Soralynn and I walked through the village, heading towards the stables for a pair of horses.

“It’ll be easier to travel unnoticed on a pair of horses, rather than a carriage.” She had explained to me after we had awoken that morning.

I stared at the open, empty blue sky, breathing in the gently blowing air. We moved carefully as unassumingly as we could, each clad in the clothes that we wore yesterday. I was still wearing the cloak Soralynn had given me, but the front was open, revealing the clothing she had picked up for me. I didn't keep my face hidden, but Soralynn had assured me that I wouldn’t be recognized, considering all the time that had passed. Well, that and I looked different with longer hair and the few faint scars that peppered my cheeks. Before we left though, she waved her hand over my still red eyes, saying that she had cast an illusion over them.

“We’re still in Nyrill, yes?” I asked her, turning my attention to her.

She looked over to me, not responding to my question immediately. “Yes. We need to move quickly, though. The longer we stay, the more at risk we become.” Her tone was soft, but she warned me sternly.

“I know, but…” I paused, frowning as I stared at her. “I have to see it, at least once.” She knew what I was talking about, though from the complex expression on her face, I could tell that she didn’t want me to go, but couldn’t find a reason to stop me. We had stopped walking as she deliberated, forcing the small sea of people around us to divert.

After a few seconds, Soralynn sighed heavily as her shoulders fell. “I won’t try to stop you, Joseph, but…please be careful.” She gave me a confused expression. “The Fallen Hero’s memorial is a very sacred place. It is very rarely devoid of observers.” I took her words with a nod, catching the meaning behind her words without much trouble. At my response, her lips curved in a confused manner, before she matched my nod with hers. “Okay. I’ll be at the stables when you finish. If it’s later, then meet me at the inn. When we reunite, we’ll get something to eat, then head out for our next stop.”

“Okay. I won’t take long. I just… I want to see it.” I said, my voice falling to a whisper.

The corner of her mouth twitched upwards, though she kept her expression masked. “It is a significant site. Many people see it daily.” There may be a chance that there will be a lot of people there, then. I nodded to her statement, and we broke apart, heading to our destinations.

I slipped through the crowds of people that went about their day as I made my way to a familiar spot. It didn’t take long for me to reach the center of the village, where I last remembered the war tent stood raised on that day. I stood off to the side, studying the area with a sense of confused dread. It felt like I had just fallen asleep after a rough day and today was the aftermath. I was happy, though, seeing everything intact and calm, but…it was still disorienting,

Shaking my head, I continued walking through the village. I looked around slowly, taking in the atmosphere of Nyrill a year later. A few buildings were different, likely either a change in occupancy or repairs from damages. Stalls were up and occupied, people working and buying from them. Mothers carrying wicker baskets full of a variety of foodstuffs; fathers hefting an assortment of tools and materials; children racing around while laughing and giggling.

My feet carried me quietly as I studied these people going about their daily lives, their daily rituals. If…if Maggie and I were born here, would our family had broken apart as it did? Or would it have remained that idyllic, nostalgic peace that I can’t help but recall with fondness? I know that it probably wasn’t as…peaceful as I remembered it, but it was through a child’s eyes. What parent doesn’t make sure that their child only sees the good, as opposed to the cruel truth of the world?

Blinking away the tears that threatened to flow freely, I sped up my pace to escape the memories that plagued me. It was pointless to reminisce about better times when all they did was hold you back, prevent you from taking the steps necessary to grow.

It didn’t take much longer until I reached the edge of the forest, seeing that there were others also milling about around there, though there was no crowd. It was only a few small smatterings of people who seemed to be walking out of the thick forest. I let them pass as I watched them move, my eyes shifting from the people to the woods I remembered being the place of my death. My body was still for what felt like hours before I was finally able to take a step forward. What started as a single step, became another, then another, then another. Before I knew what was happening, I was walking through the thick forestry with a confidence that surprised me.

Offering polite greetings to my fellow pedestrians, I couldn’t help the faint trepidation that simmered in the pit of my stomach. Still, what fear I did feel, I refused to let shackle me. I was going to be free, even from my hesitations. The broken streams of sunlight broke through the treetops around me, faintly illuminating the trail in front of and behind me. Lifting a hand, I stopped next to a tree on the path and rested my palm on it. I stared at it with wide eyes. Images flickered in my thoughts, followed by sensations.

A burning in my throat, deep-set fatigue that once rested in my muscles, an ache in my bones that refused to settle.

Closing my eyes, I shook my head and resumed my path towards the memorial.

It was a simple memorial, with an upright, sheathed sword stabbed into the earth. A glowing aura encompassed it, almost rainbow in hue and color. There was no written monument, just the sword I remember wielding what felt like the previous night. My hand twitched as I held back the desire to take it by the hilt and leave. Even though this was my sword, I couldn’t remove it without being forced to answer some awkward questions.

“Here to see Joseph’s memorial?” A familiar voice pulled me from my silent musings. Breaking my vigil of watching the sword, I turned my head to see a young man dressed in white robes that concealed his hands. His hair was cut short, almost to the scalp on the sides of his head, but also in a top knot. Tadashi Abe smiled with melancholy as he looked to the sword stabbed into the ground. “It’s not much, considering what the DeVere’s wished to do in his name, but…” He paused, his lips curling in a mix of amusement and frustration. “We were all sure that he’d want something simple.” Tadashi looked over to me.

For a moment, I stiffened, preparing to sprint away if I was recognized. A memorial for me was something I dared not consider because the thought alone was so morbid. Plus, no one liked to discuss their death in such a lazy manner.

“Or at least, that’s what most of us thought.” Tadashi shrugged his shoulders, an exhausted expression on his face. “We’d all learned so much about ourselves, and each other, after coming here.” He sighed, staring at the monument as if it held the answers to all of his questions. “Things we never realized until we faced those monsters until we faced death.”

I guess either my long hair or Soralynn’s enchantment was enough to conceal my identity from him. “Yeah…” I shifted the tone of my voice, making somewhat deeper, but not in an exaggerated manner. “Death can open your eyes to many truths.” I murmured as I looked back to the sword.

Tadashi let out a laugh, a rough and bitter sound that caused my eyes to widen beneath my bangs. He’d never… “You can say that again…” He then closed his eyes and shook his head, releasing a breath. Then he opened them and turned to me. “I apologize. I never introduced myself.” Tadashi extended his hand. “Tadashi Abe. It’s nice to meet you…”

“Lyall,” I answered with the first name that came to mind as I grasped his hand with mine. It was an older name I had used in games I had played in the past. One of the first that I had grown out of after a few years. It’d serve its purpose for now. “Tadashi…? Are you…?” I tried not to sound like I knew the name.

He offered me a sardonic smile. “One of the Thirteen Heroes? Yes.” He appeared like he was going to say more, but stopped. “I guess the more accurate answer would be Twelve, now.” Tadashi looked to the sword, shoulders falling.

“If it’s not too much to ask…” I started carefully, pulling his attention to me. “What happened to everyone else after…?” I motioned to the sword.

Tadashi frowned, his lips twitching into the beginnings of a scowl. “Disagreements.” He replied curtly. “That’s all I’m willing to say.” He gave me a disapproving look.

“I apologize,” I answered, inclining my head to him.

He merely nodded to my reply, his frown not abating. “I’m the current caretaker for this memorial. I won’t be for long, considering my affiliated congregation is moving to a neighboring village, further from the capital.” Tadashi turned to me, his expression turning complicated. He closed his eyes and shook his head. After a few moments, he turned and walked out of the clearing, a hand pressed against his head as grimaced.

“I need to go,” I whispered to myself. I stared hard at the sword. I need a weapon, and I’m unsure if Soralynn has one prepared for me. This sword was forged for me, or as close to it as possible. If anyone had a right to wielding this sword, it was me. But, if I were to take it, there was a huge chance that someone would notice something very off about the situation. My hand twitched as I stared hard at the sword.

I made my choice.

Within an hour, I stood at the entrance to the inn, seeing Soralynn sitting in the lobby with a book in hand. It was a brown book, with worn pages and a threaded spine. At my appearance, she looked up to see me arrive and smiled widely, sliding her book into a pack at her hip. She skipped over to me.

“What were you reading?” I asked her.

“Just reviewing the path we’re going to take.” She patted her pack with a playful smile. “I’ve got the whole trip planned out.” We then approached the bar on the first floor of the inn. Soralynn placed a hand on my arm and offered me a playful smirk. Then she walked over to the woman operating the bar and caught her attention. “Excuse me. I want to request a private room to dine with my friend there.”

The woman, an older lady, was dressed in a worn brown tunic with greying hair tied into a tight bun smiled at Soralynn like she was an amusing grandchild. “Of course, you can, sweetie.” She then gave me a playful smile as she reached beneath the bar. “You should take care of this girl, young man. She’s been such a sweetheart all these days, waiting on you.”

I blushed despite myself, looking away as I rubbed the back of my head.

“Oh, Missus, please stop!” Soralynn’s face was flushed with color, complaining audibly to the older woman.

“And I told you: call me Granny. You remind me too much of my Granddaughter that it’s strange not to hear you say it.” She lifted a key and walked around the bar until she stepped out from behind it.

“And I told you, I could never!” Soralynn grinned. “You can’t be a day older than fifty, Missus. Too young to be a grandmother.”

The old woman let out a laugh, shaking her head fondly at her. “Just follow me, you silly girl.” With that, we followed the older woman along the side wall until we reached a shut door. She slid the key into the lock below the handle and unlocked the door. Opening it, she pulled a match out of her sleeve and struck it against the wall. Lighting a few candles, she gave the room a bright luminescence that would allow people to see reasonably well, but not too bright at the same time. She then turned and held the key out to Soralynn. “I’m leaving this with you, Missy. Don’t let this boy push you around now.”

Soralynn giggled as she took the key, wrapping her hands around the woman’s hand. “I’m not worried. He’s a softy.”

Stolen novel; please report.

The woman just hummed as she narrowed her eyes at me, then nodded to my companion. “Alrighty, Missy. I’ll have the food you ordered for the both of you soon.”

“Thanks!” With that, the woman left the two of us alone, and Soralynn shut the door behind us. The room was pretty cozy with a table big enough for two people to sit at and eat comfortably with a pair of high-backed wooden chairs. On the wall opposite the door, was a window with a pair of parted white curtains. Four lit candles in each corner of the room, along with one on the center of the table, gave the room a pleasant illumination. “We’ll have the privacy to speak about any topic so long as we’re in this room.” She explained as she took a seat, her earlier exuberance dimmed considerably. “Human’s take such considerations seriously, especially in villages connected to their beloved monarchy.” Her lip curled at that mention, but she shook her head. Soralynn then turned to me as I sat down, her expression softening. “Were you able to see what you wanted to see?”

“Yeah,” I answered somberly. “It was…disorienting, to see the place where I died.” I furrowed my brow at that statement but brushed aside the confusion. “Tadashi was there, too.”

That caused her to freeze. Literally. Soralynn’s entire body showed a perfect arrest of motion. Her amber eyes glowed almost furiously. “My inside information told me that the Heroes still in Nyrill should’ve been on their way out the night you awoke.” She narrowed her eyes, hand clenching into tight fists. “They’ll have some explaining to do when we next meet.” Her words were almost seductively punishing as she pinched her lips angrily. Then her fierce gaze honed in on me. “Did he see you?”

“He didn’t recognize me,” I answered warily. “He acted like we never met, though it wasn’t long enough to make a definitive choice.”

She frowned severely. “That’s not good. I suppose we should be thankful it wasn’t one of the Heroes you were closer with that met you. My glamour wouldn’t have hidden you from a majority of your fellows.”

“Who would it have failed against?”

“Who were you closest to in your time here?” At her answer, I felt myself nod. Soralynn hummed at my answer and pulled out her book. Placing it on the table, she opened it to the middle, showing a map. “We’ll have to move out sooner than anticipated, but we’re still on schedule.”

“Where are we going?”

“Easiest answer? In the exact opposite direction from Veracity.” Soralynn answered. “Most correct? We’re going to consolidate your army.” She offered me a grin, though it more showed her teeth instead of resembling a smile. “Your Generals are waiting for you. We’re going to find them and bring them back to Terras.”

I blinked at her answer, before narrowing my eyes at her. “And how am I going to do that? Even if I am your King now, I’m only a 17, or rather 18, if you count the year in the dirt, year old teenager. I’m pretty sure that they’ll probably all be reluctant; save for maybe Jeanne.”

Soralynn offered a grin. “You’re right and wrong. They’ll vary in whether they like you or not, but if Jeanne of all of them favors you, then there must be something in you that caught her eye.” Her glowing amber eyes flickered ominously as she narrowed her eyes, a smile playing at her lips. “The Black Dragon is infamous for her cruelty amongst all of them, after all.”

I grimaced at that, despite a reluctant warmth that bubbled in my chest. “Then how do I gain the four's willingness to follow?”

“Gain their favor.” Soralynn waved a hand to the side, speaking as though she was remarking the weather. “Eir will no doubt test you in combat.” She studied me intently, her eyes flickering along my entire body. “You shouldn’t have a problem with her. Even discounting your Affinity, you always showed a natural talent to martial prowess. It was only your body’s former affliction that held you back.” A smile grew on her face. It was an excited smile that showed an unceasing curiosity. “Her test will not be easy, but I think that she’ll approve of you, Joseph.”

I nodded to that. “The others?”

She frowned, crossing her arms as she considered. “Jeanne will be a simple test. Not easy, but she was the one who picked you out the group.” She rolled her wrist, an ethereal speck of light following her fingertips. “She’ll either take a simple resolution or push you harder due to her expectations. Regardless, Jeanne intends for you to succeed, but will not make it easy.” Before I could reply, Soralynn planted her hands on the table, turning a stern gaze my way. “Kaede and Mina are too unpredictable for me to offer any specific aid. However, a simple piece of advice is all you’ll need from me.”

“What?” I asked of her, not looking away from her glowing amber eyes.

“Be true to who you are,” Soralynn stated simply. “For all her love of deception, Kaede hates those who lie to themselves. She’d rather you be a self-loathing whiner than an overconfident, boasting sycophant.” Her lips quirked in amusement. “She would loathe you because of it, but she’d respect you for being truthful.”

“Gee, thanks,” I said as I rolled my eyes.

“Mina?” Soralynn murmured as she tapped her chin, looking to the ceiling. “The herald of our armies is a woman who respects common sense and intelligence above all else. Fighting a losing battle, even knowing you’ll lose, will only push her away.” She then smirked, meeting my eyes with amusement. “Still, giving up too soon just disgusts her.”

“Penemue?” I asked as I considered what she told me of my four generals. I wouldn’t know what I should do when I meet them until I meet them, so I could only do one thing: be myself. Still, I had to consider a fifth person — the one who directly put me in the position.

Soralynn stiffened her gaze intent and piercing. “Penemue? She is your Regent. The one who rules in your stead, until you take the throne yourself.” Her smile grew, lips parting to reveal too-perfect teeth. “You’ve already gained her favor. Holding the line against our mad kindred, saving them from their psychosis. Those acts were all that you needed to earn the favor of the woman who kept Terras from being lost in the abyss.”

“What of you?” Soralynn blinked, surprised at my question. “You have to be important, considering what you’re doing right now. How do I earn your favor? If I’m to be your King, how do I earn your respect?”

Slowly, but surely, the beginnings of color entered her pale cheeks. Before she could reply, the door was opened, revealing the woman with a tray with a pair of bowls, two loaves of bread, a couple of cups and a set of utensils connected to both. She looked like she was about to say something, but paused when she noticed Soralynn’s pleased, flushed expression, then turned to me. The woman then snorted, a smile growing on her face. “I can guess that you’re enjoying yourselves.”

When Soralynn put her head into her hands and moaned in playful despair, I couldn’t fight the smile that grew on my face at both her reaction and the woman’s laughter. After giving us our food and drinks, the woman left once more and returned us our privacy. As we ate, I asked her about my…former classmates.

Sora frowned as she dipped her spoon into her stew, letting it rest on the rim of the bowl. She hummed as she leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms. “After the events surrounding your death, an argument erupted amongst them.” She waved her hand to the side, her lip curling in distaste. “I haven’t figured the specifics, but my best guess is that Luke tried to take over as leader of all of them.” She grumbled the first part of her statement, but her expression turned severe near the end.

I furrowed my brow, confused at her statement. “What? That’s stupid. We had no leader.”

She just laughed, a smile growing on her face. “Yes, you all did.” Before I could ask her who, Soralynn pointed at me.

I blinked in disbelief, my mouth falling open. “What? That’s… That can’t be true. Everyone did their own thing.” I said quickly, shaking my head. “No one answered to me. We all followed our own goals.”

“Did they? Did you?” Soralynn’s smile widened into a grin. “Believe it or not, you were the glue that held them together. They deferred to you.”

I scowled at her. “I was not their leader.” I insisted, despite feeling like she may be right. A sigh escaped me as I leaned back in my seat, crossing my arms. “I just did what I felt was right. I followed my instincts, and it happened to work out.”

“Yes. It did.” Soralynn inclined her head to me. “Charisma cannot be taught. Leadership cannot be learned. Some only learn they have it when they stand at the precipice between victory and defeat.” She paused, taking in my silence with a faint smile. Then she nodded once. “I can understand your reluctance, so I’ll tell you what I know about the others.” She took a bite of her stew and swallowed it with a lick of her lips. “The first thing you must know is that they are a group no longer. All of them went to separate vocations within Verum.”

She motioned out the window, pointing to the castle tower in the distance. “Luke Wirth is still affiliated directly with Veritas. He’s joined their Knightly Order, ascending with shocking speed.” Soralynn’s smile turned cruel. “Rumors have it that he’s in line to replace Knight-Captain Valeri given enough time.”

I didn’t reply, unsure of what to feel about someone I used to see as a brother, my killer, rising so quickly.

“Colette Leblanc has joined the Inquisitorial Force.” She rolled her eyes. “It seems that the assault on Nyrill turned her view on Beastkin sour.”

I paused as if I heard her speak in gibberish. “I’m sorry what?” I furrowed my brow. “Colette’s always been a little playful and irreverent, but…that?”

“When faced with the overwhelming numbers and brutality from those afflicted with madness, is it any wonder that it’s changed her?” Soralynn rebutted, her voice gentle.

Madness? That’s another word I’ve heard quite a bit. I’ll have to get her to explain it after learning about the others. “Everyone else?” I resolved to remain silent until she finished with everyone; otherwise, this would take all day and into the night.

Soralynn nodded, taking another bite of her stew. “Deandria Penzig has entered into the tournament scene.” She explained. “She’s made her fortune as a prizefighter. Citizens all across Verum have learned the name of the undefeated champion.”

She waved a hand to the side. “You already met Tadashi Abe. He’s become an official priest of the Church. He’s ordained a few ceremonies.” A smirk crossed her face. “Being a ‘Hero’ has a way of speeding up the process.”

Sora then hummed, as if trying to decide who bring up next. “Baasima Kanaan hasn’t been ‘seen’ in the past few months, though rumors say that she’s been traveling the world on her own.” She then shrugged. “If she has, she’s stayed well away from Terras.”

“Nailah Imari? She’s joined the neutrally-aligned Arcane Observatory.” She pointed out the window. “It’s in the opposite direction from our destination, closer to the Holien Empire. Formerly apart of it, but after numerous representatives from other nations in Verum joined, its neutrality became…" She paused. "Necessary, due to political pressure.”

Soralynn’s smile gained a mysterious edge, though her eyes were dark. “Guang Xu decided to delve into the more selfish side of human nature and ended up joining, and taking over, a thieves guild.” She rolled them, turning her attention to a dark corner in the room. “Unfortunately for the denizens of one of the more ‘modern’ towns of Veritas, Guang has proved himself to be a harsh leader.”

My escort crossed her arms, tapping a finger on her arm. “Amber Haddock is a fully recognized blacksmith with an established forge and connections. Her base of operations is held in a border village, though she still gets regular commissions from notable individuals.” She smirked, her eyes dancing in amusement. “She happens to base herself in a village we need to pass through if you wish to touch base with her.”

I wasn’t sure if she was serious or not, but I remained silent, just motioning for her to continue.

She let out a small laugh. “Moving on, Kacee Fitzgerald has started her own mercenary company. A ‘Troubleshooting Organization,’ if what I’ve heard from my people are right.” She tapped the table with a finger, smirking playfully. “She joined one to start with, but after a month of working with them she managed to completely take over and reshape it into something far more respectable.”

I couldn’t hold back the smile that grew on my face. It did indeed sound like something Kacee’d be able to do.

“Mitsuki Minamoto and Rudy Jaeger, on the other hand?” Soralynn started, frustration bleeding into her tone. “They’ve completely vanished from the public eye. Ever since your ‘death’ they disappeared into the wilds of nature and have never been heard from.” She looked almost offended, not at them, but the lack of knowledge. “Whether they’re together or not, I don’t know, but it seems like they didn’t take well to the aftermath of the attack on Nyrill.”

“Patrick Lethe?” Soralynn paused, turning her attention solely onto me. Her amber eyes took on the faint glow from yesterday. “Do you truly wish to know everything?”

“I refuse to be ignorant.” I declared. “Even if it hurts or is detrimental to my emotional wellbeing, I’ll recover eventually. But I refuse to be ignorant willingly. Tell me everything.” I said to her, clenching my hand tight enough for the spoon in it to strain from the pressure. Seeing that, I forced myself to calm before I broke it.

“After hearing of your death and seeing your body, Patrick Lethe proved unable to handle the weight of his perceived failures and lost himself to the drink,” Soralynn explained, her voice lacking any decipherable tone.

“That’s…” I couldn’t help but feel like I had bitten into something sour. Patrick Lethe was an excellent teacher, one of the favorites that I remember having. He always seemed to carry himself well back on Earth, but it looks like the drastic change in the environment had been too much. I don’t remember seeing much of him after ending up here, though. Perhaps my death had been the straw that broke the camel’s back?

“Your rather public death has changed many things over this past year.” Soralynn started, dipping her bread into her stew. “While it was traumatizing, it gave you the one thing you’ve yearned for, since coming to Verum.”

“And what is that?” I asked of her, feeling far too tired to care.

“The freedom to do whatever your heart desires.”

I felt my heart flutter in my chest and a reluctant smile come to my face. “Yeah, there is that. But I still need to gather my army.” I sarcastically remarked.

Soralynn simply smiled. “Well, yes. People will eventually discover who you now are. Your army will serve as a…deterrence.” She paused as her expression blanked, lips curling maliciously. “Though, if you do wish to spread your power base, then we shall serve your will without hesitation or regret.”

“No war,” I said with a growl, eyes narrowing. “I won’t be responsible for the deaths of not only my future subjects but also those who are only protecting their homes.”

“What if they spark it by trying to kill you?” Soralynn asked me, her expression still blank, eyes glowing faintly. “If their insistence for your head goes too far? What then?”

I paused, frowning as I met her gaze with my own. Thoughts and feelings bubbled within me. “If they will not listen to reason, if blind trust in a prophecy does not let them see the foolishness in attacking me, then I’ll have no choice. I’ll act.”

“How?”

“We’ll have to see. I want to see the world for what it is before I have any hand in protecting or destroying it.”

At that, Soralynn offered me a smile. It wasn’t big, nor was it smug or proud. It was just a small, intimate smile that sent my heart racing. “I can respect that. I’ll show you as much as I can, Joseph.”