[4] Introductions

1 (Alice)

When I first met her, I could tell she was the same as me. The way we looked at each other, the way we looked at the world. In a sense, we both frowned at everything while planning for anything.

Too, we feared ourselves more than anyone else.

It occurred at the ball party welcoming Shana and I as heroes. It was a party for few in the upper echelons of the kingdom of Albion so all who attended were people of merit.

I should say it now, I hate formalities and I hate formal dressing. Yet, I was forced into both.

I wore a one piece dress of white and Shana wore one of black. Both had been handily thrown upon us by the maids of the castle. Shana was not used to someone else dressing her, but this being my sixth time. . .I was not used to it either.

"It feels a bit. . ."

"Too tight?"

"Yes," Shana nodded, squirming slightly under her dress.

I laughed, "You'll get used to it."

"I hope," She muttered, a blush on her cheeks as the dress simply outlined a bit too much of her.

Well I suppose that was to be expected. It wasn't as if they measured us. It was more likely they simply eye-gauged our bodies and found suitable formal wear for us that looked about right. It was the same with the training attire we were given but at least those were somewhat snug. This would also mean the ball party was more rushed than planned.

I brought a glass cup to my lips as I waited.

"A-are you drinking!?"

"It's okay, it's just wine."

"Wow you sounded really cool just now. How do you always do that?"

Er. . .what was she on about?

Albein Mass stood behind us in a suit and watched on as the first person approached us this night.

She was easy to spot. Not only was she the only one not in formal attire, she also had the highest level in the entirety of the room.

[Rose Major — Level 230]

A woman with freakishly red hair, a sword at her waist, and an attire only someone that lived the life of battle would wear in a place like this. The silver chest plate, boots, and arm pads gleamed under the light of the room as she finally stood before us.

She nodded at Albein, "Good to see you."

Her voice was light and her face displayed only the needed expression befitting for speaking to an underlain.

"I'm surprised you came."

She smiled, "I couldn't miss this."

Their conversation ended as easily as it began as she faced us. Her eyes, sunburn in color, stared both Shana and I down as if she were inspecting us.

"I'm supposing you two are the heroes?"

We hadn't been officially introduced. It was not yet that time as neither the king nor Merlin had made their entrance. In fact, we stood next to an unassuming entrance to the ball party. Still, I nodded quite calmly while Shana answered.

"I. . .hopefully I will be."

"Oh?" She raised a brow, "Hopefully."

And continued with a smile, "It seems like neither of you like these formalities."

Was it that obvious?

"I can say the same of you," I replied with my own grin.

She gave a short laugh.

"I suppose you could. I initially wanted to send a subordinate of mine but thought better of it to heroes I'll soon be depending upon."

She reached out her right hand, which was gloves in black, "Pleasure to meet you two, I'm Rose Major, leader of the Blood Knights, the platoon you two will be entering in due time."

"Ah, ni—nice to meet you too, I'm Shana Fraught," Shana replied with a fluster and completely forgot to shake the girls hand.

I sighed and did so in her stead.

"Mhmm, Alice Strong."

With the shake of ours hands, I felt her might.

She was powerful. At least, she was the most powerful person I had met so far. Simply standing in front of her, I couldn't help but observe her body with my mana.

Her figure under her armor was toned and shaped for battle. There were numerous scars on her hands, torso, and legs, hidden perfectly under the leather of her gear. It seemed like she was the type to not rely on only her mana to do the work of physically strengthening herself. Yet, even without that, the energy within her was like mine—calm and serene and without fault.

Yet. . .there was something wrong with her body.

It was as if she would be ripped apart by her own mana any day now. It was calm, yes, but it was ever expanding, as if her figure could not hold the increasing mana in her body. Soon enough, it would begin to leak and then eventually shatter her whole.

She smiled, "Have you. . .fought before?"

I could feel the firmness of her hand suddenly increase.

"Never have," I winced slightly.

Of course, that was both fake and a lie.

She retreated her hand with that little interaction and glanced at Albein. Their eyes spoke words I couldn't recognize before a footsteps brought my attention away.

Merlin and the king walked side by side, the mage behind the man dressed in red. When they entered the room, eyes naturally moved to focus onto them and it was at this time that I realized the king was a measly level 70, and Merlin stood at 137.

After some formalities I cared little for, Merlin walked over to Shana and took her hand.

"??" The girl was beyond perplexed.

"Follow me."

They stopped in the middle of the room and he clapped his hands together, a wave of mana shot out with that motion, disrupting everyone and forcing them to focus upon the two.

"I'll like to introduce you all to our hero," He spoke, stepping away from Shana.

Resounding claps reached my ears.

. . .huh?

I was not introduced as a hero?

I watched as Shana's gaze danced around the room and the eyes trailed onto her.

"Eh—eh, ehhh?"

She seemed just as shocked as I was.

I frowned, eyes trailing to a smiling Merlin who seemed to be ignoring my gaze.

At that moment, a figure broke out from the masses with a sword in hand. Wearing a suit of black, the person crossed over to Shana in mere moments.

A spark flew.

"You dare?"

Albein mouthed, blocking the blade of the person. It was at that moment I noticed the mask upon the figure's face.

"Tsk."

A flurry of attacks came but Albein moved swiftly with his long sword, blocking each advance of the person and keeping them at a distance.

The individual jumped back.

"<Whirlwind>!"

A spin and a slash came.

The winds howled and a bout of mana shot out in a spiral around the individual, flinging forward an array of blades.

Shana stood frozen like a statue. It was evident the situation had yet to ring into her head. I would help if things became too overwhelming, but it didn't look like I even had to step in.

Albein Pierce's his blade forward as it shined with the translucent light of blue.

"<Scatter>!"

The light expanded and shot forward. In moments, it broke off into beams and pierced into the whirlwind—shattering each blade—before striking the assassin.

Blood sprung into the air in tandem with a whine of pain.

The clothing upon the individual became mere taters as they staggered back.

"Give up," Albein said, his sword parallel to his feet.

The assassin did not speak.

Instead, he chuckled and raised a hand.

A black crystal shined, pulsing with mana as the individual emptied his reserve into the thing.

He smiled under a half mask of black.

"For the cau—"

Blood splattered onto the floor, following the tip of a sword piercing from the back of the person.

"Wha—why are you here?"

The assassin gurgled up a mouthful of blood, stumbling as his head turned to stare behind him with shocked eyes.

"Because I want to be," Rose said, pulling out a thin blade that gleamed with the red of blood, "Because I want to protect the future."

With her words, the man dropped down, the shining crystal in his hand clanking onto the ground as it dulled amidst a pool of blood.

Rose flicked her weapon, staining the marble floor some more before sliding it back effortlessly into its sheath. In that moment, the level that had briefly stated '300' dropped back down to 230.

"So cool. . ." I heard a certain person murmur.

Soon, however, that murmur turned into a scream as Shana finally recognized the dead figure infront of her and the blood that touched her feet.