DAISUKE WOKE UP AFTER GETTING A whiff of sweetness coming from maple syrup. He immediately rose from the bed he was lying on, but he could not recall where the place was or how he got there.

What he could remember was that he was being choked before losing consciousness. He rubbed his neck, but the pain was already gone.

He went off the bed and outside the room. He got surprised when he saw himself in a mirror; he was wearing a pajama and started to wonder what happened to his clothing, or who even changed his clothes.

He tried to follow where the sweet scent was coming from until he bumped into a maid carrying a tray with a teapot and a set of teacups. Daisuke, despite just waking up, managed to grab the maid and everything the maid was carrying, averting an embarrassing scene first thing in the morning.

“I'm sorry for bumping into you, sir,” said the maid.

“No, no, no. I should be the one apologizing. I wasn't looking where I was walking…”

The maid studied the face of Daisuke, the pajama he was wearing, and remembered about the guests they have. “D-Do you want me to accompany you to your friends, sir?”

“T-That would be great. Let me help you with this tray. And just call me Daisuke,” Daisuke insisted.

As the maid and Daisuke reached the outdoors, he immediately saw Raijin, Riku, Brunnhilde, Mirana, and Robin, eating outside together with a woman he doesn't recognize, Geode, Ventori, Greta, and Graphael.

“Daisuke!!” Riku shouted.

Others looked where Riku shouted, saw Daisuke, and greeted him and the maid as well.

Raijin went towards him to assist him to descend.

Geode went towards the maid to assist her. “Good morning, Clara.”

“G-Good morning, Sir Geode,” Clara the maid replied.

“Where are we?” asked Daisuke as he placed the tray he was holding on the table.

Raijin smiled at him. “Daisuke, we’re in the mansion of the Lumbards! We were invited here by the son of Don Luca two days ago.”

“This is the mans...wait, that was two days ago?! Where’s Siegfried?”

Riku sighed. “Calm down, Daisuke. Take a seat. We'll tell you everything that happened.”

As the group filled in Daisuke about what happened, Clara fixed him up with five stacks of pancakes—as per his request—drizzled with golden maple syrup and topped with cubes of salted butter that slowly melted on top of the stack and freshly picked blueberries and strawberries.

His friends told him what Graphael told them: Luciano, Don Luca's son, and Lira, Don Luca's niece, came to deal with the Auros Famiglia that came to Saint Crudeo two days ago. Graphael also came to save him and Siegfried.

During that time, Luciano and Graphael had a conversation and Graphael told Luciano about meeting Daisuke and his friends. When Luciano asked Graphael if he knew that Daisuke was an avatar, Graphael responded the contrary and instead suggested going to the evacuation center to meet the group.

Luciano, Lira, and Graphael went to the evacuation area while carrying Daisuke and Siegfried where they met Riku and the rest. After learning that the elves wanted to meet Don Luca, Luciano agreed to host the elves and their friends.

“Siegfried woke up a day earlier and has been sparring with Luciano.”

“Sparring?” asked Daisuke as he chewed his pancakes.

“It’s not every day we get to meet a Drasgardian. Luciano was curious just how strong King’s Guards were,” Lira explained.

“And Daisuke, don’t be surprised,” Raijin disclaimed.

“Why?” Daisuke asked as he continued to devour his five-stack pancake overflowing with melted butter and maple syrup.

“Well, it seems that Don Luca also wanted to meet you personally as much as you wanted to meet him.”

* * * * *

In an open field of the Lumbard Mansion, Siegfried and Luciano have been sparring for quite some time now.

“That reverse grip style of yours is really difficult to predict,” Luciano commented as he defends against Siegfried.

Siegfried continued to release a barrage of strikes, but Luciano easily dodged and parried them despite saying that his backhand style was difficult to predict. “Hard to believe with that movement of yours though.”

Luciano started to counterattack with his double-edged sword. With each strike, he managed to make Siegfried block them with his sword and double back. Luciano was about to release a powerful downward strike when Greta and Ventori arrived.

“Sir Luciano! He's awake!” shouted Greta.

Luciano halted at the last minute and barely hits the swords of Siegfried that were about to block his attack. However, Siegfried was still able to feel the pressure that made him stagger, even though there was no contact.

“That’s all for now, Drasgardian,” Luciano tapped Siegfried's shoulder. “Let’s go meet your avatar friend.”

Greta and Ventori escorted Luciano and Siegfried back to the backyard where Daisuke and his friends were eating breakfast.

“Looks like everyone is here,” said Luciano as he looked at everyone.

“Daisuke! Took you long enough,” greeted Siegfried.

Daisuke wiped his maple syrup-smothered face. “Yo, Siegfried! What’s up?”

“Just hanging out with him,” said Siegfried, pointing at Luciano with his thumb.

“Good morning. I am Luciano Lumbard, firstborn of Don Luca Lumbard.” Luciano greeted. “This is my cousin, Lira Corleone, though I suppose you two already met.”

Lira waved at him with a smile.

“H-Hi. I’m Daisuke Frühling, from Maria Island.”

Luciano exchanged looks at his friends and then back at him. “And I’m guessing you already knew what happened.”

Daisuke nodded. “They looped me in already.”

“Then you know why you are here, correct?”

“About that,” said Graphael. “We thought that it would be best if you're the one who'd tell him.”

“Fair enough,” Luciano sat with the group and took the cup of tea served by the maid. “Believe it or not, we’ve been waiting for you.”

“For me? Why?”

“Zeb Auros, the person who beat you two, told me interesting stuff. Claimed that you are an avatar.”

Riku quickly stood up. “Don’t tell me you are after his power as well?” She asked as her skin pattern started to glow.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“Not at all. Having an avatar here is both an honor and a risk. I stand more on the latter, especially if you still don’t know how to use your power. But my father wanted to meet you, Avatar of Ariyani.”

“Can you tell us why Don Luca wanted to meet Daisuke?” asked Raijin.

“My son can tell you why. But I think it would be better if I tell you that myself,” said Don Luca as he arrived at the backyard with two bodyguards who both looked insignificant when next to him. “Sorry I was late for breakfast, I had more than a few drinks last night.”

“Don Luca,” Lira stood up as she greeted him.

Everyone, including Luciano, did the same.

“Please, please. Have your seats.”

The bodyguards took a chair and gave it to Don Luca. The maid then handed him a cup of tea.

Daisuke and his friends got tensed by the mere presence of Don Luca. After all, his appearance alone was already intimidating.

After a few minutes of silence, Don Luca noticed everyone was looking at him while he was enjoying his tea.

“Oh, right. Sorry, I forgot. Uhhh…yes, why I wanted to meet the elf called Daisuke.”

He easily gets distracted, everyone thought.

“Yes, father. Daisuke is the avatar that the Auros brat was talking about.”

Don Luca took another sip before finally continuing. “The country of Elysia was never this bountiful before. It wasn’t until the arrival of the elves and a lady named Fumiko that we became this plentiful.”

Don Luca took another sip of his tea.

“And what does it have to do with Daisuke, Don Luca?” asked Robin.

“Hmmm. You look familiar. Have I met you somewhere before?”

He’s distracted again, everyone thought.

Luciano sighed. “Father.”

“Ahh. Yes, yes, my apologies. Where was I...Oh, yes. Lady Fumiko. You see, Fumiko was the wife of my great-grandfather. And she was the previous avatar of Ariyani.”

Don Luca proceed to tell them the story his father used to tell him when he was a kid.

* * * * *

Around fifty years ago, Fumiko, the previous avatar of Ariyani, arrived in the country of Elysia. The country was heavily scarred because of the recently concluded Elysian War where the non-power users came out victorious.

The war greatly impacted their lands; no plants could survive and it was even intensified when a drought occurred.

Fumiko was one of the humans who had a true plant-based Karma thanks to the power of Ariyani. For years, she has been traveling around the world, defying the Curse of Perpetual Rebirth over and over again, spreading the abundance her power could provide to the lands where food was scarce.

Because of her mission, several Seekers became her followers and since then, they became known as the Prosperity. And they, too, traveled the world to help people of all races, despite being discriminated against, shunned, or even taken advantage of just for being elves, by growing vegetation that could give them ample food and other produce

In the country of Elysia, Fumiko and her followers reached the region that would later be known as Mozzarea. She saw how dry the land was and how hungry the people were. And with her avatar power and the Prosperity with her, they created vegetation that could survive most harsh climate conditions, and bear produces that could feed hundreds of starving people, making Elysia a bountiful country after a few months.

It was then that Fumiko met a young man named Lucero Lumbard, a descendant of the Jovan family. Although he was part of the Jovan family, the Lumbard family sided with the non-power users and aided them in the war. Since then, their name has resonated in the region of Mozzarea.

Fumiko and Lucero eventually got married and raised their own family. And while she decided to settle in Elysia where she eventually passed away due to an illness, the Prosperity continued to travel around the world and continued the mission that Fumiko pioneered in her honor.

* * * * *

“Since then, the region of Mozzarea has been thankful to the elves, and the avatar of Ariyani, for giving us a prosperous country. And even now, the vegetation here in Mozzarea has stayed the same. My great-grandfather wanted us to keep Mozzarea's bountifulness, and my grandfather and my father did the same. As the head of the Lumbard family, I inherited that job.

“Sadly, other regions took the gift of Fumiko and the Prosperity for granted while others decided to develop their lands,” Lira added. “Now, only Mozzarea remained as the region filled with bountiful farmlands. Even this city, Saint Margheritte, didn’t develop that much to preserve the vegetation.”

“And after the death of Lady Fumiko, there has never been news about the next avatar,” said Graphael. “It wasn’t until today when we learned that it was you, Daisuke.”

“I am thankful to meet you, Avatar of Ariyani,” said Don Luca, his word filled with gratitude. “And if I understand correctly, Graphael mentioned that you are looking for a statue.”

Daisuke eye’s widened. “Yes! The Wooden Statue of Maria!”

Even his friends were eager to finally learn its whereabouts.

“I’ll have to apologize, but it is no longer here in my mansion.”

Daisuke’s heart sank. Even though he prepared himself for the worst, he was still disappointed. “Where is it then?” he asked.

“Now hear me out, Avatar of Ariyani. Indeed, I know where the statue is and who took it. I’ve bought it back at the Emergent Kingdom during an auction in hopes to return it to the elves,” Don Luca revealed. “But the United Alliance came here shortly and took it from us. Even with my men, there is no possible way for us to defeat hundreds, if not thousands, of a well-armed army. In hindsight, I should have taken it directly to Maria Island. So, I’ll make you an offer, Avatar of Ariyani.”

Riku looked at Daisuke. “Daisuke, you need to think about th—”

“What do you want?”

“Daisuke!”

Luciano took out a photo and placed it on the table. “This is Lars, one of our executives. He has been taken by the Auros Famiglia a few days ago. Our intel suggests that he was severely wounded, albeit already in stable condition. Still, his wounds would require a month or two to fully heal. With your friend’s help—” continued Luciano as he looked at Brunnhilde, “—you’ll all go inside, heal him, and save him from the Auroses.”

Everyone, including Lars’s team members, Graphael, and Lira, was surprised.

Siegfried protested. “Brunnhilde is not a errand girl! She is Drasgard’s princess! And I will not let you all put her life at any more risk!”

“Don Luca, we barely got out of their territory. Sending these kids will not work out well,” Lira tried to reason.

“Lira’s right, Don Luca,” added Graphael. “We should consider more options. Avatar or not, the Auroses are way too strong for them.”

“I’m in,” said Brunnhilde.

“Princess! What are you talking about?” asked Siegfried.

“Hey! You had your fun last time. Now let me have mine! Besides, I’m pretty sure that Daisuke’s got the same thing on his mind, right Daisuke?”

Daisuke grinned as he looked at Siegfried. “I get to face off with that guy again? Count me in!”

“But Zeb has already been arrested. The military took him personally,” said Graphael.

“That’s just for a show,” said Luciano. “I know Antonio. He’s a corrupt official who works with the Auroses. Zeb’s safe and sound in their manor, that’s for sure.”

“Okay, suppose that’s true. It doesn’t change the fact that these two didn’t stand a chance the first time they fought Zeb. What makes you think they could win this time?” asked Graphael.

“Don Luca, please, send us instead,” said Greta. “This is our fight, not theirs. They’re wasting their life if they go in there. Let's leave them out of our business, please!”

“Going back in there is what exactly the Auroses wanted,” said Luciano. “We cannot afford to fall for their traps. The military came not to arrest Zeb but to save him. And if we go in their territory, the military will surely back them up.”

“Then it is war!” claimed Geode. “We assemble all available men and catch them by surprise!”

“Geode, we are severely outnumbered,” said Luciano. “They even managed to plant spies in our ranks. A small group entering their territory is the best option instead of a full-scale invasion.”

“Even if we pull this off, Lars is a member of Lumbard Famiglia. They will still learn that the Lumbard family are the ones behind this,” said Raijin.

“That’s where Siegfried and Daisuke will come in,” Robin replied.

“After what happened two days ago, they will think that we are just there to retaliate, is that what you’re trying to get to?” Mirana deduced.

Luciano nodded. “Once they’re in, all they got to do is cause a commotion. Go where Lars is taken, heal him to perfect health, and set him free. He knows what to do next.”

“And where is that? Do we even know where Lars is taken?” asked Riku.

“The Slave House,” said Greta, Ventori, and Geode in unison.

“We believe that the Auroses were conducting several slave auctions. And our intel suggests that they have one here in the Elysian Republic,” continued Geode.

“The Auros Famiglia engage in a slave auction, right? So, where there is a slave auction, there are jail cells to keep the slaves,” said Ventori.

“Then it’s settled. Siegfried and I are going,” said Daisuke with certainty.

“Just to be clear, I’m going to keep Brunnhilde safe,” Siegfried clarified.

“If you’re going, then I’m going too,” said Mirana. “For all I know, Merlin is watching. I'll show him what my Ice Magic can do.”

“Uhhh...is Merlin a pervert?” asked Riku sarcastically.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but count me in as well,” Robin added. “My bow and arrows are here to serve.”

“Y-You know Daisuke is not your master, right? You don't really owe him that much,” Riku commented.

Brunnhilde looked at Riku and Raijin. “Come on, guys. We’ve come this far. Especially you two. We get in there, save this Lars guy, then come back. How difficult can that be?”

“Really? You sure you hear yourselves?” asked Raijin sarcastically.

“Hey, Raijin. Didn't we discuss this before?” whispered Brunnhilde.

Raijin decided not to respond, to which Brunnhilde shook her head.

Riku wanted to protest. But she looked at Daisuke. She realized that there is no talking him out of this. “Fine, I’m in.”

Everyone looked at Raijin.

“We’re not forcing you to go with us, Raijin,” said Daisuke. “I know you didn’t sign up for this.”

“And yet I’m still here,” Raijin sighed. “Screw it, I’m going with you guys.”

“No!” Greta exclaimed. “We are Lars’s team! We should be the ones to save him! At least let us do that much, please! Please, Don Luca, I beg you!”

“I know how you feel, Greta,” said Robin. “I almost lost someone as well, but these people who I barely knew decided to help me save her. If anything, please understand that we are expendables. If something happens to us, you guys won’t lose anything.”

Ventori and Geode tried to calm down Greta.

“Thank you guys, for doing this,” said Ventori.

“If there’s anything that we could do to help, we’re always here,” added Geode.

“Great. So, you seven still have until tomorrow to prepare. The day after tomorrow, you will go to Auros territory and come back here with Lars. Then you can have the information about the statue,” said Don Luca.

Riku looked at Don Luca. “And how do we know that you actually know where the statue is?”

Luciano took another photo and showed it to the group.

Don Luca poured a refill into his cup. “Is that proof good enough?”