Once upon a time, long ago, there was a man named Frank. He was born in Kurtan. His life was stable and good — until Barfoot appeared, who in five years transformed Kurtan from an ordinary kingdom into the most developed kingdom in the world. He changed the kingdom that Frank loved into something completely different. All the people of Kurtan admired this development — except Frank. He hated the internet and mobile phones. He hated video games and movies. He hated the robots that make everything easier. He hated how most people had become lazy because technology made their lives easier. For that reason he made a strong decision. He decided to leave Kurtan, but before that he took a collection of weapons.
Although Frank hated technology, he admired some advanced weapons like blaster pistols, shotguns, bombs of different kinds, and others. So he took a collection of weapons. He took jet boots that let him fly a little. He also took a cowboy hat because it looked great on him.
He left Kurtan and decided to explore the world, to have adventures, and to gather money by various means.
The people of Kurtan possess a kind of ignorance about the world because most of them never leave Kurtan. And even if they do, it is for simple hunting trips and gathering food. This does not apply to Frank. He explored the whole world and found many wonderful things.
But the most wonderful thing he found was a kingdom called Magic Land. This was the kingdom of wizards. There was a magic academy for teaching magic. There were also celebrations and magic shows.
Magic there had many uses: for fighting and self-defense, for tracking, for healing, and more.
One day Frank entered a museum in Magic Land and found a marvelous magic orb that, if he sold it, could earn him millions. So at night Frank sneaked into the museum and stole the orb, but a girl entered and saw his face.
Involuntarily, Frank fired a blaster at the girl and killed her.
Then he left the museum.
Yes, Frank is not a good person morally. Sometimes he kills for his own interests.
Frank also returned to Kurtan from time to time to collect ammunition for his weapons. But one day when he returned to Kurtan he found it under the rule of an evil ruler named Alvarez. Frank was shocked and upset by what he saw.
I mean, it's true that he no longer loved Kurtan because of the changes it had undergone, but it was still his homeland. In any case, he could do nothing, so he collected ammunition and left.
One day, in one of the provinces, Frank saw from a distance Connor and his gang leaving the royal palace. From their clothes, Frank could tell they were from Kurtan and he began to wonder: what are people from Kurtan doing here?
So he decided to follow them and spy on them.
Then he saw Connor complaining that the provinces he visited refused to help him liberate Kurtan.
An idea occurred to Frank. He would guide Connor and his friends to Magic Land because it was the only kingdom certain to win a war against Kurtan. In return he would ask them for a monetary reward and to free his old homeland.
So Frank revealed himself to Connor and his friends and told them he could help them.
And here we'll continue at the end of chapter 14.
When Connor and his companions see Frank they immediately draw their weapons.
Frank is flustered and says, "Hey, hey. There's no need to draw your weapons. I'm not here to hurt you."
Connor: "You carry advanced weapons from Kurtan and all the people of Kurtan are under the rule of the evil Alvarez. That means he sent you to kill us as you did before."
Frank: "Well, that's a logical perspective, but believe me, I do not serve Alvarez. On the contrary, I want to free Kurtan from his grip just like you."
Connor: "Who exactly are you?"
Frank explains his story, which I described above.
Connor: "Magic Land? I've never heard of it."
Frank: "Of course you haven't. You people of Kurtan are very closed off. You think you live in the best place in the world when in reality there are better places."
Kai: "How can we trust that you're not trying to lead us into a trap?"
Frank: "Listen, if I wanted to kill you I would attack you right away. I mean, wiping you out doesn't seem that difficult. You're literally a group made up of a dwarf, a disabled person, a girl, and someone who doesn't know how to plan. You need my help."
Connor: "If there really is a kingdom called Magic Land we'll find it ourselves; we don't need your help."
Frank: "Wooooow, you're really a genius. Come on, let's go waste our time searching for a magical kingdom we don't know the location of and give Alvarez more time to torture the people of Kurtan. Seriously, do you really want to do that?"
Connor thinks about it and asks his companions.
Connor: "What do you think, guys? Do we trust him?"
Kai: "I don't know. This situation is somewhat puzzling."
Samantha: "Maybe... maybe we should listen to him. We have no other choice."
Onen: "I'm with Samantha."
Connor and the others decide to lower their weapons.
Frank: "Good. Since we're in agreement, let's go."
Frank turns his head and suddenly Onen attacks him from behind and hits him with a blow that knocks him unconscious.
Samantha: "Why did you do that?!"
Onen: "I have a plan that will remove all our doubts about this man."
Frank wakes up to find himself tied to Onen's electric lash and his weapons taken away.
Frank: "What is this? What's happening?"
Onen: "You are now tied to an electric lash. You will guide us to Magic Land. But if you lead us into a trap I will shock you until you die. That way we'll make sure you don't pose a danger to us."
Frank becomes angry and says, "You you you... idiot... fine, as you wish. I'll follow your rules."
Frank was tied and mounted on the horse Storm with Onen. Then they set off, following Frank's directions to reach Magic Land.
. . . .
In Magic Land there is a tournament happening. A young man enters the arena with a small magic wand like the ones in Harry Potter, and his opponent is a dark-haired girl.
A duel takes place between the two and the crowd watches and cheers enthusiastically.
The boy launches an attack and the girl returns it with another attack and they collide. But the girl's attack is stronger and she overcomes the boy and wins the tournament.
The girl's name is Arika. Then the ruler of Magic Land (his name is Zivar) comes to elevate Arika's rank and gives her a long magic staff similar to the one Gandalf has from The Lord of the Rings. The long staff makes all magical abilities work stronger and better and is given to the wizard who wins the tournament.
Zivar: "Owning this staff means all your magical powers will be multiplied. You will possess great power. Therefore you must use it wisely."
Arika: "Yes, my lord. I will use it to protect the innocent from any danger."
Then they hold a celebration honoring Arika's victory, and Arika showcases her magical abilities to the people.
The celebration ends and Arika returns home. Then she sees her father sitting at the dinner table with anger and annoyance clearly written on his face.
Arika: "You didn't come to the honor ceremony, as I expected."
Arika's father: "How long will you continue to disobey my orders? I have told you repeatedly to give up magic."
Arika: "And how long will you remain stuck in your rigid thinking? Just because Claes turned evil doesn't mean that magic is a bad thing."
Arika's father: "Claes was the best wizard in this kingdom and yet he turned evil and caused a massacre in which your mother and little sister died. What guarantees me that the same thing won't happen to other wizards? Maybe even you will be drawn to the path of darkness."
Arika: "Do you really not trust me that much?!!! You think I will turn into a monster?"
Arika's father: "I trust you. But I don't trust magic. It's an evil thing and unnatural. Many residents of Magic Land hated magic and left the kingdom because of Claes. We should act like them."
Arika: "I did not leave. If you want to leave, leave by yourself."
Arika's father: "I did not leave without you. You are all that remains of my family."
Arika: "You're wasting your time. I did not leave and I did not stop practicing magic... I'm tired of this argument. Every time I try to spend time with you you reopen it."
Then Arika leaves the house.
Meanwhile, Frank continues his mission of guiding Connor and his companions.
At this time Samantha was staring at Frank's face strangely.
Frank: "Why are you looking at me? I mean, I'm not that handsome."
Samantha: "In your story you told us you were in Kurtan before the development, which means you should be old now, but your appearance doesn't suggest that. You look like a man in his forties or younger."
Frank: "There is a spell in Magic Land that changes the expression of your face and hides the wrinkles. I used it to hide my wrinkles."
Samantha: "Wow. They can do that?"
Frank: "Yes. They can also use their healing abilities to reattach severed limbs."
Samantha: "Only severed ones? So it wouldn't work on Kai? Because he was born that way."
Frank: "Unfortunately I don't think it will work on him."
Kai: "I said earlier that I don't need a second arm."
Frank: "Good. By the way, Connor, how did you pull that sword from the stone? I tried before and it didn't work."
Connor: "None of your business."
Frank: "..."
Frank continues guiding them until they finally reach Magic Land.
Frank: "Can I have my weapons back now and also be freed from this lash?"
Onen frees him and returns his weapons.
Onen: "I apologize for the way we treated you. Alvarez sent several people to kill us; we thought you were one of them."
Frank: "Okay. It's fine. You could have been less harsh. Anyway, welcome to Magic Land."