Ar’elith. It was an odd name. A unique name. And it was a name that most people with even a smidge of education would recognize.
He was a Lich King. One that came straight from legend. But he wasn’t just any ordinary Lich King— he was the very First Lich King.
So he was famous, but he wasn’t ubiquitously-known like the [Hero King] Kallistus Kal either. Because most historical figures, even if influential, struggled to garner the same notoriety as those who existed in the present day, especially in a less-civilized society.
While Saros did grow up here in Laxo, he would still call the human continent less-civilized compared to Alius.
Either way, Ar’elith’s legend was well-known. He was the First Lich King— he had threatened to destroy all of Laxo during a time dragons roamed the world aplenty. An SS-ranked threat with an army of powerful undead that were just as dangerous as he was. When he was finally defeated, he couldn’t even be fully killed. He would regenerate, returning from the dead through his powerful magic. So his bones were scattered and locked away all across the continent, a precaution to prevent his revival.
But it was inevitable. He had foretold his return. His disciples across the ages vowed to bring him back. Until finally, Ar’elith the First Lich King lived once more!
And he was immediately killed.
Saros didn’t believe it at first. He couldn’t comprehend it at all. When Amelia told him about it, he thought she was insane. He thought she was a liar.
But he saw her feats. He remembered her shows of overwhelming power. And he believed it.
Amelia had beaten a yeti with only a finger. She had destroyed an army of undead with a single swing of her blade. Apparently, she had even obliterated an immortal minotaur— a monster that could rapidly regenerate from losing its head— in a few short moments.
Honestly, he was pretty sure she was also the one who had defeated most of the Miststorm Riders during their attack on Whiteridge. While he didn’t see her in action that day, he had heard about how the tide of battle was turned in an instant, but no one could really pinpoint the cause. But to anyone who knew Amelia, it was quite obvious to what had happened.
Ever since Saros had met the brown-haired human, he had been repeatedly shocked, jaw left hanging agape, unable to parse her impossible actions. Killing Ar’elith the Lich King was just another feat in the list of things Amelia had done, and knowing that was why the Gnome Inventor had sought her out.
Saros sighed as he held her gaze.
"It’s as I said— Ar’elith the First Lich King is back,” the gnome said in a low voice. No one else seemed to pick up on his words. No one except for the chicken. But it just clucked as he leaned closer. “The First Lich King has—” he started.
And Amelia just spoke over him. “Didn’t I already kill him?”
Saros blinked, and she stared at him flatly.
“I’m pretty sure I already told you this. He came back, and I killed him. He’s pretty weak, after all.” She waved a hand dismissively.
The gnome tried to work his jaw. He saw the way she just relaxed back in her chair. He knew that she had killed Ar’elith, but he had assumed it was a hard-fought battle. The fact that she called him weak was… well, he didn’t know how to respond.
He just took a deep breath, steeling himself “I… yes, you told me that before, Amelia. I know you have already defeated Ar’elith. But I am saying that Ar’elith is back. Again.”
Amelia frowned as he shook his head.
“Wait, seriously?” she asked.
He raised a finger. “Or rather— he isn’t back just yet. But he will be back soon.”
“But how?” The brown-haired woman was actually taken aback for once. She peered suspiciously at the gnome as the chicken— Bucky or whatever— clucked again.
Saros just scowled, glaring at the chicken for uselessly opining. He literally didn’t understand it in the slightest. It was a chicken. Even if it was high-leveled, it couldn’t speak. He glanced past it, turning his attention back to Amelia.
“Look, can we take this conversation somewhere more private?” he asked, barely speaking over the buzzing of the crowd. The restaurant was brimming with customers— if a single person overheard him, it would cause a panic. And he didn’t want that.
But Amelia just shrugged. “I have like… a minute left before my break is over. Just tell me what’s going on already.”
“I—” Saros opened his mouth, then paused. He saw the bored look on her face, before rubbing his temples. “This is important, Amelia. The fate of the world is at stake.”
“Yeah, I know,” she replied simply. And yet, she didn’t seem to treat it with the gravity it deserved. “But I also have to get back to cooking in a minute.”
He pursed his lips. “Can’t you just hear me out?”
“I am hearing you out.” She gestured vaguely at the both of them.
“You’re treating it like it doesn’t even matter!” the gnome sputtered, waving his hands in the air. “I just need your help with—” he continued.
But a voice interrupted him. “What are you doing? I was here first!”
“What?” Saros blinked and glanced back.
He watched as a ragged figure approached with a staff. A [Druid] by the looks of it— an angry one with his arms crossed and a frown on his face. He glared down at the gnome.
And Saros frowned back. “What do you want? We’re busy— get lost!”
“Get lost? Why don’t you get back in line!” the [Druid] scoffed. “Who in the Thrones are you to come here and demand whatever you want?”
“I’m Saros the Gnome Inventor,” the gnome growled back. He glanced around the room, realizing that their argument was attracting the attention of the nearby customers. He had to keep it calm. Prevent any more eyes from turning their way. “And this is an important matter. I’m an A-ranked adventurer.”
The [Druid] shook his head. “Well, I’m Dorien, and I don’t give a fuck about your adventurer bullshit.”
And Saros snapped. “Bullshit? If I don’t get Amelia’s help, a lot of people are going to die!”
“And if I don’t get Amelia’s help, an entire animal species is going to go extinct!”
“Who gives a fuck about some damn animals?”
“I do—”
Their shouts drew a lot of attention. A familiar blonde girl raised her head, and one of the servers paused in the middle of taking an order. All the customers in the restaurant stared at this scene. Only the angel continued doing its job like nothing was happening.
Bucky clucked, tilting its head as Amelia slowly lowered the chicken to the ground. Saros took a step forward as he glared at Dorien.
“I didn’t come all the way to this backwater village just to be turned away because of some [Druid].” The gnome folded his arms.
Dorien rolled his eyes. “Oh, shut it with your self-important bullshit.”
“No, you shut it!” Saros snapped back.
“Both of you, shut it.” Amelia interrupted them. “You’re causing a scene.”
Both Dorien and Saros paused. They blinked, glancing up at the frozen restaurant. The buzzing of the crowd was gone, replaced with an icy cold silence. And the angel just swooped by, uncaring.
“I… apologies,” the [Druid] said, lowering his head. “It seems I have been a poor guest.”
But Saros just grumbled, “It’s not my damn fault everyone keeps interrupting me…”
“To be fair, you can’t just walk into my restaurant and act like you run the place.” Amelia eyed him, before sighing. She pushed herself off the bar stool before glancing back towards the kitchen. “Anyways, I have food to cook. I’ll hear you guys out later. Dorien, I’ll speak with you first. I can help you out later, Saros.”
“What…?” The gnome’s jaw dropped. “You can’t be serious, right?”
Dorien just smiled in response. “Thank you. I truly appreciate this, Amelia.”
“You’re Noele’s friend. And you’re offering me business— it’s the least I can do.” She nodded back.
Saros glanced between the both of them. “This is ridiculous. Do you even know what he needs your help with, Amelia?”
“No idea,” the brown-haired woman replied simply. “I’m sure it’s important for him, though.”
The gnome gritted his teeth. Important? Whatever that [Druid] was yapping about wasn’t important. This was important. Ar’elith the First Lich King was going to return, and all of Vacuos would be plunged into chaos.
So Saros opened his mouth, protesting. “But I told you that Ar’el—”
“I know what you said,” Amelia cut him off. “But I can’t just do favors for literally everyone, Saros. I have a job too now.” She gestured vaguely at the restaurant.
His lips twisted into a thin line. “I…” he started, but he didn’t argue.
“I’m glad you understand,” she said, smiling. “Your problem isn’t a big deal anyways, so don’t worry too much.”
And she drew back.
Not a big deal? It was literally Ar’elith the First Lich King! And it was not just that. It was much worse now that they were involved. Saros wanted to say something— he had to say something. However, he knew that she wouldn’t listen to him. So he could only watch as she vanished into the kitchen. Slowly, the buzzing of the crowd returned.
Dorien strode triumphantly back to his seat. It was ridiculous, but there was nothing the Gnome Inventor could do about it. Bucky clucked, peering at him from the side. He leapt onto the bar as he massaged his temples.
“Oi, you angel-thing!” he called out, and the angel stopped.
My designation is Guardian Angel Z357, it replied with a voice in his head.
Saros didn’t even question it. He was too tired at this point, after all he had been through over the past few weeks. “Yeah, whatever. Just get me some ale.”
Affirmative, Guardian Angel Z357 said and swept past the bar. I will procure this ‘ale’.
The gnome slumped over, leaning his head against the countertop. “I can’t believe I came all the way to Wolfwater to deal with this…”
A moment passed, and the angel returned with his drink. He raised his head as the mug was set onto the table, before he frowned at himself
“...where am I even going to stay, anyway?”
Saros didn’t know the answer to that.
MelasD
Remember the announcement I was talking about?
Soon...
Also, contest results tomorrow!
Start of the month! Best time to patron!
You can read up to 15 chapters ahead on my patreon here!
Join my discord and subscribe to my subreddit!
Or follow me on twitter!
Ar’elith. It was an odd name. A unique name. And it was a name that most people with even a smidge of education would recognize.
He was a Lich King. One that came straight from legend. But he wasn’t just any ordinary Lich King— he was the very First Lich King.
So he was famous, but he wasn’t ubiquitously-known like the [Hero King] Kallistus Kal either. Because most historical figures, even if influential, struggled to garner the same notoriety as those who existed in the present day, especially in a less-civilized society.
While Saros did grow up here in Laxo, he would still call the human continent less-civilized compared to Alius.
Either way, Ar’elith’s legend was well-known. He was the First Lich King— he had threatened to destroy all of Laxo during a time dragons roamed the world aplenty. An SS-ranked threat with an army of powerful undead that were just as dangerous as he was. When he was finally defeated, he couldn’t even be fully killed. He would regenerate, returning from the dead through his powerful magic. So his bones were scattered and locked away all across the continent, a precaution to prevent his revival.
But it was inevitable. He had foretold his return. His disciples across the ages vowed to bring him back. Until finally, Ar’elith the First Lich King lived once more!
And he was immediately killed.
Saros didn’t believe it at first. He couldn’t comprehend it at all. When Amelia told him about it, he thought she was insane. He thought she was a liar.
But he saw her feats. He remembered her shows of overwhelming power. And he believed it.
Amelia had beaten a yeti with only a finger. She had destroyed an army of undead with a single swing of her blade. Apparently, she had even obliterated an immortal minotaur— a monster that could rapidly regenerate from losing its head— in a few short moments.
Honestly, he was pretty sure she was also the one who had defeated most of the Miststorm Riders during their attack on Whiteridge. While he didn’t see her in action that day, he had heard about how the tide of battle was turned in an instant, but no one could really pinpoint the cause. But to anyone who knew Amelia, it was quite obvious to what had happened.
Ever since Saros had met the brown-haired human, he had been repeatedly shocked, jaw left hanging agape, unable to parse her impossible actions. Killing Ar’elith the Lich King was just another feat in the list of things Amelia had done, and knowing that was why the Gnome Inventor had sought her out.
Saros sighed as he held her gaze.
"It’s as I said— Ar’elith the First Lich King is back,” the gnome said in a low voice. No one else seemed to pick up on his words. No one except for the chicken. But it just clucked as he leaned closer. “The First Lich King has—” he started.
And Amelia just spoke over him. “Didn’t I already kill him?”
Saros blinked, and she stared at him flatly.
“I’m pretty sure I already told you this. He came back, and I killed him. He’s pretty weak, after all.” She waved a hand dismissively.
The gnome tried to work his jaw. He saw the way she just relaxed back in her chair. He knew that she had killed Ar’elith, but he had assumed it was a hard-fought battle. The fact that she called him weak was… well, he didn’t know how to respond.
He just took a deep breath, steeling himself “I… yes, you told me that before, Amelia. I know you have already defeated Ar’elith. But I am saying that Ar’elith is back. Again.”
Amelia frowned as he shook his head.
“Wait, seriously?” she asked.
He raised a finger. “Or rather— he isn’t back just yet. But he will be back soon.”
“But how?” The brown-haired woman was actually taken aback for once. She peered suspiciously at the gnome as the chicken— Bucky or whatever— clucked again.
Saros just scowled, glaring at the chicken for uselessly opining. He literally didn’t understand it in the slightest. It was a chicken. Even if it was high-leveled, it couldn’t speak. He glanced past it, turning his attention back to Amelia.
“Look, can we take this conversation somewhere more private?” he asked, barely speaking over the buzzing of the crowd. The restaurant was brimming with customers— if a single person overheard him, it would cause a panic. And he didn’t want that.
But Amelia just shrugged. “I have like… a minute left before my break is over. Just tell me what’s going on already.”
“I—” Saros opened his mouth, then paused. He saw the bored look on her face, before rubbing his temples. “This is important, Amelia. The fate of the world is at stake.”
“Yeah, I know,” she replied simply. And yet, she didn’t seem to treat it with the gravity it deserved. “But I also have to get back to cooking in a minute.”
He pursed his lips. “Can’t you just hear me out?”
“I am hearing you out.” She gestured vaguely at the both of them.
“You’re treating it like it doesn’t even matter!” the gnome sputtered, waving his hands in the air. “I just need your help with—” he continued.
But a voice interrupted him. “What are you doing? I was here first!”
“What?” Saros blinked and glanced back.
He watched as a ragged figure approached with a staff. A [Druid] by the looks of it— an angry one with his arms crossed and a frown on his face. He glared down at the gnome.
And Saros frowned back. “What do you want? We’re busy— get lost!”
“Get lost? Why don’t you get back in line!” the [Druid] scoffed. “Who in the Thrones are you to come here and demand whatever you want?”
“I’m Saros the Gnome Inventor,” the gnome growled back. He glanced around the room, realizing that their argument was attracting the attention of the nearby customers. He had to keep it calm. Prevent any more eyes from turning their way. “And this is an important matter. I’m an A-ranked adventurer.”
The [Druid] shook his head. “Well, I’m Dorien, and I don’t give a fuck about your adventurer bullshit.”
And Saros snapped. “Bullshit? If I don’t get Amelia’s help, a lot of people are going to die!”
“And if I don’t get Amelia’s help, an entire animal species is going to go extinct!”
“Who gives a fuck about some damn animals?”
“I do—”
Their shouts drew a lot of attention. A familiar blonde girl raised her head, and one of the servers paused in the middle of taking an order. All the customers in the restaurant stared at this scene. Only the angel continued doing its job like nothing was happening.
Bucky clucked, tilting its head as Amelia slowly lowered the chicken to the ground. Saros took a step forward as he glared at Dorien.
“I didn’t come all the way to this backwater village just to be turned away because of some [Druid].” The gnome folded his arms.
Dorien rolled his eyes. “Oh, shut it with your self-important bullshit.”
“No, you shut it!” Saros snapped back.
“Both of you, shut it.” Amelia interrupted them. “You’re causing a scene.”
Both Dorien and Saros paused. They blinked, glancing up at the frozen restaurant. The buzzing of the crowd was gone, replaced with an icy cold silence. And the angel just swooped by, uncaring.
“I… apologies,” the [Druid] said, lowering his head. “It seems I have been a poor guest.”
But Saros just grumbled, “It’s not my damn fault everyone keeps interrupting me…”
“To be fair, you can’t just walk into my restaurant and act like you run the place.” Amelia eyed him, before sighing. She pushed herself off the bar stool before glancing back towards the kitchen. “Anyways, I have food to cook. I’ll hear you guys out later. Dorien, I’ll speak with you first. I can help you out later, Saros.”
“What…?” The gnome’s jaw dropped. “You can’t be serious, right?”
Dorien just smiled in response. “Thank you. I truly appreciate this, Amelia.”
“You’re Noele’s friend. And you’re offering me business— it’s the least I can do.” She nodded back.
Saros glanced between the both of them. “This is ridiculous. Do you even know what he needs your help with, Amelia?”
“No idea,” the brown-haired woman replied simply. “I’m sure it’s important for him, though.”
The gnome gritted his teeth. Important? Whatever that [Druid] was yapping about wasn’t important. This was important. Ar’elith the First Lich King was going to return, and all of Vacuos would be plunged into chaos.
So Saros opened his mouth, protesting. “But I told you that Ar’el—”
“I know what you said,” Amelia cut him off. “But I can’t just do favors for literally everyone, Saros. I have a job too now.” She gestured vaguely at the restaurant.
His lips twisted into a thin line. “I…” he started, but he didn’t argue.
“I’m glad you understand,” she said, smiling. “Your problem isn’t a big deal anyways, so don’t worry too much.”
And she drew back.
Not a big deal? It was literally Ar’elith the First Lich King! And it was not just that. It was much worse now that they were involved. Saros wanted to say something— he had to say something. However, he knew that she wouldn’t listen to him. So he could only watch as she vanished into the kitchen. Slowly, the buzzing of the crowd returned.
Dorien strode triumphantly back to his seat. It was ridiculous, but there was nothing the Gnome Inventor could do about it. Bucky clucked, peering at him from the side. He leapt onto the bar as he massaged his temples.
“Oi, you angel-thing!” he called out, and the angel stopped.
My designation is Guardian Angel Z357, it replied with a voice in his head.
Saros didn’t even question it. He was too tired at this point, after all he had been through over the past few weeks. “Yeah, whatever. Just get me some ale.”
Affirmative, Guardian Angel Z357 said and swept past the bar. I will procure this ‘ale’.
The gnome slumped over, leaning his head against the countertop. “I can’t believe I came all the way to Wolfwater to deal with this…”
A moment passed, and the angel returned with his drink. He raised his head as the mug was set onto the table, before he frowned at himself
“...where am I even going to stay, anyway?”
Saros didn’t know the answer to that.
MelasD
Remember the announcement I was talking about?
Soon...
Also, contest results tomorrow!
Start of the month! Best time to patron!
You can read up to 15 chapters ahead on my patreon here!
Join my discord and subscribe to my subreddit!
Or follow me on twitter!
