CHAPTER 10 (PART 2): THE NEXT TARGET

"Legendary sword?" Arth had known that they’re the highest class of weapons above the common, rare, and enchanted ones. The chief had told him that only six legendary weapons ever existed in this world, but he never knew that there was actually one in Glacia.

Robert nodded. "The legendary cursed blade, Frostcalibur. It’s the only sword that can restore the Power Crystal in Glacia. But ever since the war, it's nowhere to be found until now."

"What happened to it?"

"When the previous king, Letholdus Aragon, died eighteen years ago, he lost his legendary blade. Some said that the king have sent it far north and made it hidden so that one day, one who's worthy, can wield it and reclaim Crown Galacer. Someone who has the royal blood of the Aragon family."

"But is King Terrowin not his brother?" Arth furrowed his brows. "He's the only living Aragon today, right? So only he can wield the sword.”

"Yes, I guess … but think about it. If King Terrowin is the rightful wielder, then he should’ve found it many years ago," Robert said. "But they've already kept searching for years, bro, even the boss. Still, no one has ever found it."

"Wait … what?! Lucas is also on the search for it?" Arth looked at him with wide eyes.

"Of course he is! He was the Divine Knight during the time of King Letholdus," Robert explained.

Minutes after, they finally took a stop in front of an alehouse.

"Why are we here?" Arth asked him, looking suspicious.

"Don’t worry, bro. We're not gonna drunk ourselves," Robert said, grinning. "We’ll just get some information about our target, then leave."

Arth’s eyes suddenly caught the wanted posters attached on the walls of the alehouse. There he found the faces of Lucas and Luna. The writing said that the king would pay a lifetime fortune to someone who could bring their heads to him.

"Really?" Arth said in a monotone, looking at the posters.

"I know right? Good thing they haven’t caught me yet. I still want to explore the north all the way under broad daylight!" Robert told him. Then all of a sudden he slowly leaned closer to Arth's ear and whispered, "But we still need to be careful, bro. The king has his eyes and ears everywhere."

Arth nodded and the two finally went inside the alehouse. It was warmer and noisier than he had thought. He could see drunken men laughing and shouting while others were already dancing over the table like fools. The sour, bitter smell of alcohol had made Arth feel dizzy already. He had a very low alcohol tolerance, and he found that one out back when Chief Gregor had given him a drink in a celebration before.

"This is why I love the capital," Robert elbowed Arth while biting his lower lip, not taking his eyes away from the young women serving the drinks to their customers. Arth just rolled his eyes and shook his head.

They headed towards the bar counter and then sat on the high, wooden chairs. A tall and bald man, who seemed to be the owner, was serving beers and ales across the counter.

"Couple of beers for ya' young lads?" the man said.

Robert nodded, sliding two copper pieces forward on the table. The man took the coins and started pouring beers.

Robert came to lean closer in Arth’s ear while the owner was busy making their beers. "This one is the brother of one of the Grand Knights guarding our target," he whispered, pointing at the owner. "I heard his brother comes here at this night of the week after work."

Arth looked around and tried to find the knight Robert was talking about, but hopeless it was. He only saw good-for-nothing, drunken fools inside the alehouse.

The owner served them a pair of tall mugs of beer. Arth took a sip, but then he choked because of the bitter taste. Robert guffawed at Arth's face, who was already coughing hard.

"This is the worst drink I’ve ever had." Arth grimaced as he put his beer down on the table.

"Come on, the more you drink the more you’ll like it," Robert replied before he drank on his own beer.

Arth was about to reply when he suddenly took notice the presence of a tall, middle-aged man approaching the counter. He had the strong presence of a knight Arth could immediately sense. That after, Robert’s eyes signaled him, saying that he was the one they’d been waiting. Arth nodded and held his beer with both hands, his eyes locked on the bubbly liquid

"Settled the papers already?" The owner asked the grand knight, who just sat on the chair next to Arth. He was wearing a leather garment and his hair was black, matching his sharp, dark eyes.

"Not yet. Been so busy these days for all I care," the man replied in a deep, husky voice. The owner gave him a drink and then sighed heavily. "Been with Councilor Rowan the whole day, preparing for the tournament thing he's gonna hold."

Arth and Robert subtly looked at each other.

"When is it?" the owner asked.

"Five days in."

“Peter’s gonna join?”

The grand knight snorted before he drank on his ale. "Yea that kid's been working really hard for this tournament."

"And King Terrowin?" The owner lowered his voice.

The knight shook his head. "He wouldn’t bother himself with this nonsense. But the Frostguarde will be there to watch over and guard the high councilor with us."

‘Frostguarde?’ Arth furrowed his brows, still looking down at his drink.

Robert almost choked from the beer he's drinking after hearing what the man had said. He cleared his throat and then wiped his mouth before signaling Arth that they should to leave now. Both of them stood and walked out of the alehouse.

"This is bad," Robert said, his face seemed troubled.

"What's the Frostguarde?" Arth directly asked as he caught up behind.

"I don't know, bro," Robert shook his head, "Perhaps the new guild the boss was talking about."

"New guild?"

“It’s been the talk of the capital lately. I’ve heard it many times as we went around the lower ring earlier. They said that the guild was formed by the Divine Knight himself.”