I was happy. I could finally fight against the waves and along side the shield hero, Orin sama! I was so excited and nervous. But I knew everything was going to be fine. When we were teleported, we found out the Riyuuto Village was right next to wear the wave would take place. Orin sama made the wordless decision to defend the village. So we ran to it and while Lord Orin was busy trying to stop monsters from killing innocent villagers who couldn't fight back, he had me in charge of evacuating the villagers. But that was when I noticed something strange about Orin Sama.
At first I thought he was just trying to help people in between leading off monsters. Giving them medicine to try and heal their wounds and bandaging them up. Once people started to get seriously injured he started ordering people to get them to safety. It made sense. Except for those I was sure were going to die. He treated them as if they were still alive, as if they were still able to recover.
Eventually he was surrounded by monsters. I was glad that he was able to handle them. His new armor probably helped. But then I watched them get scattered because he was running... Charging towards me. I didn't know what was going on. Not even when he tackled me to the ground and covered me up. Not until the fire rained down on us and torched away the monsters. He waited until the fire cleared away before letting me up. That's when I noticed his eyes. They looked distant. Like he wasn't really... Here.
"The shield hero really is sturdier than we thought." A knight said. I was angry. I withdrew my sword. " What is the mean of attacking Lord Orin? Depending on your answer, I might not forgive you." I say. That's when Orin Sama grabbed my arm. " Briggs, get the villagers evacuated. We don't have time to waste. We have lives to save." He said. I looked at him. Why was he calling me 'Briggs?' Who was that? " But-" I started but he glared at me. " MOVE IT SOLDIER! People are going to die if we don't do anything!" He yelled at me. What was going on? Why? Why did he have that face and those eyes? Where was he? Something told me he wasn't here with me... That he was in another place.
But he gave me an order. I had to evacuate the villagers and make sure they were safe. That's when I watched him punch out the leader of the knights. " I don't care what orders you have! We have to hold the line! Do you not give a damn about who dies? Now get up and start fighting. Have some of your soldiers help move the injured out of here." He yelled. " I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE JUST DO IT DAMN IT!"
I was surprised by how many people he was able to save. He was fanatical and I couldn't talk to him while he was busy cleaning wounds and sowing them up. I was surprised. He seemed to be really familiar with these. And what surprised me more was that he somehow managed to put the knights in their place. They were helping him hold down villagers that he had to treat. It had to be painful. Other knights who had healing magic were tending to the rest.
When the battle was over, I was surprised. Their was more of a village left then I had thought their would be. Far less damage than what mine had suffered. I was glad. I watched him pull stingers out of someone's... stomach. Not for long.. I ran out puking. People were running in and out of makeshift tents with bloody water and basins of water to replace them. Eventually, towards evening messenger came in to tell us that we were being summoned later tonight for a feast and to be rewarded for defeating this wave. And eventually a tired Orin sat down next to me smelling faintly like blood. " I don't know how many times I had to wash my hands in almost scalding hot water." He said.
"So your back with me now Orin-sama?" I asked. He looked at me with a tired look and buried his face in his hands. " I'm back. I'm sorry I... I'm sorry you had to see that." He said. I look at him. " Where were you?" I ask. He grimaced. " In another battlefield fighting another war. Reliving a waking nightmare... Again." He answered. He then started to explain that in his old world, he use to be a soldier. He was a combat medic and at the time they also had shields used to offer cover while they treated the injured and dying. He had some kind of mental sickness that caused him to hallucinate because of his experiences on the battlefield. I asked when he started today. His face looked pained. " When we were waiting. I was starting to count the bullets I had in left my magazines. Heh heh. From shields unlocked to magazines and the rounds in them. I really am pathetic." He said.
I frown. " I'm glad you told me." I say. I was. I'm glad he trusts me enough to tell me. " Have you hurt people before?" I asked. He laughed. " Strangely, I have been able to somehow differentiate friend from foe despite it all. So I didn't get discharged from the armed forces until I beat a guy into a bloody pulp thinking he was ab enemy beating one of my comrades to death on the battlefield... He was... attacking a soldier. Trying to take advantage of her... I wasn't arrested but at the same time I had to be evaluated. They found out how bad my mental sickness really was and I was under investigation for a while. They tried locking me away in an asylum for a while but so long as I wasn't triggered, I was about normal." Orin said.
I stare at him. He had some of the same problems I had. But worse. I think I understood.
We got washed up and caught a ride to the city. Since we were summoned there anyways. But I knew we were only going there for the food and money. When we did arrive there we weren't welcomed like the rest of the heroes and their companions. it was rude. We helped save an entire village and stop the wave from causing more amounts of damage and death. Still, it seemed nice that we had free food and were getting paid.
"Eat all you want." He said. I grin. " But if I eat all this food I will get fat!" I say. Orin laughed. " Do you... Happen to like thick women?" I ask. He pokes me in the nose before petting my head. I push his hands away. "I don't really. But I also think I'm a little too old for you Raphtalia. Or do you like old farts?" He teases back. I can take a hint though. He isn't interested in me like that. That's just how Lord Orin is. No time for women. " Hmm." I think about it though. But then I get too busy to think about it as I stare at the beautiful pile of delicious food on my plate! My mouth is watering!
I vaguely notice the spear hero approaching or the words my lord and him are exchanging. I only get pulled into reality when I'm restrained and gagged.
I watched as my companion was restrained. Guards held spears pointed at me. I look at Motoyasu at first with a forced smile and confusion. "Come on man? Your really want to fight me? It is kindeed of pointless" I say. Motoyasu grinded his teeth. " How dare you keep Raphtalia against her will as a slave!" He yelled. I try to stay calm. "Did you ask her? Did you ask her anything? Or is this like things were with the hourglass and you just did what you pleased?" I ask starting to get irritated. "Shut up! You would order her not to say if she wanted to stay with you!" Motoyasu yelled. I glared at him with cold and angry eyes and held his gaze to the point that he was starting to loose his nerve. "An I can and am more then willing to order her complete honestly in front of you and all here to witness and that would overwrite any order otherwise. " I say.
"Not if you brainwashed her!" Princess Malty yelled. She was the cause of this...
Cold rage and nothing but the thoughts of killing this woman in the most brutal ways possible ran through my mind as I glared right into her eyes. I wanted to rip out her bowls from her gut. I wanted to have her splayed out on the branches of a tree with spikes run through her body. I think my thoughts reached her, Motoyasu and several others because they all backed away with frightened looks about their faces. Then I took a deep breath and reseated myself. I take several deep breaths and blink. And the spell is broken. "You make me sick Motoyasu." I sneer in a cold, deep and low voice that somehow filled the banquet hall. The spear hero flinched. "Who are you-" I cut him off. "HESSSH UP!" I Roared harshly making the younger man flinch. If there was one thing I had an advantage of was that I could out yell him. "You make me sick. Not because you think it is a good idea to take Raphtalia away from me. But that vulgar smile of self satisfaction on your stupid face!" I say loud and harshly. "You think you are her hero trying to separate her from me? And by force? You think a battle will prove anything? You despicable excuse for a man. Lame brained and naught but a fool who thinks with his loins on his shoulders! How dare you never even bother to ask her!"
The room was silent. Silent with stunned faces. The momentum did not go where everyone was expecting it to. "Did you think I gave a damn about you proving yourself a better to me? Or anyone else? How dare you call yourself a hero and play with the lives of others as if they are some tool to build onto your delusional power fantasy! Or worse, your toys! Did you bother to ask her if she wanted to be free from me? Did you bother to ask if she wanted to be gagged and manhandled by a bunch of brainless brutes who don't bother questioning the immorality of their actions or what is being ordered of them? No! They wore that same stupid self satisfied smug grin you had on your face. That they think that stepping on me is making the world a better place! Let her go and let her choose what she wants!"
"And who is to believe you didn't threaten her to say she didn't want ever leave you? Or to lie-" Mein began to say but I gave her that same cold glare with murderous like intent from earlier. Shut up. It silenced her just long enough for me to speak my mind. "Who is to say that on the flip side you are saying such nonsense to spread doubt? That you will say anything to spread doubt and ruin me as much as you can because you think it is fun? That you play a game you will always deny being apart of because it is convenient and you get a sadistic joy out of? I can answer that. I'll order her to have her slave crest removed. Any obligations to anyone after that will be her own will."
My eyes turn to the man who is called a King. "Your choice. But if you harm her any further I will become an enemy to this kingdom. I will not stop the waves. I will help it bring ruins to this kingdom." I say. The king laughed. "And how do you think you will manage that?" He asked. I pull a knife and cut my hand open and then hold the blade to my throat. I show him my wound with the crimson liquid falling from my hand and on to the floor. It hurt. But I was too angry to care now. "My death. You can not replace me. If you restrain me I can sever my tongue . If you stuff my mouth I can suffocate myself. If you place spells to force me to breathe then no magic can stop me from marching down the road of death once I lose the will to live. And as you try to keep me alive I am not fighting against the waves. I am not protecting your people or your kingdom." I look at him with every bit of seriousness as my death glare has murderous intent. "I do not live because you say so. I live and fight because I choose to. Your power does no have full control of my life 'king!' so choose what you believe wisely." I snarl.
"I could threaten to kill her!" The king yelled. I actually laugh. "She dies by your orders and I go with her. Your bargaining chip is a vessel that holds no water. You lock her away to keep her safe then how is she less of a slave? Hypocrite."
The room was very quiet. "In my world I wouldn't have a shield to stop me from killing in order for me to protect the things that matter most to me. But here it is. But this shield doesn't protect me from me. If you want me to serve you like the rest of your pet heroes then you will let Raphtalia go free. I don't have anything else to loose after she is gone. So try this desperate man. Try me. I will spite you till my dying breath!" I bare my teeth in anger. "It is like staring at a cornered wolf." I hear someone say. The image of the she – wolf flashes in my memory. I look at the king with a blank face before my eyes turn to Raphtalia. She was staring at me with fear. I am a monster. To make her have that look towards me. I smile sadly. I turn to the king and sigh. " Do whatever you want. I live for myself, do things because I want to and care about others because I want to and that I believe they are worth caring about." I say. " Take that away. I dare you. But I ask, what do you think I have left after that?"
That's right. If I really stop and think about it. This girl, this woman. She's about the only person I really care about the most. I'm not close to anyone else and logically, I don't have any obligation to not let the world burn around me once I loose the reason to fight. But I felt tired. I sat down and lean ignored the guards who were still holding spears towards me. I saw their dumbfounded and lost faces from a glance and know they won't be able to think of anything for themselves unless someone gives them an order. The king looked at my tired face and sighed. "Remove her stigma and have them both removed out of this castle. Shield Hero. Do not challenge my sovereignty. Fight for my kingdom and it's protection . Fight for this world. Do not expect me to support you though." He says and waves for his guards to release us.
I get out of my seat and I don't even acknowledge those who are present but the priest or acolytes who had undid my companion's shirt just enough to remove her curse mark. I look at her before setting the tomahawk down at her feet. "Do as you please Raphtalia." I say after watching her flinch away from me. I walk away. and pause. " Your majesty. It would be less of a headache on your part if you just ignore me for now on. After all. You support the three hero church." I say and leave.
I make it out of the banquet halls and out of the castle. "Lord Orin!" Raphtalia called out. I waited for her. I regard the young woman before me. "I'm sorry if the things I have said are upsetting. But they are true never the less." I say. Raphtalia looked at me with a weird expression before she practically glomped me. I almost fall back. "Please don't say such things again! I don't want you to die. Not for anything!" She said in a voice that was on the verge of sobbing. "And you don't either." I say firmly. " So what now Ms. Raphtalia Freeman?" I wasn't really trying to tease her. I really didn't mind the fact that she was free. To me she wasn't ever truly a slave. But the face she had may as well have been as if I had said something rude. "I'd like to reapply my slave crest. That way, without a doubt you can trust me." She said. I was shocked.
I flick her nose. " You're an idiot. Rule one I always make my self leave a 1% chance of anything happening. A 1% of doubt. That said, I already trust you. " I say and hold my hand up to keep her from saying anything else. " So come up with another reason outside of the trusting you nonsense because unless you have something you are hiding, I think it is rather insulting that you would insinuate that I doubt you enough to not trust you with my life." She was taken back. I could see it. She looked away. "In any case, if it is your wish to be bound by that contract then I will be happy to provide the coin and blood for the contract." She hugged me. Again. It felt awkward because it was a full frontal hug. And she was far from flat chested. She looks at me as and laughed. "So you do blush!" She said. I made it a point to quicken my pace towards the gate after she let go.
"YO ORIN! I still have a bone to pick with you!" I heard Motoyasu say.
