A/N: And here goes the next part of the Filo Arc. I will be following the Anime's version of this part of the story, so no woodworking for Naofumi. I will be including Lines here and there from the WN. Also, Filo won't be getting her clothes for another chapter. Check out the new Omake at the bottom! That's it for the Author's note, so bye-bye!
As we traveled back to Castle Town, we found a man's running along the road. He seems quite tired and sweat soaked through his undershirt, leaving stains. "Hello? Do you need any help?" Raphtalia asked. She had gotten used to directing the carriage. "Please, let me ride on your carriage! I need to get this medicine to the village down the road to the left." I peeked up from the book I was reading. The magic lady had given us interesting spell books, and I was taking any minute I could to learn the new spells. Naofumi poked his head out.
"We'll take you there for a silver." The man drooped his head. "I spent all my money on this medicine. My mother needs it…"
"You can pay when we get there or in goods." Naofumi helped the man onto the carriage and took the reins from Raphtalia. "Let's go." The carriage creaked as Filo ran at breakneck speed. In a few minutes, we were deposited at the village. Filo waited outside while Raphtalia, Naofumi and I followed the man in. "Go prepare the water. I'll give her the medicine." The man left and the three of us stood there. It was kind of awkward, standing by someone's sick mother.
Naofumi cast a spell and the potion shined a bright yellow through the glass container it was held in. He tilted the bottle and a thin stream flowed into the woman's mouth. An aura shined around the elderly woman and she opened her eyes fully. She sat up. "Thank you, trader. The pain has completely escaped from my body." The man came into the room holding a steaming teapot. "M-Mother? You shouldn't be sitting up already!" He rushed to set the steeping tea on the nightstand and then rushed to his mother's side.
"Thank you. You're a savior." Naofumi waved his gratitude off. "This should be about one silver." I glanced into the satchel. It was full of fruit. "He accepts your gratitude, yet he isn't a good enough human being to care for it," I explained. "Hey, don't make me sound like a bad guy!" Naofumi protested. I giggled and the man looked between us.
We left the town. Naofumi seemed to be thinking hard about something. He was in his thinking position, hunched down with one hand on the side of his head and the other on his leg. I shrugged it off and continued reading the spell book. I'd have to test some of these darkness spells later.
The rest of the ride was uneventful, and we returned to Oyami's shop. "It's about time to upgrade our equipment," Naofumi said. I browsed through daggers and knives while Raphtalia looked at a magic iron sword. I gripped one of them. It was short, a little shorter than my forearm. I tried a quick few moves with it. A slash, a stab, reverse your grip, and slice. My imaginary target was now in five pieces. "This will work well." I spun the blue handle around in my hand. The price tag said 30 silvers. "Is it only me or is everything in this shop more expensive than me and Raphtalia?" I grumbled.
Raphtalia had done a few practice swings with her sword. I glanced into Oyami's backroom and saw a few practice weapons. "Mind if I take a look at those?" I pointed to the wooden weapons. He shook his head and gestured me to play with them. I picked up a practice rondel. "Good for blocking and stabbing," I said in a low imitation of my previous master's voice. I saw him standing in front of me.
"Remember to aim for the neck." He said. I stabbed down, then blocked his cane. He lashed out with his cane and swung. I blocked and twisted my blade around his wrist, cutting it open. He dropped his cane and I rushed forward. His other hand swung out with a whip, but I blocked his arm and held it. I stabbed him in the neck. I growled as my imagination flickered off and I stood there breathing hard. I glanced at the doorway where Naofumi stood. He nodded approvingly. "You should spar with your sister." I stepped back and brought my practice rondel up. "You'll be using the practice weapons, and stop-start rules." I relaxed. He gestured me out.
We exited into the back alleyway. I spun the rondel in my hand. Naofumi has banned magic for this round, so I wouldn't be able to cast a fire spell this time. I tittered at the mental image of the bald princess. I readied my stance, spreading my legs. Raphtalia kept a foot forward, poised to slash from above. I could deflect, then slide around.
"Begin!" Naofumi shouted. As I predicted, Raphtalia came in for an overhead slash. I used my wooden blade to deflect the blow and then slide to her flank. I tried to stab, but she sidestepped. I jumped instinctively and watched her wooden sword pass under my feet. I ducked as she tried to hit my shoulder. I hopped forward, bringing the rondel down.
Raphtalia stepped back to avoid my hit. She prepared to do another overhead slash. I sidestepped and thrust forward. A clack sounded out as our weapons met. I twisted my wrist and pulled. She was now pinned in an armlock. I wrapped my arm around hers and then stabbed my blade into her neck. Easy.
Wait, why didn't I feel any resistance? I looked down and found Raphtalia in the process of flipping over, and my arm was extended, leaving me open. She managed to slip out of my armlock. I tried to leap back, but her sword came down. I felt it tap my shoulder.
"Aw, I was so close!" I whined. Raphtalia cheered. I kept my head low. Raphtalia bragged to Filo when we returned to the cart. I slumped into the bench. I wasn't too bothered by the loss, I was bothered by myself. I should've done better. I couldn't keep protecting Raphtalia if I was like this. I distracted myself from my thoughts with a book.
We spent the next few days gathering more herbs, training on the forest creatures, and making money. We sold the potions around towns and delivered people from one place to another. Our pockets steadily filled.
"To think I would be riding in the carriage of the Traveling Bird Saint!" The merchant rejoiced. I snickered as he told the tale for a heroic saint. The hero persona seemed to tick Naofumi off. "I'm no saint. I sell my medicine, help out when people pay me and make money." The merchant beamed. "So humble!"
I stopped eavesdropping and returned to reading my book. The dark magic spells were very interesting. I'll try them next time I get the chance. Raphtalia spoke out. "Naofumi, there are people ahead blocking the path. Naofumi and I poked our heads out. A group of highwaymen stood there brandishing clubs, knives, and swords. One had a cloak and mask on his head and face. He was probably the most dangerous one in the group.
"Stop right there!" Raphtalia pulled on the reins and Filo stopped. "That's a nice looking bird there. I've also heard you got a wee little accessory dealer in there." The trader we were with flinched. "Hand him over." They said. I glanced between the bandits and the trader. Naofumi muttered something and stepped forward. "So you'll be taking everything from us but our lives?" One of the bandits, a fat, burly one snapped his fingers. "There's a sharp one. Those two girls seem nice too, looks like we'll have some fun tonight." Raphtalia asked before I could. "May I cut them down, Naofumi-san?" I flicked my sister in the back gently. "Say it with flavor. Listen and learn." I cleared my voice. "Can we please go and make sure none of these men have children? It looks like they need a reduction in the number of balls they have." I looked up at Naofumi with puppy-dog eyes. He grinned.
"Not like either of you would listen if I said no." I drew my dagger. The carriage was right behind us, and as much as I'd like to make sure these men all get special service from Ariete's Beauty Salon, it can wait. We should make these men beg for their mothers first. Filo joined in. "I wanna fight too!" The bandits all laughed. "Don't bother. We got ourselves a class upgraded friend right here." He gestured for a man with a katana to step forward. Scars littered his body. This man has experience.
I stepped off the carriage with Naofumi and Raphtalia. Raphtalia started to chant. I moved into the shade and started as well. "As the source of thy power, I order thee. Decipher the laws of nature and conceal me in the darkness. Shadow Mirage!" Both mine and Raphtalia's spells dissolved our bodies into their respective forms. Me into the shadows where I stood, and Raphtalia into the light.
The Bandits gasped. "Fast Tornado!" Filo shouted. A cone of wind spun the Bandits up. I tied rope around one man's arm and let him spin in the wind. I tied off the bond at the back and cut the rope with my new dagger. I repeated the process for all the bandits. Filo stopped the wind and let all the bandits tumble into a pile.
"W-We were hired by another trader to mug this dealer! He let us know where you were!" The accessory dealer sighed. "One of my own sold me out, huh?" Naofumi walked up beside me. "What do we do with these people?" The trader looked back at him "Usually, we'd hand them over to the guards." I shook my head. "That's not gonna work. These people already know you're the Shield Hero." I said. Naofumi scowled. "You're just going to run to the guards and say, 'Help me! I'm being attacked by the Shield Demon.' Aren't you?" The bandits chuckled. "Yup. Who'd believe the Shield Demon?" I smirked. "Oh well, we'll just have to deal with you another way. Filo, lunchtime!" Me and Naofumi said in sync. Filo walked up to the men. "Yay! Food!" Before we could interrupt, she already plucked one of the bandits up. He was currently struggling to get out of Filo's beak. I laughed as Naofumi shouted. "Put him down Filo! I'm going to cut these men a deal." Awww. I want to see Filo devouring these bandits though! "Lead us to your base. You give us all your loot, and I may spare your lives. Maybe." I grinned at the "Maybe" in that conversation.
The bandits led us to a well-hidden lair. A cave in a canyon. Not many would come here. They were loading boxes of food, materials, jewels, weapons and other things onto the carriage. It squeaked under the weight. "The Bird Saint is a gleaming example of the trader spirit that is so rare these days!" I rolled my eyes. Some people.
A/N: And that wraps it up. I did a lot of research on dagger and sword fighting these past few days. Thanks to the Modern Rogue YouTube channel for providing a dagger skills video. I also have been thinking a lot more about Ariete and Raphtalia's relationship. It's friendly for now, but won't always stay that way. You'll see.
Azentra: I also felt the race was kinda dumb. Like, it's a chicken vs dragon. Why didn't Motoyasu just fly? Burning off eyebrows however, that's a better way to resolve your differences.
Now onto the Omake!
Omake 4: Dreams
I sat up, eyes blurry from tears. Another dream. I felt my heart clench as I remembered what it was about. I wiped my face on the blanket and looked around. Filo was sleeping on a different bed, and she had transformed in her sleep again. Raphtalia was shaking the bed. I looked at her. She was curled up, tears leaking from her eyes. Her face was filled with an emotion I rarely saw. Fear.
I wrapped my arms around her and whispered into her ear. "It's okay. Ariete's here. Nee-San is right here to protect you." Her face softened a little and I felt her muscles relax. I had done my job.
Next chapter, we get to see Filo getting clothes, Ariete getting through past demons and more!
