[Sir Eamon Emberlyn.]
[The Eternal Warden Of The Forgotten Sanctuary.]
What…?
Somnu couldn’t quite understand what he was seeing.
On one hand, it was a title fitting for some kind immortal holy knight from some fictional fantasy story. And on the other hand, he was able to steal a glimpse into the old man’s personal titles and system status.
“Wait, are you an NPC?!” Somnu blurted out.
BONK!
“Aww! Hey!”
“Who are you calling an NPC all of a sudden, huh?” The golden knight said after bonking Somnu on the head with the back of his hand. “Is that what you have to say to me first thing after I save your sorry ass?”
“...”
Somnu massaged the top of his head, narrowing his eyes slightly. As skeptical as he was, he was sure the one standing in front of him was that same sly old man he knew. Although he had acted differently while addressing the Nightmare Creatures, he was now back to the same witty old geezer.
“Yeah, thanks for the save, old man.” Somnu finally said, ignoring the rest of the System messages he seemed to be able to see for now.
There were far more pressing matters at the moment.
For instance…
“Kid, you got some clothes to cover your dignity? You’re completely bare.”
“Crow-shit!”
Finally coming back to his senses, Somnu finally remembered that he had been rendered completely nude by those laughing Nightmare Creatures. They had somehow managed to cancel [Crow’s Call], unequip Grudgekeeper and Eclipsed Requiem, and somehow even silenced the System.
“...”
“I know, I know!” Noticing the old man’s silent gaze shift to the ink on his shoulder, Somnu quickly rushed to hide it.
The tattoo of a hollow melting face with a wide, crazed smile.
The mark of a faceless scarecrow.
“There we go… Wait, dammit!”
Just when he called on his Dream Catcher again, he realized that it had been skewered by the scarecrow monster and was now ripped in countless places.
At the very least…
“Caaw!”
“Fala! You’re okay!”
The second his crow companion appeared from the smoke again, flying towards him, Somnu opened his arms with a smile.
“!”
However, he quickly realized Fala’s speed didn’t seem like a friendly flyover and he moved his hands to block himself. Just then, Grudgekeeper intervened and stopped his arms from blocking his face, allowing Fala to hit her mark.
“Aww! That hurts!” He screamed as he was finally allowed to touch his own face. “It’s not like I was the one who canceled your summoning! Give me a break!”
He could only defend himself against Fala’s anger, but had nothing to add for Grudgekeeper’s resentment against him.
The tearing and damage on it were definitely his fault, they were part of his plans to trick the scarecrow monster.
It’ll get over it… right? He hoped.
But Somnu knew better, it was called Grudgekeeper for a reason.
“Let’s go, kid. They’ll be back much stronger next time.” Eamon gestured to his pegasus as he stroked its long silver mane. “And so will that one you managed to beat, it seems.”
“What, how do you know about that?” Somnu raised an eyebrow, ignoring the constant poking Fala was giving him while standing on his head.
“No more questions, we’ll go to the castle first.”
“Castle?”
Somnu could not begin to imagine an actual castle in this place. All he had seen so far were old crypts and an endless misty graveyard, all filled with monsters.
Is there really such a thing here?
On top of Mister Emberlyn’s previous odd behavior, Somnu was beginning to suspect he might be delusional after all.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Must be his age, I guess…
BONK!
“Hey! What was that for?!”
“It’s rude to doubt your seniors.”
Can… Can he read minds?! Somnu’s eyes widened.
Somnu’s inner thoughts were the only thing he could truly rely on, he never wanted anyone to peek into them.
Crow-shit!
***
“There we are, the Nirvia Castle.”
“I can’t believe it…” Somnu muttered as he finally saw the giant castle in the distance.
He was riding on Betty, the pegasus, as she flew through the air. He had been nervous at first, but after Eamon flicked him on his forehead, he oddly seemed ready to soar the skies.
And not fifteen minutes or so later of taking in the ominous, desolate surroundings of this place, there they were, quickly approaching the eerie sight in the distance.
The castle stood like a ghost, silhouetted against the violet glow of the looming moon behind it. That faint glow bathed the entire scene in an ethereal light, casting long shadows across the castle’s stonework. The lilac mist that clung to the earth spiraled up towards the castle’s towering spires, only occasionally exposing the odd combination of black and gold fighting to be the dominant color of the ancient structure.
That was what the lightning-like cracks on the surface of the walls, along with the worn down defenses of the castle were hinting at. It must have stood for centuries as a beacon of hope. The grace of the original design was still clear beneath the layers of decay, marked by the scattered carvings of stars and celestial bodies that seemed to hum with a faint, long-forgotten violet energy.
When Betty finally descended and landed on a high balcony, Somnu was able to glimpse a look at the surrounding infrastructure beneath the castle. The remnants of a once thriving civilisation was now reduced to hollow houses and derelict buildings, stretching out like a forgotten memory beneath the castle’s long shadow.
“...”
Taking in his surroundings and the sorrowful sights, Somnu couldn’t help but feel a rising tightness in his chest.
The people that had once lived here were gone.
They lost everything, their homes, their way of living, their history.
They couldn’t protect their crop, the ones they cared for, themselves.
They had failed.
It had nothing to do with Somnu, and yet, his nails were digging into his palms again.
“Follow me.”
Not waiting, Mister Emberlyn simply walked through a deteriorating archway that had long since lost its ornamental design.
Releasing a long breath and calming himself down, Somnu took a step forward and trotted behind his old acquaintance and his pegasus.
“So, this Betty is why you keep naming all your horses that?” Somnu asked, making conversation.
“Is that what you think?” The knight said, keeping his pace with his back to Somnu. “Well, Betty here is the best after all.”
Seeing the old knight stroke the pegasus’ mane as she strolled next to him and poked him with her head, the corners of Somnu’s mouth curled up slightly.
“Yeah, she is…” He mumbled, but soon regretted it.
“Caaw!”
“I meant she’s the best horse! Or pegasus, or whatever!” He blurted out, defending himself from the onslaught of the crow companion. “You’re the best overall, of course!”
“Caaw!”
Hearing that, Fala stopped and raised her head high, taking her place on her master’s shoulder.
“You two sure are a roundy bunch, huh? A scarecrow and a crow, now that’s something to see.” Eamon said with his usual slight snicker.
“Oh, shut it, old geezer!”
As they made their way through the broken and empty halls, the soft cold wind whispered through the cracks, invading the ghastly stillness that enveloped the castle.
Soon, they had made it to a giant gate, the once colorful and intricate designs now long faded with time and decay.
“What is this place really?” Somnu asked with wide eyes, his neck straining to look up.
“Listen, kid.” The last knight of Nirvia turned around and addressed Somnu directly, his eyes sharp and more intense than Somnu had ever seen them. “This is the only place that managed to prevent the nightmare outbreak for eons and eons before collapsing and becoming home to those Nightmare Creatures instead.”
As he spoke, Somnu could see the slight changes in the old man’s expression. He had only known him as the witty and sly old geezer who enjoyed cracking jokes at his expense.
However, now, the one who stood in front of him was different. It was a man who had clearly spent his entire life fighting for a specific cause. His face struggled to let a hint of sorrow escape it, determined to keep its stoic guise.
“I have continued to do my duty even after…” The old man paused, closing his eyes for a second before continuing. “Even after all hope was lost… I am confident that one day, this long forgotten realm will prosper again, to become the haven it used to be for every dreamer.”
Then he took a step closer as Betty stood next to him.
“For that is what this castle stands for. It is a bastion of dreams, the sanctuary for the lost, the castle of Nirvia!”
Finally, the torches on the walls revealed his full appearance.
His face was weathered and etched with lines of old age, yet his gaze remained sharp and unyielding. Gray hair was still framing his face, along with untied shoulder-length hair.
His head was almost completely contrasted by the glowing armor he was wearing. The shining golden glim was only overshadowed by the celestial patterns swirling around the ornamental carvings throughout the plates, almost like sacred scripture etched into metal.
And beneath it, a pure cloak of the same color hung heavily over his broad shoulders, cascading down his back like liquid gold. It flowed with grace that defied gravity, the embroidered symbols of ancient power woven with threads of the purest light flickered in and out of view.
And in the middle, his chest plate bore the symbol of the forgotten realm, a dream catcher.
“How do you know all this…?” After being taken aback by the unusual appearance, Somnu asked bluntly. “And why are you talking like that?”
“I am the last knight of Nirvia, the protector of all the secrets that lie behind me!” the commanding voice slowly began to echo through the empty hallways.
“Secrets…?”
“Somnu! Are you ready to dedicate the rest of your life with me towards protecting these secrets?” The knight asked with a straight posture and a raised chin.
“What?!”
Hell no!
Here's the Patreon link for those who can't wait and want to read 30+ chapters:
Rating and Leaving a Review goes a long way to support the series!
!
