It was a bright day morning after the village was rid of the zombie dragon's curse.

The shield hero party hiked through the forest after they've exterminated poisonous monster that have wandered near the roads of the East Village.

Naofumi and Raphtalia lead the way to the East Village, while Filo and Marius lagged behind. Marius scanned their surroundings, like he would always do when trekking in the forest. Behind him, he was under the watchful eye of the filolial, much to Marius's irritation.

"We'll start heading back to the capital tomorrow." said Naofumi, which halted the walk.

"Huh? You're wrapping up the trading trip?" said Raphtalia.

With their conversation going on, Marius started surveyed the area around them.

"What are you looking for?" asked Filo, curious by Marius's action.

"Ambush." said Marius, mildly irritated.

"Uh, why would someone want to do that?"

Marius just ignored her question, only focused on his surroundings.

Filo then started imitating Marius, as she thought it might be a good idea. That's when she spotted a flock of filolials surrounded a blue colored hair little girl with pigtails in an elegant dress, "There something going on there."

Naofumi walked forward to get a closer look but he snapped a twig under his boots, and the sudden sound alerted the filolials. The flock looked at the direction of the group, then they stood up and ran away. Leaving the lone little girl behind.

"Those birds looked yummy." whispered Filo while licking her beak, "If we go after them now, we can hunt them down."

"Wait, yummy?" said Raphtalia.

"Indeed." said Marius,"Wait, did I just agreed to that bird?"

Naofumi then turned around to gaze at the filolial, "Now look here, Filo. Those were your own kind."

"So big..." the little girl spoke, which caught the attention of the group. "Are you a filolial?" the little girl asked.

"You mean me?" said Filo.

"You can talk, too?"

"Yep." Filo nodded.

The little girl could hardly hold her excitement, "I've always dreamed of talking to a filolial!", which surprised the filolial.

The little girl then pulled out a piece of dried meat from her pocket, "For you. It's dried meat."

"Thanks!" Filo hopped towards the little girl and gulfed the dried meat in one go.

Not far away, the three stood there as they watched the two.

"Could she be from the village?" Raphtalia asked.

"Nah, she's too well dressed." Naofumi said, "She's probably a noble's daughter or something."

"Or, she could be a trap. I've seen similar tactic." said Marius, which shocked the other two.

"You do realize we're not in a war, right?" said Raphtalia, "Besides, how could someone like her would do such a thing?"

"War does not need to be the reason for men to become monsters. All it needs is greed or desperation." Marius turned towards the two, "But that's just my guess."

The two went quite for awhile.

"Since you can't trust that girl how about you stay here and watch over them. We still have work to do at the village." said Naofumi.

"What?!" Marius exclaimed.

After Naofumi and Raphtalia left, Marius was left behind to babysit Filo and her new friend, named Melty.

"But at least she won't bother me this time." Marius said in his head.

As the two girls played around in the fields, Marius stood not far away from them.

As he grew bored, he walked towards a nearest tree then sat underneath it before he took off his helmet and placed it beside him.

He watched the beautiful mountain ranges from the distance, and it reminded him of the mountains that hid the empire that he called home.

And as Marius's eyelids grew heavy, he placed his right hand on the helmet and the centurion leaned on the tree on his back before falling asleep.

"Are you sure this is a good idea? He doesn't look so friendly." Melty whispered.

"It'll be fun, don't worry. He can't do anything to us cause master said so." said Filo as both of them sneaked closer to the sleeping warrior. Filo slowly reached for the helmet then gently pulled it away from Marius. Afterwards they've quickly ran away from the scene.

Marius woke up after he heard a familiar giggling nearby. He looked around and realized his precious helmet wasn't beside him.

"Not this again!" Marius got up and looked around for the little thief and saw the two girls on the edge of the forest.

Filo lifted the helmet with both her arms as she waves it infront of Marius. Melty, however, was a little scared then happy.

"I do not have time for this!" Marius yelled as he stomped his way towards the two. Filo and her friend quickly ran deeper into the bushes and Marius charged forward.

He rammed through the bushes and looked around but saw no signs of them. Marius searched the forest for any traces of the girls, and as he looked around he spotted a rusted sword sticking out of the ground with a piece of fabric hung on the cross guard. As he got closer to investigate he found out that the sword was infact a weapon tombstone for an old grave with a rusted knight helmet on top of it. And the emblem on the piece of fabric shook Marius as he recognized the symbol on the cloth. A crown and a sword. It was the symbol of the Royal Legion, one of the allies to the Blackstone Legion. By forced, of course.

Marius walked closer to the grave and got on one knee, putting his hand on the grave and lowered his head.

"Requiescat in pace..."

After he gave his respect to the unknown warrior, Marius stood up and left the fallen knight to his or her final resting place, and continued to look for the mischievous girls. But his mind was now too focus on something else, after he realized he wasn't the first to be here from his world.

Were there more of them here? How many have found themselves here and how? Do they lived on or perished here as well?

Marius marched on through the forest with so many questions that he may or may not find the answer to.

Hid amongs the bushes, Melty peeked through the bush from where they were hid. Filo, however, was playing around with the centurion helmet.

Filo then puts on the helmet and it barely fit her head as it bobbled everytime she turned her head, "How does he sees with this?" she said.

And through the eyeholes Filo could see Melty, who suddenly looked terrified.

"Huh? What's wrong, Melty?"

Then, something grabbed the helmet on Filo's head and removed the helmet from her head. The surprised Filo turned around and saw the scowled Marius.

"I do not want to play your games, bird!" said Marius.

"Then why did you come looking for us?" Filo said with a smug look, and Marius reaponded with a grunt.

Melty stood up, dusted off some leaves on her dress and walked towards Marius, "We apologized if we've bothered you, mister." Melty said to Marius, still a little shaken.

"Your name was Melty, correct?" said Marius.

"Yes. May I know your name?"

"Marius." said Marius as he puts on his helmet and lowered the mask.

"Oh, it's nice to meet you. You must be Filo's bodyguard?"

"Bodyguard?" Filo said, titled her head.

"Someone who's there to protect you from harm. I have one but... We got separated when I saw the filolials." Melty said with a hint of embarrassment.

"So, master made you my bodyguard?" Filo said looking at Marius.

"Your master forced me to. Like I have any choice. Enough of this! Go back to the fields and stop bothering me!" Marius turned his back towards them then walked away, leaving the two behind.

"He's not very nice, is he?" Melty said.

Filo responded with a nod.

The sun as finally set on the East Village. Many of the patient have recovered from their illnesses, thanks to the help of the shield hero.

In the village clinic, Marius escorted the two girls into their master's room. Marius opened the door to let Filo in to see Naofumi, who was tending to Raphtalia's wounds.

"I'm back, master." Filo said as she entered the room.

"Oh, welcome back." said Naofumi.

"I'll guard the wagon." Marius left the room and walked passed Melty who was waiting outside.

As he walked through the hallway he saw an old man who stopped after he saw an armored centurion. Marius glanced at the old man as he walked passed.

"You're Blackstone, aren't you?" the old man said, which freezed Marius in his track.

The centurion turned around to face the old man, "What? How did you-"

"You wore their color. And I can see the symbol on your cape." the old man interrupted Marius. "So tell me. How did you got here?"

"I fell down the river. I thought I'd drowned." Marius said.

"Fell down the river too, uh? Had the same fate while fighting the knights."

"So the grave from forest..."

"He was a strong warrior. When we arrived here, we still see ourselves as enemies. But when the monsters came and attacked us we had no choice but to work to together to survive. Me and the knight fought side-by-side until his very end. He died a warrior's death, though I never get to know his name."

After hearing the story, Marius noticed some nordic tattoos on the old man's wrist, "You're a viking?"

"No one as ever called me that for so long. Yes, I hailed from the cold heartless land of Valkenheim." the old man then turned to faced a window, "But I found a new life here. More peaceful here than back home."

"Home..." Marius sighed, with the memories of his home that he can no longer return to.

"Perhaps it is time to let go of the past and live a new life, won't you agree?" the old man placed his right hand on one of Marius's pauldron before he turned around and entered a room.

"How is she, doctor?" the old man's voice can be heard inside the room.

"She's doing fine. But she needs more rest before she can go out again." said the doctor inside the room.

"Thank you, doctor."

"Thank the shield hero. He helped everyone here. Now, I'll leave you alone with your wife for now. Just come to us if you need anything." the village doctor exited the room and was almost startled by Marius's presence.

"C-can I help you, sir?" the village doctor asked.

But Marius just turned around and headed towards the exit instead.

The centurion sat underneath a tree with the old viking still in his mind. Never knew he would found someone from his world, almost right after he found the knight's grave.

And it's hard to believe that the kind old man he met back at the East Village, was in fact used to be the most brutal warriors Marius had ever encountered during his time at war.

He sat there alone in his own mind until a familiar figure stood in front of him. Filo smiled at Marius, which irritated the centurion.

"The food smells great! Wanna join us?" Filo said as she extended her hands to Marius.

Marius looked behind her and saw the rest of the gang had already prepared fo dinner. He could smell the delicious cooked meat from where he sat, but even that won't moved the stubborn warrior.

"I rather not. Bring a plate to me and let me be in peace." said Marius.

Filo scowled, then grabbed Marius by his hands and tried to pulled him, "Stop being grumpy and just join us!"

Marius let the filolial played tug-of-war with his arms, slightly amused by the display, "You will have to do harder than that."

Furious, Filo transformed into her bird form then lifted Marius off his spot. She carried the centurion to the camping spot then sat Marius near the group. She then transformed back to her human form then sat next to Melty while she grinned at Marius.

"Glad you could join us, Marius." Naofumi said while preparing dinner.

There was an awkward silence around the campsite, Raphtalia assisted Naofumi with the food, Filo and Melty waited patiently for their meal and Marius avoided eye contact the wholetime he sat near his party member with his eyes locked on the campfire in front of him.

And after what seems like only a few seconds for Marius as he was fixated by the campfire, a bowl of skewered meat appeared in front of him. He tracked the arm that gave him the meal and it belonged to Naofumi.

Marius took the bowl from Naofumi's hands and observed the roasted meat before he took one bite.

"So, how is it?" Naofumi asked.

"Better than dried rations." Marius said as he took another bite of his meal. This carved a small smile on Naofumi's face.

The entire dinner time went smoothly for the group. There were smalls talks happened between them, but Marius did not participated in any of their conversation as nothing interested the centurion the. Except the time where Filo was scolded for eating too much, which amused Marius. Finally he got to see Filo punished for her action.

Marius was once again sat on his previous spot with his armor pieces piled up against the tree and his bedroll ready for him to sleep on. But he does not feel asleep yet as his mind still reminded him of the words from the old viking.

Perhaps it is time to let of the past and live a new life, won't you agree?

He wondered what will he do once he paid his debt. Going back seems impossible now. But even if he could, what will all three nations would react if one of the cruelest warlord suddenly returned from the dead?

But living a new life here? Perhaps he could. But until then he's stuck serving the shield hero, and the Slave Crest on his chest just doesn't help for Marius.

"Marius! Come here!"

Marius heard his master's orders and with a grunt he stood up and walked towards his master, who stood beside Raphtalia as the two watched the sleeping filolial.

"Yes?" Marius asked.

"You don't happen to see Melty running off naked, haven't you?" Naofumi said.

"No. Why would she-" Marius paused and saw Melty's dress laying next to Filo, "She ate her"

"Yes..." Naofumi said as the three stared at the filolial in total silence, "We saw nothing, okay?"

"Agree." Marius responded.

"Master Naofumi!" Raphtalia exclaimed.

"What, you want us to go confess that Filo ate some noble's daughter?!" Naofumi said.

But argument woke up the sleeping filolial, "What's wrong, master?".

"Filo, where's Melty?" Raphtalia asked.

"Melty? She's sleeping in my feathers." and just like that Filo turned to show the three her left side and Melty, without her clothes, emerged from Filo's feather. This surprised all three of them.

"What's the matter?" Melty said, still a little sleepy.

"What are you doing underneath Filo's feathers?" Naofumi asked.

"Filo's feathers are so soft and comfortable."

"So you took off your clothes?"

"Yes." Melty nodded.

"But how did you..." Raphtalia reached out her hands and as she pressed on Filo's feathers her arms dug deeper into the bird's feathers. "It's so nice and warm." the pull effect of the feathers immediately took over Raphtalia and she instantly fell asleep on Filo.

While Naofumi inspected Filo's feather, Marius moved to the right side of the filolial and pressed his hands against her feathers, "This-this does feel nice... NO!".

Marius tried to fight the effects of the soft feathers, wanted instead go back his sleepying spot. But it was too strong for the centurion to resist, and he eventually fell asleep on her feathers as well.