Chapter 36: A False God: Part 1 of 2 To Protect a Girl
The mysterious girl that Ladius rescued moaned as she began to stir, slowly, she rose out of the bed and noticed Ladius, Ellis, Renee, Etna, Dyshana, Winfield, Yuri, Luke and Tear staring at her.
"W-Where am I?" The girl murmured as she rubbed her eyes to clear her vision.
"Ladius found you unconsciousness outside the Old Yamato Republic shortly after you appeared mysteriously." Ellis said in concern as she gave the girl some herbal tea which she gladly accepts and drank.
"Mind telling us your name?" Yuri asked with a aura of kindness. For some reason, she reminds him of Estelle.
"...I think my name is Meu..." The girl identified as Meu yawned before smiling. "Other than my name, I don't remember anything else other than my skill with the sword and my Tenma Sword." Meu pointed to her sword on the back of her hip.
"Looks like we have another amnesiac." Yuri smiled as he did some hand gestures.
"What do you mean?" Meu raised an eyebrow in question and confusion.
"Like you, some of us otherworlders have lost their memories of their lives and worlds due to an evil demon named Summerill pulling us into this world called Agarest. Looks like you're confined to one of his trinkets." Renee sighed as she shook her head.
"Huh?" Meu blinked as she noticed the red bracelet on her right arm, she tried to get it off, but failed. "Awww... I don't remember wearing this..." She face faulted.
"It is destiny that you're here with us, lady Meu. If you travel with us, I'm sure we can find a way to remove the trinkets we're wearing." Winfield smiled like a pervert.
Ellis has an anger vein on her forehead as she muttered "Again with this..."
"Hey..." Luke spoke up. "Since we have no memories of our worlds and crap, how about the five of you become my amnesia buddies?"
"No way since you're a bratty noble... and I don't tolerate nobles..." Yuri frowned as he looked away, annoyed by Luke's childish behavior.
"The hell that's supposed to mean?!" Luke snapped at Yuri, itching to start a fight.
"Luke, drop it." Tear sighed as she face palmed.
Etna and Meu looked at each, staring into each other's eyes. Etna, for some damn reason, feels like she knows this girl, but her memory is a bit foggy at the moment to know who Meu is.
Meu also feels like she knows Etna, but can't remember why. She asked with "I feel like we have met before somewhere... Have we met before?" She asked confusedly, feeling a bit silly she asked that question.
"I doubt it..." Etna said quickly.
"Well, will you help us fight Summerill?" Ellis asked with a kind smile.
"You bet! With my family's Tenma Sword, Summerill will be cleave in two!" Meu grinned, patting her sword. Ladius stared at the Tenma Sword.
"Say, Meu? Is it alright if I take a look at your sword?" Ladius asked with gentleness.
"Sure. Mind if I see your sword, mister..." Meu stopped in mid-sentence, feeling rude that she doesn't know her savior's name.
"Ladius von Busser Ragian. Son of Leonhardt and Fyuria Ragian." Ladius intoduced himself with a smile as he unsheathed his family's sword and gave it to Meu while the latter gave her Tenma Sword to inspect.
"Amazing, this sword has a golden tip and it well crafted. I have never seen such a fine sword." Meu smiled as she gave Ladius his sword back.
"Thanks, I can say the same about your sword as well only without the golden tip of my sword." Ladius nodded.
Just then Yayoi came in. "Ladius, miss Renee, Miss Ellis. Ryutai would like to meet with you." Yayoi closed her eyes and smiled.
"I take it you got him to agree to let us stay here?" Renee smiled gently.
"Hai." Yayoi nodded with a cute smile. "He feels you are trust worthy travelers and wishes to meet with you."
"Alright… let's meet this Ryutai loaf and get this over with…" Etna shrugged as she sighed.
Ryutai was a man about 40 years old, wore Japanese clothes that are like the ones the ancients of many Earths wore in the past and has his hair tied in a ponytail. He also has black hair and a moustache.
Ellis bowed in gratitude and said "Thank you for taking us in on such short notice."
Ryutai chuckled and told the high elf "We are not in the habit of inviting armed and strangely dressed strangers into our homes… …But if Yayoi brought you here, then I believe you are to be trusted."
IF pondered about this. "Is Yayoi some sort of important figure in Yamato?" She asked in curiosity.
Ryutai nodded and explained "Very much so; Yayoi is the most powerful priestess our people have ever seen. Bringing you here must have been the will of our god."
"The hell that's supposed to mean?" Luke blinked.
Yayoi looked away shyly and replied with "I was returning from a cleansing ceremony by a different path when I came upon you."
"That's super-duper fantastic! We would have died well except for me, Norie and Vert if you haven't found us in our weaken state!" Neptune beamed excitedly.
"Neptune, shush!" Noire scolded her friend for being rude.
Ryutai smiled and commented "You see? It was destiny. Now please, make yourselves at home."
Ladius however, has concern in his eyes. "Are you sure there is no path by which we might cross the Rizel to Fensarrill?"
Ryutai nodded and said "Quite sure. The river is wide, and strong. It will not permit even a bridge- a boat is out of the question. We divert a small proportion of the river for fishing and watering our crops."
"No small feat I would imagine, but I see that is the extent to which mortals can influence Rizel." Vira-Lorr mused, crossing her arms
Ryutai remembered something and added "I have heard of a place where the river can be crossed, deep in the Ryulent Forest to the south." He then frowned and also added "The forest, however, is a mystery to us. None can guide you there."
"Then how did you know the river can be crossed?" Vira-Lorr glared at Ryutai which made him a bit nervous.
"Long ago, the ryulent inhabited that forest and we have many dealings with them." Ryutai explained.
"Um… What are ryulent?" Charlotte asked, wondering what kind of creatures or people the ryulent are.
"The ryulent are tree people and is said to communicate with nature and trees. At least that's what Grandpa told me." Ellis did her best to explain on who the ryulent are.
"Now, hoever, the ryulent are but a memory, and none can traverse their forest." Said Ryutai.
Ladius scratched his chin in thought and responded "Even if it is only the smallest of chances, we must try."
"Like hell! I'm not gonna get my shoes wet again! Who died and made you leader?!" Luke was up in Ladius's face, but Ladius, being calm and collected was unfazed by Luke's bratty attitude.
"Ladius is our leader and a pretty good one to boot! So his decision is law and we must obey!" Neptune pumped her fists in the air to prove her point.
"And since you're like us who are cursed with immortality wearing Summerill's cursed trinkets, you have to tag along with us." Renee added firmly.
"Damn it… I knew stopping at this town was a bad idea…" Luke sighed, a sigh cloud appeared.
"Luke, Ladius knows this world better than we do, so it would be rude to turn down his offer." Tear told him sternly.
"Shut up!" Luke snapped.
"I no longer wish to prove my innocence, but I cannot stand by and watch those who depended on me die. I have a destiny to fulfill and ensure their safety and to save my friends who are otherworlders from a fate worse than death…" Ladius looked up to the skies in thought.
Tear looked at Ladius oddly and asked confusedly "What do you mean you have a destiny to fulfill?"
"It's kinda complicated, but we'll tell you later…" Noire looked at her side despondently. She still can't get over the fact that Leo, a man whom she trusted ever since arriving in Agarest is gone forever since he and Fyuria became one with the pillar back in Lucreillia. Ellis also looked at Ladius with a concerned look.
"Thank you for telling us this information." Magno bowed lightly.
Ryutai smiled softly and said "I only wish I could have been of more help to you." He bowed lightly.
Dyshana looked at Yayoi with stoic and calm demeanor and said with no emotion "Yayoi, was it? I would ask you to accompany us in our journey."
Yayoi was caught off guard by this and muttered "Me…? Go with you?" To be honest, Yayoi dreams of seeing the outside world and what amazing adventures and perils await her. Perhaps meeting Ladius was destiny as Ryutai has said?
Dyshana nodded and added "The power of light you possessed will be needed to cleanse the land of darkness. That power must be expanded beyond this marsh."
Yayoi pressed her thumbs nervously and stammered "Th-This is so sudden… I… I don't know…"
"No! Yayoi is our priestess. Our home cannot exist without her." Ryutai protested. Dyshana glared at Ryutai which like Vira-Lorr made him nervous again.
It was then, Zerva, Windfield, Jak and Vashtor came up with serious frowns. Zerva was first as he said grimly "That is true, but not for the reasons you would have us believe. We already know the truth. Your priestess will soon be sacrificed to your god."
Rei's eyes widen in shock. "B-But that would mean…!"
Ryutai was caught off guard by this and muttered "How did you…?"
Winfield scratched his head nervously and said with a nervous smile "Offering a sacrifice to protect your god? That seems… a little archaic."
"This god of yours must be a blood-thirsty one, huh?" Jak asked, folding his arms.
"We only wish to protect our home! We do not wish to do this, but we must! It has always been so." Ryutai panicked and added "If our god abandons us, we will be lost… the marsh will swallow us up… If there was any other way…" Ryutai looked down despondently.
Vashtor looked at Ryutai with cold eyes and asked sternly "If it can accept your sacrifices, then your god must be a physical being, correct?"
Ryutai was skeptic of this and nodded slowly.
"Then we'll see this god for ourselves and find out if it truly does protect your village…" Kat frowned, Dusty hissed at Ryutai, meaning she is angry at him for allowing Yayoi to accept such a horrible fate.
"Y-You are mad!" Ryutai gasped.
"You shall be our witness. Take us to him." Dyshana ordered stoically.
"I hope lady Dyshana has some sort of plan…" Jean gulped.
Yayoi pondered about her future fate to be killed, 20 seconds later, she looked up, eyes filled with determination and replying with "I…I will go too. Our tradition of sacrifice is long. I do not mean to flout tradition… but I will see for myself if my sacrifice is really going to protect my home." Yayoi looked at Ryutai with pleading eyes and begged "Please, Ryutai."
Ryutai looked at Yayoi's eyes and in about 10 seconds, he sighed and said "Very well… I will tell everyone in the village we're merely showing our guests around the village. However, no one from the town must know where we're going."
Dyshana nodded and said "Of course."
Ryutai went to inform his king of our heroes' plans. Yayoi looked at Ladius and asked "Mister Ladius… Are you really going to try to save me if our god tries to eat me? …To be honest, I'm scared of what will happen to me if I am sacrificed and my sacrifice will not save the village…" She began to sniffled
Ladius bent down and looked at Yayoi with a kind smile. "Do not worry, Yayoi. You helped us and we are returning the favor. I swear, by my father, Leonhardt Ragian's blood, I will not let you die at the hands of some blood-thirsty god."
Yayoi looked up. "Y-You promised?"
Ladius nodded and smiled again as he patted Yayoi on the head and said two words: "I promised."
To be continued…
Next chapter: The False God: Part 2 of 2: The Selfish Angel and Battle with the FalseGod of Rizel
A/N: I'm baaaaaaaaack! It's been a long hiatus for me and now I have lots of stories to be working on. But mainly, this story has been drawn to me in a special way. So now I'll be working on my current projects and hopefully get them done. Now anyway, I decided to make this a two parter due to, ahem, obvious reasons and planning on adding Nyaruko-san to Generation 2 or 3 depending if you want Nyaruko and her gang to appear in this generation or the next. Okay, see you next time.
P.S: This chapter is made in memory of my nana who passed away three days ago… May she rest in peace….