Arc 2 Finale

Where's Alice?

I was awoken by a bright flash of light and an ear splitting noise. At first I thought I was under attack, but after my mind finally woke up, I came to realize that it was nothing more than a thunder storm. The rain pelted my window making it nearly impossible to see outside, the occasional flash of lighting didn’t help either.

Even though it was hard to see, I still enjoy watching the storm. It might have something to do with my twisted nature, but I like dreary weather more than a bright shiny day. I found myself drifting back to sleep listening to the rain hitting the cemented road.

“You’re awake? You must’ve been incredibly tired.” A calm voice that came from the opposite side of the dark room woke me back up.

“Of course I was, I haven’t slept in a day. What about you? Aren’t you tired?”

“A little, but I can’t go to sleep until I finish this.”

“Finish what?” I roll around in my bed to see Aaron sitting at a desk with a small white crystal on it, which gave off a glow just bright enough to illuminate the desk and the small area around it.

“I’m trying to write a letter to mom and dad. I want them to know we made it safely to Athens, but I have no idea how to say.” Aaron rhythmically tap the desk with his pen in frustration.

“Just tell them what you just said, we made it safely to Athens.”

“That’s way too short sis. I want them to know what kind of adventure we been on, and friends we made along the way, but I feel like they’ll be upset at us for all the danger we been in.”

“Just go to bed, you’re not going to be able to write anything proper if you’re tired.”

“Yea… you’re right.” Aaron leans back in his chair and look out the window on his side of the room. Both of us went silent, the only thing that could be heard was the heavy rain outside.

“You think she’s actually here?” Aaron said breaking the silence. Even though Aaron didn’t said the person name, I knew exactly who he was talking about.

I look over at window like I was expecting it to answer his question. I catch a quick glance of lighting traveling across the clouds, with the sound of thunder rumbling right behind it.

“I don’t know. But even if she isn’t in this city, this place should hold clues as to where she’s at.”

“And what will you do when you find her? Will you try to get your original body back?” Aaron started to tap the table again with the pencil, it became obvious that he had other things weighing his mind down then just writing a letter.

“Yea, the first thing I’ll do is get my old body back.”

“Why can’t you stay like this? What’s wrong with the way you are now?”

“Well for one if I get my powers back I doubt this body will be able to hold it all. Two there’s way too many problems with being a woman, one which happens monthly. You want me to go into details about it?”

"No, no…. I’m good.” Aaron quickly turn his head away from me embarrassed.

“And three, this body doesn’t belong to me.” While this body change some of its feature to resemble my old one, it still isn’t mines.

“You know Aaron, if I free myself from this body you might get to see your sister.”

“But aren’t you my sister?”

“I’m talking about your real sister there’s a possibility that she may still be alive, don’t you want to see her?”

“….I don’t know.” Aaron said softly to the point it was nearly inaudible.

I guess that make sense. His entire life I took the role as his sister, so if he meets his real sister. He’ll see her as nothing more than a stranger.

“Sis… I don’t think I’ll be joining you on your search. There’s something else I want to do.” Aaron look down at floor making sure I couldn’t read his face. I’m not sure what he’s planning but it seems he doesn’t want me to know.

“That’s fine, I originally plan to come here by myself, so searching for Alice alone isn’t a big deal. So if you want to do something then go ahead, I’m not going to stop you.”

“Thank you, sis.”

“For what?”

“For allowing me to come with you. I’m sure this trip would’ve been a lot easier on you if I wasn’t here.” Aaron continue to stare at the floor while twirling the pen in his hand. Seeing him in such a depress state somehow annoyed me.

“You know when we first left home, I thought you would be nothing but a hindrance to me, but as we got into more fights I came to realize that there’s only so much I can do in this body. And that bow of yours cover the things I can’t do. So no, you haven’t been making this trip difficult. But don’t misunderstand! I’m not praising you, I’m just simply acknowledging the fact that you’re able to keep up with me. Not many is capable of doing that even when I’m in this form, but you still have a long way to go.

“R-Right!” Aaron happily shouted. Seeing his mood go from depressingly tired, to energetically happy somehow drain the last bit of energy I had left in me. I roll my body around in the bed so I could get that light shining from Aaron’s crystal out my face.

“I’m going to back sleep. We can talk more tomorrow.”

“Ok, good night.”

“Yea, good night.” After we said our goodbyes, I close my eyes and listen to the storm outside until I finally succumbed to sleep.

.

.

The sun beamed its annoying rays into the room and straight onto my face. After a few seconds of me rolling around trying to get the light off my face, I finally got up and close the curtains.

Now fully awake, I took a look around the room and notice my clothes was neatly folded on the floor, right beside my bed.

“Why are my clothes on the floor? Shouldn’t they be on me?” I look down at myself and realize I had nothing but a thin white blanket covering me up.

“What the hell? Why am I naked?!” I tightly cover myself with my blanket while trying to figure why my clothes isn’t on me.

“Oh yea.” I snap my fingers after remembering everything that happen last night. After the incident at the hot spring, I headed straight for my room leaving all my clothes behind. The only thing that was going through my mind at that point was going to sleep and forgetting everything that happen at the hot spring.

I guess Aaron must’ve grab my clothes after he woke, looks like he wash them too. That kid, fighting may not be his thing, but would make an excellent house wife.

I look over to his side of the room to see that he was already gone. Wherever he went, it doesn’t seem like it’s going to be dangerous, since he left his bow and arrows on his bed.

Seeing that he’s already on the move motivate me to start my search for Alice. I grab my outfit which consist of black stockings, black skirt, white shirt, brown jacket and brown boots. While I do have a few problems with the outfit, mainly the skirt, I’m glad it doesn’t show any skin. The stockings fully cover my legs and jacket my arms and upper torso, whenever I feel like buttoning it up.  It also does a pretty good job at protecting me from the environment like branches, and whatever that could scratch my skin.

After throwing my clothes on, I look at my sword which was laying on the bed waiting for me to pick it up. I let out a depress sigh as I head for the door leaving my sword my behind. It feel weird not having it attach to my waist, but there’s no point in walking around with a weapon in this city, it’ll just draw attention to me.

“See you later lawbreaker.” I said to my sword before leaving.

(A/N: Yea Anna name her sword)

Upon leaving the inn, I was immediately assaulted by a cold breeze that made my entire body shudder. I should’ve know it would be cold outside after all, I am nearly on top of a mountain.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

I put my hands in my pocket and walk down a puddle filled street. Even though I haven’t visit this city in a long time, I kind of knew where I was going, mostly because this city got a lot of vantage point where you can literally said

“hey, I can see my house from here.” Or in my case a statue of an unnamed hero. Apparently that’s where the hero’s memorial is at, according to Claire.

Enduring the cold breeze and the occasional stare from curious onlookers, I finally was able to reach the entrance of the city. A statue of man wielding a stone copy of Excalibur, proudly stood tall greeting everyone that enter the area. Just like yesterday when I first arrive, people gather around the statue to admire it, to meet up with their friends and family. If that doesn’t sound noisy to you, then combine groups of people talking all at once, with merchants shouting at the top of their lungs to get people attention. I honestly have no idea how people can be this excited early in the morning, especially when it’s so cold out.

Watching everyone socialize, I came to realize that this is the first time and a long time I’ve been alone. Usually whenever I decide to go somewhere, Aaron is quick to follow me. I wonder why he decided not to join me when I’m so close to finding Alice. Whatever the reason, it seems he doesn’t want me to know. Well as long as he keeps himself safe I guess it doesn’t matter….. I mean even if he gets into trouble I wouldn’t care….. although it would be a huge nuisance to me if he dies.

I shook my head to rid myself of anything Aaron related so I could focus on my search. I knew the building I was looking for was somewhere in this area, but I had no idea what it look like or what its actual name was, Claire seem to have forgotten to tell me that. It also doesn’t help that all the buildings look the same, well except for one. It didn’t look that different from the others, but it did have large staircases leading up to it, which made it stand out.

I decided to investigate the building since it look slightly different from the others. At first glance, the building didn’t look like it was open, since the area around it was almost empty, but as I may my way up the stairs, I could see there was lights on in the building, which meant it was open. I guess it’s not that popular. It’s probably a place you visit only once, like a museum or a memorial….

Just like the “High Life” There was sign place on the building right above the door.  

Remembrance: History of the past and present Heroes.

I probably was grinning like an idiot after I read that sign, but can you blame me? I finally made it to my destination.

I headed in not wanting to waste any more of my time. The annoying city noise vanish the moment the door behind me shut, the only thing that could be heard was my footsteps echoing across the marble floor.

“Woah…” I said amazement as I approach a huge wall that had paintings of every hero and the people that travel with them. Even though all them were my enemies, I couldn’t help but be impress by the artwork and how they was able to organize the heroes from the oldest to the newest, which is Joseph….

“Wait a second…” I mumble to myself as I got closer to the wall.

The white hair imbecile is the newest hero, which means the guy to the left of him is the one he replace. But the guy before him was the blue hair one that kill me and drain me of nearly all my power. That means there hasn’t been a new hero in two hundred year….

Why did Athena choose now of all times to pick a new hero? Is it because I’m back? No, if that was the case, she would’ve told him who I was. So that means Athena notice a threat that’s great enough to require a hero?

That doesn’t matter, right what’s most important is finding Alice and getting my power back. I turn my attention back towards the blue hair bastard that killed me. Every other hero has paintings of people that was with them. Expect for Joseph since he’s still young.

I felt my heart drop as I analyze the entire wall. No matter where I look, I couldn’t find a painting of any of the last hero team.

“Are you another fan girl?” A monotone voice call out to me. I turn my attention towards the direction the voice came from to see red headed boy that was around the same age as Aaron sitting at a desk.

“Fan girl?”

“Yea, you look like one the way you were drooling all over those pictures. If you come to try to find where Joseph live please go somewhere else. We’re not allow to give personal information away.” The kid sounded irritated I guess girls come by here all time trying to find where he lives. I can’t even begin to imagine how annoying that must be.

“I’m not here to stalk the hero or anything.”

"Oh, then why are you here?”

“I came to learn the truth, about the last battle between the Demon King and the Hero. They said he was able to defeat the Demon King by himself, but I doubt that.”

“That’s exactly what I’ve been telling everyone!!” The kid jump out of his seat in excitement, I was slightly taken aback by the kid sudden personality change.

“Everyone seems to think that all the heroes are invincible. I can’t even begin to tell you how many women come in here bragging about a men they never met before, or they try to figure out which one is the hottest. I’m glad to see that there’s some women out who has common sense don’t believe all the lies the heroes feed us.”

The kid took a deep breath, gathering all the air he lost from the loud rant he went on.

“…..I’m sorry.” The kid bow his head to me, I guess he’s embarrass that he exploded. I can’t imagine what he been through. It also always annoyed me when I a group of girls flirty with the hero right in front of me before we fought.

“It’s ok, I understand, but can you do me a favor? And help me find an elf name Alice.”

“Alice?” The kid looked at me confuse.

“She was part of the last hero team… at least that’s what I heard.”

“I’m sorry miss, I never heard of that person before. From what I heard the last hero didn’t have a team, of course I don’t believe that, but there’s little info regarding his life, we don’t even know his name. It’s just been simply stated that he was the one that killed the Demon King.

“….I see” I look back at the gallery on the wall, hoping it’ll help, but I knew I wasn’t going to get any answers from it.

This is just like the story Deborah read to me when I was kid. The story purposely took details out. Even when I was able to get my hands on more informative books, I never could find info about the last hero or Alice, it’s like she never existed.

“Did I hear someone say Alice?” I look back at the entrance where the voice came from. At first, I mistake the man as Max, since he wore the same white attire as him, but as he got closer, I notice he was taller and his gaze was much colder.

“Alexander….”

“Aw, so you know who I am, James must’ve told you about me.” Alexander gave me smile that I knew was fake and was just hiding his real intention.

“I would like to know how he’s doing, but first I need to know…..” The room strangely got colder as Alexander got closer to me, ice begin to form on the floor where he step at.

“Tell me Anna, how do you know Alice?”

A/N: I decided this would be good place to stop the second arc. The upcoming arc might be the longest, since I only plan four arcs for this story. So yea, a lot stuff going down in the next one. Although I might have a fifth one, depends how fourth one goes.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter and this arc, expect an epilogue tomorrow or this weekend.