The welcoming banquet was held at the mayor's spacious residence. It was fixed in a rush but still it oozed extravagance showing how important the visitor was. People were talking with each other with smiles plastered on their faces.
It was a typical show of how money and power talks. The backyard that was decorated with lights powered by mana slowly brought brightness to the place as the night slowly came.
The ballroom was also filled with people as they enjoyed the music being played by an orchestra that was especially hired for the night. Some of them were even enjoying the attention of all the gentlemen who were looking for dance partners. These people were really having a merry time despite the danger they were faced because of the kidnappings.
The hero who was being praised and fawned upon was currently sitting inside a room provided to him by the mayor. He was wearing a smile while speaking with the leader of the town and with Major Ginehart.
"We are honored that such an esteemed presence would come and help us to defeat whoever was causing unrest to the people," the mayor was grinning while flashing his gold embedded teeth.
Amongst all the people who were present, he was the most happy and excited because he was able to meet such a prestigious man in his lifetime. Like those others, he wouldn't let this chance to impress the man pass by.
"Ah, I don't deserve such high recognition. Just call me Sir Arcaine, so that we can be more comfortable with speaking to each other." The hero whom they were talking about shook his head and smiled warmly towards the mayor.
He was smiling but Ginehart who had contact with these kinds of people knew that this so-called hero isn't that happy to be here. Who would be happy to be assigned to an almost remote place and endure people like the mayor. Sure, they like the attention but they can't be bothered to even remember the faces of these people.
The mayor was glad at the fact that the hero wanted to talk with him comfortably. His confidence was suddenly boosted as he started to chatter away. Words of self-praise and self-promotion flew out from his mouth like a high-speed train to which the hero was nodding. He seemed to be paying attention but Ginehart knew that he must be cursing inside now, because that was what he was doing.
The high-pitched and grating voice coming from the mayor was already enough to annoy anyone but now he won't even stop talking. The major could only close his eyes and act as if he was intently listening to what the mayor was babbling on about.
Finally, he could not take it any longer. "Mayor, I hate to interrupt but it is already time for the banquet to officially start. How will people react if the star of the night is late because you held him up here. I'm sure that you don't want that to happen."
The mayor stopped when he heard the major's voice and as reluctantly as he could be because of the mocking tone behind the major's words, he still stood up. "Ah yes, the major is right. Sir Arcaine, shall we?" He gestured with his hand and so the hero stood up and left the room first.
Irritated because he was suddenly interrupted, the mayor looked back at the major and gave him a glare while he was not looking. He could do nothing against the major since he was also a well-known figure in the kingdom so all he could do was give the man a look behind his back.
Ginehart could feel the deadly gaze but he ignored it. The man would be annoyed but he could not bear to listen any longer to his useless chatter. He stood up and faced the man with a smile.
"Is there something wrong mayor?" He asked with a fake smile on his face which only annoyed the man further because the major did not even hide the fact that he was not asking out of concern.
"Oh, nothing, nothing. I'll be going now." The mayor shook his head and waved his hands before he left the room too and followed behind the hero and his two other comrades.
Just like any celebrations, the ballroom was noisy but it immediately fell into silence when they heard the doors from the second-floor opening. The anticipation and excitement rose to the air because they knew that the guest of honor had arrived.
The mayor came out first with a smug look on his face and his stance straight. His chest was puffing out while he proudly announced the entrance of the main reason why they held a banquet. "Let us welcome, Sir Arcaine Noire, the Hero of the Light."
At the announcement, a thundering applause filled the whole room and it got even louder when the star finally appeared. Sir Arcaine Noire, waved towards the people which earned him another batch of good points. The eyes of the ladies were sparkling at the appearance of the man.
They immediately fell for his warm and handsome smile, even more so because of his angelic looks. His dreamy eyes and blonde hair that seemed to sparkle and seemed so smooth to the touch. These ladies were too stunned that they were nailed to the ground.
Arcaine, who saw this reaction from the people, was secretly happy. It was only natural because he was someone who had been risking his life for the sake of these people even though they were all worthless in his eyes.
When he heard that he was being sent to this place called Alfonso because of the unusual activities of dark mages in the area, he actually frowned. The town was indeed in the map but it was still too far for his liking. He even thought about it for a while before he finally accepted the mission.
Since he wanted to expand his influence and popularity, it was okay to accept the mission and he could easily destroy any evil that was plaguing the town. It will be an additional merit to him and he will also gain support and love from these unknown people. Maybe he could even rise above the other heroes after this mission.
He descended the stairs and slowly made his way around to greet the guests and even danced some of them. The ladies were scampering for a dance while the men were fighting for a chance to build a connection with the hero. All in all, the party was going great, well not until the door to the ballroom opened and a group of guests appeared fashionably late.
A man with his hair that was a bit disheveled was walking in front of the group. He looked elegant and dashing in a wild way, there was an air of untamed danger coming from him. The man gave his best smile after they entered the room which immediately took the attention of the ladies.
And once he spoke, the whole place became silent and the ladies who were flocking around the hero were immediately drawn to him. "Woah, there are so many lovely ladies in here," his voice was smoot and silky. Very cool and soothing to the air, it was a contrast to his elegance but it still made the people look at him.
And without warning, the ladies who already had enough of the hero, run to where he was in an attempt to talk to him and know his name. The group was instantly swarmed with a lot of people. The men who were having a difficult time talking with the hero finally took the chance to speak to him.
Cygnus was enjoying the attention and he couldn't help but smirk because he could feel a piercing gaze directed at him. The smirk did not escape the ladies' eyes and so a round of screaming suddenly sounded in the room.
RECENTLY UPDATES
