Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  “[Inquisitor]---Joseph!”---he---yells,---walking---forwards---with---his---head---held---high,---a---posture---reminiscent---of---[King]s---can---be---seen---as---he---continues---to---walk---towards---the---Churchmen.

  “What---is---the---meaning---of---this!---I---left---for---three---hours---to---get---some---much---needed---training---and---the---first---thing---I---find---when---I---finish---is---a---horde---of---[Paladin]s---looking---for---me?”

  The---young---man---passes---Calidi---who---gives---him---a---interested---look,---but---ultimately---she---chooses---not---to---interrupt.

  The---young---man---shakes---his---head,”---I---have---told---the---[Archpriest]---where---I---will---be---and---what---I---will---be---doing,”---the---young---man---stops---before---Joseph,---waving---at---the---[Paladin]s---behind---him,”---and---you---seem---to---find---it---fitting---to---bring---a---significant---force---to---the---divers---guild---when---it---could---have---easily---been---done---with---one---or---two---people?”

  The---young---man---shakes---his---head.

  The---[Inquisitor]---gives---the---young---man---a---confused---look.---He---opens---his---mouth.

  “I---was---un-”

  “SILENCE!”---the---young---man---yells---out,---interrupting---the---[Inquisitor]---mid-sentence.

  “I---do---not---want---to---hear---your---excuses.---When---we---return---to---the---palace,---we---will---then---talk---about---your---punishment.”

  Joseph’s---eyes---open,---widening---at---the---sheer---disrespect---he---is---receiving,---mimicking---authority---the---child---does---not---possess.---But---before---he---can---answer,---the---young---man---turns---around,---his---eyes---focusing---on---the---women,---an---amused---smile---on---her---face.

  “Now---then.”

  The---man---steps---forward,---hand---moving---to---his---chest,”---Acting---Guild---Mistress---Calidi---Flammenwerfer,---I,---Franky---Sasco,---would---like---to---apologize---on---behalf---of---the---church---for---the---disrespectful---way---they---had---attempted---to---attain---me.”---he---bows---forwards---for---a---couple---seconds---before---straightening---his---back.

  His---eyes---move---downward,---stopping---only---to---admire---her---rather---large---chest---and---sexy---curves---before---they---move---toward---the---cracked---ground.

  “Of---course,---I---will---make---sure---that---you---are---properly---compensated---for---the---damage---that---has---been---done---to---the---property.”

  Calidi---Flammenwerfer---snorts,---gives---Franky---a---long---look---and---turns---around,”---No---need,”---she---says,---walking---towards---the---Divers---Guild,---her---hand---waving---in---the---air,---causing---the---ground---to---shake---and---the---damaged---stone---floor---to---quickly---fix---itself.

  Watching---her---leave,---Franky---turns---around,---moving---towards---the---[paladin]s.

  Joseph,---angry,---opens---his---mouth---to---tell---the---[Hero]---he---cannot---be---ordered---around,---that---such---disrespect---would---not---be---forgiven.---That---his---treatment---was---unjust.---That---the---[Hero]---has---no---such---power.

  But---he---stops---as---he---looks---at---Franky’s---face,---the---young---man---is---covered---in---sweat,---an---exhausted---fearful---look---permeates---his---face---as---his---body---starts---to---slouch,---the---confidence---he---had---moments---ago---gone,---replaced---by---something---akin---to---fear.

  ________________

  That---was---horrible.---Just---making---eye---contact---with---her---had---been---exhausting.---It---took---everything---I---had---to---stay---calm,---to---show---a---sense---of---understanding---and---apology.

  I---shake---my---head,---wiping---the---sweat---from---my---face---on---my---robe.

  Funny,---Thoric---was---the---one---who---had---convinced---me---to---take---acting---classes.---Who---knew---they---would---come---in---handy...shit.---Did---he---know?

  I---frown,---taking---a---quick---peek---around---me.

  Over---Twenty---[Paladin]s---surround---me,---most---of---their---faces---covered---by---helmets,---but---the---few---without---are---showing---signs---of---gratitude---as---I---walk---alongside---the---[Inquisitor],---who---stays---silent,---not---saying---a---word---as---we---make---our---way---towards---the---palace.

  The---whole---situation---had---disgusted---me,---that---the---fact---two---powerful---forces---were---to---attempt---to---fight---each---other,---in---the---middle---of---a---city---with---innocents.---It---was---truly---mind-boggling.

  But---then---maybe---that---was---the---point,---to---make---that---threat,---to---force---the---women---to---back---down…---still,---it---was---clearly---failing.---She---hadn't---seemed---phased---at---all.

  Finally,---as---we---enter---the---nobles---quarters,---I---turn---to---Inquisitor---Joseph,”---Were---you---really---looking---to---fight---with---her?---Were---you---truly---going---to---attack---her?”

  Joseph,---curious,---turns---towards---the---[Hero],---giving---an---answer---without---hesitation.

  “If---it---is---to---make---sure---you---return---unharmed,---then---I---would---attempt---to---defeat---her.”

  I---stop,---the---[Paladin]s---stopping---as---well,---turning---towards---me,---with---curious---looks.

  “So---what---you---are---saying,”---I---start---moving---my---hands,---waving---them---around---me,”---is---that---you---would---be---willing---to---send---all---of---these---men,---to---fight---an---individual---that---could---turn---this---city---into---a---wasteland,---wasting---their---lives,---killing---an---enormous---number---of---innocents---in---the---process…---to---save---me?”

  I---shake---my---head,---pointing---at---the---paladins.”---Each---of---these---men---came---at---your---call,---accepting---your---guidance---and---leadership,---believing---that---you---would---make---sure---they---will---return---to---their---families,---their---loved---ones.---They---follow---you,---trusting---you---to---make---the---best---decisions…”---I---stop---looking---at---the---grim---faces---of---the---paladins---as---they---listen---to---my---every---word,”---and---instead---of---making---a---proper---plan,---of---obtaining---information,---of---doing---this---whole---ordeal---respectfully...”

  I---raise---my---voice,---hands---tightening---to---a---fist,---my---anger---coming---out,”---You---instead---attempt---to---bully---your---way---into---the---guild,---willing---to---take---any---number---of---losses---of---good---men---and---women---just---so---you---can---come---out---the---victor.---That's---pathetic.”---I---say,---his---face---turning---read,---his---posture---turning---aggressive.

  But---I---ignore---it,---my---words---coming---naturally,---my---back---straightening,---a---feeling---of---confidence---mixing---with---my---anger”---You---are---a---pathetic---piece---of---egotistical---shit,”---I---look---at---him,---his---eyes---widening---at---my---direct---insult,”---a---man---who---is---willing---to---sacrifice---anything---is---a---man---who---knows---nothing---of---the---world.---You---are---pathetic!”

  His---eyes---widen,---teeth---clenching---as---he---looks---at---me---with---a---murderous---glare.

  ”YOU---WILL---BE---SILENT.”

  A---feeling---of---pressure,---an---order---battles---my---mind,---attempting---to---subjugate---my---will,---but---I---stand---firm,---my---anger---still---everpresent,---barely---allowing---me---to---notice---the---screen---that---pops---up---at---the---side---of---my---vision.

  The---Skill---[Inquisitors---Orders]---has---been---resisted.

  I---ignore---it,---taking---instead---a---step---forward,---my---height---similar---to---his---own,---my---body---seemingly---moving---on---its---own,---mind---focused---upon---the---here---and---now.

  “Make---Me,”---the---wind---starts---to---twirl,---to---form,---to---howl,---reacting---to---my---will.

  The---[Inquisitors]---hands---start---to---glow,---mana---forming---around---it---as---his---anger---starts---to---boil---over.---He---lifts---his---hand…---but---that---is---all---he---gets---to---do.

  “[Earthen---Chains]
[Earthen---Chains]”

  The---two---female---[Archmages]---which---have---been---following---behind,---immediately---activate---their---spells,---causing---chains---of---stone---to---rip---out---of---the---ground,---quickly---slithering---towards---the---Inquisitor,---wrapping---around---his---body---and---limbs,---forcing---him---to---the---ground.

  A---thud---is---heard---as---the---[Inquisitor]---strikes---the---ground,---a---surprised---expression---on---his---face---as---a---stone---chain---quickly---covers---his---mouth,---not---allowing---him---to---neither---move---nor---activate---skills---or---spells.

  At---that---realization,---Franky---finds---that---panic---quickly---starts---to---settle---in---on---the---man's---psyche---as---he---realizes---that---he---literally---cannot---move,---that---he---had---been---completely---hindered---and---at---the---mercy---of---the---[Hero].

  The---[paladin]s---stand---weary,---unsure---what---to---do.---They---had---been---told---that---the---[Hero]’s---safety---is---the---utmost---priority,---that---any---threats---should---be---quickly---killed.---It---was---only---their---lack---of---being---a---magic---class---that---did---not---allow---them---to---react---to---the---formation---of---mana---on---the---[Inquisitor]’s---hands,---something---the---two---[Archmage]s---had---immediately---sensed---and---reacted---to.

  Several---thoughts---travel---through---my---mind,---some---telling---me---to---end---his---life.---Another---telling---me---that---this---situation---is---wrong,---that---I---should---apologize---for---my---outburst.

  But---then---the---feeling---of---confidence,---of---power,---it---thrums,---telling---me---something---else.---Guiding---me...

  I---look---towards---the---two---[Archmage]s,---twin---women---who---hold---their---arms---out,---hands---glowing---as---they---supply---mana---to---the---spell,---making---sure---that---physical---strength---alone---will---not---allow---the---[inquisitor]---to---break---free.

  “Let---him---go,---remove---those---chains,”---I---say,---staring---at---the---two---females---who---give---me---a---confused---look.---At---the---same---time,---The---[Inquisitor]---stops---as---he---hears---those---words…---those---orders.

  “He---has---attempted---to---attack---you.”---one---calls---out.

  “He---could---have---killed---you,”---the---other---explains---as---well.

  I---feel---so---calm…

  “It---will---be---fine.---I---will---deal---with---it.”---I---say---naturally,---confidently...---authoritavely.

  The---two---Archmages---share---another---look---and---then---slowly---the---earthen---chains---starts---to---unravel,---traveling---back---into---the---stone---ground---from---which---they---came.

  I---look---down,---the---[Inquisitor]---looking---at---me,---a---very---confused---expression---on---his---face,---completely---devoid---of---the---anger---he---had---been---harboring---before.

  _____

  The---[Hero]---stands---tall,---his---form---seemingly---glowing---as---all---eyes---turn---to---him,---a---feeling---of---respect---and---power---emanating---from---his---stare---as---his---eyes---bore---into---the---[Inquisitor],---into---the---man's---soul.

  The---[Hero]---opens---his---mouth…---and---speaks.

  “In---life,---we---all---make---mistakes,---some---we---notice---afterward,---others---we---notice---during…---and---then---there---are---some---we---do---not---notice.”

  The---hero---pauses,---his---face---lacking---any---emotion.

  “It---is---the---last---one---which---is---the---worst.---It---is---the---most---dangerous---as---it---means---you---can---repeat---the---same---mistake---over---and---over---again.---The---cycle---repeats---itself---indefinitely.”

  He---pauses,---the---air---around---the---[Hero]---starts---to---converge---seemingly---around---him,---making---his---clothes---shuffle---to---the---wind's---tune.

  “But---if---you're---lucky,---then---you---may---be---blessed---with---someone---who---will---notice---your---mistakes---for---you,---someone---who---will---point---them---out.”

  A---smile---slowly---forms---on---the---[Hero]---face,---the---air---starting---to---slow,---turning---into---a---light---breeze.

  “Joseph---Selenos,---your---mistake---is---that---you---did---not---notice---how---arrogant---you---have---become.---How---much---your---focus---had---been---on---the---strength---of---the---church---and---not---by---its---teachings.”

  The---[Hero]---pauses,---his---blond---hair---moving---softly,---glowing---seemingly---in---the---sunlight.

  “But---that's---the---thing---about---mistakes,---they---can---always---be---fixed.”

  The---[Hero]---extends---his---arm---downward,---towards---the---[Inquisitor]---who---is---on---his---knees,---looking---up.

  “If---you---want…---nay…---believe---you---can---change...”

  The---hero---pauses---once---more.

  “To---become---better...---take---my---hand---for---I---have---already---forgiven---you.”

  The---[Inquisitor]---looks---up---and---catches---a---glimpse.---Not---of---a---man---named---Franky---with---the---[Hero]---class,---but---a---Hero---named---Franky.

  Tears---start---to---form---down---Joseph’s---eyes---as---he---extends---his---hand---taking---the---[Hero]s---arm,---getting---pulled---up.

  “Thank---you,”---Joseph---voices---softly,---a---feeling---of---euphoria---washing---over---him,---respect,---yearning,---so---much---feeling---that---he---barely---holds---it.---But---he---holds---it,---relishing---the---feeling,---memorizing---it,---all---while---his---eyes---fervently---trained---on---the---[Hero].

  Nodding---towards---the---man,---the---[Hero]---taps---him---on---the---shoulder,”---Now---Joseph,---let---us---go---back---to---the---palace,---I---am---sure---many---are---worried---about---my---wellbeing,”---he---says,---turning---around---and---heading---towards---the---city’s---center.

  The---[Paladins],---[Archmages]---and---the---sole---[Inquisitor]---watch---as---the---[Hero]---walks---forward,---his---form---strong---and---majestic---as---he---exits---the---circle---of---[Paladin]s,---moving---towards---the---palace.

  Only---after---a---moment---do---they---finally---awaken---from---their---stupor,---starting---to---follow---the---[Hero],---their---eyes---glistening---with---utter---reverence.

  _______

  Tired---would---be---an---understatement---as---Franky---trudges---forwards,---doing---his---utmost---best---to---keep---from---slouching,---the---whole---ordeal---had---been…---mesmerizing---to---say---the---least.

  He---had---had---an---epiphany,---a---moment---where---he---knew---what---to---say,---what---to---do,---how---to---act.---It---was---both---invigorating---and---extremely---exhausting.

  Currently,---he---wants---to---just---fall---down---and---pass---out,---but---the---fact---that---a---small---group---of---extremely---powerful---people---is---following---him,---as---well---as---the---confused---looks---of---several---[Nobles]---as---they---watch---him---pass---by,---keep---him---from---disgracing---himself---after---such---an---ordeal.

  Luckily,---the---only---thing---keeping---him---from---falling---asleep---is---the---ecstatic---feeling---of---the---several---levels---and---skills---he---had---obtained.---He---calls---them---up---mentally.

  Level---Up---x---17

  You---are---now---a---level---26---[Hero]

  New---Skill---Obtained:---A---Hero’s---Moment.

  Some---people---move---the---hearts---and---minds---of---people---through---the---use---of---power,---others---through---bribery,---and---even---some---through---wits.

  But---you---move---the---Hearts---and---Minds---of---the---people---from---your---sheer---presence.

  2000---Charisma---when---activated.

  Hidden---Stat---unlocked---→---Charisma:---431

  New---Passive---Aura---Skill---Obtained:---Heart---of---a---Hero

  The---strength---of---your---aura---changes,---allowing---your---personality,---your---being,---to---increase---its---strength.

  ---Willpower---Increased---by---Charisma---Score.

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  [Archpriest]---Bernard---looks---up,---his---eyes---staring---at---the---[Grand---Counselor]---who---continues---to---stare---out---the---window,---giving---him---a---great---view---of---the---city---in---its---entirety.

  “And---he---immediately---passed---out---in---bed---when---he---returned,”---the---[Grand---Counselor]---says,---not---even---turning---around.

  “Yes,---on---his---return,---the---[Priestess]---who---was---designated---to---taking---care---of---him---found---him---passed---out---on---the---floor,”---Bernard---explains,---staring---intently---at---the---Counselors---back.