We returned to our little house. I immediately flopped onto the couch, hoping to resume doing absolutely nothing. No such luck. Two shadows loomed over me.

  "Greg," Alexia began, crossing her arms over her chest. "Are you hiding something from us?"

  "Who was that elf?" Lianel chimed in. "Why was she protecting you? How does she know your name... or rather, your nickname? What kind of fish is that anyway?"

  "I don't know," I groaned, closing my eyes. "I was just lying there, minding my own business. She came up to me herself."

  "Herself?" Alexia narrowed her eyes. "S-class mages don't just walk up and pet strangers for no reason. Spill it!"

  Our interrogation was interrupted by a knock. Without even waiting for an answer, the door swung open. There she stood. That very same elf.

  "May I?" she asked, stepping inside immediately.

  The princesses froze, mouths agape. "You?!"

  The elf walked right past them as if they were furniture and sat on the edge of my couch.

  "Greg... or Halibut," she said softly. "I really don't know much about your current life. But I know your past. You saved my family from a sand demon many years ago."

  I cracked one eye open. "Seriously? Don't remember."

  "I know you don't," she nodded. "You were exactly the same back then."

  She smiled, staring at something past me. "You know, I saw a man do exactly this..." Her hand reached out toward my head. "He used to scratch your head to calm you down. You were always wild, but in his hands, you became as soft as silk."

  "A man?" I asked, surprised.

  "Yes. Your companion. He called you Halibut."

  Her fingers touched the crown of my head. I twitched, ready to protest, but...

  "Oh..." I exhaled. It felt way too good. She knew the exact right spots.

  "You haven't changed a bit," she whispered. "Still the same child in the body of a mighty mage."

  "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!" Alexia exploded.

  "Greg!" Lianel stomped her foot. "Do you seriously not remember this?! The man? The rescue?"

  "Nope," I muttered, practically melting into the couch. "Total blank. But... keep scratching. It's pure bliss."

  I was already starting to drift off to sleep, ignoring the indignant huffing of the princesses.

  Suddenly, there was another knock at the door. This time, formal and loud. A richly dressed servant entered carrying a tray.

  "A message from His Majesty, Sultan Azur!" he announced grandly.

  Lianel took the scroll, broke the seal, and began to read aloud: "'Greetings to the valiant semi-finalists! We invite you to a Grand Feast at the central palace...'" She paused, then finished reading: "'...A Feast in honor of the Sultan and his magnificence.'"

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Silence.

  "Pfft..." I snorted. "BWAHAHAHA!" I burst out laughing, nearly falling off the couch (the elf withdrew her hand just in time). "In honor of the Sultan?!" I howled. "So, he's inviting guests just so we can eat to his health and marvel at how awesome he is?"

  "Greg, keep it down!" Alexia hissed, glancing nervously at the servant.

  "Man, what a narcissist!" I wiped away a tear. "'Come stuff your faces to celebrate how cool I am.' It's genius! I gotta see this. And eat. There’ll be food, right?"

  The servant bowed and backed away, clearly offended by my laughter.

  "You're incorrigible," Alexia sighed.

  "At least I'm honest," I said, standing up. "Well, ladies? And you, my pointy-eared masseuse. Shall we hit the feast? Since the Sultan is such a humble guy, it’d be rude to refuse."

  SCENE: Elephants, a Gluttonous Savior, and a Colorblind Prince

  We made the journey to the palace riding elephants. It was majestic, but bumpy as hell. Fortunately, the elf rode with me (I still hadn't asked her name; to me, she was just "Massage"). She kept running her fingers through my hair as the elephant marched rhythmically down the streets.

  "Oh, God..." I groaned, rolling my eyes. "Where have you been all this time? Why am I only meeting you now?"

  "Your hair is fascinating," she said quietly. "It looks stiff as straw, sticking out in all directions. But the moment you touch it, it’s soft as silk."

  "By the way," she smiled at the memory. "I remember when my parents wanted to thank you for saving us by treating you to dinner."

  "And? Let me guess, I refused like a true hero?"

  "No," she giggled. "You ate everything. Literally everything. Even our winter rations. My dad had to spend the next week fishing just to feed us."

  "Mmm..." I scratched my nose. "Don't remember that either. But it sounds like my style. I guess I was really hungry. Or just greedy."

  We arrived at the palace. The din was unbelievable. The Sultan really was throwing a feast in honor of himself. His portraits, statues, and tapestries bearing his likeness hung everywhere. We were seated at long tables. There was an ocean of food. Mountains of pilaf, rivers of sherbet, towers of fruit.

  I instantly forgot about etiquette, the princesses, and the elf. I started eating. I consumed food like a Black Abyss. The plates were emptied before the servants could even set them down.

  "Tasty," I mumbled through a mouthful. "Spicy, but it works."

  While my jaws worked, my eyes scanned the hall. I spotted our opponents. Those same guys from "Iron Peak" (already sporting new staffs), mages from the West, assassins from the East. To Alexia and Lianel, these were serious, dangerous enemies. Lethal.

  Yeah, I thought, biting into a pheasant leg. It’s gonna be tough for them. But then I looked at my own hand, greasy with fat.

  Lucky for them, they’ve got me. We’ll pull through.

  Suddenly, the doors flew open. Prince Karim stormed into the hall. He was all dolled up and red with rage. He ran up to his father’s throne.

  "Father!" he shrieked, pointing a finger at me (I was just finishing off some grapes). "This is an outrage! This foreigner... he insulted me!"

  The Sultan lazily raised an eyebrow. "How so, my son?"

  "He... he eclipsed my beauty!" Karim blurted out. "The whole city is talking about his purple eyes! They’re calling him a marvel! But I am the only marvel here! I demand justice! Throw him out!"

  The hall went dead silent. Everyone looked at me. I wiped my mouth with a napkin. The Sultan let out a heavy sigh and looked at me.

  "Youth in the hood. Stand up. And show your face."

  Alexia tensed. Lianel gripped her fork like a weapon.

  I stood up slowly. "As you command, Your Majesty."

  I threw back my hood. The Sultan and the Prince were met with my gaze. One eye was black as coal. The other was an ordinary, boring brown. The color of old bark.

  Silence. Prince Karim's eyes bugged out. He ran closer, peering into my face.

  "Uh... What?! But... I was told... The guards said... Purple! A ruby!"

  I blinked my brown-and-black eyes. "Your Highness," I said, playing the picture of innocence. "Maybe the sun baked your brain a bit? A heat mirage, perhaps? I'm just an ordinary guy. No purple here."

  The Sultan turned purple. Not at me, but at his son.

  "Karim!" he barked. "You interrupted my feast for THIS?! For your hallucinations and envy over a common vagabond?!"

  "But father..."

  "Sit down and keep your mouth shut! You are disgracing our bloodline in front of our guests!"

  The Prince, red as a lobster, trudged back to his seat, shooting me withering glares. I calmly pulled my hood back up and sat down.

  "Pass the salt, please," I whispered to the elf.

  Stifling a laugh, she slid the salt shaker over to me.