The Lost Kingdom Of Maria!

Chapter 8: The Story of Two Adventurers.

The village of Saikono lay under the veil of twilight, the sun having just dipped below the horizon, leaving behind a sky painted in deep purples and blues. The air was cool, carrying with it the faint scent of damp earth and the distant crackle of fires being lit in homes. The streets, once bustling with life, had grown eerily quiet. The only sounds were the occasional clatter of shutters being closed and the muffled footsteps of merchants hurrying to secure their shops before nightfall. The impending duel between the two adventurers had cast a shadow over the village, and the atmosphere was thick with anticipation.

In the heart of the village, where the duel was set to take place, the silence was almost oppressive. The only remnants of the earlier commotion were Fulan, the blond swordsman, and the silver axe still embedded in the ground, its blade glinting faintly in the dim light. A long wooden bench sat a few meters away, and it was here that Fulan and the swordsman now sat, side by side, their figures silhouetted against the darkening sky.

The swordsman was a striking figure, his blond hair catching the faint light, his green eyes reflecting a quiet, almost melancholic resolve. A faint scar ran down the side of his face, adding a ruggedness to his otherwise handsome features. He sat with his elbows resting on his knees, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. Fulan, meanwhile, leaned back slightly, his eyes scanning the now-empty streets. The occasional sound of a shopkeeper locking up echoed through the stillness, a reminder of the world moving on despite the tension that hung in the air.

"You don't have to look at them like that," the swordsman said suddenly, his voice calm but carrying a weight of experience. "Duels between adventurers rarely end well. Even low-ranking knights stand by and watch in silence because they know adventurers are beyond their strength. They can't stop what's coming."

Fulan turned his head slightly, his dark eyes meeting the swordsman's. "Are you really going to fight?" he asked, his tone neutral but probing.

The swordsman chuckled softly, though the sound lacked any real humor. "Well, let's hope a high-ranking knight passes by and arrests me before the fight starts. Ha!" His smile faded almost as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by a somber expression. "It's a duel now. If I don't fight, it'll only add to Rakan's anger and grief. I planned to take the blow and die, hoping it might ease his pain a little. But you two intervened and made things more complicated."

Fulan's gaze shifted to the stars beginning to dot the night sky. "So you're saying your death is the solution?"

The swordsman tilted his head back, his eyes tracing the constellations above. "It's been the solution from the beginning, for nine long years. If I hadn't existed, this story might have had a happy ending."

Fulan didn't respond immediately. He understood that the man beside him wouldn't share the full story, no matter how much he asked. After a long silence, Fulan spoke again, his voice calm but resolute. "There's one way this can end tonight without anyone dying."

The swordsman took a sip from a cup of tea he had bought for Fulan earlier, his expression unreadable. "And what's that?"

Fulan squeezed the plastic cup in his hand, distorting its shape as he smiled faintly. "If I explain my plan, you'll probably ruin it. So... I just need you to do one thing: trust me."

The swordsman stared at his own cup of tea for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Alright. I don't have a reason to refuse help at a time like this..."

---

Meanwhile, outside the village, in a dense forest about 250 meters from the gates, the bearded adventurer sat on a fallen tree trunk, tearing into a roasted deer leg. A small campfire crackled nearby, its warmth fighting off the encroaching chill of the night. Fayrouz leaned against a tree nearby, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable.

"It's really good," the bearded man said around a mouthful of meat, gesturing to the deer leg. "Why don't you give it a try?"

Fayrouz's voice was calm but firm. "Don't talk with your mouth full. And adventurers aren't allowed to hunt in areas near the kingdom. You studied at Ragandarok Academy for three years. Why are you ignoring all the laws they taught you now?"

The man took another bite, chewing thoughtfully before responding. "Speaking of that, the academy's entrance exam is coming up soon. You two have some talent. Good luck. As for me... this might be my last meal, so don't be so strict."

Fayrouz's brow furrowed slightly. "What do you mean?"

The man looked up at the stars, his expression softening. "Because I've never beaten him, not even once. I wanted to join the knights, even as a low-ranking one, because I knew I was weak. But when I saw the girl I loved risking her life just to stay by his side, I decided to follow them to protect her. And that's how I threw myself into the life of an adventurer instead of the knights..."

Fayrouz fell silent, her gaze also turning to the stars. She had always thought those who sacrificed everything for love were fools, but she also knew they weren't just fools—they were people whose hearts were free of deceit.

After finishing his meal, the man wiped his hands and stood, stretching slightly. "By the way, how's your weapon? You looked really worried when my axe's heat touched it."

Fayrouz pulled a small blue ring from her pocket, transforming it into a blue bracelet while it was glowing. "It's fine," she said simply.

The man nodded, a faint smile on his lips. "How Wonderful... Alright, shall we go?"

---