In the bustling city of Sheldora, the lively tavern hummed with the chatter of patrons, but at one particular table, the mood was tense and contemplative. The party of heroes and Marvell were deep in discussion.

  "Hm, that wasn unexpected information," Marvell said, his tone serious as his sharp gaze rested on Aldir. His demeanor caused Aldir to frown in confusion.

  "What's... what's the matter?" Aldir asked, his curiosity piqued by Marvell's cryptic remark.

  Marvell leaned back in his chair, his expression stern yet thoughtful. "Usually, uh... teleportation magic used by the high mage in the kingdom is a special and yeah... kinda unique one. Not only does it transport a person from another world into this one, but it also changes their appearance. But..." He paused, tilting his head slightly and cracking his neck. The silence lingered as everyone watched him, waiting for his next words. Finally, he continued, "Hmph. But that depends on how you see yourself."

  His statement hung in the air for a moment, sparking intrigue among the group. "If you just see yourself as you normally do, your appearance won't change. But if you view yourself through the lens of... how do I put this... your imagination, then your appearance will reflect that. For example," he gestured vaguely to himself, "me looking like this."

  Angel leaned forward, her curiosity getting the better of her. "So, so Marv, if we see ourselves differently, then our appearance also changes here?"

  Marvell nodded confidently. "Yep. Just like me—blue hair mixed with red, blue and orange coloring on each side, and furry ears, which I still don't fully understand myself if it means I'm a furry or not—and pale white skin. That’s how I’ve always seen myself before being teleported to this world." His tone shifted, growing heavier with an undertone of sadness. "But something bothers me the most, something that’s changed my view of the king... sadly."

  The weight of his words settled over the group, drawing their undivided attention. The noise of the tavern around them faded into the background as Marvell's expression darkened.

  "What bothers me the most," he continued, his voice grave, "is the fact that the high mage died performing this... teleportation magic. Did the king ever tell you anything related to that?" His eyes flicked toward Angel as he posed the question.

  Angel furrowed her brow, searching her memory before responding. "If I remember right, the king said their mage died during an attack by demons in the teleportation chamber."

  Marvell’s sharp features hardened as he absorbed her words. The table fell silent, and the hum of the tavern returned, a stark contrast to the heavy mood among the group. Marvell leaned back slightly, his eyes fixed on the ceiling above as if trying to piece together a puzzle.

  Andreas finally broke the silence, his voice tinged with concern. "Uhm, is there something wrong?" He studied Marvell's distant expression, unsure of what thoughts were running through his mind.

  Marvell's eyes lowered, his gaze sharp and contemplative. "A demon attacking the castle doesn’t make any sense to me," he said finally, his tone quiet yet firm.

  The group exchanged uneasy glances, their curiosity growing. Marvell raised a hand slightly, signaling them to pause. "Okay, can we hold it for a moment and let me just..." He closed his eyes, leaning back in his chair as though trying to connect the dots in his mind. The others waited, the weight of his words leaving a tense silence between them.

  "You guys teleported to this world naked, alright? Then a high mage died during this teleportation magic because of a demon, and your friend went missing and isn't here..." Marvell's calm voice carried a weight that caused the table to fall silent. His words hung in the air as if piecing together an unseen puzzle.

  Everyone watched him intently as he continued, his tone methodical, "The first thing that bothers me is that you guys teleported naked. What's the point of teleporting a hero without a weapon? When a hero is teleported to this world, they usually arrive fully equipped with their clothes, their appearance intact, and their weapon. This means... the king did something to all of you." His voice bring doubt to all the heroes who hear it.

  Shock rippled across the group. Aldir, his voice shaking with restrained anger, asked, "So are you saying that he...?" His fists clenched, but he remained seated, his eyes betraying the sense of betrayal coursing through him.

  Marvell nodded slightly. "Well, maybe. That’s the most plausible explanation. It’s the only spell the high mage knew, and I was close to him once. The possibility that the king manipulated it is high." He said while looking at aldir with worrying in his eyes, Aldir clenched his fist as his hand lay on a table.

  A tense silence settled over them as Marvell’s words began to sink in. He leaned forward slightly, his voice unwavering. "The second thing is that the high mage supposedly died because of a demon." He sigh " I find that impossible. The teleportation chamber and the castle are highly guarded by THE holy knights. The entire area is infused with holy magic. " With his magic he created a small demonic figure as an example he continue " Any demon entering that space would feel sick and, eventually, disintegrate." As the snow melt from Marvell hands replicating what the demon will faced as he enter the holy domain.

  His eyes gleamed with a faint angelic glow as he continued, his tone sharpening. "Add to that the fact that your friend went missing during the teleportation, and it’s clear something unusual happened. Something that not only led to the high mage's death but also caused your friend to vanish."

  Angel’s face grew serious as she asked, "Are you certain about this, Marvell?" staring at Marvell who seems understand and starting to looks like serious.

  Marvell suddenly leaned back in his chair, giving a half-shrug. "Meh, I’m not sure about it," he replied, glancing sideways with an air of casual indifference.

  Angel frowned, disbelief etched across her features. "Are you serious right now?" As she express her shock toward the answer

  "I’m not sure if what I said is true or false," Marvell admitted before taking a sip from his drink. He set the cup down and turned his gaze back to the group, his tone shifting to something more resolute. "But if the first part is true, then the rest could end up being the same."

  Without warning, Marvell grabbed a piece of meat from the table and tossed it toward the ceiling. It didn’t reach but instead fell back toward him. His three dragon tails shot up, catching the meat midair and tearing into it simultaneously. The bizarre sight made the group recoil slightly, especially as the tails tugged the meat toward themselves in a chaotic struggle.

  Marvell sighed, his tone turning serious again. "I'll tell you this: dealing with the demon lords won’t be worth your time for now. They're still recovering from the attacks my party launched against them a long time ago." He leaned in closer, gesturing for everyone to do the same. When the group complied, he lowered his voice to a near whisper, his tone grave.

  "Dealing with the king should be your priority right now," Marvell said softly yet firmly. "We don’t know what he’s planning behind that fancy throne. Trust me on this one." While staring at the heroes, giving them a doubt about the king.

  Angel, curious and doubtful, shifted slightly in her seat. "I have a question, Marvell?" Staring at Marvell with a serious look.

  Marvell cut in gently. "Please, just call me Marv. My friends usually called me that name, and it’s comfortable to hear." With a bit of joy in his voice

  Angel nodded quickly. "Yes, Marv. Do you have any idea what the king is planning on? As the oldest and the hero before us?" She asked with seriousness, staring at Marvell.

  Marvell fell silent for a moment, thinking deeply. Then, he shared his thoughts while everyone listened quietly. "That remains a mystery." He said with less doubt on his face, he took a moment and sigh " From my perspektif, the king stoled the weapon that originally your and force you to do what he expecting, which giving me thought about him wanted to use uh.....your weapon, for his own benefit..." As his closed his eyes while thinking about something.

  Aldir interrupted serious about the conversation they having, his voice tinged with disbelief and frustration. "How do you know the king's intention? I know this is a stupid question, but knowing this, why you and your friends never did something about it? Is it because the collar on your hands that force you to?" Hearing this Marvell open his eyes staring directly at Aldir.

  Marvell chuckled for a moment creating confusion among the heroes, he replied calmly. "Well, actually, I didn’t really know him well. And in that time that collar never even existed " answering aldir question

  Aldir was visibly shocked, his voice rising slightly. "Hah!?" As he stared at Marvell.

  Marvell continued, his voice steady as he began to explain. "Well, the reason I have doubt on him, because one my friends.....uhm......I forgot his name, but let’s just say he told me about the king that looks abit strange and suspicious." He paused briefly before continuing. "At first I quite believe it since I see it myself, but I didn’t think much about it and ignored it. That’s when I heard about the heroes that were deployed. You see...I was curious, and then I come to see it myself. All I see is a looks like a dead person walking around with the horse, like there’s something wrong, which I quickly investigated. Upon knowing the truth, I quickly moving and then meet you guys, which is unexpected for me."

  The table remained silent as Marvell shared his story, his calm tone filling the air. After a moment, he broke the silence with a firm but steady voice. "But it’s just a possibility. The only way to know it’s real is by knowing if it was true or not."

  His face filled with a sadness he try to contain, as he looked at everyone worrying about them. "Still, you guys need to remain aware by the possibility, or the consequences will be lethal—not with you, but all of your friends." As he felt cares to the heroes

  Dewi hesitated as she glanced at her friends, curiosity filling her expression. "So..." She paused for a moment, unsure, before finally expressing her thoughts. "What are we going to do now, knowing..." Her gaze shifted to Marvell as she continued, "all of this information?" Her voice carried her curiosity, and her eyes wandered to her friends, who wore equally confused expressions.

  Nana then spoke up, her voice soft but thoughtful. "Even if we knew all of this, what step do we take?" She looked down at the table, her uncertainty evident.

  Aldir nodded in agreement, his expression serious. "Benar apa yang dikatakan Nana, nggak mungkin kita datang ke gerbang begitu saja tanpa persiapan yang matang," he said, echoing Nana's concerns.

  Andreas, seated beside him, let out a slight sigh, his voice tinged with disappointment. "Nggak benar lagi sih ini Dir. Meskipun apa yang dikatakan sih Marv ini ada betulnya, kita pun juga nggak tahu apa yang kita harus lakukan selanjutnya..." He trailed off, his gaze fixed on Aldir, who looked back at him with a mixture of confusion and contemplation.

  As the discussion continued, Angel suddenly tried to interject. "Guys," she called, but her words went unheard as her friends kept talking, paying her no attention. Frustrated, she punched Nana lightly on the shoulder, drawing her friend's attention.

  Nana turned to her. "We!" she called out, directing everyone's focus. "Angel wants to say something." Her words immediately quieted the group, and all eyes shifted to Angel with curiosity.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  Angel gave Nana a small, grateful nod. "Thank you," she said before turning back to her friends. Her voice grew more determined as she spoke. "Hearing the information we got from him..." She glanced at Marvell, who was holding a giant piece of meat while his three tails struggled to wrest it from his grasp. Marvell chuckled, seemingly oblivious to the group's serious expressions, until he finally noticed their intense stares.

  "Oh..." he muttered, awkwardly lowering the meat as the group continued to watch him with solemn faces.

  Angel continued, her gaze unwavering as she addressed Marvell. "I am pretty sure rescuing us was not your only plan. You gathered us here for something, and I want to know what it is." Her tone was firm, and her expression held a mix of seriousness and concern as she waited for his response.

  Marvell looked at the heroes, an awkward smile crossing his face as his eyes lit up with amusement. "Now this is getting interesting. I didn’t even say anything yet, but you... my heroes, have already figured out that I seek something," he said, attempting to lighten the tension at the table.

  With an unserious expression, he continued, "So, if you’re asking what I seek, it’s something that sounds suspicious, but it entirely depends on your decision. Either your decision can bring me a benefit for the next step or... bring me nothing, which I’m actually expecting."

  The heroes exchanged confused glances, trying to make sense of his words. Angel, her curiosity mixed with concern, finally spoke up. "Then... what is it?" she asked, her tone cautious.

  Marvell, his expression still playful, raised a hand to stop her. "Please, before I say it, hear my explanation first. Because, let’s face it, every time I try to explain something, I get interrupted before I can finish."

  The group fell silent, their focus entirely on him. Marvell took a moment before speaking. "It’s quite simple. All I need is information about your friends—what group they belong to, what kind of powers they possess, and what sort of threats they pose. That’s all I need."

  His words left everyone stunned, their silence speaking volumes. Marvell, noticing their lack of response, leaned back in his chair, clearly pleased. "Finally, I can explain in peace," he said with a chuckle.

  Settling into a more comfortable position, he continued. "The reason I need this information is because I’m the one who’s going to save your friends—not you. And why, you may ask? Because I need all of you to stay dead. If the king finds out what I’m planning by saving each one of you, then it’s over. He’ll kill all the heroes in an instant."

  Marvell’s tone shifted slightly, though he still wore an unserious expression. "But if I keep spreading my name as a hero hunter, the king will send all his forces—well, the heroes—to kill me, trying to prevent any damage to his military power. He wouldn’t dare send his soldiers, knowing their value. They’re far more experienced than the heroes themselves. So yeah, that’s why I need this from you."

  As his words sank in, the group exchanged hesitant looks, unsure how to respond. Marvell, unconcerned by their silence, reached for his drink. "But," he added casually, "it’s up to you. It’s just a request. I’m not forcing you to do it. You can refuse if you want. " His voice filled with hestitant " but... it’ll make my job... to save your friends much harder... , well since I need to make them look... dead......" As he say it toward the heroes who understand what Marv talking.

  He sight, his face turn relaxed as he sipped his drink, his tone completely calm despite the weight of his words.

  "Like I said, that depends on all of you to decide—to trust or not," Marvell stated, his tone turning firm as his expression grew serious. His once lively eyes became hollow, void of any emotion. "But I warn you, even though this is for the sake of you and your friends, be careful with what you choose. Trust me, I’m saying this because I want all of you to be cautious—even in front of me—when making decisions. Each choice can either guide you to a better future or become your worst mistake."

  He stood up abruptly, his presence commanding attention and bringing a heavy weight to the table where the heroes sat. For a moment, the silence in the room was palpable. Suddenly, something seemed to snap within him. His hollow eyes regained their usual light, and his expression softened as his dragon tails shifted, their focus turning toward the exit door.

  Marvell followed their gaze, turning toward the door himself. A smile spread across his face, one filled with warmth and joy, as he glanced back at the heroes. "I have someone to introduce," he said cheerfully. "Meet me and my friends outside. But don’t rush; you need to finish the food I’ve offered and RESSUPLY your ENERGY." With a fun tone as he try to lighten up the weight of what he just did.

  He chuckled softly, his lighthearted demeanor starkly contrasting his earlier seriousness. Without waiting for a response, he walked away from the table, his dragon tails watching the heroes curiously as they followed him toward the exit. Marvell waved his hand in farewell before lowering it and stepping outside, leaving the group in stunned silence.

  The heroes exchanged glances, their expressions filled with confusion and disbelief at what had just transpired. For half an hour, they remained in the tavern, silently finishing their meals and preparing themselves.

  When they finally stepped outside, the cool air greeted them as they scanned their surroundings. Dewi looked around with a frown, her curiosity evident. "Where the heck is Marv? I don’t see him," she said, her tone laced with frustration.

  Angel’s sharp eyes caught something in the distance. "There he is," she called out, pointing toward a figure nearby. The group turned their heads and moved closer to see what Angel had noticed.

  As they approached, they saw Marvell engaged in conversation with someone unfamiliar. The man standing before him wore high, shining armor adorned with a prominent holy mark. A blue cape flowed behind him, and a sturdy bag strapped to his back carried something within. His appearance was striking—handsome and exuding a friendly aura.

  The two seemed at ease, sharing laughter as Marvell smiled, clearly enjoying their exchange. The heroes stopped a short distance away, watching the scene unfold.

  The heroes approached the conversation cautiously, their steps slow as they tried to discern the nature of the exchange. One of Marvell’s dragon tails, noticing their presence, turned toward them and promptly bit into Marv’s hair, yanking it sharply to get his attention.

  “Ow!” Marvell winced, his gaze snapping toward the group as he rubbed his head where the tail had tugged. The tail, satisfied with its success, released its grip and opened its mouth wide before retreating behind Marvell. Despite the sudden pain, Marvell’s expression quickly shifted, his face lighting up with joy as he called out to the approaching heroes.

  "My heroes! Good to see all of you," he said warmly, his voice carrying both excitement and relief.

  The man standing beside Marvell, clad in his gleaming armor and blue cape, turned his attention to the group as well. Though he remained silent, he offered them a gentle smile, observing them with a calm demeanor.

  Marvell gestured toward the man with enthusiasm, addressing the heroes with pride. "Now, like I said, these are the heroes I’ve been talking about." He extended a finger toward each of them, introducing them one by one by name.

  Hearing the introductions, the man finally spoke up, his voice steady and kind. "Hi, my name is Drake," he began, inclining his head slightly in greeting. "Like Marv here, I’m also a hero who was teleported alongside him."

  Drake took a step forward and bowed deeply, his unexpected gesture startling the young heroes. Rising back up, he continued, his tone shifting to one of empathy. "I received a distress signal from Marv, so I came rushing to this place. Hearing about your struggles, I… I feel deeply sorry for everything you’ve been through," he said, his voice carrying a heartfelt sadness as he addressed the group.

  Marvell, sensing the tension, tried to lighten the atmosphere with a casual tone. "Now, let’s talk about our next course. To defeat a ki—"

  Before he could finish, Angel quickly stepped forward, raising a hand to signal him to stop. Her expression was tense, her movements deliberate as she motioned for silence. Marvell stopped mid-sentence, blinking in confusion as he looked at her.

  Angel leaned closer, lowering her voice to barely a whisper. "Shouldn’t we talk in a place more…" She glanced around the bustling streets, where people moved about, seemingly indifferent to their presence. Turning her gaze back to Marvell, she finished, "…private? What makes you think it’s a good idea to talk about defeating the king of this land out here?"

  Marvell tilted his head slightly, his face blank with pure confusion, clearly not understanding the issue. Before he could respond, Drake chuckled, his laughter catching everyone’s attention.

  "Didn’t Marvell tell you this is his territory?" Drake asked, his voice filled with amusement as his laughter slowly faded.

  Angel’s eyes widened in shock and disbelief. "Marv, what now?" she asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and concern.

  Drake, still smiling, continued to explain. "This place is Marvell’s territory. Let’s just say everyone here has a bad history with the king. Wasn’t it obvious already? Look around." He gestured toward the posters on the walls, featuring crude drawings of the king’s face, all defaced with bright colors and mocking details. "Redrawn?" Drake added with another chuckle.

  The heroes glanced around, finally noticing the defaced posters and realizing what Drake meant. Marvell, who had been quietly observing, shifted his gaze from Drake to the heroes. "Well," he began, rubbing the back of his neck, "I didn’t think it was worth mentioning, but Drake’s right. Anyway, Drake might be tired, so we should find a proper place to rest while we discuss our next plan."

  The group murmured their agreement, Drake nodding with a smile. Marvell motioned for them to follow as he began walking toward a specific direction. "Follow me," he said confidently.

  As they walked, Marvell raised a hand mid-step and glanced back at the group. His voice carried a hint of regret as he spoke. "Sorry for not telling you this was my territory earlier. I probably should have mentioned it sooner." He lowered his hand and added, "Let’s keep going."

  The group followed behind, their footsteps echoing softly against the cobbled streets. Marvell’s dragon tails playfully swayed at the back, occasionally nudging the heroes or curling around Drake’s bag, causing laughter to ripple through the group. Meanwhile, Marvell looked up at the evening sky as night began to settle in, his gaze turning thoughtful before focusing ahead. He knew exactly where they were going—a place where they could rest and plan in peace.

  As night fell, the group was inside a large resting place, the dimly lit room casting long shadows on the walls. They sat in a circle, facing one another, the weight of the day’s events heavy in the air as they began discussing their next course of action.

  Drake broke the silence first, his tone laced with doubt. "I always had my doubts about him, but I never expected this would happen," he said, his gaze shifting to Marvell, who lay comfortably on a bed. Marvell's tail swayed lazily behind him, seemingly playing on its own.

  Marvell, noticing Drake’s troubled expression, replied with his usual calm demeanor. "That’s the most plausible possibility I could think of. The answer remains a mystery, just as I said, Drake. But still, combined with Aidris’s suspicious behavior, the chances of it happening are higher."

  Drake absorbed Marvell’s words in silence, his face betraying a hint of frustration. The room grew quiet, the only sound the occasional creak of the wooden floor beneath them. Breaking the stillness, Dewi’s worried voice rose, filled with concern. "Is there something we can do to free our friends?" she asked, her eyes shifting between Drake and Marvell, searching for a glimmer of hope.

  Drake furrowed his brow, deep in thought as he considered her question. The room held its collective breath, waiting for his response. Then, suddenly, an idea flickered across his mind. "I have an idea... but..." he began, his voice hesitant.

  Angel leaned forward, her curiosity piqued by his pause. "But... is there something wrong?" she asked, her tone serious yet tinged with hesitation.

  Drake let out a heavy sigh before continuing, his voice laden with reluctance. "But this will not include any of you. It’ll be just me, him"—he gestured toward Marvell, still lounging on the bed—"and our friends out there. We can gather them in a matter of days. But I have no idea what you all can do to support us."

  His words left the room in silence once more, the weight of his statement settling over everyone. Aldir, his expression thoughtful, finally broke the tension. "It’s alright. Marvell already told us there’s nothing we can do. Still, we wish to find any way possible to support you," he said earnestly.

  Drake hesitated, visibly torn as though something was holding him back from speaking further. Marvell, ever composed, broke the silence with a blunt remark. "Unfortunately, what I said earlier about information is the only thing you can do for us."

  Drake’s composure cracked. "MARV!" he shouted, his frustration boiling over as he delivered a sharp punch to Marvell’s shoulder.

  Marvell winced, exaggerating his reaction with a dramatic "Ow." He rubbed his shoulder, a faint grin playing on his lips. "Fair enough. I deserved that one," he admitted with a chuckle.

  Drake, his anger fading into regret, apologized to the group. "Sorry for Marvell’s behavior. Sometimes he says things that... logically, I’m afraid he’s right," he said, his voice heavy with conflicted emotions.

  The heroes exchanged glances, their expressions firm with resolve. Angel spoke up, her tone serious and unwavering. "It’s alright, Drake. We agree with this idea. It seems we have no other choice."

  Drake’s eyes widened in disbelief, the unexpected acceptance leaving him momentarily speechless. He finally lowered his gaze, sorrow and regret evident in his voice. "I’m sorry if this is all we can ask of you."

  Marvell clapped his hands together, his voice breaking the heavy mood. "Great! I guess we’re all in agreement, then. Let’s get some sleep. But before we do, I’ll need you all to write down each of your friends’ information. Drake here..."—he shot a mischievous glance at Drake—"has dementia, I’m afraid."

  "Quit it," Drake cut in sharply, his annoyance evident.

  Marvell raised his hands in mock surrender, his grin unrelenting. "Alright, as you wish," he said lightly, watching Drake’s expression settle into silence.

  The group, though tense, silently agreed to prepare for what lay ahead. The night stretched on, and they go to their own room to rest for the night.