Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player



Kaizen and Xisrith considered Valen's words, pondering the situation before them. They knew that releasing him was risky, but they also felt a strong attraction to the knowledge he promised.

"Valen, if we loosen these chains and trust you, what exactly will you help us discover?" Xisrith asked, keeping her stance firm but showing a slight interest.

Valen looked at her seriously. "There are secrets known only to the most important people in the world, such as why this palace collapsed and the prosperous kingdom of Vrikhodour was largely taken over by scorching heat."

Xisrith looked at Kaizen with a determined expression. "If you really want to help me unlock the secrets of this palace and protect this place for my people, we cannot ignore the possibility of finding help in whatever form it presents itself."

Though he partially agreed with his companion, Kaizen had his reservations about relying solely on the word of a complete stranger, though he had done so before. For that reason, he stepped back for a second and called the Descragon over with a glance, so they could talk some more alone.

"Xisrith, I know you are eager to find out something and have a card up your sleeve to protect your race. I share that desire, but we must not let haste blind us to the possible dangers that await us," Kaizen said, his voice heavy with concern.

Descragon nodded, understanding Kaizen. "I understand your concern, Klaus. However, we must also consider that Valen may have valuable information that could help us. It may be risky, but it could be a unique opportunity."

Kaizen sighed, thinking about Xisrith's words. He knew he could not ignore the possibility of gaining crucial knowledge to protect the kingdom. But he also had a responsibility to ensure the safety of both.

"Pay attention, earlier he said that the kingdom had collapsed, so he believes that the kingdom of Vrikhodour may no longer exist and that the royal family is still alive. He doesn't know as much as he claims, he is not omniscient, for now we must go back and wait for the meeting we will have with the prince about the king's response to his first proposal. If it's not a favorable response, we'll come back here and see if we can learn anything about the royal family's past or, as this man claims to know, the future. Kaizen had to start negotiating with the Descragon.

Xisrith listened carefully to Kaizen's words and pondered her thoughts. She recognized the importance of approaching the situation with caution and not getting carried away by the desire for immediate answers.

"You're right, Kaizen," Xisrith agreed with a disappointed look on her face. "We cannot rush in and jeopardize our main mission. The future of my clan depends on the king's decision, and we must wait for his answer before exploring the secrets of this palace any further."

She paused for a moment to collect her thoughts.

"Besides, as you pointed out, Valen may not be as conscientious as he claims to be. We cannot fully trust his words without further investigation. Perhaps when we return, we can seek out other sources of information about the kingdom's past to ensure that we have a more complete picture before taking any action."

Kaizen nodded, pleased with Xisrith's openness to consider his perspective. "Exactly. We should proceed with caution and strategy. Let's go back and discuss some of our findings with the prince, evaluate the king's reaction, and then make more informed decisions."

The two approached Valen again, their expressions now a mixture of seriousness and determination.

"Valen, we have decided to postpone the decision to release you for the time being. We have outstanding issues to resolve and we need to ensure our safety first," Kaizen explained, maintaining his firm stance.

Valen looked disappointed, but showed no resistance to the group's decision. "I understand and respect your decision. However, remember that I am here to help if needed. If you need me in the future, I will be ready to cooperate."

With that, Kaizen and Xisrith took their leave of Valen for the time being, leaving him chained in the majestic hall.

After leaving Valen bound in the palace hall, Kaizen and Xisrith used a teleportation stone to return to the city of Zephyrion. Knowing that the meeting with the prince would not take place until the next day, they agreed to wait for an appropriate time before proceeding. Kaizen checked the schedule and informed Xisrith when he would be rejoining the game the following day.

With that in mind, Kaizen logged out of the game, ending his session for the day.

*

It was still around eight o'clock at night when Klaus emerged from the Deep Immersion Pod. Then he ran to his dormitory, because he had to study a bit for the first semester exam that would be given the next morning.

On the way, some girls and boys recognized Klaus, especially since his fame had grown even more after the comments about what he had done at the camp started to spread around the school.

"Obviously, the boys who were bullied by the bullies in the sports department wouldn't keep their mouths shut, would they?" Klaus thought aloud as he ran.

People waved at him and some even shouted at him. This made Klaus a little shy because he was not used to so much attention. He had always been a relatively ordinary student at school, and the incident at the camp was something that put him in the spotlight in a whole new way.

As Klaus walked towards his dormitory, he felt the curious glances of the people around him. Some whispered to each other and pointed in his direction, while others stared at him openly. It was a mixture of emotions for Klaus, because on the one hand he was flattered by the admiration, but on the other hand the constant attention made him uncomfortable.

When he finally reached his dormitory, he got an unexpected surprise, because Ashley was waiting for him in front of the building, even though the cold wind was freezing.