The Heart of the Journey Part 1: Companions

[Location: East Main Road near of Town of Valestián - Kingdom of Tevell]

[A week and 4 days have passed]

We continued on our way to the town of Valestian, it wasn't much longer and with each place we passed we were closer to reaching the border gate, according to the map there were only two more places on the way besides Valestián to get to the border with Drolum.

-Zyrus: So the first Hero also had a powerful Blessing, wow, that makes me want to know more about him, do you know his name?

-Celes: The name of the first Hero?... no... I don't remember what his name was, but the stories say that he was the one who founded the city of Gainsworth and that his son years later founded the academy of Magic.

-Zyrus: Wait, wait, wait, the first Hero had children? You mean he didn't come back to his world after saving him?

-Celes: Apparently not, apparently he became so attached to this world and its people that he preferred to stay.

-Zyrus: I imagine, going through all those adventures to save the world, the people he met, even fell in love and had a family, leaving all that behind to return to his world is already selfish on his part.

Thinking about the first Hero made me realize what I was going through, I was also affected by what was happening in this world, the adventures I went through, the people I met, the only thing I've been avoiding is falling in love with someone. Celes is the only girl I've spent a lot of time with but we both know that our relationship won't go beyond friendship, I don't want anything to tie me to this world or everything I would have done to return to my world would have been for nothing.

-Zyrus: Celes, have you thought about what you will do when I return to my world?

-Celes: huh?

-Zyrus: I mean, do you have any plans for later? Do you plan to return to Zeorian? Or will you look for someone else to serve?

-Celes: I....(sigh)....no...I haven't thought about anything about later.

-Zyrus: I'm sorry to sound so insensitive, but you know that when I return to my world, we will not see each other again so I want you to have some plan for the future.

-Celes: Yes....yes...I will...have it.

I knew that what I said to her might affect her but it was better that she think about it now for when we got to Gainsworth, Celes is an incredible person, loyal, trustworthy and an excellent Knight, I'm sure anyone would want her at their service this was the best for her.

-????: KYAAAAA!!!

-Zyrus: What was that?

-Celes: My Lord, over there!

A scream out of nowhere caught our attention which made me stop the wagon, Celes pointed to the plain to our left and in the distance we saw three girls running and being chased by some kind of humanoid wolves.

-Zyrus: What are those things?

-Celes: They are Kobolds My Lord, wild and very violent Beastmen!

As we saw the three girls running very desperate, we could distinguish them, apparently they were Hunters from their outfits but it seems that they provoked a whole pack of those Kobolds and to make matters worse, there was one that stood out for how big it was.

-Black-haired Girl: Why did you have to try to steal their treasures!?

-Pink-haired Girl: How could I leave such precious treasures in the hands of those animals!?

-Brown-haired Girl: Please... please, someone help us!!!

The three girls were already very close and attracting all those monsters towards us, so we had no choice.

-Celes: My Lord!

-Zyrus: This has to be a joke, come on Celes!

We jumped out of the wagon and ran to their "help" but the truth was to prevent them from crashing our wagon this was really exciting but it was the first time that instead of hiding from danger I was going to face it together with Celes.

-Zyrus: Hold on, help has arrived!

-Black-haired Girl: Huh!?

-Brown-Haired Girl: (gasping) Thank you...thank you...

-Pink-haired Girl: Finally...

We passed the three girls and faced the kobolds, they were half my height, looking like a wolf or hyena with furry fur, they wore torn clothes and used rusty knives and swords, but there was one that was a little bigger than me. I guess I should be the leader.

-Celes: My Lord, be careful, despite the power you obtained you must not let your guard down.

-Zyrus: Understood, it's show time.

The Kobols began to threaten us with their weapons while growling, but neither of us felt intimidated, in fact I saw it as something cute, the little ones jumped to attack first, I took my sword and saw their movements, they were slower than Celes so i could attack them without problems.

-Zyrus: Move, rookie coming in!

I gave a quick cut to the first one that jumped on top of me, finishing him off quickly, I saw Celes who had already finished off 3 without problems, I couldn't stay behind either, using my newly obtained agility I moved quickly between them finishing off 2 more of them of they.

-Celes: Not bad My Lord, now let's finish with the rest.

-Zyrus: With pleasure.

In a matter of seconds we finished off another 5 or 6 Kobolds until finally the little ones backed down and the big one finally came to fight.

-Celes: My Lord, back off, I'll deal with this one.

-Zyrus: You don't have to worry so much about me now, you know?

-Celes: Hehe, I know, but I want to test my new technique on him, he's the perfect opponent to test it.

-Zyrus: Oh? Now that's something I'm interested in seeing, go ahead then, the stage is yours.

I took a few steps back to see Celes' new technique, there is no doubt that she must have created it while I was asleep.

"Celes, you've really tried so hard, despite everything you have had to do in my absence, you still gave yourself the time to train and develop a new technique."

The larger Kobold moved aggressively and launched to attack Celes while at that moment Celes looked at her target and ran two of her fingers across the blade of her sword from which lightning sparks began to appear. then she raised her sword and making a complete circle with her arm, the tip of the blade passed through the ground and from there a large amount of lightning began to accumulate until it launched this energy in the form of a blade wrapped in lightning against the huge Kobold.

-Celes: Ahhhh! [Lightning Blade!]

The lightning-wrapped blade impacted against the Kobold which in addition to giving a large cut to his chest also struck him with a powerful discharge of lightning that left his body blackened and smoking until he finally fell face down to the ground.

-Zyrus: Damn, that was amazing Celes!

The other little Kobolds, seeing their fallen leader, fled in fear and finally putting the girls to safety.

-Zyrus: That technique was incredible Celes!

-Celes: I thank you My Lord but this technique is not complete yet, I feel that it lacks power and I could deduce that when using it against that great Kobold.

-Zyrus: Come on Celes and I thought it was already powerful and you still want to improve it.

-Celes: Well, you were also wonderful My Lord, you were able to face those Kobolds without problems.

-Zyrus: Well what can I say, even with the improvement I got, it was your training that allowed me to improve in this way hehehe.

-Black-Haired Girl: Ex...Excuse me...

We were so distracted praising each other's abilities that we completely forgot about the girls we were helping.

-Zyrus: Ahh! Sorry...we forgot you three were there.

-Pink-haired Girl: How disrespectful to ignore three beautiful girls like that, gosh.

-Black-Haired Girl: No, no, it's okay, don't listen to her, after all you saved us and for that we are grateful.

The girls with black hair and browns made a small curtsy in gratitude, but the other girl who had her arms crossed and looked away with a pouting face did not.

-Black-Haired Girl: Come on, what are you waiting for, say thank you.

-Pink-Haired Girl: Okay, okay, thanks for helping us.

At first she seemed still annoyed that we ignored them but after she thanked us she seems to have gotten over her anger.

-Celes: We're glad you three are okay but how did you end up being chased by a pack of Kobolds?

-Black-Haired Girl: That's her fault because she tried to take the Kobolds' treasures when we tried to sneak through their lair.

-Pink-Haired girl: I already told you that I couldn't leave those beautiful treasures in the hands of those dirty beasts.

-Brown-Haired Girl: But...But trying to...to...get them all out caused a ruckus that...that...woke them up.

-Zyrus: Oh! so you're a Thief by profession.

-Pink-Haired Girl: No...I'm not a Thief! I am a Treasure Hunter, completely different.

"Yeah, of course"

-Celes: From the outfits of you three I can deduce that you are Hunters and you were on a hunt, right?

-Black-Haired Girl: That's right, let us introduce ourselves, I'm Leah Nash, Rank F Hunter.

(Leah Nash -Rank-F/Lancer- 17 Years)

She was a quiet and calm but also somewhat sentimental girl with long black hair, she carried a iron spear and wore a short thin light blue coat with bronze breastplate and bronze arm plates and long leather boots.

-Pink-Haired Girl: My turn, I'm the beautiful Rank F Hunter, Mei Laure, a pleasure to have you meet me.

(Mei Lauren -Rank-F/Treasure Hunter- 15 Years)

A cheerful, somewhat childish and provocative girl with long slightly dark pink hair who had long twintails, I could see a couple of bronze knives at her waist, she had a red scarf around her neck, a sleeveless pink jacket, blue short pants, leather gloves and leather boots.

-Brown-Haired Girl: Next I, uhm...I'm...Aeryn Bellamy, I'm also an Rank F Hunter and I also i can use basic Holy magic, nice...nice to meet you.

(Aeryn Bellamy -Rank-F/Cleric(Basic Holy Magic)- 16 Years)

She was a shy and somewhat nervous girl with short wavy brown hair, she carried a wooden cane, she was also wearing an open white tunic with a hood and under it a green dress and short leather boots.

-Zyrus: A pleasure, I am Zyrus Corvus and I am just me.

-Celes: Celestine Roseberd, you can call me Celes and I'm also an Rank F Hunter.

-Leah: What!? Rank F only!?

-Mei: With those abilities!?

-Celes: Yes, it's only been a few days since I got my Hunter license but I already have training and a lot of experience in combat.

-Aeryn: A...Amazing.

As the girls marveled talking about Celes' abilities I approached the large, scorched Kobold.

-Zyrus: I imagine that this was the prey of you three or am I wrong?

-Leah: Huh? oh, yes, a kobold leader who led his followers to attack caravans and travelers, here, look at this.

Leah approached me and handed me a piece of paper that she took out from among his clothes, I took it and when I opened it I saw a drawing similar to that of the great Kobold but I didn't understand what it said.

"Right, I still don't know how to read this language, but I don't want them to know..... I know"

-Zyrus: Uh...Celes, look at this.

She came over and passed the paper to her then she began to read it aloud.

-Celes: Let me see, "Wanted, Kobold leader, assault on multiple caravans and travelers, threat level 1, rewards 45 silver and 20 bronze pieces" you are three Hunters, how did you have trouble dealing with a threat level 1?.

-Aeryn: We thought...that since...it was...it was level 1, we could handle it but....

-Leah: We didn't think there would be so many kobolds with him, besides, our combat prowess isn't that good yet.

-Mei: Stop crying and look everyones, now that he's defeated we can get the reward, isn't it great? in the end everything ended well.

The pink-haired girl celebrated as if she had contributed to the Kobold's defeat, while the others looked at her somewhat discouraged.

-Leah: Mei, we can't, we won't defeat him.

-Mei: But what do you say? why not?

-Aeryn: It's not...correct, it's like taking credit for someone else's work.

The three girls were discouraged to learn that they lost their prey due to a mistake and our intervention.

-Celes: I have no problem.

-Leah: Really? but...

-Mei: What does it matter Leah, she already said that there is no problem.

I agreed with Celes, but since we bothered to help the girls and she was the one who ended the threat alone, I couldn't let this go so easily.

-Zyrus: Wait a minute!

-Mei: What? What happens now?

-Zyrus: At least let Celes deliver the hunt with you so she can get the star too, after all she was the one who finished off the prey.

-Celes: uhh...no...it's not...

-Zyrus: Celes, if you raise your Hunter rank, we will be able to obtain better rewards in the Jobs, as well, the discounts in the store will be better, you must think about our pockets.

-Celes: Good point.

-Leah: Of course, after all, we owe you our lives.

-Zyrus: Well, it's decided, let's get going then, we'll take you all in our wagon.

The three of them nodded and after taking a sample of the Kobold Leader's death, we got on the wagon and set off towards the town.

-Mei: By the way Zyrus, I couldn't help but overhear that Celes called you "My Lord", are you some kind of noble?

-Zyrus: Noble? Not at all, I'm just a traveler and she's my bodyguard.

I didn't want to reveal too much about us yet, not that I didn't think they had bad intentions, but Mei seems like the kind of person who doesn't know how to keep her mouth closed.

-Leah: A bodyguard?

-Mei: You don't convince me, here's something else, come on tell me, tell me!

-Zyrus: It is what it is, so settle.

-Mei: eeehhhhh?, come on, tell me.

It was already sunset and after a few hours of traveling and enduring Mei's constant questions about us, we finally reached the town of Valestián, a very large town, there were many people, Hunters, merchants.....and slaves.

-Leah: The Guard Station is close, you can leave the wagon in the stable here around the corner.

I followed Leah's instructions until we reached the stable where we left the wagon, after getting off and paying the caretaker we headed to the Guard Station.

-Mei: Ahhhhh.....we finally came back, that was quite an adventure.

-Aeryn: Bu...but Mei, those Kobolds almost killed us.

-Mei: Exactly Aeryn, "almost" means they didn't.

-Leah: I think the same, but we must be more careful next time.

We had already reached the Guard Station and I decided to wait outside with the excuse that since I wasn't a Hunter, it wouldn't make sense for me to go, even though I really wanted to not expose myself so much in front of the guards or attract attention, you never know. what will happen.

-Mei: We return and with rewards in hand!

-Celes: My Lord, they have already awarded me another star.

-Zyrus: Excellent, 3 more and you go up in rank.

Celes showed me her badge that she already had two stars marked around a large letter, she figured it must be the rank, the other girls also saw her badges.

-Leah: We also need 3 stars to rank up, it's something exciting but...

-Aeryn: Bu...But it means we have to get stronger to face the other hunts.

-Mei: Don't worry, as long as we're together we can handle anything.

"She says that after running for their lives from a bunch of angry Kobolds."

-Zyrus: Well, we'll go to the inn to register and rest, it's been a very... very... exhausting day.

-Mei: I also want to go back, but now that I have money I craved some sweets, come back without me, I'll be right back

Mei ran down the main street, probably towards the market, I sighed at the amount of energy that girl had.

-Aeryn: She's always like that, she goes from one side to the other without stopping, Leah, you come back without me too, I must go to the chapel to say my prayers, see you.

Aeryn bowed goodbye and walked away like Mei, but I suppose being someone of faith has her priorities, although I don't know what to think since I was never someone who depended on faith.

-Leah: Aeryn is a very religious girl, before leaving town she goes to the chapel to pray for our safety and when we return she will pray to give thanks for being able to return safely.

-Celes: She really cares about you two.

-Leah: Yeah, being an orphan raised in an orphanage, she sought security in faith and helping others, that's why she became a cleric,...ah...I'm sorry I think I'm talking too much, let's go to the inn I'll guide you.

We followed Leah through the streets of the town to the inn, the three girls seemed to really get along despite how different they are, Mei seemed like a hyperactive girl with a taste for treasures, Aeryn was a shy girl but cared a lot about her friends Leah is calm but she also seems somewhat reserved, anyway, for now I wanted to rest and think clearly about our next step.

-Innkeeper: (Sleepy) uuuaaghhhh.....welcome...

-Leah: I see you're still sleepy.

Upon entering, an innkeeper with long purple hair was leaning against the counter, she was yawning and had eye bags under her eyes from not having slept in more than 40 hours.

-Innkeeper: (Sleepy) ooohh...Leah....welcome...back..., where are...the...others...?

-Leah: The usual, Mei went to spend her part of the reward on sweets and Aeryn went to the chapel.

-Innkeeper: (Sleepy) I... see, oh... and uuuaagghhh... you brought clients....

-Zyrus: Is she okay?

-Leah: Yes, she just had to work 3 turns in a row since her partner got sick.

-Celes: That's not healthy, you should rest for at least a few hours.

-Leah: I've already told her but she says she's fine.

I approached the counter to ask for our rooms, seeing the innkeeper still leaning her face against it and using her arms as pillows.

-Zyrus: Well, whatever, we want two single rooms please.

The innkeeper raised her head to look at me and with a pale face and still smiling like a good innkeeper should maintain a good attitude in front of customers.

-Innkeeper: (Sleepy)...I...I'm sorry...but (Yawn) we only have...double rooms left...

-Zyrus: Are you serious?...ugh...are you okay with that, Celes?

-Celes: Huh? oh...yes, I have no problem.

I was too tired to look for another inn and Celes didn't seem to mind sharing a room with me, so I had no choice but to take a double room, the innkeeper barely got up to register us, i paid the money for the stay but the innkeeper was not in a position to take us to our rooms, so Leah helped us.

-Zyrus: Seriously, that girl needs to be clear about her priorities, it's okay that you like your job but don't make it your life.

-Leah: Well it can't be helped, she has to keep the inn running after all.

Leah did not take me to the double room located on the third floor of the inn, when she arrived, she opened the door and Leah proceeded to light the candle to illuminate the room, it was a fairly spacious room, the beds were separated in both corners of the room, the window was in front of the door and there was a table left by the window.

-Leah: Well here we are, isn't it a nice place?

-Celes: Yes, it is very cosy, different from the simple rooms that we normally ask for.

-Leah: Well, I'll go back to my room on the first floor.

She walked over to the door while Celes and I got comfortable in the room and before leaving her she turned and looked at us.

-Leah: By the way, thanks again for saving us, it means a lot to us.

She smiled at us with a very warm and friendly smile, I could tell at that moment that she was the soul of her group, someone like that could end any conflict.

-Leah: And don't do anything weird while you're alone here, okay? hehe

She left the room, closing the door with a mocking giggle, as if something like that really happened between us.

-Celes: She really has a very cheerful spirit, almost as if her presence changed the mood of the place.

-Zyrus: Yes, I could feel the same.

While I took off my leather pieces and left them on the table, Celes began to take off her armor, I couldn't help but see her do it, after removing each piece of armor from her body, she was left with only those pieces of black cloth that she wore under her, clearly I couldn't help but blush when I saw her body, which since the day I met her gained muscle mass, she didn't look as thin as before.

-Zyrus: (Blushing) By...by the way, that...those black fabrics that you use for your armor.

I tried not to make eye contact with her so she wouldn't notice my red face.

-Cele: Oh, this? These are black fabrics that protect the skin from irritation that the leather that holds the armor plates together can cause, so it is more comfortable to fight, everyone who wears armor should wear something similar to avoid irritation.

-Zyrus: (Blushing) I...I see, that explains it.

I couldn't help feeling that way, I was already 17 years old and seeing a woman wearing little clothes activated my natural masculine instincts, but it seems that she didn't mind being like this in front of me.

-Celes: Are you alright, my Lord? I see something uncomfortable? If you wish, I can sleep outside.

-Zyrus: (Blushing) No...don't talk nonsense, how do you think I would leave you sleeping outside after everything you've done for me, come on, go to sleep.

I lay down on the bed on the right and covered myself with the sheets facing the wall, I think she had realized what was happening to me, that's why she said that, but how could she have thought that I would do something like that. After she went to bed, we extinguished the candle, leaving the room in the dark, but just remembering the figure of Celes wearing only those black cloths made me very nervous and I had trouble sleeping.

-Celes: My Lord, are you already asleep?

-Zyrus: Not yet, what's wrong?

-Celes: I was thinking about what she told me this afternoon, about what I would do after you returned to your world.

-Zyrus: Really? what did you plan to do then?

She remained silent for a few moments, I guess it was a little difficult for her to talk about this at this point but I didn't blame her, I wish I could do something more for her but I didn't know what.

-Celes: I was thinking, my home no longer exists, all my loved ones are or possibly are dead, I have nothing else in this world, when they turned me into a slave I had already given up on life.

I couldn't help feeling the pain that she conveyed with those words, compared to me that my home and my family continued to exist, she literally had no home, no family, I couldn't say that I understood her because it wasn't true.

-Celes: When I met you, when you freed me, I felt like something came back to me, a purpose, a reason to stay alive and I feel like if you were to die or disappear from this world I would lose all of that again.

-Zyrus: Celes... I...

-Celes: I don't want to go through that again, that's why I've worked so hard for you, I hope you don't mind this but somehow you became my emotional support and this happened the moment you released me.

It was hard not to listen to what she said, to think that I had that effect on her the day I released her, but after she told me her story, I should have imagined the pain she felt and the despair she fell into seeing her whole world collapse around her, I had not thought well what she really felt or rather did not want to.

-Zyrus: Well, then I must have been an idiot for telling you those things before, forgive me, I should have thought more about what you felt

-Celes: No, that's not true, you also thought of me when you asked me that... I just.....

-Zyrus: But it's true, after everything you've done for me it would be ungrateful of me if I returned to my world and left you alone in this world.

-Celes: My... My Lord?

-Zyrus: What if you come with me to my world? It is very different from everything you know but I will help you to adapt and I am sure that my parents will like you and my little sister will love you.

-Celes: My..My lord!? Are...are you sure I can?...I don't want...I don't want to cause problems for your family.

-Zyrus: I already told you it's fine, I'm sure you'll love it.

-Celes: If...if it's okay, then I'll accompany you back to your world.

I guess this was the best solution, it would hurt me a lot to know that Celes would be completely alone when I returned to my world and after what she told me and what she did for me, how could I leave such a loyal and faithful companion.