The Demon King's Paladin

Chapter 1. White Light

How did I get here I wonder to myself. My name is John and I'm here at a cabin in the woods from our small-town. Hardwood floors a fireplace crackling even though it's June a cold beer in my hand thinking it can help ease my nerves. Drunk idiots all around either crying that they'll miss each other or angry shouts that I can't really make out over all the chaos.

I'm nothing too crazy black hair blue eyes 6 ft 1" I'm good with physical activity and I'm pretty smart. Enough to get a scholarship out of my little hometown. I feel it was the best way to repay my current foster parents to let them know they succeeded and I'm not going to let my parent's death control my life, as for the reason I'm currently at this place dealing with the person I'd rather never see again that would be because of my foster sister.

It's a Graduation party I didn't really want to come to, but I decided to come because she came Laura my childhood friend and foster sister. Blond hair like sand and green eyes like emeralds, she's wearing a green top and jeans, she's of average height. We've been in each other's lives for as long as I can remember. our parents were friends before we were even born, they even got houses next to each other and it stayed that way until the car crash happened, I was 9 in the back seat it was a head on Collision. it took 15 minutes for the emergency services to get there while I sat covered in blood looking at the blood covered hole in the windshield where my parents used to be.

It took a long time to be able to sleep at night without nightmares, drunk drivers are the worst, I still catch myself thinking that they're still here of course I miss them. I try to hide it as best I can because after the funeral Laura's parents were kind enough to take me in. They're good people her mother Victoria was extremely patient with me her father Dan is someone I trust completely I can never fully thank them for what they've done for me. To make things easier for Laura we decided to hide the fact I live with her in high school something about her finding it embarrassing not trying to rock the boat. I agreed she seemed disappointed when I said yes but if she was? What was the point of asking me to in the first place?

As for Laura we were more or less together since birth. I usually went with her flow. I'm more of a stay at home, relax, play a video game or watch a movie kind of guy. recently in high school our relationship has gotten more strained we used to be so close it felt off being apart. Now she sometimes struggles to get words out when we talk, but she still insists on talking to me and bringing me places. She's really popular at our school able to get along with just about anyone. I usually kept to myself studying or working out, occasionally interacting with people when the situation would come up. In fact, I see a couple of people in the room who I've had interactions with. In particular the four people sitting opposite me around Laura. This situation ended up playing out multiple times during the years, for some reason I'm invited by Laura somewhere and she brings them, and my stress starts to build.

The three girls sitting around Laura, her friends Lucy, the more active of the 4. Her and Laura are cheerleaders. Lucy is wearing a black top and a white skirt. Ashley is the sportswoman of the group she's part of the track team and seems to be pretty good at it. She's dressed in a pink shirt and black shorts. Then there's Jaime she's a lot quieter than the other 3. she's more of a bookworm. I've seen her reading in the library while I was there studying during the years. She's dressed in a blue blouse and jeans and then there's Lucy's brother Luke. A little shorter than me, with black hair like me, and brown eyes like his sister. Jaime and Ashley are brunettes. Jaime with light blue eyes and Ashley with brown eyes. Lucy on the other hand, is a blonde with brown eyes. Pretty much the 4 most popular girls in the school are sitting opposite to me. I'd be able to enjoy it more if it wasn't for Luke being there.

Luke and I don't get along, whether it be sports or studying I've always gotten the better of him. I'd assume that is where his attitude with me comes from. It's always bad vibes and it doesn't help the fact that he takes every chance to try to belittle me in the only way he can, that being my social life. seeing as Laura is the only person, I'm close to he takes every chance he can to call me a loner or a freak whether behind my back or in front of my face like now for instance. He's a few cups of beer in. yelling Loudly so everyone can hear him. He asks Laura.

"Why do you even talk to this loser?"

He said while the conversation didn't involve me at all. All 4 of the girls sat there puzzled as to where that came from, me as well. maybe it was the beers he drank or maybe he assumes this is the last time we will see each other. As for me maybe it's the beer I just finished or maybe it was the fact I've been sick of him since the first time I heard him speak I responded with.

"Probably because I don't have a personality that revolves around my inferiority complex. or how badly my "pick me! Attitude shows." 

I guess that beer is starting to let my real thoughts leak out. I stare at the 5 of them, not particularly caring about the reactions. After a few seconds Luke said,

" says the guy sitting in my family's cabin."

He looked proud of that one, I don't know why. I replied.

" If that's the best you can do it's no wonder why you could never beat me."

The girls started having worried looks on their faces, Luke was furious since he's drunk.  I guess it was just enough to provoke him. he proceeded to get up and come towards me, so I stood up to, waiting to see what happens next. the girls get in the middle of it.

Lucy, Ashley and Jaime go to pacify Luke as Laura looks at me angrily, she says.

"why are you fighting with him tonight it was nice before that!"

I respond with.

" I'm fighting with him because he started it! You guys were saying nothing about me, and he brought me up to try to insult me! Just like always! Why are you even trying to defend him?"

she retorts with.

" you know he's always like that, you're always the bigger man why change today!?"

I say with the blood rushing to my head, things that have been weighing on me for a while now start to escape.

"It's not my job to turn the other cheek, to keep you and your friends happy! It's almost like you bring me places just to have him try to talk me down! I'm sick of it!"

Laura taking a deep breath says in a shaky voice.

" I never asked you to do that. I brought you to places with them because they're my friends and their important to me."

I respond.

" Yeah, but you still seem to be missing the point they aren't MY friends they're yours."

Anger is coursing through me and the years all flash before me. I feel something snap, and I feel a strange sense of calm. Laura notices something and the three girls who at this point are watching me and Laura, watch on with sad looks in their eyes. I look at Laura and I just say.

"I'm tired of holding back I'm tired of being dragged by you to interact with these people who don't even attempt to talk to me when I'm there and honestly I'm just tired of trying to make our friendship work. You can barely string 2 sentences together when talking to me and you look flustered like you'd rather be doing anything else. I'm tired of feeling like the guy you feel sorry for, so you drag him to places. And honestly I'm tired of trying."

The three girls looked horrified Luke is smiling he most likely has been hoping for something like this and Laura... Laura's eyes start to water, and she opens her mouth and begins to speak.

" No, I .." And then all I hear is a loud boom and I'm surrounded in white light, and I feel a set of strong eyes on me like they just saw through me.

The light fades and I'm in a big room made of stone. The sun shining in the window. I look around from the window, and I see weird looking humanoid creature's. Men with animal heads with 3 eyes or 4 ears sometimes both. I see humans of different shapes sizes and ages with skin hair and eye colors I've never seen before. my eyes eventually land on a set of steps I follow them till I see the eyes that feel similar to the ones from the white light. I see a man with white hair who looks to be in his early forties looking exhausted and a woman a little younger than him helping to hold him up with deep blue hair the color of the deep sea. He looks at me, and says with what appears to be the last of his strength.

" I the Demon King Warrick and my wife the Demon Queen Aqua Welcome you John the Paladin!"

I hear cheers all around me and all I can think is.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING!!"