A lone figure was seen walking up from his slumber, feeling sluggish and tired- he looked around to find himself in a wide luxurious hall. The great cavernous chamber, stretching upward to a lofty vaulted ceiling adorned with intricate, hand-carved stone beams with intricate wooded pieces, painted in rich hues of gold, deep red, and forest green. The light from torches and chandeliers dance off these beams, casting a warm and inviting glow throughout the space.
The walls itself adorned with tapestries, paintings, and intricate woodwork, displaying scenes of bravery, chivalry, and moments of historical significance. Enormous banners of the castle's coat of arms- a bear standing on its legs with wreaths of ivy above it, allowed Ash to find himself in the Anatolia Castle; of course he wouldn't have to guess, in front of him was the King himself.
A raised dais is reserved for the castle's lord and honored guests. Here, an intricately carved, high-backed throne sits under a canopy of rich fabric, exuding an air of authority and reverence. Surrounding the dais, benches and seating offer places for the courtiers, knights, and other important figures to gather. This is where Ash was currently seated, along with armed guards pointing their swords and spears at him.
'Such a rude awakening, man why can't I catch a break.'
The King himself observed Ash, an older gentleman- sporting a thick brown beard with spots of grey. He wore a simple crown, a band around his head made of silver. His grey eyes matched with the crown, giving him a regal aura; dominating and all powerful. One would think that a king would gorge himself in riches and exotic foods, however his appearance had presented the opposite. The man in front of him was a ruthless hunter... and right now, his sights were set on Ash.
"What were you doing out by the Silent sea?" The voice of the king was small. Too small. The King wasn't too far away from him, yet Ash was having a hard time trying to understand what was being said, but in that moment, the King's voice repeated the same thing... but louder, only by a little bit. But it was repeated again and again.
His voice being louder and louder. Like an echo. The volume getting louder. Too loud. Ash was getting uncomfortable now, he looked at the King to realize that he never spoke. He only had asked the question once.
'He's testing me' Ash narrowed his eyes. The king had used some spell, either physically allowing his voice to echo and amplify... or, the more sinister method. The King had used a spell to directly affect his mind. A rather torturous method; the sound getting louder and louder- repeating the same question till either his ears bleed out. Or his mind broke. Ash could always just answer the question.
He wasn't in the mood to do so.
Ash sat there in silence, watching... reading. The King was amused by the silent approach of the stranger who happened to meet his children in the private a secure area in by the Silent sea. Usually all lines of questioning would be done by the Royal police, but the King himself wanted to know, a subtle ting of anger permeated in the air whenever he thought about how he had allowed his children to go to the Silent sea with minimal supervision.
The King was taken out of his thoughts when the stranger had opened his mouth.
"Ash"
What came after was the same echo of increasing volume, coming in waves- the guards were taken aback by the sheer force the sound that was coming in waves. Some clutching their heads, whilst other collapsed on the ground seizing. The King himself grabbed his head in pain. Unable to take it anymore, he imbued mana into one of his rings, a dome of translucent energy enveloped the hall. All the residual mana disappeared, funneling itself into the ring to fuel the dome of silence. The guards eased up, the pain across their faces, now showed a sign of relief.
The stranger had looked at this scene with indifferent eyes, making the king's even more furious. The stranger had somehow mimicked his personal spell, and amplified it to a higher degree...the king wore a blank face.
"Mimic...Ash. The Countryside Hero ?" The king released the dome after realizing, no sound could be heard. Ash rolled his eyes.
'Countryside Hero, that's never going to go away.' Signing internally, Ash gave a nod.
The king eyed the stranger who claimed himself to be the Hero, not entirely convinced, he called for the guards to take the stranger away to the cells. Once the stranger disappeared from his sight, the King noticed his right hand trembling; gripping it tight, he had come to understand how terrifying the power he left from his modified spell. Without a second thought, he raised his right hand- the chandelier started shaking, a crystal gem came flying before landing in the hand of the king.
"What'd you think?"
"Draymond, he certainly is powerful-but I have to tell you, Ash has long been considered dead- by his kingdom and his party. We have no other form of verification other than calling the Federation of Sanc into the fold."
"They'll have to come in person, god knows I don't want that wretched man to even enter my compounds."
The person on the other end of the gem chuckled. "Draymond, not to alarm you, but there is something I have to mention... the way the stranger had used your own spell only ties with one person, if he is the Hero, then it wouldn't be a problem..."
King Draymond frowned. He felt a sense of unease, not much could disturb his close friend. The person on the other end being Dorset, head of the Royal police and investigation division.
"You're not filling me with confidence here Dorset."
"Thing is Draymond, I'm not sure how he did it...I didn't feel any mana fluctuations from his modification. None."
Silence filled the room. Neither one wanted to respond.