Walking towards the balcony of the throne room where the magnificent view of the lake can be seen, Ray Timbers started to tell Ash a story by asking him a question first.
"Ash Magnus, have you ever heard of the name Arthur... Magnus?"
Ray asked with his hands behind his back as he watched the scene of the beautiful lake.
"I apologize your Majesty, but I have no knowledge of who this person you are talking about."
Ash who was still kneeling behind Ray, responded.
"Please, stand up Ash, and call me Ray from now on. A friend of my friend is a friend of mine. And drop the honorifics when we are alone. Come here."
Ray called Ash to stand beside him at the balcony.
"I'm afraid your Majesty but I cannot address you so casually even if we are alone."
Ash responded as he slowly stand up from kneeling.
"No Ash, that was an order from the King of this land."
Ray replied.
"I understand your point but, isn't it offensive of me to just address you so casually inside the throne room even if we are alone?"
Ash slowly approached to the King's side.
"That's okay, as you said, I am the King of this land so no one will question my authority and decisions if I wanted someone to just address me however I want."
Ray responded with a smile.
"Okay, if you say so then don't mind me calling you, Ray."
Still a bit uneased, Ash pushed himself to follow Ray's order.
Walking towards the King's side, Ash couldn't resist but to ask Ray.
"Ray, the person you are talking about."
"You mean, Arthur?"
"Yes, may I know who this Arthur Magnus person is?"
Curiosity hits Ash when he heard Arthur's name and we all know what curiosity does to Ash, right? That's right. He would ask so many questions regarding that topic and he is so persistent with it. Anyways, it's just a POV from the Narrator. Now, let's continue with the story.
Taking a deep breath, Ray started to tell the story of the Great King Arthur Magnus.
"Arthur Magnus. A long time ago but not too long for us elves. There was this man who likes to call himself Art. He was the very reason why the Kingdom remains standing all this time even after the Big One and the Great War occured. Art was a very charismatic but lazy person who has a clear vision towards the future but doesn't know how to achieve it. Although, he was a weak person at first, still it didn't make him bowed down towards his enemies. He was a lazy person until a great tragedy happened into his life. His family was killed by a monster who was roaming in their village, and that tragedy lit up the fire that was inside him, and because of it, Art started to change his way of living. In order for him to face the strong enemies head on, Art worked his ass off day and night to make himself stronger than anyone who stands his way. Later on, Art became strong, so strong that it makes him a monster in the enemies' eyes. We, elves considered him as the peak of humanity after that. And eventually, Art led all the races of this Kingdom during the Great War where we fought the evil forces of the Mhalak Kingdom. The Great War lasts really long, exhausting both parties. Imagine a war that has a duration of over a year."
Ray paused for a second and glanced towards Ash who was listening to his story intently.
"The evil forces of Mhalak Kingdom were really strong and devious. Although, I could say that we were overwhelming them at the beginning of the war, I couldn't say the same thing as the war approaches its climax because when the enemy's forces was pushed to their limits and was about to get wiped out. Their King, Albi Mhalak decides to release their trump card, which are the monsters that arrived into this world 20 years ago during the Big One. That evil Mhalak captured those detestable monsters. The monsters were huge and their powers were unstoppable for a beings with normal powers like us. The only one who was able to defend his ground was Arthur. However, Arthur was just a human, his strength and stamina wasn't infinite, and everyone could see that he was losing the fight against many monsters. Because of it, our forces began to weakened, and Arthur Magnus, had no other choice but to propose a truce over to the enemy. A truce in exchange for his life."
Saying this, Ray had a teary eyes as he reminisce the greatness of Arthur Magnus and his sacrifice.
"The enemy approved his proposal and because of it, the Great War stopped, and the enemies fall back to their Kingdom. But before that, the enemy's King - Albi Mhalak, presented to the entire battlefield the... "sniff". He presented the King's head towards the people."
Ray's tears began to drip down his face.
"I was there and witnessed the sacrifice of the Greatest King humanity has ever had."
Ray continues to tell the story but this time it wasn't sadness that Ash could feel in Ray's words, it was anger and fury, and wanting to get revenge to the enemy.
"The Great War ended after that. However, the Mhalak forces began to start another commotions from all around the Kingdom these days and it looks like the inevitable war was about to erupt again. And if ever the war broke out again, we didn't know if we can still win it this time without Arthur Magnus."
During Ray's storytelling, Ash didn't noticed that tears were starting to build up from his eyes, and his heart began to ache. A sudden heat built up in his throat and pain can be felt in his chest.
"What! What is happening to me? Why am I feeling like this? I feel so sad and angry all of a sudden? It was just a story of an unknown person and it doesn't concern me one bit, so why am I feeling like this?"
Seeing Ash's face after the end of his story, Ray couldn't help but to feel sorry for Ash.
"I know his story is so touching, it even made me cry just by reminiscing those times but I can't waste my time grieving for his noble sacrifice when I know what he did back then and built up during that time was slowly starting to crumble to the ground. And as one of the people who served under him, I cannot let that happened. I will do anything and everything in order to protect the reason for his sacrifice. Are you with me on that, young Ash?"
Wiping out his tears, Ash nodded in agreement, but something inside him wanted to know more about the person and his legacy.
Taking a big sigh, Ray finished his storytelling.
"Ray, "sniff" if I may ask, when did this Great War happened?"
Ash asked as he sniffed his snots back to his nose.
Turning to look at Ash, Ray answered.
"The Great War happened over 15 years ago. I don't know if you were already born during those times but if you were, I doubt that you could remember it. Anyways, speaking of the late King Arthur, I'd like to show you something before I forget."
Walking back to his throne, Ray opened a small case hidden under the hidden compartment beneath the arm of his throne.
Ray took a very dashing and magnificent looking necklace from the hidden compartment.
"This... was the last thing Arthur Magnus had entrusted unto me before he sacrificed his life. Although, I don't know what your relation to him was but considering that you have the same last name. I'd rather give this to you than to let it rust here under my throne, and becuase I didn't know what to do with it as well. Come here and lower your head."
Ray ordered Ash to come closer, and puts the necklace in Ash's neck.
"I, Ray Timbers, officially give the last memoire of Arthur Magnus to you."
When Ray puts the necklace on Ash, it lits up for a second, hinting something that both Ray and Ash didn't know.
"What was that? Did you do something to it?"
Flabbergasted by the sudden light, Ray asked Ash.
"I don't know. Maybe it's you who did something?"
Ash who is also in shock, responded immediately.
"Nah! Maybe it's the reflection of the light from outside. Anyways, lets get out of here, I'd like to show you more."
Ray said and started to walk towards the door.
Ash slowly follows Ray while scanning the necklace and he could see that it has a phoenix pattern engraved in it.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations!]
[You have acquired the Memoire of the Fallen King.]
[Type: Necklace]
[A Legendary Grade Item - ???]
-End of Chapter-