Marius sat at the driver's seat while Filo pulled the wagon on the empty street. Marius was humming a lullaby he remembered when he was a child to keep his mind occupied.
They reached the town square and went passed between some empty stalls before stopping near a flight of stairs and the new Church of the Four Heroes in the distance.
"We are here." Marius said to the passengers inside the wagon.
Naofumi woke up from his nap and felt something heavy leaned on his side. He looked beside him and saw Raphtalia still napping. He lightly shook her and waked her up.
"Hey, wake up." said Naofumi.
Marius climbed down then unstrapped Filo from the wagon's tongue and she tranformed to her human form. They soon joined by Naofumi and Raphtalia, and head off to the church.
"Look, Master Naofumi." said Raphtalia, pointing at the church's new symbol. "The crest has changed from three heroes to four."
"They are honoring you, my friend." said Marius.
"Yeah. And now we can actually upgrade classes instead of being turned away." said Naofumi.
"I still do not know this 'class upgrade'. Nor do I fond of it."
"Trust me, you're gonna need it. But then again, I don't exactly know how you work?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, me, Raphtalia and Filo have what we called Levels. The higher our Level, the more damage we can inflict."
But in your case, you have what looks like Reputations. And I don't exactly know what that means."
"Maybe if you try the class upgrade, we can find out how." said Raphtalia.
"Very well." said Marius.
"We will hereby begin the class upgrade ritual." the young knight declared.
Marius, Raphtalia and Filo stood before The Dragon Hourglass. Naofumi gave a nod of approval and all three placed their hands on the relic. The giant hourglass glew a bright yellow light as it detected all three of them.
Marius felt something burning on his hand that was touching the hourglass. The burning sensation felt stronger and stronger, and he could hear the echoing sound of war as if it is approaching him.
The ghostly sound of war cries and clashed steel grew closer as Marius looked around frantically and saw shadows of armies fighting around him.
He tried to pulled his hand away from the hourglass, but a burst of flames grabbed him, burning his flesh underneath his vambrace. Soon, the fire spreaded across his body, and a loud roar of a thousand soldiers shouted on Marius's ears.
"AVENGE THEM!"
Marius recoiled away from the hourglass. The flames around his body disappeared as he gasped for air.
"Sir Masked Hero!" the young knight came to Marius to aid him.
Marius grabbed the young knight by his collar and drew his gladius at the knight's neck.
"Wait wait! Its me!" said the young knight.
"Marius! Stop!" Naofumi shouted.
Marius then calmed down and looked around in distressed.
"Have you saw it!" said Marius.
"W-what?!" said the young knight.
"War! War is around us!" Marius looked around more and realized he's still in the chamber with Dragon Hourglass. He let go of the young knight and lowered his weapon.
"Marius, what's the matter with you?" said Raphtalia.
"This... Thing... Did something... Made me saw things..." Marius looked at the hourglass and stepped back while sheathing his gladius. "I do not think I want this class upgrade."
"How about you two? Any violent reactions?" said Naofumi.
"Nothing. It went well for us, but somehow we can't pick what we wanted." said Raphtalia.
"Me too." said Filo.
"Hey, what's going on here?" Naofumi asked the young knight.
"That can't be. I swear, we don't know, sir hero." said the young knight.
"I guess we'll just have to take it to the queen then. Come one."
Raphtalia and Filo joined Naofumi as he turned and walked to the exit. Marius walked a few steps before he stopped and looked back at the hourglass, then he looked at his hands and found no injuries from the fires. But the visions and the voices still stucked in his head.
"I have heard that specific items can sometimes affect the class upgrade process." said the queen, sitting on the throne with her daugther, princess Melty, stood on her side.
"The cowlick Fitoria gave her is probably the cause." Naofumi said, then flick Filo's cowlick.
"Fitoria? You mean the Filolial Queen?"
"I wish you could've seen her." Melty said. "She just looked so sublime!"
And the two royals gone on talking about their excitement over queen Fitoria, now oblivious of their guest.
"Do we have time for this?" said Marius.
"Like daughter, like mother, huh?" said Naofumi.
"Pardon me." the queen said after gaining her composure.
"Anyways, when Marius tried the class upgrade it resulted in something else instead."
"Can you describe it, Masked Hero?"
"The hourglass showed me visions of war. And then it burnt me. But somehow, I am not affected by its fire." said Marius.
"That's peculiar. It shouldn't be doing something like that."
"Must have something to do with his system, or whatever you called it." said Marius.
"Perhaps it could be that. That is the same case with the warriors in The Order. Maybe that is how it react to your kind."
"But I did well without any of those, so I do not need it. I am more than capable." said Marius.
"I am confident that you do. Now to more important matters. I'm planning to throw a part tonight, with all four heroes in attendance."
But the party was just an excuse. There's something I need the heroes to know about. It's extremely important."
"Sorry I couldn't get you the class upgrades you wanted." said Naofumi.
"It's not your fault." said Raphtalia.
"I wanted you to choose freely, so you'd be fine after I'm gone."
"This way, Sir Shield Hero." said the servant down stairs.
"We'll talk later. Take care of them for me, Marius."
"Very well." said Marius.
"Master Naofumi." Raphtalia muttered.
"He is not of this world as well?"
"No. He and the rest of the heroes were from a different world."
"Are you saddened that he will return to his world?"
"... Yes."
"We can take care of ourselves. Naofumi wanted you two to be stronger, did he not?" said Marius.
"Yes, he does. But..." Raphtalia paused
"Why not you go tell him how you feel?"
"What?!"
"He's not going to know unless you tell him."
"But what if-"
"He refuse?"
"... Yes."
"Then you have no choice but to respect his decision. Unless you have other ways to convinced him."
"What do you mean?"
"You have... A specific advantage. Perhaps if you use your 'specific advantage', you can change his mind."
After a few seconds, Raphtalia finally realized what Marius meant and her face blushed red.
"Y-You think it would work?"
"Unless Naofumi prefer the company of men."
"He's not like that... Is he?"
"That is for you to find out."
Marius then noticed that Filo was nowhere to be seen near him.
"Filo? Filo?!"
"Hey! I smell food coming from there!" said Filo downstairs, pointing at some servants carrying food on trolley.
"Filo! Wait!" Marius quickly ran down the stairs before Filo could start chasing the servants.
Raphtalia giggled at the sight, but was upset after thinking back about Naofumi leaving this world after the wave is finished.
The party as started, with all of the four heroes party member and noblemen attending the event. Music played by talented musicians filled the air, along with the scent of luxurious meal prepared for the guest.
Marius sat at the round table with Filo and Raphtalia, with princess Melty joining along. But one chair remained empty, reserved for the Shield Hero who, with other three heroes, were meeting with the queen in a private room.
While Melty and Filo were having a conversation, Marius felt awkward as he was not accustomed to this style of party, unlike the ones he's more familiar with in his home world.
And before them were slices of pie and appetizers prepared for them.
"I'm hungry. Where's Master?" said Filo, stomach grumbling.
"Master Naofumi has something important to do, so let's go ahead and start." said Raphtalia.
On the corner of Melty's eyes, she saw her older sister glancing at them as she entered a room.
"Please excuse me. There is something I need to do. I will be back once I'm done." said Melty, and she walked towards the door leaving the others to their food.
Marius took a bite of the pie and found himself liking its flavor. He drank his tea to wash down the chewed food, but was dissatisfied by his beverage.
Then, Mald, one of Itsuki's part member, slammed a bottle of wine near Raphtalia.
"Having a filthy demi in here is making my wine taste bad!" said Mald. "You may be with the Shield, but know your place!"
"You do not know a good wine, even if I drowned your face in one." said Marius, eyeing the bottle wine on Mald's hand.
"And where is your mask, Masked Hero? Finally have the confidence to show your ugly face!"
"And you are brave enough to show your hideous moustache."
"What did you say?! You think you're tough enough?!" Mald let out a small hiccup from his drunkness. "The Bow Hero is more stronger than any of the heroes presence here! So tell your coward of a master to get lost! Got that!"
"Who'll be the one to really get hurt, I wonder?" Raphtalia quickly got up and clutched her sword, and Mald backed away leaving his wine on the table.
"The demi wanted fight me! And I though the Masked Hero gonna go against me tonight! Very well! Let's get on with it!"
The two drew their swords and started their duel in the middle of the party. Marius then grabbed the wine Mald left behind and drank it.
"Masked Guy, what's going on?" said Filo while she continued eating her pie.
"Entertainment." said Marius, sipping more wine.
Soon, the other adventurers started fighting each other and the whole party abrupted into a brawl. Musicians and noblemen scattered outside to get out of the chaos.
"I'll go get more food!" said Filo as she leaves the table behind to get more food.
As Marius was enjoying his wine and watching the fight around him, one adventurer swung his sword and shattered the wine bottle Marius was drinking at.
"Malaka!" Marius threw the remaining bottle at the attacker's eyes, then punched his face, sending him flying backwards.
Then, more adventurers approached Marius with their weapons ready. Marius readied his fist for a fight.
Hanzo opened the door too see the commotions that is happening, before slowly closing the door and went back inside the room, not wanting to be part of the riot.
While the brawl still continued, Filo was still busy eating the food available on a table and not realizing a chair flying straight at her. But before the furniture could reached the hungry filolial, Marius quickly caught the chair in mid-air then threw it back at the thrower.
One adventurer tried to attack Marius with an axe. Marius quickly crouched down, then grabbed the adventurer by the neck. He looked at a table next to him with one plate of roasted meat. Marius grabbed the meat with his free hand, then slammed the adventurer face first to the empty plate.
Marius then gave Filo the roasted meat, which excited the filolial queen, and he grabbed a chair and started fighting every last adventurer he can find.
Raphtalia put Mald in a headlock and it prevented him from fighting back. A plate flew towards Raphtalia and she dodged it. Mald took this opportunity, and with one violent move he freed himself from Raphtalia's grip.
"I'm not done with you yet, you disgusting demi!" before Mald can attack, Marius smashed a chair on Mald's head and he fell on the ground unconscious.
"Does parties in this world always end up a brawl?" said Marius, now with broken piece of chair on each hand.
"Just this one, I think!" said Raphtalia.
Then, one adventurer was about to struck Raphtalia from behind. Marius threw the piece of wood at the adventurer and it hit the attacker on the face.
"Watch out!" Raphtalia dashed towards Marius and blocked an attack behind him.
Marius turned around and wacked the adventurer's face with the other piece of wood. Soon, they are surrounded by more adventurers.
"They want more! Let's give it to them!" Marius shouted, and the two warriors fight off the attackers. All while Filo was still eating more food in the middle of the brawl.
And on the upper floor overwatching the ongoing brawl, The Order watched them from above.
"These are the warriors that will help the four heroes against the wave?" said the Kensei.
"I'm afraid so." said Lady Ingrid.
"Then this world is done for."
"The party was getting boring." said the Raider.
In the edge of a cliff near the ocean, Raphtalia and Keel prayed before Rifana's grave.
On the very end of the cliff was a grave, where Raphtalia's parents was laid to rest. And not far from it was another larger grave, one marked with a large club weapon wrapped in vine and the mask of the Oni rested on the grave. And praying before the grave was Hanzo.
"The one responsible of all these deaths have met his end. Their deaths have been avenged, Shiro. Be at peace now." Hanzo said to the grave.
"Now you can meet Rifana again, Big Bear." said Raphtalia. "Keel is home and safe now. And I'm doing just fine with the Shield Hero."
Hanzo turned his head and saw Raphtalia standing next to him.
"Even now, I still wished I could have done more to save your village." Hanzo looked at the other two graves on the cliff. "Everyone would still be here."
"It's not your fault, Hanzo. You've done what you could. He would have been so happy."
"Are you good to go?" said Naofumi.
Raphtalia took a last view of her village. She waved at Keel and the rest of the village survivors, with Van Reichnott and Hanzo.
"Yes. I got to tell Dad, Mom, Big Bear and Rifana that I was on my way." said Raphtalia.
"That so?"
As they strolled pass the ruins, Raphtalia stopped on her track.
"What's wrong?" said Naofumi.
"Master Naofumi... You won't leave me, right? I... I can't imagine a world without you."
"Master, are you going somewhere?" said Filo.
Marius turned his head to Naofumi, waiting for his answer.
"Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere." said Naofumi.
"Are you sure?" said Marius.
"I'm sure. I can't just leave this world to the Three Cardinal Stooges. Right?"
"Yeah." said Raphtalia. "Master Naofumi?"
"What's wrong?" said Filo.
"It's nothing." said Naofumi.
"What were you thinking just now, Master?"
"Drop it. Let's go."
"Why won't you tell us?"
"Give it a rest, Filo." said Raphtalia.
"Boo! At least I'm not a nag like you!"
"Wha- When did I ever nag anyone?!"
"You nag all the time." said Marius.
"What?! I did not!"
"Hmph! You're denying it!" Filo teased.
"Quit messing around, Filo. You're bothering Master Naofumi."
"I am not!"
Marius watched on in delight as two sisters fought over their master. As he walked along them, he felt as if someone was watching him. He turned around and looked everywhere but saw no one.
Seeing no one was around, Marius continued walking away. But the feeling of dread lingered in his heart.
And just behind one of the ruined walls, a hooded figure watches Marius, and a smirk carved on the its face.
"At last... My wolf."