55 Rumors

Rumors have spread towards kingdoms surrounding the Impassable Mountain Range. In particular, the Moribor Mountain where that Forest of Despair originates. The Lake of Monsters, which supplies its waters and the rumored city built at the foot of the mountain. A city called Claiomh Solais, the Sword of Light. Such a rumor was dismissed by those who held common sense and held onto it true. They knew that it was impossible or people to live inside the Forest of Despair or even the Lake of Monsters, why? Because of the presence of the King of Monsters and the rumored Dragon inside the Moribor Mountains. Although, rumors of the dragon were probably false, there truly existed Kings of Monsters inside. They were the S-Ranked monsters that the adventurer's guilds and the mercenaries refer to.

In one of the taverns in Igelias, a man was spreading such a rumor.

"Hey partner! Did you hear? A city has appeared inside the Forest of Despair and is currently thriving like no other city has ever heard nor seen! Can you believe it?" The drunk man said.

"Hah! Who would believe such a tall tale? A city, in that god-forsaken place? Only madmen and dead men would find it daring to even go and confirm. Where have you heard such tasteless rumor?" Answered his friend in front of him.

"You know Bartlan, the merchant?" replied the gossiper. Putting his pint of beer on the table and seriously looked at his friend. At least he tried to, if he could see his face, then he'd have avoided to even take that expression. It was hideous.

"Yea, Bartlan the merchant who goes around our Kingdom, Igelias towards Hamilton and then to the far south where Acadria is and then towards the Imperial Capital to the east. But he's never really taken a route towards that Forest of Despair now has he?" His friend answered in a matter-of-fact kind of way.

"Yes, Bartlan, hehe.. He went to that city and saw for himself the city like no other!" The gossiper spoke as if he himself have been there.

"If that's true, what else did Bartlan tell you?" Raising his eyebrows, his friend asked back.

"He said that there are riches to be had in that place and that he would apply for a permit to procure their specialty products to sell all over the Empire and went there in a hurry as well. He did not even stop here to sell his wares and just went back as if motivation was right behind him." The drunk gossiper revealed.

"So that's why Bartlan did not come and stay and drink with us this month. So, he already met you. Can there really be a city in that heartless forest?" Asked the friend without expecting a reply. However,

Similar conversations also happened in one of the taverns in Hamilton where the prince Guilbert had once been in, trying to capture Clay. Guilbert had one day disappeared and was never heard off again after he received a letter from one of his minions inside the Kingdom that his father had awoken and was planning to execute the crown prince for treason. He knew that his father knew that he had poisoned the other. However, it was in his plans to kill his father after settling down the matter of the Hero being captured and enslaved to also keep what he knew of the Chancellor's plans a secret. He thought that the Hero probably knew what happened and who was responsible already. So, he ran.

In such a cold weather, Graso, with his hand holding a glass of ale, took a sip and settled his mug over the table. He whispered to his comrade in the guardsmen.

"Hey, do you know what the talk of the town is?" he asked.

"Yea, it seems the mercenary and even adventurer guilds are interested in that rumor. Do you have any information about that that's new?" His fellow guardsman asked back. Graso with his mug leveled to his cheeks said, "Yeah, I inspected a merchant carriage earlier and he said that he came from the Forest of Despair in the Moribor Mountain. And even excitedly spoke about the beauty of the city and how it must be the largest and most developed city there ever was in history. Unbelievable." Graso said while shaking his head in disbelief, however,

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"Then it seems that this rumor really is true after all. The mercenary and adventurer guilds have been getting ready to check out this city they call Claiomh Solais in Moribor. If it's real, then they plan to establish a guild post there and continue to expand. If it's real, then certainly it will become a center for grand opportunities and fortune. Even I'm tempted to just make a trip and go back." His friend Dietre spoke with a longing expression. A longing for fortune and a new opportunity.

"But I also heard that the previous guest of the Kingdom, that prince called Guilbert, has gone missing. Rumor has it that the King of Acadria, his father had summoned him to appear in the capital to receive his judgment. The prince is cunning in making sure that no one knew where he went after receiving that letter, they say." Graso spoke about another incident that involved their Kingdom.

"Then you only know half of the rumor!" Said Dietre. Then he continued saying, "The king of Acadria had summoned his son to execute him on Acadrian soil, because he found out that he was poisoned by his own son. And get this, the one who helped the King to recover was none other than the Hero that the prince had been pursuing with a large army last time. Can you believe it?" With a shake of his head, he grabbed his mug and chugged his ale to appease his dried throat from talking so much.