187 Sparring with Willim (2/2)

Giving the prince a funny look, Jack laughed as well. ”For some reason, I don't believe that.”

”Yeah, you may be right.” The prince waved at his guards, letting them know that it was all over. Then, he walked to the merchant and handed her a large sack of gold in exchange for the pearl.

Not knowing what to do, she handed the prince the pearl. If the prince wanted to go back on his word, then she wouldn't dare offend him.

Before Jack could yell in anger, the frost pearl was thrown to him, catching him off guard. Jack caught it again gave the prince a funny look.

”Jack, you're the first person my age to best me. Take that as a token of my friendship. Would you mind coming with us to Frostburn City and visiting the royal palace?”

Taken aback by how genuinely straight forward the prince was, Jack struggled to respond. ”I… My party is already planning to go there, but we're waiting for our new coats to be made.”

Happy to not be rejected, Willim asked, ”How long will that take?”

”About a week.”

”A week, huh?”

The prince scratched the side of his face, thinking something over. Suddenly, he clapped his hands together and shouted, ”In that case, I'll stay here too! When the week is over, we'll use the ancient relic to teleport to the capital!”

”You have a strange way of doing things, don't you?” asked Jack.

”Yeah, you got a problem with that?”

”Nope!” Jack shook his head with a smile. ”In fact, I quite like it. I'll go inform my party, they'll be happy to know we have permission to use the relic.”

”Mind if I join you?” asked the Prince, eagerness written all over his face.

”Sure, why not? They'll meet you at some point.”

Daliea hurried to Jack's side. She was overjoyed to see Jack defeat the prince, then again, she knew it was bound to happen. Anyone facing Jack while at the same level would be at a severe disadvantage, let alone a lower level like the prince.

Jack and Willin walked side by side, chatting about each other's adventures thus far. In tow were Daliea and the head guard who had been the match judge. The other men left under Willim's orders.

As the night rolled in, Jack and Willim entered the tavern with hungry bellies. They walked past the bar and found the other members of Jack's party finishing a late dinner.

”Jack! Where have you been? I missed my husband,” pouted Eliza, trying to grab his attention after she saw that Daliea was with him.

”Come and sit down, the food's pretty good here,” Maynard said as he looked at Willim. ”And who's the new friend ya made?”

Jack, Willim, Daliea, and the guard all sat down before Jack introduced him. ”Everyone, this is Willim Frant. He--”

”Pfffeeepanying the prince while he traveled and grinded in the tundra for the past couple weeks. We got here this morning and used the day to relax.”

”While we were here in the trade hub of Aazoon, the prince was looking for something special to gift his younger sister. That's when he and Jack both found a frost pearl. They both wagered it over a sparring match, but the prince lost in the end and gifted the pearl to Jack. And, here we are now,” explained the man.

”Oh, you were looking for a gift for your sister?” asked Jack. Now that he understood why the prince wanted the pearl, he felt bad, a little.

Finishing the mug of brundy that was brought to him, the prince slammed it on the table. ”Nah, don't mind that at all. I'm sure I'll find something while we wait for your coats.”