Will of the Battlefield

"Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Maximilian Goldcaster. The 17-year-old owner and manager of this hotel."

"I told you my name, and I’m 16 years old. I’ll turn 17 this new year’s." Thane replied coldly, he didn’t like this boy one bit. His arms crossed over his chest tightly, clearly displaying his massive arms.

"Fuck me... what do you eat to get that big?" Maximilian gasped.

"Haha, it’s a family trait. Alright, I answered the question, "Where is the room, Maximinimum?"

"I have a few more to ask, and it’s Maximilian."

"Maximicilam?"

"No, it’s Maximi- leave it, call me Max." He sighed with a disappointed look carved into his face. "Next question, why are you here? Your dress and manner of speech reek of your rural upbringing."

Max’s question irritated Thane, but he let it slide as he desperately needed a shower. The free room offer was too enticing to pass up.

"I’m here for the aspirant test, ask another question and I’ll punch you." Thane’s anger was at its peak. Like a boiling pot of water about to spill.

"What a fortunate encounter! I am also taking the aspirant test. We could be possible future classmates, let’s be friends." Max extended his hand with a bright smile.

"And why would I want to befriend an annoying, spoiled brat?" Thane spat out the words.

"Hey! I am older than you, and I have what you lack."

Thane was confused. "What’s that? Sticks for a body? Not very convincing here, Max."

Max grinned. "Money!"

Thane chuckled and took out the pouch the blue robbed man gave him. "I don’t need your money to survive."

"Idiot." Max slapped his head. "That will barely last a week here, have you tried any food here? It is more expensive than the whores."

"What’s a whore?" That word was unfamiliar to Thane.

Max looked at him with a bewildering look. "Are you really dumb or just pretending to be?"

Thane clenched his fist.

"Wait wait, no! It’s umm... a business woman. Yeah, that’s what a whore is." Max thought of the perfect answer.

"Food is more expensive than a business woman, really?" The giant teen was confused by the sentence. Wouldn’t business services cost a lot?

His thoughts were interrupted by Max, so he soon forgot everything the boy said.

"Let’s do this ... we become friends. And a friend in need is a friend indeed. Believe me, it’s my first time initiating a friendship." He again extended his hand.

Thane thought for a bit and smiled. "Alright, but no abusive language, I don’t want a friend with bad breath."

Max raised his eyebrows. "Who told you that crap?"

"My pops!" Thane replied happily.

Max looked at the jolly face of his new friend. The guy was a brute, but he understood that Thane was a pure soul. Maybe Max could’ve been like him if he wasn’t born into the capital’s merchant family.

Max then took out the key from drawers and gave it to Thane. "Come back after a shower, I have something to show you. And there will be clothes and towels in the closet. Don’t wear that same sweaty shit again."

Thane didn’t respond and jolted towards the room, he found the room number and opened the door. The inside was completely opposite of the outside, it was a lavish large room, furnished with the finest objects.

He quickly took out his clothes and went to the shower. Half an hour later, he came down.

"You took your sweet time, didn’t you?" Max was irritated by the long wait, tapping his finger on the reception table.

"Ahh! It feels like I am reborn." Thane gave a sigh, loudly expressing his relief.

"So, where are we going?" Thane asked as he walked towards the exit.

"We are not going outside." Max said while grinning.

Thane squinted his eyes. "Didn’t you say you have to show me something, if it’s the luxury fine room in this hotel then I’ve already seen it."

Max’s smirk remained intact as he pointed his thumb downwards. "There’s more to grasp in in this shabby hotel."

He slowly bent down, and snapped something into place under the table. In the next moment, a cacophony of mechanical noises followed by a wooden creak was heard by Thane. He moved forward and found a dim light emitting out from the reception area.

"Follow me, big boy." He said and descended.

Thane felt something fishy but after a ponder, he decided to check it out.

He jumped over the table and found a staircase leading to the basement. He carefully went down, but the space was too small for his size.

The staircase ended and he looked forward at the bright corridor, not beautiful but sturdy. Fully made of concrete, strong enough to not be destroyed by earthquakes. Or even his punches for that matter.

Max was standing at the end of the corridor, his hand gently gripping the door’s lock as he unlocked a very thick metallic door. And just beside the door was a closet.

"Does this spoiled brat store his treasure there?" he mumbled to himself.

"Haha, no but it’s more valuable than treasure. Or... something that can help me buy treasures." Max replied.

Thane startled, he mumbled yet he was heard. "His hearing is exceptionally keen." He said to himself, in his head this time.

His left hand was still on the door’s lock when he used his other hand to open the closet. It unlocked with one smooth motion., He took out a long coat and a strange bird mask, and wore it majestically. Both of splendid quality.

He looked at Thane and turned his gaze back to the closet. He pulled out a dragon faced mask.

"This mask is based on Pixiu, a winged animal with the head of a dragon and body of a lion. It attracts gold, silver and jewels. I never get to use this mask, use it." Max said, as he gazed at the mask not willing to give it before throwing it towards Thane.

Max was not trusting Thane; he was trusting his intuition.

As a bookworm with a good memory, he memorized all the famous families of the kingdom, including the Ironforge clan and their bracelet system.

Earlier, he recognised the bracelet, and Thane was a bearer of silver.

An heir!

A possible future head! 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Perhaps he was the one Max needed to climb the ladder.

The giant teen caught the mask, he had several questions but asked none. He wore the mask and looked at Max who also wore the bird mask.

"What about that mask, what’s the myth?" He asked.

Max’s mood refreshed after hearing that question. "It’s The Huma Bird also known as ’Bird of Fortune’. Folklore says that it never alights on ground, and it bestows great fortunes and kingly appointments through its touch or shadow." His eyes gleamed as he uttered the last words.