Motoyasu exasperatedly threw up his arms in the direction of the woman as she left them alone in the room.

"Can you believe her? Why is she looking down on us so much?"

Itsuki shook his head. "She is supposedly a few centuries old, to her we'd be children."

Motoyasu laughed. "Oh c'mon man, you believe that bullshit?" He shook his head, slumping against a wall. "She looks human enough to me!"

He abruptly looked up and to the left, seeing movement. "And now where are you going?"

Naofumi paused, looking at the door, which was still slightly ajar from Ambriel's exit. He turned to Motoyasu and shrugged, a wry smile briefly pulling at his lips. "Out."

Itsuki threw his hands up exasperatedly. "Hey! Weren't we told to remain here! Are we the only ones obeying the rules?"

Naofumi shrugged. "Guess so."

Motoyasu opened his mouth, about to say something, when Naofumi exited the room.

The shield hero found himself idly wandering the halls, casting his gaze over the stone and mortar that made up the castle. It was a far cry from the modernity he was used to, there was no concrete or glass.

Somehow, he found he missed it, missed the familiarity such sights would bring. Sure, he was excited at the adventurous prospects this new world could bring him, but all the same, when he noted even the most basic things about this world, it became very clear he was very far from home.

"Excuse me, Shield Hero?"

"Hm?" Naofumi turned around, breaking out of his musings to see a maid drawing his attention. "What is it?"

The maid bowed. "I couldn't help but notice your wandering. Is there something I could help you with?"

Naofumi smiled at the maid. "Yes, actually. Could you tell me where Ambriel is?"

The maid briefly lifted a hand up to her ear, appearing to listen to something, or someone. "Certainly, shield hero. The sword hero is in the library. Would you like directions to her?"

Inclining his head in thanks, the shield hero gave his affirmation, following the maid towards the library.

"Thank you for your trouble. I'm afraid I never caught your name?" Naofumi asked, the pair walking around one of the many pairs of guards patrolling the halls of the royal castle.

The maid looked over her shoulder, giving a sardonic smile. "Call me Ahri if you must.

Naofumi blinked, caught off guard by the sudden aggressiveness. When he looked again at Ahri, the maid's smile appeared as a warm, soft one. He must've imagined it.

"Alright Ahri," Naofumi said, sighting the library. "Thanks for guiding me here. Have a good evening."

The maid bowed once more. "No problem, it was my pleasure. Enjoy yours as well, shield hero."

Naofumi nodded, before heading into the library. The hero glanced around before sighting Ambriel, the woman sitting at her lonesome by a table, nose deep in a massive book, several more piled up on either side of her.

"Hey, Ambriel!" Naofumi smiled, walking to the table.

Ambriel peered up through verdant bangs, still facing the book. "Naofumi."

She abruptly stood up from the table, gazing at him. "Have you noticed anything weird around here?"

Naofumi frowned. For a brief instant, the sardonic, mocking smile Ahri had given him in their brief walk towards the library flickered in his mind's eye, before he shook his head, dismissing it. "No, why do you ask?"

Ambriel continued to gaze at him for several long seconds, her eyes burning into his own. Then, she shrugged, seemingly forgetting about it. "No reason, just wondering."

"If you say so." Naofumi gave an awkward smile as he sat down across from her. "I actually came here to ask you something, Ambriel."

"Oh?" Ambriel closed the book, placing it on the pile next to her. "What is it?"

"In the conversation, earlier, you mentioned that when you're pushed into a corner, you'll pray for a shield? What did you mean?" Naofumi gave a small, half hearted shrug. "I don't exactly feel fairly intimidating right now, I have no attack stats here."

Ambriel softly sighed. "I was actually reading about something similar to your dilemma. Your points, or stat magic, as they call it here, aren't the be all end all. You actually have the potential to be a formidable warrior, if my hypothesis is correct."

Naofumi raised an eyebrow. "Hypothesis?"

Ambriel grinned. "So, I was actually looking into this to aid me, seeing how according to my stat magic I'm, by all rights, a glass cannon, but I figure it could help you as well. Hit me."

"I'm sorry?" Naofumi sputtered.

"You heard me, hit me." Ambriel leaned over. "Give me the ol' one-two."

Naofumi laughed at the absurdity of it. He briefly looked around, checking to make sure nobody would see him deck a woman in the face, regardless of consent. "Alright."

Naofumi drew his fist back, and with all the strength he could muster in the awkward position of sitting down, punched Ambriel directly in the nose.

Naofumi blinked.

While he wasn't exactly the strongest of guys, he expected there to be more of.. something. Instead Ambriel sat there, face forward, her nose resting against his fist, like nothing happened.

Naofumi withdrew his fist, staring at it incomprehensibly. "What? Am I that weak because of this stupid shield?"

Ambriel grinned. "Not to worry, I predicted this!"

Naofumi looked up. "You did?"

"Yes! You are incapable of causing anything and anyone direct harm. However, you have incredible defence and strength, according to what I've read, so…"

Ambriel lowered her head so that it was parallel to the table, maintaining her grin.

"Smash my head into the table!"

"What?"

"As hard as you can!"

Naofumi shrugged. "Alright, I don't think it'll do anything though."

Naofumi gripped the back of Ambriel's head, and again, with all the strength he could muster, pushed her head into the table.

He didn't know what he expected. For Ambriel's face to go straight through the thick oak table was not one of them, however.

Ambriel ripped her head out of the table, maintaining the wide grin on her face despite the bloody nose and varying cuts adorning it. "Yes!"

Naofumi stared. "What are you so happy for?"

Ambriel gave a slightly manic giggle, even as she reached up and cracked her nose back into place, the sound of shifting cartilage sending shivers down Naofumi's spine. "You can do damage, as long as it is indirect. Punching something? Kicking something? Nothing. Making someone fall down? Launching them against a hard surface? It'll work!

Naofumi widened his eyes. "Really?"

Ambriel rolled her eyes, gesturing to her bloodied nose. "What do you think?"

Naofumi laughed in relief. "Thanks Ambriel."

Ambriel's face softened. "No problem, Naofumi. I'm glad I could be of help."

The following morning found the four heroes standing in front of the King once more.

"We have done the honor of assembling parties for you, heroes!" The king decreed, sweeping a hand before him at the assorted men and women standing before the four heroes.

Ambriel surveyed the number of people, doing some brief arithmetic in her head. For there to be a substantial amount of people for each hero, it would likely mean that one would have to be left to stand alone.

Her suspicions were confirmed when, as the parties began to form behind their respective heroes, none of them formed behind Naofumi.

"Hey, how come I don't get any support?" Naofumi griped, looking at the other heroes.

The king blinked, acting surprised. Ambriel's eyes narrowed. After what she'd read last night, and these actions so far, with how the king seemed wholly unsurprised with the turn of events, a grim picture was beginning to build in her mind.

"Perhaps some of the other heroes will be willing to lend members to you, Shield Hero."

Motoyasu turned to his party, which happened to consist entirely of women. Ambriel rolled her eyes in disgust.

Grinning at his party, Motoyasu leaned against his spear. "While I'd hate to leave any of you ladies behind, if some of you want to help a fellow hero in need that would be fine by me."

Itsuki turned to his party as well. "If you can't keep up, you'll be left behind." Itsuki stated simply.

Despite their efforts, if Ambriel could call it that, none left. Ambriel turned around, gazing at the men and women that would make up her group. She frowned in distaste. None of them looked like warriors that could keep up with her.

Ambriel exchanged a glance with Naofumi. While he likely couldn't keep up with her either, she's much rather him than some strangers who likely only wanted to party with a hero to further their own goals.

The two heroes had talked significantly more last night, with Ambriel recommending Naofumi several basic martial arts techniques to make up for his inability to do harm. Naofumi had thanked her, and in turn, he'd helped her with better understanding the stat system. As she'd never played a video game before, even the rudimentary advice Naofumi could give her was significant.

The exchange of information had created the beginnings of a friendship, and friendship was a thing that Ambriel valued highly.

Ambriel stepped forward, raising a hand. "Excuse me, your Majesty", she winced internally at the phrase, "Can heroes be members of the same party?"

The king looked at her, before shaking his head. "No. Your holy weapons will not be able to earn levels while remaining in close proximity to each other."

Ambriel frowned to herself, stepping back to fall in line with the rest of the four heroes. That certainly seemed very convenient.

"I understand. So is the Shield Hero to be without a party?"

The king nodded, making a show of being contrite about it. "While it is unfortunate, that is how it must be. I can't control who they choose to follow."

The warlock's frown deepened. "You do realize that the shield hero, by function, cannot effectively fight alone, right?"

Naofumi, seeing Ambriel standing up for him, nodded his head. "What she said, your Majesty. My attack stat is pretty much nil, I am essentially incapable of doing damage solo."

"You will have to make do." The king waved a hand, acting as if he hadn't heard the two arguments. "The Shield Hero will be granted an extra 250 silver to make up for his lack of party."

Even as the servants in the room delivered them their coin purses, Ambriel's fists clenched.

She stepped away from the seeming sycophants that made her party. "A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and the same can be said about any fighting force. If one of our own must stand alone, then so shall I."

With that said, she walked out of the throne room, leaving her party behind, not bothering to look back. The throne room doors slammed behind her with a heavy finality.

She didn't make it more than a few steps away when she heard movement behind her. Glancing out of the corner of her eye, she saw Naofumi standing there.

"Thanks, Ambriel," Naofumi said, awkwardly rubbing a hand over the back of his head. "You didn't need to do that."

"No, I did." Ambriel stated firmly. She shook her head. "I should apologize to you, in all honesty."

Bewildered, Naofumi blinked. "Why?"

"I've had suspicions that were confirmed by this. Please, come with me. I can explain what's happening. Much was revealed to me in my readings last night." Ambriel implored the shield hero, offering her hand.

Naofumi looked at the outstretched hand. To him, it was either his fellow apathetic heroes and their parties, or the one person so far who'd shown him any modicum of kindness. It was no contest.

Naofumi took the hand.

I'm sorry if it seems rushed, god it's annoying having to essentially do a recap of canon events, I mean, c'mon, I assume if you're here you've watched the anime, you kinda don't need me narrate the first two episodes in play by play. This is also why I'm basically kicking canon in the metaphorical balls here, and putting the story down a different route instantly.