Inside a large building in the city, Bale is drinking tea while sitting on a table. On the opposite of the table is Toma - still in fancy but worn clothes. He's staring at a diagram of a drum set that Bale drew - from boogle, using the black Zodiac stone to enhance his memory.

"Oh yes, I know a dwarf who could make something like this." He then continues reading "The dimensions and custom jigs are easy enough for him."

"I've been meaning to ask this, but why are a lot of the craftsman disproportionately dwarves?" asks Bale. "Oh I suppose you're a kid so you don't know." Toma smiles.

"Unlike Humans and Elves, they're not that good at combat since they're much smaller." Toma then continues "But their hands are really nimble and dexterous, and so they spend most of their time perfecting their craftsmanship."

"Oh you're right, I didn't know that." Bale scratches his head. He heard that beings such as Dwarves and Elves were often found in fantasy novels and video games, but that was the extent of his knowledge. He had never read any novels and rarely played video games. When he was a child, his free time was often spent thinking about how to avoid angering his father, and how to not starve to death. And as an adult, his free time was often spent planning for revenge and training on how to be a profficient killer.

"By the way, which one would you say is generally better in combat? Elves or Humans?" Bale wonders aloud.

"Hmm..." Toma sips his tea while he thinks. He then points an index finger upwards "Humans are physically stronger and have more stamina than elves, but Elves have more powerful and efficient mana output, and generally are a bit faster and more nimble."

"But if you ask me, they work better together rather than against each other. That's how this nation was formed you know." Toma sets down his tea cup.

"The first king of Pnakotica led an army of 10,000 Humans, Elves, and Dwarves into battle against the enemy empire's 70,000 humans and still came out victorious." Toma proudly flexes his flabby arms.

"Yes, just like in the songs." Bale smiles.

"Anyways young Bale, lets not stray too far from the main subject." Toma picks up the drawings that Bale brought over and continue to analyze them.

"Bronze....copper....wood...." He then furrows his brows. "Mylar plastic? What's that?" He asks. "Aren't drum heads normally made of animal skin?"

"Yes, but I have a certain sound in mind." Bale replies. "Also I want the drum heads to be just a tad bit tougher."

"So what's this 'plastic' you speak of?" asks Toma. "I can't really explain it, but it's kind of hard and flexible, like fingernails. Maybe a little flimsier?"

KNOCK KNOCK!! The door opens as an Elven man pops his head in through the doorway. He has long brown hair tied in a pony tail. "Excuse me, Sir Toma?" "Yes? What is it?" asks Toma.

"Lord Carl Vaz Edmont is getting a bit impatient. He's demanding to see you now." The elf man sweats. (Carl Vaz Edmont...that pitiful viscount?) Bale recalls the viscount passing by 〘"I can't wait to rid this land of demi-humans."〙

"Oh alight, let him know I'll be right there." Toma sighs. "Very well, Sir Toma." The elf man then closes the door and disappears.

"Sorry to cut this short, young Bale. The person I have in mind can build it for you, and at a good price. But you'll have to talk to him yourself about that 'plastic.' material." He then stands up "Is that alright with you?"

"Yes, and I appreaciate you seeing me without a prior appointment." Bale bows. "Not a problem. That viscount had been acting like he owns the town for a while now, it was worth making him wait." Toma smirks. "I'll send him a letter to meet you at the Baroness's estate."

Toma then opens the door to let himself out. "Next time though, you'll have to make an appointment." "Will do." Bale bows.

Bale then picks up the blueprints he drew (Thanks to the black Zodiac stone, I was able to boogle information on drumkit schematics and memorize them).

Bale then leaves the business consulting building that Toma runs. (Damn, half the day is gone already?) He thinks as he looks at the low sun.

Earlier Bale first went to the magic tool shop, but the Dwarven shopkeeper said that musical instruments weren't a magic tool. Bale then went to the marketplace to talk to his dad to figure out where Toma's office was. So in short, a good chunk of the day had already passed by.

He then turns the corner. "..." He sees a large elven man blocking his way. He then walks away as the man moves to obstruct him. He then looks back to see another human man in a cloak blocking his exit.

"Shit." Bale then look into their eyes. (Bandits?)

"Are you targeting me by chance?" He asks aloud. He mentally kicks himself for lying to his parents, and not taking his time to go hire an adventurer escort. (And I even made sure to dress poorly).

"Why would a little demonkin be walking out of a wealthy man's office?" They ask. "You must be worth something."

"Um, I was asking for directions?" (Well, whatever happens, I'm glad I didn't bring Ebina along)

"FIRE!! FIRE FIRE!!" Bale suddenly shouts. "What?!" The bandits look confused at his sudden outburst. "Oh no you don't!" One of them dashes to Bale and covers his mouth as he quickly tried to flee. "Alright lets get outta here quick!" He shouts to his partner as they pick up Bale and dash into an alleyway.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"Unff!" They then toss Bale against a brick wall in the alley. "..." They then bring a blade up to his face. "You fucker, give me everything in your pockets and I'll let you live."

"I don't have-" "Shut up! I heard that money pouch jingling when we carried you here!" they shout at him.

"Fine. Here." Bale then takes out his coin pouch and hands it over to them, without hesitation. He figured it'd be best to just do as they say, and he only had enough Zenny for a few meals and a ride in the pouch.

"Woah! There's about a thousand Zenny in here!" They begin counting the coins.

"Can I go now?" Bale asks. (I'll hunt these fuckers down later)

"Wait...I recognize this boy." says one of the bandits. "He was playing music at the marketplace a week or 2 ago!"

"And?" asks the other bandit.

"Their donation bowl was filled up several times. I wanted to take it but there were guards everywhere."

"...." They make eye contact with Bale. (Fuck, just what I wanted to avoid!) "Sorry kid, but looks like you're going to have to stick with us for a while."

"GYAAA!!!" Suddenly one of them gets split in half down the middle as a silhouette of a young man lands behind the bandit, swinging the blood out of his sword. He then quickly attacks the other thief who manages to evade and block. KLANG!! The sounds of clashing echoes as they clash weapons and kick up dirt.

As the smoke clears, Bale sees the thief standing off against a 12 year old blonde boy with a slightly muscular build. (That's Johny Jay Edmont, the viscount's son!)

"I heard someone shout 'fire'" Johny glances at Bale.

"What?! Danny got killed by a little kid?!" shouts the thief in disbelief. He then grins "But it's fine, you look pretty loaded too."

"Surrender yourself!" demands Johny.

"Hah, idiot! I also have the silver Zodiac stone! You're in way over your head boy!" The thief then throws a front kick, but Johny dodges to the side.

They lock weapons as Johny blocks. "Shock blade!" shouts Johny. GZZZT!!! Suddenly a jolt of electricity gets released from Johny as his sword begins to spark. Lightning transfers from Johny's sword and into the thief's weapon.

"GA-A-A-A-A!" The thief then falls to the ground, paralyzed. Johny then points his sword down james it into the thief's arm, slicing it off. "UWAHHH!!!" The thief rolls side to side in agony, cradling what's left of his left arm.

Bale then looks at the arm on the floor and see's a silver Zodiac stone embedded in the bangle. "The silver Zodiac stone."

"I guess he's been disarmed, pun intended."

KLACK!! Bale catches the coinpouch that Johnny tosses at him. "Ah thanks." Bale stands up and pats himself. "Are you alright?" asks Johny with an indifferent tone.

"Uh...yea." says Bale. "You better get outta here, who knows if these guys got more buddies hanging around here." Johny warns.

"Hey, why did you save me? I'm a demonkin you know."

"So what?" asks Johny, slightly annoyed.

"So your father is that viscount who hates demi-humans, right?"

"Huh? You know who I am?" asks Johny confused. "Everyone knows who your father is." Bale -figuring out that Johny doesn't recognize him- replies in a roundabout way.

"I am not my father." Johny exhales in exasperation, as if he's repeated those words a thousand times before.

"!!!" Bale's eyes open wide at the profound statement. It resonated with him.

Johny's just a powerless boy unable to defy his father, just like Bale's other self back on earth.

"Hurry and get the hell out before father finds out that I saved a demi-human!" shouts Johny.

Extremely confused, and with mixed emotions, Bale is unable to say anything as he runs out into the street. He did not stop until he reached the stage coach that would take him near the Arnvir estate.

◈━◈━◈━◈━◈

Ebina and Liva are practicing when they see a stage coach stop outside of the gates of the mansion. "Oh, Bale's back!" smiles Ebina. "Really? I wonder if he will compliment me..." Liva covers her mouth with a hand to hide her smile.

As soon as Bale reaches the door to his room, Ebina pops out from the next door over. "Brother, welcome back! Did everything go well?"

"Yea. It's gonna take a while though." Bale smiles.

"Hey, did you want to practice with us?" His sister asks. "No, sorry. I'm tired. I'm going to take a bath and then sleep." Bale continues into his room and closes the door behind him.

Ebina then walks back into her room. "So? Is Bale coming over?" Liva clutches her hand to her chest, with anticipation in her eyes. "Ummm....He said he's going to sleep." Ebina shrugs.

Inside the large bath made for a dozen people at a time, Haz is relaxing by himself. "Haa...that hits the spot." Haz says aloud to nobody. Tap Tap Tap.... He then glances at the direction of the footsteps to see Bale.

"Hey little Bale, did you find what you were looking for?" He asks. "Kind of." Bale answers with a defeated tone, not undetected by Haz. "..."

He waits silently until Bale finishes washing himself off and gets into the bath. "Did something happen?" He asks.

"I got almost got kidnapped while out in town." Bale states. "What?!" Haz shouts in surprise. "Are you alright?!"

"Yea."

"So? Why do you look so down?" Haz raises an eyebrow.

"I was saved by Johny Jay Edmont." Bale states. "Seriously?!" Haz could not believe his ears. "Hmm...how strange." Haz gazes at the water. "That's definitely the second-to-last person I'd expect to save me."

"I don't think he's a bad person." Bale exhales.

"Now that I think about it, I don't hear any bad rumors about Johny." Haz then grumbles "In fact, when it comes to rumors...Lady Lumilla's reputation is way more notorious."

"How is Lady Lumilla coming along in her training?"

"She's doing excellent. I think she'll master the new technique tomorrow."

"Having second thoughts, little Bale?"

"No. The fate of the Demonkin on this land hinges on this duel. We can't afford sympathy." Bale tries to convince himself aloud.

"Heh, you've got a conviction of steel. I'm not sure I could do the same if I were your age."

"So what now?" asks Haz.

"We stay the course. Lady Lumilla must not know about this." Bale leans on the side of the bath.

"The last thing we need is for her conviction to waver."

"It's a pity that Johny has to die, but good people die all the time." shrugs Bale.

(That's a cold blooded thing for a child to say, but I have no right to complain about it) Haz takes a deep breath.