Lion's Quest: Trinity: A LitRPG Saga

by Michael-Scott Earle

  “We are allowed to bring a long blade and a dagger to dinner,” I smirked at the man as I gestured to the pile of weapons on the ground. “I’ll have to figure out what to do with Bolverk tomorrow. I might try another healer. Do you know of places that will care for someone with his… uhhh, dispositions?” I asked the half-orc.

  “Hmmm, might I suggest an alternative, dear Leo?”

  “Sure, but I have a feeling that I know what you are about to say.” I sighed and shook my head.

  “From what you briefed me on with these challenges, we will need another member for our part of this dungeon exploration. You, my dear friend, are worth two or three normal adventurers because of your amazing fighting skills and zephyr-like healing speed. I have no doubt that the two of us would be able to do this challenge with the beautiful queen in tow. However, we really should have someone devoted to taking the defender role. Just as Mira did in our last dungeon adventure.”

  “I’m not sure if that is a good idea, but I will think about it.” I glanced back at the gnome, but the small man wasn’t looking at me.

  “Please do. I like the man. He reminds me of my kinsmen, only less smelly and with better table manners.”

  “Ha, I don’t think anyone has better table manners than you.” I smirked at my friend.

  “Dearest friend, Leo, can you believe it?” Cornalic said as he gestured to his outfit. The suit really did look good on him. No one had taken his measurements, but the velvet, satin, and suede pieces hugged the muscles of his chest, waist, and thighs perfectly. The man’s dimensions were something out of a comic book. I had broad shoulders, but Cornalic’s were a good fifty percent larger, his waist was narrow, and his hips jutted out to form a muscular hourglass shape. “I’m but a simple half-orc orphan adventurer, but now I am to be dining with a room full of queens. I shall be hobnobbing with nobility. I shall tell them jokes, make them laugh, and feast upon the most delicious of foods while I keep my sharp ears open for skullduggery.”

  “It’s a nice looking outfit. You are a charming guy, I think they will be impressed with you,” I said to my friend. I hadn’t noticed any sort of the same racism against half-orcs that I noticed with elves and Fenia, but I hadn’t paid much attention to the glances of NPCs toward Cornalic. He was physically intimidating, and I guessed most people wouldn’t risk giving the man the stink eye.

  “I’m supposed to wear this amulet to show I am Chyrsa’s champion,” I said while clasping the thick medallion around my neck. The piece of jewelry was made of gold, in the shape of a coin three inches in diameter, and etched with the design of a crown.

  “You look dashing, dear friend. I’m sure the other champions will be intimidated by your physique and charmed by your warm smile.”

  “Thanks, buddy. Let’s get going.” I turned to the gnome sitting in the corner and cleared my throat. “Bolverk, we are going to a dinner. I asked the servants to bring you some food. Are you okay to wait here?”

  “When you descend the mountain of war, and see the broken bodies of your enemies, you will know that time has no meaning. All is as I have foreseen during my life as a warrior god,” The gnome said without opening his eyes.

  “I’m going to take that as a yes. We’ll chat later.” I nodded to the muscular half-orc, and we left our room.

  It was a short walk to Chrysa’s domicile. Before I could knock, the door opened, and Allurie stepped out of the hallway.

  “Leo! You look so handsome! Oh!” the elf girl sighed when she looked at me.

  “Uhhh, you look great also, Allurie,” I said hesitantly. My friend was wearing a teal satin dress that seemed to drip down her body like water. One of the shoulders was bare, the front was cut so low that it almost reached her bellybutton, the middle hugged her hips tight enough to show the small shapes of her lean muscles, and the bottom swept out as if it was a ball gown. Most of the cloth was bare of decoration, but the bottom hem of the dress was embroidered with the same white wave pattern that Cornalic’s and my outfit possessed.

  “You like it?” she asked as she raised one of her hands to shyly brush across a black pearl necklace which lay across her collarbone. Her hair was tied tightly back, and her silvery mane was decorated with black pearls that offset her creamy skin.

  “Yeah. Uhh. You look beautiful.”

  “Thank you, Leo.” Allurie blushed.

  “She does!” Chrysa exclaimed as she stepped around the elf. “I hope you don’t mind me dressing up your friend. I asked if she could be my handmaiden during this dinner. Allurie has been helping me dress and has told me you taught her how to fight. I am only allowed to bring a small entourage to this dinner, and I figured that--”

  “It is fine,” I said to the beautiful brown eyed woman. She was also wearing a long teal colored dress, but while Allurie’s was smooth satin, Chrysa’s looked to be a textured and delicately stitched wool. The top half of the dress over her bodice was made of a white wavy lace. The bottom of the dress was also crafted of the same sheer material, and I could see a hint of her shapely legs through the fabric. The young woman’s hair was not pulled back like Allurie’s, but it was styled with the same wavy curls. The noblewoman’s hair, neck, and arms were decorated with white pearls, and she presented a nice contrast to Allurie.

  “Your glance convinces me you also like my dress,” Chrysa said to me, and her cheeks flushed a pretty red color.

  “Yeah. You look great. Like a queen. I’d vote for you,” I said with a laugh.

  “Thank you. Shall we leave for dinner then?” she asked.

  I nodded to the brown eyed beauty, and the four of us walked down the hallway of her wing. There was already a group of guards waiting for us, and the armored soldiers led us through the grand palace.

  “Leo,” Allurie whispered after we walked for a few minutes with the guards.

  “Yeah?”

  “I have been thinking about some things…” her voice trailed off, and she looked down at her beautiful dress.

  “Okay…”

  “I have the daggers on me, but I kind of lied to Chrysa. I don’t really know how to fight. Part of me doesn’t want to know. It doesn’t seem fun. Another part of me wants to go with you when you explore dungeons. I never want to leave your side. When I left Gratia’s stronghold, I was going to--”

  “Yeah, let’s not talk about that right now. Are you asking me to teach you how to fight?” I raised an eyebrow at her. She had never seemed interested in learning, but I remembered her standing with her daggers in the shop while Cornalic fought the assassins.

  “Yes.” Allurie sighed. “In a perfect world. I would mate with you every few hours, give you lots of pretty little children, and then take care of you. I know you have a mission, though. I know you want to find these relics. I love you. I want to help you find them.”

  “Can human and elves have kids?” I asked. I realized that I hadn’t seen anyone I would have classified as a half-elf, but Cornalic was a half-orc, so it must have been possible.

  “Oh yes, when two people love each other enough, anything is possible. Cornalic is a half-elf! His parents must have loved each other very much.”

  “Huh?” I looked at my muscular friend. He was walking a few steps ahead of me and chatting with Chrysa about her dress. The man must have heard Allurie say his name, and he turned his head to wink at me. I felt like I was a bit of an ass for just thinking the man was a half-orc and half-human, but as soon as Allurie pointed out his heritage; the shape of his ears, the graceful movements, and the talkative personality made a lot more sense.

  “I know you prefer men, but at night, when you lie down to return to your home, I often look at your handsome face and daydream about what our children--”

  “Let’s talk about the training stuff,” I interrupted her with a chuckle. “I don’t want you to feel like you have to do any of this. I heard that elves don’t like fighting. You are my friend, and I will care for you even if you aren’t exploring dungeons with me. I don’t want yo
u doing this because you think it might get me to--”

  “Oh, no! Leo! I would never think that. I want to make you happy. It is true, the thought of fighting or hurting someone makes me sad, but what makes me sadder is the idea of not being able to protect my friends. When we were attacked by those mean men, I realized that I didn’t know how to help you or Cornalic. I felt so useless. I didn’t like the feeling. Chrysa might have died if you or Cornalic failed to protect us. I don’t know how to use those daggers you gave me. I wanted to help, but I couldn’t. Will you teach me?”

  “Yeah. I think I can do that,” I said after I thought about it for a few moments. This was a new angle to Ohlavar Quest I hadn’t even thought about. Could I train NPCs to fight? Could I teach them new abilities? The old adventurer Switt once told me elves could become powerful adventurers, and I had seen Allurie pull out those daggers with amazing speed. Could I train her to be a powerhouse? Would she even have the disposition to be dependable in combat?

  “That makes me happy. Can we start tomorrow? I am eager for you to teach me all sorts of things.” She said the sentence with the word “teach,” emphasized and I almost rolled my eyes.

  “You aren’t just using this as a reason for me to--”

  “Oh, no! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. Although the thought of you giving me your undivided attention, maybe with your shirt off, maybe with your chest oiled, maybe with most of my clothes off, maybe with you running your fingers over my body, does make my heart skip.”

  “It won’t be like that. Martial arts are a lot of work,” I said.

  “Ohhhhh,” she said with a long sigh.

  “No, it’s, uhhh--” I tried to think of the right world that wouldn’t give Allurie any more sexual ideas.

  “Like a job? I love jobs!” She beamed at me.

  “Okay. I’ll think about how to get you started. Let’s focus on this dinner for now. I want you to listen to everything you can and pay attention to anyone whispering about Chrysa, Cornalic, you, or me. Can you do that?”

  “Yes, Leo. I like this job. I will do my best for you.”

  “Great. We’ll talk after dinner.” I moved from the side of the elf to stand closer to Chrysa.

  We reached the door to what I guessed was the banquet hall. Sharles was addressing a group of red clothed nobles, and the big man gestured for our guards to keep us stationed some thirty feet behind them.

  I guessed the group in red was one of our competitors. I noticed a girl of maybe fourteen years, standing next to a couple who looked like her grandparents. The man and woman both had long gray hair and sharp features. The young girl was pretty, but she shot a sour glare toward Chrysa as soon as we arrived.

  On the other side of the girl stood a tall woman wearing a ruffled red tunic with thick leather sleeves. The tunic came down to a tight black leather corset and then flared out to a skirt that looked as if it was made of studded vertical leather straps. The woman turned to look at me, and the bands of leather shifted to reveal the red bikini style underwear and toned legs. She wore a scimitar on her belt opposite a curved dagger, and the champion amulet was around her neck. The warrior woman’s obsidian hair was tied back in a simple ponytail, her face was a perfect diamond shape, and her green eyes glowed with fierce intelligence. We both studied each other for a few more moments, and then the woman turned away so she could speak with Sharles.

  “She is beautiful,” Allurie gasped.

  “I believe that is the Teedan family. They are powerful nobles from the continent of Quator. The girl is Yenna, her grandparents are Keenha and Sullna. I believe her champion is named Moryana,” Chrysa explained. “Sharles gave me a brief description of who everyone was while you were out helping your friend.”

  “Dearest Leo, we might have a problem,” Cornalic whispered.

  “What?” I leaned over.

  “I have been to Quantor. Lovely continent. There are five different kingdoms there with many powerful people. I have heard of Moryana if this is the same woman. It is said she is a sword dancer.”

  “What is a sword dancer?” I asked.

  “They can channel magic through their blades when they fight. Even the most novice of them are said to be near impossible to defeat. If this is the Moryana I have heard of, then she is the most feared of the bunch.”

  “You’ve never fought one?” I asked the half-orc.

  “No, dearest friend. I prefer to run away from people who could hurt me. If you recall, I have a medical condition in which I bleed when people cut me.” He shook his head and let out a sigh.

  “They must have hired her for this. The Teedan’s are said to be wealthier than my family so they can afford someone powerful to be their champion,” Chrysa whispered. “What do you think, Leo?”

  “I believe I need to talk to her. If I think that she can beat me, I’ll figure out an alliance with someone else.” My gamer’s mind was already twisting through the options. As much as I didn’t want to lose any of these challenges, the idea of dueling someone who might be able to beat me in virtual combat was all sorts of exciting.

  Sharles finished speaking to the red-garbed nobles, and he gestured for them to enter the doors of the hall. The black-haired woman turned again to glance at me, and then she nodded before turning to walk through the doors.

  “Ahh. My dear lovelies! I am happy to see you. Let us speak a few moments.” The tall, fat man gestured for us to step to the door with a wave of his thick fingers.

  “Are we late?” Chrysa asked with concern.

  “No, darling. However, everyone else is early, so you are the last to arrive. It is no worry; you will have the grandest of entrances. I will announce you myself. It might anger the other families, but most of them believe you are in my heart already. They are correct, of course.”

  “Can you tell me who is wearing which color, and who I need to look out for?” I asked the robed man.

  “Yes, good Sir Lennox. That was the Teedan family. The child is Yenna. She is a pretty thing but spoiled. Her champion is Moryana.”

  “The sword dancer?” Cornalic asked.

  “Yes, Sir Cornalic of the Mind.”

  “Oh dear,” my friend signed.

  “I would not fret. Sir Lennox is quite large, muscular, and his face shows cleverness. I have no doubt Chrysa has picked the correct champion for her crown.

  “Who else is inside?” I asked.

  “The three other families are the Freelans, the Grytars, and of course, the Sanduports. We have asked the King’s widow to dress in the colors of her home country since we have not yet determined who will have the throne. The Freelans are wearing yellow. The Grytars are in gray, and the Sanduports are in dark green.”

  “Can you tell me about their champions?” I asked.

  “Of course! The Freelans have brought one of their knights. A man named Rodin Worred. The Grytars have brought a minotaur named Tia’tor Barta, and the Sanduports have brought Cesnie Kayleic. She is considered to be one of the finest Castles strategists in our land.”

  “Ahhh,” I said as the pieces fell into place. I had not met a minotaur in the game yet, but I had seen one strolling through the streets of Arnicoal. The creature stood nine feet tall, maybe ten including horns, and I wondered if the other families were figuring that Sanduport would win at Castles no matter who they brought, so they decided on a strategy which would let them win at the melee or dungeon exploration challenges.

  How in the hell had Chrysa believed she was going to win by bringing her guard captain as her champion? The other families were obviously spending a lot of money and putting a great deal of thought into this contest. Then again, the young woman admitted to me that she didn’t care about winning. She just wanted to get out of this situation alive.

  “Should I know anything about the girls?” I asked the Herald.

  “I’ve spoken at length with Chrysa about them. They will be her worry, Sir Lennox, but I imagine you will easily determine their weaknesses by observation. I w
ill only warn you about our beloved king’s widow, Queen Yrisi. You will understand why our king engaged her in marriage as soon as you see her, but you will understand why he is no longer with us if you exchange words with her.” The large man leaned toward my ear, and I barely heard his soft whisper.

  “I’m guessing you don’t like her.” I chuckled softy.

  “I do fear for our kingdom, good Sir Lennox. Now, let me walk you fine folk inside and make a grand announcement.” The man gestured for us to follow him, and he walked through the double sets of doors.

  “May I present to you: Chrysa Aitcha Sanduport! Her champion, Sir Leo Lennox! Their entourage of Sir Cornalic of the Mind and Lady Allurie of Cutno!” Sharles spread his arms wide as he spoke and then bowed to the crowd as he gestured to us.

  The grand hall was set with a single large table. A quick count gave me thirty seats in total, so I guessed there were ten people on the council. The hall was much too large for such a small gathering, but the walls were lined with armored guards, and a group of servants stood to the side at the ready. I was actually surprised at how mingled the different family colors were. I half expected this to be similar to a high school dance, with a clear division of cliques, but the gray, yellow, red, green, and gray clothed people were mixed across the hall. There were also people dressed in burgundy robes similar to Sharles, and I guessed them to be members of the kingdom’s council.

  The eyes in the room all turned to us, and I almost waved out of force of habit. It would have been something world champion gamer Leo Lennox would have done, but I wasn’t that person anymore, and this wasn’t real life.

  Chrysa did make a low curtsey gesture, and I followed her movement with a bow toward the finely dressed people. Then the beautiful woman wrapped her arm around mine, and I walked her toward the gathered crowd.

  I felt like we were pieces of meat at a butcher’s auction. The champions were standing on the right side of the room, and they whispered to each other while they watched me. As soon as we joined the main crowd, there was a flurry of conversation around us, and Chrysa introduced me to way too many people, way too fast. As soon as the first wave of names had passed, I excused myself from her arm and walked over to where my medallion wearing competition was standing.