Raphtalia

"He's better now," said Rifana, her voice holding some cheer. Raphtalia shared a look with her friend and smiled. Rifana went back to her conversation with Nicol. Raphtalia found her smile fading as her attention strayed to Adrian.

She knew that he wasn't alright.

He was acting. Greeting Mr Oldrin with the same distant, polite tone she was familiar with. He smiled like nothing was wrong but he was still holding onto Trystan. The filolial was more than happy to spend time with his father. The boy was sitting on his shoulder looking around the village. Sometimes he'd wave at one of the children who were looking at their leader and their saviour speak.

They had arrived in town a couple of minutes ago. Already most of the town had come to take a look at Mr Adrian. She could tell that they all knew that he was the Sword Hero now. More than a few of them glanced at his sword and all had looks of either awe or fear. Mr Adrian had paid them no mind glancing at them once and nodding at the rare few who met his eyes. He was assessing them as threats and dismissing them.

"Are you going to join us?" asked Rifana. Raphtalia turned to Nicol and a girl her age standing next to the older woman.

Nicol hesitated, "I...I think I am." she said, "but…"

Raphtalia understood. It was hard to imagine how powerful a Hero was without witnessing it. Raphtalia had heard dozens of stories about the Heroes. Many of them were about the Sword Hero but none of them had prepared her for Adrian. Without that awareness, it was easy to fear the Waves.

"Mr Adrian doesn't need your help with the Waves," she admitted. Surprise bloomed on Nicol and her fellow villager. "He can defeat a Wave by himself, but he wants to be sure that there is no damage done and that he defeats all the monsters. He'll do everything he can to keep you safe."

Her mind turned back to the Wave that they fought under Fitoria's supervision. Raphtalia had not understood it in the heat of battle. Mr Adrian had funnelled monsters to them for practice and had chosen to extend the Wave.

The cautious, careful man who never did anything without planning it out had chosen to toy with the Wave. That was absolute proof that he had found the Wave simple to deal with. To her surprise, Raphtalia herself had found it quite easy.

The woman was silent for a moment and then looked at Mr Adrian and Mr Oldrin who had walked up to the gate. She could feel that Mr Adrian was doing something to the plant.

"Then where is the other girl?" asked Nicol, "if the Waves didn't take her then…"

Raphtalia grimaced and kept her anger under check. Nicol didn't know. She had a right to ask. Anger filled her regardless when she saw Mr Adrian turn towards Nicol. He moved back into his work within a second.

Ignorant or not Nicol was picking at a gaping wound.

Rifana answered for her. "The Sword Hero was trying to save the Shield Hero-"

Raphtalia glared at Rifana who clamped her mouth shut. Mr Adrian had told them to let him tell the others about this. They weren't supposed to spread it around.

"Keep that a secret," she commanded, glancing at Mr Adrian who turned to look at her at the right moment to smile and nod. She felt her worry fade.

Ms Nicol nodded, but her apprehension had returned. Raphtalia felt a little bad that it seemed that Ms Nicol wouldn't be joining them. Raphtalia understood. Ayrith was her home and it must be very scary for the wolf-demihuman to give up everything for a risky endeavour.

"What?!" said Nicol, looking at something behind her. Raphtalia turned to see and then gaped as the trees that protected the town began to change.

The trees were already quite tall. Their many branches were full of fruit-bearing trees. She could see them getting even taller right in front of her eyes. Within seconds their heights had doubled.

Impressive, but it was what happened next that shocked her.

Glowing branches began to grow out of the higher sections of the tree. Within a second the darkness that permeated the village was gone. It was like Adrian had planted a smaller sun right above Ayrith.

Raphtalia glanced at Mr Adrian who had let Trystan down so that the Filolial could climb up trees. He speaking to Mr Oldrin who was thanking him. The old man turned towards the village centre and called for Nicol and another girl named Augusta. Mr Adrian turned towards her and signalled her to come as well. A quick look at Rifana and they both followed Nicol.

She noted how easy it was to catch up to Nicol. A reminder of their difference in stats.

Mr Oldrin was smiling, "Daughter!" he said, his broad hands waving about as his tail swished behind him, "Have you made your decision? And what about you Augusta?"

Nicol hesitated but a glance at the village around her had her nod. "Yes Father," she said, sharing a look with her friend, "we're ready."

"Excellent," he said, with a bow "Lord Hero. I cannot thank you enough. With this, we will no longer have to worry about the dark nor the threats that wield it as their weapon. Thank you."

Oldrin looked certain and eager. Mr Adrian did not. He turned towards Nicol and Augusta.

"You both have doubts," he said, his voice certain. Nicol opened her mouth to protest but he continued, "that is wise. Let me show you that I can empower you enough to survive the ordeals you will face. If you choose to join be and rest assured that I promise never to throw your lives away. So give me a couple of hours. I will delevel you and then raise your power to level 40. After that, I will tell you about what I expect from you and you can make a final choice. Is that acceptable?"

Nicol looked surprised but still dared to ask. Even in the face of her friend's and father's disapproval, "Sir Hero please do not waste your time on us." she said, "please allow us to understand what you expect of us first before we squander your blessings."

Raphtallia could see that Mr Oldrin looked furious. Mr Adrian was approving. He thought her to be impressive and Raphtalia did as well. Ms Nicol had not stopped thinking because of the massive debt she had to Adrian. Raphtalia knew that even if Mr Adrian would never trust blind faith. As odd as it sounded he preferred it when people had obvious, ulterior motives.

"Of course," he said, his tone firm, but with an undertone of grief, "It's a little complex so please bear with me…"

So, he explained, about Isis' loss and who was responsible. He also expanded on the Waves they were to fight. He didn't give specifics but he allowed her to grasp the situation. Nicol considered every word but Mr Oldrin and Augusta looked at Mr Adrian with awe.

Ms Nicol spoke after Adrian had finished his explanations, "I'm sorry about your daughter." she said, her voice determined, "I'll help find her it is the least I can do after you returned Alvin and Razieh to us."

Augusta and Oldrin added their voices to her promise. Raphtalia smiled at their support and the stunned look on the Sword Hero. It was at times like this that she realized how little he understood when it came to how much he helped people. He had saved her life and that of Rifana. He had reached out to a slave and granted her a better life. Then changed his plans to save a friend of that slave when she could offer him nothing.

He looked at the world assuming that it was cruel, and it was, but he seemed to assume that he was cruel. He was always underestimating his kindness.

It annoyed her.

"Thank you," he said, his voice was warmer, "I'll do my best to prepare you for it. In fact," he mused, looking at her and then at their two new allies, "let's get started right now."

Raphtalia interrupted here, "Mr Adrian," she said, her tone short, "you need to rest. I don't think you've slept in days please stop punishing yourself like-"

He laughed, a small chuckle compared to that mad laugh a couple of minutes prior. "Thank you," he said, and then promised, "I'll rest soon. Let me get a couple of things done first."

She nodded. Well aware that this was the best she was going to get from him. Raphtalia turned to Ms Nicol only to find that all three of the villagers were staring at her with a shared expression of shock and awe.

"What is it?" she asked, feeling quite uncomfortable. They didn't answer but she heard Mr Adrian's amused laugh from behind her.