Oh, oh no!

Hero drowsily got up, his head was killing him, and he felt dizzy. He wanted the headache to end, he wanted to die, however he has a job he must complete.

"Hero, why did you leave the cart." Iris shouted giving him a hug, though she instantly moved away from him and pretended she didn't care that he was missing.

"I'm fine, it seems like I was being mind controlled by a plant, it was probably after the sacred sword." Hero mumbled the last part before drifting back to sleep as he collapsed on the pile of blankets. Iris couldn't help but stare worryingly at the person she likes to call her minion, scared for what's going to happen to him. Growing up she's used to living alone, distancing herself from her maids and butlers. She doesn't want to admit this, but Hero is the first person she actually feels attached to. She clutched her skirt and felt her lips tremble, she doesn't like to think about the pain Hero's going through right now. "Why must he endure all this pain?" she whispered. However, Zeke heard this.

"Yeah, it's the effect of the sacred sword."

"I always thought owning the sacred sword would give him privileges and physical advantages. This looks awful." Iris is starting to feel silly because she always used to dream about owning the sword, 'I'm so naive, that sword isn't a blessing.'

Zeke noticed her trembling and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry, he's going to be alright. Listen kid, I used to also believe that Hero was lucky because he owned the sword. The legends fooled everyone, tricked us into searching for the sword."

Hero got up again and weakly placed a hand on Iris's,

"The creator of the legend is a deceiver. If fools outwardly searched for the sword, they are willingly allowing a parasite into their body."

"Were you one of the adventurers that searched for the sword?"

Hero clutched Iris's hand and started trembling a lot.

"Hell no! I never seek power, I wanted to live a normal life, not be a monster. They made me own the sword, told me it would help my country, filled my mind with lies." Hero said through gritted teeth, trembling more. Iris gently pushed Hero back down and told him to rest. After a few minutes of light Hero snoring Alex looked to Zeke,

"Who do you think Hero was referring to." She asked, Zeke pondered for a bit.

"People from a different era, or so I assume." Zeke responded. After making sure Hero's safe, Zeke moves to the front of the cart and starts to drive. Alex was sitting in the back with Iris, Iris looked at Alex. She felt guilty for the crimes she committed.

"Hey, um, are you one of those who were affected by my search for wealth?" Iris asked, scratching the back of her head, Alex looked up quickly and stared at Iris, shocked by the sudden question.

"W-well yes actually, after one of your attacks my bookstore was destroyed."

'Attacks, that's how they saw it, I was just expanding my economic reach.' Iris thought to herself but felt it inappropriate to say it out loud.

"So, like, I want to apologies for what I've done to you, and how my greed destroyed your business."

'Augh what's gotten over me, humbling myself and apologizing to someone poorer than me.'

"Well to be honest, it will be hard for me to actually forgive you. I mean sure you haven't attacked in a long time, but that doesn't erase your previous actions."

"I see, I understand."

"But~ I would forgive you if you helped out around the shop."

"Really!" Iris shouted, she quickly covered her mouth out of embarrassment and shrugged her shoulders,

"Okay I will help, not that I want your forgiveness or anything, more so that I want to be on the good side of my minio- er boyfriend's friends." Alex giggled at Iris's less than smooth cover up.

"I understand, no need to explain yourself."

Later on, that night Alex expressed a very important question.

"What happened to the cat?" Alex asked, Iris thought for a while and sat back.

"I think Hero shooed it away, I don't get why he doesn't like cats." Iris responded

Iris and Alex turned their heads expectantly at Zeke, expecting him to explain this strange phenomenon. Zeke sighed, feeling their eyes on him, he slightly tilted his head in their direction.

"I can't answer that, that phobia is something that he had before I met him. Hero's a very mysterious kid, and he doesn't like to talk about his past." The three then glanced at Hero, Zeke only sneaked a slight glance at the young man before focusing his attention to the path. Iris had the urge to wake Hero up to ask questions, but stopped herself because she doesn't feel like Hero trusts her enough to let her know about his personal life. 'I wouldn't trust me either.'

Iris and Alex sat side by side reading a book Alex brought.

"Man, this trip is long. When will we reach the pond?"

"I don't know, and Zeke won't answer."

Zeke turned around an awkward smile on his face as he scratched the back of his head,

"We're not even a quarter of the way there yet."

"WHAT!?!?!?" the two shouted.