The door opened, and Luke jumped when he saw the three maids re-enter the room. He tried to cover himself. "Could you try knocking?" he asked.
The maid who looked like she was in charge knelt beside the tub and started rubbing something that smelled like flowers into his hair. Luke got the chance to look into her eyes and access her stats. Her name was Donna, and she was a Level 30.
"We were instructed to help freshen you up," said Donna, "and we intend on following our orders."
"Darn it," Luke muttered. After seeing what a Level 20 could do to him, he didn't want to mess with a Level 30. He shut his mouth, closed his eyes, and let the maids scrub him. A few minutes later, Luke was clean, dry, and dressed in a tunic with matching black boots. The maids slicked back his hair and even shaved him. He felt sophisticated but in a rather ridiculous way.
Donna adjusted his tunic. "King Liam expects you to look your best," she said. "He's throwing a feast to celebrate your arrival. Half the realm will be there. After all, it's not everyday someone comes to save us from the wrath of the Demon King."
Luke hadn't come to terms with the fact that he was the savior of an entire world. Nevertheless, he was ready for a challenge. He'd been playing the game forever. He knew what to expect. What could go wrong?
The maids led Luke through more corridors, and he was finally able to look at the architecture. The castle looked European from the outside. However, the interior was decorated with designs that reminded Luke of an Aztec temple.
Finally, Luke opened a door and emerged in a cavernous dining hall. It was packed with men, and a few women, all of them finely dressed and impeccably groomed. Servants darted back and forth like bees, carrying empty plates and platters of food and vases full of what smelled like wine. A trumpet sounded, and everyone grew silent.
King Liam stood and raised his glass. "Welcome, Crimson Savior!"
The crowd gave a shout. Frightened and out-of-place, Luke nodded his head.
"Come," said King Liam, "join us at the high table!"
Slowly, Luke made his way to the high table where the king and his two daughters were sitting. There was a seat between Illana and Elora, so Luke took it. King Liam remained standing, and he smiled as Luke took his seat.
"Welcome, honored guests," he said with a booming voice. "All of your efforts and investments have not been wasted. This young man here is filled with magic and power. With his aid, we will have the strength to vanquish the Demon King!"
Luke stared at his empty plate while the crowd cheered again. The reality was beginning to sink in. Questions swirled in his head. Was he even really the Crimson Savior? What if he refused to help these people? What if he wasn't strong enough? More importantly, what happened when his Health Points reached zero?
King Liam kept talking, rambling grandly about the past and future of the kingdom. Elora, however, laid a hand on Luke's arm. "I know this is a lot for you," she said. "You'll be alright."
"And don't forget," chimed in Illana, "you're not alone. We'll help you train and such. Provided you're diligent in your work, you'll get to go home."
Luke smiled at both the princesses, but he still had questions. Hopefully, King Liam would answer them after the banquet. After eating something that tasted almost like turkey and chatting with a few people, he realized how tired he was. He didn't feel like spending the rest of the evening talking with NPCs, so he asked Donna to show him to his room.
Another trip down the Aztec hallways later, and Luke was finally able to collapse into a lush bed, soft as a cloud, and close his eyes.
"Thank you for coming, savior," a man's voice said. Luke jumped, hitting his head on one of the bedposts.
Health Points: 49/50
The man chuckled, and Luke recognized the voice as King Liam's. "Fret not, child. It is I, the king."
"How did you get here before I did?"
"I know this castle better than the maids," said King Liam with a smile, lighting a candle with a flint and steel. "I came to answer your questions and put your mind at ease. You need to sleep well tonight, for you have a long and hard day of training ahead of you."
Luke wasn't surprised by the mention of training. He knew that the only way home—probably—was to beat the game. "I'll start by thanking you for your hospitality. You've treated me very kindly."
"The thanks is mine to give," said King Liam. "We appreciate your coming."
"So that said, why me? Why am I the Crimson Savior? How do I get back to my world? Why can't you guys defeat the Demon King? What happened to all the other kingdoms that tried defeating him? And how do I get strong enough to defeat something that not even your strongest knights could?"
King Liam sat in silence for a moment, processing all of Luke's questions. "Well, we have no control over who is sent to save us. I suppose Destiny had you in mind, my boy. In order to return to your world, you must defeat the Demon King and his generals. I can't defeat him because a few of his generals used to be very close companions of mine and know all my battle tactics. As for the other kingdoms…ah, they've their own problems to worry about. In short, it's your job to kill monsters, gain experience, learn new skills, and level up."
Luke nodded. "That makes sense."
"Any other questions?"
"No, sir."
"Alright, then. I'll see you in the morning."
Finally alone, Luke changed out of his tunic and crawled under the incredibly soft bed sheets. This was crazy, certainly, but he knew he could manage.
Luke had spent months playing this game. He'd defeated all five of the generals already. He knew their strengths and weaknesses. He'd pick them off first, then tackle the Demon King without any of his advisers. He'd need equipment. Good swords, armor, probably a healer. He didn't want the Demon King to have any more advantages than necessary.
This was going to be a walk in the park.
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