Road to a Hero: Three Chances in Another World

Arc 4: What Families Entail

Three weeks had passed since they arrived at Greenvale, the town atop the mountain now further covered in dense snow. The many cottages were warm and filled with life, the training soldiers all using the cold air to train harder and harder. Having already trained today, some of the group sat together drinking tea in their home. Sitting in a circle within their living room playing cards, Rosemary and Gray held each other's hands tightly just as Soku sat down her cards.

Soku: "I will win again."

Gray: "Dammit! I say we should just play poker or something, I at least know how to play that one! Not this, what was it called?"

Soku: "It's called Vanguard and you're just mad because you're losing!"

Rosemary: "We could play Spirits, Dragons, and Spirit Beasts! Or swords, shields, and arrows!"

In these three harsh weeks they've all continued pushing themselves with Gordon. Gray would continue to break his body with mana flow and tough training to continue connecting to his OD. Rosemary would do the same with her stages, covered in bandages from her continued struggle to maintain the fourth stage. Soku was struggling even more to push herself and train after the events with Ophelia, playing cards with massive weights under her eyes. Edward was the one training the hardest, as even now he stood outside in only his dark pants swinging his hefty blade over and over. The sight of Rosemary's shorter hair and her own growing struggles would force Gray to look at everyone else as well, looking forward and continuing through their game.

Gray: "Mmmmm, last time we played Spirits Dragons and Spirit Beasts I broke the table. So what else do we have, like Holidays! What other holidays do you guys have? Is there a Christmas day?"

Rosemary: "What's a Christmas?"

Gray: "Wait so you guys have Thanksgiving, the same months, hell the same language, and not Christmas?"

Soku: "Blame the people who found that stuff, not us! All four continents use the same language and founded the same language, for the most part. Same with a lot of other stuff."

Gray: "Mmmm, whatever it's just isekai nonsense. Christmas is just giving gifts to people and stuff, well I guess it's really the joy of giving blah blah blah. There is more to it but that wouldn't make sense in another world unless you got Jesus or wanna know religion stuff. I guess the streamed lined version is just the holidays thing."

Soku: "We just give gifts on New years eve, and we celebrate on Founders Day. Ophelia wanted to have a big dinner and have lots of presents -

The moment she said her name Soku, along with everybody else's heart, instantly fell. However she forced herself to continue along anyway.

Soku: "But I could never get that done. Now we have money and stuff, but now she's not here to enjoy it."

As Sokus' head and expression fell, as Rosemary put her arm around her to comfort her, Gray would scream out with a smile on his face. Pulling Soku out of the depths of her mind and back into the fold.

Gray: "Well we can just have a feast in her honor then!"

As Soku started to smile they all turned their head behind them, watching Edward walk out of the kitchen. Having come in through the back door, now drenched in snow and shivering.

Soku: "You were out there longer than usual."

Edward: "I had to take care of Demas' pen."

Gray: "I could have done that if you asked!"

While the others had their spirits a bit high, Rosemary was still at the bottom. Staring at her bandaged hands with anger and rushing with the memories of her powerlessness. Forced to look back at her loss against Jeremiah, her loss against Carla in the mansion, her inability to do anything in the face of Arthur and the Sects Pillars, and now her inability to even push herself as hard as her fellow knight. Unable to do anything. Unable to win. Only able to feel the pain, feel the tight wrappings and sore muscles, feel the wound Ophelia's horrific death left behind. Such a wound was incomparable to the same one Soku was sporting, due to how much more pain Soku felt. Beating herself up over and over again about how much the murder of her sister affected the poor child. How her strength could have saved her if it was used by anybody else.

Rosemary: "I feel like we should be trying harder, or doing more. We all train with Gordon but we are usually spent after, I don't know how you manage to push yourself so much."

Edward: "I'm just trying to get my white hair. To do that I need to push myself to the brink of collapse and move forward. So I have to do it over and over again until it works. If I just push myself enough, then it'll happen. I just know it"

Gray: "Right of passage and all that right?"

Julius: "The white hair symbolizes strength and maturity, growth and passion. Then you are given a title to last throughout history. But usually, it is achieved by surpassing your limits at the face of the end, not by just training."

As he spoke Soku squealed in fear, the others managing to not do the same. Causing Julius to look a bit pouty while Gray erupted with joy.

Soku: "Wait dammit!"

Gray: "YES! Alright, then overall Julius' jump scares go to thirty and Sokus's score moves to eleven! And Edward is still in first place. Six I think."

Still Julius would bow, never dropping his slim smile and eerie aura.

Julius: "Forgive me for alarming you miss Soku."

Soku: "Just call me Soku dude."

Julius: "I apologize-

Soku: "AND STOP APOLOGIZING!"

Julius would nod his head, always content and ready to step forward. Rosemary and Gray watched, unable to not notice Soku's harsh, somewhat rude attitude toward Julius. Choking it up to the rage stewing within her, feeling unworthy and unfit to help at all. Edward would feel the same, needing to step by them and look forward. As he did he sat his large blade against the living room's doorway, and put on his brown sweater while pushing back his short black, but beginning to grow, thick wavy hair. Hair that parted down the middle and spiked back. He would move toward the living room's back window, staring out at the building blanket of snow. 

Edward: "Only twelve days until New years. Then we're out to Athens."

Gray: "How am I gonna buy presents if we don't get any money! No allowance or nothin! And to think of it I don't know how the money works on top of that."

Soku: "I'll just help you later."

Gray: "Thank you young squire!"

Soku: "I'm no squire, I think. Actually what is up with our ranks? We passed the Knight exam."

While the first looked toward Edward, he instantly felt a bit embarrassed as he didn't know either. Instead looking toward Julius for answers, the others' heads turned along with his.

Julius: "Because we passed the knight exam we have officially become knights of our countries. Gordon has acknowledged you as true agents of your country, although it seems this trip to Athens will be your test as a true member of the Leviathan army. And should work as a nice proving ground for myself as well."

Gray: "Ahhhhh, okay."

With that he would turn to Rosemary, trying to speak faster than his mind could think in order to not stop himself from anxiety.

Gray: "You wanna go on a date?"

While their relationship had officially begun three weeks ago, they had only ever gotten as far as holding hands, the occasional kiss, and sleeping in the same bed. Things like cuddling, constant kissing, and dates were something they both were far too scared to do or ask. However, after three weeks of building himself up, he finally got the courage to let the words fall out of his mouth. Rosemary's face starts to turn red as she struggles to answer Gray, her heart beating faster and faster. Like she was unable to -

Rosemary: "OK! When?"

Just like Gray, she had to let the words fall out of her mouth.

Gray: "Cool! Uh, two days! We can have a Christmas date!"

Rosemary: "Christmas?"

Gray: "Don't mind it, all right let's get back to whatever this card game is called."

As the day passed the sun would set and the others would be off to bed. For the first time in a long time Gray was getting constant good sleep, Azalea seemingly finally letting him go from the constant conversations and torment. It could have been his own growth, but Gray wasn't at a point yet where he believed he could have really grown. Still he would be able to roll over and sleep, the cold air and constant training knocking him out. This time Rosemary was the one struggling, staring off toward their closed door with a haze in her glare. Stuck thinking about Ophelia and Soku, Musashi and Kioshi. Al, their lost homes, all of the loss. And the Golden Knights, a fear that seemed to have only been growing as of late. 

Outside was Edward, swinging his blade over and over until his body broke down. Julius instead practiced stances and techniques in the living room, where he was living as of late, watching from afar. Soku sat outside in the snow attempting to harness Mark's power, her eyes weighed down by the heavy losses. Eventually the sun would rise and they would all move forward, standing in the large fenced in training grounds outside Gordon's home.

Gordon: "Alright! We'll run warm ups, then drills, then practices! Same as last time."

Standing there at six in the morning, with all of them tired except Julius. Gray was the only one to get any real sleep, but still was the one dozing off the most. After getting whacked on the head by Gordon's sword he rolled, getting into the push up position.

Gray: "Ready!"

They all got down with them, flowing their mana around their bodies. Rosemary's golden stages flared, Soku's wind rushed around her, and Gray's bright purple mana erupted. Edward was the only one struggling to focus his mana, trying to flow it toward his arm to do a one handed push up.

Edward {Come on!}

Edward had the average amount of mana, allowing him to muster a small amount in a burst. He still tried to flow it around his arm, managing to get a proper flow before doing the push ups along with the others. Over the years he had begun mustering his ability to control it, but still it faded after a short time of being out, leaving him with nothing.

Julius: "You could try to focus on your internal mana instead of your mana you know."

While the others were spooked by Julius' sudden appearance, Edward remained strong and began lifting his sword over him like a weight.

Edward: "What's internal mana?"

Julius: "Mm, something I think you would have more ease with. Just focus on your body instead of your mana, and you cannot run out so you will not be wasting time!"

Edward: "Um, thanks."

They would go along with their drills. Doing many many squats, stretches, sit ups, push ups, a variety of other quick warm ups, ran around the field with the other soldiers, punched the metal hitting boards until their knuckles bruised, swung swords and threw out kicks, and so on for the next few hours. Walking away later in the day covered in sweat and hardly able to walk. Rosemary collapsed to her knees, breathing heavily. The others stopped along with her, with Gray falling face first in the snow. Soku struggled to stand, Julius being the only one moving forward.

Gray: "Mphphphph -

Soku: "Don't talk with snow in your face."

He leapt up with Rosemary, looking down toward the village while he spoke. Covered in bruises and bandages.

Gray: "So what's next?"

Rosemary: "I need to go see the healer, the stages really do a number on me. But now that there's a healer I can train way easier."

Edward: "I have to go as well, I think I cracked my wrist on that boulder."

Gray watched as Edward and Rosemary walked away together. Moving toward Soku instead.

Soku: "Not gonna get jealous?"

Gray: "Nah, I'm trying to take steps away from the idiot I used to be."

Soku: "Good, and I think everybody can tell. What about that?"

Soku pointed toward the golden necklace tucked into his jacket, causing him to pull out the crescent charm.

Soku: "You're still wearing that dumb evil jewelry?"

Gray: "It's the Cloak of Darkness bozo, super powerful charm! I still can't get it to come out. I think I'm getting better at it though."

Gray attempted to flow his mana into the charm itself, with no response. Only hurting his hand from using too much mana on it.

Gray: "Nothin. I don't know if it's mana or a mental thing. Gordon says I shouldn't wear it as much but I feel like any day now something's gonna happen. It's gotta."

Soku: "Well you keep hoping. Now it is common, I'll show you how money works."

 Soku quickly ignites with wind, blasting forward while shooting snow at Gray. He pushed through, attempting to flare his own mana around his body. 

Gray {Focus! Low power aura, don't break!}

Trying to keep his mana flowing at a low power was like trying to make a small flame and keep it lit, doing it while having to run and breath and think and -

Gray {Shit!}

First he did too much, sending surges of pain through him, then too little and lost his control, rolling down the hill and screaming all the way down. Soku could only laugh while waiting for him at the bottom, blasting the snow off of his body.

Soku: "Don't wanna get frostbite now."

Gray: "Yeah yeah."

He would quickly stand and move towards their right, heading toward the shopping district. There were only stores for direct needs, leaving little to choose from for gifts. Even still there were many small shops with people moving between them, waving and smiling toward each other.

Gray: "You've known her longer, what should I get?"

Soku: "She's your lady or whatever, you should know these things."

Gray: "I know she enjoys sewing and crocheting, I do it with her sometimes."

Soku: "There you go, buy some yarn or whatever and make her something."

Gray: "I can do that! I hope."

They would move through the streets, Gray struggling to read the strange font the language was in. Resembling a sharper and more angular version of English.

Soku: "Rosemary used to be pretty quiet before you showed up, now she's being more loud and abrasive."

Gray: "And?"

Soku: "You ruined her."

Gray: "WHAT!?"

Soku leaves Gray standing with a straight face, causing her to laugh. Although it would send him off into deep thought as they walked, following Sokus lead.

Gray {Wonder if I had a good effect then, or did I make her worse!? I hope I didn't really make their lives that bad! Nah that was her choice, or good development? Whatever, me thinking I could change somebody's whole personality is way too self-centered. If she's growing more comfortable then that's great, and I should walk around thinking I did anything like that.}

Gray and Soku would stop, staring at a sigh that barely reads -

Gray: "Craft shop!"

He would instantly step in, freezing and exploding with panic. As Soku was nowhere in sight.

Gray {SHIT I DON'T KNOW HOW MONEY WORKS SOKU YOU LEFT ME!.}

Soku: "GRAY GET OVER HERE DUMMY!"

Then he turned around, finding her staring at shelves of yarn and other craft supplies.

Gray: "Though you left me!"

Soku: "Because you're dumb, now pick somethin!"

Gray: "She wears a lot of baby blue, and it's the color of her eyes so it matches well with her. Just so happens to be my favorite color by the way but -

Soku: "Wooooooooow thaaaaaaat's crazy. Get on with it!"

Gray: "Alright! Oh I know!"

He would quickly grab red cloth, white tufts of wool, sewing materials, and more blue yarn than he could carry.

Soku: "Alright what does that say?"

Gray: "Uuhhh, all together its twenty five copper.

Soku: "Ouch! Why are you buying so much!?"

Gray: "I'll pay you back!"

Soku: "Whatever, but with interest. Now listen cause I'm only gonna say it once. A copper is one, a silver is five, and a gold is one hundred. So twenty five silver is also one hundred twenty five copper, or one and a half gold."

Soku: "Okay so one silver is equal to ten copper, while one gold coin is equal to one hundred copper."

Soku: "Now let's swindle this old guy, don't let him see your money."

As they turned they saw an old smiling mole Demi-human with closed eyes and a large pink nose.

Gray: "But he looks nice and this is cheap."

Soku: "Look you wait outside then."

Gray: "Dammit…whatever, have fun I guess."

Gray sits on the stoop outside, then eventually Soku walks out of the shop.

Soku: "I played the poor little girl act and got em down to five copper!"

Gray: "Whatever makes you sleep better at night."

Across the town Edward and Rosemary sat outside of the medical station, moving back toward the house in bandages. Far more refreshed after healing.

Rosemary: "I'm telling you to get a lighter sword, it would be way easier!"

Edward: "My dad used one bigger so I'm going to as well."

Rosemary: "But just because he did it doesn't mean you have to."

Edward: "But that's exactly what it means."

 THey would move toward the house, Gray watching over them from afar to make sure he could sneak in unseen. Quickly rushing into Sokus room to lock the door and work on his gift.

Rosemary {I wonder what he's doing.}

She would move toward the bed, slamming face down first and attempting to fall asleep instantly. However she could only lay there, the hours passing and her mind easing, only able to panic. Both at the coming date tomorrow, and all of the horrors of the past.

Rosemary {What if he thinks I don't like him because I took so long to answer!? What if he goes on the date and thinks I'm boring or ugly!? What if we get snowed in or frostbite!? What if he gets run over by a carriage and dies!? What if I get run over or slip and fall and look stupid in front of him!? What if the Sect attacks and kills Soku or Edward or Julius or all of them while we're gone!? What if the Golden Knights show back up!? What if they want revenge!? What if they kill us all!?}

Sinking and sinking and falling and falling, unable to escape from herself. Unable to escape from the fear sending constant tremors through her being. Unable to breath, unable to think, just panicking. Everything was panicking. As the hours passed she continued to struggle to fall asleep, anxious and fearful beyond belief, while Gray slept beside her. Holding the charm in his hand as he slept.

Rosemary {I should go get some air, maybe I'll fall asleep faster.}

Trying to give herself hope she took a deep breath and snuck out of bed. Slowly stepping over the floor, slithered through the door, tip-toed down the stairs, all trying not to wake or annoy anyone. When stepping into the living room she would notice Edwards door wide open, Edward nowhere to be found. Looking away and thinking nothing of it, she makes her way toward the kitchen. However she froze the moment she heard movement.

Rosemary {NO!}

Within the cold, drenched in darkness, shook Rosemary. Could it be the Golden Knights alive and here for revenge, could they all be undead and looking for her, could their ghosts be haunting her? Could the Sect be within the Kitchen, waiting. Could they have taken and killed Edward? Could a monster have gotten inside? It was all enough to make her flare up to her third stage and rush into the kitchen, only to stop when she sees who it is.

Soku: "I don't know whether to be offended that you thought I was an enemy or happy that you didn't punch me."

She would slouch down to her knees with relief, her stages oozing out into the air while staring toward Soku. She was sitting at the kitchen table drinking milk and drawing. She was quick to move her paper away the moment Rosemary noticed it though.

Soku: "You okay? Haven't seen you this spooked since your first night with me and Ophelia."

Rosemary: "I'm fine. What are you doing? It's four in the morning, shouldn't you be asleep?"

Soku: "Shouldn't you be sleeping for your date? Stop acting like my mom, it doesn't matter how late I'm up!."

Soku would hear her own voice, shutting herself up and staring toward her feet.

Soku: "Sorry."

Rosemary: "It's okay. I just can't sleep, I'm just too anxious. How about you?"

Soku: "I just don't get that tired anymore."

Rosemary: "Do you need to talk about anything? You haven't said much about Ophelia and I know you -

But even if Soku knew screaming out was too much, she just couldn't help herself. Unable to face the idea of Ophelia's death in any way possible. Even avoiding her mark, her air, her memories.

Soku: "ALRIGHT! I'm fine! You know what, I am tired so I'm gonna go to my room now. And by the way you didn't have to cut your hair."

Rosemary: "I know I just -

But Soku would have already stormed out of the kitchen, causing Rosemary to sink further into despair. When she sat at the table she noticed the drawing Soku had accidently left behind, sitting down to stare at its beauty. It was extremely realistic, done by a simple pen, and looked exactly like the group. Musashi, Kioshi, Al, Ophelia, and the others standing in front of the manor in knightly gear. With even a Soku, dressed in gear and all. They both walked upstairs, trying to fall asleep. Eventually they both doze off, sleeping peacefully. Rosemary wakes up, extends her arms and yawns. Usually Gray sleeps in, so Rosemary assumed that she would be able to get ready before he woke up. But today she notices Gray isn't sleeping beside her. While she went to go right back to sleep, she instantly leapt off of the bed and onto her feet in a panicked sweat.

Rosemary: "I SLEPT IN!"

Using her stages to increase her speed, to snag her clothes and a towel to head into the shower.

Rosemary {Of course today of all days!}

After having rinsed herself quickly, she used her stages to heat up and dry her body in a burst of power before rushing into her clothes. Her thick turtle neck blue sweater, thick black pants, small cuffed brown boots, and fixed her shorter hair. Smiling into the mirror, before instantly frowning with panic and rushed toward the door. As she ran through the living room and turned toward the dining room, going out the door before slamming into someone.

Julius: "Hel -

Rosemary: "EEK! Sorry!"

After being scared by his presence she quickly got up and rushed toward the door, almost slipping on the snow and falling off the porch. But right as she went to dive face first into the thick blanket of snow, she felt somebody barely catch her. However he failed, falling with her into the snow.

Gray: "Hey!"

Rosemary quickly got up and helped Gray, going to apologize before getting stopped. Blushing the moment she looked toward Gray's hands. Flowers, hand knitted. Along with two santa hats. Placing it atop her head while placing one atop his own.

Gray: "Since it's so snowy I couldn't pick flowers, I made these! And I made the hats, they're a tradition kinda. More in the commercial sense."

Rosemary: "If I knew we were getting gifts I would have gotten you one, sorry."

Gray: "Well I think the dude is supposed to or whatever anyway. Now let's go, on our SNOW DATE!"

He pointed toward the town and the falling snow, snow falling in the shape of a ball. That ball slammed right into Gray's face, a barrage of more snow balls raining down after. When Rosemary looks down the street, she notices the roads taken up by a massive snowball fight of all ages. Leviathan soldiers and their children, fortresses and snow men, along with the massive piles of snow balls. Some mages use their water magic to create them.

Rosemary: "More like a warzone date."

Gray: "Yeah, sorry."

Rosemary: "Well we gotta fight through it!"

She grabbed his hand and charged forward, dashing off into the snow. With only themselves to enjoy the moment, and the many observing snowball warriors. Using their last few days of freedom before the coming days would pass and they would begin their journey to Athens to save Walgonia.