A heads up before going forward with this chapter and the ones that follow; there will be similarities to Canon, some things will change, others will remain, and some will be altered. There will be spoilers ahead to an extent, so if not caught up in the lore or the light novels, beware for that. Things will also get dark in this, too. Do advise in reviews if you believe this merits an update from 'T' to 'M', thank you.
Chapter Eight: The Turning Point
"Air Strike Shield!"
Gaelion roared, his breath attack splashed against the green translucent shield that formed in front of his head. Dipping slightly, the last of the breath was expelled in Naofumi's direction.
Keep on the move.
Raphtalia went on the offence, swiping at the dragon's right claw, while Quetzal was in flight near the head, performing hit and run attacks at the eyes and jaw when he could.
Gaelion reared back and let loose a mighty gust of wind from his wings, sending Quetzal off course and Raphtalia away from his body. His tail swung around to crush the demi-human, only for Naofumi to charge in and take the blow.
Now close together, the dragon took the opportunity to let loose another breath attack of poison.
"Shield Prison!"
The dome formed into existence, protecting them.
Naofumi cursed.
"You go left, I'll go right. He'll likely go for another tail swipe, he knows the timing. I'll Air Strike when it drops."
"Right!"
Sure enough, the tail was on them right as the shield dropped, and Naofumi barely got out the Air Strike Shield's incantation in time to take the blow.
However Gaelion then swiped with his claw and Naofumi didn't hear Raphtalia's warning in time since he was focused on the other direction.
Fuck, that's going to hurt.
And hurt it did. While he barely got the Light Metal Shield up in time to take some of the blow, he was still sent flying into his own ability which shattered on impact.
"The wall crumbles, now to shatter the sword," Gaelion rumbled.
He went to unleash another breath attack at Raphtalia, only to be interrupted by Quetzal crashing into his maw.
Roaring, he snapped at the winged serpent, only for it to fly out of range. Raphtalia quickly came in for another strike on his left side, and scored a cut on the softer underbelly of his chest.
Naofumi groaned as he poured a Healing Medicine on his bruised arms, and was pleased to see his HP slowly begin to restore.
"Air Strike Shield!"
Gaelion's right claw impacted against the defence for Raphtalia, allowing her to flee and create distance, however she was caught by the breath attack the dragon was finally able to get off that she had to run through to escape his pursuit.
Now poisoned, she let loose several hacking coughs, attracting Quetzal's attention.
The couatl landed on her arm and glowed a gentle green which in pulses spread through the demi-human. Naofumi watched as the Poison icon disappeared from his status magic on her to be replaced by a buff which he knew gave a resistance to poison based damage.
"Four seconds. Better," Gaelion said, relaxing.
"And about four minutes until the first instance of being effected," Naofumi added, approaching the dragon's underbelly. Carefully, he applied a Healing Medicine to the cut Raphtalia made.
"You are getting stronger, girl," Gaelion chuckled. "Two days ago you could not even slash my underbelly. Now, I'd be wary in a real fight. By the end of the week, we shall see if you can damage my scales."
Raphtalia sheathed her sword, breathing heavily but still gave a deep bow, "Thank you, Gaelion-sensei."
Gaelion then turned his gaze to Naofumi.
"You will need to find more utility shields soon, Shield Hero," The dragon urged. "It has only been three days, and I now already know the extent of them and their timings. Perhaps that Rope Shield can be used differently. A lasso, perhaps? To restrain or divert."
Naofumi nodded, thinking through the applications.
"As for you, Quetzal," Gaelion turned to eye the couatl who was now more relaxed in the dragon's presence. Still wary, but aware their teacher wouldn't truly aim to kill them. "You are making good use of your Protection from Poison, but remember to rotate. When the Shield Hero is in a position to guard, then use your spell in that scenario. Else I could have simply attacked both you and your charge."
The serpent hissed grumpily, but seemed to accept his elder's words.
"The couatl has strong instincts, it is in his kin's nature to guard. It must be tempered however," Gaelion directed that towards Naofumi who nodded.
It had been three days that they'd spent in the mountains training with Gaelion. His more loyal and mild mannered children had been tasked with locating strong monsters and locations with high populations of them in local areas and bordering territories, and to report back to Gaelion himself with this information. Their last two days had been spent hunting these creatures down to level up.
When they returned, they were given a brief rest to recover and eat, before facing the Dragon Emperor as a team, working on tactics against a larger, more powerful foe. Gaelion had reasoned that this scenario will be one they will run into often with boss creatures of the Waves, or stronger, rarer monsters native to the world. Teamwork between them was essential.
No experience points were gained for levelling up in these fights, but the practice provided true combat experience they would be without until they ran into the scenario in a life or death battle, where mistakes could be fatal.
Naofumi paused to check their stats.
Itwani Naofumi LV 21
Raphtalia LV 24
Quetzal LV 15
For three days of work, that was solid progress. Quetzal had also grown another metre, putting him at a solid three metres in length now.
That's something like half the biggest snake back on Earth... If at level 9 he was about the size of a ball python, around a metre and a half, then...
"His size is going to be a problem," Naofumi murmured, glancing at the serpent. "For going incognito, at least. He'll be an asset in the Wave."
Gaelion shifted, and slowly dropped in a resting stance on his belly, legs to the side.
"In three days you have made good progress, Naofumi," The dragon said. "In regards to fighting, at least."
Naofumi glanced up to the dragon. He often was loud by his nature, even when speaking levelly. Yet at this volume, he could tell what was being said was only for him.
"You're struggling," The dragon stated. "The demi-human girl."
Naofumi shifted.
"You trust the couatl, yet that same unthinking level is not given to the girl. Why?"
"I..."
He was used to bottling it up by this point. Who could he talk to about this? Ekil? Elder Riyute? Quetzal was hardly a conversationalist. But Gaelion was a neutral party...
"...I'm afraid," he admitted finally. "I plan on releasing her at the end of the Wave. When we go back at the end of the week, I'll be getting a stronger companion, who is waiting. He... he worships the Shield."
Gaelion rumbled, "Are you abandoning her for her weakness, or her lack of shared Faith?"
Naofumi stiffened, "I'm not abandoning her. I'm freeing her."
"You expect her to leave."
"Yes. Why wouldn't she?"
Gaelion hummed.
"Why indeed?"
It strangely didn't sound condescending or like a rebuke for Naofumi's nature, it almost sounded... pitying.
"She may not have faith in their demi-human religion, infantile worship of a mere weapon," The dragon snorted, glowering at the shield which pulsed in response, "but she has faith in you. You should give consideration to extending the same courtesy."
Gaelion then spoke louder, "It has been three days since you came to me... I think it is time I show you my greatest treasure."
Gaelion led them on a path through the mountain to a nearly inaccessible ridge by foot. A wide cave maw was there, leading deeper in.
Surprisingly, the inside was lit by torches. Torches, which a dragon of Gaelion's size could not have exactly made or lit.
"Father, are you home?"
Naofumi stopped and Raphtalia froze at his side.
Father?
"Wyndia," Gaelion rumbled, for the first time it sounded soft, affectionate. "Daughter, we have visitors."
"Visitors? Who..."
Wyndia was a dog demi-human.
She looked surprisingly well kept, with braided hair and dressed in furs. She also was eyeing Naofumi's helmeted form was open suspicion.
"Visitors," Gaelion reaffirmed. "They are the ones I have been training the past few days, daughter. The Shield Hero and his companions."
Wyndia's features quickly shifted from caution to wild excitement, "The Shield Hero?! The one from the stories?!"
Gaelion rumbled a laugh, "Yes, the very one."
It was still a bit odd for Naofumi to be talked to with open worship. He hoped he never got used to it.
"This one is Raphtalia, she is like yourself daughter. Perhaps you can ask those burning questions I could not answer? I need to speak with the Hero."
While Wyndia excitedly dragged Raphtalia deeper into the cave, jabbering away with so many questions that a flustered Raphtalia could barely get a word in edgewise, Naofumi remained with Gaelion. Quetzal chose to also stay, wrapped under Naofumi's cloak.
Gaelion led them to the mouth of the cave where the sun was setting on the horizon. Naofumi's breath was momentarily taken from the view.
"She is my greatest treasure, Naofumi," Gaelion rumbled quietly, watching the sunset. "I... the summoning of you Heroes. It worries me."
Naofumi looked up at the dragon, surprised, "Why?"
Gaelion glanced down, "The Heroes mean the Waves of Destruction will return in force. That you were able to find me so easily... greed and apathy are powerful motivators, Naofumi. I fear for the day when adventurers come who I can not easily devour."
Naofumi shifted. From time to time, he was reminded of Gaelion's nature. A patient mentor one evening, a brutal teacher the other. A father one evening... a higher creature who saw humans and demi-humans who trespassed on his land as prey the other.
"I need assurance. That my daughter will be safe. The other spawn, they are... borne of instinct. Likewise, my harem. They are lower creatures. Wyndia is different. Her mother, blind from blood in her eyes and loss of her own, gave her to me, entrusting me with her safety after a bandit attack on their convoy. I slaughtered the bandits, and took what the convoy had left for my daughter."
Gaelion looked over the horizon, pondering.
"I worry about the settlement close by. I worry when a powerful adventurer will see my head as a job, or a trophy. I worry that with these Waves, I may not be long for this world. By choice or... by necessity."
"What do you mean?"
Gaelion looked down at Naofumi, giving him his full attention.
"There is... much you do not know. Much that humans do not know. Secret knowledge that even the beastfolk have forgotten. But the dragons remember. At the very least, the Emperors do."
Gaelion tapped his chest with a claw. Naofumi's eyes widened as he saw an almost imperceptible purple glow from under the scales and flesh.
"I fought another of mine kin for the Shard. A piece of the Guardian Dragon King, father of the Emperors. The Queen may have slayed his form, but the Shards remained. With them... comes knowledge. Power, that a Dragon Emperor can gain through long years of meditation."
Gaelion looked out into the sky now darkening.
"Do you know why the Waves happen, Shield Hero?"
"No. I don't."
Gaelion hummed.
"Your Legendary Weapon, it summoned you from another world, so the tale goes. But where does that power come from? To bring pieces of one world to another?"
Gaelion exhaled a harmless puff of his breath.
"The same magic as the Waves of Destruction. An odd name for that phenomenon. 'Destruction'. 'Annihilation', is more appropriate."
"Don't they mean the same thing?"
Gaelion laughed.
"Annihilation is change, Naofumi. You are not the same man you were before summoning. I am not the same dragon I was at the start of this week. The Waves are an annihilation, a changing force."
"Then... what are they changing?"
Gaelion chuckled, "Why, this very world, of course."
Raphtalia sighed as Wyndia's questions eventually trailed off. It was good to see another demi-human, especially one that reminded her of home, but...
Keel. Rifana. Where are you now?
It was painful to see another female dog demi-human, and someone so chirpy and cheerful like Rifana. She hoped her friends were safe, and she'd see them again.
"We should find Naofumi-san and your, father," Raphtalia briefly stumbled, still dazed at the wild concept of a parental dragon.
Rif- Wyndia nodded with vigour, "So... what's it like, being in a party with the Shield Hero? Is it like the stories?"
Raphtalia quirked an eyebrow.
Funny, Fenway asked something along the same lines too...
"Father found a book that my birth parents had," Wyndia explained, rubbing the back of her head, "it had all these stories and myths, and the Cardinal Heroes in it. Father taught me to read real early, he said that even with eyes as good as his, the tiny text was a pain to read."
"It's not exactly like the stories," Raphtalia admitted, "but in a way... that's better. The stories don't really talk about sitting around a fire at night, enjoying a nice meal. Or when you're travelling together."
Wyndia shot her a sly grin. "That's your favourite parts, huh?"
Raphtalia smiled, "They're the best parts about adventuring."
She heard Naofumi and Gaelion talking ahead of her. Raphtalia purposely made her steps louder to ring in the cave, giving them ample warning.
"How would I even get a dragon to do that?"
Gaelion seemed to be looking at Naofumi intently, then Raphtalia realised it wasn't him he was looking at, but instead the tense couatl around him.
"Couatl are Divine Caretakers, Shield Hero, and are given a divine mandate. Were it to take in Dragon King Shards, it would be take on draconic features, and change to fit the role. Let us hope that the reason it is with you is to not enact such a prophecy."
"Naofumi-san?"
Naofumi flinched, apparently not having heard their approach. Gaelion gave no other movement but Raphtalia knew by now that the dragon's senses were simply too great to not know exactly what was happening within his area.
"What were you talking about, father?" Wyndia chirped.
Gaelion gave a draconic smile, "Simply some advice regarding the Shield Hero's companion couatl, daughter."
Raphtalia looked at Naofumi to confirm. The Shield Hero nodded, but she noted his pale, frightened complexion.
What could scare Naofumi like that...
She looked up to Gaelion in suspicion.
"I have also promised my support in the fight against the Waves," Gaelion added.
Raphtalia's eyes widened. That, she hadn't expected.
"What?!" Wyndia however was far more worried than surprised. "But you could- what if you-"
"Daughter, I will be safe," Her adoptive father rumbled reassuringly. "This is merely the second Wave, I am doubtful there will be anything available to truly threaten me. But the Shield Hero and his party... I suspect they will need my presence."
Raphtalia swallowed.
Of course, Naofumi is on the run, if we're truly fighting the Wave, then the other Heroes...
Wyndia seemed unhappy, but nodded nonetheless.
"In the meantime, we will continue training," Gaelion stated. "In fact... Wyndia, how would you like to assist also?"
"Me?"
Gaelion nodded, thinking deeply.
"There will be more options available for what we can do. You four against myself, or Wyndia assisting me. Perhaps your party with the goal of protecting Wyndia," Gaelion said, shooting Naofumi a meaningful look.
Evidentially, something had been said between them given how serious Naofumi looked.
"Excellent. For now, we rest. Tomorrow, you will resume your hunt. My children bring word of a troll that had wandered into my land. It will make excellent prey for you."
Naofumi shifted on the boulder he was resting on, examining some of the shields he had unlocked over the past six days since he had met Gaelion.
Trollskin Shield conditions met!
Mountain Ram Shield conditions met!
Trollskin Shield
abilities unlocked equip bonus: HP Regen (small)
equip effect: Magic defence up
Mountain Ram Shield
abilities unlocked equip bonus: skill "Shield Bash"
Elder Mountain Ram Shield
abilities locked equip bonus: skill "Shield Smash"
Armadillo Shield
abilities locked equip bonus: skill "Shield Charge"
There were other shields like the odd Butterfly Shield, but he was mainly focused on these ones. The Trollskin health point regeneration was a massive boon for fights, allowing him to stay in longer without needing a potion. In also helped deal with some of the swarm enemies they had encountered, who had enough damage to breach his defence but the regeneration counteracted the majority of their quick, low damage attacks.
The Shield Bash was a useful addition, now he had a physical skill to help in fights. It was a low risk, excellent counter that applied a brief stun, very low damage but had a chance to apply a -33% to Defence for five seconds. Raphtalia was quick to adapt to his more aggressive style and benefit from their co-ordination to inflict greater damage.
The other two he hadn't unlocked just yet so he needed their shields equipped to use.
Shield Smash was similar to the Bash given it came from the same type of animal, only a stronger variant, but instead of applying a debuff to defence, it instead affected offence but also with a chance for Skill Disruption, disabling the use of any skills for five seconds.
That one had been a nasty surprise for Gaelion in their fights since he started using more in his arsenal, Naofumi remembered with amusement their fight yesterday when his mentor tried to use an Incapacitating Roar to stun them, only for nothing to come out save a puff of his green poison.
His face was priceless.
Quetzal hissed his amusement from the side.
And of course my own damn thoughts aren't private anymore, Naofumi cursed mentally, glaring at the snake. I'm going to make you into a pair of boots, lazy reptile.
Quetzal snickered, unconcerned.
Gaelion had wanted to expand and train Quetzal's inherent abilities further with his growth, focusing first on Detect Good and Evil and Detect Thoughts.
On one hand, the couatl's spatial awareness was supreme to Naofumi with the Two Headed Dog's alert ability, but a tad under Gaelion's own superior senses. He could detect creatures and intentions within about ten metres, where exactly they're located, including magically influenced places or objects.
The detect thoughts was as simple as it sounded. The stupid snake could passively hear thoughts around him, or potentially dig deeper but then whatever it was would know it was happening.
It helped a great deal when he had a non-verbal companion, as he could give commands silently and also with warnings and observations.
On the other, the coautl made a habit of listening to Naofumi's thoughts now, either reacting with amusement or judging him with its serpentine gaze.
Gaelion explained that coautl are inherently good creatures who can't even lie. They are just, moral and honourable.
Hence why it tended to shoot Naofumi looks if his train of thought derailed to more vengeful or irritated things, such as fondly remembering when Raphtalia took that annoying troll's head off. Regenerating health was a pain to fight, but should be handy for him.
Raphtalia passed him a waterskin which he took a deep gulp from.
They were getting better better at working as a trio. Naofumi was the defender, Raphtalia was the attacker, and Quetzal could seamlessly switch between.
Itwani Naofumi LV 24
Raphtalia LV 28
Quetzal LV 20
They were pushing Gaelion harder in their daily fights, forcing the dragon to vary his tactics. Naofumi doubted they could truly beat the Dragon Emperor in a straight fight, but his mentor would have to work for the win.
"Tomorrow," Gaelion rumbled as Wyndia tended to some dented scales on his leg, "we will fight with a change in the rules. Instead of defending Wyndia from me, you will instead have a mission to incapacitate her while I guard her. She will fight back against you, naturally."
"Um, when would this be applicable, Gaelion-sensei?" Raphtalia hesitantly asked.
"Tell me, were you to face say, the three Heroes, who are they going to focus on first?"
Naofumi snorted, "Me, naturally."
Gaelion shook his head, "If they did, they'd be foolish to do so. No, the main threat of your group is Quetzal."
Having expected him to say Raphtalia instead, Naofumi was surprised.
"While you have varied skills Naofumi, your main focus is support and defence. Raphtalia is a skirmisher, and were you to be separated, they would focus her first then group against you. She is skilled true, I'd say in a straight fight she is more than a match, but they will likewise have an arsenal of skills focused towards attack, unlike you Naofumi. Two or more would overwhelm her."
Gaelion averted his gaze to Quetzal.
"The coautl, however... with the magic he is learning and what will soon be at his disposal, he would be able to selectively protect each of you and the advantages of his coil and venom could incapacitate a smaller group. In a three on three, one would be inflicted with sleep, another could be coiled and lifted far into the air out of harm else they would surely die from such a drop, leaving one against two."
Naofumi nodded slowly in understanding, "If they find out what he can do, he's the first they need to target."
Gaelion nodded, "This is also true in the reverse."
He turned to Raphtalia, "You face the Bow Hero, Spear Hero, and Sword Hero. Which should you attack first?"
Raphtalia grasped what the dragon was saying, and answered, "The Bow Hero."
"Exactly. One must be selective with the targets. If they have a healer, the healer needs to be incapacitated first. In our scenario, Wyndia will act as a stand-in support caster, as such-"
Gaelion was interrupted by howls sounding in the forest, a cacophony of monsters that dwelled within, some Naofumi recognised faintly as...
"My children!" Gaelion growled, the very sound shaking the earth. "Thieves, hunters, they come!"
"We'll come with you," Raphtalia said, "it will be hard for you to move in the trees!"
Gaelion gave a brief nod before taking flight, the force buffeting them.
"Come on!" Naofumi shouted, running for the treeline.
As Raphtalia, Quetzal and Wyndia followed, Naofumi felt the pit in his stomach deepen.
This is the first time we'll be fighting people... we might have to look them in the eyes, and...
Quetzal landed roughly on his shoulders to coil under tightly, the weight making no difference to him, and in fact he found it comforting.
Naofumi swallowed. Maybe it's not a bad thing having you in my head, huh?
They followed Gaelion's roars and the sounds of other monsters until they reached the fighting ground.
Trees had been uprooted, foliage ripped and blown away, it looked like a bomb had went off.
Gaelion was fighting with ferocity to defend several of his injured spawn, however the score-strong party of hunters seemed to have anticipated his coming.
"Nets! NETS! Get the damn muzzle, make sure it can't-"
Gaelion unleashed a putrid breath attack that inflicted four of their number with poison, resulting in the twenty strong being down to sixteen as their hit men writhed in agony on the ground.
Wyndia charged in fearlessly with a blade in hand, forcing the hunters to adapt to the presence of four unexpected enemies.
Naofumi's target swung his blade in a wide arc which he had no issue deflecting, following up with a Shield Bash that rattled the man's head. With a quick shout, an Air Strike Shield erupted into place, two foes running head first into it and rebounding when they ran to assist their fellow against Wyndia.
Raphtalia was speed personified, weaving in-between the group, slashing and disarming where she could. Quetzal had already incapacitated two with his venom and had a third coiled, the man screaming as he was dragged into the treeline.
Gaelion was fury made flesh, where previously he was purposeful in holding back in their training sessions, none of that restraint was employed now.
Naofumi quickly glanced away as one foolish hunter ventured too close to the enraged dragon only for his light armour to be rent under Gaelion's claw, the man impacting into a tree with a sickening crunch.
Grunting as an arrow ineffectually pinged off his form, Naofumi cast Shield Prison to entrap two of the archers.
Raphtalia switched targets from the sword and spearmen to take out the remaining ranged foes. Disarmed of their daggers, bows split, they were quickly made a non-threat.
When they tried to flee into the trees one was nearly beheaded by Quetzal returning, wings impacting into both.
Naofumi refocused for the remaining foes, trusting the couatl to deal with them.
"Bastard!"
Naofumi glanced at his charging foe.
Iron sword. Rusty. Level... 19. No helmet.
Naofumi took the hit with minimal damage to the side and delivered a headbutt, following up with a Shield Bash to the wrist to disarm him.
Grabbing the wailing hunter, he threw him to the side. He had expected Wyndia or Raphtalia to knock him unconscious, but instead the dog demi-human ran him through with her blade, kicking him to the ground.
Swallowing, he reassessed the remaining enemies.
Seven left, only five in fighting form. As their leader yelled to organise, the group finally broke and started fleeing into the trees, only to be picked off by Gaelion's children. Naofumi noted the positively massive form of what they had dubbed 'Gryff' charge several, the Eagle-Dragon hybrid striking with cold efficiency.
The group's leader stood his ground, shaking.
"Fuck you!" He yelled, eyes darting from Raphtalia, Wyndia and Naofumi. "Fucking traitors! Animal scum, siding with beasts, and you, you're a knight you fuck?! What are-"
Whatever rant he was going on was ended when Gaelion lunged, biting from top-down. With a frankly horrible serious of snaps and cracks, his jaws locked. Gaelion writhed his head from side to side, tearing and breaking bones further, before spitting the hunter to the side where his mangled corpse crashed to earth.
"My children will bring the cowards back, or devour them," Gaelion rumbled ominously, gore running red between his teeth. "None will leave this forest."
Naofumi nodded, examining the post-battle landscape with a sickened stomach.
Seven lay unmoving, with various wounds. Most seemed to have died of Gaelion's poison breath, while some had holes still trickling blood, made from Wyndia's blade.
Raphtalia seemed to have gone for non-lethal kills, Quetzal had focused on putting as many out of the fight as he could and was now dragging his incapacitated foes out from the trees.
Seven men lay dead.
Several were on the ground, writhing in pain as Gaelion's poison burned its way through their veins and HP.
Four were out cold by Quetzal's venom. One was just a mangled, crushed mess. Evidentially this was the one he'd coiled and lifted into the air. Naofumi quickly applied a Healing Medicine potion to the long cut up Quetzal's side.
Must've been why he dropped him.
One man was passed out, having been knocked unconscious by Raphtalia.
Seven men lay dead.
Naofumi swallowed down bile.
Wyndia took a step forward, wiping grime and blood off her face, then with a sharp movement, stabbed one of the writhing men in the heart. Naofumi watched as the slow descending HP nosedived, and Wyndia glanced in space to the side.
EXP. From her kill, Naofumi realised, we're... people are just like monsters too.
Quetzal gazed up to Naofumi from the side, nudging into him reassuringly.
Naofumi shakily ran his hand down the reptiles scales, taking comfort in the familiar cold scales.
"What are you doing?!" Raphtalia cried, stepping forward. "They're-"
"They're invaders," Wyndia hissed, "they came to kill, so they should be ready to die!"
"What else would you suggest, Raphtalia?" Gaelion rumbled. "If it is kindness you seek, then this is it. Else, they die a slow death to my poison."
"We could, we could..." Raphtalia's eyes darted over to Naofumi, and Quetzal.
"Heal them?" Wyndia asked incredulously. "They came to kill us!"
"We can take them to Mirso, their guards-"
"No. We can't," Naofumi said, rubbing at his visor. He felt so... tired. He took off the helmet to meet Raphtalia's eyes.
"Why not, Naofumi?" Raphtalia pleaded.
"Because Raphtalia," Gaelion said, snorting a plume of green breath, "what these humans came to do today? None of it was illegal."
Raphtalia's eyes widened.
"Gaelion is... a monster, Raphtalia," Naofumi took a seat on the forest floor, trying his best to ignore the smell of death. "there's no... there isn't a punishment, for killing monsters. Do you think someone is going to turn us in for hunting usapils in the wild?"
"Your human settlement would in fact, charge you with crime," Gaelion agreed. "in their eyes, this was assault and murder."
Naofumi hated just how betrayed Raphtalia looked.
It was one thing killing monsters, but people? That's a different ball game.
"So, we kill those men who are poisoned," Raphtalia said, "what about the ones who aren't?"
"We kill them too," Wyndia said.
"Raphtalia." Gaelion said gently. "What do you think will happen when these men tell their stories? Of a man, a serpent and a demi-human assisting a dragon, killing their friends? Naofumi used his abilities. The Heroes will find out their missing number is in hiding here. They will come."
Raphtalia understood, but Naofumi could see how she disliked what had to be done.
"We should... can we just kill them, like that?" She looked at the row of sleeping men. "They're just... helpless."
"What should we do then, Raphtalia?" Naofumi asked, exhausted. "Should we wake them up? Give them back their weapons, too?"
He wished there was another way, but he couldn't see it.
"Should we be polite about it, make sure the niceties are observed?" Naofumi snorted darkly. "Make it an honourable duel, maybe? None of these men will stand a chance in a duel against you, Raphtalia. Are you going to look him in the eyes and ask that he bows before death? Should he be allowed a sword in hand before he dies?"
Raphtalia looked sickened.
"If... if there was another way," Naofumi sighed, "If there is... please, tell me. Tell me."
Raphtalia flinched at the pleading note he ended on, but stayed silent.
They both knew there was no other way.
Naofumi looked back at the murky soil in front of him, now stained with human blood. It would wash out in days, new grass would grow, but if he ever looked at this patch again... he'd always know.
"I'm sorry," He stated. "I really, really am. If I could-"
"You would," Raphtalia finished.
They fell silent. The men continued to shiver in pain, feverish and oblivious to all else as their HP slowly ticked down the seconds left in their life.
"I... I can do it," Wyndia offered. "You can go back, and-"
"No. I..." Raphtalia interrupted, "if we let them go free... they'd tell people what happened. Gaelion-sensei would be in danger..."
Naofumi felt her eyes on his head. He couldn't bring himself to meet her gaze.
"...Naofumi would be in danger. I..."
Naofumi heard Raphtalia draw her blade, and in a quick motion, he heard the sound of metal slice flesh.
And again.
And again.
And again.
Naofumi pulled at his hair, but couldn't look up. He, just...
I'm a coward. I've... I've made her dirty her hands while mine stay clean. Fuck, I really am a monster.
Quetzal hissed from the side, butting his head against Naofumi, who ignored him.
He looked up as she pulled her blade from the final man's neck, spine cut for a quick death.
Just like he'd shown her before.
Raphtalia didn't look at him as she approached the sleeping men who looked almost peaceful.
Wyndia hesitantly approached.
"I... I can help you, you don't need to... them all..."
Raphtalia shook her head.
Gaelion remained silent, unflinchingly watching as Raphtalia ended the men's lives one by one.
Naofumi clasped his hands against his temple as if in prayer, and hated the monster he was further.
Raphtalia's breath hitched as she ended the last man's life, with his HP blinking out of existence, and the fucking world made a macabre mockery of the moment with a ping of gained EXP.
Naofumi looked up and took in her shaking, bloodstained form, and mourned for what trust she must've had in him.
Raphtalia looked up and met Naofumi's own.
"It scares me what I'm willing to do for you," She admitted quietly, sheathing her blade.
Itwani Naofumi LV 25
Raphtalia LV 29
Quetzal LV 21
Naofumi gazed at the top right of his status magic, unable to look away from the static numbers.
One gained level... at the cost of...
He swallowed, but couldn't look away.
He sat at the mouth of Gaelion's cave, with the dragon relaxed and resting beside him, Quetzal wrapped around Naofumi's form.
Naofumi was beginning to feel the coautl's weight at four and a half metres, now that the adrenaline and fear of battle wasn't coursing through his system.
"She is safe," Gaelion reassured, "simply walking through the forest. I can see her. Several of my children also keep a close eye."
Impressive 'close eye', Naofumi mused numbly, given I can't see shit from here.
Naofumi had been scared several times before in his life. When he first broke his arm. When he seriously thought he would be kicked out of the house. When he realised the extent of this country's hatred for him, because of what he had on his arm.
No moment terrified him more than when they returned to Gaelion's cave only for Raphtalia to walk away and not say a word.
He genuinely thought that this was the breaking point, and she was leaving him.
She deserved so much better than being stuck with him, true. He fully expected her to leave at the end of the Wave when he released her, that was correct.
He just wasn't ready now.
"I... I never thought I'd be the one to hurt her," Naofumi mumbled. Gaelion's head twitched.
"Everything is temporary, son," Gaelion told him softly. "This is merely one of those things. She... she needs time to process. Taking your first life is hard, for people. Even the haze of combat would not make it a lesser blow, for once the dust has settled... you remember. These men were resigned to death, either way. If it was not my poison, it was my claws. If not me, Wyndia."
"But never me," Naofumi said bitterly. "I can't take that burden from her."
Gaelion shot Naofumi a look.
"The Shield Hero is a protector, a guardian. Not a killer. But not a pacifist, either," The dragon intoned. "She says she is your Sword. Raphtalia is just finally understanding what that entails."
Gaelion looked out to the clear red sky as the sun slowly ended its decent across the horizon.
"She has killed, yes. And she will kill again. But... I am doubtful one such as her will spiral. As long as she has you. She still trusts you, Naofumi. You need to trust her, too."
Gaelion let out a deep sigh.
"The sun will rise again, and when it does, you must keep moving forward. Together. You need her as much as she needs you."
With that, Gaelion turned to head deeper into the cave.
Naofumi chose to wait instead, keeping his eye on the forest, waiting and hoping he would see her return.
He sat still, unmoving, as the sky bled into darkness.
He then saw her figure leave the forest, making her way to their camp at the base of the massive hill Gaelion called home.
Naofumi hesitated.
Should I...
Quetzal nudged him, pushing him to the path down.
Naofumi got to his feet and started the slow decent down, while Quetzal spread his now massive wings and glided.
He didn't know where they stood now.
I... I should release her now. I can get enough to buy Baerywn, and...
Naofumi swallowed. He knew what his path was leading to, after today he was sure it was one Raphtalia couldn't, shouldn't, walk.
Gaelion's talk in the cave still haunted him.
Naofumi's blood was chilled.
"There have been Waves before this. Sometimes, a Guardian Beast has been summoned. A world's protection measure against the Wave, when the Heroes fail or fall. They hold back the Wave, and stabilise the world. Other times, the Heroes fight back the Wave. Yet all that does is delay the inevitable. Change always comes."
"What do you mean? Can't you just tell me?" Naofumi asked, irritated.
Gaelion hummed.
"You are... frustrated, at your lack of knowledge."
"I've been told nothing, got only shreds of information from listening in to people, but it's not being enough. I don't know what this is," he gestured to his shield, "I don't know what these 'Waves' are, I don't even know the reason behind them! Nobody has told me anything!"
Gaelion was silent.
"You seek meaning, shelter in knowledge," The dragon said quietly. "Yet you will not find it. Knowing what is to come, will not grant you solace. The knowledge will corrupt, it will destroy, and knowing... knowing will consume you, greater than what these Waves are doing to this world."
"Tell me." Naofumi demanded.
Gaelion glanced at Naofumi, "There are Four Legendary Weapons, Shield Hero. Four Guardian Beasts. Do you think they are all native to this world?"
"W-what?"
"If you did, then know you are wrong. You think this is the only world summoning Heroes? The only one fighting Waves? There are winners and losers in this. You may have heard tales of how if Heroes were to die, the Waves become harder and will eventually destroy the world."
Gaelion made a point of glancing towards the horizon, "Where did those stories come from, I wonder? This world remains. Others... likely not. Which sun is this? Is it ours, or another? Neither, both?"
Naofumi didn't know how to even begin processing this, or what the dragon was implying.
"The current Heroes are splintered. The humans and demi-humans wage war, and we very well may see another during these Waves. And the final safeguard, the Dragon King, has been broken by the Queen and a previous Shield Hero, his Shards scattered to the winds of the world."
Gaelion chuckled lowly.
"You ask why I am worried? Because this world is at the weakest it has ever been, Naofumi. Dark days are ahead."
"Then... what can we even do?" Naofumi mumbled, staring at the Shield. An alien Shield, from another world different from this one. As alien as him.
"The Queen would tell you to co-operate with the other Heroes, for her kin hold a hatred for dragon kind, and vice versa."
Gaelion snorted.
"The sheer disrespect of them. Remnants of another world which is now ash, sneering at my kind."
Gaelion sighed.
"If you Heroes fail, the Guardian Beast must be allowed to fulfil its mission. The Guardian Beast roams and collects souls, using the energy to beat back the Waves. It is a high cost. They eradicate two thirds of the planet's life."
Naofumi's eyes widened, "If... if we fail, it has to genocide the planet?"
"That is the price to beat back the Waves," Gaelion intoned gravely. "Two thirds. It is either that, or the entire world. I believe your kind would call it 'the lesser evil'."
"Evil is still evil," Naofumi argued.
"Yes, and it cannot be debated when the moralistic peoples are but ash and dust," Gaelion retorted. Then the dragon let loose a mighty exhale.
"It is a truly heavy burden the Heroes have. Especially with the fractured nature right now. That is why, we will make a deal, Shield Hero. A pact."
"What pact?"
Gaelion shifted.
"Promise me. If anything were to happen to me, you would protect Wyndia. You would see her safe. Promise me this first."
Naofumi did.
Gaelion relaxed.
"Good... in return, I will train you as promised this week, and give you further knowledge during our private training. The Wave will prove troublesome however for you, no matter your party's personal strength. You will be revealed as the Shield Hero. So, I will fight by your side."
Naofumi glanced up, surprised.
"You will?"
Gaelion nodded his mighty head.
"If the Heroes fall, then the world is doomed. If you fall, then the other Heroes may end up slaying the Guardian Beasts with the help of the humans. I will swear my claws to protect you, in return, you will protect what is mine. Know this, Naofumi."
Naofumi returned his attention to the dragon at the seriousness in the tone.
"You cannot run forever. Your 'Sir Beastmaster' guise will shield you only for so long. Then, you have a choice ahead, with three options."
"Those are?"
Gaelion rumbled.
"Work with your fellow Heroes co-operatively. This is the way the damned Queen would prefer, else she may make the radical call to kill you four and force your leaders to re-summon."
He would prefer that not happening, but to work with the others who looked down on him, who saw him as a criminal...
"The second option is still co-operation," Gaelion eyed Naofumi. "Though, by force. Use the demi-human nations, incite war against the humans. Conquer them, like a dragon would. Take what you want by force, and the Heroes would have no choice but to yield and work with you against the Waves. It comes with the risk of you losing that fight however, and forever destroying the first option."
"And the third?"
Gaelion tapped his chest.
"Unite the Shards. If you have a dragon under your command, it will learn the necessary knowledge on how to resurrect the King. Protect him, kill the other Heroes if need be, or destroy the true threat, the Filolial Queen. The Dragon King will perform his duty, and return to sleeping."
Naofumi swallowed weakly.
"So my choices are, co-operation with the people who hate me, conquer the people who hate me, or awaken the strongest of these 'Guardian Beasts' to wipe out most life on the planet?"
Gaelion rumbled, "Don't fail at the first two."
Naofumi laughed helplessly.
"How would I even get a dragon to do that?"
Gaelion stared at Quetzal, who he felt tense under the dragon's gaze.
"Couatl are Divine Caretakers, Shield Hero, and are given a divine mandate. Were it to take in Dragon King Shards, it would be take on draconic features, and change to fit the role. Let us hope that the reason it is with you is to not enact such a prophecy."
"Naofumi-san?"
He needed to figure out some way to clear his name and fight alongside the other Heroes. Regardless of first impressions, that was the only way forward.
Otherwise...
He may end up going to Siltvelt sooner than later. Maybe there was some sort of diplomatic immunity he could get and work with the others for the Waves only and not enter Melromarc otherwise.
Gaelion had explained that most dragons desired power. It was in their blood, their nature. Gaelion felt the same urges and draw, but resisted. He put this down to Wyndia, but most dragons didn't exactly have many personal attachments to anchor them.
Naofumi didn't desire power for power's sake either. He wanted to be strong enough to be left alone, and not hunted. To protect Raphtalia.
He didn't want to be a king of some nation, or start a war of conquest. He just wanted to survive, and go home.
When he reached their camp, their sleeping rolls were already prepared. Quetzal was burrowed in several furs while Raphtalia seemed to be doing an inventory of their things.
Is she planning to leave?
He approached and knew when she noticed his presence by the twitch of her ears. Still, she continued to check their packs.
Naofumi hesitantly approached.
Carefully, he sat down in the furs on his roll. He didn't know what to say.
So he stayed quiet.
Raphtalia finished with whatever she was doing, and turned to face him at last. Her face was red, eyes puffy from tears.
"I..."
Raphtalia shook her head.
Naofumi trailed off, coughing before remaining silent.
"Do you think, we did the right thing?" She asked him slowly.
He wanted to reassure her, to say yes straight away, but that wasn't what she was looking for.
So he gave it some thought, before eventually answering.
"Those men... when they came, they weren't surprised by Gaelion being there. They knew the fight they were picking. Could Gaelion killed them himself? Yes, he could have. But we went to help, because... he's been a friend, and a teacher. He's promised to help against the Waves. I didn't want those men to die, but that wasn't on us."
"We killed them."
Naofumi nodded, "Yeah, we did. But there was no other option. Are all dragons good? From what we've heard, no. Does that mean we should step aside and let them try and kill him?"
Raphtalia looked away.
"How are we different?" She asked. "If... if we find a dragon too, and kill it... Gaelion never spoke to those hunters. We'd just think it was an animal. What if there's another Wyndia?"
Naofumi nodded slowly.
"It would depend on circumstance, I guess. Mirso Village hasn't suffered or been attacked by Gaelion. If a dragon had burned a village down for no reason other than for destruction... I would resent killing what we know is an intelligent being, but... there's a difference between a monster like that and another Gaelion."
Raphtalia seemed to understand. Naofumi sighed.
"It shouldn't be easy to kill Raphtalia. If it was, if you could do that without feeling this bad... then I would be worried."
Raphtalia stayed quiet.
"Are you buying Baerywn because he is already strong?" She suddenly asked, breaking the silence. "Or because... because he's a follower? We both know it's not purely altruistic, Naofumi. You rarely are."
Naofumi looked away.
"I..."
"I don't worship the four Heroes," Raphtalia said. "I... I don't worship the Shield either, I don't think."
He never realised she had worried about that too. Gaelion must have known...
"Are you abandoning her for her weakness, or her lack of shared Faith?"
"I made Gaelion bleed," Raphtalia continued. "Dragons... they're mortal too. I don't have faith in any of those things."
She looked up to Naofumi.
"But I have faith in you."
Naofumi exhaled, "Baerywn, I made him a promise. I would free him. At the time... I didn't know who I could trust. He's... I don't think he would betray me because of his religion. I am using that," Naofumi admitted. "He's someone I can trust not to side with the other Heroes... and fight them if necessary. It might come to that. I needed to know whoever is in my party wouldn't betray me."
Again.
"That's why you got me," Raphtalia said quietly without judgement. "The least likely to stab you in the back, out of the three."
Naofumi nodded slowly.
Raphtalia gave a chuckle, "I guess this talk was a long time coming, huh?"
Naofumi gave a shaky smile, "I don't resent you not following the religion, or not worshipping this," Naofumi gestured to the shield on his arm. "I... it's reassuring. I, I need someone who can tell me when I'm being wrong. I need someone who would keep me from... from going too far."
Naofumi looked away.
"Baerywn wouldn't do that. I doubt this Fenway guy would either. Quetzal... he's apparently good, but by who's standard? Coautl? Reptile? I can't rely on any of those telling me when I am wrong."
Naofumi met Raphtalia's eyes.
"That's why I need you," He admitted lowly.
Raphtalia stayed quiet, thinking over what he said.
Naofumi waited in tense silence.
"As long as I know you will listen," she said finally, "then I will never leave your side. I promised to be your Sword, remember? That's what I will be. There was no other way with those men, but... I don't think I could stand it if we ended up just... robbing people, raiding villages, or something like that. I know we're on the run and there will be things we have to do to survive, but... I don't want another Lurolona. We're supposed to be fighting the Waves and saving people, If we can avoid killing, then..."
"Then we will turn them in to the guards, if we can," Naofumi promised.
Raphtalia stared at him, "No selling into slavery. Never slavery."
Naofumi nodded, pointedly ignoring the elephant in the room.
"Well, I've said what I've been thinking about," Raphtalia gave a small laugh, "is... is there anything you want to tell me?"
Naofumi tensed.
A thousand things.
"No," He said finally.
Raphtalia didn't move, or speak. Instead she have him a small, sad nod.
If she knew, she wouldn't want to stay. She'd tell me to free her, and leave right now. How would she trust me then?
This coming week would be their last together, after the wave he'd free her.
Strange. He had been dreading the Wave because of the chance he might die during it.
Now, he was scared of what would come after, if he lived through it.
