The Wrong Hero Has Been Summoned
Chapter 10: To Section B

Chapter 10: To Section B

The silence hung in the room after Luther’s comment. Luna exchanged glances with Vess, but neither pushed him further.

"You should rest now," Selene said softly, clearing away the empty bowls. "Those wounds need time to heal."

He leaned back against the wall, his face still showing pain despite Luna’s healing. "Yeah, probably a good idea."

Vess moved back to the window, peering out at the darkening streets. "The crowd is finally thinning out. Seems like your fans are going home."

"They’re not fans," he said with a weak laugh. "Just people who’ve never seen someone beat their precious Guardians before."

Luna sat on the edge of his bed. "Speaking of which, what were those things anyway?"

"They were more like puppets with some kind of magic animating them. Not human at all, artificial."

"They’re ancient constructs," Selene explained, sitting across from them. "Created by the first mages of this realm. No one really knows how they work anymore."

He raised an eyebrow. "And Elara uses them as test dummies? Seems like a waste."

"The royal families have better ones, those are just outdated ones that are not seen as much these days," She continued.

He shook his head. "Rich people and their toys. Some things never change, no matter what world you’re in."

The room fell quiet again. The only sounds were the distant murmur of voices from the floor below and the occasional creak of the old building.

"So, what’s this section B we’re heading to tomorrow?" He asked, breaking the silence.

"Well, the one thing I can say for sure is that, from this point onward, he are entering royal territory." Selene said, her tone serious, "Unlike these 2 sections, the last two are massive and have very powerful individuals. We need to be careful."

He looked at her and dozed off, lost in his thoughts.

---

Morning came too quickly. Luther woke to sunlight streaming through the window and the sound of people moving around in the street below. His body ached, but the worst of the pain had subsided thanks to Luna’s healing and a night’s rest.

"About time you woke up," Vess said, already fully dressed and equipped. "We need to move soon if we want to beat the crowds to section B."

He sat up slowly, testing his limbs. "What crowds?"

"Word of your fight has spread," Selene explained, packing her bag. "People are gathering to see what you’ll do next."

"Great," he muttered, standing carefully. "Just what we need."

Luna handed him a clean shirt. "Here. I managed to wash most of the blood out of your clothes."

"Thanks," he said, taking it from her. "Appreciate it."

They ate a quick breakfast of bread and cheese that Vess had brought up from downstairs, then gathered their belongings.

"So, what’s the plan?" He asked, strapping his sword to his back.

"We leave through the back," Vess said. "The innkeeper showed me a path that should help us avoid most of the onlookers."

They slipped out the back door of the inn, following a narrow alley that the innkeeper had told Vess about. The path twisted between old buildings, keeping them hidden from the main streets where people might be looking for them.

"So far, so good," Luna whispered, glancing over her shoulder.

Luther walked steadily, his body still sore but much better than the night before. "Let’s just keep moving. The sooner we get to section B, the better."

The alley opened into a small marketplace where early morning vendors were setting up their stalls. A few people looked their way, eyes widening in recognition, but they hurried through before anyone could approach them.

"There’s the north gate," Selene pointed ahead where a large archway marked the exit from this part of section C.

As they approached the gate, they noticed a small group of guards standing watch. One stepped forward as they neared.

"You’re the fighter from yesterday," he said, eyeing Luther with a mix of respect and suspicion. "Word came down that you and your companions are cleared to pass."

"Thanks," he replied simply, not wanting to start a conversation.

The guard nodded and stepped aside. "Section B is a two-day journey following the path. Stay on the marked road and you’ll be fine."

They passed through the gate, leaving the crowded buildings behind. The path ahead stretched through rolling hills and scattered trees—a stark contrast to the packed streets they just left.

"Feels good to breathe again," Vess said, taking in a deep lungful of the cleaner air.

"Don’t get too comfortable," Luther warned. "We’re still in the middle of nowhere."

They walked in silence for a while, following the well-worn path that snaked through the landscape. Occasionally they passed other travelers—merchants with loaded carts or small groups of adventurers—but most kept their distance.

By midday, the sun was beating down hard, and they stopped to rest near a small stream. Luther sat with his back against a tree, watching as Selene refilled their water skins.

"You mentioned royal territory yesterday," he said. "What exactly does that mean for us?"

Selene corked a water skin before answering. "The outer sections—D and C—are buffer zones. They keep regular people away from the inner sections where the royal families and other important people live."

"And section B is where they start showing up?" he asked.

She nodded. "The lesser nobles have estates in section B. It’s also where you’ll find better shops, more advanced magic, and stronger fighters."

"Stronger than those Guardians?" Luna asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Much stronger," she replied seriously. "What you fought were just outdated models after all."

He shrugged. "Doesn’t matter. We just need to pass through, right?"

"It’s not that simple," Vess cut in. "The wall between sections B and A is the most heavily guarded. They don’t let just anyone through."

"So what’s the test or pay this time?" he asked, stretching his still-sore arms.

"I’m not sure," Selene admitted. "It changes often. But it’s never that simple, unless we are lucky that is."

They continued their journey as the afternoon wore on, the landscape gradually changing. The scattered trees became thicker, more like a proper forest, and the path narrowed. By evening, they had covered a good distance but were still far from their destination.

"We should make camp," Vess suggested as the light began to fade. "Traveling these roads at night isn’t safe."

They found a small clearing just off the path, sheltered by trees on three sides. Luna gathered wood for a fire while Selene unpacked their food. Luther prowled the perimeter, checking for any signs of danger.

"All clear," he reported, returning to the camp where Vess had already started a small fire.

As night fell, they sat around the fire, eating dried meat and fruit from their packs. The forest around them was alive with sounds—birds settling for the night, small animals moving through the underbrush.

"So, do you guys really think we can enter section B?" He asked, his tone a bit skeptical.

"No, not really." Selene replied which made him look at Luna and Vess who didn’t want to make eye contact.

"The hell, you brought me here knowing this?"