The Requisite Records of a Misplaced Hero (The Misplaced Hero Book 1)

by Envy Mercury

  “Fairies are telepathic in a way. They can pick up on emotions and the feelings someone is having when they touch them,” Valentine explained to me. The little fairy just nodded her head along with the explanation.

  “You are also going to take on that terrible Victor!” The small fairy growled. Or, at least, I think she did. Even with her angry, banging her fists, and kicking her little legs, she was still cute. “I want you to take me with you, so I can give you my assistance. It is best for my people. Helping you helps us so we can prevent this from happening again.”

  “You keep saying your people?” I asked.

  “I am the queen! Do you wish to know my name, handsome human?” She said as she winked at me.

  I smiled at her and chuckled. “Of course, I would like to know your name.”

  “I am Queen Mav,” she said as she did a little curtsy. “You have been summoned here twice, yes?”

  “Yes, I was brought here as a hero. Then I went home for a while, now I’m back a second time.”

  “It makes me so happy to meet you and pledge my assistance to you. Things will turn out fine, my handsome hero. The hero from the legends and prophecy.”

  Mew leaned forward closer to the fairy. “Rezzy is a hero of a prophecy?”

  The fairy smiled at her. “Yes, Rezner is here to save our world. It is the prophecy of The Misplaced Hero. Shall I tell it?”

  We all looked at each other and then nodded.

  “Not many know of this prophecy, as it was considered foolish, and it was ignored. A hero can never be summoned twice. They are only summoned once. Yet, a prophecy told of a misplaced hero. Brought to our world to be its savior, striking down the demon lords that serve under the Dark Lord. Yet, unlike other heroes, the misplaced hero wasn’t confident in his abilities to get the job done. Such a heavyweight to carry, the hero leaves in hope someone stronger than himself can be brought forth.”

  She took a break from telling the tale and just sat smiling at us all. Everyone else was looking at me. “I don’t know if that was me. I can’t even remember. I don’t know why I left. I don’t remember anything,” I told them.

  Looking at me, she continued telling the prophecy. “The hero left. It was said to train and become stronger, not knowing that he would return a second time.”

  “Now, I remember that. I didn’t do any training. I just lived a normal life,” I argued.

  “Sometimes, hardships and experience can train you. Did you have it easy?” She questioned me.

  “No… it was pretty horrible,” I admitted. It was hard to believe a prophecy was about me, but I guess it would be hard to imagine me in this situation in the first place.

  “The hero returns, more capable of saving the world in his second coming. The first time, he was brought because of fear and hardship. The second time, he was brought because of love.”

  I sat in silence, thinking about what Queen Mav was telling us. Was I here before, but I knew I wouldn’t be up to the task, and I ran away? Or I suppose it would be more I left to benefit everyone else, hoping someone more substantial than I could be summoned.

  “Queen Mav, let’s say that I am this misplaced hero. I don’t know anything about here. I don’t even remember anything from before. How is that helpful? I don’t know anything about some Dark Lord or demon lords. I’ve only done some smaller heroic things, and a few of those I messed up, one ending with my friends captured, and I almost died.”

  She calmly smiled at me. “That is where we come to the last and interesting part.”

  “I find all of it interesting,” Valentine said.

  Mew clapped her hands excitedly. “Me too! Rezzy kicking some dark lord ass? It’s gonna be fucking great!”

  I didn’t feel as optimistic as some did, but I had to know. “What is the last part?” I asked.

  “The hero will know what to do and be strong enough to take all the darkness in the world when he finds his requisite records. To access them, he needs a key. The key will be the opposite of what brought him back.”

  “If love brought him back, would the opposite be hatred?” Valentine asked as she frowned.

  I looked up from being lost in my thoughts. “Many think that hatred is the opposite of love, but that’s not really true.”

  “What is the real opposite?” Mew asked me.

  “In my world, they say the true opposite of love is indifference. Not caring anymore. You can be in love with someone, but you become indifferent when you lose them or feel a great loss. You break so much that you don’t care about anything anymore.”

  “I don’t like the ending to that story,” Mew said. “It sucks.”

  Yeah. It does.

  “It’s getting late. I am pretty sure we are staying here tonight. It’s going to be dark soon,” I said. “We should probably try to figure out where to sleep and all that.”

  “I will take care of that,” Queen Mav said. “We will sort the grounds here and adjust things to be a bit more habitable!” Then she flew off to the other fairies singing a cheerful sounding song, leaving some twinkling sparkles behind in her wake. I watched her fly off into the mix of other flying humanoids, communicating to them our needs.

  “I’m going to take a walk for a bit and sort my thoughts. I will be back,” I told my friends. I left the area of our battle and went a little way into the woods, humming a random song to myself. The sound of a nearby creek was calming as well as all the ambient sounds of the woods. The moon was large that night, with some clouds dancing around lightly, only slightly reaching out to touch it as they moved past. I came across a fallen log, jumped up onto it, balancing on one foot after teetering for a moment.

  I took a deep breath, slowly inhaling the fresh air. I wondered if the fairies being in the area added to the pleasantness. They were wonderfully lovely creatures, so positive even when upset, I couldn’t see how someone could personally harm them, only to make a profit or for selfish benefit. Sure, one would do many things to do what they needed to do, especially in desperate times. I couldn’t ever see myself sacrificing something innocent just for short term gain. There are monsters in this world, but maybe creatures that are considered monsters are not real monsters.

  I sat on the log, my feet dangling in the air, hands keeping me balanced. I wasn’t sure how long I was there when I got a visitor.

  “Can I sit with you for a moment?” Valentine asked.

  “Yeah, sure. Pop a squat princess.”

  “Excuse me?”

  I chuckled. “Go ahead and sit.” I tapped on a space on the wooden log next to me, indicating a good spot for her. She walked around carefully and gently sat right next to me. She cleared her throat a little. I got the feeling she wanted to talk about something. “You are the first elf I have talked to, well… that I remember talking to anyways.” I gave her a smile.

  “I am sure I am not the only one you have spoken with, but I understand.”

  “I’m sorry that I have forgotten everything about you.”

  Princess Valentine gave me a small smile. “I remember so much about you. I remember when you first came.” She sat on the log next to me, a soft breeze teasing her hair.

  “Oh?”

  “Yes, things were desperate at that time. Worry of impending doom, destruction, end of the world… all that. You were summoned, and I remember how casual you were when you first came to the court.”

  “Do continue, princess, stories about me are my favorite. It’s almost like I was at a wonderful party, but I blacked out, and now I relive the tales through everyone else.”

  She let out a small giggle, then recomposed herself. “I always thought about and remembered your eyes. They were so soft and kind when you first came. Then after a while, they changed. They weren’t the same anymore when you abandoned the kingdom.”

  I leaned over and bumped my shoulder into hers. Valentine blushed a little bit and then bumped back into me. “Sorry about abandoning the kingdom, no idea why I did.”

  “I a
m sure you had a perfectly good reason too. Just because I am a princess, there doesn’t mean I agree with everything. I mean, use today as an example. The slavers were working with soldiers of the kingdom. You rescued me from the guards meant to serve and protect me… to protect all the citizens. I can have many ideas of why you abandoned it.”

  “I do think that is pretty shitty. I was taught when I was younger, there really isn’t good or bad. Just the two sides of the law- people that are thought to be bad can be good, and people that should be good can be bad. The side of the law normally goes unpunished. The only difference.”

  “That is pretty wise. Who told you that?”

  I looked up to the starry sky. “My father did.”

  She reached over, lightly wrapping her delicate fingers around my fingers, and then she held onto my hand. “Your hand is so warm. It’s nice.”

  “Can I ask you something, Princess Valentine?”

  “Only if it’s a nice question, and you can call me Valentine, you don’t have to use my princess title.”

  I chuckled. “Well, maybe I like to call you princess.” I squeezed her hand back. “It’s strange because I don’t remember you, but I’m really comfortable around you. You are beautiful, you seem pretty smart, and you are a fucking princess. Why do you like me so much? I mean, I am improper, and I swear a fucking lot too.”

  Instead of answering me, she just started to laugh. Her beautiful laugh rang out into the forest, a song among nature. She caught her breath and calmed down. “That’s one reason I like you. You are a good person. You are a hero. You do what you think is right, no matter what other people think you should be doing.”

  She leaned over against my shoulder, tilting her head into me. I put my arm around her and pulled her in, and held her. “You told me that you loved me, you know, you even kissed me. Right before you left,” she whispered. “You were gone so long.” She pressed her body into me, and I felt her arms squeeze around my waist. “I always wondered if one day, you would show up randomly and rescue me and take me away from that horrible castle.”

  “I wish I did as well. Nothing like carrying a princess in your arms, telling wealthy nobles to fuck off while you make your exit.” I did the little slow-moving parade wave, making her laugh again. “Good day everyone, have a fantastic life!”

  She smirked at me. “That wave was very proper. Are you sure you aren’t a king or a prince?”

  “Maybe I am. Just kidding, but I do have a fortress. Some douche bag is borrowing it from me at the moment that I need to evict. I have a policy against rooming my friends there against their will. I am sure he isn’t getting his deposit back. Pretty sure he trashed the place.”

  “I am sure your castle will be wonderful.”

  “Once I have it, you are welcome to stay there. At least then you won’t have to worry about whatever the kingdom has going on with you.”

  “Mei and I plan on coming to help you,” she said. I must have looked shocked when she said that because she continued. “What Rezner? You think I am some weak, fragile girl?”

  “No, I think you are scary strong. I just can’t have you showing me up,” I said. “But, no, seriously, I just wouldn’t want you to get hurt and all that. It’s not like it’s an easy thing. I think most wouldn’t come with me.”

  “You will probably feel better when you see me fight. I have been militarily trained, you know. Trained in combat and major war strategy.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, I had to learn many different things. I was in line for the throne, you know.”

  “Just be careful.”

  “I will, plus my hero, will be there,” she said as she leaned up towards my face.

  Oh shit, she is going to kiss me.

  I slowly reached up and laid my hand behind her head and slowly started to bring her lips closer to mine. It was like time slowed down as our faces came closer and closer together. Then we were about to make contact…

  “Rezzyyyyyyyyyy! Oh, there you are!” Mew shouted at us. The princess pulled away, and we came apart, probably in one of the most awkward movements ever known. “I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”

  There was a shout from the nearby trees. “What have you done!?” We looked towards the voice, and it was the princess’s lady in waiting Mei.

  “Were you watching us, Mei?” Valentine asked.

  Mei crossed her arms and pouted. “Well, not really. It was just so exciting, and then this girl ruined it! You were about to kiss!”

  “They could have still kissed, I don’t mind,” Mew said.

  Mew and Mei continued arguing about both of their perceptions and who was right and who was wrong. Their conversation faded into the background as I looked at Valentine. She was smiling at me. Then we both started laughing.

  “I think it is about time we got back to camp,” I said as I started to stand up. I held out my hand to assist the princess from our seating area. I looked at the two arguing girls. “Agree to disagree. Let’s not argue, ladies. Let’s get back to camp and get some rest. I am pretty wiped out.”

  We made our way back through the woods towards where the camp was being set up by the queen of the fairies. I looked at the moon and stars again as I walked, all the while holding Valentine’s hand. I had kissed a princess before, in a cocky and arrogant way. I stole her kiss and then left.

  I was that confident, and I still ran away.

  It gave me concern for the future; the whole prophecy thing didn’t super help either. When it should have given me confidence, it gave me a lot of anxiety. It was something I needed to have a conversation with Mav about to get more details. Information was always power with anything, and even a tiny bit of new info could be key. How could I be a hero when I was confused as much as I was right at this moment. Seemed to me, I was less confused before. But who really knows? I don’t. Then these requisite records were supposed to show me what to do. I knew requisite meant vital, but records of what? Some all-knowing power, godlike skills? Fuck if I know.

  I believed in myself, but I was human. This wasn’t like before when I felt I was a waste of a human being, I had done some good things and saved some people. But a fucking dark lord? A dark lord that had demon lords working under it, everything I knew from pop culture, shows, and anime. A demon lord wasn’t something to mess with. Those demon kids that took my women, my friends, they were tough as hell. They were scary. They were under a demon lord. A couple steps up the evil food chain above that? Logically, it ranked high in danger. Scary, really scary, and finally a dark lord ranking at ‘so fucking scary you gonna shit yourself and wish you were dead’ levels.

  There was so much pressure that I felt, it was no wonder I left before. How was that possible? Everything I knew on the subject, a hero, never could just leave. Didn’t work that way. Many times, you couldn’t even go home. Ever. I did. Was it my legacy to be the one that ran away? Valentine squeezed my hand, drawing me from my thoughts. She had a soft look of understanding.

  “You doing ok?” She asked.

  “Yeah, I just have a lot on my mind, all this new information, and I am thinking about what happened before when I ran away.”

  She raised her eyebrows and slowly ran her hand through her wonderful hair, putting it behind that beautiful elf ear. “I don’t think you ran away. You made a choice with the knowledge you knew at the time. Who knows what was on your mind?” She smiled.

  “I know that I don’t know, and that’s all I’ve got for now,” I said as I gave her hand another squeeze.

  “The thing about prophecies, if they are of the truth, then they are. It says you will have the skills to defeat the Dark Lord and save the world. So, you will defeat them. Prophecies are pretty unbreakable, one would have to be a god to change it, and even then, that would be a large task.”

  “That last part, though! It has to be a loss. What will I have to sacrifice to get to those records? Where are they even at? Maybe it’s Yumi and Mecci, am I suppose to give up on them
and lose them?” I shouted in desperation. I had stopped walking and let go of Valentine’s hand, the others standing around me. “Maybe I’m not even supposed to rescue them.”

  Mew reached out and grabbed my arm firmly, pulling my depressed form to face her. “I think I know you pretty well. You would never abandon someone on purpose. Never, ever.”

  “Probably not,” I said.

  “You don’t try to do a prophecy. You just do you. The prophecy just will happen. Right?” She said as she looked at everyone else. They seemed to agree.

  “So, what are we going to do next, Rezzy?” Mew asked me.

  “We are going to save them,” I replied.

  Mew smiled at me. “Fuck yeah, we are going to save them.” I think she was picking up on my potty mouth. I was such a bad influence. Soon the princess would probably start swearing.

  “You will have our help,” Mei said. “My princess wishes to assist you, so I will go as well.”

  “I really, really very much appreciate the help. The risk, though, it’s a fortress. I don’t think we can just walk in there and walk out.”

  Princess Valentine pulled herself into me, giving me a hug that portrayed all the care someone could express in a hug. “It will be in fates hands. We go with a hero. It must be done. You can’t leave your friends, and we can’t leave you. It will be a big step in the right direction towards meeting your destiny. It is not random luck that you have found everyone that you have at your side.”

  “Five is a strong number,” a light song-filled voice said from behind me. “Five will become seven, and that is lucky as well.”

  “Hey there, Mav,” I said to her as she landed on my shoulder. “You always look so happy.”

  “I am happy,” Mav said as she smiled a legit smile that reached high on her face. “You have strong people with you, and you, my friend, you are stronger than you could even dream in your best dream.” She smirked. “You also have my strength, which I am a queen of nature. Don’t count your pedals before you see them.”

  “That makes me feel better,” I said.