The handmaiden led us along the halls silently, the three Heroes however had decided to converse amongst themselves.

"So what do you think he is?" Naofumi had asked in a hush tone.

"I don't really care what he is," Motoyasu replied as he wore an expression of disdain, "All I know is that he better not get in my way! This whole place is a dream come true!"

Though reluctant to do so, the child Itsuki, had agreed, "To think, a world where I can finally become the beacon of justice I've always wanted to be…" He whispered in awe.

"What about you, big guy!?" Motoyasu had shouted, "What are you after in this world?"

"What am I after in this world," I repeated. What am I after? I hold no desire. This body no longer serves purpose. I would suppose… "I would suppose that I seek nothing," My answer must have been unsatisfactory if their worried and estranged expressions meant anything, Motoyasu himself whispering 'Weirdo'.

"There has to be something you'd like?" Naofumi had asked with worry. Something I'd like? It was a strange thought. My father's personal guard, they had likes did they not? Did I like something? Did I want something?

"Wherever he may be, I would wish to know that my father is happy."

This answer seemed less satisfactory as they now looked hurt. Strange I suppose. It was not long before our handmaiden had left us within a spacious room of four beds. One for each of us no doubt. With a bow, the handmaiden gave mention of a banquet in our honor before departing.

"Alright daddy issues!" Motoyasu declared as he dropped onto a bed, "You're obviously not Japanese, so how bout it? Why not tell us more about yourself?"

Myself? What was there to say? "I am a Vessel. A Hollow contraption meant to house a wicked plague."

Query, no matter my words, neither of these Heroes found my responses satisfactory.

"M-maybe we should start off with a different question," Itsuki offered, "Hollow-San, right? What was the last thing you remember before waking up with us?"

The last thing I remember. Yes, it was still rather vivid within my mind, "My sister had slain me."

Motoyasu had given a genuine smile at this, though it did seem as if the others felt some level of concern, "Hah! Kinda like what happened to me,"

He began to weave a tale of his own misfortune. Two females of his species had pined for him equally, yet bore burning jealousies within themselves. In the end, the two had slain the Needle Bearer along with themselves.

"Anyway, that's the last thing I remember! What about you, Itsuki-kun?"

The child took a moment to review his surroundings as he gave a nod, his face flush as he smiled, "Well… I took a wrong turn one day and got run over…" Both Needle and Shell Bearers reeled back as if tasting something sour. How would one be 'run over'? Had he expired from exhaustion?

"Do you happen to mean 'trampled'?" I asked less from concern and more from annoyance. Truly, what fool would willingly walk along the path of a Stag? I was only met with more confusion as Itsuki began to clear his throat.

"Trampled? By a large animal?" He had asked curiously, "No, I was run over by a truck- aaand you don't know what a truck is… do you?"

Truck? This was not a word I was familiar with…

"Think of a giant steel container on wheels," Motoyasu had explained, "Now think about it going fast enough to crush a person on impact!"

"A Tram. You speak of a tram."

"Wait, you know what a tram is but not a truck?" The Shell Bearer questioned as he leaned forward, closing his distance somewhat between the rest of the currently clustered group. What was this 'truck' they spoke of? Was it not a tram?

"Tell me more of this… truck."

Itsuki had given a nervous smile as he chuckled, "Well, I couldn't really get a good look at it while it hit me in the face and can we change the subject now?"

"Good idea," Naofumi had offered, "Maybe we can talk about how this all seems like one big game?"

"It's exactly like Emerald Online now that I think about it!" Motoyasu declared.

Game? Emerald Online? What did a child's diversion and precious gemstones being balanced relate to our current situation?

Itsuki sighed as he first looked to me, and then to the others, "Guys, I don't think Hollow-San knows what a game even is."

A collective groan seemed to echo as the three took turns in explaining… boxes? Screens? Plastic? They spoke of controllers, mice, and keys. Of a remote viewing glass filled with moveable images. They called it a game.

"Do you have any questions about any of this?" Naofumi asked carefully. In truth, I could not bring myself to worry for such… frivolities.

"You would waste precious time to these games? For what purpose? Have you no duties? Do you serve no king?"

My words had been harsh. They were meant to be. These creatures were not Heroes, they had neither the mind nor soul necessary to throw themselves against the 'demons' that awaited them, let alone a simple grub. Behavior such as theirs was only prevalent in… in…

"You are not knights," I stated more than asked, slowly their heads turned side to side as if in confirmation of this, "Neither be you of Noble lineage," More of the same, the child Itsuki gulping down a pit of growing fear, "You are citizens of your kingdom. Not its warriors."

"That would be a fair assessment," Itsuki replied, "I won't lie and say I've lived life as a warrior. I'm just a kid… but I swear that in this world, I will make a difference!" His eyes spoke of persistence and pride as his words relaid wishes of honor. The others held bits of his sentiment… but one thing was very clear.

"You are, each of you, unprepared and naive children…" Though shaken, the three stared intently as they awaited my words, "Yet this world has deemed you worthy of its cause. Come, there shall be no rest for us. This night, the coming morrow, and further still I shall instill within you all that I know."

Motoyasu was the first to object, and so he was the first I grasped by his strange garment as I threw him atop my left shoulder. He kicked, he slammed his fists, he yelled, and he struggled, but what I would do would benefit them all. I hadn't so much as waited for confirmation from the others as I stared at them silently before walking away.

"Hollow-San!" Itsuki shouted as he ran behind me, "Isn't it almost nightfall? Won't it be too dark to train!?"

"You are a fool to believe your enemies shall offer you such luxuries."

"Hollow?" Naofumi spoke, "Maybe Itsuki's right. We all just got here an- WOAH!?" I deigned not reply, instead, I chose to heft him atop my free shoulder. Query, I had believed my left arm lost to me.

Various guards and soldiers gave me pause, some had been helpful in leading us closer to their training grounds, others had fled upon sight, and others chose to raise their blades against me. In these moments, it was the child Itsuki who apologized and tempered their ire… though some had decided to follow us to see as to what it was we hoped to accomplish.

One such knight led us to their training grounds. It was a spacious place, bare and empty. One would even call it… "Perfect."

"Hollow-San?" Naofumi spoke up after he regained his bearings. Unbeknownst to himself, he had unwittingly volunteered to be first.

"Engarde!" Surprised, Naofumi had very little time to raise his Shell as my Nail impacted point first… only it would have had it not ruptured in my grasp.

I heard gasps coming from Itsuki and Motoyasu, and even Naofumi had shrieked as he fell backwards… however I could not pry my eyes away from my now shaking hand and the shattered remains of my Nail. I remembered at this moment… I held no fond memories of the moment my kin and I had awoken in the Abyss, but held no contempt of it either. We had awoken to empty and broken eggs, all of us… as well as to the Nails which would serve us.

As I grew and trained, so too had my own Nail been reforged and tempered to match me. My father would always present my weapon to me after each process as if bestowing upon me a new blade…

"Naofumi!" I heard Motoyasu shout, "Check out your shield!"

I had finally pried my sight from my shaking hand to watch as Naofumi's Shell had morphed into one more reminiscent of the Nest. It's smooth contoured shape shined in the dim torchlit darkness the way my own Nail once did. Soon, Motoyasu and Itsuki had retrieved the scattered fragments of my Nail, applying the material to their own Weapons. In awe, the three watched as Motoyasu's 'Spear' had become a proper Needle, it's shine rivaling Naofumi's Hallowed Shell. Itsuki's was not far behind as his 'bow' took on a more vine like aesthetic, the arc-like armament seemingly interwoven within itself.

"Hollow-San?" Itsuki had spoken up as he approached me, "Hollow-San!" He called out once more as if in urgency as he hurriedly took my hand in his own, "Are you hurt!? What happened!? Oh my God… we took pieces of your weapon without even asking! H-hollow-San?" His eyes displayed worry, fear… for himself? It was true, they had retrieved pieces of my Shattered Nail…

"It is as useless and broken as I am," My reply only caused him more distress as he gently opened my trembling hand.

"Please don't speak like that, Hollow-San!" He shouted in reprimand as he brought my hand up, "Hollow-San, can you bring your sword closer to this fragment?"

My 'Sword'? This world's Nail. What would this accomplish? I suppose I did wish to know… and so I did as he bid, watching as the blade absorbed what remained of my Nail…

[Hallowed Nail Unlocked]

The 'Sword' had taken on the form of my Nail as it had once been. It was as smooth and refined as the day I absorbed the Infection.

"Was it important to you?" Itsuki asked with a bit less fear.

"My father gave me this Nail. It is all I have left of him," The others had walked beside him, crowding around me as they held the remainder of my Nail.

"Hey, Itsuki," Motoyasu had nudged the child to gain his attention, "Check your inventory," Blinking, the child had done so as he retrieved a piece of my Nail from the ether.

With growing surprise, he looked to the others in curious wonder, "How…"

"It looks like we can feed our Weapons different materials to scan and it puts it in our inventory when it's done," Naofumi had explained calmly.

"Her ya go, Daddy Issues!" Motoyasu exclaimed as he 'fed' my new Nail the remains of the old. The others quickly followed suit as I reviewed my own 'Inventory'.

[Shattered Nail Fragments X6

The remains of a Nail of Hallownest]

This new Nail was truly a wonder to behold… where had these fragments been stored? Within the gemstone inlaid into its crossguard? The other Weapons also seemed to carry similar precious stones… looking up, I stared upon Naofumi, "Shell Bearer," My 'voice' echoed, "Prepare yourself once more."

"Wait! Why me!?" He argued as he panicked. He was awarded no sympathy however as his fellow Heroes abandoned him.

"Well you did break the only thing he had to remember his father by…" Itsuki explained as he walked away with his hands raised placatingly.

"I would really hate to be you right now…" Motoyasu added, echoing the sentiment and action given by young Itsuki.

"Engarde!" Once more I was upon the Shell Bearer, his eyes much more focused than before as my Nail met Shell. Though futile, he had attempted to stay my strike only for his arm to be pushed away. This new Nail had been light, its weight non-existent as it sang through the air in order to colide with Naofumi. The Shell Bearer was not without his own wits as he hastily jerked his arm back into position as he parried my strike.

"Good, Shell Bearer! We will stop only when both of your arms can be raised no longer!"

"Both!?" He shouted hastily, grunting as one of his attempts to block had led to him bashing his own face. Fortune smiled at the Shell Bearer however as seemed unharmed. Shaking away the shock he once more took his stance, and so we continued until his left arm could function no longer.

Heavily winded and resting on the floor, the Shell Bearer raised his free arm in plea, "Hollow! I can't keep going! Let me rest…" My Nail piercing the stone his chest rest upon had other intentions of course. Groaning, Naofumi rose to his feet and attempted to remove his Shell.

"Training has not yet begun upon your right arm, surely it is strong enough to wield your Shell?" His reply was to grunt heavily as he strained against his Shell.

"I can't take it off! It's like it's glued to my arm!" He shouted. Glued? Was his Shell bonded to him?

"Worthless," Naofumi had flinched at this as he looked to me, "How worthless a Shell when it cannot defend its wielder," Fear had set in as he began to choke on his own words, "You would hold more fortune hiding behind your own flesh then to relie upon such a meaningless tool."

Was it cruel of me to say? Perhaps. He cursed himself of course, but moreso… he cursed his Shell. He began to growl, as he slammed his fist upon the Shell before once more attempting to pry it away.

"If you're supposed to protect me… then DO IT ALREADY!" With a piercing cry to the heavens, threw his free arm away, and with it; the Shell. Frantically, he began to turn and crawl until his eyes laid upon his right arm, now adorned with the Shell.

"And so it is not as worthless as I had once perceived," My comment sat well with Naofumi, or at least it tempered his failing spirit. Nodding to him, I once more readied my Nail only for a voice to shout me from my stance.

"SIR HERO!" What I fathomed to be a royal courier had shouted at us, shocking the heroes as well as our growing crowd of onlooking soldiers, "By order of our King, Lord Melromarc the Thirty Second, your banquet has been prepared as have the honored guests arrived!" The young page proclaimed as he bowed.

"My apologies young one!" I 'shouted' in return, "Please inform the King that our heroes are not yet prepared to face such frivolities," Motoyasu and Itsuki looked offended and no doubt had words for me, but so had I, "Would it behoove you to send for our meals so we may dine here, and if his majesty would allow it, to herd his guests here so they may bear witness to their future heroes?"

"Well I-I-I-I really sh-shouldn't I-"

I paid little to the boy's stammering as I once my focused upon the task at hand, "Noafumi! Stand once more!" With a weakened and pitiful cry, Naofumi stood once more and readied his arm.

Once more we clashed, my Nail impacting upon his Shell as each stroke pushed him back further and further until he could withstand no more. He struggled upon the floor for what seemed an eternity to us… he struggled until the last of his strength left him, our ever growing crowd erupting in applause.

"Rise, Shell Bearer," My 'voice' called out as I aided him to his feet, "Motoyasu, come aid your fellow hero."

"Huh!? Why me!?" The Needle Bearer argued, the guardsmen having brought out various carts and trays of what I guessed was their food.

"Would you rather be next?" I asked knowingly, watching as he broke out into a cold sweat before perking up to save face.

"I mean, a hero can't exactly fight on an empty stomach, right?" He had begun to laugh nervously as he made his way to co-mingle with whom I had guessed to be neighboring nobles.

Itsuki, though hesitant, did seem to share the Needle Bearer's sentiment, "Maybe Motoyasu has the right idea, Hollow-San. Would it be alright if I got a light snack before beginning our spar?" I gave a reluctant nod, watching as Itsuki had helped Naofumi along as Motoyasu had left the tired Shell Bearer to fend for himself.

These fledgling grubs had such a long way to go, but I chose this path and it would be remiss of me not to stay the course.