Tip, tat, tat.
Rowan's hand was dancing across his papers like the uneven zig-zagging of electricity, leaving behind sensible stanzas full of poem.
It was the only place where he felt at ease, the unrest in his heart forgotten in his many crumbled papers.
And yet, he'd gotten not even one step closer to unlocking either the ultimate poem he'd written back on earth, nor the secret to his grimoire that would've given him the arcana he needed to fulfill his legend.
He tilted his torso back, the back of his chair following him to allow him to look over at the opposite side of the room.
"You know, grimoire, if there were any way that you could tell me how to speak with you, now would be the perfect time. We almost died out there, and having you would've done wonders."
The room's silence was only supplemented by the grimoire, not even bothering to give him a small dim or thrum the same way the others' did.
"Well, it was worth a try."
He sighed, spinning around while thinking of more poem, the ideas dancing across his mind and offering him respite from a long day spent.
Knock, knock, knock!
Rowan could faintly hear the voice of the guard and another man, their whispers followed up with a banging against the door.
"The majesty calls for you," his guard said, pushing down on the knob to reveal both him and another, smaller man.
The second person was quick to move past Rowan's room to further down the hallway, his intention clearly to relay whatever information he had to the other heroes' guards.
After the heroes had returned from the royal capital, the king felt it necessary to personally provide his best guards, making an interwoven system where there were messengers who could relay any signs of bad behavior or people in the dark.
It was a nice sentiment, although a deeper green encroached upon his spirit at the thought that someone would be hanging outside of his room the entire night.
"Really, at this time? He already made us walk around all day..."
Rowan got up, walking forward to reach the same guard that woke him up in the morning.
"I understand your impatience, but you must understand the gravity of the situation. Someone had infringed upon the private space the king bought out despite there being hundreds of the kings-guard stationed all throughout the city. It should've been impossible, coming in fully undetected and unannounced like that."
The guard put his hand on Rowan's shoulder, stepping forward to create enough distance to repel anything in the dark.
"Plus, the attacker was strong. The vanguard are out on diplomatic missions as of late, so we're the best protection either you or the king will have."
Rowan paused, intrigue tainting his face.
"The vanguard?"
"Ah, you don't know of them yet. They're the strongest knights in this kingdom, said to possess calamities in just their hands. You should've met Corien, though, given he was the one that presented you to the king. He's the strongest vanguard member, or, perhaps, the strongest man in the world."
The guard spoke with a light grim on their face, pride enveloping his limbs. Rowan almost laughed at the sight, but he kept it within through tightened lips.
"Corien is the strongest...?"
"Yes, his arcana is incredibly ancient, learned from the dragons themselves. He's also one of the rare tri-resonants, housing the most destructive forms of arcana there are. It's incredible, if you've seen him in combat. His showings against the lady don't even begin to touch upon the deep wells of strength at his disposal."
Rowan nodded in understanding, no words taking their hold to form a response.
Instead, he just looked on in comfortable silence as he reached the throne room, two other heroes just ahead of him.
"There you are, Sir Rowan, I apologize for calling you so late."
He sat, head on his fist, like an intense brick wall, some additional wrinkles in his brow suggesting some form of worry or frustration.
Corien stood by his side, both hands behind his back. The typical power releasing from his limbs were like a small, dim flame this time, although they were still far more resounding than any other in the room, including the guard next to Rowan.
"It's fine, but what could be so urgent that you must call for me from my quarter?"
"That I will answer in due time, but first we must await the other two."
The heroes--Lucien and Elias--next to Rowan looked back, spotting Liora and Kaia pacing and strutting down the hallway respectively.
"So, what's this all for," Kaia yelled, pointing her finger forward, "you must know that my sleep is of utmost priority, and I don't do well for slights against me!"
The female guard next to her was clearly exhausted, sighing with the tone of someone who'd been through something far too many times.
The king smiled, waving his hand and fingers in front of him through the air once.
"It looks like everyone's here. Again, I apologize for calling for your summons so late, but this was an issue that this kingdom deemed urgent, so you must understand my haste to relay this information to you."
"Okay... out with it then, what do you need us for?"
The one who spoke was Lucien, crossing his arms with one raised eyebrow.
"That I will do," the king said, stopping for a moment in silent ponderance, "let me begin with this. I fully admit that we were powerless to defend you young heroes from the threat that'd entered the royal capital, and it is my most regretful shortcoming. For some reason, none of the systems in place--even the fail-safes--flagged her arrival, and we'd been left in the dark. That is something that must never occur again."
He was serious, standing up to step down from his throne.
Corien tried to follow behind him, but the king posted his arm back, gesturing him to stay.
"It is with this that we've decided as a collective--the best defense for you heroes is yourself."
The heroes were shared in their confused groans, some even narrowing their eyes and moving the corner of their lips as if they were to speak again.
"By this, I mean that your legend foretell your great feats, and it's clear that each--most of you have talent beyond anything this kingdom could offer for protection. With that being said, I've hastened the schedule, moving up your combat learning to tomorrow. You will move out for your first mission tomorrow."