Getting back to the others, we had no chance to talk to them privately, and when asked, I merely said the Pope had offered us well wishes, and a hope that, despite what had happened, that we might return the Hero of the Shield peacefully to the side of Light. Motoyasu and Ren both scoffed at the idea, and once the chick…er filolials were packed and ready, Motoyasu brought me to the village he had apparently visited.
Strangely, he seemed shocked to where we ended up at, right outside a small village with a large tree, but I had no time to question him on that, as I immediately set a destination point and warped back, leaving him there to gather some local guards, and spread the word about what were were doing. Meanwhile I arrived with the others, gathering the parties and around a score of guards to me, and then teleporting them all to the village.
That left my SP drained a bit, as it was a large group, literally the largest I could do, and only possible since the mounts technically counted as cargo and not as people. Regardless, we were soon mounted, with me nearly falling off the bird a few times, despite it obviously trying to help me stay up. The moment I was settled, we were off, bursting down the road at speed, towards the path one villager had seen a wagon being pulled by a chunky filolial take.
About ten minutes later, I was sitting on the seat beside a driver who was moving a wagon pulled by four of the large birds, along with gear and rations for the group. She tried to placate me, lifting her helmet up and smiling, but being the only hero who apparently couldn't ride was galling, especially when Motoyasu revealed that Naofumi had some skill on his mount, much as he hated to admit it.
Still, our course took us down mountain roads and such, as the moon began to rise to the center of the sky, giving us plenty of light to ride by, but also signaling that we should probably rest. Luckily, by that point, I'd recovered, and took us back to the capital, placing a return point where we'd been, and allowing us all to return to our rooms in the inn, which felt strangely emptier, despite missing only three people from earlier.
In the meantime, I was able to talk to the rest of my party under the auspices of planning out how to hunt down that murderer, Naofumi. Really I laid out what we'd learned, and told them to watch the others. WE knew Naofumi was innocent of the attack, but we had no idea how he would react when we faced him, or more importantly how the others would, especially since he still had the Second Princess.
We slept in good accommodations, and set out early the next morning. One of Ren's party, the man with the crystal rod, Welts, had a spell that had been passed down by his family that made tracking easier. It literally, once we found one of Filo's feathers, lit up the path they'd taken beneath our feet. We soon came upon their wagon, still filled with goods that had been made by the Shield Hero, including potions of high enough quality that some of the guards were amazed.
I ordered them to take the wagon back to town, as the stuff was good enough to be a target out here, and we wouldn't want any of it to get taken. It could be useful for the Heroes later, after all. It also gave me time to figure out how to clear his name, so I could have the stuff returned to Naofumi. That still left us down some, as I, Ren, and Motoyasu both sent some of our party back, with me sending Souka and the brothers, while they sent a few I didn't know the names of, with me saying it would be better to travel with a smaller party to make better time.
After that, we followed the trail again. Having abandoned the wagon they were, luckily, on foot now, as Filo could apparently not carry them all it seemed. Problem was, they were still faster thanks to being a smaller group then what we were, but only so much. By the time we thought we might be closing in on them, the moon had hidden itself behind the clouds, casting the world in shadow, and leaving us flailing about, torches, lanterns, and light spells giving us away, but allowing us to divide forces, spreading ourselves out over the forest.
Finally, a scream broke through the silence, and for a moment I worried someone had been hurt, but as I rushed towards the noise, one of the knights shouted out that he'd found them, and sure enough, on the ledge below the forest's edge, leading into a deep ravine, the party of the Shield Hero stared up at us, before they bolted towards a small spit of land that almost touched the other side…though not enough that I would risk the jump myself.
Some of the knights, mounted on more normal horses who had been trained to move over the rougher forest floor, rushed them, their mounts allowing them to easily catch up with the Shield Hero, boxing him and his party in when they tried to rush past the large rock just before the outcropping, forcing them to walk out onto the spit of land, perhaps thinking they might leap it, but thinking better enough to stop as we came up to him.
"I think that's far enough, Naofumi. It's time you faced the consequences of your actions, and let Princess Melty go," I said as I stepped towards him, trying to be non-hostile in tone, but still needing to put on a good show for the others.
"What do you mean, 'let her go'? It's not like I have her tied up or anything," he said, which was a fair point. Myne's lie was not really going to hold up to scrutiny when one of the subjects of it was literally standing beside her supposed kidnapper.
"Just because she's not in ropes doesn't mean she's not your prisoner. We saw the recording, how you slaughtered those knights who were escorting her," I said, hoping he'd take the bait, and even better, it was actually Melty who did so.
"Sir Naofumi did no such thing. My guards were traitors who attacked me, and it was only his defense of me that ensured my safety," she declares, which took the others back a bit, as Ren and Motoyasu actually took a step back, before Ren went forward again.
"Wait, but the recording…this whole thing is only because he abducted you, isn't it?" he said, and Melty, shaking her head, stepped away from the Shield Hero, to stare directly at us.
"I do not know what you saw, Heroes, but I can say that it as *I* who asked the Shield Hero for his protection. There was an attempt on my life, by men who supposedly were trustworthy, and so I came with him, until such time as I can discern the root of such a plot," she told, her gaze going between each of us, and then staring at me confused, as I was smiling, nodding for her to keep going, as I was really hoping this would be enough to get the other two to listen.
"My mother sent me on ahead because the reports were clear that none of the Heroes were learning to work together. You were apart, and did whatever you wanted, alone, when, if you are to be here, together, you should work with one another, not try to do everything on your own," she said, throwing out her hands.
"Now, regardless of what he has been accused of, I ask you to put your weapons away, and let words be the things you bear against Sir Naofumi, and let the battlefield be one of ideas, not spells or magic," she finished, speaking well for someone her age, as she couldn't be that much older than like, twelve or so. The result of a royal upbringing I suppose. Naofumi took a step forward to stand beside her
"Like she said, I don't have any secrets anymore. I told you how I got my Curse Series, and if that doesn't prove I'm being honest, then I don't know what would," he told us, which was a good point.
"After we talk then-," he began, but he was interrupted as a new voice came from right beside us, Myne having gotten right next to where we three were standing at some point.
"I command you not to listen to the words from his lips," said Myne…Princess Malty, as she crosses her arms, and stares straight ahead.
"This Devil of the Shield possesses a brainwashing Shield. It allows him to take over your mind by simply talking to you-it's the most dangerous weapon he has," she declared, smirking which I doubted either of the other two saw, as they had already turned their heads to stare at Naofumi.
Mind, it was…interesting, as accusations went. It would have been absurd, but this was a world of magic, where we could fire various kinds of lasers out of metal sticks, and people could reshape the earth with thoughts. Heck, I'd had PTSD as a status effect, and Naofumi had apparently gone nuts when his Shield did something to him, enough so he didn't like using part of it, so it wasn't nearly as out there as it would otherwise be.
"Who would believe something so stupid and silly?!" questioned Raphtalia, loud enough for us to hear, and made me wonder if she realized how weird her world was to someone who came from a world where physics was an eternal thing, and not warped by words. Worse, she'd been the one to admit Naofumi was affected by his Weapon on a mental level, and she was wearing a magical lie detector on her chest. How much of a stretch was it from those to mind control?
"The Three Heroes Church has discovered heretics of the Shield have started to emerge all over the Kingdom since his arrival. Some can be explained by his seeming defense of them during the Waves. But others worship at his feet, despite him leaving them in destitution as he goes around calling himself the 'Savior of the Heavenly Fowl'," she declared, turning to face us.
"The Three Heroes Church again?" questioned Naofumi, gritting his teeth.
"Sister, you're mad," said Melty, staring in shock at Myne.
"Melty, you dear little deranged creature, it's obvious the Devil of the Shield has already stolen your mind," she said, sounding all sweet as she said it, like a tinge of concern…mixed with a very big backing of contempt. I was about to say something, when Motoyasu stepped forward.
"Now I see! That's why Filo and Raphtalia continue to serve him, and she even had the Slave Seal reapplied!" he said, sounding…almost gleeful at the proclamation, like it was some kind of triumph.
"No, you're wrong! Master Naofumi hasn't brainwashed any of us!" shout Raphtalia emphatically.
"Besides, if my Shield gave me the ability to do things like that, we wouldn't be in this situation in the first place," added Naofumi, and it was a good point. Not a great one. It was possible that being able to level gave us resistance to mind control or what not, but normal people, like the ones who HAD been on his side recently, would not be.
"Do we have any guarantee that it can't? Is there some kind of proof you can give to counter her claims? Anything to convince us you're not lying?" asked Ren, stepping forward, and then holding out his hand.
"I don't want to fight you, I really don't, but right now, it looks like we are at a crossroad. Come with us, back to the Castle, so we can ensure the safety of the Princess, you have my word I will protect her, and then you can make your case there," he said, and I was actually happy not to have to be the voice of reason. Apparently, even without me having gotten him alone to discuss what I'd learned, he was having his own doubts.
"You know, if we can avoid all this fighting, I guess it would be for the best," admitted Naofumi, and I breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that this whole thing was over, only to see Myne move out of the corner of my eye, going up to Ren and placing her hand on his.
"You're absolutely right, Sir Ren," said Myne, in one of the fakest voices I'd ever heard in my life. And considering I'd gone through two different humanities courses in a technical college where it was a requirement, that was an achievement.
"I'm so glad we all agree, Melty's safety comes first," she said, hanging off him, and smiling a fake smile, she then turned towards Melty with what I can only describe as two shades lighter than a slasher smile on her face, as her whole tone changed.
"Come now, sister, let's all go home together," she said, making it a bit too obvious what her intention was, to those who knew what she was about. Motoyasu, for all that, was nodding and smiling along like one would expect. Ren was, for all that he was probably suspicious, nodding with it as well. After all, he had promised to protect her, and we'd seen no direct evidence that Malty was trying to kill her sister.
That said, I knew she'd done something wrong, and killed those guards…well I had the Pope's word only there, but I trusted that snake over this one, and besides, he needn't have told me anything before coming here. I actually was shocked to realize that, without his warning, I might have bought what she was laying down, especially given the way Naofumi was standing protectively over the Second Princess, that strong willed young woman I'd seen in the meeting with her father, looking meek now.
Melty mumbled something, I couldn't hear it, but the way she said it seemed to snap the others to attention, as all three on the other side eyed Myne, who smiled at them, and then stepped forward, her shoes making a strange clacking sound, her boots coming down hard as she got a bit closer, causing Naofumi to stand straighter, not quite stepping between her and Melty, but making it obvious he could.
"Come to me, dearest little sister," she said simply, and I could feel my gag reflex going off, as she was laying it on a bit thick, and annoyingly, I realized I couldn't just drop what I knew about the altered recording to contradict her. Her little 'brainwashing' gambit was a good one, as Motoyasu was going to attack anyone over that sort of thing. Still, I had other cards left to play, as I stepped forward, going past Myne, and bowing towards Melty.
"If you don't feel comfortable traveling all that way on foot, my fair lady of blue hair, I can see us to the Castle in mere moments with my fast travel skill. You need not fear for your person on the road, and we could be in the safety of your father's keep before the moon sets," I said, before anything could go wrong, and it got everyone eyeing me, Myne's face going vicious for just a moment, before she turned to the others.
"My dear sister thinks I would do something to injure her? Perhaps she's fallen more under the sway of the Devil of the Shield than I thought. And the Bow Hero too, it would seem, if he would keep us apart," she said, that same sickeningly sweet voice. Motoyasu was buying it hook, line, and sinker, and the knights too…well okay, they might not be buying it, but they wouldn't disobey her. Ren looked conflicted though.
"And who said anything about you injuring her?" asked Ray, coming to stand between the groups with me, Lucia doing the same, and that question seemed to catch Myne off guard, as she placed her hands on her blades, and stared at the red themed Princess. The blue themed one, still standing by Naofumi, gripping his cape, did not step up to continue that, so I decided to strike myself.
"We make no accusations, Adventurer Myne, but the Second Princess claims that her guardians, men selected to protect her, turned their blades towards her person with intent to harm, before the Shield Hero protected her. We have the recording, but it came without sound, so perhaps something was said that justified their deaths, and it would behoove us to find out, before anything else," I said swiftly, and she literally ground her teeth at me.
The others, even Motoyasu, seemed to be considering my words, after all, we really didn't know what had happened…well they didn't, but it was enough to put doubt in them right now. I could hit them with the truth later. Still, it seemed the First Princess' current plans were blocked, and I turned back towards Naofumi's group, only to see them not quite as convinced, as Melty looked at me with an apologetic tinge to her gaze.
"I…I am sorry, Hero, but I can't return to the capital at all. As you said, those guards' loyalty should have been beyond reproach. If they could try to harm my person, then I can trust none in the castle, not until Mother's return," she said, and I wanted to facepalm. To be fair to her, it made sense, and she had no real reason to trust that Ren and I could protect her, but I could tell by her expression, she was planning on running with Naofumi.
"I see…you could come to Sanctuary with me, then. We could wait for your mother there," I suggested, and Myne laughed aloud, her intonation drawing even my gaze back to her.
"Safe? Surrounded by the Guild's dogs? Worse than dogs, you've let wild animals loose in that city! You might as well kill her yourself now, if the brainwashing from Naofumi doesn't do her in," she said, and the others looked back to me.
"I can assure you, no harm will befall anyone in that city. Better, the Pope himself will be present, with dozens of the church's best to consecrate the former cathedral grounds. You'll be surrounded by people who can heal you with a touch," I said, turning, but now the whole of the Shield Hero's party was looking at me suspiciously, making me sigh to myself, as Naofumi, for an instant, softened his gaze.
"I really appreciated what you're doing, Bard, I do, but I don't trust anyone right now," he said.
"And you know if you run, we're going to have to try and stop you?" I asked, and he nodded, everyone tensing, no one wanting to make the first move, and instead leaving us all standing there, staring at each other, my party between them all, and me wishing their reasoning wasn't so logical so I could just ask them to calm down and think for a minute. Without that, this was going to get messy.
(A/N: This chapter, right here, is the single most rewritten chapter in the million+ words I've written. Like, seriously, this one took a lot of effort not to turn into a bashing chapter one way, or the other.
Without the Pope, Bard would indeed see this as Naofumi being the bad guy, especially since he's going to run, and all evidence says this is his fault.
More, the idea of a Brainwashing/Mind Control ability isn't actually far fetched even at this point, given we know(And yes they do too as they saw it during the Soul Eater Wave) that the Rage Shield affects his own mind, and the mind of Filo, and that is a power he refused to explain how he got it or where, so it would only be logical to assume it has more uses than what they saw.
But, of course, Melty WOULDN'T be safe back at the castle, especially since it's not likely they'll allow Naofumi to stay near her, and if the Royal Guard can be ordered to kill Melty so easily, none of the other staff would likely argue. Ren and Itsuki…Ren might try to protect her, but it wouldn't likely work, again, Myne is okay at manipulation, when she has all the advantages.
So, with the Pope informing him that the recording was fake, but no way to prove it to the others, Bard tries to talk the situation down.
Originally, was going to have Melty and him go off so he can 'test' her for mind control, but then she panics on hearing the Pope's name and hits him hard enough to impale him on a branch of a tree. Of course, then I got to watch season 2, and yeah, if Melty HAD done that, she would have refused to leave his side regardless of the danger to herself, until he was awake.
That was, obviously, dropped and turned into Myne hurting him the same way, but then realized she wouldn't be able to do so without getting caught. So I shifted to either Melty, Myne, or even Naofumi during this point in the story, knocking him off the cliff when he gets too close to Melty(Accidentally in the case of the first and third characters), and any way it happens he winds up getting hurt enough to skip the Pursuit Arc entirely.
However, I realized that that would have been two wounds, close together, and I don't want to give the impression that Bard is useless…plus I could never think of how to make him fall without giving him the chance to (Blink) back to safety. So instead, we're going to get something a lot different.)