The Faraway Paladin (Manga)

Raised by a skeleton, a mummy, and a ghost, William lives in an ancient city of the dead. Full of regrets about his former life, the boy reborn into a world of high fantasy and magic vows to do it all over—and this time, do it right.

Now on the cusp of adulthood, Will has his first true battle against the man who raised him and taught him how to fight: the skeletal warrior Blood. Afterwards, Will learns the truth his undead family has been keeping from him, and finds that he must summon the courage to exorcise the ghost of his own past before an echo of theirs takes everything he holds dear...

On the verge of death during his battle with the evil god Stagnate, Will must decide what he wants for himself and his future. Filled with a new determination and with his new patron god watching over him, Will springs back to finish what was started centuries ago.

Will is met by the grim reality of life on the edge of civilization. Beasts roam the woods, villages are under attack by demons, and the half-elf Meneldor is not the friend Will hoped he would be. There is light to be found even in this dark place, but Will must carry the torch.

As thanks for killing the wyvern that attacked the city of Whitesails, Will is granted an audience with the Duke of Southmark. This is the perfect opportunity for Will to gain the authority he needs to save the people of Beast Woods from poverty and the scourge of demons. But that will be far from easy...

Menel's brush with death taught Will to take nothing for granted. With important lessons learned, the adventurers regroup and free Beast Woods of the demon scourge. The road ahead is long for Will, who now carries responsibility for the woods and the people who live there, but now is the time for celebration. The troubadour Bee sings a poem, a living testament to the immortals who raised the Faraway Paladin. Will discovers that great heroes transcend time, and their deeds light a flame of courage in the hearts of men. And so, a new tale of a hero just born begins its journey down the ages...

The city of Torch Port, restored and run by Will over two years, is now home to people from all over the world. Its newest citizens are the dwarves, a former warrior race of mountain-dwellers turned vagabonds by the fall of the Iron Country. Will makes it his business to learn about their past, hoping not only to help them in any way he can, but also to gain some insight into the imminent threat said to be lurking in the Rust Mountains. Yet even as Will teaches a timid dwarf the ways of a warrior, the name Valacirca strikes terror into his own heart...

"Under the flame's protection, thou shalt challenge the dragon...and thou shalt die defeated." After an unexpected encounter with an old adversary of two years past, Will is faced with a decision, and the lives of many hang in the balance: should he bide his time, or act swiftly to save everyone and risk total defeat? Confronted with his own mortality, Will realizes that when it comes to knowing the true nature of courage, Al may be wiser than the paladin himself...

Under cover of darkness, Will’s party of five set out on a quest to infiltrate the Rust Mountains and slay the calamitous elder dragon Valacirca, bringer of war and transgressor upon the dwarves’ former home. Their course takes the Faraway Paladin through the ruined city where he was raised. As his party learns of his surprising connection to great heroes of old, Will hopes to reunite with his grandfather, share his successes, and receive advice on how to deal with the terrifying threat. Knowing the odds are against them yet emboldened by each other's bravery, Will, Menel, Reystov, and the dwarves Vindalfr and Ghelreis gear up for the task ahead, tell tales of the heroes who preceded them, and embark on a perilous journey through uncharted land...

As Will and his companions continue their journey to the Rust Mountains, they encounter murky waters. While some of the area’s inhabitants are less than pleased to see them, others are spirits in need of repose - something the Faraway Paladin is more than able to provide. No sooner has Will sent these souls back to the eternal cycle than Menel dashes off and finds an elf crying for help. Dinelind, barely hanging on to life, has been bitten by a hydra, and before Will can even think about healing their new friend, they'll have to bring the venomous monster down first. The grateful elf guides them to Lothdor, the Land of Flowers, an elf village that was once neighbors to the dwarves. The people there are suffering, but the pride of an elf is difficult to manage. Is either side prepared to accept the other's help?

"The time has come to avenge the people of the Iron Country! Will and his allies have reached the Rust Mountains at last. Together they make their way to the Rock Hall, meeting those who stayed behind to defend their home while the rest of the dwarves fled to safety. It’s time for Al to step up as the descendant of Aurvangr, king of the dwarves, to see their souls off into the beyond. When our party reaches the throne room, they’re confronted with a Scarabeus, who’s claimed the dwarf crown for itself. A fierce battle begins between those who have conquered the Rust Mountains and those who have come to reclaim it." No sooner has Will sent these souls back to the eternal cycle than Menel dashes off and finds an elf crying for help. Dinelind, barely hanging on to life, has been bitten by a hydra, and before Will can even think about healing their new friend, they'll have to bring the venomous monster down first. The grateful elf guides them to Lothdor, the Land of Flowers, an elf village that was once neighbors to the dwarves. The people there are suffering, but the pride of an elf is difficult to manage. Is either side prepared to accept the other's help?

Behold Valacirca, the eldest and mightiest dragon! Will and his companions finally confront the formidable predator lurking at the heart of the Rust Mountains. The party think themselves ready, yet Valacirca's attack is unexpected, striking at their resolve. Faced with the choice between peace and death, Will must see through temptation to the sinister schemes lurking beneath. Only then can the true battle begin.

To battle. Will is locked in relentless single combat with the foul-dragon Valacirca and finding that he cannot succeed alone. Even the protection of his goddess is quickly shattered. The tide takes a curious turn as a second deity enters the fray. As Will’s longtime adversary, Stagnate has no intention of granting him blessings; yet the god of undeath has great influence on this bloody battleground, where the foul-dragon decimated the dwarves of the Iron Mountains... In this time of darkness, our heroes must stoke the fire of courage. One brilliant strike could herald a new dawn!