Chapter 12: 11: Dragontooth's Welcome
James saw the town walls ahead made of stone with several guard towers and knights watching their surroundings vigilantly as it slowly became darker with the sun going down.
The knights saw the large croup of women with torn clothes and a giant lizardman approaching and alerted the other knights nearby and sent a messenger to the guard captain to come to the west gate.
The knights came out the gate swords drawn and yelled, "HALT! STATE YOUR BUSINESS HERE STRANGERS!!"
Romania stepped forward getting the knight's attention which they all immediately recognized her as the lord's daughter which caused the knights to all put their swords away then panic a little, "L-Lady Fulgurn what happened to you?! Are you alright? The lord found your carriage burned and your knights dead so we assumed the worst."
One of the knights freaked out and said, "Was it that lizardman that did this to you?! You monster you will pay for laying a hand upon the lord's daughter!!"
Throwing the other knights into a frenzy insulting James and slowly surrounding him with their swords drawn.
Romania tried to calm them down telling them James saved her and all the other women, but the knights wouldn't listen. Just as they were about to attack James the Guard Captain arrived and yelled at his knights, "ALL OF YOU FOOLS PUT YOUR SWORDS AWAY AT ONCE!!"
The knights obeyed and sheathed their swords, but not walking away keeping themselves all around James.
Romania came forward and said, "Thank you Captain, these knights wouldn't listen no matter what I said."
The captain asked Romania what happened here and after a couple minutes of explaining and saying how James saved them the captain was livid, "You bunch of idiots!! You not only ignore all the women here who need aid and ignore the daughter of your lord, but you then nearly assault their savior!! Are you all completely incompetent!? Help these women inside and send them to the healers, then escort them to the guild of affairs so they can return to their lives."
The knights saluted and said in unison, "Yes, captain!"
The guard captain and Romania walk up to James and the guard captain bows then says, "Thank you for helping all these people, I do not know why you were in that forest or why a lizardman would help anyone not of their kind but you have saved the lives of not only all those women, but the daughter of our lord. From what Lady Fulgurn has said you asked for nothing in return for your help, but I doubt the lord would allow you to leave without some kind of reward and I as well wish to reward you for all you've done especially when my own knights and I were useless to help any of them."
James smiled and said, "Thank you for your kind words and if you truly believe I deserve a reward I would be insulting you to decline such hospitality."
The captain chuckled then immediately became serious, "You should be careful in town. Your race is often seen as nothing more than bloodthirsty monsters that kill on sight so lots of people will be racist and fearful of you and some may even attack you, so I urge you to be careful. As long as Lady Fulgurn and I are beside you nobody will do anything, but still if you decide to explore town you should be extra careful. I'll inform all my knights of you being here and what you've done to help so none harass you."
James laughed and said with a hint of bloodlust in his eyes, "Don't worry captain I can take care of myself so nobody stands a chance, but I will make sure not to cause you or the lord much trouble if something does happen." James remembered he hadn't even told the captain his name or asked his, "Oh I forgot pardon my manners, my name is James Stormblood I am pleased to make your acquaintance captain."
The captain was a little worried about the first thing James said then smiled at James introduction, "You're right I forgot to address myself as well haha. It's wonderful to meet you Sir Stormblood, my name is Charles and I am captain of the knights that protect the town of Dragontooth and all who live within it's walls."
James exchanged a few more pleasantries with Captain Charles then after Romania was given proper clothes to change into the 3 made their way to Dragontooth Castle under the many stares and whispers of the common folk.
James ignored them all and as the 3 made it to the castle gates the guards were alerted at the presence of James, but Charles calmed them and got them to open the gates escorting them inside.
Once they were inside one of the butlers went and got the head maid as Romania went to go get changed. Charles said his farewells to James and told him to find him at the barracks for his reward later, then the head maid arrived and escorted James to one of the waiting rooms and asked him to wait there till the lord and Romania were ready for his arrival so James sat down and waited.
*30 minutes later*
The day was coming to an end as the sun finally fell beyond the horizon and night fell. The head maid came in and escorted James to the dining hall and saw a long gilded dining table and at the head of the table was a large stout man at 6ft 3in tall, he had short blonde hair that was slicked back and had blue eyes as deep as the sea with a goatee with the biggest grin on his chiseled face wearing a black vest over a red dress shirt with black dress pants and black shoes with fingerless leather gloves on his hands.
The lord laughed and shouted, "Welcome to my castle warrior! I'm so glad to meet you! My daughter has said a lot of good things about you, HAHAHA!!"
Romania became all flustered and got a little mad, "Father please, you're embarrassing me in front of James!"
The lord laughed some more and teased saying, "Oooh you two are on a first name basis now how close are you two then huh little one?"
Romania was a red as a tomato and started stuttering, "W-We're not that close father we just a-asked each other to use our first names that's all!"
James couldn't help but laugh and get a bit of a tear in his eye at the current scenario which made the lord laugh more and cause Romania to pout.
The lord calmed down and said, "Oh where are my manners please sit wherever you like and join us for dinner. My name is Cloud Fulgurn, and I am the lord of this castle, town, and the surrounding villages on this side of the kingdom. As well as the doting father of my adorable little Roro!"
Romania got a little angrier, "Father that is unnecessary to add and don't call me thaaaat!!"
James couldn't help but chuckle at Romania's outburst and said, "It is a pleasure to meet you Lord Fulgurn, my name is James Stormblood and I am but a lone warrior who kills any enemy who gets in my way or does anything as vile as those goblins have done. Also yes your daughter is quite adorable especially when teased like this hehe!"
Cloud let out a loud laugh at James last sentence saying, "You're absolutely correct especially since she's so easy to tease!"
They spent the next hour eating and laughing together making Romania more embarrassed till the night came to a close.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone