Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 237: Star of the conqueror

Smokes wafted up above as the smell of meat fills the area. There is sound of conversation and laughter around the area

The camp is fill with the smell of meat as the mercenaries that Arial had hired is feasting with the Firehorse meats

Some spices from Arrandy is given to the cook to make the meat more delicious and more aromatic.

Some kobolds in the group know how to cook so they use the horsemeat to their full extent while talking and laughing with each other.

'This could last us for months' Mikael remarked when Arial and his group brought the meat to the camp in the afternoon.

With the dwarves finding a nearby river in their camp area they washed the meats and now they are having a feast.

For now, the Dark Elves is taking guard while they are feasting.  

The Dark Elves that is patrolling and taking guard could sometimes be seen looking toward the roasting area and gulped their saliva, imagining the delicious flesh of the Firehorse in their throat

They are waiting their turn patiently. Arial look at the first batch finished firehorse meat roast and the he looks towards the Orcs in front of him. Smiling he declares.

'LET US FEAST' he roared and the Orc quickly grab their portion of the meat.

The Dark Elves sometimes look toward the Orcs that keeps eating the meat ravenously as they wonder how long before the orc would take their position so they could eat

Even though there are many races that participate in Arial crazy expedition and each race had rivalry with each other, in front of their food at least their rivalry is forgotten for a while.

All of them is filled with happy expression on their face, some Orc is holding the thigh of the firehorse meat and eating it like he is eating chicken thigh.

'This is delicious.'

'There is a certain crispiness that I have never tasted before.' One Orc remarked as his saliva spits out from his open mouth as he keeps chewing the food

'True' another chimed in.

'A delicacy!' one shouted

'If all monster taste like this, I may hunt them all' and that invites laughter from the assembly.

'If that's the case, try Big Orc. Who knows? Someday they will get a taste of you.' A Kobold warrior joked.

The Big Orc laughed hard sputtering the meat around the campfire. All in all, they seemed pleased.

Arial is sitting at the place of honor.

After all, he did hire these men and did most of the killing but still he joined the men in their talks, participated in their jokes, and he sat among them like equals.

The same way he treated his army back when he was at Arrandy

And his mercenary army is pleased, that the man that hires them is not arrogant or overbearing.

Of course, those Orc who follow him into battle does not only admire him, but fears him. They have seen what these young human is capable of.

Like Arial who never had time to see the culture of the Dark Lands, the same could be said for the Eight races that lives inside Anvali.

The news of the Human Continent opening their Gates and allowing trades and contacts were just announced and there are still not many human adventurers that venture deep into the Dark Lands.

Those who did come was mostly merchants, giving the commoner of the Eight Races to think humans as grubby, sly and wealthy.

And also fat. Most of the humans that the Demonkind saw coming from the Human Continent is fat, a testament of the wealthy lifestyle of the rich merchants.

Thus they were shocked when the image that Arial had given them is so contrastingly different than what they thought

Arial was like a War God in the battle.

Even now they seem to think what happened was unreal. Arial is of course unaware of this, as he keeps chatting with the soldiers and the Elven archers and the Kobolds.

Arial believe in his heart, that if someone risked their life for you, it is your obligation to treat that man well.

In the assembly, the Orcs that is present on the battle tell the story of how Arial defeats the Firehorse.

His strength and speed. His blade that shines with black glint.

And some of the Orcs ask permission to see the blade, and Arial unsheathe his sword for all to see and the sword invites envy and admiration from all.

Yet Arial notices that none of them ask to hold the blade. He did not understand why none of them even dare to ask to hold the blade.

It is a mystery to him but in such public setting, he did not try to sate his curiosity. That is one mystery he will solve one day. He thought to himself.

Velamina is on the corner, eating not even half of the portion of the Firehorse meat and this was the first time she showed interest in these conversation.

It was not the sword that attracts her but the stories about Arial for she joins this band of mercenaries for her own purpose.

Fera the Orc boasted about Arial as his thick coarse hand holding a portion of the horse tight, telling the spectators in front of the campfire.

'He was incredible. Flying like the wind, and killing those horses like they were…they were…. something easy to cut' He said stuttering a bit and a few other Orcs laughed

'It is because of this kind of behavior that humans had prejudice that we Orcs are stupid' one orc suddenly said.

Hush' Fera shushed the orc and then continue

'Our leader is also very adept in military formation and fought with the ferocity of the Horned God. Even in my land such ferocity is hardly seen'

And some of the other Orcs nodded.

'Instead of running away, our leader fought them with honour. That shows character' another Kobold chimed in, his word is calm and measured. The Orc nodded.

'A heroic stature with calmness in battle and strength that rivaled great heroes of the past. If young boy like this could overpower hundreds of Firehorses, what would happen when he grows up. If its sword wouldn't he be called the Sword God? If it's his fist wouldn't he be called the Fist God?'

'You boasted too much about me' Arial said, began feeling embarrassed to be praised so much.

One of the older Orcs then waves his hand and then he said

'we should stop now, Young Ones. 'Then the Old orc look at Arial and then nodded.

He then added

'I thought this is the expedition where I would finally die. After all our leader is a crazy person that wanted to fight with a dragon. Before I believe this boy will kill us by making us fighting that flying nightmare but seeing his strength today, we might have a chance, brothers' he yelled and the other Veteran Orcs nodded

And they laughed.

Boisterous laughs fill with teasing jokes fill the conversation of the night.

Then they continue their feasting, for mercenaries rarely went to feast, and nothing even the reminder that they will fight a dragon would dampen their spirit that night.

They consumed the horse meat, saying things like delicious and that they have tasted heaven.

The herbs and spices helps in making the strong smell of the meats to not be so prevalent.

Of course there are no side dishes, and Arial remembered in his castle, the richly roasted meat slathered with honey, and hundreds of fine delicacies.

The tension of governing is a headache but the food is always delicious. Arial guess even he is slowly accustomed to a life of luxuries.

'Hmph' he said it to himself.

He is too accustomed to life of a lord. However, now feasting under the moonlight skies, this is the kind of life is he is used to in the past.

As the orcs and the kobolds is continuing the feast, Arial excuse himself. As he excuses himself, he could hear some kobold reciting poems and singing songs.

He went to one of the high rocks and cross his arm and look into the stars as he always did when he is on foreign land. The wind was soothing and the silence is a welcome to him

He likes it.

'Alone in this beautiful night?' a voice startled him. He turned around and the darkness holds no hostage to the beautiful Elven. Her snow white skin shines with ethereal beauty at night.

It was Velamina. Arial was puzzled and he ask

'Velamina. Do you not join the feast?'

'No I did not, my lord.'

'Lord?' Arial frowned

'You are a lord…. aren't you? Of the human kingdoms?' Arial then ask back

'How do you know that? I never told that to anyone.'

'Were you hiding it? If so, I'm sorry.' She said casually. Arial was intrigued

He shakes his head.

'No I did not hide it. Though I'm not particularly inclined to share it either.' He replies

'Then, it will stay secret with me.' She said with a smile on her face. Arial had the urge to smile with her for some reason before he shakes the thought from his mind

And for a moment there is a brief silence. And she stands there beside him, the wind blowing on both of them, her scent lingers around him, and it smells pleasant like that of the smell of the morning forest

The night is long, Arial mused.

'Do you look at the stars, my lord?'  she asks suddenly. Arial nodded

'Yes. I do. It is one of the things I do when I am at a foreign land. And it calms me'

'Do you read them?' she asks a weird question

'Read them? How do you mean?' he asks

She giggled a little. And she came forward, near Arial looking at the star on the distant skies.

'My title in the Elven community is Starseer. Would you like me to read the stars for you my lord?'

Arial looked at the stars and back at Velamina.

'Why not?' he said.

Then Velamina suddenly kiss him, a nervous kiss, holding his face gently, her hands are trembling in excitement and that startled Arial so much so that he pushed her back.

'What is that?' he said, perplexed at the sudden kiss, his wide eyed express his shock.

'I need to touch you.' She said as she chuckles a bit

'Then touch me! Why kiss me!' he almost shouted the words.

'I thought it would be faster and accurate.' She answers, with a mischievous smile on her face.

'You-'

And then she holds her finger up. A weak light star is shining in the skies and she pointed to one of the stars.

'That is your star. At least it used to be. That is the Star of Calamity. A life destined for being subjected to horrors and dying alone. It is not a good star to be under. But it died about a month ago.' And she looked again at the stars.josei

'How?' she asked herself and she looked at Arial again with puzzlement. Her words reminded him of his previous live.

He has witnessed horrors beyond imagining, and as she said, he died alone, in a basement without anyone that he cares about.

Her kissing him might be playing around but without a doubt there is a reason the Elven council give her the tittle of Starseer.

Maybe, the kiss is just because of her urge. After all Arial has heard that Elven has a considerable libido.

'Now?' Arial asked. She pointed to another star.

'That is your star now.'

'What is it called?' Arial asked as he looked toward the star that she is pointing toward. She is reluctant to say it. And Arial caught her expression. He then asked

'Is it another bad star?'

She shakes her head and then said

'Maybe. It depends really. That is the Star of the Conqueror. Rarely one is under that star. Even the Great Avenger Levitia himself is not under that star.'

Arial laughed a little.

'Are you saying to me that I am rivaled of that Great Hero?' Arial saying it in disbelief. Velamina shakes her heard

'No, that is not what I mean. It's not that. The Great Avenger Levitia was born under the star of the Liberator and his fate of liberating people is testament to his destiny'

She tilted her head and then she said

'Yours…are weird. Never before one man is born under two stars. But I met him today' she whispered.

'This is impossible.' She looked more shocked then possible.

'Maybe you are wrong?' Arial asked, though he knew she is not wrong. How could he explain that he once died before, and return again.

She then said

'Forgive me, my lord. I must explain to you what Star of the Conqueror mean'

Arial listened.

He heard of such people before. Of Starseers and Moon Oracles. Of Sun Priest and River Maidens.

Once they have looked and peers through the secrets of the Gods, they have their own rules that they must fulfil.

Arial listened to Velamina words. Whether he believes in it or not is another story

Velamina then explains.

'The Star of the Conqueror means you will bring great change in the world. Evil or good, this I can't see. But one that is born under such stars must always be vigilant. for such person will always be in threat, in constant war, but such person will also have the possibility to bring about a new era'

'Tragedy follows people under this star. Heroic quest will haunt your waking moments. Whether it be another era of Great War, or Great Peace…...such person under this star will be in the forefront, if such events come to pass. Such is the burden one that is born under such stars. Glimmers of past heroes, stories of villains and great Kings are lined under the starry skies for you to see.' She said in a mystifying tone.

Still she looked at him, with the most puzzled look. The wind blows and her robes flows gently and her scent linger.

She then suddenly said

'I will excuse myself my lord' she said and she walks away, leaving only that scent. Arial took some time before he could clam himself down.

'Another prophecy' he thought to himself.

Arial look back to the star and stare at it, too see even some glimmer of the stories that she said she sees. The night is long he mused

*************************************************************************