A few hours had passed and the Hero was still sleeping.
The aftermath of the curse he had been put under was being felt, he was sweating profusely and was beginning to feel pain in his abdomen. If he did not act now, the repercussions would be extremely dramatic.
But suddenly, he was disturbed by something that ran across his face, then ended up leaning on his nose, he squinted and quietly scanned around him to see who was having fun touching his face. He saw who was touching his face.
The Hero grabbed her finger and pretended to want to bite it, the girl withdrew her index finger and protected it with her hand.
- I was sure you were a cannibal! she joked.
The Hero rolled his eyes and wanted to write something on his slate but the airy fairy stopped him.
- Why are you still pretending to be dumb when you've been yelling encouragement?
He tried again to explain the reason for her silence in writing, but she closed her eyes, stubbornly refusing to get an answer in speaking.
He who was more than a little stubborn when he made a decision had met even more stubborn than he was.
Every time he wanted to show her what he had marked, she would turn her face away so as not to see - even though her eyes were closed - the slate.
Annoyed by her attitude, he finally gave in and spoke to her in person.
- I have no right to do so. I took an oath.
The fairy princess opened her eyes and was surprised, a second time, by the tone of her voice.
- What oath? A promise? questioned the winged fairy.
- No, a magic oath.
- Is that why you have the magic seal on your belly?
- Have you seen it too?
- I am a fairy, banana," smiled the Fairy, "however, I remind you that you were bathing in the Miraculous Bath which was filled with magical energy. But this oath, you made it why because it is the most powerful I have ever seen.
The Hero looked away, got up and stood at the window, his eyes filled with sadness and bitterness. He had no desire to reveal this aspect of himself to her.
After all, he didn't know her, and it disgusted him that he had acquired this nasty habit of trusting because he was given a modicum of sympathy. He finally answered her:
- You don't have to know.
- Why? said the fairy, offended.
- Because I don't want to.
The Fairy gritted her teeth but refrained from commenting.
- Do as you please...
The Hero felt guilty for answering so curtly to the only person who cared about him in this whole country. But it was a reflex, he hated talking about himself, especially on thorny subjects like this.
- I just want you to know that I must not speak or I will pay dearly. I am making this effort now because as soon as your queen allows me to, I will leave.
- Already, you haven't even had time to visit the entire kingdom.
- You will make me visit it the day I would return, does it go? he said while turning over to her putting his elbows on the edges of the window and smiling at her.
The Fairy found it fascinating that the light didn't really give her any features, any relief to her face, there were no shades to be able to discern her face in any way because of this black thing that covered her entire face.
- It's okay," she replied with a big smile, "I can't wait!
The Hero found in the Fairy, a strange beauty that dazzled him once it had reached its peak, while the majority of the time, he found her lambda, even banal, when her face was in a certain angle, she became a paragon of female beauty. And the light of this artificial sun amplified this aspect of its physique.
That smile was messing with her triples.
He hoped from the bottom of his heart that this girl would be able to achieve her dream, no matter how selfish it was. At least his goal would make her happy compared to his...
- By the way, I have something for you from the queen, she remembered.
She went to look in the bag she had put on the bedside table of the Hero, to find the object of his visit.
The girl took out a paper roll marked with the royal seal.
- Here you are! A missive from His Majesty.
The Hero took it, read it and... didn't understand it. Seeing him frown, the Fairy asked him what was wrong. He showed her and said:
- I can't read.
- Huh?" said the astonished fairy, "but you speak Oli'ane?
- Well, I didn't learn to read it," he justified himself, "and besides, your alphabet is horrible to learn. It looks like Xen Tuin.
She took the letter from his hands and read it for him.
- Oh," she said in surprise, "we are being summoned at the same time.
- Really? At what time?
- In fifteen minutes.
- It's a long way to the throne room from here.
- Yes.
- Well then, can you carry me on your back to there?" he asked her with an innocent voice.
- Right?
- Come on, please, I lost my crutches.
The Fairy did not know what to answer to this incongruous request, she did not have time to find an answer that he was on his back to shout "hue dada". She found herself in a total incomprehension with this Man who was on his back, Man who appeared to her so cold, so adult, so distant, so bloodthirsty, had been transformed into a child in an instant.
This situation was so ubiquitous that she said nothing and started walking to the throne room.
A few minutes later - forty-five minutes late is more than a few minutes - the Hero and his "nag" arrived at the throne room three-quarters of an hour late because of all the breaks the Fairy had to take because of her rider's weight.
The human climbed down from the fairy and tugged on her cheek.
- You see you could do it with your big thighs!
- MY BIG THIGHTS?" shouted the Fairy.
The boy patted her back in response and opened the two large doors leading to the one that had summoned them.
This time the room was much more crowded than usual, all the big shots of the country were gathered in the room: the ministers and their advisers, the Saints of the Queen, the imperial guards, the personal bodyguards of the Queen of the Fairy Forest, some spies including Helmir and Queen Audiselia herself.
The hero was impressed by the stained glass windows on his right and left, on one side the glorious history of the kingdom and on the other its defeats and misfortunes. He only had time to see certain parts of its history: its construction, its first conflicts, the planting of a flowering tree that seems important, its highs, its different eras, the immigration of other Faerie races to the kingdom of the sylphs, the setting up of certain so-called human infrastructures like the underground hospital, a stained glass window showing a fairy who seemed rather evil with her horns on her forehead and her red eyeshadow accompanied by a strange individual who seemed familiar to the Hero, another stained glass window described the victory of a hero other than the one of the legend over a vile monster and this fairy, and another stained glass window showed the current queen defeating a dragon
There were also stained glass windows showing the hero of the legend accompanied by the famous fairy as told to them by the queen before the tournament began.
Facing the Queen, the Fairy knelt down in greeting, unlike the Hero who stood straight as a board.
- Greet the queen, urged the wingless fairy.
- No.
The winged fairy opened her eyes wide at the great insolence of the human she had to watch.
This insolence also annoyed the whole assembly. The queen seemed amused by this act of rebellion - let's hope it wasn't the last one for our dear protagonist.
- I would like to know why you would not bend your knee to the queen of destruction, goddess of lightning and regent of Sylvania.
- For I kneel only before the Lord," he answered.
The queen laughed nervously.
- I've heard that phrase from one of your kind before. But so be it. Your beliefs compel you to do so and I will respect that.
There was some noise of protest in the room, some words could be heard like: "What disrespect!", "Always these sons of Adam to make the interesting! The queen kicked the floor to silence them.
- However, young man, I would ask you to show a little more respect to the regent of this territory, she demanded.
- I understand," he agreed.
The queen then turned her attention to the princess and asked her with a laugh:
- Before we start, could you explain to me what this "big thighs" thing is?
All the skin of the princess turned scarlet like a tomato from head to toe, her eyes were really going to pop out of their sockets, the shame she felt towards this remark of the queen, she never thought she would end up in such a position while she was particularly careful about her image so that no one could pick on her more than they already did.
- My queen, it is a misunderstanding, tried to justify herself the princess without name.
- Just between us," the Hero interrupted, "don't you think her thighs are big?
This time, the winged fairy's skin turned purple, she regretted the day he had started talking - well, it was a few hours ago anyway, no need to talk about the day - it was really the worst mistake of her life to have wanted him to start talking.
Invite him to your parties, birthdays, barmitsvas... and you can be sure to have them ruined and find yourself humiliated.
- I... I don't know, I've never... watched them," said the embarrassed queen.
- Anyway, I like them, said the boy all smiles, I like girls with shapes like her.
Globox, Sawyer, and all the others who witnessed this bewildering conversation held back their laughter, they could not believe their ears. Leaving aside his exhortations to Beneltig, this was the first time they had ever heard him speak, this little fellow was full of mysteries they would want him to answer, and they were witnessing a conversation on the legs of a shameless fairy princess.
This kid was priceless.
- I wanted to thank you for putting me in the hands of a company like this, I had a great time laughing with her.
The embarrassment of the Fairy disappeared when she heard the words of the Hero, she did not expect any thanks from him, she really did not understand anything about the personality of this human with whom she had spent so much time, but she too was happy with the time they had spent together.
- I know you sent her to keep an eye on me," he continued, "but I could have had a worse jailer," he said with a smile.
The words touched the Fairy's heart deeply.
- I'm glad she could be good company for you," said Queen Audiselia, "but we need to talk about your future.
In fact, he's in the presence of the guidance counselor now? She wants to send him to the mines, right?
Personal trauma.
- You doubtless know why you are here.
- I have guesses, nothing conclusive, replied the young man.
- Already know that you will not be executed, announced to him Audisélia, finally potentially...
The Hero had a little chuckle when he heard this.
- I would have liked to see you succeed in executing me," he said with a sharp tone, "no matter how you did it, it would have proved impossible.
- Impertinence has its limits, human," interposed one of the ministers.
The queen silenced him with a wave of her hand and redirected her attention to the boy.
- Why do you say that?
- For Fate would not allow it.
Suddenly, Sawyer gagged and swallowed hard to suppress the vomit that was coming up his esophagus, the queen did not let anything show. That horrible sentence that had traumatized them so much.
- So be it. If you believe so much in your good star, she retorted in a cold and distant way.
His eyes had not lit up with that golden yellow glow, they had nothing to fear.
- I granted your first request: the human prisoners were returned to the prison as you had requested and your armor was brought back to us but there was only a glove and a helmet.
She snapped her fingers and a servant with a silver tray on which was placed the famous glove he had summoned to be returned.
- That's the point. That's all I need.
He wanted to put it on but remembered that he was undressing his owner. He was already embarrassed when he was in the bath with only one person, so being naked for a moment in front of dozens of people was too much for him.
- But there are two things that I will not be able to access: to kill the Hero of the Legend and to give you back Ymir, well for now, I will give it back to you according to your answers to my questions and outside the kingdom.
- As you wish.
- Good. First of all, I would like to explain to you why you have remained in your chambers for so long: in view of the services you have rendered to our nation by defending one of our subjects, I could not let you rot in prison, especially since the nameless fairy implored me to show clemency to you, but many facts suggest your possible malice towards us because of the sword Ymir and your threatening words about the hero of the legend. We took the opportunity to watch you, to study your personality and your strange body, and we had to decide that between what we have and what was told to us by the wingless princess, there is a gulf. So we're going to ask you a couple of questions and then we'll let you go.
- These are the questions that will declare me fit to live or not, right? That's why there are so many armed people in this room.
- Insightful, little Man," Globox whispered to his colleague.
The Fairy was startled by the boy's statement. Was she going to witness his execution?
- Everything will depend on you, she answered, if you lie, I will know it.
The Hero blew his nose, turned back to the Fairy and winked at her to reassure her.
- It works, he agreed, ask your questions.
A blue liquid dripped from the ceiling to the ground in front of the Hero. It was obviously Tadzi, but his face was much more serious than usual, his smile that he used to show at the stadium had disappeared in favor of this austere face.
- What are you doing here?" asked the Fairy.
- Anyway, you'll find out eventually, so I'm telling you, I'm the director of the kingdom's secret service under the orders of Councilor Igniasté and the Minister of Information, Uberlith.
- Then the stories of flies and...
- Lies and storytelling. My real flies are the black sycophants of the kingdom. This human was truly a blemish to inquire about, unraveling the real from the fake was hellish, thankfully we had Helmir who was able to acquire most of the information, it was so arduous that we thought he was the Beast of the River Doubs, but he doesn't have his canines.
- At the same time, we know each other, says the Hero.
A great silence settled in the room, Helmir, precisely, was present in the room, she remained impassive in spite of all the questioning looks.
- How come?" asked Igniasté to the best spy in the kingdom.
- We have common acquaintances," she replied dryly, "but it's not as if I really know him, since, like you, I'm hearing him speak for the first time.
- This acquaintance..., Sawyer asked.
- Yes.
- Okay.
- But let's go back to you," said Tadzi, "can you explain to us, if you are not the Nemesis, why you are in possession of the weapon of the damned, Ymir, if you are not one?
- It's simple," he replied, "he gave it to me.
- Who?" asked the queen.
- The Nemesis.
"Impossible!" cried some voices in the assembly. The crowd became excited, even the wingless fairy became frightened.
The logical conclusion from this answer was that he was the underling of the Nemesis.
- Are you a damned?" said Tadzi.
- What the hell? I have this sword to find him because I plan to kill him and the hero for killing my mother, he spat with a trickle of blood on the edge of his lips, I'll hunt that son of a bitch down and make them pay for the death of my people.
The Hero's eyes had become bloodshot, they had hardened as soon as he had heard the name of the natural enemy of the New Earthmen. The anger with which his words came out exuded hatred, a visceral hatred for those two people so respected by the hero of the legend and feared by the herald of the Evil One.
- You shouldn't talk about the protector of our world," the queen reprimanded him.
- I don't care about the respect one should have for him. I'll give them back what they did to me.
He who seemed so nice, so pleasant with the winged fairy, had become another man, different from the one who had encouraged his champion to continue the fight, who had saved him from his murder, with whom she had played different games.
Was this his true nature?
So the rumors are true?
He was really scaring her, and he could see it out of the corner of his eye, but his anger was beyond reason.
- This sword will lead me to him and I will use its power... no, I will use everything in my power to defeat him. Is this what you expected as an answer?
It wasn't just the physical pain of those wounds and the ache that was seeping into every part of her body, that pain that was hitting her heart was showing in every word she spoke.
No comfort could soothe his heart, which was even more wounded than his body by the death of the Nemesis. Unless...
- So you met the Nemesis in person?" asked Audiselia in a grumbling voice.
- I am the only survivor of my encounter with him.
- But then you blame the hero for not saving your mother?
- No. To be the cause of his death.
Suddenly, the Hero felt a cramp in his heart, he wondered when the spell was going to work on him since he had started to speak. It was even strange that it had not activated when he had opened his mouth at the tournament.
The worst is to be expected.
- I shouldn't let you walk around with a weapon as dangerous as Ymir and should make you give up your quest for revenge, but locating the Nemesis is an opportunity to be seized, Tadzi acknowledged, if this weapon is really his, it's a real bargain, isn't it, my queen?
- Indeed, you are right, she validated, what do you intend to do?
- Send him and two spies in search of the Nemesis and as soon as we find it, we send our army after it.
- I agree with this plan," says Army Minister Jazter.
- I don't see myself disagreeing with this one, agreed the queen, so you can go and two spies will accompany you in your search for the Nemesis, but for the hero, I suggest you give up, not only, she is of a whole other level, but moreover, I will have to interfere.
- As you wish, says the Hero.
He turned to the Fairy and waved goodbye before leaving.
- By the way, the sword is on the floor below.
- Okay.
The elf-spy faced the queen and bowed her head.
- My queen, may I accompany the young human on his expedition?
- Yes. After all, you know him better than we do.
- That's great!" rejoices the Hero, "We're going to be together, Auntie Helmir!
- Auntie Helmir?" said the blushing elf, turning back to the Hero in surprise.
The whole room burst into laughter.
This man really had a way of embarrassing everyone he knew.
After this little moment of euphoria, the queen regained her seriousness and addressed the nameless princess to tell her something very important that would surely upset her.
As he stood at the two large doors, the Hero waited for the Queen's unfortunate news.
- Little wingless princess, I regret to inform you that you are disqualified from the tournament.
- The Fairy and the Hero cried out.
- Why?" asked the winged fairy.
- Of course, unless you find a replacement, you can't participate in the tournament anymore because it will take more than a month to get Beneltig out of the diamond block he's locked himself in.
- But he is still alive and the doctors told me that he is fine.
- I think you're missing the point. He won't be able to participate in the next round of the tournament in time for his turn.
- You can not make an exception, please your sovereignty.
- Diligence is the hallmark of a champion, and being there when duty calls is a primary requirement for a champion, or indeed any subject of the realm," intervened Mathgen, the Supreme Commander of the Faerie Forces.
Is he serious? thought the queen, is he really pretending to be what he orders to be? His arrogance is boundless.
- He's right," the queen emphasized, "we don't make exceptions for anyone except for the Faeries from the Dark Protectorate. I feel very sorry for you, but that's the game. In a war situation, you wouldn't ask the enemies to wait until you could get him out of the diamond block or until you could get him back, he would be more of an embarrassment to his comrades than anything else. His idea was good in the context of the tournament, but not in the context of a battle. Fighting is more than just physical performance, you know?
She shook her head, upset by the situation, really this day was full of bad twists, she did not expect to be disqualified when just a few hours ago she had given everything in her encouragement, after shouting all her joy...
To think she had a chance to get wings, even a name. In the end, she was going to be a mere noblewoman like the other fairies, having to endure mundane dinners with her fellow fairies who hated her for her disability.
- What if I found a replacement?
- Not some twisted person who would take advantage of you by making no effort to win you over?" the queen asked him, "and remember that you have the right to only one replacement so you won't be able to choose one until you find a better one...
The Fairy was on the verge of crying, she clenched her fists and bit her lower lip until it bled as if not to admit defeat.
There was no hope for her...
Stepping purposefully in front of the throne, past the Fairy and Helmir, he stood tall and confident, pointing at the queen with his finger, before pointing at her heart with his thumb, and running his finger under her nose and sniffing. The most wanted human in all of Europea faced the queen of the kingdom of Sylvania and said with a confident sneer:
- I, the one who was born without a name, present myself as the new champion of the princess without a name!