A lot happened after that strange meal.

We spent a whole day exploring all kinds of places. From fields to forests to the river side.

Master had me start with fighting Balloons. Odd monsters that were round and bounced around. They were scary with their big maws… But, once I popped them… They didn't seem as dangerous as I once thought.

The Loomushes were even less scary than the Red Balloons, the nastiest of Balloons we came across.

They reminded me of mushrooms in my Mommy's kitchen, only bigger than me and with beady eyes. I sliced through those white, green, and blue ones with ease with my knife.

Yet, to my surprise, did not Master attacked any monsters. He would use a shield to protect me… Many different ones, in fact, but never once did he throw a punch or even kick.

He actually experimented with how to block attacks with his shield.

Was he really, really strong? Or was he just a liar?…

Just like my past owners.

We made camp near the river… and I got quite a surprise.

"Let's see if this work. Shadow Clone Spell!"Master made a funny pose with his hand…

Waaah!

Several of my Master appeared from puffs of smoke!

"Finally got it right." Master pumped his fist in pride. "You go fishing, you go collect more plants, you two get to crafting, and the rest of you to try whatever you can think of."

"Yes, sir!" All the clones shouted and ran off into various directions. I could only frown when some of them tried to walk across the river. They only sunk for their troubles. And others fell from trees… With trying to run up them?

"Dammit… My worst enemy is back," Master sighed as he shook his head.

"Okay. Raphtalia." I jumped and looked at Master. "I finally figured out how this stupid curse thing works. I've turned it off everything that curse won't hurt you anymore."

What?!

No, it had to be a lie.

There was no way an owner would ever turn off a curse's choices. It was what kept them in control of the slave.

"I'm going to rest first. I think you would like a bath, so," He pulled off his mantle… Exposing an orange one hidden under the green one he had on.

How… many mantles do one need?

"You can use this to keep warm once you bathed. Well, if you want to. When the moon gets... About where you can see it over the trees, wake me up as I know my clones won't. You can eat any fish my clone fishing cooks if you like."

And with a yawn, my owner flopped down and began to snore.

He was still wearing the armor…

How... Could he do that?

I decided not to question it.

I really did need a bath. Maybe a hair cut as well.

The water was a little cold, but not unbearable. Feeling the grim and dirt come off my body felt very good along. Even the weird burn left my nose.

The warmth of the fire was even better. There with were three fish cooking due to my Master's copy's hand.

"Here. The rest you can eat. They will be in this cloth for breakfast." I nodded before he gave me the fish.

And I almost dropped it as my eyes widen wide.

The copy disappeared into smoke!

"Amazing," I whispered out before taking a bite of the fish.

It was delicious.

This whole day delicious food was given to me.

Once I finished, I glanced at the sleeping form of my master.

He was doing this on purpose, wasn't he?

He was just softening me up and would push me down again.

The others did it. Especially that nasty man that was my last owner.

Thinking of the flag... I gripped the hilt of my dagger.

I glanced around.

The clones were busy and not even paying attention to their creator or me.

I was going to die soon… Might as well chance it.

I carefully took off the mantle and walked towards my master.

Careful... Not a sound.

This was my one chance.

If he told the truth... This was my one chance for freedom.

I glanced back at the clones.

None of them had looked up from their work.

I stood above my owner.

I slowly took out the blade from its stealth.

His neck area was exposed. I couldn't see it clearly due to the shadows, but it was skin and no chainmail.

I heard if you cut the throat, almost anything dies...

Or, at least Kiel said so when we were together back in the village.

All I have to do was stab him and it would be all over.

I raised the blade up high and...

My knees began to tremble and my heart dropped.

If I stabbed him...

Wouldn't he bleed?

No! I have to!

This may be my only chance to regain what I lost!

But, I'm scared of blood! Thinking back to... To...

Red flashed before my vision along with the torn up shadows of-

Clang!

No!

I dropped the blade out of my shaky hands.

It landed inside his-

"Brat, you sure got guts to try something like that."

"Eeek!" I squeaked out as my Master sat up.

He pulled the blade out from his armor before he looked at me.

I trembled at slitted, hot eyes. The hatred in them made me want to die.

Don't hurt me. Don't hurt me.

I'm sorry!

Why wasn't my mouth working!

I clinched my head and prepared for the beating.

Yet… Only a sigh came out of his mouth?

"That stupid monkey of a son forgot to sharpen this piece of metal." I peeked through my bangs. He inspected the edge of the knife. "Wouldn't want this breaking on us till we can afford it."

"A-Aren't you..." I looked down and gripped my dress.

I was trying to kill him!

Of course, he would hate me and beat me and starve me and-

"No. They treated you badly," I only nodded softly. Tears in my closed eyes as I curled into a ball. "You… also lived in a cage, huh?"

"Y-Yes, sir." His voice was rough and deep compared to before.

"I won't do the same." My eyes widen at my Master and I saw those heated eyes aimed right at the flames of the fire. "I know what's it like… Though, your suffering only compares to a sliver of hair compared to my own. Possibly the same for my son's own suffering."

Those eyes were full of hate and anger…Yet, there was an odd thing in those eyes. As if...

As if they understood me.

"My son won't ever do whatever the others did to you. He's too soft to even do that to his enemies." Master snorted while looking at the knife with a perplex expression.

What... was he talking about?

"Your… son?" I asked.

"Your owner." My eyes went wide as he sharpened the blade. Oh, so you use a stone to sharpen… Wait, why was he holding the stone with his feet? Wasn't that dangerous?

"Since my…My old man told me to stay in the seal, I've continued to reside within my son even after getting a taste of freedom. I guess he forgot to tell you I take control when he sleeps to ensure of no assassins taking his life."

"Wait… You're…" I gulped, "A-A ghost?"

A hearty laugh boomed out of my Master's armor. "N-Now, that's a first."

"T-Then a demon?"

"No, not even close though people do call my kind such." Master snorted. "Hm… How to explain it to an infant like yourself? Is there some kind of special energy these pesky humans here use?"

"Energy?"… And why did Master say, pesky humans?

Wasn't he a human, too?

"Er…" I best answer him or else he would be mad! Think, think-"Oh! Magic!" I remember Dad always using magic. He specialized in Light Magic and could even heal people.

"Magic is what it is called, huh?" Master chuckled. "You could say I am a being comprised completely of something similar to magic."

"H-How's that possible?" I asked. A magical creature? "Are you a golem?"

"Hm… Go-lem?" Master asked back.

"I-I read about them in stories. They are fake creatures brought to life by magic and alchemy…" Or I hope I was right.

It felt so long ago… The memories of my childhood slowly fading further and further into dust.

"Ah, then I say that's exactly what my kin and I are." Master gave me back my sharpened blade.

Er… I can't tell if it was sharp or not. Did he do it right?

"The old man created my siblings and me to store large amounts of energy and protect a seal… Sadly, humans forgot what we were and sealed us into people. My son being my latest host and his mother my host before."

"You were inside his mother?" How that work? No, how could Master… No, Master's father be inside him now?

"Yes and I only learned recently all her pulling my… magic and me trying to escape got me a lovely, if not a knuckleheaded son. That I almost killed a few times." I just gave a blank stare at my Master's father as he let out a weak chuckle. "You can rest, child. I'll keep watch. You need to recover from your illness."

"O-Okay. Cough."

See. There it was again.

Rifana's cold.

If Master… Whoever he was... didn't kill me in my sleep, surely this would kill me.

"Oie, Dad!" I heard a shout and looked up to see Master's father caught a vial from one of Master's clones... Confusing.

He then handed the vial to me.

"Drink it. It should make you feel better."

I guess... This was my punishment.

It was likely to be poison... But, hopefully, it ended my life quickly.

I took a gulp down and instantly gagged it out.

It was even more bitter than the herbal tea! So bitter that my tongue curled in disgust.

"Ack! You fool! Don't waste it!" He forced the bottle back into my mouth, trying to get me to drink it. "Don't waste precious medicine! That fool and you need all the money you can to survive!"

"But, it's biiiiiiitteeer... And makes my chest huuuurt..." I whined out, trying to escape from the bottle.

"That means it's working! You have a lung infection!"

"Wha-Ugh!" He forced the bottle into my mouth, but I knocked it to the ground.

"Noooooo! A whole bottle wasted!" He cried out in agony. "The money it could have brought in."

"Y-You know what I have?" I had to know!

What was it that killed Rifana!

"Yes. I can smell it and my son has been becoming quite a healer," My Master's father snorted as if it was obvious. "That and unlike what everyone thinks back in that dust bowl, my son was quite a sick child in the first few years of his life. Hence his phobia of… needles."

"Needles?" Why would he be afraid of needles? Aren't they for sewing?

"Yes... Agh... Just thinking of it reminds me of the time he had a spinal tap." His whole armor shuttered, "Very painful to the point I felt it. You have a needle this big jabbed up your back."

"Eeeeeh?!" I yelped. He gave a length of several inches with his hand.

What sort of torture was that?!

And how was Master walking after such a thing jabbed through his back?!

Master's Father caught more vials of medicine. "Round two!"

"Nooooooo!" I whined as came at me with the medicine again.

In the end, he forced several bottles of medicine into me. My cough did go away... And I felt very sleepy.

Did... Does he forgive me for trying to kill him?

Or was the father just too kind and my master would have killed me?

Why was this person so nice to me?… Or, what was with this weird person?

The latter was possible. This man could just be a crazy person and would snap any moment.

I didn't want to sleep.

I was scared he would attack me... As well as that

But I did...

It started the same.

The monsters appeared and attacked at me. Their sharp maws tried to grab me and tear me apart. I screamed for help, but no one came as I ran as hard I could.

Then, it became different.

The dream that haunted me for weeks changed.

"Raphtalia..." My parents were standing on top of the cliff. As always in my nightmares.

"Daddy! Mommy!" I cried out. I ran at them with all my might.

I wanted to see them. I wanted to stay with them.

Tears filled my eyes even if I shouldn't in front of my parents. They had made me promise not to cry.

"It's okay... It's okay." Daddy said.

"Don't cry. Be strong."

"Ugh... But," I found myself crying.

This was the first time they didn't remind me of failing.

That I didn't deserve to live and should die like the nights before.

I just kept on crying with my parents held me and rubbed my head.

"We are always watching over you."

"Yes. Please, be happy."

"But," I looked at them. Tears still flowed from my eyes.

"You'll be okay with him..."

Then... I woke up.

I couldn't believe it.

My new master held me and rubbed my head.

He comforted me, a Demi-human slave.

Master wasn't a bad person.

He wouldn't play games with me, wouldn't hurt me.

He even forgave me for almost killing him.

He was clumsy and rude and weird, but he was a good person.

He didn't say anything as I cried.

Only once I was done did he say he would take a little nap… And his father came back out and simply fished while waiting for my owner to wake up.

However, I could care less.

I finally realized what that little white flag was trying to remind me of.

It was what hope was.

And it was the iron golem before me.

By the time Master woke up and switched back, my cough had come back. He gave me some medicine before we headed to town.

Still so bitter and had an odd odor… But, I guess that was better than my chest aching.

We stopped by Gramp's medicine shop first. Gramps seemed a bit happier with the products, even if he seemed oddly somber to me.

Master still got a good price and that's all I cared about.

As long as I kept Master happy… Maybe being with this crazy person would be alright.

I was surprised when Master didn't go somewhere to sell the items we collected from monsters.

Instead, we headed straight to a huge building with lots of different people coming and going.

People with weapons and all sorts of gear on them. Maybe I was wrong on my thoughts before.

There were several desks within the building and lots of bulletin boards with papers all over them. We stood in what looked to be a lobby area with chairs and tables. Various people sat around, either selling goods or chatting normally like they were not handling sharp and pointy things.

"Okay, Raphtalia, this is where I will need a little help from you," I nodded as he pulled out a few books from his armor. Anything to keep my mind off the dangerous items near me now. "I can't read your language real well. I am working on it, but… My Dad's handwriting is bad even if he's better at it, so I think I can learn better from you than him."

"Um hm." I nodded and took the books. They were oddly all books on making medicine and plants. There was even a dictionary that had seen better days.

"Now, be a good girl and I'll treat you to whatever you want." Then I saw my Master flinched. "Don't spoil the child," He flinched once more. "Dad… don't take over my mouth…Sorry, guess I forgot to tell you." My Master gave me a meek laugh.

"It's okay!" Sure, I still have some doubts... But, so far I've been wrong about him... Er, or was it both of them?

Weird dealing with two people in one body. Especially being a son and father… And I didn't know if that was the truth, but it probably best to just see the two… people as such till I can figure it out.

Plus, if I was dealing with an insane person, truth kind of was hard to tell from the lies. Mostly since said a person believed in such lies as truth.

I've seen it happen over and over again back in the slave dealers' domains.

However, I want to see what healers do to cure people. If... I do keep living, maybe I could help save people as a healer?

"Ah, good, the Armor Healer is here today."

Eeeeeeeeh?!

A scary man held a bloody arm chuckled as he walked up to Master. He had a big sword strapped to his back.

"Why didn't cha go to the Church for this?" Master whacked the arm after the scary man sat in the chair before him. "You guys can't be cheapskates on such things. I'm charging extra as you need fluids, too. I am still getting that to work better."

"Don't care. The Church's prices are getting ridiculous with the prophecy." I watched as Master's hand glowed orange. He grasped the bloody arm and ropes of the orange spread out onto arm-like tentacles. "Worse, any freelance healers like yourself are being swooped up by the Church or forced to help the army. Even the Adventurer healers are harassed."

"Well, that's one thing I don't have to worry about," Master sighed and shifted his hand slightly. I heard a snap and flinched as the scary man groaned. "Seriously? You been walking around with a broken arm?"

"Heh. It was a tougher fight than I expected." Was the scary man's answer. Master's reply was a prompt smack his arm and made the scary man hiss in pain. "Okay! Okay! I'll be more careful!"

"Good. With all the prophecy stuff and all, you guys may be what protects the civies through it all. I don't think four heroes can save the world. At least, alone," Master sighed while the magic energy disappeared.

What?! The four Holy Heroes were summoned?...

Heh. If Rifana lived a little longer, maybe we could have met the Shield Hero she wanted to marry so much.

Master got a bit of silver once he cleaned the arm to show just scars left… And the scary man went straight to a bulletin board.

"Jeez... Though, can I complain since I'm the same?" Master sighed. He cleaned off his gauntlet of the blood… By making it evaporate? He made his armor heat up somehow!

No. Wait a second…

"H-How did you heal him?" I asked with curiosity. Daddy could use a little recovery magic.

Yet, magic always needed a chant to work.

Something about power and commanding it, I think?

Master wasn't using any chants. Sometimes he would make funny forms with his hand... But, that was all. No words.

It was unlike any magic I've seen.

"Oh... Ah... How to explain it?" Master scratched the back of his helmet before groaning. "Geez... Dad, you're better at this stuff than me." A snort came out and the magician sitting down looked at Master with worry. "Why couldn't I got a son with brains?"

"Oh, the father," He could heal, too?

"My brat is in control. I'm just controlling his tongue, human." I raised an eyebrow at Master as he went to work on the freaked-out magician's ankle. "Though my son is of flesh and blood like you, his… magic reserves are much like mine. Since we are beings of raw magic, we can easily transform our magic reserves into what we need."

"What you need?" I frowned, "Don't ya need a chant to make magic work?"

"Er… I think Dad was trying to say is we are using a more… a rougher version of magic." Oh, Master was back voice wise. "Though, I'm trained in a material art form of magic. When you see me doing hand signs, I'm basically doing what you call a chant... Only, I do mine more for focus than to produce a specific effect like they are made for."

"Hand signs?" Master form one with his hand with finishing his job. Flames sparked off his hand before disappearing.

"The art of the ninja… Or, as I've been slowly shifting to its precursor, the sect of the ninja. It uses both health and magic power to create effects on the world. That energy is called chakra from where I come from." Master sighed while glaring at the magician. "Seriously? Do you Adventurers even take care of your bodies? You had torn tendons."

"S-Sorry."

"Eeek!" I gasped, "Can't you die using that?!"

Health was important!

If one's health hit zero, you died! No exceptions!

"Yep... That is, if not for status magic." Master answered while receiving his pay from his frightened patient. "When I got it, I learned that it's much like how magicians meditate to recover magic power after using a lot of spells… At least, I think that what magicians do, right?"

Master looked at his patient with a hum.

"Y-Yes." The patient squeaked out before he escaped into the crowd.

"I can store up chakra in reserves and use it in battle instead of constantly making it. My people thought they needed to do the latter," Master then snorted. "Though, that's actually a little trade secret my family hadn't told anyone outside those they trusted. Not that I blame them with being prisoners of war for over the last few decades."

"Prisoner... Of war?" I gulped.

War was bad. I remember some of the elders saying what happened was just as bad as war.

"Er... Basically, in a war, enemies are sometimes taken as prisoners. Usually, there are laws that should give them basic rights." Master said, his voice becoming cold. "However, most times... That's not the case."

"I... See..." I looked down at the books.

Master and his father didn't want to talk about it. I could understand as there were things I didn't want to talk about either.

With us both fell to silence, we focused on the work given to us. Personally, though... I never knew there were so many confusing words when it came to plants and medicine.

Or that plants had so many uses. Like a Tinm could be used for medical uses instead of just adding a sweet flavor to stuff. Or there was a lot of poisonous plants…

Kiel… If you are still alive, you were lucky before with just getting the runs from your little snack!

"You!"A shout dragged me from my focus. A few ladies and men in nice clothes for this place stomped towards us.

"Get out!" They glared at us and some even snarled.

"What's the problem? Peddlers can use this space." Master said while popping a shoulder back in place for a hunter. How he did it with jabbing the man's shoulder, I did not know.

"Yet, you aren't a peddler." A man with glasses snorted at Master. "You're scum bending the rules to fit your game. Now get out."

"Odd. It seems you're really want to kick out the last healer around here." Master's voice rose and gathering attention. The looks in the adventurer's eyes… I didn't like it one bit.

Only, instead of aimed at Master… It was aimed at the mad group. "Or, is this another royal decree like you guys not allowed to give me work through quests like the others?"

"What?!" There were loud shouts, but I didn't get a chance to see who shouted.

"No matter," Master picked me up after all the books and such into the chest. How… did he get everything packed away so quickly? "I rather not spend my time with bigots who care more about face than the people who are trying to protect them."

And, with that, Master bolted.

I was flying. The wind whistling past my ears.

Or, Master made it look that way. He hopped across roofs as if his armor was clouds.

It was then I noticed it.

It was hard not to with right in my face.

On Master's left arm was a shield. It was a simple shield with seemingly a green gem embedded in it.

Why did he fight with just a shield if he was so strong? That thought echoed through my head as we reentered the forest to fight.

We fought monsters that looked like eggs came alive. Eggups if I remember correctly. They smelled horrible when you crack the shell apart.

"Eeeew." I dragged the blade over grass to get the goo off. So nasty, nasty.

"Okay." I looked up and I gasped.

The pieces of the Eggup's shell disappeared into the shield!

And then, in a slight gust of wind, it turned into an egg-shaped shield with the green gem in the middle.

"Master! What are you?!" I shouted with having enough.

First of him being kind to me.

Next, he shared his body with his father and they were both magical golems.

Then the weird healing magic that seemed dangerous, yet simple.

And now a shape-shifting shield?

"Just who are you?" I glared at him and stomped my foot.

I wanted answers and I wanted them now!

"Oh..." Master cocked his head before laughing.

"What's funny?!" I growled with bristled tail.

He really turned off the curse. Back-talking like this would usually make the curse burn viciously.

"I mean it! I don't even know your name! Or names or whatever!"

It was frustrating to know so little.

It made me anxious, waiting for something to happen…

Yet none of it came.

"Eh?" Master blinked at me. "Oh! Sorry! Sorry!" He bowed at me. "I'm usually quite good at giving introductions on myself."

"Huh?" I raised an eyebrow. Master adjusted his helmet.

"Name's Naruto Uzumaki. Future Fire... Right, chances of ending back there anytime soon are low... So, a future healer who aims to aid those around me and the current Hero of the Shield." He put his arm across his chest and bowed. "It is a pleasure to have your assistance as I explore and protect this world, Miss Raphtalia."

"T-The Shield Hero?" I asked, my throat went dry.

I...

I almost killed the Shield Hero?!

"You don't know about the Legendary Heroes?"

"You mean the Four Holy thingies?" I quickly hid my shock.

"Yes. I am the Shield Hero... Though, the summoners were quite rude. We were still doing funerals when they brought me here." Master shrugged his shoulders. "Not that I care. I will save the people around me like I always do. No if, and, or buts about it."

So... His name was...

"Na... Roo... Toe?" I whispered to try it out.

It was weird on my tongue.

"Yes?"

"Eeeh?!" He heard that!

"Sorry. I have good ears." Master-Er, Naruto... Master Naruto? Guess that will work till I get it. Master Naruto laughed at me. "Though, call me whatever you feel is most comfortable. Once I earn enough, that curse is coming off."

"W-What?!" I asked, "But, you bought me?!"

"I bought you to get you out of there." Master Naruto sighed, "And that creepy pedo knew it. He told me to the cost of removal after he registered me to the curse. If I had haggled a bit more, I could have had that curse removed instead of ending up broke."

"Broke... Wait, you have no money left?!"

I couldn't believe my ears.

No... Just how stupid was this hero!

Why did he waste his money on me? I tried to kill him!

Actually, why was he keeping me after I nearly killed him as well?!

Looking at his armor, it's cheap! It even had a lot of dings and dents. In fact, it was used armor tailored to him. He also was cheap with his meal while giving me... Me...

"Money doesn't mean much to me anymore." I blinked at Master Naruto before he flinched. "As if, brat! You can't survive on just chakra like me!" Oh, it was Master Naruto's father… Scary! "You may be able to scrape by, but thanks to whatever idiots live here… You are barely scrapping by! Worse, your name had been smeared much like mine when I was in your shoes. If I ever find out who-" Master Naruto smacked his helm.

"Sorry. Dad was technically a hero for my world till humans became idiots. Thought my family was mindless beasts and so on." Master Naruto sighed, "He's been grouchy since ending up here. Possibly since my healing slowed down a lot… For my own body, that is."

I stared at my owner. We stared at each other before he picked up the extra pieces of Eggup shell left over after an awkward minute of silence.

Just... Who was this hero?

Some kind of holy figure who swore off wealth or something? No… His father said he was a fallen hero…

... Actually, he did puke when he bought me... Was it due to how badly beaten I was that made him sick?

Or… He was tired of all the cruelty he seen so far?

"Maybe he's way too nice for his own good," I sighed out softly.

I really got the vibe that I was blessed with a way out of my hell and now cursed with a hero who was way too lax for an owner...

No, guardian? Dependent?

I seriously don't know how it works now since it's clear my owner doesn't see me as a slave.

And the debate that Master Naruto was insane was still valid… Though, could heroes be insane?

Crunch crunch crunch.

"Oh, it tastes much different from its smell... Kind of like natto."

"Hm?" I looked back at Master Naruto. "Nooo!" I gasped out and reached for the Eggup shell pieces my master was munching on. "That smells rotten! You shouldn't eat it!"

Guess that settled my mind a little on that front.

Yes. Heroes could be as nutty as villains.

"It's actually delicious." I just glared at him. "Er... You know you have different parts from a normal human?"

"Yes. That's because I am a Demi-human."

Demi-humans were people who looked human but were different on the inside. Because many people saw us as a step above monsters… Melromarc was a hard place to live if you were such.

Once our Lord and village were gone, so was the safe haven made for us Demi-humans disappeared.

"Well, I'm sort of the same." Master Naruto pointed at himself, "Only, not human or Demi-human. It's probably due to Kaguya and that stupid tree's doing… And made it why I am possible. Though, you'll be surprised how chatty plants can be... And liars." He shrugged.

"You're... not human?" I was surprised as Master Naruto nodded.

"Though, in my world, what most of what I am would be human. Yet, here... Let's just say a disturbing truth came to be I think no one back home wants to know. Especially after what happened," Master Naruto shivered. "However, what would be safe for me to eat back home isn't here and stuff like this actually tastes delicious due to... My race... Which is where my healing powers come from."

"Oh!" I was starting to get it. "So you only learned how to do some things here due to figuring it out with status magic?"

"Ex-actly!" Master Naruto chimed while snapping his fingers at me. "Like any chakra usage here is different to my world. You can't easily make it flow out into this chakraless world. Or that I have literally a second blood vessel system that actually holds chakra so condense, it's liquid instead of energy."

Whoa. Master Naruto was quite excited. He was practically trembling.

"There's so much amazing new things here that I only learned of with it being a new world! As well as myself to discover! I don't get why the other heroes were in such a rush to level and beat things senseless… Like I used to do," Master Naruto mumbled, but I caught it. "I mean, with just training myself, I've learned I can sense the inners of beings… Like, do you know Balloons are basically stomachs and if you pull them inside out they-"

"Eeeew! That's gross!" I whined out and covered my ears.

I don't wanna know thaaaaaaaaat!

"Ah, right... Girls don't like stuff like that. Sorry." Master Naruto flinched back. "Heh. It's kind of funny...Teacher Iruka for years tried to drill me to study and learn… Yet here I am doing it willingly and full of excitement." His tone echoed in the armor as if it was a sad song.

Ah, if I remembered correctly, the four heroes come from another world or such. How did such magic even worked?

"You're homesick, aren't you?" I would never see my home again. Just like my family and friends.

"That... And I don't know if I'll have a home to go back to." Master Naruto looked up at the sky. "When they summoned me... War had just ended."

No... It couldn't be.

"We still don't know all the damages. Or if the ceasefire between villages will hold and become any form of peace." Master Naruto put the pieces away in a small sack. "I just wished… I was there to help. I mean, I was the hero of the war. With me gone…" He snapped his lips shut and picked up the pieces of Eggups.

For the rest of the day, Master Naruto was silent.

It was eerie to see someone who was full of energy and seemingly chatty being this way. It was like see a ghost with how quiet he moved even with wearing a full suit of armor.

Once the sun began to set, we headed back to town. Master Naruto headed straight for the monster loot shop this time. He sold a few items we gathered along with some medicine.

"Ah, more potions. The Adventurers have been wanting more of these." The merchant said while I noticed some kids down the street. They played with a ball made from Balloon skins.

The joy on their faces made me bitter and jealous.

None of my friends will ever enjoy such a simple game again. Maybe even me as well.

All taken away by the wave of monsters.

"I'll take one of those balls."

"Sure," The merchant said and my head snapped around. "Here you go."

"Thank you." Master Naruto said, "Here." He tossed the ball to me.

"W-What?" Did he buy me a ball? "D-Don't you-"

"I never had a toy ball when I grew up." My eyes widen as Master Naruto got his payment for his goods. "Most kids would only play with me before their parents took them away. You're only a kid once. It's best to enjoy it while you can."

Master Naruto ruffled my hair as he walked passed me. "Come. Let's go find an inn. I know you will want to play with that ball."

"Yes!" I chimed. I hugged the ball and followed him.

He bought me a ball!

He really did even with being poor!

Wait... The way he phrased it.

"EEEEEH?!"

"Hm?" Master Naruto cocked his head back. I shook my head and just got into step with him.

My face heated up at the idea.

Master Naruto was an old man!

Possibly a grandpa with what I have seen so far.

The reason why he bought me out of the goodness of his heart. The reason he didn't care about money. The reason he didn't even care I tried to kill him or people being mean to him...

Why his eyes looked sometimes lifeless...

He was an old man prepared to die.

He must have lost his family or maybe… No, maybe he lost all his family if I thought harder. He mentioned a war…

He will never know if they made it out alive from the war due to being summoned as a hero… Well, outside his father within him.

Add in how old he possibly was... He must not be expecting himself to live much longer...

The reason he was so carefree was due to he gave up?!

He was a suicidal crazy man!

"Come here, Raphtalia." Eh? I blinked. How did we get to the inn room? A plain one with one bed, too. "Let me cut your hair. That mess of knots is probably a pain."

"Ah..." I hesitated before I walked forward.

If he was a grandpa, then he should have cut hair before. Right?

He probably wouldn't make it weird.

Truth was...The mats were really starting to hurt.

"Alright." He pulled out an odd knife and began to hack away at the knots. "Once I get this done, we'll go play with your ball."

"We?" I asked, confused. Wait... Did he want to play with me?

Like a parent with a kid play?

"Yeah. Acting all mature makes me feel stuffy."

"Eh?" That shocked me.

"Since my rep is already sh-er, dirt poor, I've been working to slowly build it back up. So, I can't be as rude and rash as I usually was. I even found myself thinking before acting instead of being brash. I mean, I was quite a brat when they summoned me, yelling to send me back and tell me what the heck was going on."

"Really?" I wanted to turn and give him a bland look. Really, but I was scared that if I move… Master Naruto would hack off my ear.

For once, I found myself realizing I knew he wouldn't do it on purpose. He really was a good guy looking out for me.

… Outside maybe being a lair. And possibly insane and suicidal.

Master Naruto being mature or being worse than he was now?

I couldn't see it.

Sure, he was rude and such, he wasn't too bad to be a brat. He also wasn't overly mature or adult-like... Kind of like that kind old man in my village who would always give us kids candy and fish most of the time while cracking jokes to whoever would pass him.

He was kind of in that nice middle where he had a charming personality. I understood how he was able to have such rough bedside manners with his patients, yet they can't hate them.

I saw that back at the place that kicked us out.

He just went on to the beat of his own drum.

"There we go." He finished and a small mirror was now before me. "How is it?"

"Oh!" My eyes watered. My hair was now to my shoulders, but I looked...

Normal.

I looked like a normal girl again! My skin was healthier and most of the bruises and dirt was gone!

"Heh heh!" I smiled and spun around to enjoy my hair. It was so light and bouncy now.

I felt like a princess with how free it felt.

In a way, I was like those princesses in novels! I was saved by a hero…

Though never read a story where the hero in armor was a grandpa.

"So, even hair can be absorbed?" I blinked and looked back at Master Naruto. The clippings he cleaned up were being absorbed by his shield. "Well, handy if it takes in trash."

"Master Naruto... I don't think the Legendary Shield was supposed to be the Legendary Trashcan." I sighed as I shook my head.

"Hey! If it unlocks a new shield, I don't care if it's trash!" Master Naruto whined back while he summoned out clones. "I mean, so far, I've unlocked some interesting shields from testing whatever materials I can find! I even-"

"Master, no." I held up my hand and held my head.

I don't think I can take another lesson, thank you very much.

"Ah, sorry," He nodded to me, "Guess you're not like Miss Sakura. She actually would probably enjoy this with always studying and such." Master Naruto mumbled before he took my hand. "Come on. We have some time before dark. Let's enjoy it."

"Okay!" Though, I did wonder who Miss. Sakura was. Was she a friend or maybe a lover?

That didn't matter, though. Once we were on the street, the weight on my shoulders and despair seemingly disappeared into smoke.

"Heh heh!" I chimed out and caught the ball. I then threw back to Master Naruto.

For a grandpa, Master Naruto was very fit. He would easily catch the ball and throw it like he was much younger.

Then again, I saw signs of his age.

Master Naruto couldn't balance really well.

Sure, he was probably better than most old people. However, bending down sometimes strained him. He would grunt and huff as well when it came to that.

That and it seemed his vision was failing him. He would sometimes nearly miss the ball with thinking it was in one spot before realizing where it would land.

Maybe he needed glasses or something and they didn't exist in his world?

And why wasn't he using his right hand?

He was favoring his left an awful lot.

"Ah!" The ball sailed over my head.

"Oops... Sorry," Master Naruto said.

"It's okay! I'll go get it!" I chimed out.

I ran to the ball. However, when I picked it up...

I found myself in trouble.

"Hey! What's a Demi-human doing here?!" I froze.

A gang of kids was glaring at me. Humans, no less.

"Hmmm.." I hugged the ball tightly.

I didn't want any trouble.

This was the first thing I ever got back.

I really didn't want to lose it.

Especially since it was a gift from the Shield Hero.

"Hey! She has something good!"

"Give it! Demi-humans don't-Ehhhh?!"

I blinked.

Something bright appeared in the corner of my eye.

I looked down and, at first, I thought they were stars. They glittered in the evening sun while embedded in the stone around us.

Then I realized they were four-sided blades formed into a sort of disk.

"Oooooh!" I turned back and saw Master Naruto stomped to us. I never heard his armor before, but now it was loud and menacing. "What are you brats doing?! Bullying a little girl?"

"What you talking about, old man?" The seeming leader snarled at Master Naruto. "You don't scare me in that crude armor!"

"Old man?!" Master Naruto gasped before he laughed.

I cocked my head.

What was so funny?

"I'm no man!" My eyes widen as the armor seemed to morph. Orange and yellow flames seemed to come out of the openings and became the armor. The helm turned into a head with long ears and a maw full of teeth.

"Gaaaaaah! I am the Ghoooooossssst Armoooooooor! Let me nah on your booooooooonesssssss!" Master Naruto and his father shouted in unison and stomped towards the bullies.

"Waaaah! A monster?!"

"You're crazy!?

"Aaaaaaaaaas if I caaarrrrrrrrreeeeeeeee!" Master Naruto drew out his voice between laughter. He followed them down the street a little before turning back to me.

His laughter... Was very lively and jolly.

In fact, I haven't heard him so happy since I first met him.

"Oooooh. You do not know how long I have been waiting to do that." Master Naruto wheezed between his chuckles. I gasped as the flames seemingly disappeared. "Glad to know my sage mode can be used for more than battle."

"Those were real flames!" I shouted, "Why aren't you dead?!" He was on fire!

"Chill. That was my sage chakra mixing with Dad's." Master Naruto patted his armor. "I'm a sage, after all. As I said, I'm very strong… Sadly, too strong for everyone's liking." Master Naruto laughed as he rubbed the back of his helmet.

"How..." No. Master Naruto was from another world. Different rules.

"Just… I've been curious if I can use my abilities for more than just fighting. Grandpa made Ninshu as a means to connect with others and understand them, not to fight… Hence I've been looking for alternative methods of using my abilities with…thinking over all that happened in the war."

"I... See." I could only shake my head at him.

That sounded exactly something he would do.

Master Naruto was...

"A sage?!" I shouted in absolute horror.

No wonder Master Naruto was gonna die soon!

Weren't Sages powerful wizards that were really, really old?

"Ah, so sages exist here as well?" Master Naruto asked. "I wonder what they are like and what they can do? I mean, if there are sages, shouldn't fighting the waves be easier than what everyone keeps complaining about?"

"You really don't know about the world works, don't you?" I sighed. Master Naruto pick up the metal stars and I smacked my forehead.

Master Naruto was clearly not a normal sage.

Sages were fragile people.

Very few were fit for combat and usually were guarded if assisting in battle. Most were just scholars or teachers… Or, that's what I heard from stories in my village.

"No... I do know," Master Naruto ruffled my hair. "And the more I see this world... The more I question what exactly was the purpose of my home. My way of life I was so happy to be in." Master Naruto sighed, walking back towards the inn. "Come on. Let's get something to eat."

I nodded and followed him.

His age now truly showed.

I was wrong.

Watching how he moved and even ate his food, it killed for me.

Master Naruto wasn't a healer back in his world.

He was a killer.