Chapter 10: The Traveling Filolial
After Filo being able to transform into a more human-like form, they went to the slave trader to get a special crest for Filo. When she was getting her crest, she tried to resist but gets the crest. The reason being is because Filolial Monarchs are hard to tame and control, so that is why Arthur had to get the crest despite his own beliefs. With that out of the way, they headed for the magic shop in order to get some magic thread for Filo's new clothes. Filo is in her human form and dressed in a brown cloak. Filo just smiles and runs around because she is enjoying the sights.
"Filo!" Raphtalia shout out, "Wait just a minute!" She runs up to make sure Filo doesn't go too far.
Arthur isn't paying much attention as he recollects something that happened back at Lute Village.
Lute Village, After the Race
Once the race was over and Arthur got his pass, Arthur walks up to one of the Shadows. "Excuse me." he says to her, "May I have a word with you? I got a message for your queen."
"What is the message?" she asks.
Arthur approach and whispers something in the Shadow's ear. He whispers to her about something that is important. Possibly the events that may transpire after the next wave.
He leans away, "Can you deliver that message?"
"I'll see what I can do." she says. And she disappears.
Present Day
Arthur snaps out of it as they are at the entrance of the magic shop. Arthur takes a deep sigh because of what happened the last time they were here.
Filo notices, "Something wrong, master?"
Arthur replies to Filo, "Sorry. The last time I was here, I...may have accidentally destroyed all the windows in the shop when I was trying to investigate this spirit in my shield. Also, I told you to call me Arthur."
"Okay!"
Gwen is a bit more relaxed as she leans against the wall with her arms cross, "I'm pretty sure she's not mad."
Arthur opens the door, "Hello?"
The shop owner notices, "Oh, welcome back!" She just greets Arthur and his party with a smile.
"Hey." Arthur still feels guilty as he comes in. "About last time..."
The shop owner just laughs, "That's okay, deary! Thanks to those gems, I managed to not only get new windows but also some new crystal balls. I manage to get one for you, Shield Hero." She holds up the crystal ball, "This one is free because I got a lot of money left over."
"Just call me, Arthur." Arthur is a little relieved to hear that and he gets a free crystal ball.
Yet the shop owner notices Filo, "And who is this?"
"This is Filo. She's a Filolial Monarch."
"Oh, I see. Would you like to hear about her affinity? Is that why you're here?"
"Well, there's that."
Raphtalia says, "We're actually here for some magic thread to make some clothes for her."
"I see now." the magic shop owner understands. "But unfortunately, my magic gemstone that I use for weaving is destroyed. I try to get a replacement but I have no luck."
"I see." Arthur looks at the spinning wheel that makes the magic thread. 'Saw that coming, but worth a try. However, don't wanna stray too far from the timeline or otherwise the butterfly effect will kick in. The last thing people need is a typhoon or a tsunami combine with the Waves.'
The shop owner looks at her crystal ball, "Now let's discuss about the young girl's magic affinity. Free of charge, of course."
After learning that Filo's magic affinity is wind, they all head out in the cart to deliver some merchandise while Filo is singing a tune on the road on a cliffside.
"Filo has, wind affinity. I will defeat, all the enemies."
In the back of the wagon, Raphtalia is still suffering from motion sickness and is lying on her back looking pale.
Gwen says, "At least we got a crystal ball out of it."
"Yeah." Arthur agrees as he is driving the wagon. "Although I wonder what sort of hidden magic potential I can get. I wonder if it will work on Nephalem."
"Best to wait until we get a chance then."
Filo keeps on singing, "If I ever see the Spear Guy again, I'll give him a high-powered kick!"
Arthur then notices a man running desperately on the road trying to get somewhere. "Right on cue." he says. He pulls the wagon over close to the man, "Hey! Need a lift?"
The man runs up to Arthur to explain his situation, "Please help! I have to get this medicine to my mother! I need to get there, fast!"
"Okay." Arthur just bluntly agrees as he unhooks Filo from the wagon. He says to Raphtalia, "Raphtalia, protect the wagon. It'll be faster if I take Filo and the man without it."
"Got it." Raphtalia is still a little woozy but still able to help.
Arthur hops on Filo's back and Filo place the man on her back.
"Hold on tight!" Arthur says to the man.
Filo starts running off in high speed with the man screaming. The three make their way towards a checkpoint to the village.
However, the guard there says, "HEY! STOP! YOU NEED TO PAY THE TOLL!"
Arthur throws the pass at the guard before Filo jumps over the little piece of wood blocking the path.
Arthur looks back as he yells, "I WANT IT BACK ONCE MY BUSINESS HERE HAS CONCLUDED! GOT IT!?"
The three arrived at the house where the former adventurer, Elrasla Grilaroc (also known as Granny), lives. Filo is outside while the other two are inside. Both of them see the old woman lying on the bed and looking very ill.
"Hey." Arthur says to the man, "I'll give your mother the medicine while you get some water. Best if I do it."
"Uh, right." The man exits the room to get some water.
Arthur looks at the medicine in his hand and uses the |Potion Enhancement| skill to make the medicine more potent than before. Once that his done, he gives her the potion. The woman drank all of the potion until she starts to give off a yellow glowing aura. All of the sudden, she feels much better and sit-up straight.
Her son comes in with a cup of water, but is surprised to see his mother being well. "Mother?"
She is sitting-up and feeling healthy, "I feel... I feel... I feel all better now. So strange."
Her son approaches, "But you feel all better now." He looks at Arthur, "What did you do?"
Arthur stands there, "Just use one of my skills to make the medicine more potent. She should feel like a spring chicken with enough rest." He chuckles a little, "She might even be able to kick butt like the adventurer she used to be." But looks serious, "Now, can I have two carrots and a little bit of meat? I'll accept it as payment."
The man smiles, "Yes, sir! Right away!"
Arthur gets Filo ready to head back to Raphtalia as the man runs up to him with the bag that has the carrots and meat. Arthur later does his business as he sells some handmade goods he has made alongside Filo and Raphtalia at many towns and villages. On the road, the three fight against the monsters in order to gain experience points and level-up with Gwen keeping an eye out for any trouble. At night, Arthur learns this world's written language with some assistance from Raphtalia with Gwen watching them in order to understand. Other times he checks his shield to see what other types of shields and abilities he can use. He found out that he can even use magic spells and other forms of magic that doesn't exactly exist in this world such as spells and magic from Warcraft, Guild Wars, Elder Scrolls, and many others thanks to his datapods that he put in his shield. The crystal ball he uses does enhance his other magical abilities but something seem to be off. He can even use other abilities as well but at the cost of skill points. He also spends sometime to make his wares by hand with the materials he can spawn, able to use the weapon duplication system to use other shields from blacksmiths (still has to pay though), and tries out on making some scientific inventions from his world yet having a hard time trying to make them without the proper tools, equipment and everything needed to make the advance tools. As for Nephalem, he is unable to make any contact with the spirit yet tries as hard as he could.
Eventually, he met the merchant, Hickwaal, as plan. For those that don't know, Hickwaal is an accessory merchant and a member of the Merchant's Guild.
Hickwaal requested to travel somewhere where he can sell his goods and requested a ride from Arthur. Raphtalia does the driving
As they are traveling along the road, the Hickwaal says, "I can't believe I get to ride with Our Savior of the Heavenly Fowl."
"Huh?" Arthur at Hickwaal as he was checking his inventory.
"You've become quite famous around these parts." Hickwaal explains in a form of some rumor he has heard, "Traveling in a carriage drawn by the god of domesticated birds, our Savior crosses the land to treat the sick with his special medicine!"
Filo turned her head, "Am I really a god?"
Gwen chuckles a little.
"Hey!" Raphtalia shushes Filo, "Arthur says not to talk to strangers!"
Filo covered her mouth with her left wing as she whispers, "Sorry."
Hickwaal is shock to hear Filo talking, "She can talk, too? That's the god of domesticated birds for you!"
Arthur checks the inventory for his wares, "She's not a god or anything like that."
Gwen stands up and looks up ahead of the road and sees the bandits. "Heads-up, the bandits are on cue."
Raphtalia says, "Arthur, there are people blocking the road."
Arthur sighs as he puts down something in a crate, "Guess one of your own betrayed you, Mr. Hickwaal." Arthur looks out the wagon and sees the bandits.
"Wh-wh-what!?" Hickwaal says in horror. "One of my own sold me out!?"
Filo is unhooked from the wagon and is ready to fight as everyone gets out of the wagon except Hickwaal, who is hiding in the wagon. The bandits smile at Arthur and his party as they think of them as easy prey for them to rob. The leader of the bandits has messy blonde hair with some hair on his chin, green jacket, and a blue shirt.
"Strange bird you got there." the leader speaks. "We heard that slimy accessory merchant was hitching a ride with you." He shouts at Hickwaal in the wagon, "We know you're in there!"
Hickwaal cowers behind some of the boxes.
"Quietly hand him over, and we'll spare your lives, at least."
Arthur goes, "Tch! You'll take everything but our lives." Arthur cross his arms as he gives an angry look at them, "You bandits are all alike, no matter what world." He starts cracking his knuckles, "I've been killing assholes like you since I was ten. Many of them even had better equipment than those pieces of trash you guys are carrying. Compare to the hells I've faced, you guys are small insects."
"OH YEAH!?" one of the bandits say as he is angrily annoyed.
"WELL WE GOT A GUY THAT CAN TAKE YOU DOWN!" says the leader who is also ticked, "HE-"
"Even has a class upgrade?" Arthur says.
As the bodyguard of the bandit approach, Raphtalia secretly cast a spell.
"As source of thy power, I order thee. Decipher the laws of nature and conceal me in a haze. Hide Mirage!"
Raphtalia sneaks behind some of the bandits and disarmed all the bandits with her sword while being invisible. She even cut their belts and pants that cause them to fall down. With their undies showing, Filo follows up with her own attack.
Filo extends her wings and does a huge flap while saying, "Fast tornado!"
A small tornado blew and knocks all the bandits down to the ground.
Then Arthur snaps his fingers, "And checkmate."
A bunch of tree roots sprout from the ground and bind the bandits to the ground like rope. What Arthur just used was |Entangling Roots|. A little spell from World of Warcraft that only last 30 seconds. However, Arthur found a way to make it last longer. The merchant came out of hiding as Filo looks down at the bandits that are bound by roots.
"Tell me," Hickwaal says to the bandit leader, "did one of my own sold me out?"
"Yeah, he did." the bandit leader confess, "He told us to mug you because you are carrying some really nice stuff."
Arthur approach, "Now then." Arthur smug as he cross his arms, "We should get these guys to the royal guard, but you guys will just say that you were attacked by the evil Shield Hero. So you leave me with no choice." He looks at Filo, "Filo, you still hungry?"
Filo licks her beak as she looks at the bandits with menacing and hungry eyes, "Yes, master! I really am!"
"Filo is an omnivore so she'll gulp down anything."
The bandits freak-out when they look at the menacing Filolial.
The bandit leader pleads, "Wait! You're supposed to be the Savior of the Heavenly Foul! You cannot commit murder!"
Arthur gives the bandits a menacing glare, "Says the people who have committed murder all their pitiful lives! You deserve punishment!" There is a harsh and hostile tone in his voice as he address the bandits. "As for me, I killed plenty of you guys back in my world! You are all nothing but fucking scum that deserves to be eradicated!"
Gwen says, "Hope these guys will surrender after that."
The bandits start to panic as the leader pleaded, "Wait! P-p-please! D-don't take our lives! Will give you anything!"
"Thought so."
Arthur calms down. "Very well. I'll spare you. Unfortunately though..."
The bandits start to sweat and panic as they prepare for the worst.
Everyone is at the bandits' hideout where the bandits are forced to load everything that they had stolen into Arthur's wagon.
Raphtalia asks the merchant as the two just stand there, "So we're stealing from bandits now. Doesn't that make us more like criminals?"
Hickwaal smiles, "On the contrary, they offered up everything they had to purchase their lives from Our Savior. He's treating even lives as merchandise. Sir Hero's a shining example of the trader's spirit that's so rare nowadays!"
Raphtalia gives a disapproval look, "I'm pretty sure this is just intimidation."
"Oi!" Arthur says from the wagon, "You two stop chit-chating and help out!" He looks at Hickwaal, "I hope you're willing to compensate for this." 'Of course he will.'
Hickwaal chuckles a little, " I offer you all the knowledge and connections I possess. I've taken a real liking to you."
Arthur thinks as they travel, 'As I expected, Hickwaal gave me an in with the trader's grapevine where I learned a few things. As expected, Motoyasu saved a famine-stricken village with the cursed crop. The princess must have found a way to remove the curse and brainwashed Motoyasu again. What I have in mind for her punishment is better than what Naofumi did. Ren has defeated a dragon in the village to the east. I hope he cleaned-up this time around. I told the guy this isn't a video game and corpses don't disappear. There were plenty of rumors about Itsuki, but I know which one is real. The guy lead a revolution against a despot to the north. Leaving the place desolate before he actually made a difference. All he did was switch out one tyrant for another. If they did leave a mess, I may have to clean-up two out of three. Actually, I think I can solve a few problems for the refugees to the north. For now, I need to get the gemstone. Since I have the deed from Hickwaal, I have access to some mines.'
Arthur pulls over at some mine and shows a deed to an elderly foreman.
The man looks at the deed, "This is entirely genuine!" He is surprise to see such a thing. "I never expected that money grubber to just hand over such a thing!"
Arthur says to the man, "Hard to believe, right? By the way, do you know where I can get magic gemstones?"
"Huh?"
"I do know where, but I just don't have the exact location for it."
The foreman told Arthur where to find the magic stone. Arthur went out with Filo and Raphtalia along with the magic shop owner to a desolate area where an old alchemist used to work on a special seed. They arrive closer to the site via wagon.
The woman says, "I'm amazed that you learned where to find the gemstone so quickly."
"Some good news indeed." Arthur says while holding the reins. "But it is in a dicey location though. Possibly full of monsters from one of the waves."
They stop at the temple where the magic gemstone is at yet they noticed some sort of tunnel on the side of the cliffs that leads straight to the interior of the temple. Arthur uses his [Lantern Shield] to light the way.
"This temple was once a notoriously evil alchemist's base of operations." says the shop owner. "I never knew there was a tunnel here."
"I heard from the foreman that there are monsters here that made their nest so nobody ever comes here." He looks around and noticed that the place looks like it was part mine once. "Although, that didn't stop some people for trying to mine here or look for treasure. Stay on your toes."
They kept on walking until they come across the temple ruins area where they see some sort of altar that has some sort of small box on it. When they looked inside, it is empty.
"It's empty." Raphtalia states the obvious.
Gwen speaks in a sarcastic tone, "Thank you, Captain Obvious."
The shop keep noticed something written. "There's ancient writing here. Let me see." She takes a closer look as she reads, "'We pray this seed never
makes it out of here. It is a horribly twisted manifestation of our wish for nobody to starve.' Must've been the work of the alchemist."
'Thought so.' Arthur thinks. 'Looks like I have to clean-up after Motoyatsu when I get the chance.'
Raphtalia points at a path, "Arthur, look! There's a path down this way."
Gwen then stands ready, "Heads-up! We got some trouble!"
Arthur gets ready with his hands extended as he says, "|Zweit Fire Blast|!" Arthur shoots out some fireballs down the path as gengar bats try to retreat from the fire. He says to the old shop keep, "You're up!"
The woman pulls out her wand as she points it at the bats, "Zweit Fire Blast!" She manage to burn many of the bats that were coming towards them.
"Thanks." Arthur thanks the shop keep, "Now let's go."
"Um, Arthur?" Raphtalia tries to say something.
Arthur looks at Raphtalia, "Yes?"
"How come you don't use the pieces of monsters for your shield?"
"When I was looking into my shield, all of the series in my shield have been unlocked."
"I see."
Arthur continues to walk down the tunnel, "Now come on."
Arthur and his little party went down the tunnel in search for the magic gemstone that can be use to make shape-shifting clothes for Filo. They journey further down until they come across a cavern full of magic gemstones all over the place.
"There are so many." Raphtalia says while admiring the glowing gems.
Before they can get a piece, Arthur extends his right arm as he says, "Hold it." He is looking intently at a certain spot in the cavern. "We got a problem."
Everyone look over where Arthur is looking at and they see a creature that looks like a tiger with a lion's mane and a snake-tail with a snake's head on it sleeping.
"It's a nue." the shop keeper says. "It's on the small size, but still dangerous."
Arthur then smirks, "I got an idea." He switches the shield over to his right arm and transforms it to a [Voice Gengar Shield]. "Now everyone, cover your ears and yell into this. Actually, try screaming. A lot louder."
Everyone cover their ears and scream into the megaphone, bat-shape shield, "AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
The sound waves carried out by the [Voice Gengar Shield] that not only woke the nue, but also cause its ears to bleed.
"Filo, now!"
Filo runs like the wind as she prepares to kick the nue's head. She landed a lethal blow that completely destroys the skull.
"Huh." Arthur says to himself. 'Now I really do feel like a cheat. Oh well. Best to get what I need and leave.'
Arthur approach one of the low-bearing gemstones and breaks one off with a hammer. However, he took a few more magic gemstones to give to the shop keep in case something were to happen.
When that is over, everyone head back to the magic shop so they can make the magic thread.
Filo spins the wheel while in her human form wearing a pink dress with yellow buttons while holding some of the thread in one hand. She groans, "This is making me tired..."
The shop keep says, " It's because you're converting your mana into thread. Endure it for just a while longer."
Raphtalia says, "I'll give you a snack when you're finished."
"Really?" Filo sounds excited. "Yay! Then I'll do my best!"
Once that is finished, they headed over to the tailor shop.
"Hello?" Arthur says as his party enter. "Excuse us."
The tailor comes out and greets them with a smile, "Yes? How can I-" She then notices Filo and adores her. "How cute!" The tailor approaches Filo, "She's cute, like an angel! Wait, she has wings on her back, so maybe she really is one?"
Filo looks at Arthur, "Am I cute, Master."
Arthur giggles a little, "Yes you are. But call me big brother, okay?"
"Does Raphtalia have to?"
"Sometimes she does."
Raphtalia snickers a little.
Gwen then says, "Both of you are really cute! I'm glad that I'm here!"
Arthur clears his throat, "Anyway, we want clothes that don't rip when Filo transform and can go back to normal later."
"Did you bring magic thread?" the tailor asks.
"We did."
The tailor gets excited, "Just leave it to me!"
The next day, the tailor made a dress for Filo and spent all night trying to make sure that is perfect for her. Evidence by the bags under her eyes. Everyone gets to see how adorable little Filo looks in her frilly white and blue dress.
Raphtalia and Gwen say in unison, "She is adorable."
The tired tailor then says while up in Raphtalia's face, "Doesn't she?! I did my very best to bring out every last bit of Filo's angelic charm! I used white as the base color, to go with her wings. I added in plenty of frills as a nod to her feathers, too. And since it'd contrast best with her blonde hair, I went with blue for the ribbon!"
"R-Right..."
Arthur is leaning against the wall as he says to Filo, "You better work hard, Filo."
Filo goes, "Yeah! I'll do my best!" Then she transforms into her Filolial form with the ribbon on her neck.
"Hey!" Arthur scolds Filo, "You're not supposed to transform indoors!"
Filo counter argues, "But you said I can as long as I am in a space big enough."
Arthur tries to say something with a big sweat drop on the back of his head, "True but..."
The tailor squeals, "The ribbon looks oh-so-cute even in her monster form!" She looks at Arthur, "Don't you agree, big brother?"
Filo is pretty happy.
AN: Whew! Got another chapter up. Now for a bit of Q&A.
JGResidentEvil - I am fully aware of Motoyasu having three Filolials in his own manga. Just have to wait.
RoachVit - There is more than Fallout. In Arthur's world, I decided to mix the Mutant Apocalypse from 2012 TMNT with other apocalypses that involve nukes from other sources. Plus the BLACK CLOVER references from chapter 7. The shield and sword? So there are other series in this story. More real soon.