"
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It was then that I realized that this kid is the son of the maiden I've saved from the murderer a week ago.
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I stared at the tulips as I received it.
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"Flower, sister, flower!"
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My lips turned into curve as I tapped his head. "It is lovely,"
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"Lovely, lovely!" He lively said.
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"Uhm, where is your mama?"
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He hold the trouser I'm wearing for the sake of gripping something. "Mama, there! Mama, there!"
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As I lifted my head, I saw his mother waving not from afar, holding a basket. They seemed to be buying something this time of the night.
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"Let's go to mama," I said, grabbing his small hands.
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"Going to mama!"
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I let out a small laugh, he giggled.
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"Are we not a disturbance, Piper?" She asked.
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I shook my head. "Not at all, Mrs. Rouge."
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She smiled. "Are you waiting for someone?"
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I blinked. "No, I just went here because I can't sleep. Also, the door of the house where I'm staying is already locked. I pissed the Madam again," I scratched my temple. "Hehe,"
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She tapped me. "Then would you like to sleep in our home just this night?"
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"Thank you for the thought, Mrs. Rouge, but I was planning to wander around again tonight after I go with Commander Vale to greet the hero, I've been informed that their carriage will soon be here."
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Her eyes widened. "I almost forgot about that news, Gage really wanted to meet him after his father told him the story every single day." She took the hand of the little kid.
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"Hmm," I look at Gage. "I think it would be better for him to meet the hero tomorrow, Mrs. Rouge. Little kids shouldn't stay up all night. After all, we've got a whole week to see him."
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"You're right,"
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I smiled, looking at Gage whose scratching his eyes and showing signs of sleepiness.
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"Little kid, go home for now, alright?"
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"Go...home? Already?"
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"Yeah, kids should sleep now. And, thank you for this flower, Sister really loves it,"
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"Loves it?" His face lightened.
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I nodded. "Next time, I'll bring you chocolates. But for now, you need to go home with mama."
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"Ahm, okay!"
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I waved my hands as Mrs. Rouge and Gage turned their backs. I watched their backs fade away before I walk my way to my target destination.
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The palace. I went straight to the knight headquarters where I saw Commander Vale. I bowed my head to the knight as they greeted me with rejoiced. I smiled with my teeth showing when they start to give me an alcohol. Commander Vale took it and put it away.
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"Stop giving the child any alcohol," He commanded.
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The knights laughed. "Commander, we understand that Piper is somewhat like your own child, but she's twenty-one! She can drink it!" Sir Yuli spouted. Some knights agreed with him.
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Commander glared at them as they sat in silence.
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"No drinking, the hero is going to arrive at any moment. And don't give the child any errands as of now. She'll be with us to greet the hero."
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I beamed as the thought of Commander Vale still calling me a 'child'. It's been eight years since Commander Vale took me in ever since my parents died. He sheltered me like his own daughter since he has no one. When I turned eighteen three years ago, I told him I want to be on my own. He only agreed if only that means I would run errands to the knights so I could see him everyday. Now I'm staying at the inn of Madam Pearl, where I pay 10 silver coins every month. I feel like I've sunken into poverty since.
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"Commander! Commander! We need to get on our positions! The hero's carriage is arriving!" Someone shouted from the outside.
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"Speaking of Gods and Goddesses, we shall go," I heard Dame Yura spouted. It cause a ruckus exiting the headquarters.
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I only sighed. The Knight's uniform are all metal and inside, their muscles are all bulky and all, everytime this happens, it really hurts to bumped into them.
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"Let's go, child," Commander Vale tapped me in the back as I followed them.
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We all formed a formation on the main palace gate, it only took a minute for us to heard the sound of the arriving big vehicle. I may not look at everyone to see their faces, but I could sense that we're all tense.
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Of course, it's the hero. We are all asking the same question in our tiny little brains.
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What is he like? Since the newspaper never showed any face of him.
Is he tall? Since it can't be tell in paintings.
What is his attitude? Since certain rumors are circulating around.
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The carriage stopped. The footman of the palace opened the door of the carriage.
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I lifted my eyes.
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A tall and poised well-dressed man exited the carriage. And he's...
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He's young.
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I thought the hero would be at least middle aged. Our kingdom really know nothing about him. I'm guessing that only the royal family has been informed about it.
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Commander Vale took a step forward and bowed.
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"I greet the hero of the empires, Sir Hezekiah Thrindel. I'm Commander Vale, Sir Thrindel, I will accompany you inside the palace."
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The hero stared at Commander Vale. I couldn't tell what he's thinking. He's not reacting or showing any kind of emotion. Like he's been stiffed or something.
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I didn't know the hero is this rude...or cold.
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"I see." He only replied. He proceeded to walk along with Commander Vale. I stared at the other knights sticking their eyes with the hero, watching his back entered the palace.
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I could hear all sense of gossip as they entered that door.
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"I've heard rumors about the hero, and it is said that he's always been like that even before he killed the demon. Don't you know he's been called the 'living statue' because of it?"
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I looked down.
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Living statue?
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"Is that so?"
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"Yeah! I'm telling you, that man is somewhat amazing but emotionless."
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I get away from the formation of the knights, every words of them is hurting my ears.
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"Piper, where are you going?" I heard Sir Yuli asked.
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"Ah, I'm waiting for Commander Vale in the headquarters since I wasn't allowed to enter the palace, I can't go out if I don't wait for him,"
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"Who said that you weren't allowed? You're one of us."
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I looked down. One knight didn't let me in a few weeks ago.
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"Is it alright? I'm not a knight."
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He smirked. "So what? You're the commander's precious child. You can wait for him there."
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I was somewhat embarrassed when he said 'precious child'.
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"That's right, Piper. Besides, you've been with us to greet the hero." Dame Yura stated.
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I only nodded as I followed them entered the back gate of the palace on the way to the throne hall. I heard the emperor's joy welcoming the hero.
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Still, the hero's poised seemed not to change since a while ago. Since I can only see his back, I'm guessing somewhat he's only staring at the emperor with no expression of joy.
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After exchanging statements, the hero requested to sleep, never giving any reasons unto why. It all looks like he wanted to get this over with. He never spoke in such long words, it looks like we'll need to pay a gold bar for him to reply words longer than ten.
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"T-Then, Commander Vale, you can accompany Sir Thrindel to his room." The emperor awkwardly commanded.
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Commander Vale nodded.
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"Thank you, Your Majesty." The hero bowed his head.
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The emperor seemed trouble after all the conversation he had with him as he turned his back to follow Commander Vale. Some knights has gone array when it happened.
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"Piper, go with Commander." Dame Yura tapped my back.
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I only nodded as I said my goodbyes to them. I silently walk through the hallway, fearing someone might stop me from entering. Luckily, no one did since they're busy gossiping. Even the knight who forbid me to enter few weeks ago.
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I escaped from their sights and proceed to follow my father and the hero.
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It's then I realized they're going upstairs. As I get near, I saw a dangerous protruding nail in the stairs and tried to shout.
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"Wait---Commander!" I call Commander Vale, but it was the hero who stepped on it and lost his balance.
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He's going to fall off stairs!
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I run as fast as I can to catch his back, even though it means it's gonna break my bones to save him from getting hurt. We rolled down the stairs and stopped on the flat floor. My hands swing in pain as I realized that it slipped off his brooch. My palm was sliced in half.
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But I didn't fail to stop the hero from getting hurt. I catched his head, sheltering it in my arms.
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"Piper! S-Sir Thrindel!" I heard Commander Vale.
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I grimace in my left hand's pain as I slowly let go of the hero's head.
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I was surprised when I saw his widened and flabbergasted expression staring at me so near from eye to eye. Like he has seen something he didn't expect to.
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I gulped, feeling the pain. His eyes fell off my hand and looked at the brooch that hurt it. I was thunderstuck when he turned to throw it away.
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"S-Sir?!" I shouted, dumbfounded.
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He grabbed my waist and arms to stand up right before Commander Vale offered to.
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Suddenly, I couldn't breathe.
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"Call the Imperial physician!" He shouted, his roots in his neck and forehead is going to pop off.
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Commander Vale didn't hesitated to run to call someone. As I look down to process everything, I realized that there's a blood on the floor. But it isn't coming from me.
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It's from his pierce of hole in his foot because of the nail he stepped into, the cause of his fall.
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I didn't manage to protect him at all.
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