Chapter 46
Ben and Eve approached the platform that held the children. There were dozens. Innocent eyes looked up cautiously at the approaching adults.
The children huddled together warily. One girl spoke tentatively.
“You’re not one of the green men,” she said.
Ben kept a cautious distance and smiled warmly.
“You’re right. The green men are all gone,” Ben said.
“Really?”
The girl spoke hopefully. An older boy stepped forward in front of the girl. He was dressed in the same rags as the rest. He crossed his arms.
“Prove it,” the boy said.
Ben and Eve exchanged knowing glances. They stepped to the side. Ben gestured towards the room.
“See for yourself.”
The boy hesitated and looked back at the other children. They all looked at him for guidance. He steeled himself and was the first to step off the platform, holding the hand of the girl.
All the children followed and looked at the room in awe.
Kaun lay dead. The four orc generals were fading away into dust.
A tear in reality caused the children to release surprised shrieks. A portal appeared in the center of the room. On the other side, the adults stepped out of their cages. They all had disbelieving looks on their faces.
“Mom!”
The girl sprinted through the portal without hesitation.
“Emily!”
A woman dropped to her knees and embraced the little girl. A similar scene played out dozens of times as parents reunited with their children.
Ben and Eve watched from the other side of the portal.
The woman who had thrown mud earlier approached with awe.
“You…you really did it,” she said.
“Only by the grace of God,” Ben said.
The woman paused.
“You are one of the missionaries from the Northern Kingdom?”
Ben shook his head.
“No, but the servants of Christ come in all forms.”
The woman hugged her daughter closer as tears streamed down her face.
“Thank you.”
“All glory to God,” Ben said.
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The crowd of survivors looked at Ben with wonder. Out of the crowd stepped the middle aged man from before.
“I have a shop in Eirenwood. Please come visit when you have the time. I promise you won’t be disappointed,” he said.
Ben recognized Eirenwood as the name of the starter town.
Ben nodded.
“We will. I assume you know a safe way back on your own?” Ben asked.
The man raised a brow.
“How did you know?”
Ben and Eve exchanged brief, amused glances.
“Just a hunch,” Ben said.
The man nodded and turned away.
“The name’s David. David, owner of David’s Stable. Original, I know. See you both soon.”
With that, David led the villagers away. Ben noticed many of the villagers looking back. He waved, and they waved back, faces filled with gratitude and hope.
“That was nice,” Eve typed.
Ben smiled.
“Yeah.”
Ben turned away from the portal and led Eve back into the room. He initially headed towards the corpse of the boss, but a surprising sight stopped him.
Three of the four bosses had faded away into dust. One remained. The White Fang Chief.
He sat in the same lotus position as when Ben first encountered him. His visage was still undead. Dust particles slowly faded away from him, but he remained.
“Great warrior, I have but mere moments. Will you grant this old orc a last word?”
Ben approached hurriedly.
“Of course, friend. You… what is happening?”
The orc looked at Ben with a tranquil expression.
“The price every chief pays. Service, even after death. Now that you have defeated the master, I am free to move on and fulfill a chief’s duty.”
Ben frowned in confusion.
“A chief’s duty?”
The chief raised his hand. The chief’s katana was enshrouded with a faint purple aura within the hands of the Cherub Master Swordsman that currently wielded it.
“My soul. It is a tradition passed down from chief to chief for generations. Upon accepting the title of chief, we bind our spirit to our sacred weapon, enhancing its power. Upon death, we remain bound to it.”
Eve covered her mouth in horror. The chief frowned.
“Do not look at me in pity. This is a great honor. I will join my ancestors in their ever vigilant watch. I will share in the glory and honor of battle of the worthy that wield the sword going forward. This way, I can still protect my people, bring honor to my people, even in death.”
A long silence fell over them while Ben contemplated the gravity of what the chief had revealed.
Ben looked at the sword.
“So you still hear? You still speak, through the sword? It’s a spirit weapon?”
The chief nodded.
“Yes. So my wish is that you reconsider allowing it to be wielded by that creature. It deserves a proper, worthy master.”
Ben understood. The cherub flew over and handed the sword to Ben. Ben took it and examined it thoughtfully. The chief smiled in satisfaction and closed his eyes. Ben could see the dust fading from him at a rapid rate.
“Wait, there is something I have to say,” Ben said.
The chief looked at Ben curiously. The dust visibly slowed. Ben continued.
“I understand your tradition, I understand wanting to continue to protect your people, and bring honor to your people even after you pass. What if I told you there was something greater, something better for you and your people.”
The chief frowned.
“Something greater than keeping my people safe and thriving.”
Ben looked at the chief without falter.
“Christ. Eternity in Christ is the greatest form of protection and hope you could ever offer your people.”
The chief had to hold back a sneer.
“We do not believe in your gods.”
Ben nodded.
“All I am asking is that you watch. See what the servants of Christ can do. Open your eyes to the glory that will unfold.”
The chief considered Ben’s words.
“Out of respect for your strength, I will watch.”
Ben smiled.
“That’s all I ask.”
The chief faded away without ceremony. Ben saw an ethereal essence flow into the sword. Even after the transition finished, he did not hear a voice. He received a notification.
[Mage’s Bite is dormant until bound. Would you like to initiate the bond?]
Ben let the sword dissolve into his inventory, which declined the invitation.
“Do you think he can hear us?” Eve typed.
Ben’s eyes wondered.
“If he can, he won’t be able to tell us until someone binds with the sword.”
“Oh.”
Ben continued.
“Regardless, there will be plenty of glory for him to witness. Then hopefully we win the souls of not only him, but all his ancestors who he can testify toward. They aren’t truly dead. They are just stalled. I believe they still have time to be saved.”
Eve looked at Ben in awe.
“He has thought that far ahead?”
Ben turned away and looked across the room. Eve followed his gaze.
Their eyes settled on the boss that still lay unlooted.
