Chapter 2: The Return of the Dragon Warrior

Jack awoke in a very painful manner that morning. He remembered that night well. All the licking and stuff was pretty much burned in his mind as a permanent memory. He could hear his sister calling outside which could only mean one thing. The experience he had last night was no illusion. Time had indeed reset.

When he looked to the side of his small bed he can see the small figure of the younger Ethereal Queen lying next to him, with a happy smile plastered on her face. Quickly his mind began to panic and with his quick reflex he covered the girl with his blanket and leaped out to greet Adele with a wide eye smile. Indeed he felt rather awkward when he left his house usually when he came to his village the villagers would attack him on sight along with several other Radiatan soldiers. The village had become a small fort in a way but looking at it now it seemed like battle was not far off.

When he left the village for the Knight's Trial, Etha followed him through the fields of Radiata encountering bandits and wild animals along the way.

"This isn't good" Jack grunted as he pulled his sword out of a dead bear-squirrel. "I have all the techniques and tricks in my head but my body isn't as strong as it's supposed to be eight months from now"

"Well you did go back in time. Your body didn't lose all of its traits" his companion smirked. "I tried to bring you back completely but since you and I died almost at the exact same time, it was kind of hard"

"I'm still a bit stronger than what I was before but still…" he looked at his poorly made sword with a heavy sigh. "I can't believe I actually used this thing as a weapon. It feels more like Parsec's toothpick than a weapon. Maybe I can find a better one in Radiata. I might be able to find better clothing too" he looked at himself wearily. After wearing plate armor and shields for so long in battle he felt a bit exposed without at least a small metal padding protecting his shoulder.

"Oh but Jackie" Etha cooed seductively at him. "You look pretty good in that outfit"

"Don't even get any weird ideas" he warned. "I'm only here because this is an opportunity. I won't squander it like I did back in my pass life"

"Wow. Aren't you a mature one?"

The walk to Radiata city was a quiet one except for the constant increase in monsters prowling the area. When Jack arrived at the gates of the city, he flinched at the sight of the guards and patrol that came his way. He fought many of them during the Human-Elf war and he didn't want to remember it one bit.

He walked pass the Theater Vancoor and smiled quietly to its sword-like insignia. There were plenty of precious memories here and many of them included fighting and singing both inside and outside the guild. He walked pass the bridge that was supposedly his second home and smiled at the Cathedral at the distance. So many memories all dashed away by a single choice he made for himself. Even now, the pain lingered. The only thing pushing him forward was the thought that he could make a better world for everyone.

Jack thought that he could get himself a new weapon or armor when he got back but sadly he didn't have the money to buy them. With the allowance his sister, Adele gave him, he could barely even spend it to buy himself a good pair of shoes. The only thing he could get was a good breakfast at Begin Eatery where Yuri worked in. Jack remembered her well since he worked for her a couple of times during his stay in the Warriors Guild. She also makes the best steamed beef soup and salted pork in all of Radiata.

"My compliments to the chef" Etha smirked childishly as she gorged through the food that Jack ordered. "It's been awhile since I tasted human delicacy"

"You should try other places too" Jack offered showing a smile for the first time in hours. "This is usually where the Warrior Guild members eat but the restaurant up by the slums and the Vampire Club House has some tasty stew"

"Great! You can treat me there next"

Jack gave a 'no way' face. "Not a chance. I'm only treating you now for what you did to me. But if you're gonna eat then you're gonna have to work"

"Awww… then I guess I'll have to earn my keep the old fashion way then" she gave a suggestive smile which Jack immediately began blushing on. Images of the previous night gave him the goose bumps and now this succubus was following with his every move. It almost felt like he had a slave following everywhere he goes.

"No… way!" he barked out quietly before leaving a tip on the table for Yuri to collect later. The girl in the counter was puzzled how the boy knew her name but wasn't able to ask when he left.

But Etha kept her smile on. The boy had his qualities and it was certain that her life wouldn't be so boring with him around.

After their breakfast, Jack made his way to the castle to attend the knight's trial. It's been awhile since he grasped the full size of the keep. Back when he was still with the non-humans, Jack had always thought that the siege on the castle would be impossible. The castle was built like a fort and there was no way an army can breach through it with simple means. Heck, even a blood orc would sweat buckets before he could even break the doors open. Attacking that thing head on was like trying to crack a turtle shell with your bare hands. With literally hundreds of guards and knights patrolling it and tight hallways, a siege was impossible.

"Stop right there" the fully armored guard held his hand up. "What's your business here?"

"I'm Jack Russell" the boy stated proudly trying not to put too much of an act. "And I'm here to compete in the Knight's Trial" he held out his invitation which the guard inspected properly before nodding.

"Alright. Everything looks clean. The Trial Grounds will be held at the basement of the castle. I'll have a guard escort you there. However, your friend will have to stay outside for the time being"

"Aww no fair!" Etha snapped annoyingly. "I want to see Jackie fight!"

"Sorry Etha but rules are rules" Jack replied triumphantly. A part of him wanted to ditch the girl away but his right side of his principles seemed to have gotten him. "Here, you can use the rest of my allowance from Adele for now. You can explore the rest of the town while I'm doing the trial. We'll meet at the Theater Vancoor plaza by the fountain later tonight. Ok?"

"Fine…" she grunted but solemnly agreed to it.

With every step Jack took, his heart raced faster and faster. It reminded him of the first time he walked down these halls. He was a naïve kid with ideals that would change the world. But he lacked power then. Power to bring those ideals to fruition. But at the moment none of his ideals matter. His heart was racing because of a different purpose.

When the door to the waiting room opened, his heart stopped.

There… sitting on the bench calm as a leaf in a meadow, eyes closed in meditation, hair tied up into a cute pigtail and her war axe sitting next to her… was Ridley Silverlake.

"Ridley…" Jack muttered her name. He wanted to cry, hold her and hug her like it was the last time he was ever gonna see her. But he kept his seams together. Right now, she does not know of him. She doesn't even know that he existed.

"Lord Star, please come up to the coliseum!" the announcer's voice came in through the door. Immediately the man with a long mustache stood and walked to the arena.

If Jack's mind served him well then he knows that this match will short live. He sat on the bench opposite of Ridley. His eyes kept darting to her. He wanted to see her so badly. He wanted to talk to her and see her smile once again. The memories of that night they shared at the Rosen Tree flooded back to him. If only… if only they had more time together and if a war had not brought on, Jack believed that they would probably be on their first date by now. They would be watching the ocean or having dinner in one of the fancy restaurants in town. So many thoughts ran through his head and he wished with all his might that some of them would come true.

"Jack Russell, Ridley Silverlake, please step over to the arena!"

Jack flinched back hearing his name. He knew that the fight would be quick but it looked like his thoughts made him lose track of time.

Upon entering the arena, Jack saw Lord Larks, the prime minister of Radiata consultant of the knights and his soon to be captain, Ganz Rothchild by his side. He smiled but kept himself focused on the fight. He compared himself with Ridley at that moment. Right now, her skills were probably way superior to his own since her body was trained to perfection since birth but his experience in combat was on a different scale than any knights in the castle.

Jack then looked at his poorly made sword and compared it with Ridley's killer axe. It looked like he was trying to fight a lion with a toothpick.

"Are both fighters ready?" The two of them nodded. "Then with no further ado, FIGHT!"

Ridley immediately went into a defensive stance waiting for Jack to strike first. But to her surprise, the commoner boy simply stood there, his sword still in his hand. Both did not move. They simply stood there watching… waiting for the right moment to strike. A battle of wits and psychology ensued.

"Uh? Hello?" the announcer asked. "Didn't you hear me? I said…"

"It's alright Juzanburo" Larks waved him off. "They know what they're doing. Both of them knows that attacking head on without knowing their opponent's strength is foolhardy"

"A most excellent beginning I must say" Ganz agreed folding his arms together. "But it's hard to say who will move first"

Both soon to be knights walked around in circles, their eyes still not leaving their opponent. Ridley looked like an untamed lion just waiting to strike out at any moment but Jack looked like a calm bird, hovering patiently above her.

…tap…

A rock piece shifted.

The two knights charged. "HAAAAAAAAAAARGHHH!" their weapons clashed making a rather loud clang sound. They danced with each other in a melody of blades and rhythm. Ridley waved her axe with great accuracy and strength but her knight's training seemed to have limited her imagination in using its full potential. Jack saw each of her attacks and parried them with grace. The two warriors traded blows for a short while quickly earning the attention of the other contestants.

However Jack began to notice his weapon was breaking apart. He knew that Ridley's battleaxe was powerful but he never imagined that it was strong enough to break his weapon. He made a quick note to himself to request another sword from the armory later.

The blows came one after another like a hammer striking on an ingot of iron forging the sword. With each attack, Ridley's movements began to become more and more predictable. Jack had to admit that any low grade or even a mid-grade knight would not have been a match for her. She was trained from birth to become a knight so it was obvious that she would be this talented.

The fight went on with Jack constantly being on the defense and Ridley constantly pounding his barrier with her attacks.

"He's not attacking" Ridley thought to herself before landing another blow. "Is he trying to wear me down so he can finish me off? I'm not surprised seeing that he has the advantage in mobility. But still… why? Why can't I hit him? My blows should've broken through his block but he can predict where my next attack will come next. And why is he looking at me like that? His eyes… seem so… sad and happy at the same time"

Jack noticed the girl's hesitation and knew what she was going to do next. Her ultimate attack.

"Wild Pitch!"

Ridley threw her axe with immense force and accuracy that it even blew wind in the area. But Jack knew this technique well. He's seen it before and got whooped by it once and that mark still remained a painful one on his chest. But not this time. He brought up his damaged sword up to his body and braced himself. The attack made contact and his sword broke in half like a man stepping on a twig. The damage done by such a powerful blow was incredible for the spectators to say the least. They expected Jack to be unconscious by it but to their surprise, the boy remained standing and Ridley's Axe was in his hands.

Immediately the young Silverlake stood in awe. She had spent years perfecting that technique and now this boy came out from the countryside just caught it with perfect movement. "No way…"

"Damn… it looks like my body wasn't ready for that kind of punishment" Jack muttered happily to himself looking over his broken sword and the axe now in his hand. His guard broke but he could still fight. "Looks like my body reverted back to its old self too. If I made moved a second slower, I would've been blown away like before" he looked to Ridley who seemed to be ready for a fight. Even without a weapon she was still prepared to face any foe. "I guess I'll have to throw this match…"

"Nice one… Ridley…" was the last thing Jack said before tossing his sword to the ground, a happy smile on his face to see the woman he loved still breathing.

(Olacion Cathedral)

The priests and nuns of the Olacion Order were very much surprised that afternoon when a visitor came down to look at their castle for the day. There were many people who came to visit the cathedral on a daily basis sure but the visitor they had today seemed odd even for them.

"Young lady stop that!" Achilles, the bodyguard of lord Kain was panicking when Etha came in and started acting like a major delinquent. "Stop! Those are ceremonial bread, not food! (gulp) Ahhh! Not the ceremonial wine too! That thing is almost impossible to get around the city!"

"Nyahahahaha! This place is so much fun!"

"No! Young lady! You shouldn't be taking a bath with our pool of holy water!"

"Mwahahaha!"

"Somebody stop that girl before she gets to Anastasia's room! (EEEEEEEEKKKKK!) Oh great"

"Master Achilles! The gold that Ms. Anastasia collected are…" Flora gasped.

"I know…" the fist fighter groaned as he could hear the screams echoing throughout the cathedral. Anastasia was barking out at someone but seemed to be unable to cope with the situation.

"What do we do?"

Achilles groaned and could only look at the altar of the gods. "We should probably pray and say that we had nothing to do with it"

"But…"

"We had nothing to do with it!"