With only the fire of a torch lighting his way. Marius, wearing only his tunic and his gladius on his side, was picking fresh vegetables on the forest floor. While some were familiar to him, some looked really foreign to Marius. But as long as he can tell which is good and which is bad, he paid no mind.
One by one, he picked up the fresh goods then put it in a makeshift bag made from discarded fabrics, until he heard growling. He slowly put down his bag then reached for his gladius. His eyes darted around until he spotted a boar-like creature slowly approaching him from the tall grass.
Marius clutched his gladius and got into battle stance, when Filo, in her filolial form, pounches at the creature sinking her talons into its flesh until it dies.
"Got it!" Filo said.
Marius picked up his bag then continued picking up ingredients, while Filo picked the dead creature up then placed it on her back, stacking on two more dead creatures she carries.
"This should be enough. We must head back." said Marius with the bag full of vegetables and a lit torch on his hand.
He then walked towards the path back to the sanctuary with Filo following behind.
After a few minutes of walking, Filo decide to break the silence.
"It's really nice that master sent us to pick up ingredients." said Filo.
Marius only groaned in response.
"It's like we're really are a couple."
Marius stopped walking after hearing Filo's words and turned his head slighty.
"I only joined because of my debts with your master. And once I paid it all, I will be leaving."
"What?"
"And when that day may come, we will not be seeing each other again. So you can forget about taking me as your mate." Marius then continued walking, "You can go to that Spearman if it pleases you. He seems to be more infatuated to you than I do."
"But... I don't want that Spear Guy! I want you-"
"Enough."
"What about that time we were in the attic!"
"Enough!"
"And-and you wanted to kiss me and-"
"I said enough!"
Filo was choked. She could not utter another words afterwards. All she could do is to cry softly.
Marius could hear her sobbing. He felt heartbroken as well, to deny himself of someone like Filo, who see throught his mask and saw what he truly was.
But for what he had done in the past, he does not deserved her.
"We have returned." Marius arrived at the sanctuary as Naofumi was preparing a number of large pots.
"Oh good. That should be enough ingredients to feed this entire KFC farm." said Naofumi.
"Kay have see?"
"It's a fast food re- Nevermind that. Just put it here so I can prepare them."
"Very well." Marius put the bag of vegetables near Naofumi.
Filo placed her hunted games near Naofumi as well before she turned to her human form.
Naofumi noticed that Filo was quiet the entire time after they've returned. She was happy when he sent her to the woods to collect some fresh meat.
Marius, however, looked more angrier than before. And the two didn't even looked at each other after they placed the ingredients.
Naofumi was about to say something when he heard whimpering from the hungry filolials surrounding him, and the two have already left to their own path.
But the whole thing was also witnessed by Fitoria as she stood amongs the hungry filolials.
Marius sat near his spot all alone with a campfire and his armor rested against the ruin walls of the past civilization. He brushed a stone against the edge of his gladius to sharpened the blades.
Not far from him was Hanzo watching him from the distance. He stood near the rest of the group and a bunch of filolials surrounding the campfire.
"Filo?" Raphtalia said while she lay her back on a sleeping filolial. "Aren't you going to drag Marius here? You always like being around him, right?"
But Filo didn't say a word except shaking her head. She sat at the ground wrapping her arms around her legs with her face half burried behind her legs and was still upset about what happened in the woods.
"Filo?" Melty said. "Is there something wrong?"
"Mask Guy... He doesn't like me anymore..." said Filo.
"Maybe he's just tired. Just let him rest for awhile." said Raphtalia.
"He... He said he was going to leave us after he paid his debt with master." Filo said, on the verge of crying.
"Well... He did made that deal. Maybe we can see him again in our journey."
"But he said he doesn't want to see us anymore. He..." Filo struggled to hold her tears.
"Filo..."
"It is best not to keep him any longer." Hanzo said, still keeping his eye on Marius. "The more he stayed with us, the more likely he will end us with his blade."
"That's not true! Mask Guy is not that kind of person!" Filo yelled.
"Wherever he marched his legion, death and despair follows. His blade fell on not only fallen soldiers, but innocence as well." Hanzo turned to look at the three girls. "His hunger for conquest knows no bound. Every Emperors, Lords and Jarls, he spilled their blood to satisfied his greed.
Cruelty is all he knows, and he will show it to anyone who opposed him. And what makes you think he has humanity left in him?"
All three of them looked at Hanzo in shock.
"He is behind me, is he?" Hanzo quickly turned around and clutched his katana at Marius. The centurion only stood without any reaction.
"And on the final days of the Blackstone Legion, I had barely enough men to fight against all three nations." Marius stood there, without his armor nor his weapon, but a piece of fabric on his hand.
"The siege lasted for days. Our rations were reduced to nothing. Some of my men even resort to desertion. I was defeated by the Lawbringer of the Iron Legion. I 'died'..." Marius walked pass Hanzo and towards the campfire, "... And the Blackstone Legion was no more."
Marius threw the piece of fabric into the fire. Hanzo looked down on the flames and saw what remains of the Blackstone Legion emblem, burnt to ashes as they all watched.
"No more..." Marius took a quick look at Filo who gave him a quick glance before shifting her gaze to the ground.
Marius then turned around and walked towards Hanzo. "Satisfied?"
Then walked pass the orochi and went back to his spot.
He was defeated. But not by the old man, but by a stray catapult shot that collapses the wooden floor beneath him.
His struggle for air grew weaker and weaker until he swallowed enough water to filled his lungs. His limbs became limp as he no longer has control over them and his eyes slowly closes as his soul was slowly fading.
With his remaining life, he could faintly see a figure swimming towards him. As the figure swam closer to him, he could see the figure to be in similar appearance of a young girl. Its body was almost ethereal-like, forming its body from the water, and a pair of wings similar to that of an angel.
The figure got close to Marius and grabbed him by his shoulders. The figure gazed on Marius with its beautiful blue eyes. It placed both its hands on the dying warrior's face before kissing Marius on his lips, before his eyes closed shut as he felt death taking him.
He woke up, sun shined on the filolial sanctuary far away from civilization. He got up and saw the rest of the group preparing for breakfast.
While the color of the Blackstone Legion still remained, the cape that don the emblem was no longer there and the cuirass felt slighty lighter without the cape.
But something came up his mind, and he instead put the cuirass down and instead took his sheathed gladius then strapped it to his belt, before walking towards his party member.
There, Naofumi was cooking today's breakfast. Raphtalia, Melty and Hanzo helped preparing the meal on a table, while Filo helped prevent the hungry filolials from trying to eat the unprepared meal.
"Morning." Marius greeted as he approached the group.
"Morning." said Naofumi.
"Good morning, Marius." said Raphtalia.
"Good morning." said Melty.
Marius shifted his eye to Hanzo, still in armor but without his helmet, who gave him a quick glance before he continued with his task. Filo, however, didn't even turned to look at Marius.
"Since you're awake, how about you help me with this." said Naofumi.
"Very well." Marius stood near the second large pot. He grabbed the second laddle and started stirring the content of the pot.
"Just keep stirring it. I'll tell you when its ready."
"Very well."
Marius glances at Filo and noticed she was looking at him as well before quickly turning her head away.
"Let's eat." Naofumi started eating breakfast along with the others.
Filo happiness sparked again after she wad given a full plate for herself. Marius, who sat at the other end of the table beside Raphtalia, couldn't help but to feel happy seeing her smile again. But he himself kept his silent joy hidden.
As he began to eat his meal, he saw Hanzo, sat directly infront of him, pulling something out of his wrist. Knowing their reputations as assassins, Marius kept his eyes on the orochi as he slowly reached for his gladius under the table.
With a quick movement, Hanzo pulled a pair of chopsticks under his vambrace. He glanced at Marius who had his hands reaching for his weapon. Hanzo then started eating his breakfast, paying no mind to the paranoid centurion.
While they were all eating, they didn't noticed Fitoria approaching them until she's close enough. They all turned their heads to Fitoria, except Filo who was too busy still eating her breakfast.
Fitoria then lifted her hand towards Melty, "Liberation. Wind Prison."
And suddenly, Melty was encased in a magical capsule, with spiral winds circling around it. The table and all the food were thrown across the area while the rest of the group quickly jumped backwards from the blast.
"Release her!" Hanzo drew his katana and swung it at Fitoria.
Fitoria caught the blade between her thumb and index finger with ease. She then grabbed the orochi by the belt then threw him afar. The orochi quickly regained his footing and went into his battle stance.
Fitoria turned her head to look at Marius then lifted her hands towards him. And in a split second, an unseen force pulled Marius backwards and into a wall. He tried to pulled himself from the wall when the bricks morphed around each of his limbs and wrapped around his torso.
He struggled even more to break free from his bindings when the brick wall behind his head wrapped around his head, and darkness soon took over his sight.
Darkness. Only darkness he can see around him.
"This will be your trial, warrior." said the dissembodied voice of Fitoria.
"What trial? Why put me here?!" said Marius, looking around wildly in the darkness.
"I cannot trust you with Filo unless you prove to me that your are worthy."
"Why do you care?"
"I must know if you are capable enough for my candidate. Complete this trial to prove your worth."
"Fine... What must I do."
"Face the demon."
The darkness around him suddenly dissipated and he then found himself standing on the balcony of the tower of his old fortress. Up there he could see the battle going on against the remaining Blackstone knights against the three nations.
"By the gods..."
Marius heard the door behind him opened and the demonic black armored centurion entered, striking fear in his heart.
"Face your fear."
Building up his courage, Marius drew his gladius and prepared to fight his nightmare.
The demon dashed towards Marius with inhuman speed, leaving behind a trail of black mist behind. He swung his gladius and Marius quickly blocked the incoming blade. He countered the attack with a swung to the demon's chest, only for his blades to scraped the steel armor instead and the demon threw a punch at Marius's face.
Marius was pushed back by the punch and he tasted blood inside his mouth. He spat out the saliva mixed with blood and began charging at the demon. He spotted the exposed neck of the demon and drove his gladius into the weakpoint.
The demon dodged the blade to the side than grabbed Marius by the neck before lifting him up. The demon let out a terrifying laugh before he threw Marius to the wall on, leaving a huge crack and further injuring Marius.
Marius endured the pain and quickly got back up on his feet. He could feel the back of his ribcage shattered from the impact. He looked up and saw the demon beckoning him with its gladius raised above his head in a combat stance.
Marius readied himself then charged at the demon...
Filo charged towards Fitoria with her full speed and her first raised. But Fitoria quickly grabbed Filo then threw her to a ruined wall.
Bruised and her clotches nearly ripped apart, Filo got back on her feet and faced Fitoria.
Meanwhile, Naofumi and Hanzo climbed to the platform where Melty was kept as hostage.
"Get her out! I'll shield you!" said Naofumi as he raised his shield.
Hanzo gently touched the magical capsule with the tip of his katana and absorbed its mana, but it was resisting the absorbing affect of the blade.
"Watch out!" Melty exclaimed.
A mana darts flew towards the shield hero. Naofumi blocked the attack with his shield but the attack got throught and it pushed him to the wall, damaging his chest plate. Fitoria launches another mana dart and it pierced throught Hanzo's hand, causing him to dropped his katana.
"Naofumi-sama!" Raphtalia yelled out for her master.
"Don't mind us! Just get Marius out!" Naofumi said.
Raphtalia tried to pulled away the morphed brick that had wrapped around Marius. She noticed that Marius wasn't struggling himself out. It was as if he was put in a trance.
"Wake up you big idiot!" Raphtalia yelled out before a mana attack hit the ground near her foot.
"Master! Big sis!" Filo exclaimed
"Eyes on me." Fitoria slapped Filo away with the back of her hand and it threw her to the ground.
Panting, Filo slowly got up, ready to attack but her arms were too fatigue from the fight.
"I'll be... I'll be much much stronger!"
Bloodied and tired, Marius was still facing the demonic centurion who showed no sign of tiredness from the fight.
Not willing to give up, he readied himself again and waited for the right moment. He felt his legs was about to gave out as combat fatigue began to take over his body.
Marius approaches then thrusted his gladius towards the demon, only to be kicked away and fell on his back.
"Weak... Unworthy..." the demon berated him.
Marius tried to get back on his feet but his fatigue had completely taken over. He turned to see the demon looking down on him, just like his nightmares.
"Die..." the demon raised its gladius, ready to end the tired warrior.
Marius closes his eyes, waiting for his death.
"Is that it?"
"Yes... I am tired... I can no longer go on..."
"And what about Filo?"
"... I do not deserve her... She's better off without me... She is fine with her master and Raphtalia..."
"Is that what you think?"
"Yes..."
"But what does your heart says?"
"... Afraid... Afraid to loose her..."
"That's all I needed to hear."
Marius opened his eyes. He looked up and saw the demon slowly turning into dust, and the environment around him faded into darkness but a light shined infront of him.
"Mask guy?"
He heard her voiced coming from the light. He quickly got up and ran towards the light.
"Filo?"
He ran and ran until he saw a silhouette of an angel he was so familiar with.
"Filo!"
And as he reached out his hands, he found himself dropped face first to the ground. He lifted himself up with the help of Raphtalia.
"Filo? Is Filo alright?" said Marius.
"She's... She's fine." said Raphtalia.
Marius saw Filo sat infront of Fitoria. The sleeves of her dress was ripped and she looked as she had been into a long battle. Melty was there as well with her arms around Filo.
Not far, Naofumi walked towards Filo with Hanzo helped carrying him despite his bleeding hand.
"Master... I won." Filo said, still in Melty's arm.
"You did amazing, Filo." said Naofumi.
"Filo!" Marius ran towards Filo and stopped right in front of her. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. And I won!" said Filo.
"What happened?"
"You don't know what happened?" said Naofumi. "But did you atleast heard anything?"
"No."
"Perhaps I've used the wrong entrapment spell on you." said Fitoria. "I may have put you to sleep as well. I have tested Filo to see if she is worthy. And she did well to pass the trial."
Filo turned to Fitoria confused.
"Filo, you were being tested." said Naofumi.
"Yes. If you hadn't passed it, you would've died."
"What?!" Marius exclaimed.
"And the Shield Hero would have, too."
"But why put princess Melty in danger?" said Hanzo.
"I'm sorry if I caused you any distress. Give me your hand so I can heal them as my apology."
Fitoria held out her hand for Hanzo but he did not trusted her well enough.
"Hanzo." Melty said. "I'm okay now. You can trust her."
Hanzo then showed Fitoria his bleeding hand. Fitoria cast a spell on Hanzo's hand and the wound disappeared, leaving nothing but only dried blood and a hole on the gloves.
"That should do it. Now." Fitoria turned to Filo, and she created a jeweled tiara out of thin air on her hand.
"What is that?" Filo asked.
"A symbol proving that you overcame my trial. Lower your head."
Filo lowered her head in response and Fitoria placed the tiara on her head.
"Filo, I appoint you my successor."
"Successor?"
"You mean she'll become the next filolial queen?" said Naofumi.
"That's amazing, Filo!" said Melty.
Then, the tiara above Filo's head disappeared and in its place popped a cowlick.
"Is that the symbol of being next in line?" said Raphtalia.
"C-Cute!" Melty blurted.
"Something weird grew on my head! Get it off!" Filo flucked the cowlick off her head and was relieved, until it instantly grew another one.
"It grew back!"
"And it'll keep growing back, so get used to it." said Fitoria.
"Mask guy! Get this weird thing off my head!" Filo whined.
Marius sighed, "That should not be of your concern. Beside... It looked... Adorable on you."
Filo responded with a pout. Then, Marius heard Fitoria's voice in his head.
"I decided to keep your trial a secret between you and I. If you have questions, I will answer them after we celebrate.
After a whole night celebrating for the next filolial queen, Marius returned to his spot to replace his bandage. Slowly, he removed the bandages on his abdomen and saw the wound have partialy but not fully healed.
"I can heal that for you."
Marius looked up and saw Fitoria approaching him.
"It is nearly healed. Let it be-" Marius paused as Fitoria used her healing spell and completely healed his wound, leaving no scars behind. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. Now, I believe you have questions regarding your trial?"
"Yes. What was the purpose of my trial?"
Fitoria sat on the ground near Marius, "On rare occasions, a young filolial will adopt a stronger companion to protect her while she grew stronger. This stronger companion will be appointed as Praetorians."
"Royal guards?"
"Exactly. But she will only choose one, and only the strongest will be picked."
"And Filo chose me?"
"Yes. That trial was for the next Praetorian... You."
"But why sent that demon on me? I thought my task was to kill it?"
"I never said you have to kill it. You only need to face the demon, your inner demon, to succeed."
"What for?"
"So you may forgive yourself. You cannot kill the demon inside cause it was always been a part of you. But if you let it dwell in your mind any longer it will hindered your duty as a Praetorian."
"And that is why you tested me?"
"Yes. I must be sure that the next Praetorian are capable of protecting the next filolial queen both physically and mentally. If you had failed in your trial I would have you killed instead."
"... Filo... She chose me as her mate."
"Mate?"
"Was it the same as choosing me as her Praetorian?"
Fitoria then got up and looked at Marius with a small smile, "Perhaps she sees more from you. Promise you will watch over her. For me."
"You have my word."
Fitoria nodded, before turning around then walked away, leaving Marius alone again. After he wore his tunic, he began to reflected on her words, until he heard a familiar voice calling him.
"Mask guy?"
"Filo? Are you not tired?"
"Can I sleep with you? Just for tonight?"
"No-... Very well."
"Yay!"
Filo pounched at Marius and she wrapped her arms around him. "I love you!"
Marius was stunted after hearing those words. "I... Love you as well..."
Marius placed his bare hands on Filo's cheeks and felt the warm softness on his hands.
"About that time in the attic. Would you like me to continued where I left?"
"Hueh?" Filo was confused for a moment, before she remembered what he meant. She closes her eyes and leaned closer to her mate.
Marius leaned closer to her as well but hesitated for moment. He instead gave Filo a quick kiss on her forehead.
"That should suffice." said Marius.
Filo pouted, and she grabbed Marius by his head and pulled him closer until their lips met.
Marius eyes widen by Filo's boldness but soon gave in to his lover's embraced as he hugged Filo closer to him.
After almost a minute, their lips parted away and they looked at each other. Filo had a light blush on her cheeks while Marius's face was blushing red.
"You look funny when you blushed!"
"Ha."
"So this is what kissing was like? Do other lovers do this?"
"Yes."
"And there's another thing that lovers do."
"Which is?"
"It's that thing called se-!"
"We are not doing that."
"Uh? Why not?"
"We will not talk of it. We must go to sleep, conserved our energy for tomorrow."
"Okay. But I can sleep with you, right?"
"Yes... You can."
Marius laid on the ground on his back and Filo laid beside him. He placed his arms around her as she fell asleep.
"Good night... My love..."
Marius awoke from his sleep and saw the morning sky above. He looked to his side and saw the sleeping Filo still beside him.
As he about to get up, he saw Raphtalia with her arms crossed and a smirk on her face.
"How long have you been standing there?" said Marius.
"Long enough. Good thing I trusted my gut and found her here with you."
"You know it as well?"
"It was very obvious that you love her, Marius."
"Does master know?"
"Well, you can ask. If you want to face the Rage Shield."
"Ha."
"I remember like it was just yesterday, when me and Filo fought over master Naofumi. She really wanted master to be her mate back then, but he always saw her more like a daughter. I guess she moved on and picked you instead."
"I see. So you are relieved that you no longer need to compete with her for master's affection."
"W-What?" Raphtalia's face slowly became red.
"Master Naofumi. Is he not your lover?"
"I... Well I... He doesn't seem to see me that way."
"And why is that?"
"Well..." Raphtalia walked closer and sat beside Marius, "I'm still more like a daughter to him. The first time he bought me as a slave, I was really afraid of him.
I though he was going to do bad things to me. But instead, he took good care of me. He made medicine for me so I won't get sick. He kept me fed everytime I got hungry, and he comfort me when I had nightmares."
"I see."
Then they saw Filo waking up beside Marius. She rubbed her eyes and, still half asleep, saw Marius.
"Good morning, Mask guy." said Filo.
"Morning." said Marius, then he leaned in and gave Filo a kiss on the forehead.
"Alright, you two. Let's checked on master Naofumi if breakfast is ready." said Raphtalia.
"Come on, Mask guy!" Filo said as she got on her feet.
"You go first. I will catch up with you." said Marius
"Okay!" with that, Filo was on her way to her master.
"I guess this still hasn't changed her love for food." said Raphtalia while standing up.
"Raphtalia."
The demi-human turned around and saw Marius up on his feet and his hand extended towards Raphtalia.
Raphtalia then grasped Marius's forearm and Marius did the same. They shook their hands and lightly nodded.
"So I guess we're friends now." said Raphtalia.
"Indeed we are." said Marius.
The two then ungrasped each other and walked towards where Filo went.
"You know, you don't talk alot."
"I speak only what is necessary."
After putting on his armor, Marius stared at his helmet, hesitated to put it on as it reminded him of the demon he faced. But he remembered that he cannot do much with his inner demon except to make peace with it
After putting on his helmet, he saw Fitoria approaching him with a flock of filolials following behind her.
"Marius. Before you go, I need to give you something." said Fitoria.
"It's not a cowlick, is it?" said Marius.
"No." Fitoria said as two filolials approached behind her, one carried a large rounded bronze shield with a marking similar to the head of the filolial queen, and the other carried a spear with some feathers tied near the spear head.
"Those are the weapons of the hoplite. Where did you found it?"
"These belongs to a brave warrior from another world, who fought alongside the four Cardinal Heroes who raised me." Fitoria placed her hand on the shield. "I have long forgotten his name and his place of birth, but he was my Praetorian."
The two filolials than presented the weapons to Marius.
"And now, I will give it to you. The new Praetorian guard." said Fitoria.
Marius grabbed the spear first, feeling the hard wooden body as he grasped firmly. He then equipped the round shield, feeling the weight of the hoplite shield. There were words carved behind the shield in greek.
'For my dearest queen', it said, in Marius's mother tongue.
With both weapons on each hands, Marius could feel the magical abilities speaking to him physically.
"Use this weapon for your duty, Praetorian." said Fitoria. "Protect her with the shield and strike her enemies with the spear."
"I will, queen Fitoria." said Marius.
"Now then, let's not keep your friends waiting."
"Wow! A new wagon!" Filo said excitedly while looking around a wagon.
"We'll only use this temporarily until we find our old one." said Naofumi.
"But can we have two wagons instead of one?"
"Filo." Naofumi then saw Marius with his new weapon. "Where did you get all that?"
Marius looked at the spear and then the shield, "I found it."
"You know how to use it?"
"As a boy, I was taught how to fight like the hoplite warriors. It was our tradition."
"As long as it's useful."
"Are you all ready?" said Fitoria.
Naofumi looked around him and saw Raphtalia standing beside him. Princess Melty was also with them, with her bodyguard not far behind. And Marius watching over Filo near the new wagon.
"We're ready." said Naofumi.
Fitoria nodded, and the ground beneath them glew a yellow light before it teleported them elsewhere.