This chapter will unveil the bachelorette I choose to be Lest's love interest. Also there's more spoilers for the end of the second arc here, so you may skip from the end of the first flashback until the second flashback. Many of the early chapters will contain some spoilers, but I'll let you guys know when there's spoilers.

I'll update the story with an additional bachelorette later, so enjoy!

Rune Factory – Wishes, Dreams, and Memories

Chapter 2 – That Memorable Day

The quietness of the west side of town made the sound of flowing water clearly heard, accompanied by the sound of the leaves on the trees. The hazel-haired young man stopped his midnight stroll at the bench by the river and took a seat, looking at the nearest building in front of him. His eyes travelled to the second floor, where the bedrooms of the building's inhabitants were.

Lest leaned on the bench and smiled without taking his eyes off the building, 'It's been over a year since that day… Isn't that right, Dolce?'

-Flashback-

Slight panting was heard as the hazel-haired Earthmate took the steps on the hard ground made of rocks and moss. The rain a few hours before had made the tracks a bit slippery to walk, but the Earthmate's experience from working in the fields had helped him keep on his feet. Another pair of footsteps was following him closely from behind him with a ghost floating at the side.

Lest looked up at the sky, which had changed from sky blue into orange color. He put his left hand on the top end of his sword sheath as he stood in front of a set of stairs made of rocks and moss. To protect the town he had finally considered home, and to keep his promises to one of the Native Dragons he had considered a friend. As the Earthmate stopped in front of the stairs, the pair behind him had followed suit.

The follower, who was a young woman around Lest's age stood silently, waiting for the Earthmate to either move or ask her to do something. Seeing how battered his body was, her experience in first aid medic should be expected. But the woman stood patiently, not wanting to do something outside his commands and favors, knowing that the field they were standing on was in the enemy territory. A single wrong move could cost them their lives. Or worse, the other lives living in Selphia.

A loud sigh was heard before Lest spoke up, "Dolce, Pico, you two should go back," The hazel-haired turned his head to his followers with a smile, "I can handle Ethelberd by myself."

"It's too dangerous!" Dolce objected with a stern look, "He's too strong, and you're not in prime condition!"

"Dolly's right! At least let us help you fight him!" Pico was looking concerned, but not as concerned as her human friend.

They were right. Lest had taken some damage with some scars left on his face and body, leaving tears on his clothes. The healing spells Dolce had used on him had helped him when he couldn't reach his backpack in time for medicine, but the fast healing effect had left scars all over his body. While normal people couldn't easily take hits and live, Lest's strong desire to protect had him standing despite the damage and exhaustion he had.

Even with the woman and her ghost friend worrying his condition, his confidence didn't fade. If he couldn't do it, who would then take his place? Ventuswill was weakening as time went by and there was no time to think about who would stand up to the Sechs. Lest knew that Selphia wasn't his home in the first place, but he was accepted as if he had already been there for years. The townsfolk had given him a home and a new life when he couldn't remember his, and this was his time to return the favor and spend his life in his new home. With them. Or rather, especially with one special person.

Lest turned away his head and went back to looking at the stairs, "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. I just… don't want you to get hurt,"

The words had taken the female Guardian by surprise. Her mind went to those few seconds, making sure that she wasn't hearing things. Never did she hear those words from anyone in her era, she never cared about anyone other than her family, Pico, and Ventuswill. She expected the same for the era she had finally woken in, until this stranger came. That one person who was never affected by her blunt words, much like the people she had cared.

Dolce would usually give him another objection or sarcastic remarks that would make him change his mind, but the words Lest said had her froze in place. Her unusual reaction had caught the attention of Pico, who looked at her in confusion, "Dolly?"

Lest rolled his hands into fists and took a deep breath, "I can't even think of losing you, I'm too afraid to imagine if that were to happen. It's because…" Lest turned his head to see Dolce, who was even more stunned to see him looking at her with a smile and a slight, "I love you, Dolce…"

"WHAAAT!?" The ghost was the first one to respond in shock, "Dolly is mine! I'm not-"

"Come back safely," Dolce's response cut off Pico, which made her even more shocked. A light blush was clearly seen on her face as she looked at Lest, "Come home safely or you can't hear my answer," Dolce nervously walked closed towards Lest and pulled out a few small blue bottles from the small bag strapped to her belt, "Take these, you'll need them."

Lest turned to face Dolce and took the bottles from her hand, "Thanks for the potions, Dolce. Don't worry, I'll be back in one piece!"

"I can't sew you back into one piece if you aren't, so make sure you aren't coming back in many pieces," Dolce let out a smile before turning back to Pico, "Pico, let's go back to town."

"Huh? Wait, Dolly-" Pico's sentences was once again cut short as Dolce had grabbed by her arm and teleported away.

Lest let out a smile as he kept looking at the spot where the female Guardian used to be, "Don't worry, Dolce," The Earthmate turned back to the set of stairs with a stern look on his face, "I'll come back safely, I promise!"

-End of Flashback

Recalling the memory of the moment before the final battle, Lest let out a laugh, "A confession right before a fateful battle… Venti was there to help me before she got merged with Ethelberd…" The thought of his dragon friend had completely wiped the smile on his face, 'Venti…'

Lest paused for a moment as he was trying not to cry over his lost friend once more. After all, he had the whole townspeople there for him. No matter where he was from or who he actually was, the people of Selphia had accepted him as one of them. They were always there for him and would be there to lend a helping hand, even going as far as the rune spots so that they could send their thoughts and prayers as rune energy to help him defeat the Sechs Emperor.

"Yes…" Lest laid back on the bench, "The Guardians were helping the others send more rune energy to me from the rune spots…"

-Flashback-

He was losing hope. He couldn't command his body to move, not even an inch. His vision was getting blurry, slowly getting darker and darker until it was completely black. He couldn't sense his arms, his legs, or his body. The only thing he could sense was Ethelberd's voice, which was a mix of Ethelberd's and Venti's voice.

Just as he was going to give up, he heard a voice. And another different voice. They were the voices of the townspeople, cheering him on and telling him not to give up. As more and more voices were heard in his head, his started feeling some warmth within his heart. His body was still weak from all the damage he took on the battle with Ethelberd, but he knew that he was still alive.

In the small clearing deep within the Yokmir Forest, Amber was holding Venti's charm while being accompanied by Blossom, Illuminata, and Vishnal. The green-haired Guardian was struggling to send him some rune energy through the prayers, but the energy got through to him in the end.

"Don't forget, Lest! We're all here for you!"

Similar scene happened in the main room of Water Ruins. The blue-haired Guardian was holding Venti's charm to send some rune energy, along with Porcoline, Margaret, Clorica, and Bado in the same room. Although with a little scolding from Margaret, the rune energy managed to get through and reached Lest.

"Remember, you're not alone! We're all helping!"

In the main room the Obsidian Mansion at the western most side of the town, Dolce, Pico, Jones, Nancy, and Kiel were standing by the rune spot. Dolce was holding the charm, sending rune energy to Lest. As exhausted as she was, Dolce never let the charm off her hand, thinking that she would still be able to send rune energy to Lest much like how she had done it to Venti for many years.

"So I really hope… for your safe return…"

At the top of Leon Karnak, Leon was sending rune energy to Lest with Forte, Xiao Pai, Lin Fa, and Volkanon standing around him. Being the loyal and dutiful knight, Forte felt bad for not being able to join Lest's fight although she would do her best to protect the town. Volkanon promised that the butlers would take care of the castle.

"We believe in whatever future you weave."

-End of Flashback-

Lest stood up from his seat and stretched his arms as he let out a big yawn, "Well, doing a lot of remembering of that memorable day is making me tired… Maybe I'll do a quick walk around the town while heading back home."

Lest continued walking and headed towards the crossroad, but stopped when he noticed a ray of light coming from Kiel's and Forte's house. Although it was late at night, seeing the light turned on in the house didn't actually bother him. Forte's little brother had always liked reading since childhood and he would often find himself staying up late from reading a book that he found interesting.

Knowing that things were going to be fine, Lest continued his walk towards the northern area of the town which was quieter than in the western part. Another ray of light was seen near the restaurant, which caught Lest's attention. The hazel-haired Earthmate approached the building, only to found that the restaurant's lights were off and the lights from the manor were on.

Lest passed by the manor's windows, which led to the prince's office, and saw the blond prince sitting on his desk with piles of books and paper on his left and right sides. Arthur would sometimes flip a few pages from one book and took another one to be put next to the previous one, as if comparing something from the two books and wrote something else on a piece of paper.

Lest brought his hand towards the door, both wanting to know about what Arthur was working on and to tell him to rest, but left his hand back to his side. The window where Lest had looked into the office was right in front of Arthur's desk, but the young prince didn't even notice the Earthmate standing there.

"Arthur seems busier than usual… Maybe I shouldn't bother him when he's working," Lest told himself before stepping away from the office door, heading towards the last section of the town.

Similar to the west side, the eastern side of the town was so quiet that only the sound of water was heard. The buildings had their lights turned off, signifying that the people living inside had already fallen asleep. Lest let another tired yawn and decided to walk back towards the town square and into the castle as he had started feeling tired himself.

Lest stood in front of the castle for a moment and looked up at the huge building that he had been living in, "I'm home…"

Any more Dolly fans here? Anyways, please leave a review and tell me what you guys think!