Author's Note: Here we are, chapter 12. To be completely honest, I was not expecting this story to gain as much traction or readers as it does now. Over 14,200 views?! You guys are insane! Thank you all so much for keeping up, and as always, welcome new or returning readers.
Now, for those of you who have been providing your thoughts on the story plot, I am taking note of your ideas. I understand where you are coming from, as the overall story events, such as the dragon, are remaining similar or the same as canon. I will do my best to change up larger events' outcomes. I'm not going to be one of those people who go, "You don't like it? Stop reading." No, all I ask is that you all keep an open mind about my story, as I am trying my best. I have not written any forms of fanfiction prior to this, so for all intents and purposes, this is truly my first.
With all that in mind, I hope you continue enjoying my story.
Now, without further adieu, chapter 12!
Disclaimer: I do not own Rising of the Shield Hero or any of its characters, only my own.
"Dialogue."
"Writing."
Thoughts.
August 29, 2020
"For the first time since I was summoned, I was afraid. Not in the same sense that involves loyalty, survival, honor, or other pretenses of the word, but rather, I was afraid of death, of loss. Raphtalia has been afflicted with a magical curse which can only be cured by holy magic, water, or other things of such status. So, today we make our way back to the capitol, to the wretched heart of this dark, cruel, and unforgiving kingdom. I gained more information on the slavery ordeal from a conversation with her earlier today: that the Nobles of this country utilize only demi - humans as slaves, for one reason or another. Just how far will this country go down the path of evil? Just how far will those in power go to break those who are beneath them? It is my duty as a soldier to safeguard the freedoms of mankind. Funny how life taunts us with such impossible goals."
- Private First Class Wisnieski
Ending his entry, Leo stood and went to check outside. Sticking his head out from the curtains of the carriage, he saw the doctor approaching his position. Curious, Leo stepped out to engage in conversation with the man.
"O' Sav- er, Sir Leopold. My apologies for interrupting, but I have a quick favor to ask of you." The doctor began once he was close enough.
"What is it you need?" Leo said as he waved for the man to continue.
"We have some goods that we wish to send to Rellu village, just south of here. We were wondering if you could do the job. I assure you, we will pay well for doing so." The man in medical robes informed.
Putting his hand to his chin, Leo thought about his team's overall situation. More money could be beneficial, but Raphtalia's situation takes top priority. Even then, this village needs the money to recover… Shaking his head, Leo declined the offer. "I'm sorry doctor, but we currently cannot take the job. The health of my party takes priority. I hope you understand."
Nodding his head, the doctor certainly wasn't all too excited at Leo's response, but wasn't completely against it either. "No, no, I understand completely, Sir Leopold. You care for your friends, as all heroes should. Regardless, we still thank you for your help yesterday, so on behalf of our village, I wish you safe travels, Sir Hero."
With a slight bow, which Leo returned, the doctor went back inside of the clinic and closed the door. Going back to what he initially was going to do, Leo went around the cart to see Raphtalia holding her broken gasmask, which Leo had recovered the day prior before they went down the mountain. Overall, the piece of equipment was in good condition. Besides the broken visor, the mask itself was still usable, with no further parts being extensively damaged.
The female in question was also no longer wearing her standard BDU, but instead, a forest green tank top and Pantera camo pattern scarf, while keeping her fingerless gloves and pants, as they were only mildly damaged and were repaired with a basic sewing job. Her light TACRIG vest was only scratched, so it was still usable for the time being.
"It's a good thing your equipment can be repaired." Leo said as he came up behind Raphtalia. "My plan today is to head back to the capitol," he continued as he sat down next to her, "So we can treat your curse with some holy water, as well as get some repairs and upgrades for our gear, such as our masks. I'll see if Erhard can make the glass less susceptible to breaking, or magically increase the durability of our masks as a whole."
Raphtalia set down her mask before staring Leo in the eye. "Yeah, that would be best. Honestly, I'm surprised my mask isn't completely ruined after taking that hit. Also, we need to stop by the tailor and repair my clothes, as well as get a few spare for each of us." She replied. Leo nodded in agreement before quickly kissing her. After a moment, Leo got up and whistled for Filo.
Waving his arm, he shouted, "Filo, come on. We're heading back to the capitol today, so we need to get going." Extending his arm, he helped Raphtalia to her feet before they made their way inside the cart.
"OK master, I'm coming!" The bird replied as she came back from the nearby forest. What was she doing there in the first place? Well, she saw some monsters and went to kill them, which led to her eating them and getting distracted even further.
Attaching Filo to the reins, Leo took the driver's seat while Raphtalia sat in the back. With a flick of the reins, the trio were off as some of the residents of Dragon Village waved them off.
"Alright so, first order of business when we get to the castle: Get Raphtalia the holy whichever that she needs for her curse. Once that's done, then we can stop by Erhard for our masks and equipment. Afterwards, to Marie's, since Raphtalia's uniform is effectively torn to shreds." Leo informed as he sat back.
Now that the air was no longer contaminated, the lush green of the forest was in full force. Groups of filolials were moving about the grass and open fields enjoying themselves. Even the lone girl with the purple dress seemed to love it. Nature was just beautifu- wait a minute.
Taking a double take, Leo did confirm the presence of a female child who appeared no older than twelve. The girl had purple hair, which was tied in two pigtails, and a matching dress. She was alone, if not for the fact of the small group of filolials she was playing with.
Pulling on the reins, Leo wanted to make sure the girl wasn't lost. "Filo, stop here. Let's go make sure that kid over there is ok. She's alone, so I just want to make sure that she wasn't separated from anyone." Leo said with a concerned tone.
Unhooking Filo, as well as Raphtalia exiting the cart, Leo led them over to the small girl's position. The sound of their footsteps did not go unnoticed by the birds, which quickly sped off, leaving the child behind.
Melty was having what she would consider a normal day. Her mother, the Queen of Melromarc, had sent her back home to deal with the ongoing situation that was quickly escalating. She figured the shadows had something to do with how her mother knew of it. As her carriage and royal knights who were escorting her stopped in a nearby village to refit their food supply, Melty saw a pack of filolials, all with different colors.
Unable to resist her love for the birds, she somehow managed to escape the not so watchful eye of a lazy guard who was assigned to keep an eye on her. Before anybody knew it, the princess was gone, the knights having no clue where she was. Melty too found herself unable to find her way back, but was having too much fun with the pack to really care.
However, when the pack suddenly up and left, she felt slightly disappointed. That is, until she heard a voice call out to her.
"Excuse me little girl, but are you lost? I couldn't help but mention that your lone presence in the wild is a bit concerning." A male voice said from behind her.
Turning around, she came face to face with a man in strange clothing, female demi - human with similar wear, and a large bird that resembled a filolial.
Completely ignoring the man's question, she asked her own. "Are you a filolial?" She asked the large owl creature.
The bird tilted its head in confusion before asking, "Are you talking about me?"
The purple headed child shrieked in excitement. "And you talk?! Omygoshthisisthebestdayofmylife! Igettomeetatalkingfilolial!"
While the girl was speaking at a hundred miles an hour, Leo couldn't help but feel like he's seen her before. Her face, the dress, her hair style, it all seemed too familiar. Before he could think on it further, the girl addressed Filo once again.
Pulling out some meat, the girl said something that Leo failed to pick up on, his memories trying to come up with some sort of solution. Filo passed them and went to eat the meat, and as she did, the girl began rubbing Filo's feathers, her face turning top that of full, genuine glee and excitement.
Raphtalia caught Leo's actual attention when she began to ask something. "Do you think that she may be from Dragon Village?" She asked Leo, to which he shook his head.
"No, her style of clothing is too formal. She dresses like that of a noble, but I feel like I've seen her from somewhere." Leo replied as he continued rubbing his chin in thought. "Hey kid, what's your name?" He asked the girl.
Leaning over to look past Filo, she gave a response that made the cogs in Leo head turn. "Oh me? I'm Melty. Nice to meet you sir! What's yours?" She asked.
At the response, Leo began to realize who she was.Wait a minute, that's it! She was the other girl I saw back in the throne room painting. Leo's eyes quickly hardened as he became skeptical.
"You wouldn't happen to be a Princess Melty Melromarc, would you?" He asked the girl, hoping it wasn't true.
"Yep! That's me!" She confirmed, but she quickly realized how she replied before clearing her throat and starting again. "Yes sir, that is me." She said again, this time in a formal tone.
Raphtalia immediately understood what was happening, having experienced the royalty of Melromarc back during the duel. "Filo, we're leaving. Let's go." She commanded, her voice now full of an authority of its own.
"Aw, why?" Filo replied, a bit saddened. Melty seemed confused as she voiced her concerns.
"Sir, what's wrong?" She asked, her fear rising a little at how tense the man and demi - human woman seemed to be.
Releasing a breath, he told himself to calm down, taking note that being angry would make the situation worse. The book said a princess, and that already happened. It never said a second. Maybe she's good? We'll have to see… "Alright, here's the deal princess. It's getting late, and even if you're royalty, you're still a child. So what's going to happen is that we are going to head to a nearby inn for the night, you included, and you are going to explain everything. Am I understood?" Leo said with a serious, no more room for argument tone.
Melty, upon hearing the man and noticing his body language, was immediately afraid, but held her composure. "If that is what must happen, then I accept." She responded, her fear evident in her voice, but her eyes showing her trying to keep calm.
Hm, I don't feel any malicious intent coming from her. Leo thought. Relaxing, but not letting his guard down, Leo waved for Filo to get back to the cart, Melty following right behind her. The trip to the town was silent, with Leo looking over Melty in an attempt to get a read on her true intentions. Still not feeling anything malicious off her, he decided to start interrogating early.
"So, princess, who are you and what are you doing here in the first place? And where's the queen?" Leo asked, wanting to know where and what the rest of the royalty has been up to.
Melty wasn't surprised at the question, secretly hoping that that was what the man asked first. "Well, first, as I told you, I am Princess Melty Melromarc, crown princess to the throne. My mother and I were in another country, Faubrey, on a diplomatic mission concerning the waves and the summoning of the four heroes. During the talks, word got passed that all four heroes were summoned to our kingdom of Melromarc."
"Wait, the Queen was on the mission and not the King? Why? And why are you next in line and not your sister?" Leo asked, surprise replacing his skepticism for now.
She replied with a straightforward answer. "Well, Melromarc is a matriarch, so it is the duty of my mother to deal with issues for the kingdom, whether domestic or foriegn. As for my sister, she has always had personality issues, so do to her... shall we say incompetence, mother passed the mantle of rule down to me."
So the king was never in true charge in the first place? That bastard… "Ok, now that that's out of the way, what do you mean when you said that you two were "discussing the summoning of the four heroes?" He asked in his attempt for answers.
"Well sir, to be frank, I'm not completely sure. What I do know is that each country was supposed to summon one hero each, so as to combat the waves in the most efficient manner possible." Leo's response was now what she was expecting.
"Wait, what?! So you mean to tell me that your father summoned all four of us, even though he was only supposed to summon one? And not only that, but the waves are all over the world?!" He exclaimed in shock.
Melty turned out to be confused at how the man was reacting to all this. "Yes sir, but that is all I know, as the whole situation turned for the worst once the news reached mother. Why do you ask?"
Looking Melty dead in the eye, he spoke with a serious and darker tone. "Princess, if it's not obvious yet, I'm the shield hero. Your sister and father have been making my life a living hell ever since I got here. If they keep trying to fuck us over, who says that you won't?" Leo couldn't even raise his voice anymore, as all of his anger, shock, and overall willingness to understand the whole royal situation was gone.
Melty became excited for a moment, but then took on her formal personality once more. "Well sir, if it makes you feel any better, mother and I have been trying to help demi - humans gain better lives within Melromarc, as well as end the slave trade."
Leo sighed, all the information that he just gained useful in one way or another, yet not overall surprising. Sighing, it seemed as if Leo had little other choice but to believe her words. "Alright kid, you've convinced me. If what you say is true, then I have a reason to help you. If you betray me however, I will make sure you never forget who you tried to double cross, understand?" Leo said menacingly as he went for a slow handshake. Melty slowly took it, becoming more fearful for her life at the man's statement. Before she could give a response, he said, "Welcome to the team kid. It's a few days' ride to the capitol, so get comfy." His face now held a smile, his attitude seemingly swapping from dark to light.
Sitting back in his seat, the ride was made quiet once more as they entered the village, night becoming prevalent already. Reaching the inn, the crew saw that it was a standard two story building, just like most others. Exiting the back of the cart, Leo helped Melty down, to which she gave a quick thanks. Leo nodded before motioning to the others to follow him inside of the stone structure.
Leo went up to the front desk where a man stood. Requesting for their largest room, which was cheaper than two separate ones, the four went upstairs once Leo had the key. Opening the door and stepping inside, there were surprisingly three beds. Leo quickly devised the smaller sleeping devices between Melty and Filo, while himself and Raphtalia would take the larger bed. Leaving the two girls to do what they needed to set up for the night, he and Raphtalia went over to their bed, Leo taking out some new bandages.
"Alright, let's replace your bandages. Can't have you getting an infection." Leo said as he began unraveling Raphtalia's previous set of wraps. It was a quick process due to Leo's military training. Not even ten minutes went by before Leo got to the final part. Wrapping Raphtalia's left arm, where the burns were larger than most others, he saw her muscles tense up as she clenched her fist.
Concerned, Leo stopped and asked, "Hey, are you alright? Does it hurt too much?"
With a shake of her head, Raphtalia replied. "No no, it's fine. Let's just finish this up." Looking at Leo, she gave him a firm smirk and nod. With that, he continued bandaging her arm, quickly finishing.
Leo began removing his armor and equipment for the night, that is, until Melty came from around the wall blocking her and Filo's beds from Leo and Raphtalia's.
"Sorry to bother you, Sir Shield Hero, but I just wanted to ask if I could travel with you? I failed to mention but, I was on my way back to the castle before I got separated from my bodyguards due to those beautiful filolials." Melty asked, embarrassed about her situation.
Seeing the request as genuine, Leo shrugged. "Sure, I don't see why not. And kid, name's Leopold, and while I do trust you not to backstab us, that doesn't mean I trust you enough to stay with us for long." He replied calmly.
Melty bowed with a smile. "Thank you, Sir Shield Her- I mean Leopold! You can count on it when I say that you can trust me and mother." She replied before heading back to her bed.
Before she got far, he called out to her, which stopped the girl in her tracks. "Oh, and before you go to bed, I just want to say that, I'm sorry for scaring you like that back in the cart. I've just had some bad experiences with your family so far, but that doesn't excuse me taking it out on you, especially since you're still a kid."
Melty smiled at his apology, a wave of relief rolling over her. "It's no problem, Sir Shield Hero. I can assure you that I would never do anything to intentionally harm you or your companions in any way. For that, I accept your apology." She replied before continuing on to bed.
"Leo, are you sure we can actually trust her? I mean, her family has done nothing but set us up for failure multiple times." Raphtalia said. Her concern was to be expected, as the royalty of Melromarc had done nothing to help her people in Lurolona, both before and after the wave.
She's cautious, even after I trusted the kid. I trained her well. "Well, even if she is tricking us, then we can always use her as some sort of bargaining chip. Since we now know that each country on this planet was supposed to only have one hero, we could always leave this country for another." Leo informed. "Also, behind her facade of formality, from what I can tell, is that she truly is just a little girl. I think we should give her a proper chance." His response seemed to ease Raphtalia's thoughts on the matter as she nodded, understanding his point.
As the night went on and the crew went to bed, they failed to notice a dark figure standing atop a tree branch, peering into the window.
Her majesty's plan went better than expected. Good, with the crown princesses presence, the Shield Hero will have more legitimacy within the kingdom. God save the Queen.
The next day began with Leo and Raphtalia's normal routine: Wake up at 0600, get some breakfast, and workout until 0730, which entailed a hundred push - ups, sit - ups, and then a mile jog. Then it was off to get Filo up if she wasn't already. Luckily, today she was, so the group could get an easier head start on their journey.
Waiting for Melty to get dressed, Leo and Raphtalia went downstairs and towards a nearby stand. Paying for some food and other supplies for their travels, they restocked the cart before getting Filo hooked up, at which Melty arrived outside upon getting some breakfast herself. With a quick good morning exchange, everyone climbed in, Leo and Raphtalia taking the driver's seat, while Melty sat directly behind them.
"Alright, let's get going Filo. Remember, easy pace, don't want to break the cart." Leo said as he flicked the reins.
"Okay master! Here. We. Go!" The bird exclaimed before going at a light jog. Soon enough, they passed the town gates and quickly ended up back on the path to the castle.
The journey was light hearted. Jokes were passed around and Melty even rode Filo for a few minutes. A kiss or two were also quickly exchanged between Leo and Raphtalia when the other two weren't looking. As they continued down the road, they managed to locate a river. Filo began ranting about how pretty the fish were and begged to go play.
With a shrug, Leo gave his input. "Eh, why not. Go ahead and relax. We'll make camp here for the night." He said. Before he could add anything else, Filo had already transformed and ran into the river. It only went up to her ankles, so there was nothing to be worried about. Melty soon joined her, with Raphtalia following shortly after Leo gave her a shrug.
Taking off their boots, the princess and demi - human waded into the flowing river, the princess smiling and laughing all the while.
She's acting like any other girl her age. Maybe she can be trusted after all. If so, then maybe things are taking a turn for the better. Leo thought as he rolled his eyes at the playing trio. He decided not to go into the water, but rather, continue learning more spells so he could continue his role as a supportive caster, as well as remain dry to set up camp. Sitting on a rock just off the bank of the river, Leo took out the magic grimoire and began reading, hoping to gain a new spell.
In the midst of translating, a splash of water landed near Leo's feet. Looking up from the book, he saw Filo hugging, yes, hugging a large fish. Shaking his head, he called out to the girl which caught her attention. "Hey Filo, nice catch." He turned to the other river dwellers before asking, "You guys want dinner?"
All three of them smiled at Leo with an expecting glare. And I just did that to myself. Damn. He sighed.
Setting up camp was a slower than normal process without Filo's help. Instead, she was off playing with Melty, the two somehow managing to have grown a familiar bond in fifteen minutes. Not only that, but it seemed as if Melty had a similar undying energy to that of Filo.
"Raphtalia, go ahead and get the fire going. I'll get to cutting the fish." Leo said as he took a knife and went to work. Raphtalia replied with a smile and nod as she began placing logs in a circle.
As the day turned to night and the fish fried, Filo and Melty returned to the camp, tired and hungry. Leo didn't have to ask, as he already knew how bad his cooking situation just became. Cutting the fish Filo caught earlier into more food, he went ahead and cooked as much as he could with it, seeing as more people than just Filo had to eat. Raphtalia took the precaution of taking the rest of the fish so as to make sure Filo didn't eat it all. This led to Filo protesting her move until Raphtalia sternly told her about not eating literally everything. Melty laughed at the whole ordeal while Leo facepalmed. Filo then pouted as the others began to eat the last of the fish.
As the night continued, Leo took first watch as the others went to sleep, Raphtalia and Melty using the sleeping bags, while Filo changed to her filolial form. Poking at the fire, Leo sat on a log as the others slept. Taking this moment, he decided to write in his journal once more.
August 30 - 11:38 PM
Well this is a first. An entry written at night, how pleasant. The world is so beautiful right now. You can see the many stars that dance across the sky. We should be arriving at the castle tomorrow with a new and powerful ally: The crown princess. So far, she seems to be a truly kind hearted person, a complete contrast to her sister. Hopefully we won't encounter her, or the Spear Hero, but fate never truly was on my side. Also, the princess spoke something earlier today about trying to help this country's demi - humans out of slavery. Maybe she can help provide more details on the matter, or maybe, even an answer for such retching crimes.
Leo sensed someone coming towards him. Closing his journal, he looked over to see Raphtalia closing the distance before sitting next to him.
She spoke in a soft tone, so as to keep the peace held within the camp. "Hey, how are you feeling?" She asked the man.
"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?" Leo replied with a smile."But, to answer your question, I feel… peaceful. Like I have nothing to worry about whatsoever, and with you at my side, nothing will. It helps that Melty and Filo are quiet. They grew quite fond of each other's company today, so I won't be surprised if they become best friends soon or something. It's good, as Filo needs someone her age to play with." He said, his voice now in a similarly hushed manner. Raphtalia smiled as she leaned over and placed her head in his padded shoulder.
The two sat there for what felt like forever, the glow of the fire illuminating their small area as if it were the last place on earth, or whatever this planet was called. Eventually, the two slowly drifted to sleep holding onto each other, the fire slowly burning out as the night went on.
The sun shone bright as the wagon made its way across the bridge connecting the capitol from the rest of the world. When a group of royal knights passed by, Leo hid in the back, so as to hide his presence to anyone associated with the royalty. Making their way through the town, the carriage crossed into a nearby alley.
Departing the cart, the sunlight bounced off of Leo's protective goggles that hid his eyes from the world. "Alright, this is it. Princess Melty," Leo said as he turned towards the purple haired girl, "This is where we split off. You have business to attend to in the castle while my crew has to deal with Raphtalia's curse. Until next time, princess." Leo said as he went for a handshake.
Melty returned it alongside a slight bow. "Yes, until next time, Sir Leopold. Thank you for your assistance, I truly appreciate it." She replied with a grateful smile.
"Master, master! Can I accompany Mel to the castle? Pleeeeeease?" Filo begged. Leo, not wanting to get into an argument with the transforming bird, simply waved his hand in a 'Sure, why not' manner. "Yay! Let's go Mel!" The girl exclaimed before skipping off ahead of the princess. Giggling, Melty began following her while Leo and Raphtalia went in the direction of the church.
It wasn't long before they made it to the church's entrance, the grand design of the three towers rising high above much of the city. The three symbols of the sword, spear, and bow glimmered in the sun.
Stepping inside, the stained glass windows illuminated the marble floors and golden altar. Walking towards the altar, the duo passed two whispering nuns in white robes, a cross - like ornament sitting around their necks.
"Excuse me," He called out to the two nuns, who stopped their whispers when addressed, "Do you have any Holy Water that I can obtain?" He asked. Before he could get an answer, a main in ornate robes entered the room, accompanied by two black robed figures.
"His Holiness!" One of the nun exclaimed. With that, both nuns got on their knees in a praying position.
Holiness? Hm, must be the Pope, or something akin to it. Leo thought as the figure approached him.
With a smile, the man raised his hand in a welcoming manner. "Ah, the Shield Hero, welcome to our Church my son. I saw your duel with the Spear Hero at the royal palace. It was quite extraordinary if I do say so myself." He said, his smile remaining the same.
I'm really not getting good vibes off this guy. Either he's always that friendly, or he's got something up his sleeve. I pray for the former. "Well, it's my pleasure, your Holiness. If I may ask, are you a Pope? Or something similar to such religious rank?" Leo asked the seemingly friendly man.
"Ah, thank you for the question, Shield Hero. Yes, I am. I am Pope Balmus, leader of our holy church. Why do you ask?" The man replied.
Nodding his head, Leo showed his dogtags to the man, revealing a cross. "Well, you see your Holiness, back in my world I was a member of a religion myself."
Balmus nodded as he observed the cross. "I see. Now, with introductions out of the way, why is it you are here, Shield hero?" The Pope asked.
Leo took a step forward, his tone changing to that of a bit of pleading, but mostly holding strength behind his request. "Your Holiness, I wish to procure the most powerful Holy Water you have so that we may heal my companion's curse."
Balmus did not seem surprised, or if he did, he hid it well. "Holy Water you say? Is that all you require?" The Pope asked in confirmation, at which Leo nodded.
One of the men behind the Pope spoke up. "If that is it, then consider it done, Sir Shield Hero. if you wish to procure the most powerful Holy Water, then please, provide your offering. For our most powerful Water, it shall be one gold coin." The man informed.
Taking out a single gold coin, Leo handed it to the Pope, which was then passed to the black robed man. Putting the piece of currency into a large pouch beneath his robes, the man asked one of the nuns in the room to go fetch a vial of the most powerful Holy Water. Within a minute or so, she returned with a vial on a tray.
Observing the vial, Leo's HUD popped up with a message.
Cheap Holy Water (Crude)
At this, he quickly became annoyed and a little agitated at the prospect of being cheated out of his money. "Hey, what gives? This is cheap Holy Water. I paid for your most powerful, not your weakest." Leo said. His concern made the Pope turn to the nun beside him, and the look he gave her sent a chill down even Leo's spine.
"Why is it that you brought our hero the low quality Holy Water, my dear?" Balmus asked. His question made the nun stutter but provide no real answer. "If you did this so you could satisfy your personal beliefs, then that is unacceptable. God is compassionate and merciful to all, regardless of their past. Our friend here says he is a loyal member of God in his world, so I must ask again why you thought it was acceptable to commit such an act." The nun was taken back with a loss for words once Balmus was done asking her his question.
Stammering, she eventually replied, "I- I- I am so sorry, your Holiness! I shall go retrieve the proper vial." She stated before quickly jogging away.
The Pope turned back to Leo and Raphtalia before bowing his head. "I deeply apologize for the actions of my disciple. Her personal beliefs should not have gotten in the way of God's view of equality, especially with a fellow believer." He said to the trio.
This time, Raphtalia beat him to the reply. "It's no problem sir. As long as we are provided what we paid for, then it's fine by us."
The man smiled upon hearing her words. "I thank you for understanding. Your requested Holy Water should arrive shortly. And Sir Shield Hero, remember, God is merciful to all, no matter their actions." He told the soldier.
At the Pope's final sentence, Leo's view quickly shifted about the man. There it is. He had so much going for him that I was almost convinced he was genuine. He definitely has something going on behind closed doors, and I don't like it. "Yes sir, I will remember." Leo said flatly.
Soon enough, the nun had returned, this time with a more ornate vial. Taking and observing it, a new message appeared on Leo's HUD.
Cure - Dispelling Holy Water (Pure)
"This looks about right." He said before looking up at the Pope and his followers. "Thank you so much. You have no idea just how grateful we are right now." The Pope smiled and gave him a nod. Turning to his companion he told her, "Alright, we got what we needed, let's go." With that, the duo turned and left the church, their footsteps echoing in the empty hall.
At the base of the steps, Leo knew Raphtalia felt something was off when they were inside. "Before you say anything, yes, I felt it too. He seemed genuine, but his last statement was what made me skeptical."
Before Raphtalia could respond, they heard the sound of armor. Turning towards the source, they saw a young knight running at them, calling Leo's title as he did so. Leo waited for the young knight until he was only a few steps away, panting heavily from the weight of his armor and equipment.
"Si- Sir Shield Hero! I ha- have a- message.." The young knight said in the middle of catching his breath.
Leo placed a gentle hand on his shoulder before speaking in a slightly concerned tone for the knight. "Whatever it is can wait. First, I want you to catch your breath. Can't have you passing out while telling me now, can we?" Leo said in an attempt at a joke.
The knight smiled and nodded at the joke. After a sum of seconds, he regained his breath and spoke. "Sir Shield Hero, your presence has been requested by the crown princess at the castle." His tone and posture showed that he was trying to be either intimidating, or was taking his job seriously.
"Really now? Alright, tell the princess that we'll come, but first, we need to go get some of our equipment fixed. Tell her we'll be there in about an hour or so." He informed the young knight.
"Yes sir, Shield Hero!" He replied before providing a salute. Turning to run off, he was interrupted when Leo's voice called out to him.
"Oh, before you go kid, what's your name?" He simply asked.
The young knight was confused for a moment, but then became excited at the notion that the one of the four heroes wanted to know who he was. "Ake! My name's Ake!" The knight, now Ake, said.
"Ake. Alright, I'll remember that. Thanks for the message. Like I said, just inform the princess of when to expect us. Don't worry, she'll understand." Leo told Ake with a smile. Quickly nodding, Ake returned the smile before running off back towards where he came from.
Motioning towards Raphtalia, they made their way towards the nearby market district. As they approached Erhard's shop, they heard a certain voice that made some of Leo's brain cells die.
"Leo!" The Spear Hero shouted before jumping into the air. In a split second, Leo changed to his Ballistic Shield, while Raphtalia went into a fighting stance and took out her sword. Lifting his shield, Leo deflected the blow as the spear logged itself into the ground next to its original target. The attack did not go unnoticed, as the people around them all became panicked or afraid at such an attack occurring right next to them.
"You idiot! There's people all around here! Do you want to accidentally hurt or kill someone?!" Leo called out the Motoyasu.
His plea went unanswered, as if his question went right over the blonde's head. "Shut up Leo! You're going to free that slave girl, whether you like it or not!" He exclaimed before charging the man once more.
Not only is he not listening, he apparently still hasn't realized that flat out chagrin me doesn't work. Leo stood there and took the attack, not wanting the civilians around him to get hurt. In order to avoid any area damage, he swung his shield downward so as to make the spear's path hit the floor once more.
"What? But Sir Spear Hero, I'm already free." Raphtalia said, her stance relaxing a little in confusion.
Motoyasu took a step back before replying, "I'm not talking about you, my lovely, I'm talking about that little blonde girl. I saw her accompanying Leo here, so I know she's his slave." Now it was Leo's turn to be confused.
"Wait, you're talking about Filo, right? You dumbass, she's not a s-" Leo's voice was cut off by Motoyasu.
Motoyasu interrupted Leo with a strange confidence in his voice. "So that's her name! How dare you make such a perfect example of beauty your slave." Leo and Raphtalia were now not only confused, but visibly disgusted at the Spear Hero. I swear, the more I talk to him, the more brain cells I lose…
Placing his hand over his heart, Motoyasu slowly became weirder and weirder. "Ever since I saw her, I knew she was the one. Her face, hair, wings, everything."
Leaning over to Raphtalia, Leo expressed his concern. "I think he might be crazy for Filo. We need to end this, and fast." Raphtalia immediately nodded in agreement, the Spear Hero's actions disgusting her even more than Leo, since she was a former slave and had experienced similar behaviors from previous masters.
"So Leo, either release her, or get sent to hell, your choice!" Motoyasu exclaimed as he threw his spear. Leo angled his shield so as to deflect the projectile to go left where there were less people that could be injured.
The attack blew up the ground near Erhard's shop, shaking its foundation. Looking out the window, the man began to wonder what was happening. Opening his door and stepping outside, he saw three yellow spells flying in his direction. Dodging the attack, he searched for the source of the magic, quickly locating it as the Spear and Shield hero in the midst of a duel.
Watching for a moment, he saw that Leo and Raphtalia were not fighting back. Instead, he saw Raphtalia moving people away, with Leo trying to keep more damage from occurring. Popping his knuckles, Erhard moved to intercept Motoyasu's next attack.
Swiping down for a slash attack, Motoyasu suddenly found his momentum stopped by a large hand. Looking at the culprit, he saw Erhard standing over him with an angry expression tied to his face. Leo was grateful for the burly man's quick intervention while Motoyasu just about pissed himself from the gaze.
Grabbing the Spear Hero's collar, Erhard lifted him off the ground before shouting at him, "You fucking idiot, what are you doing?! Look at the damage you've just caused! You could have killed someone, especially Shield bro and his companion!" All the while, Erhard was shaking the weaker man.
Before anyone could say anything more, a voice that Leo despised came forward. "Release the Spear Hero now!" Malty shouted. Looking over, Erhard saw the older princess standing nearby with a squad of royal knights. Having no choice, he lowered the blonde, but sent him one last angry scowl. It was then that Malty removed a scroll from her pouch and held it high before exclaiming, "Now then, I, Princess Malty hereby decree this fight as an official duel between the Spear and Shield Hero, as by the given permission of the crown!"
Raphtalia, who had been helping people away from the area, came forward and quickly drew her gun, her patience with the red head quickly draining. "I believe you recognize this, princess?" She asked, getting Malty's attention. The moment the red head saw what the soldier was holding, she froze, fear taking hold of her. "Now then, order the Spear Hero to back off." She firmly ordered the girl. A few of the knights took out their swords, ready to attack the raccoon.
A voice suddenly rang out, catching everyone's attention. "Lower your weapons, now!" Melty shouted over everyone. Soon enough, all the knights had put away their swords and kneeled, while Raphtalia simply holstered her pistol. Coming forward with her own squad of knights, Melty had a very disapproving look on her face. "I forbid the hero's from fighting in this area, as well as all other public areas." She commanded, her voice holding strong authority over the situation.
"Ah, Princess Melty, thank you for your wonderful timing." Leo said as she began walking forwards, Filo behind her.
"It is no problem, Sir Leopold. Would you like to explain what events have transpired here?" She asked the soldier in a formal tone. Malty and Motoyasu's eyes went wide in surprise, obviously in shock at the fact that Leo had a member of royalty on his side.
"It would be my pleasure princess. You see, Raphtalia and I had left the church after obtaining what we needed. Once done, we came here in hopes of seeing blacksmith Erhard," Leo stopped for a moment before nodding to the man in question who was standing nearby, "So as to repair some of our equipment. We then planned on going to the tailor next, so as to fix Raphatlia's clothing. It was when we neared Erhard's shop when the Spear Hero here attacked us, or more specifically, me. He began using attacks that were causing collateral damage, as you see around you." Leo said, making sure to provide as many details as possible.
Melty began nodding as Raphtalia then stepped forward. "It was at that time that mister Erhard here intervened and stopped the Spear Hero from causing any more harm or damage. Your sister here then came along and declared the fight between Leo and Sir Motoyasu as a duel. It was then that you arrived." She concluded. The explanation made Melty stare directly at Malty and Motoyasu.
"Is that so? Well then, dear sister, sir Spear Hero," She began as she walked up in front of them, "It appears that, due to such an event occurring at this time, that the Queen must be informed of your actions. That is, unless you plan on helping the people clean and repair this area. So, which shall it be?" She asked with a serious frown. Motoyasu seemed a bit worried, having no idea just how powerful this person or the queen was, while Malty appeared more frustrated than anything.
"Master, is everyone ok?" Filo suddenly asked while Melty did her thing.
Leo and Raphtalia knelt down to Filo's level. "Don't worry, everything and everyone is ok. It's a good thing Raphtalia was here, as she was the one who kept people out of harm's way. I just made it to where the Spear Idiot didn't do too much damage." He said with a smile.
Walking towards the trio after enduring Melty, Motoyasu quickly shoved his way past Leo and took hold of Filo's hand. "Your name is Filo, correct?" He creepily asked the girl, to which she nodded. "My goodness, I'm willing to bet Leo here has you working harder than that fat bird he has pulling his wagon."
His act and tone did not settle well with the girl, as Leo and Raphtalia had taken a day to inform Leo about the Spear Hero's actions and unusual mindset, due to Raphtalia's encounter with him back in the Dragon's Hourglass. Also, he just called her a fat bird. Looking at Raphtalia, she saw the woman nod with a mischievous smile. Knowing exactly what was happening, they went as rehearsed.
Raphtalia grabbed Motoyasu's shoulder, forcing him to look at her before receiving a punch to his cheek. Once he was dazed, Filo changed to her Filolial form and kicked the blonde as hard as she could in the crotch, sending him flying higher and farther than the last time she had done so.
"Don't call me fat!" Filo exclaimed as the man shot through the air. His screams of anguish and pain rang out, becoming noticed by everyone in the area. Once he landed in a large pile of rubble, which certainly added a few extra injuries, the group saw Malty shouting something about a doctor before running to the broken man.
Leo and Raphtalia began laughing heavily at Motoyasu's expense while Filo smiled and began giggling. Once a few seconds had passed, Melty had come forward to speak with Leo's group.
"Sir Leopold, I must speak with you on an urgent matter." She said, her formal tone slightly breaking in an attempt not to laugh with him.
Taking a moment to calm himself, Leo replied, "Alright then princess." Turning towards Erhard, who was still in the same position from earlier, he asked, "Is it ok if we talk in your place? I'm sure everyone here would be more comfortable with that."
Erhard smiled and nodded. "Yeah, go ahead Shield Bro. But you have to buy something afterwards, deal?" He asked in a joking manner.
Leo playfully scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Ok then old man, deal." Which caused Erhard to give an eyeroll of his own.
Yeah, maybe our luck really is turning around. Leo thought as the group made their way towards Erhard's shop.
BDU - Battle Dress Uniform
Author's Note: And there it is, Melty is joining the story! My personal envisionment for Raphtalia's clothing for now is something along the lines of Anna from Metro Exodus when you are in the Caspian Sea/Desert level. So, from what you guys saw from the entry today, I want to make it more in line with how Metro makes their journal entries. More questions, more thoughts, more overall story. Also, Britain… that is all. Stay safe, bye!