A unfamiliar sensation washed over Myaki, comfort, relaxation, happiness. It felt as if he was bathing in the suns warm radiant light.
But this only triggered Myaki's instincts into overdrive.
Every form of movement hurt like fresh knives digging into he skin only to find himself in a bedroom alone.
Even with only a casual glance Myaki knew he was in a noble's home but as for their reason it was unclear.
"What? Where am I?" Myaki said aloud while he tried to remember but was stopped when he heard the door handle rattling.
Someone was coming or rather multiple people as Myaki could feel each presence beyond the doorway.
In seconds Myaki went back to his original spot and pretended to be sleeping to wait and listen. He had no idea where he was or who's bed he was sleeping in and chose to play along to get more information.
"Your Highness the boy is still unresponsive! Please let the healers continue their work." One of the voiced pleaded.
"I know the risks Grand Healer but that boy not only saved my life but saved my knights as well. Report back to my father at once!" Yelled the girl whom Myaki started to remember as the one he saved involuntary.
But something didn't seem right in Myaki's mind.
'Did that so called Healer just call her 'Your Highness'? I need to think of a way out and fast!'
Getting involved with a noble was one thing but a princess? That was something else entirety.
But Myaki was patient as he sensed only two presences left in the room besides himself.
"Kentola, have you found out anything about the boy? He's capable of killing a 7th Star Wyrm with a single attack. But he is not an adventurer. Is he perhaps a noble?" Asked Aria as she and Kentola approached Myaki's bed.
A 7th Star beast of any kind wasn't just an ordinary enemy. And to kill such a thing in a single attack meant his power was likely that of either an A-Rank adventurer or S-Rank.
But if such a skilled warrior were such an adventurer then they would carry a Gold or platinum plated adventurers badge.
An item Myaki did not have at all. Which naturally led Kentola to see if he was secretly a noble.
"No lady Aria, I have checked our records of all the noble houses in Tuonku. But nothing points to the body being a noble." Kentola said which the most puzzled look.
Aria knew Kentola for years and naturally recognized that look on her face.
"Speak you mind Kentola, what troubles you." Aria said with dignity befitting of a princess.
"After receiving the full report from the Arch Healer I looked myself. The boy is clearly malnourished, dehydrated and has cuts and burns over 70% of his body. I believe the boy is perhaps a runaway slave." Kentola said.
"But slavery has been abolished for the past 100 years! None of the nobles would dare question the royal family's decision." Aria said with both remorse and fury believing Myaki was a slave.
By the evidence alone anyone would assume Myaki was a slave given all the scars, burns and bruises he had. But neither Aria or Kentola would believe Myaki if he told them who truly did it to him.
"If he is a run away slave then he could possibly remember something about his captors. We could use his help and strength to possibly uncover a large organization of slave traders." Kentola said.
Myaki's hand twitched while his emotions exploded.
'Use? USE!? NEVER AGAIN WILL I BE A TOOL!' Myaki acted as his eyes shot open which greatly shocked Aria and Kentola.
"Lady Aria back away!" Kentola yelled.
However it was to late for Kentola to draw her sword as Myaki restrained her arms and put his arm around her neck.
"Kentola!" Aria yelled only for Myaki to tighten his grip.
"DON'T MOVE OR I'LL SNAP HER NECK LIKE A TWIG!" Myaki yelled which naturally drew in the attention of the two guards outside.
"My lady are you alright?!"
"Princess!"
Aria quickly raised her hand to order them to stop while Kentola was still bound in Myaki's grip.
'This boy has me in the perfect position to snap my neck if I try to move. Is he secretly an assassin sent to kill the princess?! And how is he overwhelming me in strength with such a small body?!' Kentola thought as she was still trying to see Myaki's true goal but was more concerned with the princess.
"I am Princess Aria Salazan, Daughter of King Hector Salazan. May I know your name my savior? I mean no ill will to you and have brought you to my mansion to treat you for saving me." Aria said while bending the knee.
Myaki however only tightened his grasp over Kentola while gritting his teeth.
"Even the princess is rotten to the core. Abducting subjects to interrogate and force into servitude to hunt others just as rotten. WHERE IS ALL THE GOOD IN THE WORLD!?" Myaki yelled as he didn't trust the words of nobles one bit and royalty even less.
"N-N-No my savior you have it all wrong! We have been trying for the past few days to learn who you are to properly reward you for saving my life!" Aria protested as she and Kentola immediately realized that Myaki heard their entire conversation Just moments ago.
"Lies! Since the day I was cast out of my home I learned the only truth of this world! Trust no one and you will be at peace!" Myaki yelled again even though it was putting a strain on his voice.
It only confirmed for kentola and Aria that Myaki has had intense trust issues with everyone wether they were family or not.
This only reinforced Aria's resolve to help her savior by showing him that all hope was not lost.
"I, Aria Salazan, Daughter of Hector Salazan, King of Tuonku, ask my savior for a chance to rectify our failures to you." Aria said only now on both of her knees with her head hung low.
"Princess!"
"My lady please raise your head!"
A princess lowering her head to a commoner, it was an insult to their honor as royalty but Aria didn't care in the slightest.
"Order all your staff and guards to leave the mansion. Only then will I release your knight. And I want your knight to swear on her honor that she will not attack me once I release her." Myaki ordered. He was prepared to die at any moment but he could feel the princesses sincerity.
"As you wish my savior. Have everyone leave the mansion and do not let them enter until I give the order." Aria commanded the guards.
At first they would have protested but given it was the princess herself giving the order and with her Royal knight life at stake they couldn't refuse her command.
Minutes had passed and Myaki had finally sensed everyone once inside the mansion was force outside.
And true to his word did Myaki release Kentola but not before grabbing and unsheathing her sword.
"I talk and you answer. If you try something then I will cut. Understand?" Myaki said before seeing Aria and Kentola nod.
Myaki was a lion back into the corner of his den. Ready to kill at a moments notice.
And after seeing first hand Myaki killing a 7th Star Wyrm beast they both knew Myaki had the strength to kill them both.
"How many days has it been since I killed the Wyrm?" Myaki asked with the sword pointed at Kentola while opening a nearby wardrobe dresser.
Aria was about to step forward and answer before Kentola held her back.
"Three days have passed. After I noticed you had entered into the first stage of Mana Overload we rushed you here where a Arch Healer was able to stabilize you." Kentola said.
Myaki scoured the wardrobe for acceptable clothes before asking his next question that suprised both Kentola and Aria.
"Where did you put the Viper Wolf heads? Do you still have them?" Myaki said.
The value of a Wyrm was astronomical compared to the head of a viper wolf. Even a single Wyrm tooth could sell for hundreds of gold coins while the head of a viper wolf could at most only be sold for 10 silver coins.
They hadn't given any thought about the Viper wolf heads and left them behind.
"N-No, we were focused on saving your life. But if you require money then I can pay you-"
"Quiet! One more word and I'll cut off an ear!" Myaki yelled as he interrupted Aria.
Kentola instantly stood in front of Aria like a momma bear protecting her cub before a question dawned itself to Kentola.
'Viper wolves are the most common but the most dangerous C-Rank Adventurer missions. It was one that I did frequently during my time as an adventurer. So he must be an adventurer of at least C-Rank.'Kentola thought to herself.
Over the past three days while myaki was unconscious Aria assigned Kentola to use her history with the adventurers guild to learn who Myaki was incase he was an adventurer.
But after endless hours of searching A-ranks and above she found no traces to help her discover Myaki's identity.
'All this time I thought the boy was a high ranked Adventurer. Maybe he was just hiding his strength! I'll have to return to the adventurers guild at once!' Kentola thought to herself.
Finally she had gained a clue to finding out who the boy was.
But first she had to defuse the situation in front of her.
"Where are the alchemy potions stored?" Myaki said as he grabbed a slightly worn shirt and pants with leather boots.
Potions were hard to create and very expensive. And given Myaki's current state it was obvious why he wanted to know.
Aria pushed in front of Kentola which immediately made Myaki get defensive before Aria placed a hand over her chest.
"We have excellent healing elixirs to help your recovery. If you will permit me to retrieve them I will only be a moment." Aria asked while Myaki held the tip of his sword at her chin.
"Fine but your knight will stay here as my hostage. She will die first if anything happens." Myaki ordered despite his hand starting to tremble.
Aria bowed before leaving myaki and Kentola alone.
The silence between the two was sickening but more so for Myaki as he looked at Kentola.
"How can you serve these people? They abuse their power and their subjects."Myaki asked.
Kentola was shocked as not once has the royal family ever even mistreated a subject. She knew Aria for years and valued their friendship more then anything.
"Not all nobles are villains. Lady Aria has strived to make a fair and just world. Why do you hate the nobles so much? Who are you?" Kentola asked.
Myaki however gritted his teeth and tightened the grip of the sword harder.
"I'm an outcast from a fair and just world. I've accepted that life isn't going to reach out and comfort you. If you want peace then you have to take it!" Myaki yelled just as Aria returned with a potion in hand.
"I have returned with a healing potion dear savior. Please accept this." Aria said as she presented it to Myaki.
But Myaki wasn't a blind trusting fool and used his sword to cut Kentola's hand.
"Have your knight drink it first so that I know it is not a sedative or poison." Myaki said as he lower his sword.
The pain was nothing for Kentola who was a seasoned adventurer as she took the healing vial from Aria and took a sip.
She then held her hand out for Myaki to see it close up within seconds before Aria presented it back to Myaki.
"Thank you... princess Aria..." Myaki muttered under his breath before drinking the potion.
The small words of thanks put an unknown feeling in Aria's chest before Myaki tossed Kentola back her sword.
"Don't come looking for me. That can be my reward for saving your life princess. I detest nobility more then you could know. And should anyone come after me then they will not be shown any mercy."Myaki said as he felt his headache and aching muscles lessen thanks to the potion.
Kentola grabbed her sword and looked up only to see Myaki had vanished.
*Crash!*
As the wind blew inward from the broken window both Aria and Kentola watched Myaki jump from the third floor window past the outer wall of her mansion.
'I must know who that boy is... maybe if I provide a sketch madam Lockwood can help me.'Kentola thought to herself while Aria felt her heart beating faster and faster.
'Please be safe dear savior.'