“Raven!”


    After those cry, two of his companion squeezed through O''Brian, Edmund, and Katherine.


    “Bolt! Bolt! We won!”


    “We''ve got it, Raven, hang in there, Lucy will be saved.”


    His companions went with cheers and tears to him as I gave them and started healing this bloodied and semiconscious smiling adventurer.


    “I told you not to lose!”


    She grabbed me by the shoulders her face was crossed as she speared me with angry eyes and clenching teeth.


    “Why did you do that!? Huh? Not only you disobeyed my orders and the officials but you let him use magic! Why would you disobey your own mother!? I want an expla–”


    “Shu–”


    “May! Stop it at once!”


    Serafina held her hand before I could shutout the injustice that has been inside my throat.


    She then told us that Lord Magnus wants me and the adventurer in front of the crowd.


    Serafina then ordered everyone to not follow us, with the exception of the adventurer''s two companions who carried and healed him as he was still in a fatal condition. I offered to support him, despite May and his companion''s denial, Raven Bolt, the adventurer, took my offer.


    Bearing half of his weight on my shoulder we walked and saw Lady Juliana, holding the white rose that nearly caused him his life, under the wings of that towering man of beard and royalty; Lord Magnus greeting us as we arrived.


    Raven was well healed enough to stand on his own and gave a bow as his companions did the same but kept one arm healing him. With that I took one knee on the ground and gave my first and ever bow to royalty.


    “Raise!”


    He said.


    “Why do you badly want this rose?”


    Growled Lord Magnus at the adventurer.


    “It''s for my wife... My lord... The white rose is one of the ingredients for her cure...”


    Raven sputtered with blood.


    “What is his wife''s illness? Perchance, a nun or monk from the church will the best of help.”


    Asked Lady Juliana. Which a moment of silent reply was given.


    “Light blight... My lord.”


    He spoke out almost to a whisper as he lowers his head further to the ground.


    “Always a monster lover, always be and never will be.”


    Lord Magnus said in a tone of what I can call absolute disgust before telling him that he didn''t win.


    “What!?”


    All of our heads shot up, yet his eyes diluted in fear and sweat increasing.


    “You promised yourself chained on one foot, sword in the mouth and, and both hands behind your back! Didn''t you? And what did you did back there?”


    It was such and inquisitive and powerful tone that when I squeaked out my point that I was the one who cut his bindings, shackles, and made him brake his promise.


    “All I wanted was an honorable fight! If anyone is to blame it is me, my lord...”


    My voice, as anyone have surely noticed, was quaking.


    “Son of May Hunt, son of the Captain, at first I thought you were mad for pulling such a stunt, but when I saw that you could fight him toe toe, giving him a lesson of how swords be rightly used, it was the first time I was on the edge of my seat at any tournament! ”


    His tone began to lighten up and lips quirk up to a smile as I stood in defense of the adventurer.


    “If that was a real battle then I wouldn''t doubt you be the winner, but you followed the rules of the duel and that''s why.”


    He then gave a nod at his daughter in which she walked towards me with a smile and gave me the grand ornamental glass in which floating rose of eternal white.


    The prize was reminiscent to last night''s white rose that she gave me under that roaring bonfire.


    “The winner is you, Elfien Hunt.”


    Announced Lady Juliana at us.


    A cry of protest from the adventurer''s side went out but was quickly stamped out by Lord Magnus''s roar.


    “I''ll never forget this!”


    I heard a whisper.


    After that Lord Magnus took me,


    “I see you as a unpredictable boy, much like your father... Although I hope you do not follow in his footstep, ”


    His tone changed drastically as he mentioned my father.


    “Yet overall, come!”


    He rubbed my hair and offered to dine in his table and added an offer for me to become a squire to one of his knightly officer.


    “But father his armor is torn and dirty. C-can I have the honor of changing his attire first? ”


    “Nonesense, these are his battle scars and the proof he will be a good squire that will follow his Lord to danger and if –”


    “This rose is mine right?”


    I quickly asked as Lady Juliana and Lord Magnus as they accompanied me away.


    “Haha! You''ll earn more than that!”


    He said in a booming jolly tone.


    “Good enough then!”


    Quickly I slid pass his large arms and ran back to gloomy adventurer and his companions whom I could hear his sob as he clutched his fist and walk away.


    “Hey! You... Um...”


    I tapped his shoulder and gave me a surprised look.


    “What''s your name? I didn''t hear it when my name got announced.”


    Even though I knew his name, I used this to fire up a conversation.


    “You dare!?”


    “Even when all of this city has cheated us, you still have the audacity to flaunt at us?”


    His companions hissed at me.


    Looks like I didn''t choose the right words.


    “That wasn''t my intention.”


    I tried to explain but they poured their bottled up emotions nonetheless. It was until he stopped them that I got a reply.


    “Raven, just... Raven. I couldn''t recall my real last name, but they call me Raven Bolt nowadays.”


    He said as he tried to wipe away his tears.


    “Ok, Bolt,”


    He nodded and asked why I was here and the royals were returning.


    “Here take it! You won that fight! Now go!”


    I quickly gave it to him as Lady Juliana was running towards us and Lord Magnus walking...


    “I-I...”


    I saw him drop more tears as he grabbed it.


    “I''ll never forget this. Elfien Hunt. I promise.”


    I pushed them away to run for it.


    “Boy! That is not there''s to take!”


    Lord Magnus cried out and ordered the three to stop which they complied.


    “But, I chose them! If the rose is mine then I chose them...


    Y-your Highness... As a gift for a new found friend.”


    I quickly reminded my rage that they''re royalty and I''m shit cleaner in front of them.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    “Are you sure about this? That rose is a status symbol that can elevate you to greatness.”


    Said Lady Juliana.


    “I don''t care. He won... He won one hand hand tied behind his back, then no hands and still won! He disregarded gold, earned the ire of the whole city just to get his wife healed. I was the one that broke them because of my selfishness.”


    I then gave my deepest bow, something that was akin to the anime I watched where the person bowed so deep that their fore hit the dirt, I imitated that bow.


    “If there is one you need to punish, it''s me.”


    I could feel my heart bursting and killing me as I felt that I couldn''t breath from the words that I just said.


    A crunch on the ground is all the reply I got as he turned his back and left with Lady Juliana.


    "Elfien, I''m glad we met you."


    Said Bolt as they began limping away because, Wendy, John, Grayson, Billy, Edmund, Katherine, O''Brian and faces I can''t recognize began surrounding me with cheer and questions. But around among all of them May was nowhere to be found. It was the first time that I was relieved to not see her face. When I asked her whereabout Wendy told me that Serafina and her was having a discussion with her.


    “She''s in good hands but are you alright?”


    She asked as she accompanied me to the tent and began undressing my sliced up everything and to our surprise.


    “There''s no wound?”


    Nor any marks, scratches, or any bruises even from my past fight with the representative.


    They were all gone.


    *****


    A change of pace came when the nobles took up lances and dressed up horses. These were the knights that I''ve seen in documentary and pictures mount up their dressed horses that galloped and charged against another knight until at the middle they would hit their glory or fall from grace.


    These events made Lord Magnus that rebuked my actions earlier now drunk with, wine, distraction and betting much like the crowd also who were much more fired up and merry than last event.


    I wasn''t there to watch knights get thrown off, lances split in to a million pieces, and enjoy the fight. No, I was in the third game that May forced me in. Wendy couldn''t accompany me on this third attempt for a win under my name because of a final transaction she has to attend.


    The riddle competition where it is seems that only ten men and women infused with wisdom, graying hair, countless years, and incomplete set of teeth were our audience under this tent that was large as the circus like tent of the team fight I was in.


    The contestants: Me, a guy with an Afro wearing a robe and holding a staff, a guy with a assassin hood with two swords sheathed behind his back, one with those archetypical glasses guy whom wore a white robe, and a kid like 13 or 14 years old wearing a tuxedo, white gloves, and a phantom mask.


    As we stood in the middle facing a high and wide pedestal where a seat was placed. The guards ordered us to: “Meditate for the goal until Lady Juliana comes.” whatever that means but when the minute pass and still no sign of her I asked them:


    “You guys came here for the white rose?”


    I got some nods and some yes but after that I created an awkward atmosphere for me, or I''m the only one feeling awkward since I know these guys all were resurrected like me and that this feels like to me a highschool quiz bee competition and now that I think about it.


    But, I''m determined to win this fair and square; brains and brawns... I wish Roland is here now, he''s the one who solves Neil''s riddles by the second he said it.


    A trumpet of announcement came that made the guards reposition themselves to face the front as Lady Juliana, now dressed in a blue dress and a red caps entered holding another ornamental glass with the ever coveted white rose cradled between her arms as she waltz by us followed by a number of maidservants who held small bags of what I am sure were coins. As she stepped up high on the pedestal only did the trumpet stop.


    "Gentlemen,"


    She said raising her voice to be not out competed by the sounds of the constant cheering and joust crashes.


    "And audience alike. Many of you here have come to gain riches or glory through either skill at arms, precision of the bow, or courage to ride and get hit by a thundering lance, but all of you who stand here I thank you all for joining this bout of wits, words, knowledge and wisdom to which, with grace of Lord of this land, and my father, I have organized. May the goddess bid your mind well for this riddle.”


    As she seated down a maidservant holding a roll of paper came in front of us and loudly and clearly presented the rules of this competition.


    “ Her lady will tell the riddle twice and twice only. Time is on your side competitors thus think clearly before moving forward and uttering: ‘My lady, I have the answer.’ as you present your answer. But if your answer has is not suitable for the riddle then the contestant shall no longer continue but will compensated as he goes.”


    “Even the rules sounds a mouthful.”


    “I''m going to kill Lilac for putting me here!”


    “I do hope I get this.”


    I could hear their whispers fly around as the maidservant bowed to Lady Juliana who in turn stood up, cleared her throat, and closed her eyes.


    “You shy away from me.


    I am not what you think I am.


    Lanterns I hold,


    Directions I behold,


    Home of reprieve,


    You shall receive.


    I hold the tome of every lore born,


    And here for you forevermore.


    I''ll stand with you,


    Where there before you,


    Lands without end.


    Don''t shy away from me,


    I''m your friend.


    Who Am I?”


    “Are riddles suppose to be this long?”


    “I''m so killing her!”


    “This one is tough nut.”


    “Hm...”


    There was a reason why I couldn''t keep my eyes away from her as she paused for a moment before repeating it again.


    I remember a dream once:


    “Do you get it Elf? Have you at least understood it?”


    She said to the replica of me balancing a wooden sword on my fore around this clear patch of a forest. Around me was an oddly familiar setting; the thick branches and tall trees that have shade. A patch of heaven where she told me not eat those mushrooms under the tree and take care of those wild orange flowers and green herbs around those other tree. There she sat on a white rock where she slapped her face when my replica smiled at her when he stumbled down to earth when the my replica failed to balance his sword.


    Yet, as I walked around them and called upon them, they didn''t seemed to care for my existence, it was just two of them in this small patch of paradise.


    “If I won then can I trade the rose for a loaf Manchet then?”


    My replica asked in absolute excitement brimming in his eyes.


    “Elf... If you were to use that for my hand in marriage then I promise you pies, cakes, and sugary pastries all made by me even if you could just remember...”


    “Death is the answer.”


    It resonated inside my head.


    “My Lady, I have the answer.”


    “My Lady, I have the answer.”


    I looked at the guy with glasses and white robe who spoke out first.


    “The one with a white robe and black hair, please state your answer.”


    Said the maidservant as we looked at each other.


    “Damn, bro, you guys are fast!”


    “Already? After a few seconds?”


    “Why did you put me here?”


    “The answer is Angel of death or Death itself.”


    “What? How?”


    “Nice one bro, it kinda makes sense.”


    As he said those words echoed out and coincided with the cheer of the crowd outside. On what I think was an easy deal for me turned sour because of these guys... Either way, I know he was first and used his own wits to win this...


    “I''m sorry but your answer is not what I seek, but you did well,”


    With a gesture of Lady Juliana''s hand a maidservant went to him and gave a small bag of coins to him. Which surprised me very soundly since that was the very riddle she said to Elfien, did she changed it? No, this was the really the riddle she said but why is he wrong? The answer was correct.


    “That was an acceptable answer, your lady.”


    He ignored the bag of silver.


    “I cannot comment on why it is wrong for it might give out some hint to the other contestant. Please know that it isn''t the answer I''m looking for.”


    “But that''s the only acceptable answer for this! Explain to me why it wasn''t!?”


    What he did next made me back off, as two boulders suddenly got chipped out of the ground and turned into hulking soldiers whose weapons was directed to her.


    “Whoa, whoa, chill, remember the treaty, bro!”


    The Afro took upon his staff and a hair of flame engulfed the whole stuff but didn''t hurt him.


    “Hey, that''s cheating!”


    The kid with tuxedo brought out ten daggers out of thin air.


    “Nope. I''m out.”


    The one with hood teleported away.


    Lastly, the maidservant that was handing out the prize to the glasses and white robe contestant threw that sack of coins at his face and tackled him down with martial prowess. The rock soldiers fell and turned to dust, the other contestant recalled their magic and weapons as guards soon surrounded them with spears and swords as they pulled me away which I struggled to stay in the stage and said:


    “Death! Death is also my answer!”


    I shouted quickly which I could see Lady Juliana furrow her eye brows at me. Same did with the maidservant who clicked her tongue and turned at me with deadly eyes.


    “The commoner also agrees with me,”


    He breathed out as he struggled to raise head from the grip of the maidservant who just pressed her knee on his neck before saying:


    “You are already disqualified when you threatened the lady!”


    “Forgive me for my manners your lady but I have no time to waste! Give me THE rose!”


    He wrestled this out of his mouth with burning willpower in his eyes before getting by kick from one of the guards. Ordered by the maidservant.


    “Lady Juliana please, I know death is the answer not because of the details or using my brain.”


    I met her eyes as her face was now relaxed and looking at me expectantly.


    “It''s because I remember.”