A/N: I'm continuing to write with what free time I have, and thanks to everyone for the likes and such, it really makes my day. :)
So, a quick few notes:
Why was Leon able to fight Milia's Dad? Well, although in canon Leon does admit that he's not able to become super op like other isekai protagonists, it is canon that he is the only one who was capable of fighting the black knight. Sure, it's a collaborative effort with Luxion, but I don't think that we should ignore what Leon is able to do. By no means is Leon as strong as Cid, especially out of Arroganz, but he's probably at the level of Iris or at least Claire. If not, then man the students in the Holfort academy sucked, especially considering how the five idiots were supposedly the best of them.
Why can Leon use magic? He lives in a world of magic. It would be stranger if he couldn't. I think he just doesn't because he's better at using guns. However, with the merger with the Eminence in Shadow world, that won't always be the case.
Why was Olivia in the Kagenou territory? We don't really know where Olivia is from. She's just kinda from "village A." We know she has parents, but they don't really show up or are even mentioned, which is why I guess a lot of other fanfic authors just make her an orphan. Also, the Kagenou family appears to be a family of low barons, just like the Bartfort family, meaning that it wouldn't be strange to say they're both on the border of their countries and therefore close enough for Olivia's teacher to have met her.
-Olivia-
"I might have mentioned it before, but I'm an adventurer. Would you join me? Last night proved that you are a great partner to have, and I'd love to have you by my side. If your answer is yes, then please meet me here in a week when the Kagenou's have gotten me a new ship. I promise, I'll help you find a one-of-a-kind treasure." Said Leon. His eyes sparkling like newly formed obsidian, and his hair blowing in the wind almost begging for her to run her hands through-
Hawawa~
No,no! Livia that's a big no-no! Get it together!
*Sigh* I roll around in my bed, looking out the window as I recall the events of last night.
We just met last night… In the middle of the forest… where he gallantly rescued us from some monsters without knowing who we are… and, and even though he was scared too he didn't drop us until we were somewhere safe. Then… then… he was so cool when fighting that monster man. He might not have beaten him, that scary Shadow guy did, but…but… before Shadow showed up… *Dreamy Sigh*
Lea/ Mister Leon.
Huh?
I quickly sit up and look around. Am I hearing things?
I clutch the necklace Mister Leon gave me after he walked me home. *Sigh* I know I promised to give it back when we meet tomorrow but I can't help but wish he'd let me keep it. It… it just feels right holding onto it.
*KNOCK-KNOCK*
"Livia," calls out Mom, "Are you still awake?"
I quickly sit up and pat my cheeks to try and get rid of my blush. "Yesh- *ahem* Yes! Come in!"
Mom opens the door to reveal her and Dad. They walk in and sit on the bed on both sides of me, giving me a big family hug that I return. *giggle*
"Big day tomorrow." Said Dad.
"Mhm" I reply.
Dad puts his hand on my shoulder, and I look at his worried face.
"Are you sure?" He asked.
I hug my dad with all I can.
"I'm sure." I say with my face buried in his chest.
Dad and Mom hugged me from each side, making it a bit hard to breathe but I wouldn't stop them for anything. I feel myself tearing up a bit.
"*sob* I always knew this would happen," said Mom, "Our little girl was never going to stay in our little village. I just never thought it'd be so *sob* soon."
"Mom *sniffle* don't cry…" I say, already feeling the tears well up past the point of no return, "Or I'll cry!"
"C'mon Mom," said Dad, who's just as bad as us, "she ain't leaving till tomorrow."
Mom does her best to gather herself up, but we all just sit and hold each other. Eventually, falling asleep. My bed didn't really have the room for all three of us, so we kinda just fell back and let our legs dangle off the side, but I wanted to spend time as their little girl one last time.
…
W-W-W-W-WAIT NOT LIKE THAT! I'm not expecting Mister Leon to do something to me on our trip or anything! Honest! It's not like I think Mister Leon is going to take me to the great unknown, find tons of treasure, find undiscovered islands, propose to me, fight some big monsters, marry me, and then put tons of kids in me or anything!
-Cid-
It's the crack of dawn. Accompanying the rising sun and merchants going about their routines are the constant flutters of propellors fill the air as Claire drags me by the hand to the port where we're going to meet up with Leon. Alpha follows closely behind, humming a song that Epsilon had been playing for Zeta. I think it was that nursery rhyme I taught her.
Anyway, we pass by all the huge merchant ships, each getting smaller and smaller until we get to a dinghy that Leon is standing in front of. Okay, well dinghy is a bit unfair, it's closer in size to the sailboats you'd see people buy after they retire. But compared to the sailboats and airships the merchants have it's pretty small.
Then again, while he was staying at our place, Leon had said that he had been going around in a ship about the size of a rowboat. I have to admit, I could respect it, especially once Leon told us all about what life was like in this world. Admittedly, I never really went out of my way to learn anything other than what I thought was interesting, so anytime someone other than Alpha or the other Shades brought up marriage, I'd just tune them out. But since I was curious about Leon's backstory to see how he'd fit as the prospective hero, well, I'm pretty grateful for the warning and invitation.
I thought maybe Claire and Momma were the only ones like that, but for all the women in Holfort and—according to Pops—much of the nobility in Midgar as well. Yeesh, if weren't for the Shades being so awesome I'd worry about the state of the world… then again, I basically raised them… Hm. Maybe my plan of marrying some random Mob girl in 100 years or so won't be the best call after all. But I can't think of a single woman outside of the shades that I could stand to be around.
"Ah Leon-kun!" said Claire.
Leon looks up from some journal he was reading before waving us over.
"Hey there!" Leon says, "I see you guys are all geared up."
Although Claire had thought she was ready as is, Leon had made it clear that armor is extremely necessary. Luckly, Pops and Momma had some spare gear left over from their times in Midgar's academy. Most Darknights can apparently just coat themselves with magic to avoid most strikes to a degree, but that doesn't do much against bullets, so you'll need actual armor for that. Admittedly, I don't have to worry about that with the slime armor but no one but Alpha and I have access to that.
"Yep, but I still don't think we'll really need all of this." Said Claire.
"Mm. Well when it comes to adventuring it's best to err on the side of caution. After all, we're going to be relying a lot on our own abilities out there." Said Leon.
Alpha can't help but nod. Claire pouts, but she already agreed to listen to Leon. Which, by the way, is kinda freaky. Claire usually doesn't listen to anyone, especially if they're a guy. Hm… maybe I can use this?
"Mr. Leon!"
All of us look towards the sound of the voice and find Olivia bouncing- ah my eyes are being covered. I understand that Claire would, but Alpha's a surprise.
-Leon-
I do my best not to stare at Olivia's chest as she skips here. One, because it's improper, two because I might as well not enjoy a sight when it's only my turn. I had been happy about having a cute village girl interested in me at first, but as soon as I realized that she's the protagonist, I had to do my best to quell those feelings.
That necklace too, I don't know how Shadow got a hold of it, but he had to have known that it belonged to Olivia. I have to guess that Shadow might also be someone who reincarnated into this world and is doing his best to put it on the right track. After all, he led me straight to Olivia, and then to Claire. I don't know much about him, as he didn't exist before in Alto Liebe, but neither did that hulked out guy.
Tsk. Just like I've known for the past 6 years, it didn't stop at being a shitty game but was a shitty world too.
"Leon-kun, are you alright?" asked Claire.
"Huh, ah sorry. Just a little nervous. I haven't exactly led a bunch of people before and it kinda just hit me that I'll be in charge of keeping you all safe." I said.
Cid and Alice stare at me in such a deadpan way that makes me think that they didn't buy it. But luckily the human capybara in front of me didn't catch on.
"I'm sure you'll do great Mister Leon! No," says Olivia as she shakes her head, reminding me of a puppy, "I know you will!"
Guh! Too bright! No wonder the needy light blue guy fell for this sincerity!
"Hey now," calls out a masculine voice, "How are going to leave Livia to you if you're having doubts before you even leave the port?"
I turn my gaze a bit behind Olivia and see a somewhat portly man with blonde hair and a contrastingly thin built woman. If I remember correctly, Olivia's parents were bakers. I guess they're used to waking up this early. Hm… they weren't really given a full CG in the game, nor any portraits.
It's… weird seeing them in person. I can't help but compare them to Olivia. As the protagonist enough was left vague enough for someone to self-insert but seeing how she's got the same shade of blue in her eyes as her mother but the same shade of hair as her father, the same height of her mother, but her skin is closer in shade to her dad…
"Something wrong Mister Leon?" asked Olivia's mother.
I shook my head, "No, sorry. I just was thinking about how someone could have made this non-therianthrope human puppy. But I can see how she gets all her friend-shaped features."
Olivia pouts for some reason as her parents laugh. I decide to keep to myself how Olivia's going to become an r-rated heroine.
"You know…" said Cid with a hand to his chin, "I kinda see it. Like a golden retriever."
Alice and Claire nod to Cid's observation. I can't help but agree too. As I look at them the sun starts to hit my eyes.
"Well," I say while turning to Olivia's parents, "I know we haven't known each other long. But still, thank you for entrusting your daughter to me. I'll make sure to bring her back in one piece and covered head to toe in jewelry."
Olivia's parents laugh at my statement.
"I'll hold you to it!" Said Olivia's Mom.
"Get something nice for my wife too, eh?" Said Olivia's Dad.
"Mom! Dad! Mou~" pouts Olivia.
Said parents hug their daughter for all they're worth, and strangely, they all turn to me with the same puppy eyes. Ha, jokes on you though my I've had at least 3 sisters and 3 younger siblings, I'm immune to-
*Shove*
Who-
"Bring it here boy!" shouted Olivia's dad as he pulled me into the family hug. Just like when my dad hugs all of his kids, Olivia's dad all but tries to break our spines and Olivia's mom a similar amount of force.
Eventually they separate from us, and we all start to pile onto the airship. As I start things off, I see everyone stand at the back of the ship and wave goodbye. I guess the Kagenou parents showed up at the last minute? Or maybe the Kagenou siblings just wanted to copy Olivia for the fun of it.
*Later*
After a few hours of traveling our airship stabilizes in the sea of clouds. With the Kagenou territory barely visible anymore, and nothing surrounding us but a few small islands, I decided to finally gather everyone beneath the deck. As soon as we're all down there I close the blinds before finally getting out my journal and a map.
"What's with all the secrecy? You haven't said a thing about this treasure no matter how much Cid and I begged you to." Said Claire.
"I'm sure Mister Leon has a good reason!" said Olivia.
"You would." Said Claire.
Olivia timidly and cutely pokes her two index fingers together while squirming in place. Huh, I remember that pose. So, she's done that whenever she's been embarrassed, like, forever? Cute.
Gah. Get it together Leon. You're a mob and she's a protagonist. As soon as you get Luxion she's not going to need you and you'll go back to the way things are supposed to be. You're just working together for now. You'll be nothing more than a fond childhood memory… again.
"Leon-san?" asked Alice, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Sorry," I say, "but the reason I needed to keep everything a secret was because I think I've tracked down a lost item."
"A lost item!" exclaims Cid with stars in his eyes. Or are those dollar signs? The symbol for it is pretty similar in the coin system of this world.
"You think?" pointed out Claire.
Ah, shit. How do I say I know this because of my game knowledge without saying it's because of my game knowledge. As I ponder this, I see Cid reach for my journal, I lightly push him away. Huh, he has a very squishy face, kinda like Colin.
"Well, as Cid guessed, the answers are in this journal." I say while waving it.
"That just looks like a journal you get from a store. I have a few of those," says Claire while putting her hands on her hips and leaning forward, "heck I think I have that exact same one."
"Ah," I say, waving my finger, "but you don't have one that I filled out with all of my notes."
Claire does the classic tsundere "Hmph" and looks away. All of us ignore her as I start drawing on the map. Okay, now that I have the locations drawn on the map, I'm going to do what I usually did in online chat rooms during games. Have everyone else lead the conversation because I have no idea what I'm doing, just that I'm capable of doing it well.
"Okay, who here can tell me what a lost item is?" I ask.
For whatever reason, rather than just saying it, Cid and Olivia raise their hands. Well, I saw Cid's hand first. I point to him and Olivia deflates slightly. Man, the animators and artists really stuck the squash and stretch principle when working on her sprites. I guess I never really focused on it since it was in the corner most of the time while I the boys took up most of the screen, but it's pretty neat to see her do it in real life.
"Treasure!" said Cid.
… I point to Olivia who lights up again. Cid pouts and Alice pats him on the back.
"Lost items are said to be the remnants of an ancient civilization. They're all super advanced, and it's because them we have stuff like the armors that knights use." Said Oliva.
I pat Olivia on the head, "Good job. Now, what can you tell me about that ancient civilization?"
Olivia opens her mouth then closes it. Everyone else ponders it.
"Well, I'll tell you what I know, they're a pretty secretive bunch."
Everyone deadpans at me. Even the human capybara/puppy hybrid.
"Here me out," I say while raising my hands, "look at these coordinates on the map I have circled. Any of you happen to know anything about that location?"
Alice raises her hand this time.
"It's said that merchants tend to avoid the area due to monsters often crowding it. And even if that were not a problem there appears to be some kind of storm permanently brewing in the air. People tend to avoid flying by there if they can." Supplied Alice.
I slam one palm onto the table. "There, that's it."
Alice, Claire, and Cid all tilted their heads.
"Alright, let me ask this, how could a storm be permanently in one place?" I said.
Everyone looks towards one another.
"With a spell?" offered Cid.
"Exactly, but does anyone here know any one in history capable of casting a spell for as long as that storm has been around?" I ask.
More blank looks. Olivia raises her hand.
"Olivia?"
"Um… I think in the novels I read, um, it's usually casted by a lost item." Said Olivia shyly. I pat her head again and she giggles. Cute. I try to stop only for her to pout, so I continue as I keep talking.
"Right. Even members of the royal family or founding families aren't capable of doing something of that magnitude. If they did, they'd do it with the assistance of a lost item."
Claire interjects, "wait is your big plan having us fly directly into a monster infested storm!?"
I shook my head and turned to Alice. "Alice, is there anything else that people talked about seeing in the area? Like near the ocean's surface for instance."
Alice thinks on it, but Cid answers for her, "I think I heard some of the drunk mercenaries talk about how the surface shines like a gem."
"Wha-!?" Claire squawks, "When did you have the opportunity to talk to drunk mercenaries!? Alice! We pay you to watch out for Cid when did he-"
"It was when you dragged me to the adventurer's guild to find a bounty nee-san." Said Cid.
Claire pulls at Cid's cheeks. Poor guy hasn't realized that even if you can win an argument with a woman, you won't.
I keep talking, "Yup, that's what we're going for. That shining surface isn't just a nice view. If I'm right, that's going to be a warp device. See, almost all lost items tend to be guarded by monsters. If I remember correctly the working theory is that they're attracted by either the power or the mana that the lost items hold."
Everyone seems to start getting on board. Olivia and Cid's eyes are shining. However, Alice raises her hand again.
"Excuse me, but how will we face the monster problem?"
"Good question," I respond, "And I have a good answer. See, at this time of year students at the academy go to different territories on trips. Because of that, their families and the nearby territories do their best to clear out all the monsters nearby. And the way they do that is with monster lures. This often has monsters from all different places follow the lures."
Olivia gasps in realization, "And there's at least three different nearby territories the students are going to. Most of the monsters should be gone by the time we get there!"
Everyone begins to smile.
"Now," I say, "We're still going to run into some monsters. So, let's go back to the top, I'll show you how to fight like an adventurer."
-Alpha-
It's late at night. The others are all asleep save for me and Cid. For the first few weeks we had been traveling Leon-san had been the only one driving. As much as I hated to admit it, not even I knew how to drive an air ship. Whenever the shades and I would go to save more of the possessed we'd rely on the older shadow garden members such as Lambda to perform the duty. Thankfully Leon-san had given us all the chance to learn how to steer, albeit mainly so we could take shifts and arrive at the location of the lost item faster. Before he retired for the night Leon-san had briefly teased the two of us stating, "don't make out on the wheel and make us crash," before departing to his bed, causing Claire to fume slightly. Thankfully Olivia-san had been able to placate her.
I suppose her skill in keeping the peace is because of her nature as a Saintess candidate. No, just as Cid has explained before, the past is the past. Habits and mannerisms are learned, not inherited. It's likely that I do not share any similarities with the elven hero beyond appearance, so I shouldn't judge Olivia-san based on the Saintess too much.
"Alpha." Called Cid.
I turn to him, and I see that he has the gun that Leon-san has been teaching him to use. Cid had previously mentioned that he held no love for such weaponry, but the way his eyes had glowed when Leon-san had gotten him to kill some of the carp monsters was much more befitting of Cid's age. *giggle* Thinking about it, they almost looked like brothers. Or perhaps in-laws. Claire-san has been getting rather close to Leon-san, although I suppose it is much too early for Claire-san to realize that her desire to constantly spar with Leon-san is due to more reasons than practice. Or at least, that's how I believe it to be, given how much I've been able to monopolize Cid's time during our trip.
"Yes?" I replied.
"Has Shadow Garden found any of these 'lost items' in the past?"
"Some, but none to the degree that Leon-san promises the one we're going to find is. Rather, I'm still having doubts about…"
I trail off, seeing that same distant look in Cid's eyes. *Sigh* Even with all this time spent together, I still can't hope but to follow behind you. You must have already known the location of this treasure and was just waiting for the time that you could have someone suitable find-
"Good," said Cid.
Just like always, Cid catches me by surprise.
I can't help but blink and ask, "Pardon?"
"I have no need for borrowed strength," said Cid as he raised the gun in his hands, "I understand the lengths that regular people have to go through to mimic even a fraction of our power-"
I can't help but feel happy at his use of 'our.'
"-but I will never be defeated by such methods. Perhaps, hurt, perhaps even stalled, but technology can be replicated and improved. But I will never be repeated. I am one of a kind."
Ah… and the joy I felt fades. Cid… I know that no one could ever hope to replicate you. But for you to outright state it yourself… it makes me feel so hopeless.
Suddenly I feel a hand on my cheek. "Alpha? Is something wrong? You cold?"
"I'm fine." I say. Doing my best to hide my emotions. I'd hate to burden him with these feelings of mine. "I just need to go inside."
However, Cid presses. "Are you sure?"
*Giggle* Ah. Cid, do you share your sister's emotional denseness or not? It's not fair to play with my heart so.
I normally do my best to not say anything in front of the shades, as I worry about their response should I get too close to Cid. But, when it's just the two of us… when it is just the boy Cid and the girl Alice, perhaps I can be a bit more selfish.
I hold Cid's hand against my cheek, "I… I worry sometimes, that when you say things like that… that…"
"That?"
I look away, "That you mean to say that I could never hope to catch up to you. You know that we… that I, would love for nothing more than to be at your side. Am I truly so unable to take away your unhappiness. Will… will I never be able to stand at your… no forget it-"
Cid grabs my face with both hands and forces me to look at him a determination in his now red glowing eyes, only further highlighted by the moon behind him, "Alpha."
"Meep."
"Don't ever talk like that. So long as you are willing to continue down this path of shadows with me, I will do whatever it takes to keep you at my side. Besides, what do you mean you can't take away my unhappiness? Alpha, you… you are what I think of when I think about smiling. Spending time with you and the shades… my friends, that makes me happier than you all could ever believe. Y'all are awesome. Especially you, my first shade, my first friend."
Ah… ah…
Cid chuckles as he wipes away my tears, "Alpha… you are such a 16-year-old sometimes."
I can't help but pout, "you too."
"Nuh-uh"
"Yuh-huh."
"Nuh-uh"
"Yuh-huh."
"Nuh-uh"
"Yuh-huh."
…
The two of us descend into a fit of giggles, having to lean on each other to keep upright. Unfortunately, this causes the ship to sway a bit.
"Hey! Cid, Alice! Keep it in your pants before you make us crash!"
"M-mister Leon! That's too vulgar!"
The two of us laughed a bit more, apologizing and continuing as we were. Cid now steering, with me leaning on his shoulder.
"Alpha."
"Yes?"
"I have a super duper secret hush-hush clandestine secret for you, should you care to hear it." Said Cid with as much sincerity as every mission he's given shadow garden.
"I do." I played along, knowing he'd never talk like this outside of a joke.
"I want you to…" Cid stops and focuses his eyes. I follow his gaze and see what appears to be a glowing green circle in the ocean.
I turn to fetch the others when Cid grabs my arm.
"Cid?"
"I'll tell you later, okay?"
I smile, and as Cid turns around, I rush towards him peck his cheek as sweetly as I can before rushing off. But I do manage to see his ears redden slightly. *Giggle* perhaps he isn't as unobtainable as I thought.
I do my best to hide my smile as I wake up the others, not wanting to have Claire-san rage. I do not succeed.
"What did you do to my Cid you ero-elf…" growled Claire.
"C-Claire-san, that's a bit mean." Cried Olivia.
"More importantly," said Leon-san as he pushed Claire out of the way, "did we arrive?"
I nod and Leon-san immediately runs out, not even bothering to put on a jacket or his shoes. The rest of us can only blink as we hear him yell from the deck.
"YAHOO! THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR!"
The girls smile and start getting ready. Olivia-san grabs Leon-san's shoes for him, and Claire his jacket.
"Are we there? Are we there?" asked Claire-san as she had been over the past month.
Leon-san smiles as he puts his shoes and jacket. As he adjusts his jacket and smiles, I see how Cid said he'd suit the role of 'hero.' Though of course he's nothing compared to Cid.
"Alright, I'm going to get the ship to go where we need it to, all of you should get below deck. It's a lot safer there in case the ship crashes after the warp activates." Said Leon-san.
"Eh!? What about you Mister Leon?" cried Olivia.
"I'll be fine, worst case I'll just buff my defense with some spells, and you'll heal me up, right?"
"B-but…"
Leon-san sighs. "Okay, how about this," he reaches for Olivia's chest and Claire-san, Cid, and I put our hands at our weapons, only for Leon-san to grab the Saintess's necklace that hangs from Olivia's neck. "Could you let me borrow this? As a good luck charm. As soon as we land, I'll give it back."
Olivia-san smiles and gives it to Leon-san. Come to think of it, she didn't exactly stop Leon-san for reaching for her chest. I suppose I can't blame her, if Cid were to… no I mustn't think such things. We all walk back down to the cabin, and brace for impact.
A/N: Hey! The chapter's a bit shorter than the first two, but that's largely because it's an all original one. I hope you guys like it. For now I'm going to respond to some comments I've gotten.
To the commentors on QQ:
someone ani: (BTW thanks for the response those mean a lot) I actually read the WN of The Eminence in Shadow when it came out. Up to about the prison arc where I felt things were a bit too slow. Then NU updated to require an account. I do also happen to own a blu-ray of the first season. So, if you're worried, I'm relying too much on the game and manga, don't worry. Though I will say the game does a bit of a better job of showing off characters' inner thoughts than the anime did.
Also, assuming that "someone ani" isn't qq's way of having anonymous people and you're the same person, I'm going to use your first comment to rant a bit: yeah, I like canon pairings bar incest ones too. I mean, like I said in the description, I don't care much for fanfics that have someone's OC show up, do everything better than the original protagonist and also take their harem. Honestly, I wouldn't mind it as much if they didn't for some reason keep the original protagonist in the fanfic as well. Like why keep them there? NTR? Trash. Because they like them? Are you sure, you kinda just stole everything from their life. You committed NTR, but weren't honest about it, which is worse in my opinion.
To the commentors on fanfic:
johan uzumaki :Neat to see a reader from Paraguay. Hope you enjoy the next chapter, as I'll get a bit into that.
HunterXKiller87: I'll try to be a bit more descriptive. Not sure how, but I guess I'll start with the setting descriptions.