They waited anxiously on the hallway, worrying about Naofumi's condition. It has been almost a minute since they heard the queen's voice inside the room giving orders to the nurses.
Then, the door opened with a tired nurse. "All of you may enter now. But please, be quite. He still need plenty of rest."
The nurse moved aside to let all five of them in. Inside, they saw Naofumi laying on a bed with bandages wrapped around his body and forehead. Beside him was the queen sitting on a chair exchausted.
"Your highness. Is he going to be alright?" said Raphtalia.
"The curse was difficult for us to handle. But we manage to heal him as best as we can." the queen said, as she slowly got up and Melty ran to her mother to help her get. "I'm sorry if we kept all of you waiting too long."
"No, it's fine. Thank you for your help."
"I'm glad."
"My queen." said Hanzo. "It is best that you rest for now."
"I appreciate your concern, but there are still more I need to do." said the queen. "It's the Shield Hero we should be concern of."
"When will he wake up?" said Raphtalia.
"A few days after he recovered enough strength. And a month to completely heal." the queen then looked at her daugther, "Would you like to stay here and watch over him?"
"Wha- I... Yes, I would love to." said Melty with a blushed. "But what about you, Your Majesty?"
"I will take care of her, princess." Hanzo walked beside the queen and let her hand grabbed his arm. "I need to report myself to The Order. Regarding Marius."
"What do they want with me?" said Marius.
"Your head, most likely."
"Fair enough."
"But after what you did to save me and the princess, I suppose I owed you one. I will try and convinced them to forgive you. If you are lucky, you will only get lighter sentences."
"I will accept it."
"Please don't let them hurt Mask Guy!" said Filo.
"I will try telling them not to. We must go now. Sayonara. And may we meet again."
"Farewell, all of you." And with that, the queen was escorted out of the room by Hanzo.
Raphtalia walked to the side of the bed and held Naofumi's hand. "Please wake up, master Naofumi. Please."
"Master..." said Filo, standing beside the bed.
"He is strong, he will live." said Marius as he put his hand on Filo's shoulder. "He as to."
"Naofumi." said Melty at the end of the bed.
The queen watched the royal clinic getting further and further as the carriage carried her and Hanzo away. She let out a heavy sighed, mountains of task she reminded herself in her mind.
"Is there something troubling you, my queen?" said Hanzo sitting infront of her without his facemask.
"Nothing. I'm just relieved I've managed to helped the Shield Hero before it got worse. But still, there are more things I need to do."
"Please, do not stressed yourself. We still need you."
"I thanked you for your concern. Perhaps I should gave myself a short break once in a while."
"Good. Once we reached the castle, you will rest. While I go meet Lady Ingrid about what to do with Marius."
"That reminds me. What did he do that earned him your forgiveness?"
"I was to lay my life for princess Melty, when he gave me his shield to protect her. A warrior like him... To give his vital weapon to me, an enemy, for the sake of princess Melty's life? He deserved a second chance."
Three days later...
Morning came. Marius woke up on his chair he sat beside a drawer. On his right hand was a carving knife he 'borrowed' from Naofumi, and a small wooden figurine of a humanoid with its one arm raised.
He looked around and saw all three of the girls laying their heads on the bed, waiting for Naofumi. Marius placed both the knife and the wooden figurine on the drawer with more wooden carvings of a horse, a smaller humanoid figure and an eagle.
Marius got up from his chair and opened the window to the view of the town . His eyes then shifted to the mountain ranged from afar and the forest surrounding it.
Then, from the corner of his eyes, he saw Naofumi getting up from his long sleep. He turned around and the two men faced each other.
"How long was I out?" said Naofumi.
"Three days." said Marius.
"T-Three days?!"
Woken by their conversation, the three girls woke up and Filo crawled on the bed towards Naofumi and hugged him.
"Did you have to sleep that long?" said Melty, turning her head aside blushing.
"After the battle, the queen brought you here. She gave everything in her power to to save your life." said Raphtalia. "But I'm happy you're alright!"
"We're all glad you live, Naofumi." said Marius.
"Oh yeah, what about the queen?" said Naofumi.
"I'll sent a message to queen right away. She must know that you have awaken." Melty got up from her chair excused herself to the exit. "I'll be sure to tell the nurses to come here and take care of you. I'll be back once I'm done."
"She really didn't need to do all that."
"She is a princess, after all." said Raphtalia.
"And a better one, too." Naofumi then looked at Marius. "Hey, Marius. Remember our agreement?"
"Yes. Why?" said Marius.
"I think you've done enough for us. I guess you can leave."
"What?!" Filo exclaimed.
"What? It's our agreement between Marius, remember? He's only travelling with us to pay his debt. And, I think you've earned more than what you owe me."
"I think we should let Marius decide." said Raphtalia, placing her hand on Naofumi's shoulder.
"Well in that case, make your decision now or-"
"I want to stay." said Marius, and all three of them were surprised. "I want to stay... With you... With all of you..."
"Really? What made changed your mind?"
"After we have travelled together, and fought our enemies side by side... I started to see you all as family..."
"Come to think of it, I alway see you like an older brother. Though, I never had any siblings of my own." said Raphtalia
"I love Mask Guy, master! He's nice and always followed master's orders! And he's also very strong!" said Filo.
"I don't know about the first one, but I do agree on the other two. I guess you can travel with us as long as you want." said Naofumi.
"Thank you, my friend. This journey, we shall walk together. Like a family."
"Yay!" Filo leaped towards Marius and wrapped her arms around his neck, then kissed him on his lips.
After their lips were separated, Marius looked at Naofumi glaring at him.
"Oh... Right... You still wanted to kill me for that, yes?" said Marius.
"... I'll think about it." said Naofumi.
"Master Naofumi!" Raphtalia exclaimed.
"Sorry. I just have no idea you're a lolicon."
"What is a lolicon?" said Marius, confused by a foriegn word.
Inside a stoned room, lit only by torches on the walls. Lady Ingrid, the Warden, stood behind a round wooden table and her longsword placed on the table. Beside her were the Kensei on her left, and the Raider on the right, also with their weapons on the table.
Infront of them was Marius kneeling before them with his helmet on the ground along with the round shield and the spear. And behind him was Hanzo clutching his katana.
"Centurion. Even with the death of your former master, you still carried on and led the Blackstone Legions." said Lady Ingrid. "You marched your legions into Ashfield, Valkenhiem and the Myre. Bringing death and destruction to all kingdoms, just to sate your thirst for conquest. What say in your defence?"
"I was seduced by power." said Marius. "Ever since Apollyon granted me the mask of the centurion I wanted power. And when she was slain during the siege, I took the opportunity to sieze what I thought was rightfully mine."
"So you gathered what remained of the Blackstone Legion while we were too busy with the endless war? And conquered us while we were weakened?"
"Yes. And I was to build an empire, with me as its Caesar."
"But you did not expected them to united against you. Thus, you were defeated by the Iron Legions. Was it true of what you said?"
"It was true. I am not ashamed to admit my defeat."
Lady Ingrid than started talking to her comrades on her side. Their conversation could hardly be heard by Marius who still on his knees. He wait for what will happened to him, and he knows the reason why Hanzo was behind him. If he were to be executed right now, he will accept it.
"We have decided." said Lady Ingrid. "That you will be spared. We have, reluctantly, forgiven your crime."
"But why?" said Marius.
"Is it not obvious? In your journey with the Shield Hero, you have proven yourself that you have change from the warlord you once were.
You have fought against the wave, saving countless lives. And with The Four Cardinal Heroes, you helped vanquished the pope of the Three Heroes Church."
And let us not forget, that you saved princess Melty, the next heir to the throne. Am I correct, Hanzo?"
"Yes, Lady Ingrid." said Hanzo.
"The Blackstone centurion named Marius as long since died. What we have before us is the Masked Hero. The warrior whi fought with the Shield Hero to save this world from the Waves of Calamity."
"Masked Hero?" said Marius.
"The people called you by that name, Marius. They see you as a hero."
"Thank you..." Marius got up on his feet. "Does this mean I can go? I cannot keep them waiting."
"You may go. And may you fight bravely, hero."
"To you as well."
Marius than picked up his helmet then put it on, then grabbed his weapon and turned around to walked to the exit with Hanzo, leaving the three warriors.
"I still do not agree with your final decision, with all due respect." said the Kensei.
"I know. But it is not wise to execute an ally to the Shield Hero." said Lady Ingrid. "Beside, our petty grudge is small, compare to the current crisis."
"Very well. But I still suggest we kept our eyes on him."
"The Slave Crest on Marius will do it for us. It will keep him in check."
"For now."
"Now then, wasn't there someone who wanted to see us?"
The Raider, who was silent the entire time, gave out a heavy sigh.
After Marius's trial, Marius and Hanzo walked along the palace hallway towards the main door.
"That went well." said Marius.
"Indeed. I told you I convinced them to spare you." said Hanzo.
"And you did. Thank you, Orochi."
Then, they saw the queen and the second princess, and the Shield Hero and his party, waiting for them near the entrance. As they walked closer, Filo ran towards Marius and hugged him on his waist.
"Looks like things went well for you." said Naofumi.
"It did. Have I missed the trial?" said Marius.
"You missed everything. I think you would have loved to see it."
"Perhaps you could tell me how it went."
"Maybe next time. I think it's high time we all head out for another adventure."
"You're leaving already?!" said Melty.
"Well, I don't wanna stay here any longer."
"Before you leave, is there something I can give or do for you?" said the queen.
"I think you've done enough for us. Thank you."
Outside, they sky was nearing dusk. The Shield Hero and his party member stood with the bridge to the exit behind them as they were facing the two royalties and their samurai bodyguard.
"Come with us, Melty." said Filo, holding her bestfriend's hands.
"Don't be selfish, Filo." said Raphtalia.
"Looks like this is goodbye, Orochi." said Marius, as he reached out his hand at Hanzo.
"May we meet again, Centurion." Hanzo said
The two warriors grabbed eachother's forearms, shaking their hands as the two former enemies of war ended their hostility.
"Hurry up you three! Or I'll leave you behind!" Naofumi called out to them as he walked away.
"Coming!" said Filo and Raphtalia in unison, before saying their goodbyes then the three ran to catched up to their master.
As the heroes walked further away from the palace and nearing the gates, a large group of civilians gathered near the gates.
"Savior!"
"Shield Hero!"
"Is that the Masked Hero?"
"The two are working together to save us!"
Amongs the crowd, Marius spotted the young boy and the little girl that Marius saved.
"Thank you for saving us, Masked Hero!" said the boy.
As the heroes walked up the stairs, the crowd moved aside to make way for them, and they saw the knight guards standing at the gates.
"Honor guard for the Shield Hero!" the commander shouted, and the knights held their sword up for the Shield Hero.
Amongs them was the young knight Marius fought with in the last wave. Marius put his right fist to his left chest, giving the young knight the respect of the centurion.
The heroes then walked along the crowd towards the gate, with many admiring them as they walked by.
"I think I can get use to this." said Marius.
"To what?" said Raphtalia.
"Being a the Masked Hero."
"I think it fits you very well."
"Masked Hero. Sent to this world by Ares himself, to bring his fires of war to its enemy. Now I like the sound of that."
"Now you're just being arrogant."
"Naofumi!" Melty shouted from behind them. "Naofumi! Thank you for bringing me home! Thank you for saving Father and Sister!"
"Sure. See you later." Naofumi waved at Melty, then turned and continued walking forward.
Marius, the Centurion of the Blackstone Legion who came to this world with the shame of defeat, walked alongside the once humiliated now respected Shield Hero.
Along them was Raphtalia, who he now sees as a great ally and family member. And Filo, who opened Marius's heart and allowed to feel love once more.
"Master! What about the wagon!"
All of them stopped dead on their tracks after what Filo said.
"Ah shit, now I remember." said Naofumi facepalming.
"You do remember where we hide it, right?" said Raphtalia.
"I remember where it is! Let's go find it now!" said Filo.
"It's getting late. How about we'll look for it tomorrow." said Naofumi.
"But..." Filo then felt a hand on top of her head.
"We'll find it, Filo. I promise that." said Marius while patting the young filolial. "And while we are here, I would like to asked a favor from you, Naofumi."
"What is it?" said Naofumi.
"I hope I am not asking too much, but I would to have this Slave Crest remove. I still do not agree with it."
"And what will you do after I have it removed?"
"Nothing. I will still follow you. You are like a family to me."
Naofumi looked at Filo, who seems happy to have Marius around. Showing Naofumi that Marius can now be trusted even without the Slave Crest.
"We'll do that tomorrow, then we'll look for the wagon. You two satisfied?"
"Yes." Filo and Marius said in unison.
"If there is no more favors, let's find somewhere to sleep in, then we call it a day." said Naofumi.
And they all continued walking forwards towards the nearest town.
"I have enough of this world!" Daubeny yelled while carrying a bag full of gold and silverwares he obtained.
Infront of him was the Kensei, leading him throught a cavern with only a torch to light their way. Behind Daubeny was the Raider, patiently holding his torch and tried hard to not shoved the fire down Daubeny's throat.
"As if the wave wasn't bad enough, now the centurion is here as well! But at least I don't have to deal with that fat nobleman!"
"We are here." said the Kensei, after they reach a large chamber with a body of water in the center.
The raider separated himself from the two and approached an old wooden chest. He opened the rickety chest and revealed a trident, its metal body glew blue in the dark of the cavern. The Raider picked up the trident and walked towards the center.
There, Daubeny with his richest stood near the water with the Kensei behind him.
"Hurry it up! I don't have all day!" Daubeny shouted.
The Raider grunted in respond, and with the head of the trident he submerged the weapon into the water. The water started to glow blue color and it formed a whirlpool at the center.
"Finally! To hell with this woAAAHH!" before Daubeny could finished, the Kensei pushed him off the edge.
He watched as the whirlpool dragged Daubeny deeper in to the water, along with his wares. The Raider then lifted the trident away from the water and it returned to its idle state.
"Finally. I'm getting tired of listening to him talk." said the Raider.