A/N: Well, I suppose you all like this version more. I do, at least.

I rewatched Sherlock the other day and have gone on a bit of a Sherlolly (Sherlock/Molly Hooper) binge. They're just adorable together. Feel free to comb through my favorites over the next few days.

I know that the dog should be next, but what's the fun in rushing? Felt the need to include these scenes from the LN and the Usapiru. Also helps further the arc's plot, so that's good.

I only realised now that status magic is available to everyone in SH. That's an oopsie on my part.

Another thing, I only realised after publishing the last chapter I forgot to include Raphtalia's nightmares, so I included them here along with a few hints (read: an entire nightmare sequence) to Ariete's backstory

Aside from that, enjoy!

I stood in the middle of a sandy arena. Crowds around me cheered as another girl my height walked towards me... I had a knife in my hand. I saw my face in the reflection of the perfectly sharpened metal. My hair was curly and clean, my skin smooth and spot-free. I glanced up. The girl was now in front of me, holding a perfect copy of my knife. Her figure was darkened. I could make out pale skin and brownish blonde hair. Little ears similar, but not the same, as mine showed on top of her head. She was… familiar.

She slashed at me first. Her knife passed in front of me, but I felt pain in my chest. I looked down and found a cut near my heart. She slashed at the air in front of me and I yelped as another cut appeared. Why are we doing this? Can't we get along? I tried to speak, but she cut me again, this time her knife sank into my arm. I screamed. She pulled it out. I grabbed the wound she left. It hurt. It hurt like hell.

"Stop it!" I yelled. We know each other, don't we? The crowd laughed. A red glint came from underneath the shadow of her hair. Then red-stained memories filled my vision. Raphtalia lying face down in a pool of blood, our town flag, ripped and flaming. Her.

I dodged her next stab and plunged my knife in her. She crumpled instantly. I looked at her face as she fell face first. I now looked at her knife. My hair was tangled and greasy. My face was caked in dirt, reddened with bruises and cuts.

I looked back at the girl. She was now lying on her back, her face twisted into a mix of hate, pain and sadness, and one more feeling.

Betrayal.

I shot up from the sleeping mat in a cold sweat and panting. The first thing I noticed was that Raphtalia wasn't next to me. My eyes darted around, looking for her. I saw her by our new master, sleeping against his calf.

He looked at me at first with an expression of 'I swear I'm innocent here.' but then it steeled.

"Do you want to sleep by the fire too?" I nodded as the adrenaline from my nightmare rushed out of my body like leaves in a river. I yawned again and laid next to Raphtalia and forced myself to try and sleep again.

We spent the next few days in the forest and meadows fighting the same creatures. Once in a while, he glanced above our heads and his frown lessened. His frown never went away, it only got deeper or shallower. I assumed he looked at my level when he did that. I was impressed too, going from level 7 to 12 in only a few days. Raphtalia was a few levels behind.

I let myself feel a bit of pride but tried to not let it show. I was also a bit taller now. I used an abandoned sack we found in the woods as a backpack as I carried the balloon skins and bedroll.

I picked up a bit of rustling in the bushes. I nudged Raphtalia and readied my magic. "I am the mage of Rurorona Village, heed my words and summon flames! Tsuvait Fire!" I kept the fist-sized ball close to my hand to save mana. I worked through some math in my head to figure out a path for the ball.

Raphtalia yelped as a rabbit with sharp buck teeth leapt at her, trying to bite her. She dropped her knife. I pushed her out of the way, the rabbit landing in between us. I dodged its next leap. My ball of flames vanished as my mind split into different tasks. It then targeted our Master. He bashed it to the side with his shield then captured it in his hands.

"Raphtalia, Now!" He yelled. I picked up the dagger and pressed it into Raphtalia's hands. She was shaking.

"B-But it'll bleed…" She whimpered. Oh. Right. This is her first time attacking something that bleeds.

"Raphtalia, I need you to go and stab it. The man might get angry if you don't." I said. Please don't do something dumb. His temper seems especially thin.

"B-But…" she still seemed on the edge.

"Raphtalia, I order you to stab the rabbit!" Her slave crest glowed and she wailed. I dropped to her side and used a bit of force to get her kneeling. The glow faded away.

"I need you to stab it because I can't! I have to fight the waves but I can't do it. But I have to fight them because I'm the Shield hero. You two can.

"I know you two lost your parents in the wave. So help me. Help me stop that from happening again to someone else. I can't bring back your parents, but we might be able to save someone else's."

I blinked. Well damn, if that's not motivation then I don't know what is. I pulled Raph to her feet and she gripped her knife. I made sure to keep my hands away from mine. "Alright, I'll-"

Before I finished my sentence, Raphtalia stepped forward and sank her knife straight into the rabbit. It squealed as she wrenched her blade up and out the side of the rabbit. Our master dropped the rabbit which let out a few last gurgles, then died. I saw Raphtalia's level jump up. Her breathing was laboured and the blood of the Rabbit was spread across her clothes.

"Raphtalia?"

She looked at me then turned her gaze back to our master. "I'll fight the waves." For the first time in two years, I saw determination in her eyes rather than fear. Her grip on the knife was tight, her body seemingly ready for any situation.

She sheathed her knife and our master skinned the mangled corpse of the rabbit then took some flesh and tucked it away. Raphtalia now stood upright. I put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it. She looked back at me with not sad, but emblazened eyes.

It seems he sparked something in her.

Later in the day, Me and Raphtalia waited outside a store as our Master sold balloon scraps and other things. I noticed a group of kids playing with a ball. I gave Raphtalia a nudge and watched as they tossed it around. One of the boys tossed it up and bumped it with his head to another boy. He then punted it up and it soared into the air, nearly topping the buildings. It fell back down and into the hands of a girl. She tossed it up and kicked it back with her heel.

They continued practicing tricks and showing off to each other. Our Master's gruff tone made me jump out of my skin.

"Do you two want a ball?" I whirled around and faced our master. Raphtalia did too. We shook our heads. He glanced behind us. He let out a sigh and walked past us to the stall behind the kids that were playing.

As he bought a ball I thought about his motives again. Why is he buying us things? I understand he wants fighters, but there's got to be something more. If he wanted good fighters, why not the snake beastman which laid next to us? He was cheaper and probably could fight better.

I whisked the thought away as he handed us a ball. I squished it in my hands and it bounced back. I then tossed it to Raphtalia. She threw it up and caught it with her hands. She let out a small giggle.

"Alright, you two can share and play with it when we're done working. But only after everything is done."

We both nodded. After a few more hours of bumbling around the city, selling things, we stopped by at an inn. He led us to a room and gave us one bed and took the other. I noticed it wasn't yet dark outside. I nudged Raphtalia.

"Do you want to go play with the ball?" She nodded but pointed to our master. "I'll ask him," I said.

I gave Raphtalia the ball then rolled over the bed to our Master's side.

"Uh… can me and Raphtalia play with t-the ball outside?" I faced down but glanced up as I heard a sigh. He was looking out the window.

"Sure."

I rolled back over my bed and went to Raphtalia. "We can go." She grinned.

We excitedly rushed out of the room, down the steps and into the street.

Raphtalia went first and tossed it at me. I caught it with my hands and bounced it back to her. We played with the ball for a few minutes, then I saw the kids from before approaching down the street. Raphtalia gave them a friendly wave. I saw them snicker.

"Hey, Demihumans! How does it feel to be all dirty all the time!" One of the boys called out. Raphtalia's ears flattened against her head and she recoiled. The other kids laughed. I scowled and put the ball under my arm.

"It's better than being you, noodle-arm." I shot back. He flushed and the other kids laughed again. To be fair, he was a scrawny kid, no older than me or Raphtalia.

"Give us your ball. Your kind doesn't deserve one." He spat at the ground in front of me. Oh well. He was asking for it.

"Want it? Come and take it." He walked up in front of me. I puffed out my chest.

"I have a problem with hitting girls, so let's make it easy and give me the ball." He grabbed for the ball, but I passed it around my back to the other hand. Nope, not yours, your grubby hands aren't gonna get it. I grinned.

"You may have a problem hitting me, but I don't have a problem hitting you." I dropped the ball and punched him right in the nose. He stumbled back and then fell on his knees.

"W-What!?"

I snickered. "Well, it is our ball, and also I don't think "sharing is caring" extends to bullies. Oh, wait, that might be the wrong term. How about your kind?" I laughed as the other children let out an "Ooooooh…"

His nostrils flared up and he stood back up. Raphtalia had grabbed the ball by now and was by the door to the inn. The boy charged me. I ducked to the side and he tumbled to the ground.

"Ah, I don't remember bulls falling down like that." I laughed. Raphtalia made a gesture for me to get inside the inn. Nah. I'm having way too much fun here.

He charged at me again. This time after I darted away I tripped him. He ate the stone pavement. The other kids were holding their bellies and doubling over. The street was filled with hoots and laughter.

"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU, LITTLE GIRL!"

This time he ran at me with fury. I wasn't able to sidestep him as he grabbed my arm. I got pulled to the ground by him. We grappled and I dodged the punches he was trying to give me. I noticed the other kids were gathered around and chanting "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

Faintly, I heard my name being yelled as I flipped him over and elbowed him. He stayed down for a second and I stood up and walked to the edge of the circle the kids had formed.

This… this isn't that bad. It's glorio-

Suddenly, I started feeling woozy. Then I hit the pavement.

A/N: Well I guess this is the fun of being a pantser. I'm not sure where that brutal ending fight came from. But it did happen. As for what comes next, that i probably have figured out.

I'm sorry for updating late constantly. I… don't have an excuse here. I still apologize anyway. I should stick to the promises I make, so that's on me.

As for the story itself, I have a question. Do you prefer my writing like last chapter or like this one? I am hyper editing this one to make it more descriptive. I want to know what you all think of it.