NOVPUB
Chapter 107: Gifts From The Hero
The stew was warm, the bread even warmer, and Zayn — freshly showered and now annoyingly smug — was halfway through his second bowl, occasionally tossing Kara teasing glances that made her grip her spoon like it was a dagger.
"You’re chewing like you’re afraid it’ll come back to life," Zayn said to Bran, who was currently battling a chunk of meat with the same intensity he used against dungeon bosses.
Bran didn’t even look up. "I respect my prey."
Kara snorted. "Says the guy who almost tripped over his own feet while trying to battle that worm monster."
"I was just making sure!"
"You were checking if your spine could survive folding backwards."
They all chuckled, the ease between them wrapping around the room like a second warmth.
Elisse, who had taken the last seat after serving everyone else (as usual), looked up between sips.
"Hey, would someone mind checking if Tobias is coming down? I told him food’s ready, but he didn’t answer."
"I got it," Zayn said, standing.
He brought the bowl to his lips and slurped down the rest like a dehydrated camel, ignoring the scandalized looks aimed his way.
Kara blinked. "Do you eat like an animal on purpose?"
He set the empty bowl down with a deliberately loud clink, licking his lips for maximum effect.
But as he turned toward her, he moved his lips soundlessly, making sure only she could see.
Kara’s eyes widened as she read them.
’Those lips tasted nice, milady.’
Her spoon halted midair.
"You — !" she barked, face immediately catching fire.
But Zayn was already halfway up the stairs, smirking as her sputtering turned into an indignant growl.
He reached Tobias’s room and gave the door a soft knock.
No answer.
Another knock, firmer this time.
Still nothing.
He sighed. "I swear, if you’re unconscious again, I’m telling Elisse you passed out hugging a body pillow of the king."
Zayn turned the handle and cracked the door open.
Tobias was on the floor.
For a heartbeat, Zayn’s stomach flipped, but then he realized the guy wasn’t passed out — just sitting with his back against the bed, head tilted slightly up, eyes lost in thought.
"You planning to make love to the carpet, or you good?" Zayn asked.
Tobias didn’t look startled, which was somehow worse.
He just turned his head and tossed something Zayn’s way.
Zayn caught it instinctively — then blinked at the weight and shape.
Armor?
It was sleek and black, lightweight but clearly durable, reinforced with faint silver lines that traced the edges.
It wasn’t flashy — no excessive plating or flourishes — but it looked sturdy, the kind of armor that promised you could still move in it, dodge in it, breathe in it.
"Uh... thanks?" Zayn tilted the armor, inspecting it.
Tobias finally stood, brushing invisible dust from his pants. "You need it."
Zayn raised a brow. "Okay, rude."
"You fought the boss up close," Tobias said, now opening his portal inventory — a magic portal of light that hovered beside him.
"You’ll need armor that lets you move while still protecting vital points. That set has elemental insulation and minor soul resistance, and it’s warded to resist corrosion. Better than your thrift-store chestplate."
"I liked my thrift-store chestplate," Zayn muttered, still admiring the new one. "It made me look rugged."
"It made you look like a tin can mid-existential crisis."
Zayn chuckled, but the humor in Tobias’s eyes didn’t return.
He looked... tense. Even more than usual.
Tobias turned back to the portal and pulled out a long black case.
Zayn’s joking tone softened. "What’s that?"
The Hero of Knowledge laid the case on the bed and popped it open.
Inside were weapons — three of them.
A double-edged sword with a shimmer to its edge like starlight.
An axe carved from some dark wood laced with silver. And a dagger that almost looked too simple, but Zayn’s soul energy twitched the moment it was exposed.
"These," Tobias said quietly, "were gifts from the king. Given to me when I accepted the role of Hero Of Knowledge."
Zayn blinked. "Didn’t think the king was the gift-giving type."
"He’s not," Tobias said. "These weren’t charity. They’re tools." 𝑛𝘰𝑣𝑝𝑢𝑏.𝘤𝑜𝘮
Zayn looked at the weapons again.
Each one carried a presence — like they had been used before. Honed not just by magic, but by battle.
"You pulling these out because you’re afraid of another boss like that?" Zayn asked, tone low now.
Tobias nodded.
"That fight... was too close. I couldn’t heal Elisse fast enough. Kara nearly ran out of mana shielding everyone. You... you had to use that crazy skill and fight one-on-one. And Bran — " he paused " — Bran got flung like a sack of potatoes."
Zayn snorted. "He landed like a majestic cow."
But Tobias didn’t smile.
"I wasn’t ready," Tobias said. "I should have been. I’ve spent my whole life studying monsters, tactics, soul readings. But I still froze. When I saw the soul energy being siphoned... I didn’t know what to do."
"You recovered," Zayn said, a little more firmly now. "You stabilized Elisse. You analyzed the threat. You called out info none of us would’ve figured out in time."
"That’s not enough," Tobias said, voice clipped. "Not anymore."
There was silence for a moment as Zayn looked at him, then at the weapons.
"You’re gearing up for war."
"I’m preparing," Tobias replied. "Because next time, I don’t want to survive. I want us to win. Without almost dying."
Zayn nodded slowly. "Alright then."
He picked up the dagger first, flipping it in his palm.
It was light — far lighter than it should’ve been.
And the blade... he wasn’t sure if it was steel or soul-forged or something else, but it felt right.
"You’re lending these?"
Tobias hesitated. "No."
Zayn raised a brow.
"I’m giving them to you guys."
That made Zayn pause. He looked up, really looked at Tobias this time, and found none of the superiority or overthinking aura that the guy sometimes radiated.
Just... respect.
And maybe a little guilt.
Zayn nodded and set the dagger back down, letting out a long sigh. "You know, I came up here to tell you dinner was ready."
Tobias finally blinked, like he was only just remembering they lived in a house with smells and stairs and stew.
Zayn turned toward the door.
"Zayn," Tobias said suddenly.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for holding the line in that fight."
Zayn glanced over his shoulder and smiled. "Thanks for making sure Elisse didn’t die."
