V

"I think this one will suite you better."

I stared at the weapon in his hand, he extended it out to me with a smile on his face.

Over the past while I had gotten used to the standard doubled-edged two handed swords, the most common one you would see around.

It was something so foreign yet...

Familiar.

I gave him a soft nod as I grabbed it out of his hand. Slowly, softly, I traced my fingers along it's sheath.

It's handle and shape sifferent from the rest. I slowly unsheath it, revealing it's curved one-sided blade.

The iron shinned under the light, reflecting shades of white across the room.

It was mesmerizing.

The distant words and talk echoed, foreign to this space. Like a distant memory.

-:Nyx:-

A memory flashed past me as I looked at the dissapating blood from my blade. Telling truth to the fact that they were not of this world.

'As far as I know, I haven't touched a blade even once before this world. But the feeling I get from this one tells me otherwise.'

"How dare you! A criminal like you giving us orders?!"

My attention was drawn to the pissy guard, his finger pointing directly at master.

I really wanted to cut it off.

"The hell? Don't missunderstand, I could just leave all your asses at anytime and run for the hills."

Master, scowls. His words showing no remorce as usual.

He jabs his thumb behin him pointing at another incoming wave of monsters.

"Our enemies are actively dropping out of the sky, and as long as they are I couldn't give a damn who you or I am."

The guard flinched back, his words having weight.

"Master look! The sky!"

Raphtalia got everyones attention, drawing it to the sky as it lit up again. The dark red hue dissapearing like it was never there.

"Is it... over?"

-:Naofumi:-

'Looking around the damage to the village is severe, but nothing that they can't recover from. But it'll take a lot, just thinking about it is a headache.'

Just thinking about what could have happened if the wave continued puts nots in my stomache.

We tried our best yet this is all we could do.

'I...-

I look behind me and see Raphtalia and Nyx trailing not too far behind.

We have to get stronger.'

-:-:-

"Heroes! You're efforts have led our country to come out nearly unscathed! I know the battles were tough, so let me reward you promptly!"

The king announced, his voice echoing through the room as he spoke.

"Tonight, we feast!"

'Being here with all these assholes is starting to piss me off.'

I sigh, feeling a soft thumb on my back my attention perks up.

"Y'know, just because you don't like crowds doesn't mean you can just hide behind me the whole time."

Her small frame peaked around my arm, slightly shaking.

'She's really bad with crowds huh.'

Spotting Raphtalia hauling a plate or two of food, I shift my attention patting Nyx's head a bit.

"Raphtalia?"

"Ah. M-master... there's just so many foods that i've never seen so I just ended up having more than I realised."

She stammered out, trying to explain herself.

"Don't fuss over it too much, if you want to eat it go ahead. No ones stopping you from filling up."

Her faced shifted to suprise before she started fidgiting with her plate.

"Does that mean you like your women on the chubbier side?"

She looked up at me embarrased, the question utterly suprising.

"What? I don't care, besides why are you even worrying about this? Just eat what you want, you need it. You're a growing kid after all."

Her expression dropped, she whipped around grabbing another plate off the table.

"I forgot you were like this."

She mumbled on her way.

'Like what?'

She shoved a plate of food between us.

"The let's eat together! I can assure you it's delicious."

I was about to say something before I felt a fork poke my cheek. It was Nyx holding a fork full of food and a plate.

"Not you too... i'm not eating"

"C'mon! It'll save us money."

Nyx's blank face and Raphtalia's smiling stared at me as the food they held edged it's way closer.

"... Fine."

I took the fork from Nyx, taking a bite of the food.

"It's delicious isn't it."

The food entered my mouth, sat at my taste buds yet...

"It doesn't."

I didn't taste a thing.

Raphtalia's smile dropped as I scowled, before I even realised it Nyx shoved another fork full in my mouth.

"Hey! I said it didn't taste goo-"

She shoved another in my mouth. Finally she placed a finger to my lips, her black eyes stared into mine as I swallowed the food.

She moves her hand and pulls me down to her level, adjusting my collar and cape. Patting my chest as she lets go, giving a soft nod as she hands me the plate.

I stared at it, and back at her as I w8atched Raphtalia chat and laugh at Nyx. Her silent replies being louder than anything else.

I took a fork and ate a bite, a slight flavour tinging my tatse buds.

'It's... okay.'

-:-:-

"There he is!"

I set my plate down, my attention drawn to the spear hero pointing right at me.

"Don't move a single step, Naofumi!"

Mophoyasu, approached us along with a group of people.

"What's your deal now?"

I questioned, this whole situation starting to be a real pain in my ass.

"What's my deal?! My deal is that I've heard about it!"

He places a hand on Nyx's shoulder as he pulls her away from her hiding spot behind my back. I flinch in response, grabbing my shield.

"I've heard about how these two girls with you, Nyx and Raphtalia! Are your slaves!"

Silence, the whole rooms attention was on us now.

"Hah? And?"

'This is really starting to piss me off.'

"Yeah they're my slaves, they're my property so don't even thing about touching them freely."

I could see his anger boiling, this guys always a hassle.

"People don't belong to someone else! Don't forget the kind of world we came from! Slavery is wrong!"

He yelled, practically spitting in my face.

"Are you stupid? That's your logic not mine."

He grits his teeth.

"Then duel me! If I win, you'll release them!"

"Huh?"

I was baffled, the statement being utterly stupid.

"Wait! I'm no-"

Raphtalia and Nyx were grabbed and held back. Theyre mouths covered with cloth, stopping them from talking.

Though, not like one of them could.

"Nyx! Raphtalia!"

I reached out only for them to be pulled further away.

"What do you think you're doing!?"

I watch as the shit king walks up.

"No, what do you think you are doing? I've heard all about it, to think a hero would stoop so low as to enslave these poor two girls"

He "shields" Nyx and Raphtalia from me.

"In comparison sir motoshitsu is a compassionate hero, so I will permit this duel."

I grit my teeth.

"Like hell! I didn't even agree to this shit! Besides without them I can't even fight!"

He smirks.

"Poor girl, to think you can't even be away from him because of the curse. Restrain her for now, and don't you worry we'll undo the curse once sir motopitsu wins."

I step forward, trying to push past the guards.

"DAMNIT, JUST LISTEN TO ME!"

I see motoyassu step closer.

"C'mon, don't be serious. Backing out of this duel is cowardly!"

I grit my teeth and glare at him, he flinches back and staggers.

"...Fine then, i'll do this duel. But if I win you'll give them back right?"

"Yeah... If you win."

The laughing and taunting of the crowd, the bunch of hypocrits all out to get me. And just when I thoufht things were starting to go okay.

I look up at Nyx and Raphtalia struggling to get out of their grasp, Nyx seemingly too strong for a single guars to handle so there were a few restraining her.

I grit my teeth.

'All of them are against me, it's just me and only me that I can depend on.'

"I'll say this, if you're going to keep putting me in the wrong here then fine i'll accept this stupid farce of yours."

I clench my fist.

"But don't you dare think for a second I won't beat the shit out of you!"