"So this is Cal Mira!" said Raphtalia in excitement.

"It's hot here! The sun's blazing!" said Filo.

"Yeah? it's like last night's storm never happened!"

Marius looked around the town of Cal Mira, its local structures were foreign to Marius.

They then heard sickly moan coming beside them. They turned their heads and saw Motoyasu beind carried on a stretcher by his party member.

"Th-This isn't what it looks like, Filo-tan. There's a reason..." Motoyasu croaked.

"That you cannot handle Poseidon's ocean?" said Marius.

"Shut up..."

He was then followed by two more sicked heroes who were also carried on their stretchers.

"Welcome." greeted a man standing infront of them. "My name is Habenburg, and I govern the Cal Mira Archipelago."

Marius noticed the man's strange clothing. Something he never seen before, much like some of the clothes he saw on Melromarc.

Habenburg then escorted the heroes to the main town.

"It's okay to travel between islands by boat. Try to kill as many monsters as possible. Avoid barging into any adventurer's battles to steal their prey." Naofumi said, reading the rules.

"Must there be rules on battles?" said Marius.

"Sounds like a guide to MMO etiquette."

"Well, rules will be useless once the fires of battle took over."

"Right..." Naofumi and the rest looked at the totem before them "This is a statue of the original inhabitants who developed these islands?"

"And there's apparently an epigraph left by a Cardinal Heroes." said Raphtalia.

"It's magical writing." said Naofumi. He extended his arm at the writings on the stone. "As source of thy power, the Shield Hero order thee. Decipher this message and energize my target."

With the magical powers on his hands, Naofumi presented his hands at Filo. "Zweit Aura." The green energy from Naofumi's hands transfered to Filo.

"Oh, I feel more powerful now." Filo readied herself, and with all her strenght she jumped higher than she ever did in her human form. While the three on the ground looked up, Filo could see as far as her eyes can see while in mid-air.

"Mask Guy!" Filo shouted as she was pulled back down by gravity.

Marius prepared both his arms to catch his little lover, and Filo landed on his arms. "Enjoyed the view?"

"A hero of the past left this here, huh? So the legends was true." said Naofumi.

"Hey! Shield Kiddo!" came a familiar male voice. "Filo sure got some height on that. It helped us find you guys. But man, why'd you get off the boat without saying goodbye? That's so cold." said L'arc.

"Why? Should I have to?" said Naofumi.

"Hey, company can make or break a trip. Beside, you never said you'd level up with us or not."

"And where's your other friend?" said Marius.

"We all just got here." said Therese. "She wanted to do her own thing while we still get our bearings, but yeah."

"But I'll try convincing her to join us once we find her. She's a strong warrior too." said L'arc.

"I don't mind, but we'll cut you off if you hold us back." said Naofumi.

"Right back at ya. Do your best until we party up." L'arc waved at the group before him and Therese turned around and left.

"I'm a little surprised." said Raphtalia. "I was sure you found Larc hard to deal with."

"It's not that. He just throws me off. And I'm a little suspicious of his other friend." said Naofumi.

"I felt the same way. During the night before the cyclops attack, I found her watching at us while we slept." said Marius.

"Is that true?"

Raphtalia nodded in respond.

"Do you happen to know someone from your world with that cloak?"

"A few assassins, but they always wore their legion's color. Not this one."

"Guess we'll have to wait. It's afternoon already. We don't have much time, but let's go grind some levels."

After the unfortunate meeting with the other heroes, the Shield Party looked around the harbor for a boat to rent.

"Anyone remembered that viking who offered us his service?" said Naofumi.

"You mean Rollo? Yeah, I remember him. But where are we going to with a boat?" said Raphtalia.

"Find a better spot to farm XP. I read one of the islands here is a good spot for that, and we'll be far away from those three idiots."

"There." Marius pointed at a longboat very similar to the one made by the vikings. "I know a viking's boat when I see one."

The group walked towards the longboat. As they got closer, Marius notice the horned head of the longboat like it was crafted from Valkenhiem, home of the vikings.

As they got closer, they saw Rollo sleeping on the boat with empty bottles of mead around him.

"Hey! Wake up! We need your boat now!" said Naofumi.

Rollo grunted as he opened his eyes. Suddenly, his eyes widen and he quickly crawled his way from the boat then to the pier. He got on his knees infront of Filo with his arms spread wide.

"I thought you'd be bigger and taller. But a valkyrie is a valkyrie." Rollow widen his arms more and closed his eyes as he lifted his head higher. "I have found glorious death in battle! Take me to Valhalla! And to my brothers and sisters!"

There was an awkward silent as they looked down on a smiling viking with a tear flowing on his eye.

"You did not died in battle, viking. And she is not a valkyrie." said Marius.

Rollo opened one of his eyes, looked around before opening his other eye. "My time as not come yet?"

"No."

Disappointed, he got up and walked back to his boat, grabbed an half empty bottle of mead then drank it.

"Look, we need you to take us to an island." said Naofumi.

"Ah, shield brother. Now I remember." Rollo cleared his throat. "Welcome to Rollo boating services! I, Rollo of the Warborns, will provide you with the best viking seafaring experience!"

"Five silvers, right?"

"For you, shield brother. I can give a discount. Ten percent discount! Return trip included! What do you say?"

"Twenty percent."

"Hmm, how about fifteen percent?"

"I won't change my mind. Twenty percent."

The rest looked on as two goes back and forth over price discount.

"Twenty five percent it is! You drive a hard bargain, shield brother! Now get in!" Rollo then readied the boat for the voyage. He untied the rope that tied the boat next to the pier, then he started rowing the boat.

Raphtalia stood at the very front of the boat, feeling the winds blowing her face and Naofumi sitting next to her.

On the middle of the boat, Marius sat down with Filo on his side. He took off his helmet and put it on his lap

"You know, for an addition of one gold I could add the true viking experience of raiding nearby settlements. But that was before I found out that it is illegal here." said Rollo.

The winged black beast roared at the Shield Party. Its eyes were bright red, and horns were sharp enough to pierced armor.

The beast pounched at them and Naofumu blocked its claws with his shield. Marius ran to the side and stabbed the beast's ribs with his spear. Raphtalia charges and slashed at the beast with her sword.

The bleeding beast quickly backed away from the group, when a large filolial charged in and strucked the beast with her metal talons. With the beast down, Marius threw is shield and spear aside before charging at the downed beast with his gladius drawn.

Marius leaped towards the beast with his gladius held high on his head and plunged his blade in the heart of the beast as he landed on top of it.

"That was the fourth beast we slayed." Marius pulled his gladius from the flesh of the dead beast. "Shall we go for another?"

"We still got time right, Master Naofumi?" said Raphtalia.

"Its not dark yet. We still got time to grind." said Naofumi.

"Fighting here is fun! I like this island better!" said Filo.

Marius picked up is spear and shield before heading out. "I will scout ahead and search for more prey. I will get back once I found one."

"Alright. We'll wait for you here. I wanna see if this one got some good drop." said Naofumi.

Marius nodded his head and his smile hidden within the mask. He walked away and entered the thick foliage. After he was sure he lost sight of his teammates, he looked around then rested his spear on his body.

He pulled a silver necklace with a rose shaped pendant from satchel, making sure it was not damaged during the fight.

It is now nighttime. The Shield party were now resting near a fireplace where they inspected their loot. While Raphtalia and Naofumi were having their own conversations, Marius was sharpening his spear. While he does so, he and Filo had a quick glimpse of each other.

Filo smiled while looking away blushing. With a smile on his face, Marius kept on sharpening his weapon until it was sharp enough.

Then, they heard rustling from the vegetation infront of them. They quickly got up readied themselves. Marius could see a very familiar figure approaching them from the darkness. One that he was very familiar with.

Then, a viking emerged through the foliage, wearing a helmet, and a round shield and sword on his arm.

"By Odin's armpits! There you all are! We've been looking all over for you!"

All four of them sighed in relief.

"Wait, what do you mean 'we'?" said Naofumi.

And just behind Rollo, L'arc and Therese emerged from the darkness.

"There you are, kiddo!" said L'arc, holding a scythe.

"Why are you two here?" said Raphtalia.

"Your ferryman was freaking out, saying you weren't coming back." said Therese.

"So you came looking for us? Adventurers dying on a quest shouldn't be anything new." said Naofumi.

"But dying customers in my care makes bad business. Your friend here paid for the rescue fee, you know... I'll get the boat ready. Just please return back this time." said Rollo.

As the viking walked away, he almost stumbled upon the cloaked lady, "Sorry, milady."

The cloaked lady turned to looked at Rollo, before turning back to Marius, who just noticed her presence.

"I can understand wanting to grind more, but why not call it a day." said Therese.

"I agree with Therese." said Raphtalia.

"Raphtalia... Fine. Let's head back." said Naofumi.

"That's that. Then..." said L'arc as he walked towards Naofumi and then put his arm on Naofumi's shoulders "Join me for a drink. What about you big guy? You look like you enjoy a little drinking."

"If there is wine, then I will join you." said Marius.

"Oh, there's plenty of wine here. They said Cal Mira has the best wine."

"I know."

The heroes party gathered in a open tavern, after a whole day of grinding. There, Marius and Raphtalia were sitting on their table together, and the demi-human had more wine than Marius did.

"Let me guess, Naofumi leaving this world is still in your thought?" said Marius.

Drunked, Raphtalia responded with a nodded.

"And when will you have the heart to tell him?"

Raphtalia stared at Marius without any emotions, before sipping more wine from her mug. That's when Mald, who was also drunked, accidently bumped into Raphtalia. This caused her to dropped her mug and spilled wine on the table.

"You again!" Mald yelled.

But Raphtalia lifted her head and stared at Mald with the same emotionless expression.

"What's with that look, demi? You want to fight?!"

"May I suggest not ruining this party like last time." said Marius.

"Oh? Then what do you suggest I do with the demi, eh?"

"May the gods grant you strength. Began!" Marius ordered, Mald and Raphtalia then began using their strength to match each other on arm wrestling.

The cheering of the crowds made this display the center of attention, with all eyes now on them. Mald used all his strength, but it was not enough to even moved the drunk raccoon girl's arm.

And after she tired her opponent out, she slammed his hand to the table. Everyone cheered for her victory, and Raphtalia lifted her fist in the air.

"The gods have smiled at her, my friend." said Marius patting Mald's back.

Marius looked around the cheering crowd, and saw the cloaked lady amongs them. This time, he could see the lower part of her face, and she had a grinning smile. Marius pushed through the crowd to get to the cloaked lady when something pulled him back. Marius turned around and saw Filo pulling him.

"Mask Guy! Come on, join me!" said Filo with two of her hands on Marius.

Marius looked back at the cloaked lady but she had disappeared from sight.

"Mask Guy? Is there something wrong?"

"Nothing. What was that you said?"

"Come on!" Filo pulled Marius away from the crowd.

Marius than found himself near the musicians who were performing for tonight.

"You must be her boyfriend?" said the lute player.

"We are lovers, yes." said Marius.

"I expected someone much more... Younger..."

"Well, she is more than what she looks like."

"Okay... Can you sing?"

"I am not a singer."

"We can dance!" said Filo.

"Alright then. I have just the perfect song for the lovely couple." said the musician.

"No no, I do not think I ca-" but before Marius could finish, Filo grabbed both of Marius's hands.

"Just follow my steps." said Filo.

And they both started slowly taking steps after steps in a random direction while still maintaning their hold on each other. Marius's steps was more careful as he kept his eyes on their feet, while Filo looked up at her lover confidently as she guided him throught the dance.

Filo then jumped to a table and danced elegantly while still holding Marius's hand. As she dances, the world around as slowed downed for Marius as he was so focus on his lover. The dancing little angel had put the mighty centurion in a trance, as the adorable beauty dances on while being the center of attention.

After the music ended, so was Filo's dance. Everyone in the crowd cheered for the filolial queen as she jumped off the table and wrapped her arms on Marius shoulders. Marius caught her as she hanged on to him.

"Let's go someplace else." Filo whispered.

Marius looked around and waited for everyone to settle. He saw Naofumi and L'arc together near the bar, Motoyasu laying on the ground completely drunk, and Raphtalia beating every single adventurers in arm wrestling.

"We shall go quitely. Come." Marius whispered.

Under the bright moonlight, sitting on a grassy ground hidden in the vegetation, the lovers warmed themselves in their embrace.

As they kissed, Marius was slowly overtaken by lust. He then gently pushed Filo to the ground and continued kissing her. Slowly, Marius slid his hand underneath Filo's skirt, pictured himself being one with this little queen and...

"No..." he thought to himself, finally freeing from his lustful desires.

"But why?" Filo whined.

"Not right now. Not when the wave is still around."

"You found someone, didn't you?"

"What?! What are you talking about!"

"That cloaked woman! You have your eyes on her everytime she's around!"

"By the gods... I apologized if that had caused a misunderstanding between us. My eyes on the cloaked one was not of love, but suspicion."

"Oh." Filo looked away.

"Think about it. Since we met L'arc during the voyage, she had not talked to any of us nor as she shared the room with us."

"I think you mention she peeked on us when we were sleeping?"

"Yes. The reason behind it, I still do not know."

They sat their without doing anything for almost a minute, before Filo broke the silence.

"So... Are we gonna continue where we left?"

"It is too early to be thinking of such things." Marius said as he got up. "We must return to the tavern. They probably wondered of our disappearance."

"Fine." said Filo, sounding upset.

"We can share beds for tonight, if that will make you feel better." Marius extended his hand at Filo.

Filo held Marius hand, and they both walked back to the tavern. Not realizing the cloaked lady had been watching them from the shadows.

The penguin monsters attacked relentlessly in great numbers but even that was the no match for the centurion as he blocked every attack with his bronze shield and slayed them with his gladius. And fighting beside him was Naofumi, the Shield Hero.

When one penguin pounced on Marius, it was cut down by the cloaked lady. Her weapon was a black greatsword, blade made from sharped obsidion and a steel hilt.

Then the cloaked lady started slaying every penguin that attacked her. And to Marius, the way she fought seems familiar to him.

After she finished off the last monster, she turned to look at Marius.

"Who... Or what are you?" said Marius.

But the cloaked lady ignored his question, and walked pass him instead.

"Is there someone from your world we should be worried about?" said Naofumi.

"What do you mean?" said Marius.

"Just wanna make sure the same thing won't happen again like last time. Or she might just have a crush on you."

"If 'crush' means 'grudge' in your tongue, then I am no stranger to anyone wanting me dead. I will cut her down before she have any chance."

"That's not what I meant... Nevermind, we should regroup with the others. I wanna grind more before night time."

"Very well. Raphtalia and Filo should be at the east."

"Speaking of that, what were you and Filo doing last night?" Naofumi glared at Marius.

"Hueh?"

Going to the beach. An activity unfamiliar to Marius. The only memories of going to the beaches for Marius was of war. He remembered blood soaking the sand and the ocean become red from the slain soldiers.

But the beach he was on was filled with people enjoying themselves under the sun, not unlike the chaos of warfare. He grabbed some sand in his hand and let it flow out from his grip.

"Mask Guy!" Filo called.

She wore her pink swimsuit they bought from the market. Though it covered her private part, seeing Filo with such outfit made Marius a little aroused. Memories of that night still fresh in his head

"My love. The swim wear fits you well." said Marius.

"Thank you! And you don't look bad on yours" said Filo, referring to Marius's new swim trunks.

"It is comfortable. But I much prefer my loincloth, to be honest."

"Let's go for a swim!"

"Very well. It will be a waste just standing here."

"Master! Can we go swimming?"

"You two better not do something else." said Naofumi, his eyes glared at Marius.

" 'kay! Come one!" Filo then dragged Marius to the ocean. "Can you swim?"

"Yes. As long as you do not let me drown."

Filo took a long deep breath before diving into the water and Marius then did the same thing. After he submerged himself, he saw Filo had been waiting for him. She turned around and swam deeper with Marius following her. They swam deeper and deeper, till Marius could no longer held his breath. As he was about to swam to the surface, Filo grabbed Marius by his shoulder and kissed him on the lips. She gave him some air to breath before parting her lips and continued swimming further.

After feeling he could last longer underwater Marius continued following her until they saw something glowing in the depths. They dived even further until they saw a structure so similar to what Marius saw back in his home empire. They looked at each other and nodded, and swam back to shore.

"Big deal. There are islands everywhere here." said Naofumi.

"No, no. We found another island with a red glow on the sea floor." said Filo.

"An island... On the sea floor?"

"And we have found a submerged ruins." said Marius.

"An underwater ruins, huh? We've hit a wall in levelling up, so it might be a nice change of pace." Naofumi reached for a bag behind him and took out three penguin suit with buttons for eyes and a red cone hat.

"You are not serious about having us wear that?"

"Can you breath underwater?"

"Not without her help."

Naofumi tossed Marius penguin suit which much larger and has a bushy frowned eyebrow.

"Um, Master Naofumi..." said Raphtalia who just arrived with her swimsuit. "How do I look?"

"Perfect!" Naofum exclaimed.

Marius looked at Naofumi then at Raphtalia, and he gave a quick thumbs up at the demi human.

In the distance, the cloaked lady watches them from afar. Her eyes were focus on the centurion as he joined his group to a diving expedition.

"You've been looking at that guy since we met. Is there something going on?" said L'arc who stood beside her. "You do know he already as someone, right? That little girl who can turn into a huge bird?"

The cloaked lady chuckled in respond. "Is that what you think? No. There is more to him than you know."

"Let me guess, you knew him back from your world."

"Knew him?" the cloaked lady turned and faced L'arc. "I made him."

All four of them were shocked to find the Dragon Hourglass within the underwater ruins.

"The next Wave is coming... In two days?!" said Naofumi in a shaken tone.

"Then we must ready for battle." said Marius.