Disclaimer: Written by Rime. Translated by Arcana. Approved by Rime to transfer from pixiv. The characters were not owned by the writer nor the translator. Characters were borrowed from the players of MHD. To members of MHD, if there are any problems, there would be no problem in removing.
Chapter Notes:The Genealogy of Hunters 2: SideAsh
Theme: Written as Soul, Read as Pure
Characters: Ash, SEVEN, Sakura, Nobutuna, Falt
Chapter Summary:
Ash belonged to the Chivalric Order of the Kingdom. On the first mission after he ranked up as a leader, he was abandoned in the desert by the other members of the same team. Worst of all, two Diablos appeared suddenly. He was saved by another teenager in the desert. At the same time, something lurked in the dark, and Ash soon found himself involved in a big incident.
Clean look of starch in the pure white coat. A gold and silver embroidery laid on the cuff. The title of silver and the emblem of gold. Deep red scarf with a pair of white gloves. A pointed dagger of courtesy tinged with blue.
A crimson carpet. Ferocious dragons painted on the stained glasses. The leader of the priests stood in front of the altar. Sunlight piercing through the high skylight, sparkling inside the church filling with mysteriousness.
His name was called, and he stood up, bending from his waist with a straight back, he bowed in front of the dignified priest. His pair of sadden red eyes looked forward without showing any cowardice.
The golden dagger was placed onto his shoulder. The edge was thick, it was not intended for cutting through flesh. The heaviness put onto his shoulder was the touch of responsibility that he must bear from now and onwards, the chief who trained him told him.
"To our new knight leader, the protection of the kingdom and glory are now entrusted onto your right shoulder."
"Absolutely, I hear it faithfully."
Dignified, the voice echoed. The priest then placed the dagger onto the other side of his shoulder.
"To our new knight leader, the pride of a knight and bravery are now entrusted into your left shoulder."
"With firmness, I hear it whole-heartedly."
The priest put down the dagger. He held up Ash's beloved sword which was placed on the altar, Oh, he exclaimed from his heart. It was placed inside a magnificent scabbard. The rock embedded onto it must be a big wyvern stone.
(It seems that father have splurged a considerable amount on it...)
As he hid his bitter thoughts inside his heart, Ash slowly rest on his knees. A trouble was a trouble, even if he was being expected from the others.
"To our new knight leader, luck, bravery and justice are now bestowed upon your sword."
"With a corresponding heart, I answer."
The moment the lingering sound faded, the raised sword was placed onto his held-out hands. The hem of the coat was judged. He bowed once again bending his waist, Ash then turned his back from the priest.
(If they have the money to spend on something like this, they should have use it on something else instead)
Surely, the rewards of the deeds of arm that gave him chance of to receive the title, must had been used up by that good-natured father already. Ash walked on the crimson carpet without any expression, surreptitiously, he sighed.
The fall of the Chivalric Order started not long after the birth of Ash.
Several ten years after the Hunters Guild was established among the civilians. All types of people were free to register, except that in the world of survival of the fittest, there was no guarantee to life and death, no doubt, no compensation would be given to the family when died. The opponent of the hunters were, the carnivorous wyverns that were hard to defeat no matter how many times one had fallen, not to mention the existences of the elder dragon.
Ash was not informed much about the reason why such a non-government organization was admitted by the kingdom. As far as he was going to know, the words of the chief was vague, and their eyes would not meet. To a certain extent, he had arrived to a guess. Information of the wild lives, with the wyverns as the main, had brought benefits more than expected upon the human race. The fact that the ecosystem was being researched, was a feedback to the wisdom of humans. Up till now, the institute of the kingdom had carried out investigations, and the investment was not vulgar.
But, all of these were the patents of the Hunters Guild only. Basically hunting monsters were not the occupation of the Chivalric Order. Their main work was to protect people, to govern people and to raise people. Therefore, even when the monsters were destroying the town and village, or the castle, not many of them would raise to defend. This was one of the reasons that the establishment of the Hunters Guild was being approved.
Ash thought. The Chivalric Order was after all the soldiers of the royal family. The king was always aiming at expanding their lands and invading other countries, diplomacy was being considered important also. He might not be able to see the importance of sending out his soldiers to face the small damages caused by monsters.
Therefore, without the cooperation with the Hunters Guild, the Royal Institute would not be able to carry out any research results. Towards the sudden appearance of elder dragons, the Royal Knights were not able to compete with them. Including the royal family, nobles had no measurements towards those situations.
If he was to say, Ash found it strange.
The king was the head of the kingdom, it was his job to protect and govern the citizens. Then shouldn't the first priority be taken, and they should fight for the sake of it. Of course, this was the case in the past. But, ever since the establishment of the Hunters Guild, the Chivalric Order had forgotten their pride. Whenever they faced enemies they couldn't defeat, against enemies that could deal a lot of damages, or when they escaped from situations that could cost their lives, they would definitely request for the help of hunters. This had become common same as the honor code of the leaders, chiefs, and the knights. The rewards paid to the hunters were their honors. The honors were symbols of their ability, one could understand the answer without asking.
In the end, even the governors and princesses made used of the guild. On the streets, Guild Knights were being respected more than the Royal Knights. As a matter of fact, the dignity of the Royal Knights had dropped to the ground already, Ash had always thought about it before taken up the post as a Royal Knights.
Were the nobles becoming doltish or were the general privates becoming superior? Both of them, he bragged. Among the nobles, there were people more outstanding and stronger. Among the normal citizens, there were also people who were weaker and people who were filled with determined. Still, comparing with nobles, the amount among normal citizens was in a larger portion. The chance of finding a gem among them was higher among nobles. The probability was the same yet the absolute number was different.
The Hunters Guild had done an excellent job in searching for these possibilities. On the backside, how many sacrifices were made, how many people had cried, as he thought Ash found, just a little, that the Hunters Guild was dangerous.
"Ash, congratulation."
"...Sakura"
"It doesn't fit you at all."
"I will listen to your sarcasm later... I'm tired."
"It's not sarcasm so listen. ...Are you alright? You look pale"
"I haven't slept"
"Really? The Ash with sleeping as an hobby?"
"From taking control of a small country to the awarding ceremony of the knight leader title, my sleeping time was three hours only. ...It doesn't matter if it's here or not, I just want to sleep."
"This is the corridor"
"But the carpets here, they look soft and good to sleep on. They are always being renewed, even if there's no money."
They are quite a trouble as no footstep can be heard on it. His nerves had became irritable since going to battlefields, without knowing, he had started to be always on guard as if he was in a fight. Ash shook his head. Sakura regarded it as a cure for drowsiness.
"You're too sleepy that you can't think normally."
"You're too persistent."
Ah, he combed his hair upwards. He was sure that he must be having eye bags. To an extent, he found it a miracle that he hadn't chewed on a word during the ceremony.
"Sakura, why are you here?"
"Afterwards there will be a party for celebrating your inauguration."
"...My father..."
He detained his knees from collapsing. The girl that was smiling bitterly in front of him, smacking Ash on his shoulder softly, sighed as she tried to cheer him up.
"I know you're tired, but show your face at the party. Uncle, he is very happy about your promotion."
"Even if you say it's for my promotion... My salary will not be able to rise at once. Unless I become the chief, we will always be in a desperate financial situation.
The Chivalric Order started to fall at the same time the family Ash was born in started to decline. The pedigree of his family, from generation to generation, important posts were given to them, letting them took charge of the party of knights. In the public, they were famously known as the Clan of the Fire Wyverns, due to their ancestors. Like a fantasy, it was said that they rod on the King of the Skies, Rathalos on the battlefield.
Certainly, legends were left. When a pair of fire wyverns settled their residence on the ground, a pair of twins was born. A pair of red haired twins. Starting from that on sentence, Ash had always read that golden-framed book of secret. It was not about ten times, but many several hundred times he had read it.
It was not as if he was being told to read. When he was still a child, he liked it in a sense that it could be considered as abnormal. The protagonist of the legend was the red-haired brother, rescuing his sister from the tall tower, and they flew off into the night sky on a pair of wyverns. In the child's heart, he had always put himself onto the position of the wyvern rider.
Yet now, he was holding his sword with his three big brothers, running through the lands to kill, earning money for the family. It did not seem like that his dream would become reality.
"...How much is spend on it?"
"It's better if you don't ask."
"Please. Don't move your eyes away. You're making me sweat. Seriously... Isn't the rewards for the control below par."
"...Be festive. Forgive him. His youngest child who was such a crybaby, is now wrapped around with the snow white knight coat."
"I feel malice from the end-to-end of your words."
"There's no malice, but halfway teasing."
Enough she was younger than him, he could not make light of Sakura.
The Clan of the Fire Wyverns was divided into two main branches according to the system of the legendary twins. One of them was the family of Ash, the ones that succeed the genealogy of Rathalos. The other one was the family of Sakura, the ones that succeed the genealogy of Rathians.
Among the existing flying wyverns, the King of Skies Ratholos and the Queen of Land Rathain, they were wyverns that possessed tough steel-like bodies, working in a pair, each holding a duty when laying eggs, righteously leaving their descendants. In the legend, they trusted the twins of red hair, and lent their backs to them. It is impossible, that was the view of the Royal Institute; It doesn't matters anyway, that was the opinions of the general public. Anyway, the Clan of the Fire Wyverns had supported the glory of the Kingdom since long. In fact, they were still being trusted. The lands owned and the ruled citizens of the Clan of the Fire Wyverns were the best in the Kingdom. The Royal Knights started to fall, the numbers of talented knights were decreasing. It had been several years that no boys were born to succeed the genealogy of Rathian. Yet, earlier than the head family that succeeded the genealogy of Rathian, the head family of Rathalos being called as the King, started to decline in their finance. While being unable to secure talented knights, the management of the land had became negligent, embezzlement followed in succession. Finally, the breeding of monsters increased, more damages appeared, more finance was needed to furnish, and gradually they were failing. By chance, the Kingdom had merged with the kingdom in the middle-north, the expenditure spent on the celebrating festivals were another large sum of money. Anyway, they were running out of money.
Ash planned to become a knight in the first place. He was expected to become a knight when he was sixteen, yet he did it when he was only thirteen. And today, he had become the leader all of a sudden. It must be the result of the straight road he built with fret and efforts, he himself thought bitterly. He had left many things behind, and many times he tried to dent himself. Patience is important, it was the favorite quote of the wife whom had a husband that enjoyed spending money. It's true, as it soaked into his bones and fresh, he started to think so.
"Ah, how can I. I almost forgot to say it."
"...I don't want to hear anymore bad news..."
"It's not it... Welcome back, Ash"
"...I'm back."
Seriously, he couldn't raise his head in front of her.
Sakura was the born in the family that succeed Rathian, for some unknown reasons that no boys were born for a period, she was the forth daughter in the family. Four brothers of the Rathalos family and four sisters of the Rathian family. The second child of the two families were engaged to each other, and the oldest son of the Rathalos family had taken a girl from another territory as his wife, they already had their second child. The oldest daughter of the Rathian family was working as a high priestess in the Royal Church, while the third daughter was married to another territory. The truth was that the only ones that could roam freely, as Ash thought to himself, the only survived one, was Sakura. Ash sometimes envied her freedom from the bottom of his heart.
Her name was originated from the subspecies of Rathian. She was born when the Cherry Blossom Rathian was being discovered and recorded onto the Monster Encyclopedia. Her name was a rare name in this area, it was the language of the eastern country. The discoverer of the subspecies was the human of the eastern country.
Even though they were distant relatives, their looks were very similar to each other. Their hair color was the same, and their body structures were exactly the same when they were young. When they went to salons among nobles, they were always mistaken as twins, with Ash being thought as the girl while Sakura was the boy, because of this, they had hated each other for a while. Most recently, Sakura had let her hair grow, and Ash had held onto swords more and more, the differences between them were clearer and clearer. Till now, even though they were still mistaken as twins, but when asked, at least everyone would be able to tell which was the boy and which was the girl.
When Sakura painted her nails pink, surrounded by smells of flowers, she read books and wrote letters, sometimes she could roam outside freely as she wanted, while she did things liked that, Ash started swinging swords, learning the right behaviors, the proper way to use languages, being hammered by different educations. Frankly, Ash was always jealous of Sakura.
He wanted to go to places, far away, as he pleased.
Just like the King of Skies, ruling over every sky.
He never told anyone about it. He was sure that the gentle and pure girl, would definitely feel painful for him. Even though he carefully tried to keep a distance from her, she would still worry about him. He had spent an awfully long time with the girl resembling him, yet they were being fostered with a big difference.
"...When will it start"
"I heard that it'll start one hour after... Work harder, shall I make it one and a half hour?"
"It's very good of you to say that. I'm really thankful."
"I'll come to wake you up, don't lock your room."
"Erm. I can't do that"
"...Why?"
"It's the rule of a knight? ...They say it's to prevent being assassinated. Well, it's a rule to follow. Yup."
He handed her a small golden key, and yawned. Sakura looked up to Ash shyly, ha, she sighed.
"You're seriously, cool"
"...Thanks"
Being said that his yawning face was cool, his cheeks became red, Ash turned around his back. Feeling her walking away, he paused and thought over.
"...She could have just marry someone from the higher-class or someone she likes."
It was the words from his bottom of his heart.
There was never for a moment that Ash thought about loving Sakura, becoming a married couple, or spending nights with her.
Beyond the border of the Kingdom, there was a big desert.
It was not what the nobles though it was, a land covered with only sand. On the land categorized as rock desert, there were pieces of rocks and crags laying on the ground here and there. Under their shadows, an atmospheric temperature was kept, plants aside from cactus could also grew. There were sources of water, creatures that could stand the dryness and hotness, contrary to expectations, many could survive in this abundant desert.
Still the desert wasn't a place that all could live in, there were also plants and creatures that couldn't survive on this land. It was the ecosystem of nature.
The Kingdom having subjugated with this piece of land which farming or nothing could be carried out, was actually aiming for the rainforest in front of it. There were rumors saying that the King aimed to invade the other country vigilantly. The chief had told him that the main job of the royals were to expand their land. Ash pretended to not had heard it. He though that it was a bad and disgusted story.
"...What are they planning"
In a state of being thrust down, Ash scowled up. The desert known as rock desert, was as the its name, rocks everywhere. From time to time, he needed to climb up and down, to reach his destination. The main transports of the Royal Knights were by horses, but the horses were being brought up on the grassland, the traveling speed would decrease when moving on the sand. Thus, the main ways of traveling through the desert, was on foot. For people who were rich, they would ride on carts pulled by the Aptonoths. The mission he was on was to secure a passage for the small army, therefore he picked to walk.
Ash was being pushed down from a very high rock all of a sudden. Halfway through the desert, over the rocks, was the area where many Genpries and Cephalos lived.
With the high high sun shining on his back, a few shadows could be seen. Snickers could be heard. Harsh voices. Ah, I see. Ash accepted the weird situation he was in. The reckless remarks that came to his ears, including ill-speaking towards his youngness, and ill-speaking towards his birth.
(Why did the chief, formed this kind of troops)
Perhaps, he had considered that having more familiar people would be more assuring, yet they backfired. Seniors that were more experienced, had their positions being overtaken by a latecomer like Ash easily. They could not allow themselves to be the subordinates of the youngest knight. It must have hurt their prides. Furthermore, it was somebody from the falling Clan of the Fire Wyverns. If the public complained it, that somebody wouldn't be able to say 'No' to missions.
He looked up at the sky and sighed. The voices of anger became far away, even if he heard them nearby, he wouldn't be angry. Two days after the assumption ceremony, he was assigned to this mission. On the continuous battlefield, his brain nor his body could catch up with it. If it was his usual self, he would have climb up the high rock, and took out his sword to fight. But now, all he wanted was to finish the mission and return earlier.
(Or rather, I don't want to associate with it anymore.)
He was prepared to some extent. Backbiting, glances of irony, and vicious pestering. He heard that his older brothers were being neglected the fact that they were part of the Clan of the Fire Wyverns and they tamed the others with their own power. He could say nothing about his age, therefore he decided to learn from them. In fact, he didn't really understand all of the words of his brothers. Ash knew that his older brothers were competing against each other, especially in order to show their superiorities. Though his father believed that they were working hard together, and was very pleased with it. Ash could only see them pulling against each other's legs.
Anyway, his subordinates considerably disliked him.
He shouldn't be paying attention to this more than their severe shortage of family budget. He should finish missions faster, receive the rewards, and succeed in life. If he didn't do so, all the citizens living on the lands of the Clan would be endangered. A few days ago, there was a report that poisonous gases were emitted from a mine within their territories. The damage to the village was heavy.
The ones that stands tall has the responsibility, was the word of his father who was said to be a piece of glass.
(...Those duties. Shouldn't he let the old brothers take care of them, there's three of them.)
Why must myself, the youngest among them, needed to hold a sword at this age so desperately? Is this the duty of the clan that stood on the top? In the first place, all of this happened because father is squandering money. It was not exaggerating for him to say the various anger inside his heart could boil. His right foot was aching. Looks like sprained to him. Well, of course, Ash continuously nodded his head in tiredness. Being sudden pushed down, his left shoulder had protected his dominant hand, and he wasn't able to land passively on the soft sand. The injury was light, yet it was still a minus.
(Ah-, I want to sleep-––– ...)
The shadows on the rock waved their hands. Bye-bye~, our new leader. The voices were making fun of him. Laughter. He considered abandoning the mission, but what if they reported that he was looking for another route, then that would be the end for him.
"...Anyway...The mission, has to continue, under this situation..."
Being unable to trust in others easily anymore, he felt a bit lonely. He got up and took off his right boot. It was a bit swollen, but it wouldn't be a problem for him to walk.
Putting on his boot back again, he tied the lace tightly. Ash stood up. Ahead was the white horizon spreading out, the sand floated idly. He began to trudge. He wasn't sure that the cool drink he had drunk was in effect or not. His body was burning terribly.
Oh, what a beautiful wyvern. In the middle of his absentminded sight, was a shadow swinging its horns ferociously. He grasped onto his sword in deliberant. What a beautiful wyvern. Free, and big, and strong, and tempestuous.
He was out of breath. His trachea was becoming narrow, and breathing itself had become hard. Panting, he breathed as if his lungs were full. He felt like being blown up like a balloon. Yet, Ash held onto his sword. With pains coming one after one, here and there, facing straight ahead, he pointed his sword towards his opponent without any hesitation.
What a beautiful wyvern. Or is it that the species known wyverns are creatures that beautiful? The twin horns that swung, the roar that echoed through the air, the smoothed skin covered with sand, light shown on it ceaselessly. In the desert, at the middle of the sun setting, under strong heat waves, there was nothing as desperately strong as the Diablos that formed the night of shadow.
And there are two of them.
Whether he had entered their territories or the blood of the monsters that Ash slew attracted them, the ground shook suddenly, the giant monster jumped out like an arrow shooting into the sky, being able to evade from the attack in an instant was enough. It was good that he was prepared. But, with the blunt sword supplied by the Kingdom, he was only able to aim at the legs of the giant creatures. If only he had his beloved sword with him, he thought. His beloved sword that accompanied him during many long journeys, was under maintenance as the edge had been awfully chipped, and the bone that acted as the core was fragile.
If there were only one of them, he would have chosen to escape. No condolence in losing was a shame . Such a thing is also necessary, was the words of his eldest brother. However, the blow from the second head that appeared from behind blocked the way, Ash couldn't evade it. His left arms creaked awfully. If he hadn't sacrificed his non-dominant hand, his body would have been pierced through by one of those horns.
"No, wait... You guys, are really annoying-..."
Hah, hah, he panted from the bottom of his throat. His sweats cooled down. If night came, his death would be decided. Never experiencing the terror of the severe coldness of the desert, let alone the unpleasant cold, Ash was experiencing it along with chills that could freeze his back. If he couldn't defeat one of them before all his heat was taken away from him, he would die here.
He dashed fiercely towards the one that howled in a low voice. The other one dug into the sand, and sank into the earth. He scolded himself for expecting help from his comrades. There was no chance they would come. They had abandoned him due to the reason of his status and his youngness.
(These are the adults. These are the knights.)
All of them were just a decoration. It was something like a title. They were not falling, but beginning to corrupt. He smiled wryly as he thought of the future of the Chivalric Order and the status of his father. There were nothing left to spare anymore, a certain resignation had led Ash to conclusion. His consciousness was worn out by the fatigue and stress, he understood that he had began to seek escapism. If he made it by alive, how many people would there be to bless his birth.
(Father, Mother and maybe Sakura)
Earlier than his brothers to become leaders of knights, towards the young Ash, they had only given him a token of blessing, as they coerced with their eyes, and cursed him in the shadow.
(The connection of blood, is it deep or weak)
That younger brother might one day, be a threat to them. Maybe, the one that would inherit their father, may possibly be Ash.
They must have imagined the humiliation of having their positions stolen by their youngest brother. Of course, Ash had neither the intention, nor the mind to do so. He knew of the dignity his father had taught him as a knight and as a parent. His mother, with love and the formidability challenges to females, had taught him the righteousness he knew. With the pure heart of a child, which had only thought of repaying them, Ash became a knight.
He had simply wanted to save the troubled family.
For the sake of it, without making any friends, he trained till the sun fell everyday, killing his own selfishness, acting as the way he was demanded to be.
He had gave up many already, yet, with the only honor he finally gained, it was not possible to protect him. Nothing could be undone.
(At least, no nobles have given a helping hand towards the Clan of the Fire Wyverns under financial problems.)
The absolute clan that was respected by the citizens, trusted and loved by the royals.
If there were any flaw, they would definitely take advantage of it. If the chance were taken, now he, would be becoming friends with death. On the other hand, if he were able to live on and return, towards the malice and jealousy, between the Chivalric Order not under the control of his father, would he be able to stand against them alone.
Thinking of the courage and readiness needed, then maybe, being slaughtered here by the beautiful wyverns, might be a happier thing to happen.
(...Oops, my thoughts are getting extreme)
He must not escape. Ash grasped onto his sword strongly once again. He aimed for the right horn of the Diablos heading towards him, as hard as possible. He heard the sound of something broken, and was wrapped around by a terrible cloud of dust. Taking the damages, he fell onto a wide piece of rock, beside him was the creature that roared with angle and flew out raising its horns. He breathed in a cloud of dust. With his mouth full of sand, he prevented himself from having a coughing fit and kicked the ground.
Without protecting his aching right foot, he dashed on the top of the rock. The Diablos that had one of its horn broken, raised a strange voice and glanced in his direction. The figure that postured lowly and spread its wings widely, under the dark setting sun, was still beautiful after all. The reflecting claws and teeth seemed to be golden. The feeling of burning came from the depth of his eyes by the reflection from the broken part.
He spitted. Lessen the sand inside his mouth, easing the unpleasantness. Even though he felt the coldness, sweat continued to stream down the back of his neck. He held onto his sword. The sword was something sad when compared with his opponent, blunt, the silver that wouldn't shine, and poor.
(Even so, this represents me now)
He grasped the handle strongly, he gritted his teeth and kicked the earth again. Aiming for the foot covered with hard scales, he ran with every effort, a spark of red was born. On the acknowledgement of the clumsiness as it was, his hand suppressing the ground, exchanging with the charge coming from the other side, raising his body and he kicked the ground again. He struck the shadow of the tail swinging downwards.
He could feel uproar deep inside his body. The tusks charged towards him, he couldn't afford to think much. He jumped to roll forward, evading the attack. He shifted onto his left leg, and ran under the body of the wyvern without breathing. The giant figure was too late to turn around. Raising his sword towards the swinging tail, slashed, the creature responded terribly, and something flew off.
(...I cut it!)
Excitement ran through his body. Finally being able to breath out, Ash noticed that he was laughing.
(...What's, with this,)
Excitement, exciting, excited, a feeling ran through his back. It was different than the chill he felt before. He was boiling. Hah, hah, hah, he was supposed to be panting painfully, yet he found the pain lovely. He turned around. The two wyverns that turned into black shadow, roared fiercely with the setting sun behind. Oh, something came and hardened his body, and fascinated him.
Oh, they are really beautiful wyverns.
Approaching them, he kicked the ground. Breathing echoing inside him, the sound of his heart beating reached his fingertips. The point of his sword skimmed at the jaw of his opponent, cutting through its throat. With a cry, a Diablos leaned back. Continuing, he raising his sword at the stomach.
Crack, it was at that moment he heard a soft sound, and his blade broke.
The heavy weight collapsed forward onto the ground, he managed to kick the earth and escaped from the falling body. However, the other one with its head held low, charged towards him.
(...Oh)
Still, they are beautiful wyverns. Ash was only able to admire the figure. Straightly, without fluctuation, as if being pierced through, without thinking of evading the attack. Strong and bravely, only earnestly respecting one's life, straightly.
What a beautiful creature.
(If I can only live that way...)
He could feel his body waiting for the sky.
When he began to open his eyes, his sights were blurred. He blinked and looked around with rapture. He heard a sound approaching. He blinked once more. Straightly, their eyes met. Gold was left in front of his eyes. Though it could be considered as yellow, it was more transparent. It was the same color as the light ray from the sun that reflected on the broken horn of the Diablos. Radiant, he felt. The eyes blinked twice, and suddenly, a big smile appeared on the face.
"You're alive!"
"...!"
"I thought you are killed!"
Before he could question what was happening, the other party vigorously drew back. Dongs, Pang, a lot of noises were made. He was more worried about the noises than grasping the present situation that he got up from laying down. Poing, something flew at his direction. Cling, it hit his head.
It kinda hurt.
"Drink it! And sleep awhile more!"
"...?"
"I'm gonna get some water! You must be thirsty, right?"
He was only aware of the terrible thirst until he was told. He nodded unintentionally. Okay, I got it!, the teenager waved and left. He wasn't sure if they were of the same age, but should be around fifteen.
He looked around. He could smell the scent of beasts, seemed like the tent was made with the skin of beasts. Various items were thrown on the floor, a camp of fire lying near him. He was being laid on a plain bed with broad leaves and a sheet of cloth covering over him. He felt pain everywhere. He noticed that emergency measurements had been perfectly performed all over his body. His legs were wrapped around firmly with a cloth, there's blood on it. There were a few medicine bowls with different color of liquid in them. A small bottle rolled next to his hand.
(...It's a potion)
He took off the cork and put it to his mouth reluctantly. He did not like bitter things.
"Hey hey I'm back, sorry to keep ya waiting~"
"...You saved me?"
"Mm? Hmm, yeah, you can say so."
What exactly was it then, he wanted to ask, but swallowed it back down. Taking the water bottle held out to him, he started drinking selfishly.
After he drank up, he sighed. Breathing finally became easier.
"You, I can't believe that you got to finish the Diablos in that state."
"...Killed?"
"You were fighting two of them. But, it's a great thing. With that wimpish weapon and under such a high fever. It's really mysterious that you were still able to move."
"...High fever?"
"You haven't drunk any cool drink right."
"...No, I did drink it."
"You're lying. The fever is really high, and hot. Crossing the desert without drinks, I thought you're some kind of suicide volunteer."
What a fast talker. Ash put his hand on his throat. There were traces of fever. He though back of his lightheaded consciousness, and was convinced that it was the fever from fatigue. He sighed. What a weak body. Though he had trained so much, he never expected that he would end up in a fever due to tiredness. The fatigue could have caused him unable to move, it was not exaggerating to say so. Yet, Ash cursed himself idly. In the end, what made him worked so far, was always the strain of feeling death, the strange wariness, and his strong responsibility.
"I didn't pick up your broken sword. Anyway, you luggage is here. I haven't touched them so relax."
He stretched his hands towards the leather-made item pack aimlessly. His brothers gave it to him, telling him that it was full of items needed for the first campaign, and that he shouldn't open it until he reached the battlefield. The carrying of other baggage was not permitted. Due to the high alert of poaching, the checking of the baggage was very severe at the boundary. He was not allowed to carry two bags with him, and the one that he prepared had been forfeited. He had thought of taking it back, but the items prepared by his brothers should be more useful. That was because his brothers were always walking in front of him. They had more experiences, had spent more time fighting than he had, they were also good at hand-to-hand fights.
He opened the bag. Ash had lost all his words.
"...You... Why do you do come to the desert...?"
He couldn't answer anything towards the words he asked wonderingly. His throat wriggled. As if his body was broken, Ash covered his eyes with his hand unconsciously.
He couldn't stop laughing.
"...Hey, are you alright"
He had no idea how to explain to the teen that was looking at him weirdly. He wondered how would he laugh at him. Maybe because it was their first meeting, he may feel sympathy towards him. Why didn't he doubt. Why did he believe. Because they were his brother. Why did he cling to his big brothers who criticized him in the celebration party.
His shoulders were trembling from the laughter, or were it from the tears.
In the middle of the bag, was a mountain of empty bottles.
They were an allegory telling him to just die.
I got six brothers, and I am the seventh one so I am called SEVEN. By the way, what about the brother before you, Ash asked. He replied with pride. It's SIX. But SIX only came earlier than me, his age is under me. Ash thought that it was a complicated family, thus he didn't ask anymore.
He asked whether he lived in the desert, and he replied proudly. Over there, he pointed to a village in a distance. There was water supply nearby.
You were fortunate that I happened to pass by. If it was somebody else, Dia will send him or her flying of. It was not a joke to laugh at, he told him. SEVEN laughed out loud. Of course, you are really lucky. SEVEN continued to laugh. He sure did laugh a lot, he thought.
Do you finish the other Diablos alone, he asked. SEVEN replied him blankly that didn't he finished one also as a result. He really was somebody without a reversed face.
"The heat seemed to have gone down, but your wounds still need some time to cure. So you should take a rest."
"...Sorry"
"This tent was used by some hunters before. You can feel free to use it... ... Though it's slightly dirty."
Still with no one using it, it would become messy. SEVEN stood up slowly, and started throwing junks out of the tent from the one end. He thought that he was cleaning out slops, but he dared not say anything. He threw random stuffs out without any regret while humming. He looked somewhat refreshing.
Trying not to think about it much, he touched his wounds. There were shallow wounds and deep wounds, but with the emergency measures carried out, he could hardly feel any pain. A sense of numbness remained on his skin, he must had grounded some parashroom and applied them as a painkiller.
"Hey, what's your name?"
"...Ah. It's Ash."
"That sign on the bag, you're a knight from the kingdom?"
"Yeah"
"I appreciate your efforts spent on––- the weird mission."
Even though he was told with laughter, he was not able to laugh at the fact that it really was a weird mission. He stared at his palm blankly.
SEVEN seemed to have thought of something, and put his hand on the back of Ash's head.
"Yo, can you move?"
"...Ye...Yeah...Maybe"
"Then, let's go and see it."
Pulling hardly, SEVEN didn't let go out his neck collar as he dragged him along. Filled with puzzles, he nodded. Yosh, he carried his weapon onto his back skillfully. It was a big lance.
"I... don't have any weapon"
"It's alright! I'm strong!"
He's filled with self-confidence.
Here, he handed him a hot drink to drink, Ash followed after SEVEN who had already ran out.
He had no idea why he intended to follow the willful teen.
They walked on the cold sand, hearing the howls of the beasts, SEVEN ran straight ahead absorbedly. He seemed to be familiar with the way, there was no chance for him to be location challenged. He stopped in front of a giant rock, they had probably reached the destination.
"Can you climb?"
He nodded. The tent was already quite far away. His tiredness had already exceeded the amount of a mountain, his breathing was so calm that he could fall asleep any moment. However, he had no confidence that he would be able to return to that place alone. More than anything, Ash had accompanied him, he had wanted to listen to his own intention for once. He was a strange human. He had saved him although he knew nothing of his identity. Seeing the innocent and indifferent laughing expression, he felt something. If he was able to understand what the object he wanted to show him was, he might be able to understand more about that feeling.
He could not deny that he was trying to escape from reality. There were many things that even if someone were by your side to listen to, if he or she didn't understand about it, there would be no point in telling one. Ash didn't have the courage to take upon everything by himself. It's not as if he was a coward. After being told to die by his family, it was not possible for someone to continue standing without any worries. Not to mention, Ash had sacrificed himself for the sake of his family.
Good, by putting power into his waist, SEVEN started to climb up the rock. Ash sighed greatly, and reached his hand out. Many times the scaffolds were unstable, are you okay, a voice called out to him, I'm fine, and he replied. Sometimes he borrowed a helping hand, sometimes a helping hand was lent to him, and they continued to climb up. The sky had been dyed into indigo blue, as if it was water dripping, they began to shine.
"This is the last. Stand firm."
"Okay."
Before he climbed onto the last rock, the pain of the wounds became strong. He breathed heavily, and he held his hand out. But his body fell. The scaffold collapsed. Oh, he was going to fall, the moment he tried to grab onto the rock, his falling body was bound by in an impact. Holding onto him strongly, was the hand of SEVEN.
"Lucky––-"
He pulled him up steadily, by trying to cooperate with him, he kicked the rock. Sound of the collapsing scaffold rattled. He scratched his elbow, reaching out his body, resting his knees, thrusting his two hands onto the rock.
"Thanks."
"Yo!"
As he stood up and tried to thank him, SEVEN smiled at him without any affectation again. His smile was too overjoyed and refreshing that he returned him a smile too. In front of his eyes, was a layer of golden, just like a blossom of flowers. He smiled again.
"You, finally smiled!"
He seemed to be so happy that he couldn't feel his right cheek being touched when he became senile unintentionally.
A big wyvern rose into the sky. From there gently, a flash of platinum tore through the sky. The blue disappeared. The flash sank between the blue, creating a stained jade. The blue disappeared. Wind blew. Riding through the cold night, the wind ran off behind it. The blue disappeared. The transparent jade sky, purifying the air when they met. It shone in gold. The blue disappeared. It roared sacredly without a sound. The blue disappeared, filling with jade, overflowing and overflowing, just like a tsunami, like a golden horse dashing straight ahead in full speed, advancing towards their direction.
The strong and frigid light roasted his eyes. The light shone from the body of the wyvern overflowing from the intervals of mountains like a surging waves, blazes appeared in a moment. The blue disappeared. A slender shriek came from the jade. The platinum barked. Barked. Echoed. One side of the sky became golden.
The golden sky. The high high sky that no one could arrive to, was filled with the color of the roars of wyverns. It sounded, shaking the sky.
What was this. Ash stared at the wyvern with his eyes opened widely. A white wyvern. No, was it really white. Was it golden, or was it silver. No. It's not a wyvern. He understood. It's the morning sun. It was nothing different from the daybreak that visited every morning. He had seen it before in the town, from the window of his room.
However, it was different.
It was different. Predominantly. For an exception. It was entirely different, totally different!
He could feel the warmest poured into his body. His fingertips became hot immediately. Heavy, yet strong, the light formed shadows, he knew it was his figure. He remembered to breath. His hair was blown into his sights, sparkling with golden red. The wind was cold. However, it was transparent. Passing through his body. Filled with it. Something bad seemed to be dropping out of his fingers, filling his body with the coldness. Until the sun completely showed itself, SEVEN finally spoke.
"Isn't this beautiful? It's the special seat~"
Ash looked at it, thinking silently.
In utter amazement, he stared at the sun absentmindedly, without blinking his eyes... He was being overwhelmed, he was being seen through, he started to cry as if he had become a totally different person.
The tears that were flowing swiftly, could be seen in golden. SEVEN was at a loss of words for an instant, and he stared back at morning sun once again.
(I don't want to return.)
To be honest, it was so. He did not want to return. Knowing that such a thing existed in the world, he would rather spent the rest of his time looking at them. It was not just the level of beautiful. It was because it existed in the desert of such a corrupted environment, as if his soul was being punched, it was a shock. Why did his eyes only have such a small view, filled with regrets, he started to doubt whether what he had saw before was just nothing.
However, as if he tried to let everything flow away, a hole was left opened, therefore Ash was able to choose.
SEVEN accompanied him till the boundary, and he waved goodbye, Ash bowed straightly to him in the courtesy way of the knights.
"...Thanks. You really saved me."
"...Hey, are you really, fine?"
"I'm good."
He replied immediately with a smile. Tattered clothes, his body and hair full of sand and dust, still Ash smiled straightly at SEVEN. He always laughed. Then, at least, he should return him a smile at the end.
...Okay, take care. Though he could tell it was different from his usual smile, still, SEVEN smiled at him. I would be alright, Ash thought. He remembered the golden of his eyes, and that vivid morning sun. Alone with these, they could bring him courage. Surely he could live onwards. Even in the Chivalric Order filled with jealously, by remembering that divined morning sun, he could continue.
"Thank you, SEVEN. One day, as a return, I'll go and visit you"
"That doesn't matter. ...Let's go and watch it again."
Shall we, my friend. He was a bit shock at his words, yet it strangely remained inside his chest. In an instant, trying to bear it inside his heart, his expression became crying as he smiled.
There was never once, he was being called as a friend till now.
"Okay."
He could only replied in a childish voice. Then, Ash passed the boundary, he sold off the baggage that he retrieved, and bought a poor-quality sword. He continued to walk day and night, finally reaching the street one day after he left the desert.
The mansion was somehow dyed in red. He looked up at the heavy gate, feeling as if he had reached a remote place. His feet trembled aimlessly. Of course, Ash thought emptily. He had hardly ate anything. He was able to secure water from here and there, but because there was no fire, he traveled with an empty stomach.
With a creak the gate opened. He wondered how would his brothers look when they saw him. What would they say. Now that he thought of, had his subordinates returned yet. It was a one-day mission. When he was looking at the sun raise, they must surely be sleeping well in their warm bed.
"Ash!"
A clear voice called out in front. He looked up. The long red hair rushed out from the entrance.
"Ash!"
As she cried out his name again and again, she ran towards him in her full strength. This was not such a long distance between the door and the entrance. She ran into his arms gently like a shift of wind, he could smell the scent of her. He did not smell the usual scent of flowers. But it was enough for him.
She worried about him.
"Ash, Ash, Ash! Welcome back! Welcome back!"
In front of the entrance, he could saw his father and mother.
Being hugged, he could feel the touches of skins when he was being hold tight. Oh, it's human he thought. Rounding with arms, and holding onto his shoulders. He buried his face in the arms, trying to hide the fact that he was crying.
"... ... I'm back."
At last, words of Sakura could not be called as words. She was relieved, her heart must be pacified with worries. Ash could only continue to stroke her back.
He slept through the whole day. When he opened his eyes, he could see Sakura holding onto his hand sleeping by the side of the bed. Her eyes were red. They reminded him that she had been crying for a long time.
He got up. It was considerably comfortable. The medicine seemed to be working.
"...Sakura"
"... ..."
"Can you let go of my hand. I need to go to the military office."
"... ... Oh, okay. And good morning."
"... ...Ah, right. Good morning."
Ash picked up his snow-white knight coat. He tidied his hair, and attached the title and crest onto his chest, he looked around the room. He looked for his loved sword, but couldn't find it. The maintenance hadn't ended yet. Without other ways, he slid the poor-quality sword which had accompanied him for a while in his waist unwillingly.
"Is it for the report?"
"... ... Yes."
"Are you fine, going alone?"
"Yes, it's okay."
The morning sun still remained inside his heart.
Passing the entrance, opening the door, he headed towards the center of the town.
The military office was located right next to the castle, it acted also as a training center, therefore the grounds were quite wide. There were guards at the entrance, and the proofs of identity were needed to present.
Ash stopped. There was blood. Many people were crowding in the center of the town. Screams. Roars. Sound of something being hit.
He pushed through the crowds, and headed to the direction where the smell of blood came from at a quick pace. A shout. He had heard it somewhere before. Sliding between people and people, he headed straightly. There was a figure he recognized.
"... ... SEVEN!"
Ten several knights were laying on the ground. With several ten more knights surrounding them. There were three knights seizing him to the ground. Five knights hitting the non-movable body indiscriminately.
What is this.
Blood dropped as fists were swung against his forehead. His waist sank into his feet. At the same time he coughed, blood was spitted out. Still he shook his head strongly trying to break free. With a shimmer, he could saw burning anger in his golden eyes.
Ash froze.
Among the five knights that were beating, there was one of a higher rank. The high-ranked knight pulled out his sword without hesitation.
"SEVEN!"
He cried, pushing the knights who had carried out punching and kicking over and over again away. Pulling him back from the knights that hold onto him, he protected him in his back. As he tried to protect him, a sound of a dull sound, an acute pain surged into his right shoulder.
A sword was buried deep in there. Blood stained his white coat.
"... Ash! Why, are you here!"
"... ...Bro...ther..."
He looked at his brother bearing the pain. It was his third brother. His eyes were filled with surprise, for an instant, the power acted on the sword was weaken.
"Please, hold back, your sword."
"... ... I cannot! That bastard suddenly came to the security office and started attacking us! This is the holy military office, shallow actions would not be allowed!"
"Please, brother, retreat... ...Even though it may be, shallow, but it's wrong, to draw your sword, suddenly."
"Move out of the way, Ash!"
"I won't move... ... You're wrong, my brother!"
The sword sank deeper into his shoulder. His bone screamed, as if the pain was trying to escape from his body. Trying to rebel against the pushed sword, he stressed on his feet. He knew that SEVEN was clutching onto the hem of his coat behind him.
"Are you saying that you will not listen to the words of your brother!"
His words were stirred up, and something was being slashed in front of him. With a moan, he looked up, and stepped forward. His flesh was cut, blood was bleeding, with a thrust, the sword pierced through his shoulder.
(He tried to kill me before)
What is becoming of it, with words spoken suddenly as an older brother.
"Draw back, your sword!"
Words spitted out were filled with anger, he stepped forward, his opponent being daunted, stepped back. Sounds were emitted as the sword sank deeper. He could feel no pain anymore. He was filled with anger. The hem of his coat was being pulled strongly. Stop it, Ash. The words became far away immediately. He would not back down. Ash would only proceed forward.
Letting his red eyes blazed with fury, still Ash demanded for himself.
"He saved my life... ... ! Brother, please... ... draw back your sword... ...!"
Dripped, dripped, the ground was stained red. Silence fell on the surrounding. Sights of criticism gathered on his brother, he pulled the sword back being awfully confused. Pain returned when it was being pulled out. His hand covering the wound. Blood poured out between the gaps of his fingers, they dripped. His hand was overlapped with the fingers of someone else.
"What the hell are you doing... ...!"
"That's what I wanted to ask, why, are you here."
"... ... ..."
His face grimaced as if he wanted to say something, yet SEVEN kept his mouth closed by biting onto his own lips. His hand pressed with force trying to stop the blood. Ash bore the pain. He must hear from him.
"You have done nothing wrong."
Before he could post his question, he muttered to him a single sentence. A cold voice ordered, he was not sure whether it was his brother's or not. Seize. The overlapping hand was separated. SEVEN did not resist. Why. He looked up. Shaking his head, SEVEN glanced at him strongly.
"Ash. For the time being lock yourself in the house. I have the right to punish you."
It could be heard far away. Similar to desperation, similar to hatred, something spread in his heart. SEVEN being pulled away powerfully, did nothing, but only looked at Ash with his shining strong eyes.
Oh, in the middle of the pain, he understood.
(Surely, he must have done nothing bad also)
Looking at his eyes, he could feel something being cut inside his heart once again.
He had understood right away that he had not doubt him.
The lock of the room was being broken from the inside, the only way to open it was from the outside. His wound was being treated, yet the pain remained. Sakura had prepared white bandages and ointment. It was good to have his mother treating his wounds, but without knowing anything about the package handled over from his brothers and the true about the Royal Knights, he could not discuss anything with her.
He touched the wound. Why on earth was he at that place. A day hadn't passed since they since parted. Did he chase after me, immediately after that.
Why?
(... ... He was furious)
To be able to charge into the people with a larger numbers of swords in their hands all by himself, he must be really angry. Then what had caused him to be that furious that he could lose his mind. Why? He wondered whether he had done something to outrage him.
(I have done nothing. He has said, that I have done nothing wrong.)
Then why was he angry? After they parted, he was sure that he remained in the desert.
Then, it must the Chivalric Order. He reached the conclusion immediately. The team that had went to the desert along with him. They must have done something.
If they had done nothing, he wouldn't be that angry to have jumped in recklessly. He didn't seem to be a fellow that would do something like that. He laughed a lot, and when he returned a smile to him, he was someone that would laugh more. Unless in extreme circumstances, he wouldn't become like that. He wasn't someone that would boil over such trifles.
Ash stood up from his bed. Putting on his knight coat, and looked for a weapon. His sword was taken away from him. Even if it was something soothed, it would be fine as long as it was something he could use in emergency when he was alone. Such a small knife or dagger would be good enough. I pulled out the drawer of the desk. There laid a dagger for committing suicide.
(...Why do I think something like this is necessary)
If the enemy countries invaded, and had became the situation of siege, it could be used to kill his enemies, or the pick his own death. Escapism was a crime in the Kingdom. At least, that was what the chief had taught him. His teaching was learned by heart, same as remembering the ways of handling a sword, and learning the will one must held.
He held them in his heart. He opened the window. Was it able for him to jump off. If there weren't any trees nearby, there would be nothing to support his body.
Klak, he heard a sound of something broken from far away. He was startled and turned towards the door. Someone was coming. The sound of unlocking with a key.
He moved calmly near the door. With his back against the wall, he told out the dagger that he had just put away. Slowly he pulled out the dagger.
"... ...Ash"
"Sakura,"
He could hear the voice of his childhood friend from the opening gap of door. He put away the dagger reflectively.
"Why... ...?"
"... You're the one that gave me the key."
Seeing her red eyes, with a smile, she crept into the room. Sakura slowly closed the door, to prevent it from making a sound. In her small hand, was the poor quality sword taken away from him.
"I heard from aunt, what exactly happened?"
"I don't understand too. But, I am sure that my brother was wrong."
"You're going, right"
"Yes."
The sword was held out to him before he replied. As he received it, he felt like crying. He understood. Sakura was always on his side.
"Don't you force yourself do much, understand? Got it? It's a promise. Here are some potions and this...wait, what are these call, something like power seeds?"
"...What are they call...you..."
"How will I know! Going to the item shop in the town, and asked for supplies for traveling, are the best I can do. How will I know about items needed for men when they carry weapons!"
He smiled bitterly and thanked her. Strangely and desperately, Sakura ransacked through the bag, without knowing what they were, she pushed them into the hands of Ash.
"The amount for two days! I have only told them to prepare items needed for traveling and fighting. I let the item shop took care of the rest. Everything needed should be there, Ash. Therefore, don't force yourself too much."
"Okay."
"Your sword will soon by ready... But, you can't wait that long, right."
"Yeah, I needed to go immediately."
Silently, Sakura opened the door to confirm the corridors. No one was there. She opened the door widely.
"Go, Ash. I will lock the room before I go."
"... Sakura, thank you."
"...Next time, when we go to eat pink caviar, it's your treat."
"I'll be prepared!"
He headed straight forward, dashing down the stairs. Arriving at the lobby and passed the entrance without looking back. The new carpets had absorbed the sound of the footsteps, simply leaving no echoes behind.
Sakura leaned forward to see him off. After he was out of her sight, she locked the room. She swallowed the small golden key left in her hand down her throat.
The moon was round. The path was bright. He was able to reach the military office without being seen by anyone. Without decreasing his speed, he flew pass the gate, giving the sleeping guards a glance, he headed for the door of the building.
Through the courtyard, in the deepest part where trees grew closed to each other, was a staircase to underground. In front of it was the prison. He would probably be bought there.
Before he passed the courtyard, he stopped. A long item was rolling on the dumb site. It hadn't broke yet, with a few new wounds on it, he was sure that, it was SEVEN's lance. There was no pardon towards the properties of others too. As he tried to stop his anger from raging, he held onto the handle. By just lifting it, he was surprised at the weight.
(Its heaviness is no match for swords)
I'm strong! Filled with self-confidence, there was no doubt that he was really strong. Even though he hadn't directly seen any battle scenes, he could have defeat many knights that had gone through training.
(One of the good things about him is he haven't killed anyone.)
He carried it on his shoulder. The heaviness was unexpectedly pleasant. Oh, there were weapons like this. He wondered if there were swords similar to it. He rushed down the stairs. He didn't care about the footsteps. If somebody were there, he would slash his way through without hesitation. With determination, Ash held onto the lance. He could see lights of the lamb.
"Move, awaaaaaaaay!"
He roared as he dashed. It didn't matter if his brothers were here or not. With stir and tragedy, several people were sent flying to the ceiling and fell back down.
He pulled his sword out with his right hand. With the pain caused by the pierced, he slashed. Doors that continued in the prison collapsed easily.
"Someone, stop him!"
"Don't let him pass!"
The voices called out, but it didn't matter. He ran straightly down the dark rocks, looking right and left. Criminals were starring at him in utter amazement. The white coat fluttered in the darkness.
In the deepest part, he recognized a face behind a rack of bars.
"... Ash."
He heard his voice. Slashing with the sword in his right hand once more. A thick sound. They wouldn't break. Filled with power, he tried once again. A sound echoed and the sword was broken. The bars, five of them standing near each other, also scattered in a crush.
He sighed. Their eyes engaged, towards him that had been acting freely as he wanted, he looked at him filled with joy.
"If you're really that strong why don't you get out of there by yourself!"
"It's against my policy to kill a person!"
"Don't you try to say anything cool!"
It would sound if it was hit. He would reply if he talked. He threw him his lance. He held the broken sword diagonally, and dashed through the group of people chasing after him. He could feel something getting big behind. Ah, his chest shivered.
(This is fun)
This is fun!
"Come on come on get out of my way!"
His voice was dancing too.
Charging straight forward, resembling the shadow of the Diablos. Ash pulled out the dagger from his chest. The broken sword in one hand and the dagger in the other hand. He turned around suddenly. He aimed at the enemies that turned to go around them, using the grip to take away their consciousness, he advanced without stopping, the dance of the devil.
"Chase them! Don't let them escape!"
"But, that person, is your...!"
"I don't mind if you kill him! He... is the betrayer of the clan!"
Hearing the voice of his brother behind his back, he scorned. Who is the betrayer. But he wouldn't care any more.
They jumped out of the prison. Headed straightly towards the gate. He could tell that people were gathering there. For an instant, he wondered what to do next.
"Hey, Ash!"
"What is it!"
"The guys at the back are yelling, that you are gonna be killed!"
"Don't joke! There's now way I'm agreeing to die!"
"Then let's just run!"
It was because he had a place to return, that he was able to say so. Ash was puzzled for a moment. He looked at SEVEN only to find him shining as usual.
But he could feel that he was feeling painful somewhere for some reasons.
"Once we reached outside, let's become hunters! Let's go to see and visit more places!"
Just like that morning sun, the golden wyverns also, the birds that floated in the sky, the rainbow colored lake.
"More, let's go and see more!"
(...Just like that morning sun)
A trip to see all the beautiful things in the world.
... He had always wanted to go to far-off places freely.
Just like the king of skies, that ruled over every sky.
"Ash!"
He looked back reflectively towards the sound that called him. Wariness rose at a stretch. The gate was crowded with people, but by a place not faraway, there was a small doorway.
There stood a shadow. It was his eldest brother.
"Ash! This way!"
"...!"
"Go now!"
There was no time for him to think. With his wariness reaching maximum, Ash started to run towards that place. If his brother aimed at his throat, then he would kill him in return, with the urge to kill, he passed through the doorway.
Yet, his brother only stood behind their backs trying to cover them.
"Brother?"
"I'm sorry about what happened in the desert."
'What is this all about!"
"It doesn't matter just go!... ... Stay in good health."
His eldest brother said as he drew his sword. With a push from SEVEN, he ran through the middle of the town filled with questions. What is that. I don't get it. Ash panted. The developments were too fast that he could not catch up. What is happening?
"...Now everything would be settled peacefully. "
"Don't push yourself too hard, Nobu-chan... Are you sure? Not to destroy dealer?"
"It doesn't matter. They are disposable tools to begin win. There's nothing to earn from the knights. The boss did say so too."
On the roof of the military office, were two shadows exchanging their sights. It was because the moon was at their back, they would need to move in order to grasp the present situation.
"Falt... ... Doesn't this all happen because you resisted killing that lance user in the first place... Seriously, letting my plan fall flat suddenly."
"No way am I doing it. I quite like those types of people very much. Why did he have to find out in the first place. It need not have to be him."
"If I could have press them harder, then there could be no violence happening."
"I'm sorry, Nobu-chan."
"In a manner of speaking it doesn't matter anymore. ... Anyway, it seemed to be going well."
Down there, was the eldest brother drawing near to his brother with a sword. The brother was overwhelmed and started to step back. He didn't care much about letting the lance youngster and the red hair escape. Nobutuna watched movements in silence.
It was him that told the eldest son of the Clan of the Fire Wyverns, that their third son was smuggling narcotic.
Adding poison into the tranquilizer, dipping medical herbs into the solution. Dry it in a place where sun wouldn't shine upon for a week, then grounded them into powders as they had lost their moisture, and packed them into a huskberry. They were not use do treat wounds, but by taking it into the body. It was a medicine that would violate the nerve systems, and would cause one mad, sometimes death also. The dependence was high. It originally was a anesthesia used against monsters, it may be possible to cause instant death it was used on human bodies. Yet, it would temporarily take away pain and the sense of pain away from the user. Behind the scene, it was a treasure to the soldiers. A dangerous medicine that could turn a person into a berserker.
Let alone the Hunters Guild, the control of it in the Kingdom was very severe. By having them in property would cause one to be imprison, and death penalty if sold.
"No one will have thought that the dealer of the Chivalric Order, happens to be the son the Clan of the Fire Wyverns. Even I don't know about that."
"It's his fault for not following the market price."
Falt commented coldly. Nobutuna looked down once again. The older brother had put away his sword. The younger one collapsed. The other knights around hold him down at once. As expected, there was no immediate death penalty. Considering their social position, that's sure. What a way to fool the heart.
"Not a word to anyone, Falt. This what you said."
"Of course."
He wouldn't tell no matter what happened. Swaying a paired of decorated purple ears, he grinned sweetly.
"...So, now, let's finish this up..."
Nobutuna hold onto his favorite black sword strongly.
When they ran passed the front of the mansion, he could saw the red hair in the glossy night. With that alone he understood. Standing in front of the gate was Sakura, seeing them approached, she ran towards them. She rushed without stopping.
"Ash, wait."
"What is it, Sakura."
"Your brother is waiting at the towns gate. Go, Ash. You must not come back for a while."
"Just what is happening... ...What on Earth is happening,"
Ash. Calling his name, Sakura hugged Ash around his neck. SEVEN stared in shock. Giving her childhood friend a squeeze, Sakura broke into tears.
"You are free now... ...like the fire wyvern"
"Sakura...?"
"I wanted to go, too. You're first, Ash."
Let's meet again. She said as she let go of her arms, Sakura showed him a smile. An awfully lonely smile.
"You still got a promise to keep."
"..."
"Go now."
See you. Sakura ran back into the mansion. What was that. He stared at her back in utter amazement, until someone put his hand onto his shoulder.
"What is that just now. Your lover?"
"W-What- You idiot! No way!"
"Really- She's quite a beauty."
"I said she's not!"
With a snicker, SEVEN smiled creepily. Sensing something danger from his expression, Ash began to run to escape. His face was boiling. His heart was throbbing.
"What's that––- You're blushing––- , aren't you guys sweet––-"
"Shut up! You're noisy!"
"You're first, Ash! ... Just by looking nearby already made me feel embarrassed! How embarrassing!"
"Shall I stop you from breathing first!"
"No- Ash is angry! I'm scared!"
"Die!"
They could see the town's gate. There stood his second eldest brother and his fiancée. They stopped slowly. Two horses.
"...Use them, Ash."
"..."
He looked at his older brother. His brother simply lowered his eyes.
"...I'm sorry that I doubted you"
"...?"
"Me and big brother will take care of the rest. I'm sure that you should be confused now, not knowing what is happening... But for the affair in the desert, sorry."
"What is happening, brother?"
"Hey, about the things that talkative guy said."
He looked at SEVEN who interfered all of a sudden. His eyes were cold. He could feel the sense of danger crawling on his back. The eyes of fury. His brother merely nodded as an answer.
"...Ash, don't come back here for the time being. You might be in danger. Before all the misunderstandings are solved, stay outside."
"Brother?"
"You there... Even though this is our first meet, I won't ask you to forgive the rudeness of the Chivalric Order. We will compensate you. Those knights are also under the patronage of that idiot."
"What a fast investigation."
"The Clan of the Fire Wyverns still held trusts. With hands to follow up, we could figure out it immediately. ... ...This affair alone is very important and heavy."
"Never tried to violate the rules of the desert you tamped. No next time will be allowed."
"We got it."
His brother bowed down sharply. Straight at SEVEN. Even though he knew nothing about what was happening, Ash admired the clean bow.
"... Take care of our brother."
Towards the said word, all his cells shook.
(... Isn't this person,)
Does this person really wanted me dead.
"You got a really good brother."
He was told in a whisper. Still at loss, he pulled his hand, sitting astride the horse. A neigh. Moonlight. Under them, his brother took the the emblems and titles from Ash's chest, taking all his burdens from him.
Why.
(Brother, why.)
"Let's go, Ash."
"... I"
"Go, Ash."
Look at the world. His brother smiled. With his questions being rejected, Ash shut his mouth.
Grasping onto the reins, he kicked the stirrup. The horse threw its head, and ran out of the street. Dashing next to him, SEVEN followed silently. He was sure that he must know something.
However, now.
(I'll look, at the world)
"...SEVEN"
"Yeah?"
"Where can a hunter go?"
Eh, of course anywhere they want? SEVEN replied wonderingly.
"Because, hunters have the freedom."
"...Really."
Freedom.
"So, Ash."
"Yes?"
"Is there anything you wanted to see?"
"Me? ...Right."
He looked up at the night sky. With the town left behind their backs, the numbers of stars increased.
"Rathalos. I want to see the Rathalos."
He wanted to see the wyvern of fate, that his brothers carried on their shoulders.
One year had passed since he and SEVEN became hunters together, it was until then that he finally knew, his third brother was killed right after Ash left the town.
Author's Note:
How is this chapter? Hope you enjoyed it! The rate of fictionalization has reached over 100% already! I wonder why am I ended up with this imagination. Many mysterious in this chapter will be unwrapped in the next chapter. I'll like to write a chapter on Sakura too. I'll be happy to have you read along the story together with me. Thanks for reading!
Translator's Note:
Here is the second chapter. There's a whole bunch of names appearing in this chapter, I even got mixed up a little ( ^ w ^ ;;) Haha. If there's any mistakes, feel free to tell me~! If you have any suggestions, it's okay to tell me also. Just in case someone is wondering, what happen to the characters in the first chapter? They'll come out again. In fact, the whole story is linked up.