The Golem Adventurer - Chapter 22 Summons

Two weeks have passed since that night in the forest. Having to sit on my hands has been rough. Neither Tessa or Hina have left my side other than to do their own personal business or to go sleep in their rooms. In fact, I’ve had to sit in on their training, spending a day out camping with them in the countryside while Tessa practiced her magic. I was impressed that she was already breaking through the 4th tier of magic, not that I understand it all that well. Hina was pleased with her progress and if there’s anything to understand coming from her is that if she’s impressed, I should be too.

I was only half interested in the lessons. I mean, I could’t even use those spells anyway. My current mana pool was, while high for my current level, wasn’t enough if I wanted to continue to the higher echelons. Tier 2 magic takes about 20% of my mana for a single spell. Tier 3 would require double my current mana to cast. Tessa had taught me one of these spells on the off chance that I could find what I need to get stronger in the northwest ruins. Even learning one of these spells was a daunting challenge and that’s with Oracle’s help in regards to memorization. I still had to understand the “intent” from the chant and the spell I learned was so verbose it seemed to go on a tangent. Normal people like Tessa and Hina had to actually say the entire script, unlike me. It let me see them in a new light, knowing the lengths of what they had to go in order to cast such powerful spells.

When I said this to Tessa she laughed, “That’s actually normal, Arlan. For me and Master, saying those long chants feels natural. Like I was made to do this.”

She went on to say that those without a predisposition to casting would say the same thing as me. We don’t have magic on Earth. Of course I wouldn’t have talent for casting like mages here. It’s as if they were musicians using instruments and I was doing the same thing but with my phone playing my track mix. I was using a proxy and all I’m doing is pressing play.

During my little vacation, the Guildmaster had me promoted to Rank C. The highest a normal adventurer would go and the highest he could advance me without the approval of the four other Guildmasters. Kurtz explained that C-Rank was where most people stayed. If I wanted to go B-Rank, I had to show “potential” and be an extraordinary individual.

I asked for more clarification at that point. I didn’t really care about rankings or showing off. C-Rank was just enough for me to get a decent income though it could vary depending on what’s available. He stated that I needed to do more than just destroy a single sty. I needed to go out and get my name recognized all over the Nation Alliance if I wanted to reach the higher ranks.

He seemed disappointed when I told him I wasn’t aspiring to go that distance. The income would be solid since I’d be able to take on special requests made from the various countries, all of which pays handsomely. It would also be less work overall since I wouldn’t have to do daily quests. I’d have much more free time. That did sound like a good idea though. I’d love to take up fishing again.

There was a much bigger elephant in the room. My actions had started to leak out into the city. My peaceful days had come to a close too soon when I started hearing whispers as the Guildhall went quiet every time I had entered. Adventurers whispering about the deeds I performed over at the sty. It wasn’t long until news had spread throughout the city. I was starting to become famous, but not in a good way. My actions at the sty started to become greatly exaggerated as the days went by. My fight against the privateers had merged together in some stories, saying I fought a mountain fortress of orcs and bandits while shooting ‘beams of light’ from my eyes. Who keeps saying I can do that!?

It was during one of those days that I entered the Guildhall. The moment I opened the doors, I was surrounded by soldiers. Not the city guard, however. These ones were dressed much more ornately. Like they were knights from the old stories, gilded with gold and silver, wearing red cloaks sporting the crest of Haldin.

One of the knights had stepped forward to address me. Judging by his more pristine armor and the way the rest of the knights gave him distance, he must be their leader.

“You must be Arlan the Golem, correct?” he said with an tone of dignity, “I am Knight-Captain Erzald. I come on behalf of Region Lord Selvin, who requests your presence at the Lord’s Manor.”

He briefly bows to me followed by the rest of the knights lined up in formation behind him. He’s quite young for someone in his position. Couldn’t be as old as I was when I was alive, though after numerous deployments, my face aged quite a few years ahead from the stress.

“This is a bit sudden, Knight-Captain…” I wasn’t too sure about this situation, “Is this a request or a demand?”

The Knight-Captain was taken back a bit. I don’t think he was expecting that kind of answer from me, “This… is a request. Lord Selvin has read about your courageous deeds from Commander Redall’s report and would like to thank you personally.” His voice cracked a bit in irritation on having to explain this to me, it seems.

“Now, now Captain. He’s still waiting on repairs. Don’t you think you could give him a bit of time before he meets with Lord Selvin?” The Guildmaster had appeared behind them and stood by my side.

“Ah, Guildmaster Kurtz,” the Knight-Captain gives Kurtz a bow as well, “I know this is sudden but Lord Selvin has had a last minute cancellation and found this is to be the perfect opportunity to have a meeting. My Lord’s schedule is booked for weeks due to the unrest up north with the Empire.”

The Guildmaster looks at me for a moment, “Hmm, if you’ll give me a second with him, Knight-Commander…”

Kurtz then drags me off to the side out of earshot, “You fool! What’s with that tone!? You do know that Knight-Captain Erzald is from one of Haldin’s most prominent families that serve the country!? Be more respectful, boy!”

“As if I care about…” No, stop. This is a different culture. Even if it’s backwards as hell, I still have to respect it. I heard the Indoc training from the Gunnery Sergeants enough times for every country I had the pleasure of having to stay at. “Fine, as long as they don’t ask me to grovel or swear fealty or something ridiculous.”

The Guildmaster gave me a strange look, “Where do you get strange ideas like that? This isn’t the Holy Kingdom of Rudelia, boy! The few nobles Haldin has, work for the city or serve with the military. They don’t want you on your hands and knees. When Lord Selvin came into rulership, he did quite a lot of housekeeping after what his father did to the country.”

“Alright, then should I accept?” I asked.

“Of course! Think of this as training for your future advancement to B-Rank. You’ll need to know how to talk with the blue bloods if you want a profitable relationship with them.”

I already told you, old man that I don’t want to deal with that nonsense. Regardless, it might be a good idea to start networking. You never know what doors can open if you know the right people, at least..

I nod at the Guildmaster and return to the Knight-Captain, “I’ll accept the meeting. Are we leaving now?”

“Splendid,” said the Knight-Captain, “Yes, we’ll escort you to the manor immediately. If you’ll please follow me…”

Just before I did, the Guildmaster taps me on the shoulder and leans into the side of my head, “One more thing. Be careful of that old woman with Lord Selvin. You’ll understand why when you meet her too.”

He gives me a hard push on my back and waves goodbye as I walk off with the Captain. As we headed north on the main avenue, the Knight-Captain gave a sigh.

“…I heard that, Guildmaster, ” he looks back at me, “He is, of course, talking about Lady Halette. Lord Selvin’s caretaker since he was a child. She now acts as his aide though she was an adventurer as well when she was younger.”

Hmm… “An adventurer too? Does she have history with the Guildmaster?”

“I would advise not to speak about their relationship unless you do not value your life, Arlan. Lord Selvin learned that the hard way. She is also a former S-Rank like Guildmaster Kurtz.”

“I wonder if she hits as hard as he does too,” I ask.

“I had the pleasure of fighting them both and I can definitely say the Lady does. I found that out when I asked about their relationship too,” he replied.

We both gave a small chuckle at the idea. The slight tenseness around us loosened up a bit.

He cleared his throat briefly before he began to speak again, “I believe we got off on the wrong foot, Arlan. Forgive me if I sounded.. impudent during our talk in the Guildhall. I’m not used to talking with civilians.”

I was a bit surprised to hear him apologize like that, “Oh, uh, don’t worry about it. I’m not used to talking with nobles either so I may have come off as uncouth.”

The Captain gives me an honest smile, “It seems we both need to practice our manners, then. To tell you the truth, I was quite ecstatic to meet you. The famed Orcslayer who shoots beams of light from his eyes.”

That rumor again, “I… don’t do that Captain.”

He looked disappointed, “Oh… well, ” he clears his throat again, “Even so, to fight off so many orcs… let me ask you something, Arlan. Are you interested in joining Haldin’s Order of Knights?”

“I’ll have to decline. I’m quite happy working for the Guild at the moment.” I’m really not interested in joining another military force. I enjoy the relative freedom I have right now. I do like their fancy red cloaks though.

“Well, I can not say I am please with your decision,” he gives me a sly grin, “However, I do not think Lord Selvin will give up that easily.”

It wasn’t long until we reached the Lord’s Manor in the north district. Surrounded by a large metal fence, it was quite humble looking for someone who held rulership over a country.

It was then I felt something wash over me. As if hands were rummaging through my core searching for valuables. There was a dangerous presence in that manor. And it was looking directly at me. Was this… Lady Halette?
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