The New World Chapter 14

As the sun begins to rise over the hills I see the walls and gate of the mine in the distance. I am relieved to see it still standing, part of me expected to see it burning and all inside to have been killed, thankfully that is not the case. I approach the gate and knock loudly.

"Who is it?" A loud voice calls from the other side.

"Leo, your king, open up so I may speak with Din."

The gate immediately begins to creak as it opens allowing me entry. Two imps appear and bow.

"Our apologies lord Leo, we did not know you were coming."

"Well you didn't have lookouts posted so you wouldn't know if anyone was coming, fix that immediately."

"Yes sir!" They bow again and leave.

*Now where is that old man.*

I walk around the mine looking for Din but stop to see how things are coming along. Imps are bringing carts of ore to the blacksmiths and they are shaping them into works of art, spears, shields and armor.

*Hm I should remember to tell Din that we will need to have a ranged option eventually.*

I continue to walk around the mine when I hear a familiar voice doing a familiar thing.

*The old mans chewing someone out*

I walk to the tent where the sound is coming from and I was right the old man is standing there chewing out one of the human soldiers.

"I don't care what your reason was! You never ever attack a fellow worker under any circumstance do you understand me?"

The soldier does nothing but look down in defeat and udders a simply yes sir before Din shoos him to leave. He ducks out and bows to me slightly before going on his merry way, I walk in to the tent and smile.

"I see you've got things handled here."

Din turns around and smiles.

"Leo my boy, welcome."

He walks over to me and gives me a hug.

"On what occasion do you visit us so soon after your departure?"

We both sit down as he pours us some tea.

"Well Din it's a matter of security and curiosity."

He tilts his head

"Alright Leo you have my attention."

"What can you tell me of the elves in the forest near the town we just reclaimed?"

He thinks and takes a sip of tea before setting down the glass.

"Well I've heard that they have a strange monarchy, there is no king or queen there is simply the mother. The mother guards one of this worlds greatest treasures, the world tree. It is the symbol of all life, it serves as a monument to all this world is and will be. The people who live under her rule are all indeed her children, the mother receives a vision of the man who will next be her mate, then her children seek out the man so that he may give the mother a child. This man is supposedly pick by the world tree to give the mother a child who will grow to be a prodigy."

I can feel my eyes going wide and my face staring at him dumbfounded.

"Din, none of what you just told me made any sense at all."

He chuckles and looks at me.

"You asked boy, I didn't make history I just remember it."

"So what you just told me is that theres a woman who guards an ancient tree, and around her are guards who are hand picked from said tree to be the best at what they do?"

He laughs and smiles.

"That is one way of looking at it yes."

I stand and sigh pacing back and forth.

"Leo calm down where's the issue?"

"Wheres the issue? Din these people live within a stones throw of our city. And your telling me that every warrior is chosen before birth to be the absolute best at what they do. Can you imagine if they decided to attack us?"

He sighs.

"Leo, listen theres more, but it will get worse before it gets better."

I sit down and put my head in my hands

"Go on Din…"

"These people are part of the Alliance."

My heart sinks and I almost fall over.

"But wait, they are a part in name only. They joined so the other members would leave them be, they rarely go outside there borders and almost never start a war without a good reason."

I sigh and look up.

"Din that doesn't make me feel much better, at any point in time these people can just decide to destroy everything we've built. This doesn't terrify you?"

He gets up and walks over to me.

"Leo, do you hear yourself? You are worried about these people that in thousands of years have never thrown the first punch in a fight. But yet you confidently took a town that belonged to King Bron of the humans, who would gladly without a second thought send his dog of war Grave to immediately and permanently wipe out our existence."

"So what do I do Din? I feel like I'm being closed in on all sides, how do you expect me one man to go up against these Titans of power alone?”

He sighs and looks me in the eyes.

" I don't expect you to do anything Leo you are our King I've done nothing but guide you on the path that you have chosen. And you are anything but alone, what would you call those men and a woman who have chosen to follow you? Do they truly mean nothing? You have the opportunity Leo to change the course of history, whether or not you take that opportunity it's up to you and you alone. In a matter of days you have conquered two of the alliances locations a feat that has not been done in a hundred years this is no small achievement I assure you, what you've done is given hope to those who had none. If what you've done truly holds no meaning to you remember that it holds meaning to those who follow you if you do not continue down this path for yourself then do it for them. You have done things that cannot be undone whether you continue down this road or not the alliance won't take these losses lightly they will surely come after you and all that helped you, me, Lux, and all the men women and children that you just liberated from the village."

I stand up and sigh deeply.

"I have a lot to think about Din."

"Yes you do, and while your thinking remember this. No man goes through life without doubting what he's doing at least once. You are a good man Leo, I wouldn't be following you if you weren't."

"Thank you Din."

He nods as I leave the tent

*I need to return to the village but it's been 2 days since I ordered the weapons and armor. I mine as well wait here until there completion.*

Just as i think that an Imp walks up to me.

"Leo sir the weapons and armor you ordered is ready."

"Really? I was told it would take another day."

"The third day was accounting for travel my lord but since your here you may have them now."

"Hm, well good job, I will take them to the village myself."

He simply bows and leaves to prep them for transport.

"Leo."

I hear the old man

"Yes Din?"

He hands me a black long sword with a red gemstone in the hilt.

"Take this, you will need it in the days to come."

"Din I can't take this."

"Please it belonged to the last king of the free people, as current king I pass it to you."

"Din, are you saying?"

"Yes Leo, I was the last king of our people. I let them down many years ago and almost brought our race to extinction. Don't make the mistakes I did, trust in yourself and those around you. Go in alone and you will come out alone."

He turns back around without another word and enters the tent again as I mount the sword and scabbard to my back thinking about what was just said before a voice breaks me out of my trance.

"Leo sir two crates carrying the weapons and armor have been set by the gate. Are you sure you don't need help carrying them?"

"Yes, I can handle it, thank you."

I walk away as he bows and i pick up the two crates as the gates open, I take a glance up and see two sentries and smile walking out and back down the path towards the village.