The wheatfields span as far as his eyes can see. Rows and rows of tree that bore fruits stretched from the far side and fences that kept herds of farm animals on the other side. And on the hill in the very center was a small villa of ancient roman design.
As he walked closer to the hill, he stretched out his left arm letting the tip of his fingers touched the wheats as he walked along the cleared path to the villa. His mind at peace and his heart contented for Marius is finally home.
As he slowly opened his eyes, Marius saw the filolial smiling at him.
"Good morning, Mask Guy!" said Filo.
Marius lifted his head up and realized he slept on Filo's feathers that put him to sleep last night.
"You're finally awake. You really slept like a baby last night." Naofumi said while setting up the wagon for the next journey, "And you missed breakfast."
"Have I slept too long?" Marius asked, still drowsy.
"Mmhmm! And you looked really happy while asleep, that's why I let you sleep longer!" said Filo.
"It... Did felt nice..." Marius said as he separated himself from Filo's feathers, "I must be ready."
Marius then walked towards his armor which at been left under the tree overnight. He put on his armor pieces one by one, starting with the pair of greaves, then the cuirass along with the pauldron on each sides followed by the pair of vambrace and the cestus.
After he finished equipping himself with armor he looked around for his helmet and saw the smiling Filo, in her human form, presenting the centurion helmet to Marius.
Marius hesitated for a few second, thinking that this might be one her games. He grabbed the helmet then waited for the girl to do her next move. But Filo just let go of the helmet on Marius hands. Not letting his eyes off Filo, Marius opened the steel masked which revealed where the wearer's face would be visible. He lifted the helmet on top of his head, slighty spreading the cheek pieces to let his entire head in. After he put on the helmet, Marius tied the leather straps underneath his chin while still kept his eyes on the filolial.
"I packed this morning's breakfast in the wagon. So just eat it while on the road." said Naofumi, "But you better eat it fast or Filo's gonna try to eat all of it."
Marius glanced at Filo, who ran towards the wagon to meetup with Raphtalia and Melty who were waiting near the wagon, then glanced back at Naofumi, "Very well."
He took his scabbard with his sword in it then secured it neatly on his belt before he walked towards the wagon along side Naofumi.
"We'll be going back to the capital today, so please don't cause any trouble again." Naofumi said.
"Of course." Marius responded, as the two make their way towards the wagon.
"Well then, I really can't thank you all enough." Melty said as she bobbed a curtsied at the group as a sign of gratitude.
"Master? Is it okay if I take Melty home?" Filo asked.
"Okay. Just make sure you collected all the reward." Naofumi said.
"Okay!" Filo walked the other way with Melty on her side.
"Me and Raphtalia will be tending to our business for now. Why not you go watch over them for us?" Naofumi said to Marius.
"Right." Marius sighed as he followed the two girls.
Melty then turned around to say her goodbye, "Farewell till next time!".
With them stopping momentarily, it was easy for Marius to catched up to them with his walking pace.
"I think we'll miss her." Raphtalia said while she waved at the two girls.
"I'm sure we'll see her again." Naofumi said.
"Uuhu. Anyways, was it really a good idea to have Marius babysitting Filo?"
"With him around Filo, any lolicons living here will think twice before going after her. Besides, he can't do anything without the slave chrest zapping him."
"You're right. It's just that..."
"Come one." Naofumi interrupted Raphtalia before she could say something else, "We still got that curse on you we need to heal."
"Right!" Raphtalia said.
"We really can't thank you enough for bringing back the princess." said one of the four servants, "Please, accept this reward for your deed."
One of the servants retrieved a sack full of coins then gave it to Filo.
"Thank you!" Filo said.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye." Melty said, "Bye Filo! Bye Marius!
Marius gave a small weak wave at Melty. He looked around, scanning the area near the castle grounds. Guards can be seen eyeing him whenever they walked passed them.
"Bye Melty! We'll meet again okay!" Filo waved at Melty as she walked away along side her servants towards the castle entrance.
Filo then approached Marius with the reward on her hand, "Where do we go next?"
"Why do you ask me?" said Marius
"Well, you are my bodyguard. So you must know where to go next."
"That was not my choice. But since you insist, we must regroup with our master and end today's task."
"Awwww. How about we walk around the town for awhile?"
Marius sighed, "Fine."
"Yay!"
"Why do you even asked?"
It was a busy day but also very profitable for the stall owners of the capital town. With many people walking around, the marketplace was always almost crowded.
Amongs the crowd was a cute blonde little girl and her armored steel-masked bodyguard. And as soon as the delicious smell of cooked food filled the air, Filo immediately ran towards the source of the smell, her smaller stature makes it easier for her to move through the crowd. Marius, however, have a hard time doing so because of his size.
"Movete!"
He forced himself through the crowd pushing people away. After he pushed through the wall of people, he finally found Filo in front of a bread stall.
"Here you go, little miss." the stall owner gave the grocery bag full of freshly bake buns to Filo.
As Filo turned around she saw Marius stood in front of her with his arms crossed, "You should not have run away like that!"
"You did that too!" said Filo.
"I had my reasons."
"Well then, here!" Filo showed Marius the buns she bought.
"I'll pass."
"Come on! Just eat one! Why are you so grumpy all the time?"
"That is not of your concern."
"It is my concern!" Filo said as she stuffed the buns inside her mouth, "Just take one, please!" tears started to formed on the edge of her eyes.
"No"
Her mouth pouted and she began gulfing down all the buns she had till there's nothing but an empty paper bag.
"Filo! Marius!" Raphtalia called out from the crowds
"Big sister!" Filo ran towards Raphtalia, wiping the tears on her eyes, "Mask Guy's being a big meanie!"
Raphtalia looked at Filo's face. She looked like she just at a crying fit, with bits of bread crumbs still on her lips. Raphtalia wiped the tears and the bread crumbs off Filo's face, while she glared at Marius.
"Come on. Master's calling for us." Raphtalia held Filo's hand as they walked away, followed by Marius who followed behind them.
The closer they get, the more they saw people gathered to see what caused the commotion. Once they've reached the center of the problem, there stood Naofumi and Motoyasu facing each other. Surrounding them where the local knight guards, and there stood Melty confronting a woman. Raphtalia and Filo quickly ran towards their master, but Marius still kept his walking pace while he observed the destruction.
"Master Naofumi!"
Hearing the call from a familiar voice, Naofumi turned around and saw both Raphtalia and Filo stopped before him.
"What's going on here!" Raphtalia asked.
"Nothing. Just Motoyasu again." Naofumi said.
Upon seeing the little girl with pair of wings, Motoyasu walked towards her. He grabbed her hand and got on one knee, his eyes gazed at what he thought was an angel, "Filo. That is what they called you, isn't that right my dear?"
"Mmhmm." Filo responded.
"Oh, you poor thing. Uh?" Motoyasu then noticed another person approached behind Filo.
"You! I recognized that armor! Don't think you can hide your face with that mask!" Motoyasu stood up then pulled Filo behind him to shield her from Marius, "Are you going hurt Filo aswell!"
Marius scoffed, "Not something I can do right now."
Motoyasu step forward with his spear ready, "I warn you! If you lay one finger on her-"
"Relax. He's with me." said Naofumi.
"What?! You dare have this dangerous criminal around precious Filo! I suppose you make her work like beast of burden aswell!"
"But I like pulling the wagon alot!" Filo said with a smile on her face.
"Naofumi, you swine! How could you! You're making her pulled the wagon like that big fat bird!" Motoyasu pointed his spear at Naofumi, "You'll pay for this!"
"Why do you have to go on and call me out like that." Filo said with an upset tone.
"Huh?"
"You make fun of me the last time we've met too!"
"I did? W-when was that?"
Filo then burst in a cloud of white smoked, and she emerged in her filolial form, "I hate you spear guy!"
"You mean you're that... You're that big fat-"
Filo kicked Motoyasu between his legs, and it sent him flying across the air. Marius just watched the spear hero flew above him, "By the... Gods..."
Motoyasu landed hard on the ground. Pieces of armor platings landed on the ground not far from him.
"Filo wins again!" Filo cheered.
"Job well done! I'm proud of you, Filo." Naofumi said as he patted Filo's head.
Amused by the sight, Marius chuckled at the sight of the spear hero on the ground, his hand held on to his groin in pain while few knights tried to help him up.
"He he he..."
"Uh? Masked guy? Did you just laugh?" Filo asked.
"It's amusing."
"After he put me through hell, I find that amusing as well." said naofumi.
"Really, you two." Raphtalia said.
"Our savior of the Heavenly Fowl." Melty approached them, "No, the Shield Hero is your name. I need to speak to you urgently."
"By Ares, what took them so long?"
Marius decided to wait outside of the weapon shop to clear his mind after today's shenanigans, not caring whatever Melty's business has with his master. Not far from him were Melty's guards staring at Marius while occasionaly whispered to each other. It seems every knights or even almost everyone have heard of an armored stranger who beat the Spear Hero unarmed. There was constants stares he noticed while he was in the capital town. But he never let it bothered him, only his duties he was so focused on. Eventhough he never liked it.
And after a few minutes, another guard showed up to give news to Melty's guard. Soon after, one of them walked to the weapon shop door.
"Princess Melty. His royal majesty calls. Please come with us."
"Very well. I have to go now, Filo."
"Mel, wait!"
"Filo!"
Marius heard the conversation from inside the shop. The shop door closed and the guards began escorting the princess. Melty glanced at Marius for a few seconds before walking away upset.
Soon enough, Filo walked out of the shop door crying and sat against the wall on the otherside of the door frame where Marius stood. He glanced at the sulking girl for a few seconds before he sighed and took something out of his pocket.
Not hearing the sound of footsteps beside her, an apple fell on her lap. She looked beside her and saw Marius walking back to his original spot, leaned against the wall on his back with his arms crossed while looking away from the other direction. Silence fell, and Filo wondered where this act of kindness came from. Especially coming from someone like Marius.
Then, a group of three knights and two mages approached them. Marius quickly clutched the grip if his sword, "State your business!"
"W-we want to speak to the shield hero! Please let us through!" one of the knight said.
"All of us here want to help the shield hero for the wave!"
"The wave? Are there wars here?"
"Y-you can say that."
Marius and Filo looked at each other before looking back at the group.
"Very well." Marius opened the door to the weapon shop, "Master. You have an audience."
Both Marius and Filo entered the weapon shop to let the group in to meet the Shield Hero.
"I apologize." the guard and the rest of his friends entered the shop.
"It's you again. What the hell do you want?" Naofumi said.
"Well, we... Actually, I... Please,let us accompany you, Shield Hero! Please during the waves!" the group bowed at Naofumi, "We were deeply intouched by your courage and selflessness during the fight on the last wave! Everyone here wants nothing more then support you in your tireless quest!"
"Wait, is that why you were chasing me?"
"Yes! We all decide to fight side by side with you the next time we saw you here in the capital!"
"If this is about fighting the wave you can do that without following me. Just do that yourself."
"No! Sir Shield Hero! The point is we wanted to fight with you!"
"Mind telling me why?"
A young shorter mage stepped in, "Because, shield hero. We all hailed from the village of lute. Back then, you saved all of our family from a tragic end. So you see, sir. We wanna help in anyway we can."
"We wanted to repay you for saving our fellow villagers, that's all."
Naofumi held out a small necklace, "Buy this trinket for hundred and fifthy silver pieces. I'll consider your offer if you cough up the cash."
The Shield Hero's words surprised the young knight and his companions.
"What's wrong? You can gain my trust if you can buy this item right now."
"Master Naofumi..." said Raphtalia.
"But a hundred and fifthy silver pieces? Now what?" said one of the guard.
"We'll just have to arrange it." said the younget guard, "We understand! We'll gather the silver pieces right now!"
After the group left, Naofumi and the rest of his party member and the shop owner remained.
"I can't believe you're pressuring them to buy the leftover accessories for that much money"
"I do have to admit. You never change, kid."
"Meanie!"
Marius stepped in after being silenced throughout the conversation, "With all due respect, we could use a much bigger numbers. And what is this wave he said earlier?"
"Some sort of attack that fell on this world. Was the reason why I'm here in the first place. I guess I forgot to tell you that." said Naofumi.
"So, this world is at war as well?"
"Close. I figured this is something you might be familiar with."
"... Very."