Raphtalia looked at empty eyes, scared expressions and shivering bodies with rising fury.

It was hard to imagine that it had only been two weeks since she had been rescued. She wasn't any different from these people. Raphtalia was scared, scarred and worried as well. The main point of contrast was that she'd managed to gain the support of the Princess.

Rifana and these people weren't lucky enough to receive the Princess' kindness. Even now, the Princess was busy, far too many things concerned her. Malty had freed them and now it was up to Raphtalia to pass on the mercy she had received.

"Portal's ready," said the Bow Hero, unable to glance at the former slaves. He was wearing a terrible look of pity that angered Raphtalia. She said nothing to him.

"Accept our party invitation, please." she said, looking the older man who the other former slaves turned to, "We shall teleport you back to the capital where you will be safe."

Raphtalia had expected the unnerved and fearful emotions that rose throughout the crowd. The capital had been a scary place for Demi-humans. Even her parents had been clear that leaving the Seaetto Region was not safe.

She had simply never understood why until they had ruined everything.

"You will be safe," said Raphtalia, "I promise. Food, Water and Shelter will be provided and any who wish to learn or practice a craft will be provided resources. There are hundreds there already."

It was the old wolf demi-human who answered, "Are we free to leave?" he asked with a gruff voice.

Itsuki blinked at the man, surprised, "You want to leave?" he asked.

The old man said nothing. He stared at Raphtalia. Waiting.

"Yes," she admitted, "You are all free to leave. As long as you commit no crimes there are no restrictions in place."

The man nodded and a wave of muttered conversation flared up. Raphtalia pretended not to hear. Her senses were sharp enough thanks to the Spear Hero and Malty's blessing's that she could hear every word. At times, the language was beyond her, but the tone was clear.

"Will we be free to leave after we arrive at the capital?"

Raphtalia's respect for the old man reached a peak. He truly cared for his people. Few others would disregard a Legendary Hero and speak so boldly when they knew that she served a human. They didn't know how kind the Princess was, not yet, "Yes," she said, "but only after you are healed and can prove that you have something constructive in a safe area. The Princess will not allow you to become bandits or allow your re-enslavement. She would prefer that you work for her, however."

Itsuki looked surprised by her blunt answer.

The old man and the people he led looked relieved that there were some conditions. The Princess had been right. None of the slaves here, who'd suffered for a long time, would trust the word of a human. Soon after, they had confirmed the details and agreed to leave. The Bow Hero took them in batches of 10. Slowly the numbers dropped. Raphtalia waited with them, Priam went with the Hero on his first trip to act as the liaison there and the old man sent a scarred young woman who'd been part of some sort of gladiatorial ring with the first batch.

Raphtalia didn't begrudge him his needless, useless caution. He had a right to be worried and no way to know that most of the people who served the Princess far exceeded the normal people.

"You serve the Princess willingly," declared the old man as they watched another batch disappear from the clearing on the outskirts of the city. The Princess' loyal knights were near them but hidden, leaving most of the demi-humans surrounding Raphtalia feeling safe.

Raphtalia looked him straight in the eye and nodded slowly. Uncertain why he was bringing this up.

"Why?" he asked.

The racoon demi-human looked away from him and touched the hilt of her sword, looked at the incredibly expensive enchanted cloth she wore and reached for the mana pulsing within her. Each of those things was a gift from the Princess. Anyone of those things would have been considered incredible.

Raphtalia had received all of them along with a blessing from a Legendary Hero and a Star Hero.

The only thing Malty had asked in return was for some help. Help to free slaves, to make sure that no one suffered as she and Rifana had ever again. To protect the country. It wasn't a fair exchange. The Princess had done more for Raphtalia. Too much even. Sometimes the debt felt suffocating, guilt burned through her, she had survived while Rifana and Keel and Mama and Papa had not.

The angst faded whenever the Princess smiled at her. Helping her was the least of what she could do.

"She helped me," said Raphtalia, words failing to express her scattered thoughts.

The old man seemed to understand. He nodded solemnly and silence reigned.

They teleported away soon after, the last batch, and appeared in the large ballroom that they were using as the gathering point from where the demi-humans would be assigned a new home after information on them was gathered. The Princess hadn't asked for much. Age, profession, interest and little else.

The detailed interview would be later. Until then, Raphtalia knew that they would be watched carefully. Caution, thankfully, rather than prejudice.

"Thank you," said the old man as he hobbled away.

Raphtalia smiled at him. Finding an odd sense of peace as she studied the many humans helping the former slaves.

The thought soured as she studied the Bow Hero carefully glaring the most reluctant into submission. These were the people whom the Princess had commanded to serve and obey her and the Bow Hero, but they were also courtiers and stewards who were incredibly racist.

Raphtalia did nothing, but she was reminded once again of how cruel most people were. They had been lucky. The Princess and both Heroes hated slavery and those who perpetrated it.

Without them, the same humans who were helping them would have been trying to brand them.

Raphtalia carefully moved ahead, flaring her mana like Malty had taught her to. The eyes of almost everyone in the room snapped to her. The demi-humans calmed at seeing her. Sir Itsuki raised an eyebrow before nodding with respect.

The humans didn't meet her eyes. They stared at the hilt she was holding as she moved to stand next to the Bow Hero.

No words were spoken, but they started working faster.

For hours, they worked diligently. Raphtalia observed, comforted those who were scared and thought.

The Princess stalked into the room disrupting her reverie. "Raphtalia, Itsuki," she said, "Please come with me."

Raphtalia stared at the furious Malty with some apprehension. Only the mana blind Hero nodded at her without trouble. Raphtalia, most of the clerks and the demi-humans felt like they were suffocating. "Princess," said Raphtalia with a glance at the cowering people in the room.

Malty turned to them, studied them for a moment, sighed and let out a deep breath.

The weight, an incredible pressure, was lifted off the room. Raphtalia was unnerved the appreciative looks the humans shot her before they realized who they were thanking.

"My apologies," said the Princess, "Please follow me."

They obeyed and a fragile silence stood until they entered the solar the Princess used. They took their seats around a large table filled with documents and several magical devices whose purpose Raphtalia couldn't begin to guess at.

"What is it, Malty?" asked Sir Itsuki with a concerned look.

The Princess looked straight at Raphtalia, "The Church and some of the nobles have withdrawn their forces from the search for the Shield Hero. They're in hiding and have been for about two days by my guess." she snarled, "Idol Rabier was among those who are hidden from us."

Raphtalia saw the fury both the Heroes shared. The Bow Hero glared at the table while clenching his Bow Tightly. The Princess showed no emotion, but her tone, her words were more than enough proof of her anger. To the demi-humans surprise she was calm.

"How are we going to find them?" she asked.

Both humans blinked at her. There was a pause for a long couple of seconds before Malty smiled. It was a terrifying smile, but Raphtalia found herself encouraged by it. "The Church has chosen to hide the scum. Whether it is a part of a greater plan or not is almost irrelevant. By ceasing the search for the Shield Hero they have risked the world, by choosing to hide Rabier and his fellows from justice they have defied us. We will burn them out...after I start the search for the Shield Hero again. I found some remnants of the search teams. Nobles who were deemed insufficiently trustworthy by the Church and their allies, they've given me a good idea of where Naofumi is and where the Church should be."

An illusion flared from the Cane. It was a beautiful, detailed map of Melromarc shaded in three colours. At their inquisitive looks, Malty twitched her wand and labels appeared which the Cane Hero pointed at, "My territory in red, the area to the west is influenced by my mother and the intermittent spots are where Church area is confirmed or suspected." she said, before making a part of the Eastern Regions glow, "Naofumi has headed away from the coasts to the East. It is the most heavily patrolled border as that is where Siltvelt is likely to attack. Going there is stupid unless they have some means of bypassing the border, hiding from several armies and a way to distract us."

"You think that Naofumi can do that much?" asked the Bow Hero, plainly sceptical.

"Naofumi is intelligent, not wise," she said with disdain, "but intelligent. And Siltvelt will do anything to retrieve their God. An army for Naofumi would be an exchange they'd love. He's been on the run for two weeks now. I fully expect him to have a plan, even if it's a tentative one."

Raphtalia stared at the map, realizing for the first time why the search for the horrible Shield was taking so long. Huge parts of Melromarc were not ruled by anyone other than monsters. Difficult terrain and a comparatively small population meant that a careful and patient person could hide even from armies.

A Hero would be even more successful than most.

"I...I didn't think you'd compliment him," admitted Itsuki, looking like the awkward boy he was rather than the Bow Hero of legends.

"I dislike him," admitted Malty, "but even scum like him is needed to save the world and he is nothing if not resourceful and cautious. I suspect that his assault on me was because he believed this world to be a dream or an illusion. It doesn't fit his character and he should have realized that at a low level his actions were unwise."

Itsuki looked shocked, but quickly composed himself, "That's not a good reason," he said weakly, "I mean, it's wrong...'

Malty shrugged, "It was wrong," she said, "but that hardly matters when we're talking about saving nations and worlds. I personally dislike him, but my people need him to be alive."

Itsuki nodded slowly.

Raphtalia caught Malty's eye and looked towards the map. Malty nodded with a smile and said, "Let's get back to work," she said, "Sir Itsuki, Raphtalia. I'd like for both of you to lead the teams to crush the Church. You'll have support to ensure that traps are not a problem. Your duties are threefold. Capture as many of them as possible, gather information, documentation and other equipment for our future fights against the Waves and free the slaves. Do you accept?"

The Bow Hero stood up and bowed gracefully, "I do, Your Majesty." he said with a serious smile.

Raphtalia hesitated, this wasn't something small, she knew that the Princess would be busy finding the Shield Hero. The map had shown how much of a task the Cane Hero had ahead of her, but Raphtalia knew that the soldiers wouldn't listen to her. Malty seemed to understand. The Princess walked around the table, tugged her out of her chair and hugged her. "We'll get them," she promised, "I'll be there to help. Information, equipment and allies will be with you and they will not escape again. This country of ours will be a home for anyone willing to serve it."

The demi-human nodded and stayed within the comforting warmth. The Princess always smelled like fire. The castle felt like her nowadays.

It was home.

She would protect it.