Chapter 24: Calm in the raging storm

"My lord. It is with great pleasure to tell you that my forces are gathered and ready." Jaralis announced.

Naofumi looked over the temporary forward-operated base. Demi-humans of all species gathered around the field and began prepping for the waves that were merely four days away.

It wasn't just warriors either. The best smiths and advisors of the various territories gathered together and worked hard for the sake of every soldier going to battle. It was certainly a change of pace, especially when compared to Melromarc, who only had enough time to send one squad.

But things were different this time, now that he had more knowledge of the party system. With it, he can create sub-groups of his party. With it, exp will still flow the same, but he would gain the benefit of being able to teleport groups of people with his to the site of the wave immediately. A real game-changer.

Of course, when Ren told him this. He asked why he didn't utilize this ability. His answer? He forgot.

"Good. Tell them to set up their tents by the hippos and for the blacksmiths to go with the others. I don't care what you do after." Naofumi answered with his usual nonchalant attitude.

Jaralis was a peculiar fellow. Every moment he was around him, he attempted to butter up the shield hero, much to Naofumi's annoyance. Even Sakura was annoyed and could tell he was lying out of his ass every moment he was with them.

She was never on guard like this when talking to Werner or the Genmu, despite them doing the same. But to her, everything they said was with some form of remorse or genuine disappointment in themselves. Jaralis, however, just felt like Malty, someone she despised with a passion. Mostly due to his own influence.

"By the way, my lord. If it's okay with you, I'd like to invite you to my territory for a meal. I've noticed you've got a vacant party slot, and I have plenty of prospects lining up at the opportunity to support you."

"That depends; are Werner or the Genmu invited?"

"Um… noo?"

"Then I'm not going. You can bring them here; I'll interview them later."

Naofumi continued to tap away at his screen as Jaralis looked on in dismay.

"But my lord. Surly-"

"I refuse to go anywhere without Werner or Genmu accompanying me. As members of the supreme races, I can trust them to protect my party if anything were to happen. Nothing personal; I just want to be safe."

"I see. So I must work harder to gain your trust."

"Do whatever you want." Naofumi waved Jaralis off. The latter of whom bowed with a huff and left.

"So-"

"Half-truths. Probably wants to pawn his daughter upon you." Sakura replied before lying back on the ground.

"Like everyone else in Siltvelt," Naofumi grumbled.

"Maybe you should take one. Sakura knows someone personally who'll love the idea."

"I'm not dating a bird, and I'm certainly not going to become a sex tool for the nobility here."

"Sakura wasn't referring to the nobles." Sakura rolled her eyes before muttering under her breath. "You're so blind."

"What was that?" Naofumi growled. But Sakura didn't answer, opting to whistle to look inconspicuous.

"My lord, you have a message." Leaping out of Sakura's feathers, Zalton landed next to Naofumi and handed him a scroll.

"When did you get in there?"

"Magic." Zalton tipped his hat, not answering Sakura in the slightest.

"I can't read Siltvelt; what's it say?"

"Right, apologies." Zalton skimmed over the scroll before rolling it back up.

"It's from the Sanctuaries Forge. Your gear has been completed and ready for pick up." Zalton announced.

"It's about time!" Sakura lept full of energy. "Oh, Draconic Ruin, you're finally returning!"

"You named your sword?"

"You call your shield Chimera Viper and get no complaints." Sakura pouted.

"I have no choice in that matter."

"Just lame excuses. Now get on; Sakura is getting her sword back!"

/~/

"GEAR IS IN!" Neila cheered as she cracked open a crate. Inside were their weapons and armor, shiny and looking new. Neila herself was looking worse for wear, looking as if she didn't sleep for the past few days. But she moved on like she had all the energy in the world.

"Are you okay?" Raphtalia asked.

"Not in the slightest. I must say this was a maaaajor doozy. It took four sleepless nights instead of two. Sorry for that, but it's all this asshole's fault!"

Neila picked up a cloth from a separate metal container. It was drenched in holy water and covered in various magic runes.

"So I did a… big oopsie and undid the suppression this weapon had. Apparently, this thing was hella corrosive and slowly ate away at any material I used. I lost more money than gained while trying to upgrade this sword, and it was sooo worth it!"

Neila unwrapped the blade and handed it over to Sakura.

"To start with the basics, I did the simple things. Make it sharper; add a blood-cleaning coating. You know, the usual."

Draconic Ruin (Suppressed)

Magic Up (Medium), Slashing Damage (Strong), Wyrm's Corrosion (Sealed), Blood Coating

"It does feel stronger. And looks more shiny." Sakura's eyes sparkled at the sight. Though Naofumi was less amused.

"I thought you said you unsealed this thing?"

"Oh, I did. For safety reasons, I made sure to keep it in it's suppressed state when not in use. If for any reason you need to access the true power of this sword, just flow some magic in, and that'll temporarily unlock the seal.

"Oh, so like this?" Sakura did as instructed and flinched as a putrid aura escaped from the blade.

Draconic Ruin (Unsealed)

Magic Up (Medium), Slashing Damage (Strong), Wyrm's Corrosion (Medium), Blood Coating

"See what I mean. It's like a walking Zweite Decay." Snatching the sword from Sakura, Neila slashed at a tree. The initial strike left a gash. Afterward, smoke began to rise as it ate away at the tree before coming to a sudden halt.

"It ate through the tree? Just like that!?" Keel exclaimed.

"Holding it next to something for a bit will also yield a similar result. Probably better due to the constant contact." Placing it within its sheath, the peryton handed the weapon back over to Sakura. "I suggest being careful with this. Decay spells aren't easy to heal."

"...Understood." Naofumi replied, still a bit shocked.

"Alright then, corrosive weapons out the way. Now, let's start with the others. Dog, to me please."

"I have a name," Keel grumbled as he walked over.

He got a pair of gloves and a bag. Inside the bag were various bottles and pouches. Needless to say, Keel was rather confused about his items.

"Now I was thinking about making gauntlets, but I forgot, you transform, so no metal. So I just made some magic gloves."

Mana Gloves

Blunt Damage (Medium), Auto Repair, Blood Coating, Magic Up (Medium), Blood Coating.

"It has the basics of all magical clothes. Auto repairs and all that stuff. However, I made sure it had some combat usage as well. So increases your blunt damage and magic."

"Ahh. So what's the bag for then?" Keel asked.

"That was me. With your special magic, I asked for a bag so you can have access to almost every element when needed. We need versatility anyway." Naofumi explained.

"And just as asked, I got everything you needed. Holy water, cursed water, matches, lightning in a bottle. Everything you need is right at your fingertips. Though reloading them is up to you."

"Noted." Keel put on his gloves and punched the tree in front of him. It left his fist indented and didn't even hurt his hands while doing so. Nodding his head, he then lit up a match and called the flames to his hands. He waved it around a bit until he was satisfied and then tossed it at the tree, burning deep in the hole he already made.

"Awesome. Thank you."

"Perfect. Next up is your raccoon." Neila reached into the crate and pulled out two items for Raphtalia. A brand new sword, fixed within her old hilt. And her breastplate, which was changed from leather to metal.

Magic Iron Sword

Slashing Damage (Strong), Blood Coating, Magic Damage (Medium)

"Just the basic upgrades to your weapon and armor. Sorry, I couldn't do more."

"No worries. I'm kind of attached to the design, so I'm glad it didn't change much. Thank you." Raphtalia smiled.

"I count that as a win then!" Neila pumped her fist in the air and began to rummage through the crate for the last items.

Naofumi's armor was first. Visually, nothing changed. Enchantment-wise, it gained a few resistances, mostly to poison and venom from the remaining wave monsters he had. Good effects; unfortunately, he still looked like a bandit.

And last but not least, Ake. He required the most out of everyone, so it made sense that he was last.

The first thing that was taken out was a new set of armor. It wasn't a full plate like before, but it was many pieces that covered his arms, legs, and chest.

Chimera Bone Titanium Armor

Slashing Resistance (Medium), Blunt Resistance (Medium), Magic Resistance (Medium),

"Wave boss weapons are hella potent. You may not be as defensive as the shield hero. But you'll make one hell of an off-tank with all the harassment and redirections you can do. Especially with this baby."

Neila pulled out the final weapon of the day. A two-handed flame-blade sword. The blade was wider than normal, along with white as snow.

Filolial Feather Greatsword

Slashing Damage (Strong), Blood Coating, Blessing of the Winds.

Putting a hand on the blade. Ake was surprised by how light the weapon was, despite being larger than any other two-handed sword he wielded before. Swinging the blade around, he picked up the wind with each swing, cutting through the weeds and trees around him.

But as the wind approached the party, it passed over, leaving them unharmed.

"I don't know why, but that filolial feather was hella potent. After that, I made sure to swipe a few from the pink bird in order to make this.

"What? When!?" Sakura exclaimed, searching for any loose feathers.

"Don't worry about that." Neila maniacally chuckled. "Anyhow. As you saw, that sword swirls the wind with each swing and can differentiate friend from foe. It's similar to the Wyrms corrosion, though more of a wind blade spell."

"Unfair, I don't want to use a dragon weapon! Let's switch."

"Save it. You want a new sword; you're paying for it yourself." Naofumi grumbled.

"Boo," Sakura whined.

"So. How's it feel? I'll do any fixes free of charge, but I hope this is satisfactory enough."

"I'm fine with mine."

"Likewise. Amazing work." Raphtalia and Ake nodded.

"I agree, I'm going to put these gloves to good use."

"Same with my blade. It's been so long." Sakura rubbed her cheek against the blade, uncaring about the sword's corrosive nature.

"What they said. I'm satisfied with the results."

"And that's five! Another successful contract!" Neila danced around, cheering for her success.

"First up, the shield heroes party. Next, the shield hero himself!" Neila began laughing, unaware of the man standing behind her.

"Does she?"

"Just let her figure it out naturally."

/~/

"Finally back!" Coming through the door, Sakura leapt over to the couch. Before she could land, however, Zalton appeared out of its shadow and caught her.

"Please don't jump on the couch; it was expensive."

Gently placing the bird down, he let out a sigh of relief before sitting down himself.

"Must say. That's the most running around I've done today. Message after message, query after query. Thank the shield; it's over." Zalton groaned.

"Agreed. Each and every one of those nobles are suckers. Some more than most." Naofumi also grumbled.

"I swear, if another person offers their daughters and even sons to me again. I'll be sure to have them banished."

"Master, please don't."

"Yeah. If anyone tries anything, Sakura can handle them."

"You don't do anything either!" Raphtalia exclaimed. "Though I do agree, this day was quite hectic. I'm ready to slow down for the rest of the day."

"I'll start the bath."

"That would be a blessing."

"Sakura will also take you up on that offer."

"Is the bath really that big?" Keel asked.

"Don't tell me you haven't taken one yet."

"I refuse to confirm nor deny."

"Keel." Raphtalia grumbled.

"Alright, alright. I'm moving." Keel relented as he wandered through the halls.

"Guess I'll join him. I need one as well."

"Ohh, I'll join you."

"Sakura."

"Oh, don't be so scared, Raph. It'll be fun!" Sakura hugged Raphtalia and grabbed Ake by the arm.

"Naofumi!"

"Pass."

"Fair enough!"

Sakura ran off, dragging her two captives with her. Though Zalton did reprimand her for running the halls.

When they arrived, Keel was already inside. Though he was slouched in the corner, crossing his arms over his chest like he was hiding something. But the rest paid him no mind as they began getting in themselves.

The main tub was pretty large, just barely smaller than the baths used in hot springs. Ake was pretty shocked, but not as much as Sakura, who, despite already taking many baths in the manor already, still marveled at the size and glamour of the place. So much so that Ake shielded his eyes as she walked past without a towel.

Afer washing themselves off, and some teasing from the filolial, who was quickly reprimanded by Raphtalia. They all got into the bath and relaxed in it's warm waters.

"This place never gets old, no matter how long Sakura stays in it. Ake, how much does a shadow make?" Sakura asked.

"As far as I'm aware, they don't get paid since they technically don't exist. Though if I were to guess, most funding would be fronted by the country itself instead of a set salary."

"That makes sense. Someone getting paid is a pretty big paper trail. Still, I think this manor is also a big paper trail."

"Zalton acts more like a personal attendant than a shadow. Chances are he's acting to throw people off, or he's so good at his job that he's simultaneously the worst at it." Ake opened a vial of holy water and poured it into the water. If wasn't a high concentration. But the longer he stayed, the better effect he and Sakura would get.

"Speaking of Zalton. I'm starting to feel more comfortable around him."

"Hmm. Why is that?" Sakura asked.

"Remember the last time I encountered a shadow. I was hoping I didn't have to encounter another for a while, but what do you know? We met another; that's everything but our party member at this point."

"Oh right. It's been awhile, so Sakura forgot."

"It's only been two weeks."

"Yeah a long one. Traveling, getting attacked the same day we arrived. A parade, dealing with whores, and a poisoning attempt. Sakura hasn't even finished listing everything, and that was all in a week!" Sakura scoffed. "And then to top it all off. We're leaving later, after the wave. We just got here!"

"Wait, we're leaving Siltvelt? But isn't Melromarcs wave like... three, four weeks after Siltvelts?"

"It is, but Naofumi said. And I quote. "This place is a pain in the ass." We're leaving when we can." Sakura chuckled. "Sakura won't lie to you, though. This place is kind of bad. You should have seen the council; half of them are like our enemies at this point."

"Well, it's not like we have many alternatives. Shildfreeden will most likely be the same. Zeltoble is just as bad, if not worse, than Siltvelt. Faubrey is pretentious as hell, especially with that genius parading himself around every other week. And then there's Melromarc, who we're currently on the run from."

"So our options are. Be sold as a slave in Zeltoble, deal with the corrupt council Siltvelt and Shildfreeden, be annoyed by the citizens of Faubrey, or be hunted down and possibly executed in Melromarc." Keel laid out, speaking for the first time in this talk. It didn't take long for everyone to answer, however.

"Melromarc."

The room was silent, with Ake being the first to speak up.

"I'm not going to lie. Assassinations aside, I kind of miss the place." Ake sighed.

"Agreed. Less hectic, more simple. It was also pretty easy to sneak around. Surprisingly, no one knows Naofumi's face."

"That is one of the only reasons we were able to stay hidden for that long. If it weren't for that, I'm not sure how we would have gotten you the proper medical supplies."

"Oh. Is that where you got the holy water from?"

"Yeah. Alongside some bandages, potions, and a special drink to raise your vitality to help bring your back from the dead." Sakura listed bluntly.

"Wait, he died?"

"I DIED!"

"Kinda of. More like your heart stopped for a few minutes. Sakura had to get the witch and the apothecary involved. If Sakura wasn't fast, you would have been a gon- ow!"

Sakura rubbed the back of her head after getting hit by Raphtalia.

"I almost died. I knew I almost died, but I almost died. HOW ARE YOU GUYS CALM ABOUT THIS!"

"I think you broke him." Keel remarked.

"Sorry. Didn't mean too. How about you take a deeper soak? Relax for a moment."

"Sure… sure. I can try." Controlling his breathing, Ake slid further in the bath, the water being up to his neck now. Despite his uncomfortable position, he did feel relaxed and stopped his mutters after awhile.

"Well, that's about it for me; I'm going to sleep." Keel groaned.

"Leaving so soon?"

"We got a wave in a few days. I need all the rest I can so out hunts in the morning turn fruitful, or I'm never going to catch up with you."

"You are doing better than most people at your level, Keel. Don't be discouraged."

"I'm not discouraged, Raph; I just want to be stronger. I need to be stronger, or I won't be able to protect you."

"Aww. Keel's concerned for her." Sakura teased.

"Shut up!" Keel growled.

"I'm happy with your conviction, but I don't need you to protect me, Keel. I'm not the meek little girl from before."

"I don't think you're weak." Keel sighed. "I'm not sure what happened to the others. As far as I know, we're the last kids of Lurolona. If anything were to happen to you... ow"

Keel rubbed his head as Raphtalia hit him too. "Don't be so grim. Beside, you shouldn't be the one protecting me. We should be looking out for each other. And then one day, we'll travel back to and rebuild. Just like before."

"Just like... before." Keel remembered back to the time after the wave, the time after the devastation.

Despite everything that happened, Raphtalia remained strong and became the spark to help begin the rebuilding process. That was until the knights came and sold them off.

Bawling his fist, a fierce look of determination filled his eyes. If Raphtalia was planning on rebuilding, then he needed to be stronger. So when that day finally comes, he can stand by her side and defend his village properly this time.

"Hmm, not entertaining enough. You two should hug."

"Sakura!"

"What. You need to reign in the emotion moment with something emotional."

"That it, leaving now." Keel out the bath, his towel over his waist, and arms cross over his chest. His… rather big chest, to be exact. Larger than most males, especially when considering his rather petite build.

That's when Sakura remembered the bandages on his chest and how he would wear them everywhere despite not being injured. Almost as if, if wasn't for an injury at all. That's when it suddenly clicked for her.

Using High-Quick. Sakura sped out of the bath and over to Keel. It was only a moment, as she quickly pulled away "his" arms to confirm her suspicions. And only a moment was needed to confirm the truth, as Keel quickly hid away her chest once again.

"Oh my god…" Sakura sat there in wonder for a moment before falling to the floor and bursting into laughter.

"Oi, what's the big idea?" Keel exclaimed. But Sakura was the least of his concerns. Raphtalia and Ake also noticed something. Raphtalia more than everyone.

"Raphtalia, please do some- WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"

Just as fast as Sakura, Raphtalia rushed over to confirm what she saw and was just as dumbstruck as Sakura.

Ten years. At least six of those years she spent with Keel. And not once did she even realize. She felt a lot of things in this moment. Confusion, shock. But the one thing she truly felt like was an idiot.

"Keel. You're a... girl!?"

"The hell are you going on about? I am a boy!"

"Well, clearly, you're not... Keel. Have your parents ever told you the differences between boys and girls." Raphtalia sighed, putting a hand to her face.

"Difference?" Keel tilted her head. This question, however, only seemed to fuel Sakura's laughter even more.

"Oh Keel." Raphtalia sighed as she adjusted Kee's towel to cover her chest as well. "We have a lot to tell you."

/~/

Meanwhile with Motoyasu

"Yuki, Freon, look! It's an intruder!" Kou exclaimed.

Over his head, he carried a green filolial. A filolial all three of them knew wasn't apart of their master's flock.

"Great work, Kou." Yuki tossed Kou an apple. The yellow filolial eating through it instantly.

"Alright buster. Who are you?" Freon demanded.

"Alright buster?"

"Shut it Yuki, I'm trying." The red filolial grumbled.

"Now then. Who are you, and where did you come from. Speak now, and you shall live."

"P-please don't hurt me. I'm just-"

"Hush." Rushing in front of his subordinate was Teba, giving enough for him to escape.

"You. That filolial under the shield heroes flock." Freon growled.

"How many times do we have to teach you this lesson old man. Stay out our turf."

"Fat chance. Men, attack!"

"Kou, sick em!"

/~/

"Lord Spear Hero! The filolial are at it again!" The previous lord reported.

"Again!? This is the third time this weak."

"[Zweite Firestorm!]"

"[Gua!]"

"Don't worry my angles. I'm coming!"