Chương 3: An Explanation

After absorbing the information on screen, I notice there are indents on all of the information in the window, like I could press my finger right on them. I decided to wait before pressing them, so that I could repeat what I've seen as I had been asked to do.

"It says my name and says my job is "Paladin"." I say the words, even though confusion still swirls around in my mind.

"That is fantastic news for us!" The Queen, Aqua had spoken with a sense of relief at the information. The King, Warrick looking on with a warm gaze in his eyes, seemed happy at Aqua's reaction, the couple were both clearly full of positive emotions now. Warrick looked back at me after looking at his wife and he began to speak to me in a tone that seemed to be trying to hide the same kind of excitement as his wife.

"What are your skills John Ericsson?" I squint my eyes to focus on the information, so I can relay it as quickly and concisely as possible." Holy Magic, Paladin's Recovery and Holy Swordsmanship are my Job Skills. For my Regular Skills, I guess they would be? I possess Holy Heal, Holy Mana Sword, White Slash, Cross Slash, Shield Bash, Barrier, Language Comprehension and Stamina and Mana Recovery +150%." Looking at the reactions of the King and Queen, I noticed a change in their expressions when I said Holy Heal.

I think I have an inkling on why I was summoned now. The King and Queen looking quite energetic after my answer. The Queen had been smiling since I announced that I was a Paladin, but even Warrick was smiling now. And to add to that feeling of joy, Warrick and Aqua both began to hold each other's hands in joy and... If I had to guess, that emotion was relief on their faces. After taking a deep breath, the King began to speak again, in an even warmer tone then before."

Yes, all the risks and sacrifices were worth it! John The Paladin, the reason why I summoned you is because I need your help. Around 6 months ago, My Daughter Sarah had become stricken with illness. We thought it was just a common illness, perhaps from too much training? She had seemed to have fallen a bit under the weather for a few days. We brought our best healers, our best alchemists, but no one could help her.

And during those days trying to find what was wrong and how to fix it, she continued to weaken in front of our eyes. We were powerless to do anything to help her, but we couldn't stop trying of course. No matter what we tried though, nothing worked. No amount of Healers, no Alchemy, no Natural Medicine, nothing worked. Then it happened... 3 months ago..." The King seemed to grimace as the memory came back to him. The Queen didn't seem to fare any better.

it looks like they were dealing with all of those emotions again as it all came back to them with the telling. I simply waited for him to regain his composure to continue the explanation. There's not much an 18 year old can say to a couple speaking about their children's health after all..." She... 3 months ago, she drifted off into a deep sleep, all the while growing ever weaker. To see your daughter, who was so full of life everyday, changing to the point where even her own parents couldn't recognize her...

Well... I don't think I could wish that on my own worst enemies." The couple in front of me didn't seem to be holding up. I could see that they were now squeezing each other's hands, like they were trying to fight off the pain from within. Eventually, the King continued on.

"It was at that time that we decided to gather as much information as we could for this strange illness that no Healer or Alchemist had heard of. So we used an Appraisal Orb and we found out to our shock, that our daughter had been cursed, it's quite the vicious and High Level one as well. Slowly sapping the energy out of the person until they're forced to simply wither away in their sleep until death takes them. I... No, we couldn't allow Our Eldest Daughter to suffer such a fate. Her...

Her 21st birthday had only passed a few days before her sleep even began... She was hopeful about Graduating from the Academy after her sickness passed..." Again, they look absolutely heartbroken... I... I recognize the look... I've been there... Again, I waited, I know how painful it can be to continue talking about losing a Loved One.. The King, with great difficultly, continued to speak to me."

To heal a person completely of a curse of such quality, It requires them to be more than just a simple Healer or Alchemist making a simple concoction to heal her. She... My Daughter, Sarah, requires a Holy Heal spell. A Spell which only a Paladin or a Saint Lord has the capacity to learn and use. Unfortunately for us Demonkin, Paladins and Saint Lords are Exclusive Jobs for Humans. And Our People... We have a somewhat tense relationship with them and their country... To the say the least about it..."

The King took another deep breath and then looked at me in the eyes as he continues to speak." However, we don't have that same tension and history with Otherworlders. So a plan was hatched. To summon an Otherworlder Paladin to us, so we can heal Sarah and bring the criminal to Justice!" Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work! The King, looked truly alive for the first time since I arrived. No doubt from the idea of punishing the culprit of this crime.

He wanted to walk towards me, so he was helped in front of me, by walking with his Queen by his side, she did her best assisting him. I was taken for a moment by their stature, I had to bend my neck fully up to look at them as they approached me. I had to climb stairs to get in front of them, but now, with them so close to me, I could really tell they a different kind of beings from me. Though, that thought quickly left my mind from what happened next.

As they arrived in front of me, I heard gasps from all around us, they were from the guards and maids in the room. The reason why was The King and Queen, when they got in front of me, they bowed to me on their hands and knees. After a moment, they both spoke in unison with as much strength as they could muster.

"Paladin John Ericsson! Please heal Our Daughter! We beg of you!" I looked on surprised as I'm sure anyone would with this situation happening to them. I looked at the two of them, this couple burdened with tragedy... I was ashamed in a way for my previous thoughts. Sure, they might not be Human, but right here, now, what they're doing and why... It's one of the most Human things I could think of. They want to save their child, who wouldn't do that?

And right at that moment, in their figures as they were bent on their hands and knees on the floor, I saw 4 people in the couple's figures, My Parents and My Foster Parents. I knew what their response would be, and I'd be putting them to shame if I didn't respond the same way. It'd be like admitting that I was raised wrong by them all. I couldn't live with myself if that was the case.

So, I got down on one knee and I put one hand on each of their shoulders to have them lift their heads as I answered their request to me." Raise your heads, please... I'll do what you've asked me to do, we can sort out what we'll need to do after all this... when your daughter is well again and you can hear her voice again." I give as warm a smile as I can as I speak. The reason being that I can see the eyes of My Parents and Foster Parents in the wet eyes of the King and Queen in front of me.

After my answer, I could feel the tension in the room dissipate, almost as if a giant exhale had escaped from everyone. Maybe even me? After my answer all I could hear was the couple slow their breathing as they hugged each other in joy. Then the guard's and maid's demeanors shifted to softer attitudes towards me. It was all in their eyes. What was looks of discernments, now looked like reassurance. Suddenly, a question had popped up in my head, so I asked it unreservedly.

For some reason, I feel a bit closer to The King and Queen now.

"So, how do I help her exactly? I don't know how to use the Skills I have, so can you explain to me how to do it?" The King and Queen look at each other and I see a smile form on both their faces, then they turned their smiles at me. They stood up and now I got a beat on just how tall they are. The King must be 7 ft 5", or something close... And the Queen must be 6 ft 8". The King's eyes were the color of deep crimson red, like fresh blood, his hair was white, pure whiten like fresh snow and long at that.

It looked like it went all the way down to the beginnings of his lower back. The Queen's eyes on the other hand, the color of the deep sea like her dark blue long hair, wearing clothes that while showing they are highborn are still easy to move in. The colors of the clothes complimenting each's hair and eye color respectively. For some reason, the lighter red of the King's garb seemed to match the Queen's dark blue dress...

Speaking of, The Queen began to answer my question, in a tone of a Wise Sage with a hint of excitement escaping through her words. Not just that, but a separate happiness began to emerge from her entire demeanor." To begin, the Skill that we would like you to use, is your Holy Heal Spell. It's one of the Strongest Healing Spells in all of Creation, capable of healing external and internal wounds as well as Status Ailments such as Poison or in this case, highly dangerous Curses!"

Losing the mystique of a Wise Sage quite quickly, she now seems like a teacher talking about her favorite subject to me. She continues the explanation... Despite my changing of opinions about her demeanor...

"Now to use Holy Heal or any Skill relating to Magical Phenomena, you need to feel and perceive Mana! There are two ways to initially feel and Unlock your Mana! Either focus your mind for a few years through deep meditation to perceive it, or we can force the sense awake through a quick but somewhat painful jolt of Mana to stimulate your body's Mana Sense! This choice is up to you.

With my expertise in Magic, I can continue to keep my daughter alive for a few years so it's entirely up to you and what you feel comfortable doing." She finished her answer showing a concerned look but whether that look was for me or her daughter, I couldn't really tell, either way. It truly didn't matter since I already knew my answer. So there's no reason to hide it.

"Usually, I'd want to obtain anything I would gain through honest work, but since a life hangs in the balance, I'll take the jolt." I answered with my full resolve behind the words. But strangely, the King and Queen looked at me with concern. It seems they were concerned for me in all sincerity as well... I think? Regardless of that, I'm glad they seem to be worried, but I don't get why? The King, with a quizzical look on his face, quickly speaks to me.

"John, I appreciate your decisiveness but are you sure? The jolt is going to feel like lightning shooting through your body. Are you really sure you want to do this?" I look at the King and Queen with a warm gaze as they look concerned and speak my true thoughts on the matter.

"You know, I may not be from here, this world, but I can tell what ever Spell you used, it cost you a great deal and there wasn't just a small chance you'd only tire yourself out if I had to guess. This was a big gamble you played, and it paid off. I'm here now because of it and I've decided to help. I want to do this the quickest, most efficient way possible to have you both hear your daughter's voice again.

I know what it's like to not have the option to speak to Family ever again and I don't want it to happen to anyone if I can help it!" I spoke in a way to tell them there was no changing my mind. They looked touched by it, I'm glad. I waited in anticipation for The Queen to tell me what the next step is.