Chapter 12: Chapter 12 - New Companion
The meeting at the Ordos Hall came to a conclusion with a sense of urgency that left Kaelthar both overwhelmed and resolute. The champions exchanged final glances, their plans for the defense of Valthyssar already forming as they stood to leave. Thalorus, ever the commanding presence, turned his attention to Kaelthar one last time.
"You are dismissed for now, Kaelthar," Thalorus said, his voice firm but not unkind. "Rest and recover. You'll need all your strength for what lies ahead."
The royal guards escorted Kaelthar back through the grand halls, his personal healer trailing closely behind. The tension in his chest loosened slightly as they stepped outside into the crisp night air. The carriage awaited, its black frame gleaming under the moonlight, ready to take him back to the Healer's Association.
The ride back was quiet, save for the occasional gentle questions from the healer, who monitored his condition closely. Kaelthar found himself lost in thought, the weight of his new role pressing heavily on his mind. When they arrived, he stepped out of the carriage, his legs stiff but determined. He climbed the steps of the association and walked through the familiar halls, heading toward the room where his family and Myrael waited.
As he reached the door, Kaelthar paused. Laughter echoed from inside—a cheerful, boisterous sound that was entirely out of place in the otherwise somber association. His brow furrowed as he opened the door, curiosity piqued.
Inside, his mother and father were seated on their bed, their faces lighter than they had been in days. Myrael stood nearby, her arms crossed, a wry smile playing on her lips. And in the middle of it all was a young man with messy brown hair and a wide grin, gesturing animatedly as he recounted some story.
"—and then I said, 'No, Myrael, that's not a horse, that's a cabbage cart!' But of course, she didn't believe me until it started neighing!"
The room erupted in laughter, even Myrael couldn't suppress a chuckle. The man turned as Kaelthar entered, his grin widening even further.
"Ah, you must be Kaelthar!" the stranger exclaimed, bounding forward with an energy that seemed boundless. "The legendary demon-slayer himself! I've heard so much about you. Allow me to introduce myself—I am Renvar, a humble swordsman, a student at the Valthyssar Academy, and, most importantly, Myrael's most charming and comedic friend. I mean, who else could keep her from getting too serious, am I right?"
Renvar extended his hand with a dramatic flourish, as though he expected applause. Kaelthar hesitated, unsure how to respond, but eventually took the offered handshake.
"Nice to meet you," Kaelthar said cautiously, glancing at Myrael, who rolled her eyes but smiled fondly.
Renvar leaned in conspiratorially, dropping his voice to a stage whisper. "Don't worry, mate, I'm not here to steal your thunder. I mean, you fought a demon with basic sword skills. Me? I can barely fight off a stray cat without looking like a fool. But hey, every great hero needs a funny sidekick, right?"
Kaelthar blinked, unsure if Renvar was joking or serious, but the infectious laughter of his parents broke the tension. Even Kaelthar found himself smiling, the absurdity of Renvar's energy cutting through the heaviness of the day.
"Renvar," Myrael said, her tone half-exasperated, "you don't need to tell him your entire life story in one breath."
"Ah, but where's the fun in that?" Renvar shot back with a wink. He turned back to Kaelthar, throwing an arm around his shoulders. "Don't worry, I'll keep things lively around here. Myrael might act all cool and collected, but she'd be lost without me."
"Renvar," Myrael warned, though there was no real bite in her voice.
"Fine, fine, I'll behave," Renvar said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "For now."
Kaelthar found himself relaxing despite the whirlwind introduction. Renvar's humor and lightheartedness were a welcome change, and he couldn't help but feel a little grateful for the distraction.
As the evening wore on, Renvar continued to entertain the room with his antics. At one point, he attempted to juggle three apples, only for one to fly out of his grasp and hit Myrael square in the shoulder.
"Renvar!" Myrael snapped, though her glare was undermined by the small smile tugging at her lips.
"It's called 'combat training,'" Renvar said, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "You should thank me for keeping you sharp."
Kaelthar chuckled, shaking his head. "Does he ever stop?"
"No," Myrael replied flatly. "And believe me, I've tried."
"Hey, I resent that," Renvar said, feigning offense. "I'm a valuable asset to any team. My quick wit and charm have saved lives, you know."
Myrael arched an eyebrow. "Oh? Care to share one of those life-saving stories?"
Renvar puffed out his chest. "Gladly! Picture this: a band of vicious bandits, surrounding a poor merchant and his cart of—wait for it—cabbages. The merchant was trembling, the bandits were snarling, and there I was, armed with nothing but my trusty dagger and unparalleled cunning."
"And what did you do?" Kaelthar asked, genuinely curious.
Renvar's grin widened. "I challenged their leader to a duel. Told him if I won, they'd leave the merchant alone. If I lost, well… I didn't actually have a plan for that part, but it didn't matter because I won."
"You beat the leader?" Myrael asked, clearly skeptical.
"Well, technically, I tripped over a rock and accidentally knocked him out with my head," Renvar admitted, rubbing his temple. "But a win's a win, right?"
The room erupted in laughter again, even Myrael unable to hold back a giggle. Renvar bowed theatrically, basking in the attention.
Kaelthar shook his head, still smiling. "You're something else, Renvar."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Renvar said, plopping down onto a nearby chair. "But enough about me. Tell me about this demon you fought. Was it as terrifying as they say? Did it breathe fire? Have three heads? Or maybe it was just really bad at telling jokes."
Kaelthar hesitated, the memory of the battle still fresh and raw. "It was… difficult," he said carefully. "But we managed to defeat it."
Renvar's expression softened slightly, his usual humor giving way to a rare moment of sincerity. "Well, for what it's worth, you're a damn hero in my book. And if you ever need someone to watch your back—or at least provide comic relief—I'm your guy."
Kaelthar nodded, appreciating the sentiment. Despite Renvar's relentless humor, there was a genuine kindness beneath it all.
As the night wore on, Renvar's antics continued. At one point, he attempted to mimic Thalorus's commanding voice, barking out orders to an imaginary army. "You there! Polish that sword until it sparkles like my personality! And you—stop standing around like a sack of potatoes!"
"Renvar, you're going to wake the entire building," Myrael said, though she was clearly struggling not to laugh.
"Let them wake!" Renvar declared dramatically. "The world deserves to hear my Thalorus impression. It's spot on, isn't it?"
Kaelthar smirked. "If Thalorus ever hears you, you might not live to tell the tale."
"Ah, but that's the beauty of it," Renvar said, leaning back in his chair. "I live life on the edge. A true hero never plays it safe."
Myrael rolled her eyes. "You're impossible."
"And yet, you keep me around," Renvar said with a wink.
Kaelthar couldn't help but laugh. For all of Renvar's theatrics, his presence was undeniably uplifting. In a world filled with demons and danger, perhaps a little humor was exactly what they needed.