Side Story:
His Journey's End and Beginning
Roxas Migurdia departed from the large sea vessel, arriving in the harbor city of Wind Port. The salty sea air only added to the feeling that he was finally back after so long. The gentle crashing of the waves and the noticeable shift in air quality compared to the air back in Milis's sister harbor city, Zant Port, only added to the feeling of nostalgia.
Hello again, Roxas thought. He ruminated over the harsh memories of what was now fifteen years in the past. Being isolated. Judged by family members for being a timid boy. How he'd run away after being unable to take it any longer. And then, the period of his life where he truly felt free. He delved into dark forests, joining up with different parties, making his way through the continent, and forging friendships and practical experiences all over until he finally departed from the continent.
He still remembered how much of a jarring sensation it was to be met full-force with the outlandish customs of the humans when he first arrived in Milis. And most of all—the comfort the inns provided. He swore then and there that he would never sleep in a Demon Continent bed, and that he would never return either.
That was a… strange reason to banish myself, in hindsight. Roxas thought to himself.
But he'd stuck with it. Back when Roxas was younger, he sought great adventures and glory, as one would do upon being faced with so much opportunity. And fame he received. His feats were so widespread among the residents of the Milis Continent that he was granted special permission among the Guilds dotted all over the continent. His very first Saint-tier wind spell was the most prized possession of a renowned wizard, gifted to him in the form of a grimoire with all sorts of magic tips.
Roxas quickly rose to be an S-rank adventurer, and people scrambled to party up with him to reap the rewards. He'd even acquired himself a nickname: The Azure Tempest. But as he came to find out, fame came with a price. None of his party members would truly form any relationship aside from surface-level interactions, leaving him with a sharp and painful feeling of loneliness. He'd achieved all sorts of great achievements, but what was the point if he could never go out drinking with a good friend after a long-winded mission?
Roxas hated being isolated. So, in the hopes of making strong alliances and company, he left the Milis Continent and departed toward the Central Continent. This time around, he told himself, he wouldn't get caught up in glory and riches and would keep his head below the clouds. Naturally, stories of the Azure Tempest followed him around, but nobody in the southern Central Continent truly knew who he was.
Well, it wasn't a walk in the park, but I guess I achieved my goal. He thought.
Before Roxas knew it, he'd lived in the Central Continent for as long as he'd lived in both Milis and the Demon Continent. He'd stuck to only a handful of parties, instead deciding to join a Clan of the Adventurer's Guild—Spellblade Shield. And so he'd stuck with his close friends for a long time, forming a particular friendship with a young swordswoman named Ophelia. The two grew close, helping each other out during particularly difficult tasks and delving into labyrinths together. They'd shared laughs over drinks, shouts during arguments, and encouraging words during harsh losses.
And that's how it should've stayed. Roxas pensively remembered.
To the surprise of nobody in Spellblade Shield, they made their relationship official. Sparks of attraction were flying so heavily that anyone could have noticed. They clung to one another, always acting co-dependantly and lovey-dovey. He'd even taken her maidenhood after one passionate night. But it all came crashing down when Ophelia learned of Roxas's true age.
He'd never kept it from her, but nobody had ever asked how old the boy was. They'd all assumed he was a young adult and left it at that for years, having much better things to do than to notice that he wasn't aging. But Ophelia did. But when she discovered that Roxas was much older than she thought, she was repulsed. Although they were both mature adults, she broke off their relationship and even went as far as to leave the clan under the guise of "Furthering her swordsmanship by going to the Sword Sanctum."
It left him heartbroken and weak—no state to be going into challenging labyrinths with prowling monsters. At first, his closest companions advised him to bury his sorrow by visiting the many redlight districts of the Kikka Kingdom, known worldwide for its beautiful escorts and a wide variety of brothels. But when Roxas adamantly refused, they instead told him to take a nice, long, relaxing vacation to the vast cities of the Asura Kingdom and return to adventuring when he'd recovered.
And that was what he did. He visited the capital and splurged on the luxuries that he was able to afford thanks to his accomplishments as an adventurer. He was enjoying himself without stopping to worry about things, the memories and heartbreak of losing Ophelia fading away as he moved on. But, eventually, the wind was knocked out of his sails. While he would've been well-off if he had become a tutor for a noble family, he found himself growing lazy and unproductive. There was nobody to keep him in check, he found himself spiraling into a pit of regret. Regret of how he'd endlessly thrown away money for pleasure and how he'd wasted so much time.
But one day, a letter arrived in his mailbox addressed to him. It was an invitation from the headmaster of the Ranoa University of Magic, detailing how Roxas would be given a status as a Special Student and allowed free roam and use of the University's facilities should he attend. This was a godsend to Roxas who was undeniably having a crisis of self-worth. And so he packed his bags and made the long trek to the north. After months of traveling, he finally arrived at the University of Magic.
He attended there for a total of seven years. He'd found himself loving the company of other students, who all inadvertently motivated him to study and improve. While Roxas didn't learn many new things, his experience and practical use skyrocketed. He'd enjoyed his time there with his friends, but they all went their separate ways after graduation. Now confident in his ability, he returned to the Asura Kingdom and hopped from region to region, eventually settling down in the Fittoa Region on the edge of the kingdom.
The vast hills and wheat fields, Roxas found, put him more at peace than spending money endlessly. He'd grown rather unmotivated, and he'd recognized that. This was a perfect opportunity to whip himself back into shape, he figured. And so, he spent the next two years of his life there until he happened upon the job listing to tutor the girl who would become his greatest student.
In all of that time, he'd never so much as given a thought as to the Demon Continent and his family that he'd left behind in his village. He'd moved on to bigger and better things, he thought. But now, setting foot back in his homeland, he felt glad to be able to visit again.
Funny how fate has brought me back here once more. He thought, smiling at the fond memories he'd recalled.
"Hey~! We're going now, sweetcheeks!"
A woman hugged Roxas from behind, prompting him to grimace in response. The woman's ears poked out from underneath her lofty mane of candlelight-colored hair. She was an elf, tall and with a shapely hourglass figure. Like most elves were, she stunned almost any man with her sheer beauty alone. Roxas would be lying if he said her figure didn't surface any lustful thoughts, but he had enough self-control to stick to his morals.
"That's nice, El. But I don't think either of us could get off this boat if ya didn't back off a little, don't you agree?" He said, a sigh escaping his lips.
That magnificent woman pouted and let him go. Her name was Elinalise Dragonroad, an elf vanguard perfectly suited for the front lines. At her sides were both a wooden shield reinforced with a steel edge and a sheathed estoc, both serving her well in their own rights. Roxas had to admit, even with his grievances, that she was as skillful as she was alluring.
You'd be in for a long haul if you tried to find another adventurer who wielded an estoc—that was how rare it was. Sure, it was common among Asuran nobles who engaged in duels, or held by fully decked-out knights in the northern region, but outside of that, they were hardly ever used in real-time combat. But there was a good reason why Elinalise herself used such an unconventional weapon: it was a magical item. She'd allegedly found it in the depths of a labyrinth during her early days as an adventurer and it had stuck with her since. After all, it was sturdier than most weapons and its magical attribute could create a wind vacuum capable of mowing down trees entire meters away. Her shield, also a magical item, held an ability that mitigated all of the force put into a strike, which left her undamaged but vulnerable to other effects like poisoning or otherwise unblockable attacks.
"S-solid land! At last… urg!" A creaky and aging dwarf stumbled out of the ship's exit and lost his lunch over the edge of the waters, his heavy armor nearly toppling him over the side of the bridge.
This man was named Talhand, formerly Talhand of the Harsh, Large Mountain Summit. He was just about the stature of Roxas, but was nearly twice as wide—all thanks to his bulky armor. One might be surprised to hear that this man, with his clanking armor and disheveled but clean beard, was a magician.
But just why would a magician wear such stuffy gear? Roxas himself was left grasping at straws at first. The answer lies in the dwarf's nonexistent agility. The only way he could survive being at the front lines was to wear protection, since he would not be able to dodge any attack should a beast attack him. Talhand was a resourceful man, Roxas thought.
"C'mon, Tally. Surely you aren't sick enough to warrant me healing ya, right?" Roxas spoke, crouching by the dwarf.
"I'll be fine… and I told you to stop calling me that," Talhand grumbled, wiping the spittle off his lips and sighing in exhaustion.
"Get used to it, Talhand," Elinalise interjected, putting a hand on her hip and tutting. "How pathetic. It's just a boat."
"...No one likes a bitch, Elinalise," Talhand spat, his face red with anger.
Elinalise covered her mouth in shock. Before she could respond, Roxas bopped her and Talhand in the face with his staff. The two were prone to fighting at a moment's notice, leaving Roxas with the pathetically sad role of the diffuser.
"Calm down, the two of ya. Let's not make me play the role of babysitter next time, please?" Roxas admonished, pursing his lips in contempt.
Roxas had first heard of them at the city of East Port in the King Dragon Kingdom while he was downing drinks with several of his old buddies. He'd spent a long day reconnecting with past allies and most of Spellblade Shield. Not many of them were still adventurers, as it turned out, but they were still well-known in the community. So, they banded together and threw him a party to commemorate his return. It didn't matter to them that Roxas was set to depart to the Milis Continent, since to them it was a reunion with an incredible companion.
At the tail end of the party, an old friend of his named Kolbert approached him. He'd been out and about the kingdom and had heard about a pair of adventurers who'd been searching like hell for a guide to the Demon Continent. Having heard Roxas tell them about his journey to the Demon Continent, Kolbert decided to fill him in just in case. Roxas's curiosity was piqued when he heard of them, so he thanked Kolbert and shortly thereafter, he went on his way to find them.
It didn't take very long for Roxas to locate them, since the pair had been stuck in East Port for weeks. When Roxas found them, they were on their last legs, contemplating whether or not to recklessly go alone to the Demon Continent or head to the Begaritt Continent which they both were more familiar with. And in walked in Roxas, the perfect solution to their dilemma: a confident former S-rank adventurer native to the Demon Continent.
As their conversation continued, Roxas found that they were both former members of Paul and Zenith's old adventuring party, The Fangs of the Black Wolf. While Roxas had heard of them well during his adventuring days, he'd never interacted with them. He'd only ever spoken with the scout of the group, a demon named Geese. But aside from that small interaction, the only things he knew about them were from rumors. And those rumors were short-lived. They were fairly popular for a few years for being an odd bunch who rose to fame after attaining S-rank after a few years and then disbanding shortly afterward. But still, he'd never made the connection between Paul and Zenith and the Fangs of the Black Wolf.
But Elinalise and Talhand were both equally as surprised by him. Case in point, Roxas was famous. Although he arrived in the Central Continent years before the Fangs of the Black Wolf, Elinalise and Talhand were well aware of his achievements. According to them, they'd heard tales about him sung by troubadours in the years following the separation of the Fangs of the Black Wolf. While the songs detailing his adventures didn't name the man, people recognized Roxas through his description.
The three of them all held a common goal. Roxas had set out to find and bring Lumina to her father, and Talhand and Elinalise were operating intending to honor Paul's wishes to find his family members. Thus, they formed a party together and boarded a ship headed to the Milis Continent.
Once they arrived in the city of West Port, Roxas was prepared to spend months there and to visit the Holy Capital, Milishion. However, the two had other plans. Roxas awoke one day to find a Sleipnir horse—one of the fastest kinds in the world—munching on his hair. According to them, they'd have no time to dawdle, since the rainy season of the Great Forest was fast approaching. That included checking up on Paul, too. Although, Roxas suspected there was another reason why they didn't want to visit Paul, but he didn't pry.
Nonetheless, they'd arrived on the Demon Continent extremely swiftly, so Roxas was only grateful.
"Let's get going, both of you. The Adventurer's Guild isn't too far ahead," Roxas informed, and the three of them pointedly harrumphed at each other and followed Roxas's lead. Roxas's go-to strategy when arriving in a town was always to visit the Adventurer's Guild and talk to the natives to gather information about the surrounding area. It was a subtle but effective tactic he'd picked up along his journeys.
"I sure hope it's a nice place!" Elinalise exclaimed, staring off dreamily toward the direction they were going.
Roxas sidestepped a pace away from her and sighed. Despite her majestic appearance, the lady was practically a succubus. According to her, this was because of a curse, but Roxas was hard-pressed to believe her words. She loved men a little too much.
"Take it easy, would ya? Some of these people know me!" Roxas snapped.
"They do? Mind introducing me to some of them?" she jeered.
"You're on your own, El," Roxas muttered.
Elinalise had practically no self-control to speak of. A sharp contrast to Roxas, she came onto virtually anyone who so much as gave her a second glance. And with her looks, that was many people. She'd given up on Talhand since he wasn't interested in the slightest but was still actively pursuing Roxas. But Roxas had always turned her down, lecturing her to value herself more and that, additionally, he wanted to be in a long-term relationship with a lady before doing anything outlandish—which prevented him from getting into all sorts of predicaments in the past. But Elinalise was in a strictly non-committal type of business, so that wouldn't fly.
Tempting as she is, I've got my own things to worry about, Roxas thought.
"Maybe we should book one of these hotels, just me and you. Then we could—"
"No thank you," Roxas asserted.
Have a little self-respect, please? I thought you were the one complaining about how Paul and Zenith's relationship tore apart your party. He sighed.
Besides… I've got my own preferences. But even still, Roxas thought that it was a dim hope to hold out for a woman that didn't exist. Roxas was well-liked by most, but his young stature only ever attracted unsavory women.
The general atmosphere of the Guild hall was drastically different from what Roxas was used to. That was mostly due to the mixed-race parties that were hard to come by in the Central and Milis Continent. He even spotted one or two elves in the mix.
"C'mon, you two. Let's start gathering information," Roxas propositioned.
"Sure. But I might be a while," Elinalise said breathily.
"Don't play around. We've got no time to waste here," Talhand reprimanded, staring daggers at the elf lady.
"Fine. Let's meet up at an inn once we're done here," Elinalise relented.
"Sounds like a plan," Roxas said, nodding. He walked into the crowd of adventurers and tipped up his hat.
They'd all gathered information, but the common thing they'd all heard was about a party in particular. The Dragon King's Odyssey. It was a group of adventurers who had seemingly propped up out of nowhere—but there was a reason for this. The North God Kalmann III was the leader of the party, according to the rumors.
The third-generation North God had only come to power in recent times. The Second generation practically disappeared, leaving the next in line to take the title. According to what little Roxas had heard of him before arriving in Wind Port, he was an intimidating man with a terrifying amount of power. He wore golden protective gear, with gauntlets and boots to match. He also wielded a giant greatsword—said to be the Master Swordsmith's greatest work.
While Roxas found it difficult to believe at first, he figured that there was no reason to lie about the North God. Here in the Demon Continent, you were recognized by your strength and strength alone. If someone said that someone was strong, they probably were.
"I don't believe it," Talhand said gruffly. "Why would the North God show himself now? And to accompany two runts, at that."
That was the other bit of information. The North God's party consisted of two other members, both reportedly either halflings or teenagers. They were given nicknames by the populace—The Sorceress and the Red Lionhart respectively. Despite their short stature, they were formidable opponents. The Red Lionhart used a sword as a weapon and was seen training with the North God on several occasions, meaning he was likely a disciple. The Sorceress, on the other hand, was supposedly a beauty in a white robe who used a staff. Roxas had the pleasure of talking to someone who had accompanied them on a quest before, and they had said that the Sorceress had used some sort of invisible magic that paralyzed opponents—absolutely unheard of in the branch of Offensive Magic.
"North God or not, he's definitely parading around with an interesting bunch…" Elinalise commented.
"Like that Sorceress girl. I'd love to talk with her," Roxas agreed.
"Oh?" Elinalise peered at him with a knowing look in her eyes.
"Jeez, it's always the same with you!" Roxas snapped for the second time that day. "I meant that I'd love to talk about that magic she uses!"
"Mhm. Well, that aside, I think I could," she put on a doe-eyed expression, "squeeze some information out of them. Wouldn't be the first time I've had two at once."
"That won't be necessary," Roxas said, trying to ignore the blatant comment Elinalise had just made. "Let's get back on topic, please. Were there any rumors about anyone from Fittoa?"
"I didn't hear a thing, no," said Talhand.
"Nothing," Elinalise said apologetically.
We're too late. Roxas thought grimly. Roxas had a sinking feeling that they wouldn't have much success looking for the other teleported Fittoans in the Demon Continent. This was an extremely harsh place, even for skillful and experienced people. Plus, it'd been an entire year since the Mass Teleportation incident even took place. Asking if they'd heard of anything relating to them was mostly a formality on Roxas's part. There was no hope that anyone would have survived if they'd been teleported here.
"Well… The people we are really looking for are Paul's family, right?" Elinalise said bluntly.
"I'd word it differently, but yes, that is what we're here for," Roxas admitted. "That's Zenith, Lumina, Norn, and Sirius. And I suppose Lilia as well."
Roxas had told them how they'd be able to identify all of them except for the twins. He had no idea what they looked like aside from outdated, old descriptions that he'd pulled from the letters he'd received from Lumina.
"A pretty broad search, then. Though Zenith should be just fine," Elinalise remarked.
"Agreed," Talhand hummed.
Hmm. If you say so, Roxas thought. He'd never seen Zenith in action before, now that he thought about it. A memory materialized at the front of Roxas's mind, reminding him that he did in fact, see Zenith in action before. Roxas cleared his throat and shook his head to clear his mind.
"Ahem. Finding Lumina shouldn't be a challenge. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if we'd passed her by already. So I don't think we have to worry about that," Roxas said. If Lumina was still alive and kicking—which Roxas refused to believe otherwise—she'd stir up a fuss without even trying.
As for Zenith, Talhand and Elinalise believed wholeheartedly that she'd survive in practically any environment. Thus, they'd decided to dedicate their time to searching for the twins and Lilia.
"Then, we should organize this whole operation a little. This city is undoubtedly the best place to gather our information, which is an asset to us. Maybe we should stay for at least ten days to make sure we haven't missed anything," Roxas proposed.
The two of them agreed with him. Roxas figured that once they departed from Wind Port, they could put in requests at each major city of the Demon Continent. There was a bit of a story to that as well. The Asura Kingdom would cover all expenses that were incurred while searching for the missing people. So long as the group posted Missing Persons requests, the reward money would be paid by them. In simple terms, it was the Asura Kingdom using proxies to set up a system that would do their work for them.
From Roxas's time spent in Ars, he knew very well that the upper rings of nobility were corrupt to say the absolute least. But even then, he expected them to handle this with much more care than they were currently. The only people who were formally looking outside of the Central Continent for Missing Persons were Paul's small-scale Milishion-based organization. On the other hand, there was a small branch of the Boreas Greyrats who were out looking for their missing heir to the throne yet never leaving the continent.
It disgusted Roxas that the only person that the Capital gave a damn about was another one of its disposable pawns groomed into being a deplorable noble by their equally insufferable parents. Yet they ignore the thousands of innocent family members torn apart, Roxas thought bitterly. Some sort of reform was vital if they wanted to keep their kingdom stable.
Roxas put those harsh thoughts out of his head and focused on the allies in front of him.
"I'm counting on y'all," Roxas said, grinning.
"Roger that."
"Leave it to us!"
Roxas was prone to sudden realizations. He'd spend so much time doing one thing in one specific way, only to have a thought one day and never do it again. The same went for wake-up calls, like the letter of invitation he'd received once upon a time. In short, the man was adaptable.
The only reason why Roxas had sped through Lumina's tutoring was his underestimation of her and being hit with the harsh reality of how much he still had to learn. Making difficult decisions rationally and calmly was his specialty. However, that usually caused people to remark about how different his casual demeanor versus his serious demeanor was. But Roxas had never seen those comments in any bad light.
In any case, his adaptability made him well-suited to such a task. He spent the first week or so talking to sailors, adventurers, shopkeepers, et cetera. But after he came up dry, just like Talhand and Elinalise, he resolved to go looking for something else. Namely, The Dragon King's Odyssey. His curiosity had gotten the better of him, evidently.
It took him almost no time to locate them thanks to the entire city taking note of them. A pair of people were training at the beach, trading blows in what looked to be the North God Style. It seemed that his information was accurate, seeing as how the pair looked. One of them was clearly a boy, his crimson locks of hair flowing gracefully as charged forward and swung with all of his might. There was no doubt that this was the Red Lionhart. The other man, wearing ochre shoulder pauldrons and golden gauntlets that shone with a metallic glint, swatted his sword away and dove through the opening. He landed a strike and admonished the boy for some sort of shortcoming.
He peered away from the spar and noticed a figure in a robe just about as tall as he was. The robe was pure white but had outlines colored in a light sky blue. They seemed to be observing the other two. From what Roxas gathered, the figure was most likely the Sorceress. He peeked out from the side of a boulder and began to get up to approach them.
But suddenly, the Lionhart tossed his sword aside, threw back his head, and yelled, "This sucks!"
The abrupt exclamation made Roxas startle and tumble back into his inconspicuous hiding place. The boy muttered a few words and sodded off, clearly upset.
That's to be expected. I mean, his sparring partner is the North God of all people. Of course a kid like him would get their ego hurt, Roxas thought. But that boy is strong. Being able to spar with him for that duration of time even if he was defeated is extremely impressive.
The Sorceress made a start in the Lionhart's direction. Roxas figured this was his opening to try to talk to her, but was cut short when he felt the gaze of the North God on him. Like a cornered animal, the hair on the back of his head stood up.
"Who are you?" the North God called out.
"Err… I-I'm just passing through…" Roxas croaked.
An insane amount of pressure exuded from the terrifying man. Roxas had heard that the North God watched over the other two members of his party like a hawk, but he was only just realizing how true those rumors were. His mind stood at a standstill as he struggled to come up with a believable explanation as to why he was there following the Sorceress.
"Did you enjoy the show?" the North God asked him.
"Huh?" The show?
"You've been here the whole time, haven't you?" the North God accused. He knows? How?
"A-Ah, well, I've just heard rumors about—"
"It'd be in your best interests to not try to harm those children. Lay a finger on them and you'll make an enemy who won't give up," the North God advised chillingly.
"..." Roxas didn't know how to respond to that.
"If you have nothing to say, run along," he said.
"Y-yes, sir!" Roxas squeaked out, backpedaling and breaking into a sprint as he put everything he had into putting distance between the two of them.
What was I thinking?! You'd have to be stupid not to suspect me of anything when I was blatantly stalking them behind that boulder! Now how am I going to talk to the Sorceress? Is it even worth it?
Roxas's mind was in turmoil as he slipped away hastily.
"Phew!" Aleksander exhaled a puff of air as he set down his practice sword.
That was great, Alek! He thought, beaming to no one in particular. Over the past year, there have been many people who wanted to harm Ares or Lumina. Thus, the logical conclusion was to intimidate them before they could go through with their plans. But unfortunately, he supposedly came across as "air-headed" to the two children he accompanied.
Clearly, if a pair of teenagers found him unintimidating, he'd never make it as a hero.
So, he'd practiced making himself look intimidating as to dissuade anyone from attacking. And this time, just like every other, it had worked. While Aleksander wasn't completely sure that the man he'd scared off was intending to harm Lumina, he did it anyway. He had to keep up appearances, after all.
Aleksander didn't realize how many people were afraid of him. But either way, he was respected, so it didn't matter much to him. As long as he could fulfill his destiny of becoming a hero, he was happy.
Ah, wait. How long do I have to wait until Ares and Lumina sort this out?
Roxas could feel his pulse throbbing in his neck as he ran and ran. Once he'd gotten a good distance away from the man, he threw his back against the side of a building and took a breather.
Oh, man. If the North God had tried to engage me just then, I'd have ended up torn to bits. Roxas thought, his breath ragged and audible. He didn't know if the North God was enough of a savage to pursue him, but Roxas had run like hell regardless.
"I… hah… need to… hah… calm down…" Roxas said in between breaths. His throat felt drier than the desert, even with the stuffy air.
Roxas scanned the area he'd rushed into, spotting a stand that was selling some sort of beverage. "Water… I just need some water," he muttered to himself.
As he approached, he noticed the gaze of the stand's owner. He barely acknowledged him while his breath scratched at his throat, creating an unpleasant sensation. As much as he hated to admit it, Roxas was out of shape.
"Hey… I just need a cup, if that's fine," Roxas said, managing a tired smile.
"What's up with you? You look like you just ran halfway across the city, kid," the stand keeper observed, reaching back and grasping a cup in his hands. Roxas inwardly grimaced at the way he'd referred to him, but he decided it was pointless to mention.
"Just been on the run… in a way," Roxas replied, instantly regretting his choice of words midway through the sentence.
The stand keeper raised an eyebrow and handed Roxas the empty cup. Instead of addressing what Roxas had said, the shopkeeper instead stayed quiet. Thankful for the silence, Roxas extended his hand over the cup.
"Let the great protection of water be on the place thou seekest. I call a refreshing burbling stream here and now. Water Ball," Roxas murmured. His cup filled with water and, without missing a beat, Roxas downed it all.
"Thanks for the cup, sir," Roxas said, setting it down.
"...Anytime," the stand keeper replied. He left it at that, mostly because he didn't want to interact with a potential bandit. Even if that bandit was wearing magician robes.
Now composed, Roxas decided to blend into the crowds and return to the inn.
As Roxas made his way back to the inn, he couldn't shake off the tension from the encounter with the North God. He weighed the risks of getting involved with The Dragon King's Odyssey, what with the terrifying and protective nature of the North God.
Back at the inn, Elinalise and Talhand were waiting for him, having gathered their own share of information. The trio exchanged details about the rumors they had heard, with few new information. So, The Dragon King's Odyssey and the presence of the North God were all they could talk about
As they discussed their next steps, Elinalise couldn't resist a teasing remark, "So, did you have a pleasant chat with the Sorceress, Roxas?"
Roxas rolled his eyes and sighed. "I wouldn't say that. What they say about the North God is true."
"Make sure not to draw any unnecessary attention. The last thing we want is someone breathing down our necks while we're trying to look for Paul's family," Talhand grunted.
"Agreed," Roxas said, nodding.
Over the next three days, the trio soldiered forward and did their best to investigate. But like the previous week, the lack of concrete information started to weigh on them. By the end of it, Elinalise was being scolded by Roxas after she'd used their inn room to have relations with men.
Roxas held his hand in his face. "Look, El, you've got to consider the time and place, please."
"Yes, yes. This would all be easier if you just let me spend a night with you, Roxas. Then you'd understand," Elinalise teased.
"I don't want to understand," Roxas retorted.
Of course, Roxas understood the appeal of having a lover and getting married. Although, it'd been years since he'd genuinely pursued anyone. After Ophelia, Roxas grew insecure about his appearance. But it was only after he spent his time with Zenith and Paul that he was sure that he wanted to have that sort of life.
But… how? Roxas had wondered. He'd never thought about it that much, only just deciding to leave it up to fate. But it was futile to go on like that. Maybe he ought to take Elinalise up on her offer…
No, Roxas thought. He wasn't going to let some surface-level attraction take away from his actual feelings. Like most adventurers who didn't have a strong connection with a female companion, he had a perfect woman in mind.
I prefer someone tall I can look up at. If someone's robe couldn't be closed due to large breasts would be great. But, I prefer a more slender appearance rather than being too curvy, were his thoughts on the matter.
But in the end, he mused that he'd never meet someone like that. And even if he didn't, the chances that they'd accept him were nearly impossible. After all, he looked like a child in the eyes of everyone else.
I mean, there's no way that there's someone like that out there. Besides, I don't have the time for all of that. Not right now, at least, he thought.
At that moment, someone knocked. Knock, knockknock. Three times exactly, in a particular order. Where had Roxas heard that before?
"I'll get it," Roxas muttered, getting up from his seat. He grasped the door handle and opened it, only to reveal the very last person he'd expect to see on the other side.
It was a girl in a white robe, clearly the Sorceress, but that didn't matter to him. It was who the person was under the hood that bewildered him. A young girl, no older than thirteen, with an aquamarine-colored right eye and a mole directly underneath the left. Her hair was a light blonde, reminiscent of her mother's hair tone.
This was his former student, Lumina Greyrat. Roxas was too shocked to speak.
"Mister. It's been a while, hasn't it?"
Author's Notes:
Had a blast writing this. This chapter was delayed due to the sheer LENGTH of the thing. I mean, it's 6.3K words! That's longer than all of Turning Point 1, for a damn Side Story! But I had a load of fun with it. Fleshing out Roxas's backstory was much more interesting than I'd thought initially. Personally, Roxas's personality is one of my favorites in this story so far, so I hope you like his character too! Also, the little scene with Alek's inner thoughts was pretty nice too, since I haven't formally done a Alek POV before this. I hope you enjoyed this, I really do!
Time for the copy-paste: Volume 4 will be the longest volume by a few chapters. 12~ chapters should be the final count, with more if you count the one Side Story and the 2 Extra Chapters I'm writing for it. Stay tuned!
It's been done to death by now, but I'd like to advocate for the Ao3 (Archive of Our Own) version of Mushoku Tensei: Lumina Greyrat, as when the story eventually has mature content inside of the chapters, I will have to cut them out of this website due to the Terms of Service. You don't have to migrate now but do consider it.
The next chapter should be released by December 13th, titled... Chapter 35: A Promising Endeavor and Departure
I truly, truly appreciate everyone who leaves a comment/review, you make my day even if you leave a single sentence. Thank you.