Chapter Thirty-Five: A Promise of Love and Retribution
Rishia breathed in, then out.
The distant rumbling of the ocean waves could be heard far below.
The girl stood at the edge of the cliffs, the starry night sky glistening above her.
The Bow Hero's… her house, stood far behind her in the distance, as did the rest of the sleeping town.
The rooms of her home had become dark and empty as of late… just like her life.
The ethereal form of a pair of knives, The Projectiles Weapon, shone faintly in Rishia's hands.
…
Once upon a time, wielding these would have been nothing but a fantasy. A wish she never would have had, because she never could have even imagined becoming anything great. Which made the fact that she'd been chosen by them that much more confusing.
But even though she had them now, it didn't matter.
Itsuki was gone…
He'd pushed her and everyone else he cared about away to suffer by himself.
The boy she'd even said those sacred words to:
"I love you."
…
She'd wanted to help him in return for all the help he'd given her.
But she couldn't.
She wasn't able to.
She'd never be able to help him now.
…
…
The sharp rocks down below stood out amongst the large waves crashing against them.
It'd been less than a week since that day, yet she could still recall it so clearly, as if it'd happened just moments ago.
The look of sorrow in his eyes.
A cracked, hollow expression on his face that she'd known all too well.
The touch of his lips against hers.
The taste of salt from his tears.
The feel of his hand on her cheek.
Her attempts to comfort or understand what he was going through.
All in vain.
…
Rishia continued to look down at the crashing waves. At the sharp rocks sticking up from the ocean. Whilst the light of a fading moon rested on her features, revealing her lifeless eyes.
She couldn't even get him to tell her what went wrong.
She was here, alive and well.
And he was out there, somewhere:
Alone, hurting, despairing.
…
She didn't deserve him.
She didn't deserve her weapons.
She didn't deserve her talent in life force.
She didn't deserve her friends.
She didn't even deserve to live.
It would have been better if she'd never been born.
If she'd never existed.
If she'd never been chosen.
So that none of this would have happened to the boy she cherished.
…
But it'd be so easy to fix her life's biggest mistake. To rectify the wrong first started seventeen years ago when fate first allowed her to be born.
To just take that one step and plummet to her death.
She just had to take one step forward.
And everything would end…
…
…
…
…
…
Yet she continued to stand there.
Staring down at the crashing waves.
Unmoving.
Wondering…
Why?
Don't tell her… even now…
She was still afraid…
…
…
The gemstones on the knives began to glow softly. At the same time, a green glow emanated from the left side of her hair.
As the light brightened, a memory entered her mind.
"Rishia, you know I've been in your shoes before, right?"
Itsuki crossed his arms while looking at the ocean. The evening sunlight reflected off his face.
"I already told you and the others what my life was like before being summoned…
"I have bad memories of that time. Between the bullying, discovering how weak my quirk was… losing my best friend to suicide…
"I know what it's like to think the darkness will never go away. I know what it's like to think the light is finally within reach, only to have it snatched away at the last second…"
He looked at her and gave her a sad smile. "You're right. Sometimes, hard work doesn't work out. Sometimes, tragic things happen in our lives. Sometimes, we hit limits on our abilities that we can't break no matter how hard we try…
"But you shouldn't give up because of it as I did."
Why…
Why was she thinking of that time…?
The girl lifted her knives in front of her, and the ethereal gemstones glowed a little brighter against the dark night, as did the glow from the side of her head.
A slew of memories passed through her mind.
"Sir Itsuki?"
"Sorry, I guess I was rambling there-" Itsuki was saying.
"No, I just, I just wanted to say that you're wrong."
…
Itsuki stared at the shy green-haired girl. "I know that I'm not one to speak. I've never been one to stand up for myself, or for others since I'm so weak.
"But that day, when I was sitting in a cage, wondering if I would ever see my parents again. You saved me."
She smiled, looking down shyly at her hands resting on her chest. "When you stood up for me. When you faced that evil man... I finally knew what it was like for others to stand up for you. To fight for you. To right the wrongs done to them. And I…
"I wanted to become that. I wanted to help you with what you were doing."
She looked up at him with fondness in her eyes. "... So please, don't say such awful things about yourself, Sir Itsuki. There's nothing wrong with your sense of justice. It helped you to save me, to save others.
"And if something happens... if you ever do decide to do something unjust... then I promise, I'll stop you! I'll tell you that what you're doing is wrong and help you return to the right path!"
"Yep. I knew I was right."
"H-Huh?" She looked surprised as Itsuki gripped her hands in his.
"Remember. Back at Cal Mira. How I told you you could be strong."
He let go to point at the remains of the monsters. "This proves it. You did it, Rishia! You're as strong as the rest of us now!"
"You won't have to worry about holding us back any longer! You can fight alongside everyone without worrying now!"
...
"... Fu… fue…" Rishia looked from Itsuki at the cave of bodies. Then down at her hands.
She'd done this…
…
She'd… done this!
SHE'D DONE THIS!
Rishia giggled to herself, and she sent a message back to the Bow Hero.
Rishia: "Have a good night, Itsuki. Thank you for today."
Rishia: "I'll see you tomorrow morning."
…
…
…
Itsuki: "See you tomorrow, Rishia. :)"
Even though it'd been a minute after he'd sent the last message, Rishia immediately gripped the ofuda when it buzzed to read the words. As well as the smiley face he'd attached at the end.
Her heart swelled in her chest again, and Rishia grasped the communication ofuda paired with Itsuki's words close like it was her most precious possession. And… it might have just become her most precious possession.
It was only a start…
But what a start it was.
"I'm… going to try going back to bed." Itsuki eventually said. "I'm sorry that I woke you up."
"Wait, Itsuki?"
Itsuki looked up to ask what Rishia wanted, only to pause.
The girl leaned forward, pressing her lips lightly against his own.
…
The action was so subtle and so quick, that he almost didn't think it'd actually happened.
But Rishia pulled back, her face an even brighter crimson than before. But a soft smile was still on her lips as she looked at him with pure unadulterated happiness. "H-Hopefully that'll help to banish the nightmares." She said softly.
"I… I… Uh…" Itsuki's mouth refused to work. He was left completely speechless by what Rishia had just done.
"Just know, whenever you need help with something, I'm here for you," Rishia told him. Echoing all the past times she'd told this line before. Yet, now, it almost seemed to hold new meaning for the young girl.
Or, perhaps, it was her way of being more honest and open with her feelings for Itsuki. Not the Bow Hero that'd saved her all those months ago. But the individual she'd gotten to know under that persona, the boy she'd fallen in love with. "I'm here for you, ok? If you ever need help, all you have to do is ask."
"I'm willing to share your burdens. You don't have to bear this alone any longer."
Rishia began to tear up. She pressed one of her hands against her chest as she gasped, feeling her racing heart beating through her clothing.
No… Itsuki…
…
As the glow from her weapons and the side of her head died down, her mind went back to the first memory she'd recalled.
The moment where her life had met its greatest turning point.
"I will continue to stand by what I said earlier for however long it takes for you to understand. You aren't weak Rishia. You aren't useless. And none of us think you're a burden."
"Fueh, but… but…" She looked at her HUD again.
"I know what the stats say. But I'm not going to let you give up.
"Not you, nor anyone else I care about.
"Not when I finally have such people in my life again."
…
"Power's nice to have, but I've found it's useless if you don't know how or when to use it. If you look at it from a certain perspective, all this Bow did for me was make me a mass murderer, and if someone smarter than me hadn't called me out on it, that's all that I would be right now.
"And Naofumi. I mean, he started with nothing and has nothing still in terms of power, yet he still managed to save an entire country.
"Don't focus so much on power Rishia. It's a flawed way of thinking. It's how the Curse Series tempts me. You're fine just the way you are and I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Itsuki…"
A small, gentle hand grabbed his shoulder. The tears had stopped falling down her face over the course of his speech. "Um…" Rishia suddenly looked nervous.
"Yes?" Itsuki asked.
"Okay, I won't but… please remember what I said about not being too hard on yourself," Rishia murmured. "You're a far greater hero than you think." She sniffled. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. That makes you my favorite of them all."
…
"Heh, guess that makes us even then." He beamed at her. "You feeling better now?"
"Wha-" Rishia looked at her hand in shock, then at Itsuki. He was smiling widely at her. "Fueh… you tricked me into consoling you!" She said in realization.
"Of course. But you're not beating yourself up anymore, right?"
"..." Rishia looked at her hands again.
Itsuki gave her a small genuine smile. "I meant what I said. I really wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for you. I might still be burning forests down. I might be out destroying villages in the name of Justice. Or maybe, the most likely, Fitoria would have turned me into a pancake before I caused too much damage."
"I-Itsuki!" Rishia blushed heavily.
Itsuki gave her a genuine chuckle. "Point is." He put a hand on his bow. "I don't plan on pulling that thing out anymore. It's thanks to you. And it didn't require you to be a holder of a legendary weapon or to be a first-class magician.
"All it took was you being yourself. So what does that say about you if you have directly saved the world by saving me? Still feeling useless and powerless?
"And even now, when I feel things might be easier if I pull that Cursed Bow out, I'm able to snuff out the thought because I have you by my side. You, Aksel, Maya, Crystal, Rachel… I have the greatest friends in the whole wide world." The smile he gave her then lined up with the rays of the sun so perfectly that, just for a moment, Itsuki looked angelic in Rishia's eyes.
The tenseness in the Projectile Hero's body eased ever so slightly, and the glow from her knives and head faded as life returned to the girl's eyes.
…
What had happened?
What was she doing there?
Why was she so… scared…
…
Rishia looked down at the waves crashing against the sharp rocks below again.
Without saying a word, she stepped away from the cliff.
…
…
…
Rishia breathed in, then out, almost collapsing as the surge of adrenaline that'd kept her body prone in her stance began to fade.
The racing heart in her chest began to slow.
…
Had she really just thought that killing herself would solve anything?
Had she been that scared to live on without Itsuki there beside her?
…
Rishia looked at the ethereal knives in her hands again, which had gone silent. But she could still sense the rays of comfort they'd subconsciously given her.
Was this what Glass had meant when she said the weapons of her world interacted with their wielders? Naofumi and Itsuki hadn't mentioned this being a thing before.
But that had to be the case…
…
And that second glow…
…
Shakily, Rishia reached a hand up into her hair. And she found something familiar there.
An emerald gem rose.
…
…
…
Tears began to fall down the sides of Rishia's face as she finally collapsed onto her side.
To think she'd been about to make a big mistake, after everything…
…
'Th… Thank you.' Rishia hugged the weapons and rose to her chest.
Her weapon hadn't activated its failsafe to give her a Cursed Series and save her life that way. Instead, it'd somehow connected to her through the unborn member of the gem race she wore in her hair and helped her bring those good memories to mind so she could turn her back on that overwhelming feeling of despair herself.
Even if he wasn't there now, he'd still helped to save her from herself.
…
Rishia's fists clenched over the hilts of the small blades as tears of frustration fell down her face.
He'd saved her life once again with his selfless actions from back then.
So why?
Why did he have to be the one suffering right now?
Why was he having to shoulder all his pain and burdens by himself?
…
No.
Never again.
She was done giving up and leaving things to everyone else.
"I will continue to stand by what I said earlier for however long it takes for you to understand. You aren't weak Rishia. You aren't useless. And none of us think you're a burden."
Rishia was not, nor had she ever been, incapable of helping others out. And it wasn't because she'd been chosen by her weapon she held in her hands. Nor was it because she'd become a strong person.
It was because of him.
Because he'd changed her life.
Because he'd helped her to realize that her existence had value and meaning to others besides her parents.
Because he'd helped her realize she wasn't someone to step down on or hide away.
That she could do something to help out the lives of others.
He'd given her a chance to be shown love and care by others and to make friends with people who were not connected to her parents or territory.
And more than that, she didn't simply care for him in turn.
She loved Itsuki.
It was not some innocent childhood crush that wilted with the trials of time. Nor a little teenage dream that'd amount to nothing when she became an adult. But a genuine, deep, and emotional connection that, above everything else, wouldn't allow her to give up on her fated partner even now when he'd given up on everything else.
Not when she wanted to slap him upside the head for being such a huge idiot.
Not when she wanted to give him a piece of her mind for selfishly taking the fate of the world upon himself.
Not when she wanted to give him everything to express her eternal gratitude for improving her life.
Like what Raphtalia felt and did for Naofumi.
Like what Wyndia felt and did for Ren.
Rishia wanted to do the same for Itsuki, always being at the side of her fated partner.
Helping him. No matter what that entailed.
…
Rishia shook her head as if she was shaking the fog and depression of the last week out of her mind. And then, she clapped her hands against her cheeks.
He wasn't around anymore. He had run away as soon as they'd returned and made it impossible to follow him.
But that was no excuse to wallow around in misery like she had been since returning.
Granny and the others had been treating her gently, and she was grateful for their kindness. But she needed to work hard and prepare herself for the day he revealed himself.
He would not escape from her a second time.
And more than that, she needed to stay strong for everyone else who valued her as a friend and comrade, so she'd be able to help them out with whatever problems they were dealing with until then.
Rishia put the gem rose back into her hair braid, ensuring it was nice and secure.
Then, without a word being uttered, Rishia turned away from the cliffside.
And the fueh girl returned to her home… to her friends…
To her life.
"Rishia-san, are you ready to go?"
The young woman slowly turned her head to see Anya, standing in front of three of her friends.
This group consisted only of the strongest kids who'd signed up under Sir Itsuki after the slave raid incident. And Anya, who held the most combat experience of the group, was at their head.
"Almost." Rishia looked back down at the calm ocean.
It'd been several weeks since that fateful day, and once again, she stood at the cliffside. This time, however, it was behind the Bow Hero's house instead of outside the town.
Her outfit hadn't changed, nor had her braids. In terms of build, she was still as short and stacked as ever. She still had fat in her cheeks and in other places beyond that. She hadn't grown more lean or more stout or more muscular or anything since the day she joined the Bow Hero's party.
Yet the aura she gave off differed entirely from when she'd first started her journey with the Bow Hero. And even more recently, from when she'd returned with him from the Otherworld.
The morning sun slowly rose in the light blue sky behind Rishia. Painting the ocean in an array of colors as it came to life.
The ocean's waves still sounded below, but they were gently lapping against a sandy beach instead of crashing against a sheer cliffside.
They were calming, familiar, and beautiful. Like the gem flower she wore in her hair.
…
"Is there a reason you're just standing there?" Anya asked.
"... Just making sure of something," Rishia responded absentmindedly. Still looking down at the swaying ocean beneath her.
The girl's ethereal weapon was attached to her side. Her Hero inventory was packed with the things she'd need for the coming months.
Aksel and Maya had returned last night with news of Itsuki's whereabouts. After that, Rishia had spent every waking moment since then physically readying for her departure.
But more than that, she'd spent every moment since that night readying herself mentally and emotionally for this day. Going through what she felt and coming to terms with it.
Since that night, she'd had to deal with many thoughts. Itsuki's departure had hurt in more ways than one.
He hadn't just run away from them. He'd turned his back on his promises. Gone against the very things he'd preached to her when helping her out, even though she knew deep down that he'd believed wholeheartedly in what he said.
He hadn't just betrayed them. He'd betrayed himself, and even though a while had passed since then, he was still out there, running away from everything.
And it pissed her off.
"Sure. You can go."
Rishia felt a distinct emotional whiplash at the Shield Hero's immediate and casual response. She had a whole speech prepared and was certain she'd need to make at least a moderate effort to convince the two remaining Cardinal Heroes of her intentions.
Caught off guard, she looked at Motoyasu next, who, after glancing at Naofumi, shrugged and nodded as well.
"Yea, I have no objections either, since you won't be going alone. Anya is pretty reasonable and competent, so whoever she recommends to bring along must be good, too."
"Oh," Rishia responded curtly, still confused about what she was supposed to do now.
Naofumi, seeing her reaction, rolled his eyes before speaking again. "What, did you think we would forbid you from leaving?"
The girl nodded stiffly, making Naofumi click his tongue in annoyance.
"You want my honest answer? I think you're wasting your time with this. Fitoria said it best. Itsuki wants to be left alone and will come back when he's ready to.
"But I'm not going to get in your way if you disagree with that. Just don't ask me or Motoyasu to go looking for him with you. We have our hands full here already with strengthening our defenses here and our preparations for the Phoenix. Not to mention, Mirellia is now breathing down our necks about whatever crap is happening in Siltvelt right now that needs investigating."
The Spear Hero winced at Naofumi's cutting words. "Dude, come on, be a little more sensitive."
"Rishia isn't a child, Moto. She's a Hero like us. And she was one of the more sensible people here even before that." Naofumi shook his head. "That's why I think out of all of us, she's the most suited to bringing him back."
"Not sensible enough, clearly." The fourth person participating in the meeting spoke.
Fitoria narrowed her eyes while directing her gaze at the Projectiles Hero. Given the importance of what was discussed, even she had been called back to voice her input on the matter.
"It's as the Shield Hero said. The Bow Hero is not in any danger and has made his desires and intentions clear. He will return when he's ready. Meanwhile, there is still much to be done here to ensure the land and people are ready for the Phoenix and what'll come after.
"So why are you going against Itsuki's wishes instead of giving him the space and time he begged for?" Fitoria asked, her voice calm, but her words biting.
"... What would you know about what he wishes for? Or what his desires are?" Rishia glared back coldly, not even flinching under the Carriage Hero's scrutinizing gaze. "And what about my wishes and desires?
"I don't care how long you've been around, Fitoria, or how powerful you are.
"You have no leg to stand on when it comes to understanding people. The last time you thought you did, you kidnapped Naofumi's daughter and let Ren's friends die.
"So don't lecture me on what is right or wrong."
The girl sharply turned around and began to walk away. "If I have Naofumi and Motoyasu's permission, I will get ready. Good day."
The Spear Hero audibly gulped, and even Naofumi widened his eyes before cautiously looking at Fitoria.
Who, instead of being angry or offended, just stood there with her mouth slightly open.
Looking… hurt?
...
…
Rishia took in a deep breath.
Yes, thinking about it, she could admit to herself that she was still scared at heart. That fear was a part of her and was a part of what drove her to seek out the lost Bow Hero.
But she was also genuinely angry at Itsuki for turning his back on her. On everything they'd ever done.
That he was allowing fear and hopelessness to ruin his life instead of relying on her and everyone else who cared about him to ease his burdens.
In that sense, she was also pissed off at herself. For not trying harder. For almost giving up after her return. For even giving the great Bird Queen's words to leave him alone a moment of thought in that dark and gloomy night.
The resolute words went through her mind once more.
Never again.
She had no idea how far her beloved was from Talon or how she'd help him out when she finally did catch up to him…
"Remember, you don't have to come with me." Rishia then said.
The others' responses were immediate.
"Too bad."
"We've already decided."
"We aren't sitting back while he's out there suffering."
Anya stepped forward after her three friends had spoken. "We're helping, Rishia-san. Whether you want us along or not, we're coming with you."
"Besides, while I don't doubt your tracking skills, it'd be a lot easier and a lot faster if you used our Hero Service Crests to track him down if he ends up trying to hide from us. Don't you think?"
…
Right. Even if she and the others had been kicked out of Itsuki's party, the Bow Hero hadn't terminated the crests on the kids here like he had Maya's. Maybe he hadn't pulled up his party or slave menus since returning.
Either way, as Naofumi had discovered while in the Otherworld, they were only effective at a certain range. If they did get close enough, the kids… no, teenagers, as they were now, could use the function to find the direction their 'master' was in.
And beyond just that, they would be out in the wild, dealing with monsters constantly. There'd be greater safety in numbers than going alone.
Rishia nodded. "I know it's for more than just that… but regardless, thank you."
Everyone's faces hardened with resolve and determination, and their eyes were calm as they nodded as one.
Just like her.
…
Yes. That was right. No matter how far away he was, they'd find him.
She wasn't weak or incompetent.
She was strong.
She was able.
She was Rishia Ivyred, the Projectiles Hero.
And she and those with her would break through the stubbornness, pride, and despair of the Hero they loved and respected when they found him. And even if he or others hated them for it, they'd forcefully take him back home, dragging his head through the dirt as many times as it took until he finally understood how much they cared about him and hated seeing him suffer all by himself.
No matter what.
Call it selfish. Call it cold-hearted. Rishia didn't care. It was going to happen, and she would make it happen.
Because a short time of immense pain was far superior to a lifetime of endless despair and misery.
Rishia nodded to herself, muttering a few words as she prayed for the real Gods of their world to watch over them and the Bow Hero.
And then, she got up and walked back towards the house.
Anya and her troop followed close behind.
…
Inside, they met Aksel, along with Maya, Crystal, Rachel, and Granny.
"Granny-dono." Rishia bowed respectfully, not looking surprised at the old woman's presence, even if she hadn't informed her that she'd be there with her friends to see her off.
"Heh. To think that the last time we parted, I told you you'd be going out of the frying pan and into the fire." The old woman chuckled.
"Are you going to say there's something worse than the fire for me to throw myself into this time?" Rishia asked, smiling a bit in melancholy.
"There is always something worse one can throw themselves into. Gods know how Spear-dono manages to do that so often, though." Granny rolled her eyes, eliciting a chuckle from them both.
"No, I bet that even if you jumped into a pit of acid boiled hot by a dragon's flame, you'd come out the other end better than ever.
"After all, you have already become everything I'd ever hoped for you to be and so much more during these last few months… Your rate of progress puts everything I ever thought I knew to shame."
Granny chuckled bitterly. "I feared being chosen as a Hero and being forced to use only your weapon would limit your capabilities in life force, but you have proven my worries to be baseless.
"You aren't just a prodigy to me anymore, Rishia. You have become something so much more significant. Something I am more than just proud of.
"From this moment onward, I name you, in full, my successor of the Hengen Muso fighting school, Ivyred-dono."
Granny clasped her hands together and gave the green-haired girl a bow of respect. "What you do from now on, know I'll always be grateful to have been your teacher."
…
Rishia, tearing up a bit at the old woman's words, clasped her hands together and bowed her head in return. "Thank you, Granny-dono. I never could have learned without your help."
"Ha, somehow, I doubt that, seeing all you did learn when I wasn't around!
"But I'd like to believe I helped a little bit along the way!"
Granny and Rishia shared a laugh before the heroine gave the old woman an appreciative hug. Following which, the teary-eyed woman (though she'd forever deny she'd shed tears during this) nodded and stepped away to offer some parting advice to Anya and the others following her.
In her place, Crystal and Rachel walked up.
"Rishia…" Crystal started, only to pause, looking unsure. Even as she was seeing the green-haired girl off, she didn't know what to say.
She never did get to speak a word, though, as Rishia walked up and rested a hand on her shoulder. "After I bring Itsuki back, I'll help you find your brother.
"If you haven't done it already, by then." Rishia then gave the girl a small smirk as she let her go.
"And if we have finished that, then we'll make sure we have plenty of hero texts for you to look at when you return with our friend," Rachel said, smiling as she held her arms out. "Preferably of the nonsmut kind."
Rishia gave the reserved girl a hug. And Crystal, tearing up, began to cry softly as she joined the hug too. "I-I'm sorry for not volunteering to go with you."
"If I find my brother before you come back-"
"Not if. You will find him." Rishia interrupted.
"I have no doubt about it. And if not for that being your main priority, I would have asked you to come along.
"I would have asked Rachel as well… but she has already said she wants to help you. And I wouldn't dare to separate her from her husband after they worked so hard to get together."
…
"I've never thought you to be weak, Crystal. I've looked up to you as much as all the others."
Rishia pulled back, flashing the spearwoman a smile. "Just promise you'll spend time with your brother and your parents once you've got him back, ok?
"Having a loving family is something one needs to enjoy as long as possible.
"I learned much growing up with parents who loved and cared for me. It wasn't until I went out and saw the world that I learned how lucky I was."
…
Crystal nodded her head, her smile fragile but genuine. "Bring Itsuki home for us, so I can help him too. I… owe him and the rest of you that much."
"I will," Rishia promised.
After those two had stepped back, and as Granny finished talking with Anya and the others, Maya stepped up to the Projectiles Hero.
"Please, be safe, Rishia." She said kindly. "And don't let Itsuki push you around when you find him.
"I don't care if you have to beat him over the head with a mountain to get him to listen. Just make sure he comes home."
"Don't worry." Rishia nodded. "If I have to beat him black and blue with a mountain to make him listen, I'll do so, without hesitation.
"After all, you and Aksel can't get married without him presiding over the ceremony, right?"
Maya nodded and laughed a little. "We could ask Naofumi or Sir Moto… but no, we already decided we wanted our bestest friend to do it for us, just like he did for Rachel and Garfield.
"It wouldn't feel right otherwise," Aksel added for her.
Maya, still laughing a little, hugged her friend tight.
…
But then, all of a sudden, the raccoon woman stopped laughing and whispered something into the girl's ear.
Rishia's eyes widened in surprise. "Is… is that really true?" She looked at Aksel as she said it.
The man nodded. "We just found out yesterday. Keep it a secret for now, will ya?"
…
Rishia nodded firmly. "I'll bring him back by then. I promise."
The Axe Hero's face relaxed. "We're counting on you.
"And don't worry about us. We'll make sure things continue to run smoothly in the Hero's Nation during your absence." Aksel then added with a grin.
"I'll make sure he doesn't try to burn down the house again while you're gone," Rachel added dryly.
"Oh please, I could just build a new one out of Hero Block if that happened." Aksel rolled his eyes.
"No, I prefer wood to stone, thank you very much." Crystal deadpanned.
"Hey, my weapon is already allowing me to become quite the carpenter. I could do wood as well."
"Just make sure that the rooms are soundproofed whichever you use." Maya pouted at her hero fiance. "I hate needing to be quiet at night."
"MAYA!" Aksel roared in embarrassment.
The group laughed, coming together for one final big hug.
…
Rishia thought that'd be the end of it. That there'd be no one else to see her off.
Imagine her surprise, and then her anger, when as the hug ended, she noticed Fitoria standing in the doorway, looking at her solemnly.
"Fitoria." Rishia greeted her tensely, making the others look confused.
"I am just here to say good luck." The Bird Queen said before she looked down. "And to apologize for before.
"It is true that Fitoria has grown used to acting like she always knows better. Perhaps the Spear Hero is the wisest one in this generation with the way he handles such matters."
"... And what did he say that made you change your mind?" Rishia asked, her tone still tense but less so.
"Nothing…" Fitoria admitted, before lowering her head. "It was your words that made me think and reconsider…
"I only say this to warn you since I saw him myself, but I truly think it is a mistake to go after Itsuki right now."
Before Rishia could argue, Fitoria continued.
"When Fitoria found him… Fitoria had no idea how to help him out.
"Fitoria could tell whatever pain he was suffering through, it ran deeper than whatever Fitoria could hope to understand… such suffering is something Fitoria has only been able to work through on her own… because Fitoria couldn't rely on others to help her through it.
"Which… which is why I'll ask… if you can…
"Please help one of the Heroes Fitoria has grown to love and cherish." The bird girl lowered her head.
"..." Rishia stood still for a moment.
"Fitoria doesn't… want the Heroes of the current generation to suffer anymore because Fitoria was still lacking.
"So please… help Itsuki." Fitoria pleaded.
…
The tenseness in her body vanished, and Rishia approached the great bird Queen, running a hand through her hair.
"I will."
A simple declaration. But one that Fitoria could feel the conviction of.
If only she hadn't been entrusted with that task from Naofumi. Hearing such deep determination made her wish she could travel with this girl.
"Thank you." Fitoria had her own job to do though, but even if that was the case, she wasn't going to let her go without her blessing.
She brought her hands together, and a moment later, a bright light washed over Rishia.
"I'll pray it won't be the case… but should I be wrong, should his despair have worsened, and should you have to fight him… that should help to protect you from whatever curses he will unleash at that time…
"Good luck, Rishia." Fitoria gave the girl a small, hopeful smile before the Carriage around her neck flashed with light, and the girl teleported away.
"Uh… am I allowed to ask what that was about?" Aksel asked.
"No. You are not." Rishia chuckled.
"Not like any of us want to dig into that anyway, right, Rachel?" Crystal asked.
"Nope. Not at all."
"Awww, and here I was hoping to see how my student would fare in battle against the strongest being in our world." Granny sighed in disappointment.
The group laughed while Rishia trembled slightly, having feared such a thing would happen.
Thank goodness it hadn't. She might have been acting emotionally, but even she was smart enough to know how that kind of fight would have ended.
When it was all said and done, Aksel sent Rishia, Anya, and the three teenagers party invites. And then, he raised his Axe up high and portaled himself and the group of five to his save spot in Talon.
They'd say their goodbyes. Rishia would receive the directions from Captain Duross of where Itsuki had gone.
And the hunt for the Bow Hero began in earnest.
"Today was wonderful, Moto."
"Yeah, it was, S'yne."
The two young adults stood before the Spear Hero's front door, still holding each other by the hand.
Motoyasu's normal schedule had been upended, no thanks to Naofumi giving him today off, as well as Sadeena and Amber working together to ensure nothing else happening that day would require his attention, allowing him to have his third special (maybe not proper, but who was counting really?) date with S'yne out on a remote island Sadeena normally brought him out too when they needed a break from slaughtering sea monsters and would teach him how to harness Dragon Vein Magic.
Like Rikka, he'd also gotten a dragon blessing from Gaelion a while ago. He wasn't making much progress on it, though, since he didn't have a lot of time to dedicate towards it, so he never really bothered to note it down before this point. Besides, there were far more important things he wanted to cover here.
During their date, Motoyasu and S'yne shared a very tasty picnic, splashed around in the ocean, dunked each other in the water repeatedly, enjoyed seeing one another in their swimsuits, and laid back in the sun to talk about random things before taking to the water again to play some more. Taking up the entire day.
It was everything Motoyasu could have asked for.
He was smiling widely and genuinely at the silver-haired girl, who also smiled while staring back into his eyes.
Yeah, the perfect third date he'd never known he wanted…
…
"Um, S'yne?" Motoyasu started.
"Hmmm?" She hummed curiously.
Motoyasu's face reddened. Crap, why did she have to look so beautiful, I say?! It was making him even more nervous!
"I… I really… um… did enjoy today… with you."
"Go on…" The girl had the gall to grin as her own face reddened. Even with her voice staticing in and out, it sounded so damn perfect for her!
Yeah, she knew what was about to happen. She just really enjoyed seeing Motoyasu look so adorable. Even if it was embarrassing for her as well.
"Well, you s-see…" Motoyasu stammered, and his mouth instantly shut up.
What the hell?! WAS HE SERIOUSLY GOING TO BLOW THIS CHANCE AT HAPPINESS OUT OF SHEER ANXIETY, I SAY?!
Suddenly, S'yne's Sir Bubba doll, which she'd used for most of her talking today, hit the side of his head with one of its soft fists. "You're asking if I want to kiss you, correct?" It asked on the girl's behalf.
"I- um, yeah, I am." Motoyasu managed to say.
"Well then, my answer is yes."
…
…
Motoyasu's brain stopped, and his body didn't move.
At first.
S'yne got on her tiptoes, and her free hand moved behind Moto's head. Pulling it down towards hers.
Then, she pressed her lips against his.
…
Strangely, Motoyasu had always wondered why his Hero brothers described their first kisses with their girls as fireworks.
That wasn't quite what Motoyasu experienced when his brain finally caught up, and he returned S'yne's act of affection by letting go of her hand and wrapping his arms around her back.
Maybe it'd helped that, unlike them, he did have experience with this. But instead of it being a friendly gesture or an act of lust like in the past, it felt… genuine. Heartfelt. Deeply meaningful.
It was not quite comparable to fireworks, but it was like an explosion of different emotions in his chest that made the anxious butterflies in his stomach melt away.
…
After a little while, the two released the kiss, looking into one another's eyes.
Motoyasu could only say one word in response to what he'd just experienced.
"Wow."
S'yne, even with her face still red, started to giggle as she rested her head against his shoulder. "That good, huh?" Her doll asked.
"The best kiss I've ever had, I say." Motoyasu slowly shook his head, chuckling as he did so. "Also, isn't it unfair that you can use your doll to speak so you can hide your adorable embarrassed face while I can't?"
"Perhaps a little." S'yne herself laughed as the doll spoke again, and she let go of him as she did so.
Her laughter was affected a bit by the same noises that'd accompany her speech, but she looked so happy and adorable right now that the Spear Hero didn't mind it whatsoever.
"Would it be selfish if I said I wished I'd been your first?" S'yne's doll then asked as she had to wipe an embarrassed happy tear from her eye.
"No, because after that, I wish you had been my first." Motoyasu slowly shook his head.
It'd been like night and day. He simply didn't have the words to describe it outside of it being superior to the intimacy he'd shared with every other girl he'd been with in the past.
…
…
"Then... I wish you could have been my first, too."
She spoke with her voice there. A bit of melancholy remained in her eyes as she glanced at the ground. Her reaction was entirely genuine.
Even if he couldn't understand some of the words she'd said, he understood the meaning of her sentence.
He wasn't upset that he wasn't her first kiss. No, he realized then, he wouldn't be upset even if he wasn't her first for anything.
As he'd said before, he'd done his fair share of fooling around in the past. There was not a single first he could give to anyone except his heart.
But if she could accept him despite that, he couldn't care less if she'd had other lovers in the past.
Especially since as S'yne looked back up into his eyes again, her earlier melancholy was replaced with happiness at the sight of him.
He felt a tug on his heartstrings… and knew she had taken a clear place in his life.
"… I'd be happy to kiss you anytime you want, you know." S'yne's doll spoke again before the girl held her hands behind her back and shuffled awkwardly.
"Even if I wasn't the first, I wouldn't mind being the only one you'll remember."
"You know what, I couldn't have said it better myself." Motoyasu smiled as his hand appeared under S'yne's chin, lifting it so he could embrace her soft lips with his again.
The girl happily reciprocated, and they stayed out on the front porch for a while, enjoying the taste of each other as their arms wrapped around the other's body.
Yes. This was how you ended a third date properly, I say.
And Motoyasu was all too happy when tongues got added to the equation.
Mmmm, I say!
…
…
…
Little did the new happy couple know that someone had been observing from her room the entire time.
And that someone, while blind, was utterly furious at what they could see through the help of life force.
…
…
…
…
Motoyasu's bedroom door slowly slid open.
"Sir Motoyasu? Are you awake?" A quiet voice whispered before peering her head in.
The Spear Hero was laid out on his mattress in a very unflattering position. His left leg stuck out from the side of his bed, and his right arm wrapped around a plushie of a baby Filolial S'yne had made for him recently.
He did not respond to the intruder's voice.
…
The dark figure slowly entered the room, softly closing the door behind her. "Hmph. To think Sir Motoyasu would trust himself around the likes of such a deceitful whore."
Sir Motoyasu was dead asleep. And the nightly invader had checked to make sure Sadeena and the others were asleep as well. Ensuring that her older brother wouldn't be able to use his sixth sense abilities as the older sibling to stop her before she did this during the process.
Even S'yne had taken the time to nap instead of observing the town through the night since she never had the opportunity to sleep while spending the whole day of rest the Shield Hero had gifted them with Sir Motoyasu.
Her being asleep should have been a blessing, but to the young tiger girl, it only infuriated her more.
Sir Motoyasu was hers. And yet S'yne had done 'that' with him! In plain view of everyone too!
S'yne should have known how she felt about the man who'd saved her life. Atla had told her as much in private conversations. And indeed, it'd felt as though the girl was making an effort to make sure she'd be included as well since then.
But no, Atla had spent the day playing around with Freon and Amber. And while the little innocent Filolial girl had been nothing short of adorable, the tiger girl hadn't realized till it was too late that it'd all been a distraction by S'yne so that the older girl could keep Moto all to herself for another one of their 'dates.'
Something she shouldn't have minded her love rival for doing, if not for the fact they'd made out with each other afterward.
Atla's shadowed figure passed by the window. The light of the full moon revealed that she didn't have her usual outfit on and was only dressed in her underwear. Her figure was not quite as childish as it had been before, but it still looked far too frail and underdeveloped—not that such things would stop her.
She wanted to be slow and meticulous. She would have started out by sneaking into the same bed as her Hero to sleep with him to win his affection… if not for S'yne's interference. What'd happened earlier had forced her hand.
She needed to claim Motoyasu as hers, now, before S'yne or that Big Ugly Titty Monster did that. Sadeena had been in on the scheme, too. Who knew how long it'd be before that harlot wore S'yne down and convinced her to let her jump in Moto's pants alongside her as well.
"Mmmm." Motoyasu turned over in his sleep, smiling happily to himself as he enjoyed whatever dream he was having.
He was dreaming of S'yne or Sadeena, wasn't he?
So annoying!
He should have been dreaming about her! Not anyone else!
Whatever. She would give him something much better to dream about very soon.
The girl found the edge of the Spear Hero's bed. She then climbed onto it and laid herself against Sir Motoyasu's back to enact her plan.
Only, as she did this, the blonde's breathing hitched.
Before Atla could wrap her arms around him, he jerked away from her and turned in her direction, stuffing the baby Filolial doll he'd been cuddling with into his weapon's inventory.
"Wh-Wha?! Who's there?"
…
Crap. Was the Spear Hero a light sleeper?
Atla hadn't accounted for that. After spending so much time with Fohl, she thought everyone else would be as deep a sleeper as he was.
"It's me, Sir Motoyasu."
Across from her, the Spear Hero let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, it's just you, Atla. What are you doing here? You nearly scared the crap out of me."
"I wanted to be with you." The tiger girl answered ominously, though the Spear Hero didn't catch her tone in his sleepy state.
"Another nightmare, then? You could have just knocked on Fohl's door, you know? His room is closer to yours." Motoyasu yawned as his hand patted the girl's hair between her ears.
His joking tone and gentle touch should have told Atla he was just being sarcastic. He didn't actually mind that she'd woken him up in the middle of the night, and he'd probably be open to comforting her or discussing whatever her nightmare was if she was comfortable with doing so.
But he hadn't realized that wasn't the reason she'd come here tonight. And a part of her was becoming annoyed that he didn't yet understand.
"No, I said I wanted to be with you, Sir Motoyasu," Atla said, her tone twisting more, revealing her jealousy. "Not my worthless excuse for an older brother. Not that harlot ugly Big Titty Monster or anyone else.
"You."
A sharp sound of something hard impacting against flesh pierced the silence of the night. Motoyasu let out a stifled gurgle as he felt a sharp pain spreading from his solar plexus, where the tiger girl had driven her glowing index finger.
The pain quickly subsided, but it was followed by an intense feeling of weakness and his body going slack and falling over on the bed.
"A… Atla?" Motoyasu muttered hoarsely, his eyes bulging out of his sockets as he struggled to move.
It was then that he also finally noticed Atla's state of dress, or lack thereof, as the girl began to crawl over his paralyzed body. "A-Atla?! Where are your clothes?!"
"I don't need them around you, Sir Motoyasu. All of me belongs to you."
…
…
…
Her words drew a prolonged silence from the Spear Hero, who didn't so much as breathe.
The tiger girl's smile grew. She took his silence as him accepting the feelings coming from her heart.
"If not for you, I'd be dead. And if not dead, stuck in an endless sea of pain that'd only end when I died.
"I wouldn't have any value. I wouldn't have any purpose.
"My brother would still be struggling in the Arenas. And our lives would have amounted to nothing.
"Don't you see, Sir Motoyasu? I owe my life to you. Everything I have is yours."
Motoyasu tried to raise his voice, but it only came out as another whisper. "A-Atla, stop-"
"Everything I have is yours," Atla said again while cupping the sides of the Spear Hero's pale and frightened face.
"You are my everything, Sir Motoyasu."
Her eyes remained closed, but the jealousy and possessiveness in her tone made Motoyasu's chest seize up again. Not just his breathing, but his heartbeat.
She thought of claiming his lips then and there but remembered what had happened earlier, and a dark scowl briefly crossed her face. The remains of S'yne's lipstick was still on his lips, almost taunting Atla with the otherworldly Hero's victory in winning the man's heart.
No, she'd instead claim the most important thing which S'yne hadn't touched yet.
"You are everything to me, Sir Motoyasu. But I can't let you set your heart on other women." She spoke again while the Spear Hero struggled to raise his voice.
"No, I can't have that, whatsoever.
"I belong to you.
"My arms. My heart. My womb. Everything I have is yours."
Her small hand traveled down the length of Motoyasu's body, from his face to his chest, across his stomach, and finally settled down on his waistline, her fingers brushing against the band of his boxers.
A sharp pain flashed up Motoyasu's side, making him gasp as his heart began beating rapidly.
"A-Atla! Stop this!" Motoyasu desperately tried to cry out, but his voice remained weak. He could barely hear it himself.
He could not move; he could not use any of his skills or even cry out for help. What did this girl do to him? Was this some sort of life force ability too?
Regardless, Atla did not stop. She thought his reactions were out of care for her well-being and fear that she was rushing their relationship too quickly.
Little did she realize that his reactions weren't of love or lust. He was definitely afraid, but not for the reasons she considered in the heat of the moment.
"I will have your future children.
"I will raise our future family.
"I will grow old and die alongside you.
"I am the only one you'll ever need to love, Sir Motoyasu." Atla's smile changed, becoming something far more sinister.
Motoyasu's breathing quickened. Atla's fingers slipped past the band and gripped it.
The smile Atla was sporting looked just like Ikuyo's, before she'd started threatening him with a knife. And then Momiji's after she stabbed him from the shadows. And her voice…
"The only one."
"The only one."
"The only one."
"The only one."
Suddenly, Motoyasu's HUD glitched out before his vision became tinged with green as their voices repeated in his mind.
"AHHHH! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Atla's hands stopped short of exposing her prize to the air as Motoyasu began screaming his head off.
"S-Sir Motoyasu?! What's wrong?!" She reached one of her hands up, and her index finger began to glow again as she got ready to reapply the technique Elrasla had taught her recently to the pressure point on his body to silence him.
Before she could strike Motoyasu's bare chest again, however, the Spear Hero's own hand shot up and almost struck her face.
"NO! STOP! STOP! LEAVE ME ALONE! GET AWAY FROM MEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Motoyasu gripped the Spear on his back as it began to glow with an eerie and murky green light.
It was at the appearance of this sinister aura that Atla's demeanor finally changed. "Wha- Sir Moto-"
"AIR STRIKE JAVELIN!"
Atla barely managed to jump off the bed before Motoyasu's skill disintegrated it into a cloud of splinters and feathers. Sending pieces of wood and mattress everywhere in the room.
Some of the shrapnel dug into the tiger girl's arms and side, drawing blood as she'd rolled back on reflex to avoid the attack.
"S-Sir Motoyasu!" Atla screamed again in terror and worry, ignoring the feeling of blood traveling down her skin.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! SECOND JAVELIN!" The gemstone of Motoyasu's Spear turned a deeper shade of murky green, and he chucked another energy spear.
Boom!
Atla barely ducked in time as the projectile sailed over her head, this one blowing a hole in his bedroom wall, revealing the outside world. And while Atla laid on the floor in stunned terror, the Spear Hero continued screaming as his weapon started to glow again.
The door to the room slammed open. "Moto!" "Sir Motoyasu!" "We're here to help!" "Blondie!" "Dad!"
S'yne, Elena, Sadeena, Amber, and an unfamiliar short blonde-haired girl raced in. The latter four paused in their tracks, however.
Confusion laced their faces at what they saw, and Motoyasu turned in their direction, his weapon glowing bright with whatever skill he would launch next. Overcome with surprise, not a single one moved to defend themselves.
"Dri-"
Slap!
Except, before he could launch the attack, S'yne's form momentarily blurred before suddenly appearing right in front of him with a bright flash of light to slap Motoyasu across the face.
Hard.
"CALM DOWN!" The girl roared.
…
The Spear Hero staggered from the hit, the murky green gemstone flashing briefly back to red before returning to green. A scowl split his features as he raised his weapon to fire off the skill again.
"Dritt-"
SLAP!
S'yne slapped the large man across the face again. It was even harder than the previous slap, leaving a big red mark on his cheek that had him staggering in place.
"Calm down." S'yne requested again, but more gently this time.
The scissors in her hands began to glow as she readied a skill to restrain her Hero, if necessary.
It was, sad to say, not her first time needing to calm down a Hero in a cursed state of despair. She was pretty sure, however, that Moto said he only had a tier II Cursed Series. Meaning there was still a chance she could talk him down from it.
…
…
The Spear Hero stood stock still. His eyes, almost light green, stared at the individual before him.
His mind wondered why this person would stand in his way when they weren't suffering like he was right now…
…
But then, with a gasp, Motoyasu recoiled from the girl he recognized. Clawing himself against the darkness to the forefront of his consciousness.
His eyes turned back to normal, as did the gemstone of his weapon. However, the latter kept jumping back and forth from murky green to red as dark thoughts told Motoyasu to attack or run.
As he stood there, fighting with himself, a doll of Sir Bubba, a doll of a killer whale, and a doll of dog Keel floated up around him, hugging their small arms against his chest and back.
"It's okay."
"You'll be okay, Moto."
"You don't have to worry about those girls from your past anymore."
The dolls spoke on S'yne's behalf, softly saying things that broke through the panic attack Motoyasu was still experiencing.
He let out another gasp, and as he collapsed to his knees, the murky green faded from his weapon entirely.
His weapon's gemstone settled fully on its normal color.
…
"Ah… Ah…"
…
"MOTOYASU!"
Another figure leaped into the room through the gaping hole in the wall, dressed only in his pajamas and with his Shield of Diligence glowing brightly on his arm as he opened his mouth, ready to use the skill he had charged to defend the Spear Hero from whomever had attacked him.
After all, Motoyasu had never screamed like that before, not even when his family jewels were being kicked in by his daughter. And the damage to his house was visible from the outside.
…
Imagine Naofumi's confusion then, when instead of Karn or someone else affiliated with their true enemy attacking the Spear Hero, he could only see Sadeena, Elena, Amber, and an unfamiliar little girl with wide angel wings on her back, standing around the remains of Moto's bed.
S'yne had joined her dolls in hugging and comforting the Spear Hero on the ground. Who still looked shellshocked from what'd happened.
"Ah… Ah…" He gasped again and again, unable to say anything.
S'yne didn't murmur a word, however. Instead, one of her hands rubbed gently against the back of his head. She rested his face against the top of her chest, letting her calming heartbeat fill his ears and her familiar scent travel up his nose.
…
"Ah… Ah…" It was still another moment before Motoyasu could say or do anything.
But then, as life returned to his eyes, they filled with tears.
"Ah… Ahhhhhhh…" Breaking down, Motoyasu gripped the quiet, silver-haired girl tightly. A sound of agony escaped past his lips.
S'yne still didn't say anything. She and her dolls continued to embrace the traumatized Spear Hero, with Amber and the little girl opposite her kneeling next to the man, faces uncertain, before S'yne gave them a nod and gestured with her head for the two to join in.
"Ahhhhhhhh…!" Motoyasu began to cry harder. Emotion and pain leaked out into his voice like a crushing tidal wave as Amber and Freon joined the hug.
The Shield Hero naturally took a step back. Even though he'd arrived at the latter end of it, he instinctively knew what Motoyasu was going through right now. And it knocked the wind completely out of his sails.
No one else knew what had happened, though.
None of them had ever seen a Hero like this.
Only Elena raised a hand to her face. She knew what this was.
It exhausted her knowing the Spear Hero was dealing with this now. When it'd been so, so long since he'd last lost control and ran off.
…
A moment later, Raphtalia appeared in the door behind Naofumi. Unlike the Shield Hero, her armor had been hastily thrown over her bedtime clothes. "I found Fohl tied up in his bed." She told the Shield Hero. "Is Moto…"
"... He's stable now, I think." Naofumi looked back at her before gazing at the room again.
Motoyasu was fine… relatively speaking. But how had his Cursed Series popped up in the first place?
It made no sense, and…
His gaze caught someone else nearby.
Atla, still underdressed, had light bleeding scratches on her arm and side. She was hiding in the corner of the room next to the Shield Hero. And she looked in Motoyasu's direction with pain, and more than that, guilt.
…
…
…
The Shield Hero pinched the bridge of his nose and groaned.
"I can't wait to hear about this." He muttered sarcastically.
Author's Notes:
I already wrote a pretty long Author's Note for next chapter. So I won't waste your time here. Read on, good reader.
Till Next Time
Allen