Falling to the ground, the chair disappearing from beneath him, having not gone on the journey to the land of the gods, as his lack of an extra companion disrupted his balance. Feeling a foot go onto his face as he stood up, clasping his helmet back together, the sun no longer beating on his face. Looking up at the sky, having lost complete track of the time of day while under the mountain, having thought that the sun should hide behind the horizon, the last few rays showing itself through the untrimmed grass stalks and not beam down on him.

  He took his sword, standing on the ground, and looked over the field around him, spinning around until he found the little cabin on the property where he assumed that Commander Sally was waiting for him.

  Bending a hand down for Luck, the goddess grasped it as she pulled herself up. Norbert saw the slight dirt stain on her sunflower skirt from the fall. “Come on, I assume she's in there waiting for us.” Norbert directed with a nod towards the direction of the little cabin that stood on the property, dropping his hand from Luck and walking in the direction he indicated without another word.

  Making half the distance to the cabin, Norbert could hear raised voices coming out of the structure, two of them steadily going higher and higher in octave, the words starting to become muffled with emotions as they continued shouting. Several other voices tried and failed to stop the two main ones coming through the open door just off the porch; Norbert heard one of them as Sally, the other Norbert unable to recognise as he slammed the door shut behind him, feeling the walls inside rumble from the force, a squeak from the wooden door protesting from the treatment it just experienced. All sound inside of the little cabin grew quiet, all eyes coming to him, feeling them drift over to him only to land on Luck, who came up standing on his side, nudging him with something soft.

  Looking down, Norbert saw the scroll she signed as he strode to the table in the centre, a map that looked faintly familiar, the memory of the globe he once saw in Vivienne’s study. Blinking back to reality, feeling the eyes of all the people in the room digging into him, drawing his attention away from the maps as he looked about, seeing several pairs of people all milling about the table. Norbert recognises two of them from his travels.

  “Who gave you the privilege to allow this?”

  “The new guys busted.” One of them said it was coming from the kitchen area. A snicker came out only to be stiffened by the woman next to them burrowing their elbow in the snickering person's hip, cutting out any further sound with a muffled cry.

  “Uhhh, didn’t you? With the entire ambassador title?” Norbert asked, trying to see how much

  “Ambassador title?” The one Norbert recognised as being in the shouting match with Sally quickly responded, their voice growing in irritation from the two words.

  Norbert sees them standing on the other end of the table across from the map. Another unknown person to him, wondering if Commander Sally would allow it to be kept that way.

  “Not pertinent to the discussion, now Norbert, what is this for?”

  “An alliance between Morenas and the Under-Elves, or a start of one.”

  Sally grips her teeth together, a whisper of annoyance slipping between her lips. “Do you know what it will take to clear it out?”

  “Nope, but I can do it myself, was planning to anyway. This is just a formal thing we do for free. Might be leverage to use elsewhere. Now, is there anything else I’m needed for here, or can I make my departure to start clearing ... whatever is down there?” Norbert pointed towards the door behind him.

  “Find a seat; there is still much to discuss.”

  Norbert looking around, seeing that there weren’t any free chairs in the room, leaning back on the wall besides him looking at the people around him, wondering what the next part that Commander Sally would tell them.

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  “Thank you all for coming here without any delays.” Sally turned to Norbert at the last part, hearing the annoyance seep from her words, “And onto the brief standing of our country.” The commander looked around, confirming she had everyone’s attention at the utterance of her words.

  “As you know, the current situation regarding the falling out at the tournament has turned that world into turmoil. The previously bubbling but contained tension is now out of the pot and making a complete mess of the kitchen. And that’s where I want all of you to clean it up.”

  Commander Sally looked around, feeling her eyes burrow into him. “What the country needs is heroes,

  “Yeah, no, I’m out,” Norbert spoke up, interrupting Commander Sally from continuing her speech.

  “Well, that comes as a surprise.”

  “I ain't no hero, I don’t know what you're spouting, but good day. As usual, I will help out when required, but I’ve got a city to think I'm still there and not just teleported away.”

  A slight chuckle coming out of the one in the kitchen, Norbert turning to them, grounding his teeth as she continued to stare at him.

  “Have something on my face?”

  “Just think it’s funny, that the one that is known as someone that doesn’t leave their comrades behind, seeking justice, uncovering the truth and letting those that deserve it get punished and allowing those without anything special to aim for something grander in their life than what fate has handed out to them, to help the community and spout that? The one that can make friends of enemies and stop segregation that has continued for so long others don’t question it. And the only thing that holds out with the stories is the red lines of the black helmet the individual always wears, uncrushable, just like the persons might underneath.”

  Norbert stared at the woman, hearing her words travel into his ear, growing increasingly surprised at every utterance. “What is she talking about?” Norbert asked, turning to Commander Sally.

  “Wait, he doesn’t know about the propaganda about him you’ve been pushing.” The one standing at the other side of the table, having previously argued with Commander Sally.

  “I didn’t get around to it, and he’s not normally in Morenas anyway. I only need to keep it away from the casinos.”

  “Oh, and that’s the other thing, the luckiest man around. Whoever is on his side will see it out no matter what.” The lady from the kitchen once more spouted out.

  Norbert stared out, shaking his head “Am I really just a face to parade around for you?"

  “No, just helping even out your previous actions. Enemies on all sides that you didn’t stack in our favour with your annoyance of the Kreevss.” Sally jutted in.

  “How was I supposed know not to call them lizards, that’s what they look like?” Norbert is starting to defend himself.

  With your allegiance to the lower elves, you annoy two more groups of people with this forced treaty. And better than letting the knowledge of your multiple friends from other lands leak out.”

  “Friends from other lands, sounds juicy.” The one from the kitchen piped in again, receiving another elbow from the person standing beside them.

  “What’s wrong with interacting with the Grimm?” Norbert asked, everyone taking an intake of breath, the air seemingly leaving the room.

  “And you're still alive? With no altercations?”

  “No..." Norbert opened his mouth before remembering his body being pushed in one way and the tanning situation under the sunlight. “Maybe?”

  The shuffling of feet as everyone took a step back, “Cooties.” The woman from the kitchen spoke again as she moved her waist out of the way, dodging the expecting elbow.

  “What's wrong with me now? Now, is there anything to say, or can I leave?”

  Commander Sally turned to him and said, “Get to Grimm, teleport back to Morenas, find the rest of your party, and then return to Grimm. And when you get back, find me.”

  “And the rest of the war?” Norbert asked, looking at the table and seeing the pieces of different colours being moved together, with only a single pawn off to the side in the area of the ocean on the left-hand side.

  “Try not to make any more enemies; find out what Grimm is about. The rest will be handled.” Commander Sally told him, giving him a nod in dismissal.

  Nodding his head as he saluted, one hand in the air as he turned to leave, hearing the hushed whispers of everyone in the room, a huh from Finekus, the dark mage who was in the tournament with him, happy that the man somehow made it out.

  The door closed behind him, and Luck trailed away. He randomly went in a direction in the field, seeing the grass swaying and unrumpled ahead of him, the stalks popping up with extra vigour behind him, and his praising lost.

  “I'm guessing Commander Sally didn’t invite me, and this is your doing?” Norbert asked, continuing to walk, as Luck didn’t respond. Coming up far enough, Norbert removed his helmet and gloves and brushed his fingers through his hair, feeling it comb through between them.

  “It is best to know what to expect back at the capital rather than be surprised by it all.” Luck provided him, smiling as she tilted her face up, closing her eyes, the wind blowing through her hair, Norbert sure he saw the slight glimmer coming off her.

  “And that you seemed to be spending too much time underground. Looking a little pale must be the lack of vitamin D.”

  Norbert chuckled at her, shaking his head as he fell. He stared at the sky and closed his eyes, the warmth removing any protest to alight from his body.