CHAPTER 4: Secrets in the Throne Room
"I'm waiting," the king said, his voice echoing through the vast hall.
"Why do you insist on seeing my face so badly?" Zodac asked, his tone measured, calm.
"To know the Wood Elemental hero, of course," the king replied, mockery lacing his words.
Zodac exhaled, finally removing his hood. A hush fell over the room, murmurs erupting almost instantly.
"What's going on?" Zodac asked, genuinely confused. Why were they making such a fuss over hair? It seemed absurd.
The hooded man who had earlier tried to disgrace him bowed quickly, his face flushed with embarrassment.
"It's rare… to see the Wood Elemental hero with features like yours," he stammered, trembling.
"Rare?" Zodac's mind raced. "Wait… no…" His eyes widened in shock as realization slowly dawned.
"Your Majesty, about the Abyssal Wave," Jin interjected, his voice steady, snapping the king back to the matter at hand.
"Yes… of course," the king said, the entire throne room falling into an expectant silence.
He turned to one of the cloaked figures beside him.
"Give them the full details."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the man said, stepping forward. He raised both hands, palms glowing, and a bright white light projected into the air. A hologram formed, shimmering above the marble floor — a shifting, multicolored dimension painted in pinks, yellows, and blues. From it, creatures poured, grotesque and menacing, tearing through villages, setting fire to towns, slaughtering innocents.
"The Abyssal Wave has claimed hundreds of lives among our people and soldiers," the mage explained as the light slowly dimmed.
"No doubt this is an attack," Aiden said confidently, already assessing the situation.
"As long as we're compensated, I don't really care," Doma added, his casual tone contrasting with the gravity of the scene.
"Thank you, heroes. Now, before you proceed, we will show your status, your strengths, and your powers," the king announced.
"Status? What does he mean?" Zodac thought, confusion creasing his brow as he looked around, seeing nothing.
"Whoa," Rae whispered, eyes wide.
"I don't fucking believe it," Aiden muttered, more excited than ever.
"Just like a video game," Jin said, his grin spreading across his face. Zodac focused, trying to understand what they were all seeing. Suddenly, a faint, glitching interface appeared before him:
ELEMENTAL WOOD LV1
STP: (EMPTY)
SKILLS: ???
AFFINITY: ???
…
"Wow," Zodac thought silently, intrigued despite himself.
"We'll do it!" Doma shouted, pumped and ready.
"Tomorrow at dawn, you shall begin your journey and quest to grow stronger," the mage said, projecting authority.
"Aren't we going together?" Rae asked, uncertainty threading his voice.
"Each of you must walk your own path. You will not be alone — your party members will accompany you," the king replied, voice resonant and regal.
Zodac finally spoke, his voice cutting through the murmurs. "Hold up, Your Majesty," all eyes fell on him. The one who had been silent until now finally spoke.
"Is that all?" His tone was firm, calm, and unsettling.
"Oh! How could I forget? You will know the time and location of the Abyssal Wave. When it manifests, you will be magically transported to the battlefield. Fear not," the king said with a proud flourish. Some in the hall laughed, whispering among themselves, viewing the Wood Elemental hero as timid or weak.
Zodac remained unbothered, his composure unshaken. For some reason, this seemed to irritate the king.
"You're hiding something," Zodac said, eyes fixed on the king, drawing the attention of the other heroes.
"I am the king. I have nothing to hide!" the monarch roared, his pride bristling.
"One thing about weak men: when intimidated, they yell," Zodac thought, recalling the same pattern he had seen in his landowner back home.
"Very well, Your Majesty. Since you claim to hide nothing, tell me…" Zodac paused, letting his words linger, "…how many heroes have come before us?"
Silence.
"Give me a number, Your Majesty," Zodac pressed, voice calm yet commanding.
"Ten… twenty… forty-five," the king muttered, eyes flicking nervously.
"And where are they now?" Zodac asked, his tone colder now, cutting through the room like a blade. Neither the king nor the mage responded. Only silence answered him.
"Dead," Zodac said with a grin, eyes scanning the other heroes' shocked faces. "Just as I suspected."
The truth hung in the air like a blade. Summoned not to triumph, but to perish.
"You hear that, boys? Summoned… just to die. Must feel nice," Zodac said, voice tinged with mockery as he turned toward the exit.
The others hesitated for a heartbeat, uncertain, then followed as Zodac led the way out of the throne room, leaving a stunned silence behind.