VII

"Let's just get a something to eat."

I look at him, he was acting a bit weird after the whole duel incident.

'Though given the circumstances I guess that's pretty normal.'

Thinking back on it, I wonder what that voice was about.

'Whatever this [Curse series] was, it had to be bad news. Hopefully it doesn't cause master any problems.'

I stop, noticing something in my own thought process.

Without realising it I had begun to call and acknowledge him as my master. Not much of a bad thing, but more like I just did it subconsciously.

"Nyx, here. This one's yours."

Pulling me out of my thoughts master Naofumi hands me a sandwhich, Raphtalia and him each having their own.

I nod as I take it, each of us taking a bit in sync.

"I... can taste it... I was never able to taste anything in this world untill now!"

He started to eat it like it was his first meal. Raphtalia giggles as I give a soft sigh of relief, seemingly each of us realised his issue, and we were both realived to see it resolved.

"We were always worried on that part, so please. Don't carry any pain alone Master Naofumi, we're here for you, and  we'll take on the world together."

Raphtalia spoke, her words conveying my thoughts.

"You guys..."

I tilt my head in confusion, wondering what he was going to say.

And before I had the chance to realise a soft peck placed itself on my cheek, and another on Raphtalia's.

My mind instantly went blank as Raphtalia's face flushes crimson.

-:-:-

"Welcome."

Walking into the store I look around as we walk to the desk, herbs and potions lined the walls.

"I'm here to sell some potions."

"Of course."

I tug on his sleeve, conveying my thoughts to him as he sets bottles on the counter.

"It's alright, I made a lot so i'd rather get something out of them rather than them going bad."

I nod, understanding his reasoning.

"Ah, wait."

The shopkeeper stops us on our way out.

"You're the shield hero right? Take this."

"Huh?"

-:Naofumi:-

I look at all the books I had gotten, flipping through their pages as I look my dilema in the face.

'Seems like the shield's auto translate doesn't work on text.'

"I've been avoiding it for a while but it seems I have to learn this worlds vocabulary."

I sigh, dreading having to learn a new language.

I feel a gentle poke to my cheek, golden slitted eyes staring into my own as I look down at her.

"What's up?"

She taps the book I'm holding, dragging her finger accross the words as she points at the pictures in succession.

"You can read it?"

She nods.

"Then I guess i'll just have you teach me."

"Oh! Please teach me aswell! I only know a little so it'd be helpfull!"

Raphtalia chims in.

Out of the corner of my eye I see Nyx smirk smugly, I quickly turn to her and she was back to her normal straight face. Though a little confused why I was looking at her.

'Was it just my imagination?'

-:-:-

Like that, the days passed. Nyx did her best to teach us this worlds alphabet, though it was a little rough given her lack of speech.

Thinking back on it, I should have taken that sign language class back on my own world.

'Not like I'd have known this would happen though.'

"-umi"

'But it definitely would have been nice to teach Nyx how to communicate easier.'

And after learning a decent amount of the alphabet I learned a few of the things in the books I was given.

"-ast Naofumi."

'The potion recipies and knowledge I gained from them is pretty usefull as well. I'd ask if they could lend me some more books, but I don't want to intrude much.'

"Master Naofumi!"

'Wait what?'

"Master, look!"

"Huh?" What's u-"

The loud cracking and shaking of the creature egg drew my attention to it.

All three of us stood around it in awe as we watched it hatch.

"What do you think will hatch out of it master?"

"No clue."

Nyx shakes her head.

Finally after a few seconds it completely breaks free.

A fluff of white feathers, a yellow beak, and feet of a bird.

What hatched was a baby bird.

We watched as it waddled around it's egg for a bit before looking up and noticing me, it squeeks and jumps on my head.

"Woah!"

I stagger back in a bit of suprise, though I carefully guard it so it doesn't fall.

"It's so cute!"

"Yeah, but what's its deal with me!?"

I could feel it start to nuzzle into my hair as it gets comfortable.

"I think it thinks your it's mommy."

Raphtalia's giggle almost feels insulting.

"Sorry but, I'm not a mom."

I pick up the tiny bird and hold it in my hand looking at it as it squeels in excitement.

"No, I don't think Master looks like a bird nest Nyx."

'Nyx seems to be getting more comfortable expressing herself. Though after the duel, I could say that same thing for all of us.'

Raphtalia's flustered squeal echoes as she wispers to Nyx.

"Nyx you can't say that!"

I look over in confusion, the bird seemingly doing the same.

'How does she even know what she's saying?'

Thinking back on it, when I asked her about it her response was weird too.

'She called it "A woman's intuition" or something. The only thing that told me is that i'll never understand women.'

-:Raphtalia:-

"Uh, are you guys sure?"

Master scratched his head as he stood infront of the doorway, a bit concerned on our well being for obvious reasons.

"Of course! There's no need for you to worry Master Naofumi!"

I start to push him out the door, easing his worry as best as I can.

"Just take a break for now!"

"Ah, wai-"

I close the door, turning back around to the weapon smith shop. Nyx holding the small bird in her arms.

"Now let's begin the "Shield Hero's Wife, Dream Plan!!"

Nyx claps along as I could feel the light focus it's attention on me.

• • • •

(A bit of explaining later.)

"-and that's the gyst of it! What do you guys think?"

Nyx nods along, as the baby bird squeals.

"Uh, that's cool and all, but why the hell are you doing this here?!"

Erhard, the kind soul that lended us his shop to have our secret meeting.

"Well, it'd be a bit weird to do it in the inn."

He sighs.

"Sometimes I feel like you guys think you're my only customers."

"We're not?"

"NO!"

The baby bird squeals.

"Huh? When did you guys get a filolial?"

I titled my head in confusion to his question.

"Filolial?"

"Yeah, that's what the bird is. They're carriage birds, used for chugging carriages and carts around."

I was suprised, but it'd definitely help Master Naofumi in the long run.

"I see."

-:Erhard:-

I sighed, feeling like I was doing that way too often these days.

"Anyways, i'm suprised you got dragged into this Nyx."

She nods a few times.

...

"No one is gonna understand what you're say-"

Raphtalia claps, drawing my attenting to her.

"I see! So you're interested in master too?"

'Wait she understood her? Am I missing something?'

Nothing. No special signal, no mouth movements, she just nodded a few times.

"That's great!"

I deadpanned.

'I think i'm gonna just stop thinking about this stuff before I start going insane.'