The King's return

*Drip* *Drip* *Drip*

I'm inside this dark room. I don't know why I'm here. I just opened my eyes and the last thing I knew, I'm here just walking endlessly.

The sound of water falling echoed until it got louder but I didn't mind it and just continued walking.

The floor looks like a giant lake as a mirror for the starry sky above. Every step I take would make circle that increase in radius and just disappears when it loses it's velocity, just like the surface of water.

I continue to walk without knowing why. I feel like I've walked for so long but my knees never tired. Every step was meaningless. My time spent here is not worth more than dirt.

No emotion is registered on my face. I feel nothing, nothing at all. I was not even bored.

Time passed on, I was on the same state when suddenly...

*Thud*

I hit my head on the edge of my seat in this old and shabby carriage. I fell asleep.

"So it was a dream."

I woke up seeing no one but myself inside. It was a weird dream.It was the first time I had that dream. Being in that state is scary. I feel like it was hard to breath even though it wasn't and it also felt like someone was stragling my neck even though no one was there.

I'd prefer not having that dream ever again.

****

There was no one inside besides me. I walked towards to where the horses are. I removed the blinds and there, a man sits beside the coachman

He's muscular. Even though he was wearing a cloak, you could tell it by looking because of his big size and height.

"Oh. Trent, you're awake. Just in time."

Trent. That's me, Trent Faer.

"Where are we Mr. Toto?"

"We're here. You just woke up when we passed through the Ada forest. Now, we're headed towards the Great Capital of Chermion."

"Chermion..."

I looked to where we just came from and saw Ada forest. It was nothing but trees, trees everywhere and I looked towards to where we're headed. I sat beside to where Mr. Toto and the coachman is.

I looked far ahead and saw something catchy to the eyes. I finally laid my eyes on the great capital. It's big.

Just like in the descriptions, it's really on the center of a big lake. Even though the city is big, it was just a fraction of how big the lake is.

We crossed a big bridge. It has big glossy white color to it. It connects the city to the outskirts of Ada forest. This one was massive in size. It was nothing like I've seen before.

"Woah."

I leaned to look at the water beneath us. It never disappointed me. It was beautiful. It's sparkly vibe to is visible, the water is also clear from what I can see.

"Beautiful right?", Mr. Toto asked.

"Yes! This bridge is massive and beautiful."

"You bet. It's not the only bridge though."

"?"

"This one right here is only the Southern bridge. There are still the Northern, Western and Eastern bridge."

This bridge is big, no joke. When I look at it, I feel like it extends to where Ada forest is, with the lenght of 500 meters and a height of 200 meters.

These measurements are absurd and they made another 3 of this. Damn, people made this?

"Okay, we're here sirs."

"All right, we finally arrive at last. Let's be on our way, Trent."

"Y-yes!"

I grabbed my bags and went down. We arrived at the southern gate, I suppose.

Many people were queuing up. All kinds of people are lined up. I could see merchants, adventurers, tourists and many more.

Mr. Toto finished paying the coachman and he started to walk towards to where I am.

"There she is."

He looked up to where the tall walls are.

"It's nice to be back here again. After 2 years, I'm finally back."

He had those contented expression in his face .Honestly, if I was away from a place like this, that I can call home, I'll be glad to be back too.

We approach to where the line is. When we got closer, I noticed this really long line of people queuing for the entrance. Looking at it, I estimated the number of people are probably around 200. That's a large number.

If we wait, we'll be likely inside after an hour for waiting .

"Oh, look at all those people, that's a lot. Well, too bad for those people waiting."

"What do you mean about that?"

"Just follow me."

He started walking towards where the guards are. I looked these people as I walk by beside them, damn, it really sucked for them. I could hear the tired moans of the people.

Some are whispering something about being in the line for couple of hours . We got close to where the guard station that manages the people here. One guard noticed us approach.

"Please, line up like everyo-"

He was talking and then suddenly he stopped talking. He was like frozen like he was in disbelief.

"Good work soldier, keep it up."

Mr. Toto walked closer to him and tapped his shoulder. I followed running these big bags of equipments.

"Ye-yes sir!"

He showed a smile and the soldier happily continued his work.

Totorinth Austrix, I call him Mr. Toto, is more important than he looks. He's in his 30's, if I had to guess, he'd be still at the age of 30.

I mentioned earlier that he has a big muscular body, it's not only that, he's also tall.

"Okay, let's head for the castle immediately. I want to see my loving wife and my precious daughter."

"Eh..."

He's also like that with his only family. He loves his daughter so much. As for his wife, he also loves her but sometimes she's scary when she gets angry.

"Okay, let's go."

We started walking towards where the castle's direction is.

After passing by some buildings, that's mainly houses. Damn, even the houses here a big. The city had a beautiful road work, the road also have that glossy and smooth touch to it, like the southern bridge earlier.

While walking, I looked left and right saw many things that are pleasing to the eyes. The city here is lively. Many people are present around here but it wasn't disorganized. Vendors have a proper place to where should they be. It had a complete scenery of what a city should look like.

After minutes of walking, we finally arrived halfway to our destination. We were in the city center, I think. It had a beautiful and big fountain. Looking at it, it seemed to have a radius of 45 meters. It was big but the city center is bigger.

Many are gathered around carrying their choice of weapons, some have staffs, swords, long swords, and etc.

I can only assume that they're adventurers. I had my eyes on someone I can set my eyes on. Some seemed strong and some looked like they're only there to show off, I hate guys like those ones.

"It's your first time here, right?"

I kept looking everywhere when Mr. Toto suddenly asked me a question

"Yes. I think I now know why you decided that we move here."

"Yeah. You'll love this place more than Salma."

Salma is basically where we came from. It's a small town to the south. It's where I basically grew up and it's where I was raised by Mr. Toto, who is a friend of my father, along with his daughter. It was two-day trip from there to here.

I don't know why, but my father left one day leaving me with this strange power. A power that I do not know of.

"Nope."

"Why is that?"

"I know Salma is smaller but I have made many fun memories in there",That place is very close to my heart, that's why leaving was hard. Thinking of it very deeply, I eventually ended up coming along with them here.

We went to the road going north from where the fountain is found.

It was a slope road to where we were going.

We chatted on our way and eventually the image of the gate to the castle can be seen.

Walking further, two sleeping guards came into view.

We drew near to where the two are. One guard noticed us and bounced back to life after seeing us.

He pointed his spear in our direction. He tapped his fellow guard who was still laying on the floor. The other guard saw us and also rushed to get back on his feet and also pointed his weapon towards us.

"Who are you!? No citizen should be here in this area. Get lost or get ready to receive some beating."

After he said those things, I looked at Mr. Toto and saw his unimpressed face. Clearly they don't know who he is. This person right here is General Toto of Caravan, the highest ranking knight group.

"Should you really be doing what you did earlier?"

He had those genuine fiery eyes. The two flinched a bit, holding their weapons tightly.

"To say those things to a [General] is kind of... rude, you know?"

At this point, when they heard the word [General], they immediately knew who he is.

"And to give me threats is... going overboard. What if I was a regular citizen?"

They dropped their weapons and started to grovel. There were screams of apologies that followed.

"Please,General Toto, forgive us, we have families to feed."

"Raise your heads. Your actions earlier were so unknightly for knights such as yourselves. I will not see this attitude towards anyone, if not we'll need new guards here tomorrow."

The way he said those things was like that of a really strict person.

"Do you two understand!?"

"Ye-yes sir."

"What was with weak answer!?"

"Yes sir!"

"That's more like it. Glad we understand each other, soldier."

He then proceeded to open the entrance gate for us.

We got in,inside the castle. My eyes widened for what I saw. A beautiful scenery is right in front of me.

A garden welcomed us inside. The noticeable color was yellow. The flowers have this distinct strong shade of yellow, it can be seen clearly because of the sunny weather today.

I continue to look around admiring these flowers. All I could see are these flower beds when suddenly a girl in a white dress caught my eyes. For some reason, I only stared at her and stopped walking.

She was sitting in a flower bed. She's holding a flower in her hand, smelling it's fragrance.

It was the daughter of Mr. Toto, Ceres. Her flowing blond hair that flows is a win. She had those happy contented smile on her.

"So, what do you think about my daughter right there? Isn't she a beauty", Mr. Toto, out of nowhere, whispered into my ears.

"Ahhhh!", I startled. "Mr. Toto! Wh-what are you talking about?".

He still had his mouth on my ears, whispering

"I'm saying that if you,somehow, want to take my daughter as a bride when you two grow up."

He asked me that question. It was out of nowhere, I didn't know how to react properly.

"Wh-what are you saying, marrying and stuff...?"

"Ha! I knew it. Listen, Trent. You may be basically "family", I won't let you take her as your wife so easily."

"I-I'm not going to take her as my wife! Besides, she's like a sister to me. I don't see her as a figure for romance."

"Is that so? Let puberty work his own work, you'll forget what you've said today because my Ceres will grow into a beautiful lady in the next 4 years."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

I pretty much know what he's saying but I don't want to give him the idea that I see her a romantic partner. She is beautiful, just like he said and there's no doubt that she'll grow so beautiful. The guy that will eventually take her a his wife will be the luckiest man alive.

She noticed us and started to rise from where she sits.

"Daddy! Trent! It's been a long time! It's nice to see you again!"

She was running where we were. By the look of it, she looks like a dog happy to see her owner.

"So, how is my princess doing?"

"I'm doing fine."

She welcomed us with a big smile. Mr. Toto had his hand on Ceres' head, patting her.

"General Toto, it's nice to see you again. How long has it been? A year, 4 months maybe? No?"

Talking to Ceres, a white-haired guy approached Mr. Toto. He had that dark blue suit. It looks like he was a high-ranking officer.

"It has only been 6 months last we've seen each other. It wasn't long that much."

"Heheheh. Congratulations, it seems you decided to live here after all."

END OF CHAPTER