The Last Legendary System

The cave remained silent long after Castrius left. Benign continued staring toward the darkness where the man had disappeared.

"No one had ever made him bleed?"

Lady Alana quietly watched him from behind, waiting until the tension finally left his shoulders before speaking. "You are dangerous."

"I’ve heard that before." Benign turned to her. During his past life, that had been a compliment from opposing forces. Here, he couldn’t tell if it was a warning.

Lady Alana waved her hand across the space in front of her. The surroundings transformed back to the chamber the soldier had met her in.

Beside her throne carved into a large tree, Rox knelt with her head lowered. Her right arm was missing, along with her left foot.

Her flesh was made of slime that slowly regrew. Burn marks covered her body, and her bandages were charred.

Benign took a step into the circle, reaching for his legs. He looked around for Tuff, but the cave entrance that led to Lady Alana’s chambers, from the embers of memories, was gone. All transportation might be done with portals here.

Rox still knelt where he had seen her, staring at her scorched boomerangs ‌while the last blue slimes slowly gathered around her feet again. Lady Alana stopped beside her.

"You exceeded the purpose of the trial, Rox."

Rox lowered her head further. "I did."

"There is a difference between exposing weakness and provoking collapse." Lady Alana’s tone remained calm, yet every word carried weight. "You forgot which one you were assigned, Rox. What can you say for yourself?"

"I wished to know whether his kind possessed hearts."

Silence.

"And now?" Lady Alana asked.

Rox glanced toward Benign. She looked away before she answered. "I have my answer."

Benign folded his arms. He expected the scolding directed at him for blowing the place up.

Despite that, her actions being brushed off as a social experiment rubbed him the wrong way. ’Should I assume all slime people are sick in the head?’

Lady Alana finally turned toward him. "The trials exist to evaluate your judgment, resolve, and adaptability."

Her gaze briefly shifted outside before returning to Benign. "None of us expected outside interference."

"You mean Castrius?"

She nodded. "Normally, you would continue, but you have already attracted the attention of people far beyond ordinary Protectors." She paused. "Continuing these trials would only delay what comes next."

Benign looked at the Blade. "So... I passed?"

"Yes. You passed the trials, Benign Cross."

His name mentioned in full was the first thing Benign noticed. He smiled, despite himself. "Thank you."

Silence lingered between them.

Benign wasn’t sure whether the ending of the trials satisfied him, but there really was no more importance waiting.

Castrius knew him, and someone called the Warlord wanted him remembered. He exhaled slowly. "So what happens now?"

Lady Alana stepped to Rox. "You’ll receive your badge."

She stretched an open palm to Rox, who was still on one knee. A severed limb was placed on her open arm. She pulled Rox to her feet.

"You will join my squad while you learn why the realms began breaking apart."

Benign stared at Rox with a frown on his face. From all indications, Rox would be part of that squad. He didn’t refute the Lady’s decision.

Seeing no objection, Lady Alana nodded. With a wave of a hand, a portal opened. A long winding road stood in front of them.

She let go of Rox and watched her limp inside the portal. "Don’t worry about her." Lady Alana told Benign. "She doesn’t have a permanent body yet, so her limbs will regrow."

"I wasn’t worried." Benign stepped into the portal. The cool breeze swept across his face, calming the last bit of tension in his shoulders.

The new environment differed from the desert, or even the elves’ Haven he had been at. Tall green trees and high mountains, along with buzzing insects and small animals minding their business.

It wasn’t a place he would expect to be the Olien’s realm. He stepped away from the portal. "Lady Alana?"

The portal hummed slowly, signalling their closing time was near. Lady Alana held onto the sides as she stepped in.

The portal closed up when she let go of it. Her hair fluttered behind her as a cool breeze rushed past her frame, lifting her dress to her ankles.

"Yes?" She answered him while holding down her dress with a soft smile on her face.

"Why was Castrius interested in me?"

Her smile faded slightly. "I can’t be sure, to be honest. He is an odd man." Her posture straightened as she added. "But after receiving your badge, you’ll be sent off immediately. I hope you have no injuries to tend to."

A mission just after his acceptance. The soldier shook his head. There was no use in complaining. "No injuries. I just need water and supplies for the journey. What will it be?"

They walked down the road in silence. The blond streaks of Lady Alana’s hair frequently fluttered to her face.

"The Warlord."

Benign stopped walking. He tried to remember where he had heard that before. ’Right. Castrius worked for this Warlord. How fortunate that I’m being sent to him.’

"Are you joking, Lady Alana?"

Lady Alana stopped walking. "There is no time for jokes. Since that Warlord has eyes on you, we should act first."

Silence.

"You’ll depart immediately. I will take you there now."

"Now?" Benign stared. "I just joined. The water—"

"I know." She opened another portal. "We have a base that can grant you supplies and your badge. Right now, your assignment takes priority over your induction."

The soldier dragged his feet till they reached the end of the road. It led to a cliff, and he couldn’t see Rox. Lady Alana waved her hand across the air yet again.

A portal shimmered to life. "Rox and I will join you shortly."

Benign looked in. He expected buildings, large ones that resembled barracks.

What greeted him was a graveyard still burning.

Smoke hurriedly rose to join the clouds, and buildings let themselves go with gravity. Screams echoed from every direction as people fled through the streets already swallowed by fire. All into one small structure that shouldn’t fit them.

Lady Alana looked at the soldier.

"Welcome to the Protectors of Realms, Benign Cross."