Laudis opened his eyes, but he wasn't in his room. He was in the white area with no walls, floor, or even ceiling. This space wasn't normal; it was filled with air with the density of water. In the middle, there was the eye. The eye had a radius of five meters, its iris was black, the same as the pupil. He decided to swim up to it, but something intercepted him in the middle.
"What shall be thy offering, mortal?" asked the unknown, echoed voice.
"W—what sacrifice? Where am I and who are you?" the youth replied with disbelief.
"Didst thou not invoke a secluded power through a mickle oblation? Furthermore, ought thou not be afeared of a phantasm?" the being wondered with surprise.
"Should I be afraid of you? If you are truly a supernatural being, then I have nothing to say. I can't make you change your mind. Besides, I don't recall anything like that. Still, you haven't answered my questions."
"You are the first one to enter this area without a purpose. That's something very abnormal..."
"So?" the boy was looking all around at the hollowness.
"You can address me as The Will. I am the being without the beginning or the end. I was, I am, and I will always be present. Your kind would call me a God, I suppose. I created all life, planets, dimensions, and of course those mere Gods of the Olimpia. They were a tragic civilization of the past; it's good that someone else took care of them. About the place you are in. You are in the Shrine of the Omnipotence, where time isn't present. It is a space beyond all the universes, dimensions, and laws of physics."
"Why did you say I should address you as The Will and not your real name? Also, were the Gods of Olimpia real?"
"I don't have a suitable name for the human mind. If I were to reveal it to you, you would be dead because of its complexity. The Will is a good name, because it represents my true intentions. I pursue neither evil nor good; the only thing I search for is to find a mere man who can impress me. Now about the gods. So-called gods behaved like kids, helped humans, showed empathy, and so on. Instead of being the visible divine power, they became weak and wicked. Some even produced demigods, who are still present. I created them to entertain myself, not to bore the hell out of me. Nonetheless, there is a bigger problem. That anomaly is you."
"Me?"
"Yes. In normal circumstances, I would erase your existence from reality, but there is something unusual about you. You resemble a late human, who intrigued me. Since the creation of the universe, not a single person has made me question myself. But then he used the power and proceeded to say something so absurd, yet logical. After his visit, I had to rethink everything. Just by the fact of the resemblance alone, I will grant you the ability to contact me in your sleep. I am here to answer your questions, solve your problems, or even grant you power. Of course, with a suitable sacrifice. You will be an experiment. Also, I will show you mercy and let you keep the memories."
"Is it mercy?"
"Indeed. No one who comes to me leaves with memories. I delete them to keep the mystical aura around the power usage. I don't like to be known by the rest, too. I limit my powers to an extent to use my intelligence instead of my knowledge. I want to experience the surprises, even though they happen once in a blue moon; they still occur."
"Okay… Now, am I free to leave now?"
"Wait! Just shake my hand before you leave. It will activate the contract."
"Huh? What hand?"
The eye transformed into a black silhouette of a man with white light surrounding him. Will reached his hand to Laudis. He shook it with uncertainty. Kid felt like his own hand was pierced with many needles; therefore, he quickly drew it. The area changed colour to black. Everything started to fall apart. The floor, which had not been there, started falling apart, leaving him in a small area.
"Before I leave, one last question. Did I lose my memories?"
"Ask me about this tomorrow. I will reveal the answer," the being replied with a creepy smile.
"Right…"
As the handshake ended, Laudis was sucked into the pit. The last thing he saw was a Will floating above him. He couldn't catch any air. The kid panicked and tried to escape from the black liquid, but the density was too low for him to swim out.
'I guess it is the end of my life. I guess he wasn't the good guy after all. Hah, life is a cruel joke...'
The darkness covered his body fully. The boy lost consciousness and accepted his fate. He disappeared into the shadows, without leaving a single trace of his life. After a while, Laudis hit the bottom of it. His soul left his body, distancing itself from the body and floating away.
"Wake up, it's already morning!" shouted Dantenium.
"Wha, ha, he… What?!" replied Laudis with heavy breathing.
"It is what you heard! Get up already."
'I am alive? So I didn't die? That fool wanted to make a joke or what?! I really thought I was going to eternal sleep. Man, that was something else… I can't tell if he really wants to help me. He seemed off. A God with emotions? That's something uncanny. Also, he limits his power? Will is one of the most dangerous beings I've met. It is better to ignore his proposals and have at least a neutral relationship with him. Now it's better to dress up,' thought Laudis.
After a while, Laudis finally got up from the bed. He started dressing up, but then he noticed something. There was a black package with the note "King would dislike your worn clothes, so treat them as a necessity. ~ D"
"Hm… Honestly, I didn't find my old clothes worn out, but they gave me the new ones. I guess I can use them…"
While dressing up, he was constantly looking in the mirror. The black coat had the Crusaders' emblem on the back. The trousers were also black, just as the boots. The only thing that contrasted was the white leather belt.
"I look like a fool in these clothes. Especially with that stupid symbol, I'm not even a Crusader… Oh hell no! They probably take me to the king, for that matter. Shit…"
Laudis tried to leave the tavern through the back entrance. He sneaked up and left; he thought it was over. Then someone laid a hand over his shoulder.
"This is the back entrance. Why didn't you use the main one?" stated Gladius.
"Yeah… I must have mistaken them, my bad."
"Hard to mistake single doors for double ones. Besides, the transport awaits. Walk in front of me. I will tell you the directions."
The carriage was waiting for him indeed. The rest was already inside. Solisia was wearing a green dress covered with red rubies. Udania had a long blue dress with white accents. Dantenium wore a red shirt with black pants, and Gladius wore his armour as always.
"Why are you all looking at me that much, huh?" asked Solisia.
"You aren't the type of woman who wears dresses," replied Udania.
"And what? It doesn't change the fact that I don't like being watched. Take Laudis for an example, he is looking out of the window and minds his own business."
Laudis was silent; there were more important things to think about. It was better for him to minimize contact with anyone.
'The priorities. The Will is first, then the king, and the last is the band of those idiots. I won't share my knowledge about the Will with anyone, just for my own safety. I know what is the purpose of this meeting, yet I don't think it would be the only thing we do there. The magical powers vary widely, so it is likely possible to read minds. I can tell for sure that the Crusaders can't read my mind, so I'm safe. On the other hand, King is a different story. I do not know about him. Better to play carefully and not think about Will whatsoever,' thought Laudis.
After a thirty-minute ride, the horses stopped the caravan. The streets became clean, which was an indicator of the royal area, where there was not a single trash. The gardens were filled with various plants, ranging from single poppies and red roses to magical herbs or even black palm trees. The castle was about fifty meters tall, built with red bricks. It was painted black on the outside and gray inside. In the center of the palace grounds stood a fountain with a figure. It was an embodiment of justice. It was a woman holding a scale in her left hand with both scale pans kept at the same level and a sword in her right one. Her eyes were covered with a blindfold.
"Welcome to His Majesty's Palace. I am his servant, you can address me as Thomas," the man in his forties.
"Yeah..." replied Laudis with apathy.
"Oh, so you are already here, that's good. Come after me, you can take only one visitor to attend the meeting with you."
"I will accompany you," responded Dantenium.
"Not the knight?"
"Not the knight."
While walking through the halls of the castle, the boy saw many paintings on the wall. All of them captured scenes of the triumph over monsters such as dragons, vampires, or even golems. The knights were in shining armour without any cuts, bruises, or even a single drop of blood. On the other hand, the conquered creatures were shown without a head, limbs, or lying in a puddle of blood. Laudis thought to himself that the painters were either the biggest hypocrites he had ever seen or they were paid to paint these scenarios. After a while, the three men arrived in the throne room.
A loud fanfare echoed through the room.
"Before you sits the King of the Luxaris, Leopold the Great!" the king's servant announced.
Dantenium knelt with a displeased face. Laudis soon joined him. The monarch greeted them with a simple hand gesture.
"I have been expecting you," the king stated.
'Incredible,' thought Laudis.
"Do you know that I have the Blessing of the Justice allowing me to hear people's minds?"
"Okay, and? I knew it already."
"And I know that is a lie, because it also tells me when people are lying."
"Nonetheless, I know the reason behind this meeting."
"Then can you enlighten me?"
"You want another Crusader, don't you, king?"
"Indeed, but who said that you will be the one?"
"Then why do I have this coat?"
"You gave him your old coat, Dante?"
"Yeah... He had old rags, so I gave him my old clothes. They are in good condition after all."
"So that's the reason why I have that foolish symbol," responded Laudis.
"Foolish, you say? Many died just trying to achieve it."
"And? I don't see any good sides if I become your slave."
"I can grant a salary if needed and access to the library."
"How much and what does the library contain?"
"You are playing rough; that is something uncommon. Especially for me, when most are too scared to talk. The salary starts at six hundred golds, with a possibility of a raise. The library contains many books that are banned in other countries. Books about vampires, monsters, mana, magic, history, or even auras."
"Do you know something about power with great consequences?"
"Yes. Every spell, curse, blessing, aura, or even magical weapon gives you an upper hand at a cost. Basic ones with less power-up cost you mana, but the most powerful can even cost you limbs, an ability you've learned, or even your life. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't seem to have been introduced to magic, right?"
"Yes, yesterday I saw it for the first time."
"Okay... So what do you think? Can you use it and become the Crusader?"
"I might accept the proposal, but with two conditions. First of all, I will have private access to the library, so I can be alone and read whatever I want. Second of all, I expect a salary no lower than eight hundred golds for the first four months, because I need to buy equipment for journeys and fights."
"Big words from someone like you, kid. I can grant you those only if you pass the three trials. Many left during them, so I advise you to rethin—"
"Okay, okay. Just start them already, I don't have much time, you know."
Leopold looked at him with disappointment because of his bold attitude.
"Hm! You are really an impatient one. The first trial starts now. The remaining ones will be held by the Crusaders. Are you ready?"
"Yes."
"Imagine a scenario. There is a vampire kid next to the man. He lost his left arm and still bleeds. On the other hand, their mouth is dyed crimson red. What will be your action?"
"Firstly, I need to neutralize the threat, that is, the vampire. I would tie his hands behind their back using my shirt and a stick if needed. Then gag his mouth to protect both of us from his fangs. After the safety protocols, I would help the man. Using the same method as for the primitive handcuffs, I would stop the bleeding, tightly securing his arm, call for the doctor, and that's it."
"What if the vampire is aggressive?"
"Then I would kill them. Human life is more important than theirs."
"How will you achieve that matter? Let's say you don't have any weapons and the area you are in is a village attacked by the vampires."
"I would pick up five stones at least. Depending on the surroundings, there might be forks, rakes, shovels, or even hoes. If there aren't any, then I would opt for a long and solid stick. I would say that a dismembered wooden fence can be especially useful. Firstly, I would need to close the distance using the rocks, then attack his head with a stick. If he blocks it, I would deliver a side kick to damage their organs. After all, they are a kid just like you've said, his skin isn't that strong yet."
"That's an acceptable response. Then you can stay up to three days and use the main library; there are also smaller ones in the city if you need something more."
"Right..."
The king signaled the end of the meeting, and the guards opened the doors. The three men left him through the royal halls.
"Why did you ignore his arrogant behavior, king? It is unacceptable for a peasant to talk to you like that!" the officer stated.
"He reminds me of my younger self. Back then, I also hated old people, but unlike me, he is way smarter. When he talked to me, I had to limit my blessing, because he had too many thoughts for me to comprehend. He can be a very strong ally. Laudis, you are truly an interesting kid..."
On the other side of the halls, the paintings were opposite. The knights were defeated by monsters, without limbs, headless, or even surrendering to them just to spare their lives. At the exit, there was a motto: Memento Mori Homo Misere.
"How did it go?" wondered Gladius.
"Kid completed the first trial, but he wants to stay here for 3 days due to the library," responded Danteniun.
"And why is that, Laudis?"
"I don't know anything about magic, monsters, or even most of the weapons. Three days will be enough for me to learn the basics."
"Okay... We are going to leave you here. When you are done with it, ask Thomas and he will assist you to the city centre."
"What? When I said I am going to be a servant of his?" replied irritated Thomas.
Gladius handed him a sack with money.
"I guess I can help him after he's done."
"Are we leaving?" asked Solisia, peeking from the carriage.
"Yeah, I'm coming! Just don't overtrain yourself," stated Dantenium.
"Right..."
The caravan left the castle. Laudis was finally partially free from his overvision.
'The only one who can disturb me is the king, but I don't think that he wants to look after me for 3 days. Nonetheless, it's already evening. I will go to the library and search for books about Will, Olimpian Gods, or that power, which he talked about. Then I can check the magic usage, monsters — mostly vampires, and history wouldn't hurt. Honestly, if I were alone in there, I could also sleep to save time. Yeah, that's not a bad idea. Still, I have to acquire the key,' thought Laudis.
"Do you have the key, Thomas?"
"Me? No, the librarian keeps it. She is at the library."
"Great..."