After Marianna Morningstar's burial, Balthasar allowed Gray Morningstar three days to grieve the loss of his mother and for the Magic Hero, the loss of a friend. But he knew that they couldn't just sit idly by. The kingdom of Melromarc needed to be held accountable for their actions, and for that to happen, they needed to get stronger.
"Gray, we need to go," Balthasar declared, his hand resting firmly on the boy's shoulder.
"But..." Gray trailed off, clearly not ready to leave just yet.
"The time for mourning is over. We need to acquire weapons and armor," Balthasar said, kneeling down to look Gray in the eyes.
"We have weapons back at the village..." Gray began.
"We can't go back there," Balthasar interrupted.
As he thought, Balthasar realized that there was no blacksmith in that village, so those metal weapons had to have come from somewhere else.
"Gray," the Magic Hero inquired with a curious tone, "could you enlighten me on the origins of these weapons your village possesses?" He hoped to gather some valuable information.
The Wolf Demi-Human's expression brightened as he replied, "Every few months, Father and some of the other adults journey to a place called the capital to procure weapons and other provisions."
Balthasar, deep in thought, considered this new information. "The capital," he muttered to himself. "Perhaps there lies the answer to why they sent Knights to murder Demi-Humans."
Balthasar rose to his feet, his mind set on uncovering the truth behind the mysterious weapons and the brutal actions of the Knights. With Gray at his side, they set out for the Capital.
As they journeyed, the midday sun beat down on them mercilessly. Balthasar welcomed the sight of a shaded area and called for a rest. It was then that he noticed something strange on his screen. Gray's name was displayed beneath his health and mana bar. He dismissed it as a minor glitch and thought nothing more of it.
Suddenly, the sound of combat echoed in the distance. Balthasar's curiosity was piqued, and he headed towards the commotion. As he drew closer, he saw orange-colored wolves fighting men in armor. The men were protecting a horse-drawn cage that carried beaten Demi-Human children. The children bore a purple crest on their chests, but Balthasar didn't recognize it.
Despite the heart-wrenching scene before him, Balthasar took a moment to collect his thoughts and assess the situation. He knew he had to act quickly, but he didn't want to reveal his Hero status just yet. Instead, he calmly went through his menu, scanning his magic spells and skills to determine the best course of action.
An idea formed in his mind, and he turned to Gray. "I have an idea," he said, pointing his right hand at the Demi-Human. "I want you to stay close to me and never stray too far."
Balthasar then spoke the incantation for his spell, "As the source of thy power and as the Magic Hero, I order thee, decipher the laws of nature and conceal my target in a magic haze. Hide Mirage."
A magical aura enveloped Gray, and he began to disappear from view. "Stay close and be quiet," Balthasar ordered, hearing a low "okay" from the Demi-Human.
With Gray out of sight, Balthasar opted to maintain his Hero status incognito and wielded his default weapon. As he neared the group of armored men, he deftly swung his staff, landing a blow to the jaw of one of the menacing wolves, preventing it from attacking any of the humans.
Summoning the power within him, Balthasar recited, "'As the source of thy power, I order thee to decipher the laws of nature and burn my target with a flurry of azure flames.' Zwei Fireblast!"
The weapon in his hand erupted in a dazzling display of red and azure flames that instantly killed one of the wolves and frightened off the others.
"Sunset Wolf [Unlocked]," Balthasar muttered under his breath, acknowledging the successful defeat of the vicious creatures.
"Thanks for the help," one of the men said gratefully.
"Glad I could assist," Balthasar replied with a forced smile.
"Excuse me, are you alright? You seem a bit...underequipped for an adventurer," one of the men commented, giving Balthasar's attire a once-over with suspicion.
"I was on a job with my partner to hunt down Sunset Wolves, but we were attacked and robbed. Unfortunately, my partner didn't make it," Balthasar explained, his voice heavy with sorrow as he lowered his head.
Despite his outward display of grief, Balthasar couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. He was a skilled liar and actor, and from the look on their faces, it seemed like the men were buying every word of his story.
"Do you think you could give me a lift to the nearest town?" Balthasar asked, adding more fuel to his fabrication.
"We would love to, but we have to finish this delivery for our employer," one of the men replied, eyeing Balthasar carefully. "However, we don't see a problem with you joining us."
As Balthasar settled into the cart, a wave of gratitude washed over him. "Thank you for your help," he said, extending his arm in appreciation before pulling Gray up beside him.
"So, what's the deal with the kids?" Balthasar inquired, hoping to glean some information from the men.
"They're not kids, they're Demi-Human slaves," the driver replied, casting a disdainful glance at the captives.
Though he was seething with anger, Balthasar bit his tongue, resisting the urge to lash out at the men for the way they treated the Demi-Humans as mere property.
After a while, the cart came to a stop in front of a grand mansion with an obelisk in the center of the walkway. As they were greeted by a portly, aristocratic-looking man, Balthasar couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
"Ah, gentlemen, welcome back wit-" the man began before his gaze fell upon Balthasar.
The portly nobleman sneered at Balthasar, eyeing him with contempt. "And who is this freeloader?" he spat out with disdain.
"I am Balthasar Black, and for your information, I just saved your men and, dare I say, your 'slaves'," Balthasar retorted, his voice laced with venom as he emphasized the last word.
"Although I appreciate your assistance, I kindly request that you leave immediately," the nobleman replied coldly.
"Very well," Balthasar replied, stepping off the carriage and releasing the spell on Gray.
The nobleman gasped in horror and ordered his men to capture Balthasar. But before they could even move, Balthasar used his Vine Snare skill to ensnare every single person in the vicinity.
Walking behind the carriage, he meticulously unlocked the shackles of the enslaved individuals, one by one, granting them their freedom. Once liberated, he strode back to the nobleman, his weapon at the ready.
"You sicken me. These individuals are human beings, just like you and I. They deserve to be treated with respect, not as property," Balthasar declared, his appearance morphing with his anger as he tightened his grip on his staff.
The nobleman retorted with a smug look on his face, "They were born to serve as slaves. It's a fact of life."
Fueled with rage, Balthasar did not hesitate to strike the nobleman with the head of his staff, sending him tumbling to the ground.
"I pray that whatever deity you worship has the mercy to grant you a painful and crushing death by your own hand," Balthasar snarled, slamming his staff into the nobleman's gut.
Gasping for air, the nobleman watched as The Magic Hero strode past him with an unwavering determination to liberate any and all valuables in his possession. In no time, the Dragonoid discovered the nobleman's office, where he stumbled upon a box overflowing with gold coins. Grasping the box, Balthasar made his way back outside to find that all of the captives had been freed.
"It appears that the spell had either a limited range or duration," Balthasar commented.
Refocusing his attention on the nobleman, the wretched man sneered, "Do you have any final words, you pathetic excuse for a human being?"
With a wicked grin, the nobleman issued a command, summoning a horde of armored men to attack Balthasar and Gray.
"Darn, this thing is fast as hell. By far my favorite summon," Balthasar exclaimed as the surroundings became a blur.
~One Week later~
A week had passed since the encounter with the vile nobleman, and the Magic Hero had finally come into view of the Capital of Melromarc. It was a beautiful sight to behold. As Gray got off the summon, Balthasar followed suit as the Cerberus began to fade away until nothing remained.
"Now, seeing how it's almost sunset, I think it would be wise to find ourselves somewhere to rest," Balthasar suggested, beginning to walk towards the capital.
After locating an inn, the pair checked in for the week, which cost them 10 Silver. Balthasar handed a gold to the innkeeper and was given 90 silver pieces in return. As they stepped into their room, Balthasar finally had some time to relax.
Balthasar's mind raced as he considered the value of the box containing 50 gold coins that they had stolen. He reminded himself of the local currency system, where one gold coin was equal to 100 silver coins, and one silver coin was equal to 100 copper coins. As per his calculations, he now had approximately 4,990 silver coins at his disposal.
Feeling satisfied with the amount he had, Balthasar exuded confidence that he could procure a fine weapon and even a set of armor for Tai's son. While Gray, his trusted companion, succumbed to sleep almost instantly, Balthasar remained awake, strategizing for the upcoming day. However, before he knew it, sleep had overtaken him and he was enveloped in its embrace.
Gray's Dream
As I drifted off into a dream, the sun shone bright and the sky was clear. It was always like this before the horror began. Suddenly, the sky turned a dark shade of red - a color I had never seen before. As monsters descended from the sky, chaos erupted. They attacked everyone, including me. One of the beasts was a black dog with red cracks and small embers emanating from them. Its burning red eyes fixated on me as it snarled, baring its razor-sharp teeth. In a split second, I felt a splash of blood on my face as the monster lunged towards me.
Suddenly, a Rabbit Demi-Human appeared in front of me, wielding a sword in one hand and bravely taking the monster's attack on his other arm. He yelled out in pain as the monster's teeth clamped down on his arm.
"Quick, run!" he yelled, swinging his sword at the scary monster's head.
I saw him pull the monster off his arm, and I could tell he was hurt. When he saw me, his eyes got big with surprise.
"Go now!" he shouted, pointing at another monster that was about to attack.
I didn't waste a second. I ran as fast as I could to get back home where it was safe. I looked back and saw him sticking a small dagger into the monster that was trying to hurt him. The sky was getting back to normal, but when I got home, I saw my dad lying in Balthasar's arms. He didn't move. It felt like a really long time before the knights came and fought off the Demi-Humans. But, even then, they couldn't save my mom.
Balthasar's eyes snapped open when he heard Gray's screams and cries pierce the stillness of the night. Without hesitation, he rushed over to the child and took him into his arms, holding him tightly as he continued to weep.
As Balthasar held Gray, he searched for a way to comfort the child and soothe his fears. His mind raced as he tried to think of something to ease Gray's pain. Finally, he remembered a lullaby that his mother used to sing to him when he was a child.
With a gentle voice, Balthasar began to sing the lullaby to Gray. As the soothing melody filled the room, Gray's sobs began to subside, and his breathing evened out. Slowly but surely, the child's nightmares were replaced with sweet dreams of dragons and adventure.
I am lost in a world of pain,
Where nothing seems to stay the same.
I close my eyes and drift away,
To a land where dragons play.
Escapism, my only friend,
Take me where the dragons bend.
Let me ride on their fiery wings,
And escape from all life's things.
In this world of strife and fear,
I dream of a place that's far from here.
Where dragons breathe their fiery breath,
And their scales glisten like the sun's caress.
Escapism, my only friend,
Take me where the dragons bend.
Let me ride on their fiery wings,
And escape from all life's things.
Oh, to fly on the back of a dragon,
To feel the wind and hear the roar.
To leave behind all the troubles of life,
And find peace in the dragon's lore.
Escapism, my only friend,
Take me where the dragons bend.
Let me ride on their fiery wings,
And escape from all life's things.
Oh, to escape to a world of dragons,
Where I can be free and unburdened.
Let me ride on their mighty wings,
And feel the joy that only escapism brings.
As Balthasar continued to sing, he held Gray close, feeling the warmth of the child's body against his own. At that moment, he knew that he would do anything to protect this innocent child and keep him safe from harm.
When Balthasar finished singing he saw that Gray was sleeping soundly with a small smile on his face, but the look on the Dragonoid's face held a grim look
'He still hasn't gotten over what happened'
Staunchly loyal, Gray remained by Balthasar's side until he too succumbed to slumber. As the sun rose on a new day, both companions roused from their rest and ventured out of the inn in search of sustenance. Unfortunately, their search led them to a tavern that callously refused to serve Demi-Humans, much to the Dragonoid's disgust.
"Once again, this world sickens me with how it treats others based on their appearance," he growled.
Undeterred, the Magic Hero took it upon himself to inquire about a shop that could assist him with his clothing predicament. Fortunately, they were directed to a skilled seamstress (or, for those who lack refinement, a tailor). Upon entering the shop, they were greeted by a woman with golden eyes, tousled blonde hair, glasses, a pink shirt, and a brown apron that draped her dress.
"Welcome! How may I assist you?" the seamstress greeted them with a warm smile.
Balthasar stepped forward, shielding Gray from view as he spoke. "My brother and I are in need of new clothing," he stated.
"Of course, I just need to take some measurements," the seamstress replied, producing a measuring tape.
The Magic Hero was initially wary of allowing the seamstress near Gray, fearing she shared the same prejudices as others. However, when she saw him, she squealed in delight, exclaiming how cute he was. Balthasar felt his tension dissipate, grateful to finally encounter someone who didn't view Demi-humans as monsters or objects.
"Was there anything specific you had in mind for the clothes?" the seamstress inquired.
"Yes, I need them to conceal his ears and tail, so a hood is necessary. You may choose any color for his clothing, but I prefer black," Balthasar requested, earning a surprised look from the shop owner.
"Why would you cover something that makes this boy so cute?" she asked.
Balthasar's voice held an unwavering conviction as he spoke. "Because we need to eat, and the tavern doesn't serve Demi-Humans. I refuse to dine while my brother starves."
The seamstress nodded in understanding as she finished taking Gray's measurements. "Honestly, I don't like how they treat them, but it's not like I can change their minds," she said with a sigh. As she began to measure Balthasar, an idea suddenly struck him.
"Excuse me, do you have something I can write with?" he asked, as she finished his measurements.
The seamstress pointed towards a table that held parchment and ink. Balthasar took the quill and began to draw a symbol before handing it to the seamstress.
"Please put this symbol on the back of our clothing," he requested.
The seamstress regarded him with a thoughtful expression before nodding. "Very well," she agreed, heading off to begin work on their clothes.
Knowing that it would take some time for their new garments to be completed, the seamstress insisted that Gray remains in her care for safety. Balthasar acquiesced and set off to find the blacksmith shop. After a short search, he found the shop and entered, greeted by a bald man with a scar across his head.
"Welcome," the blacksmith said with a friendly smile.
"I'm just browsing for now," Balthasar informs the weapon shop owner. "I've got some time to kill and needed to find this place before breakfast."
As he peruses the weapon shop, Balthasar's eyes light up at the sight of swords, shields, staffs, and an assortment of other weaponry. His love for weapons and his Otaku tendencies are well hidden from his friends and family back home, but his younger sister shares his passions to some extent. He can't help but feel a sense of excitement as he takes in the impressive display before him. Satisfied with what he's seen, Balthasar makes his way back to the seamstress, where Gray is sporting a light grey jacket with a rising sun inside a star, encased within a circle resembling a dragon.
"So what do you think?" asked the Seamstress causing Gray to turn
The Seamstress catches Gray's attention with her question, causing him to turn toward her. He's dressed in a white shirt beneath a grey hooded jacket, paired with black pants and shoes.
"Looks good on you, Little Brother," Balthasar remarks with a smile, clearly pleased with Gray's ensemble.
Gray directs his attention back to the Seamstress and asks, "Could you tell me what this symbol means?" pointing to the emblem on his jacket.
"It means Morningstar of the Dragon," Balthasar replies, earning an excited look from both the Demi-Human and the Seamstress.
Balthasar begins to share a tale from his homeland, capturing the attention of both Gray and the Seamstress.
"Where I come from, there is a legend," he begins. "In the beginning, the world was ruled by dragons. Two of these dragons were Tai, the Dragon of the Day, and Celeste, the Dragon of the Night. They were forever bound by their responsibilities and unable to see one another. But once every 18 years, they are free to meet for one day and one day only. Years later, there wasn't just day and night, but sunrise and sunset. Two children were born, and together they formed the balance of night and day."
He pauses for a moment, before continuing. "However, Tai, the Dragon of the Day, had a third child. This child only appears in the morning and is stronger than Tai and his other children combined. His name was Morningstar, the son of Tai the Dragon."
As Balthasar finishes recounting his tale, he discerns a glint of anticipation in the eyes of both Gray and the Seamstress.
With no further interruptions, he dons the bespoke clothing fashioned by the shop owner. The ensemble comprises a black shirt emblazoned with the Morningstar insignia, black pants with a crimson hue at the hemline, and a pair of striking red boots. Completing the look is a black hooded jacket that extends to his calves, with frayed edges at the bottom.
"Come on let's go eat, I'm starving" Balthasar declares as he strides towards the exit, accompanied by the hooded Gray.
The third chapter is done and completed, now so next chapter we are going to meet Naofumi and the bitch we love to hate before we hated her.{Don't question my word logic} Okay so if you want to create a weapon for me to use leave a Comment saying how it looks, the equipment bonus, the magic skill(optional) and of course how my character unlocks it
Please Vote and leave a comment, I enjoy all forms of feedback
Live Long, Have Fun, and Never Make Sense
Because
What Fun Is There In Making Sense