Arc 4: What families entail
Road to a hero:
Three chances in another world
Chapter 26. Uncovered path
Gray leads Dema into the barn and sets her down. He rubs her head, leaving her to rest.
Gray: “Alright, you rest here.”
Gray grabs the prototype gun to get a better look at it. He sees that it looks more like a musket than a normal rifle. It’s raged and not very well put together, but it gets the job done.
Gray: “Dammit…they didn’t have these before as far as I knew. Arthur has gotta have something to do with this.”
Gray removes his armor, and puts on some of his casual clothes, wearing the same clothes he got transported in. They are the same clothes, but the difference in Gray's body is staggering. His hair is longer and healthier, his body physically stronger and his face visibly older even though he’s only been here for around three months. It just goes to show the level of stress and growth he has been through in just a short amount of time.
He walks into Chris’ house, noticing how simple it is compared to what he’s been staying in for the past few months, first an old crummy house, then a mansion, a cottage, a cabin in the snowy woods, and now the house of a simple family man.
Chris waves Gray over, so Gray walks over and sits down on a floor mat with a short table blocking the two.
Chris: “Honey, could you bring us some tea!”
Wife: “I’m coming!”
The wife walks into the living room and sits down with two cups of tea.
Chris: “Thanks hun, oh, and can you heal the boy's Earth-bound Dragon? Oh and Gray, it might be a little bitter so keep that in mind.”
The wife quickly leaves the house, entering Dema's stable to use healing magic on her. So while she's doing that, Gray and Chris continue to talk about the issues within the country.
Gray: “It’s all good, My mom was a tea addict and always made it super bitter so I’m used to it.”
Chris: “Well it’s all good then.”
Gray: “So what’s this very important thing you wanted to tell me.”
Chris: “I assumed you noticed that those knights were weird right?”
Gray: “Definitely.”
Chris: “Well it’s because all of the knights that were working with Walgonia before king Bufords’ murder have been fired. I would know because I’m one of them.”
Gray: “So they are members of the SECT!”
Chris: “THE SECT!? We figured that something was up with them…we thought they were soldiers of Valatrositce but them being with the Sect makes sense…”
Gray: “It’s a guess…is there a way to tell if somebody is with the sect?”
Chris: “Usually the Sects’ soldiers have bald heads or black hair. And I’m pretty sure those guys were bald.”
Gray: “Well then…they’re taking over the damn country.”
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Chris: “There is hope though, Jong, the lead commander of the knights is getting us all together for a coup. I think Arthur is suspecting something, he's been sending knights to villages mainly filled with the old knights to make sure nothing is up.”
Gray: “But me showing up here is gonna make this place look suspicious.”
Chris: “If you hide, or leave before they do house checks they might not do much.”
Gray: “The leviathan army is preparing an attack as well…if I get in contact with Jong I’ll be able to give him directions to Greenvale village and send the rest of the old knights there!”
Chris: “Really! That’s great!”
Gray: “I’ll have to let Dema rest before I head out…but I can leave tomorrow. She will be fine then…I hope…if I rush there, then back here, when do you think I’ll make it to Athens?”
Chris: “ You should make it by the twenty-ninth or the thirtieth…so before the month's end. We’ll have to leave early tomorrow, so let’s hit the hay now and you can head for Buggy village tomorrow. ”
A little girl tumbles out of a closet, running up and hugging her dad.
Little girl: “DON’T LEAVE! You were gone…for so long…when you were a stupid knight…you can’t go again.”
Gray's face goes from surprised to somber, then to acceptance.
Gray: “Give me directions and I’ll go by myself. You have a family, you need to attend to your life and I’ll do this. I’ve been slacking for a bit in the whole main mission thing. I’ll do this to warm up, and get my groove back on. And at the same time, I’m gonna get a whole army on our side!”
Chris: “Well…okay then.”
Gray: “I’m gonna sleep with Dema, gotta make sure she doesn't feel lonely.”
Little girl: “Who’s Dema?”
Chris: “You can meet her if you want?”
Little girl: “REALLY! I WANNA, I WANNA!”
They all walk outside, and into the barn. The little girl springs up to see a dragon sleeping in her barn, her eyes filled with excitement.
Chris: “There she is -”
Little girl: “SHH! She’s sleeping!”
Chris' Wife: “Yeah, you’re right, daddy's being dumb. Alright, let’s leave Gray alone.”
Chris: "Hey, I'm an educated man! I'm no dummy. Though I got a dummy right beside me."
Little girl: “UGG! Okay…”
Gray: “Sleep well.”
They walk back inside, leaving Gray alone. His facial expression drops to a saddened look. He lays in some hay, wrapping himself in a blanket he brought with him. Half an hour passes with no lick of sleep. All Gray can do is think of the similarities between the little girl and Ophelia.
Gray {I’ve seen what happens when little girls get brought into this damn battlefield…and it’s horrible…and what the hell was with that weird feeling back when I fought those Sect knights. I think one of my eyes glowed but I don’t really remember much…I was just really angry.}
Gray moves into a meditation position. He focuses on Ryos energy, slowly transitioning into his astral state. He feels himself become lighter, enchanted, and smooth. He opens his eyes to see Ryos' astral form in front of him. He looks around to find himself still in the barn, and not in his astral form.
Gray: “Ryo?”
Ryo: “You successfully called me, I’m impressed.”
Gray: “I didn’t wake you did I?”
Ryo: “This is more of a dream for me.”
Gray: “Why aren't I in my astral form?”
Ryo: “You called my spirit, it just goes to show your connection. So what did you need?”
Gray: “Two things, first I learned that Arthur has transformed the Walgonian knights into Sect members. And that all the original knights got fired…I’m going to go off my path to Athens and meet up with Commander Jong, and I’ll tell him the location of Greenvale and take the knights there.”
Ryo: “Alright…That will help in the coming battle…and the knowledge of the Sect joining the knights is good information to have. And the second question?”
Gray: “Dema and I got shot down… she’s alive but I got mad…like furious. And I felt the same feeling I get when I use my spiritual sense..but times ten and uncontrollable…and then I just lost consciousness…or I forgot what happened.”
Ryo: “Really…to think that…that is what’s known as your spiritual state. It can be controlled but as of now, it will activate if you feel overwhelmed. It is what happens when you coat yourself in spirits, your mind, body, and soul become connected…and will give you great power.”
Gray: “So as of now…it’s like a defense mechanism?”
Ryo: “Yes…but long uses of it will cause fatigue, enough to kill you.”
Gray: “Ouch…so a power and sensory buff…is that it?”
Ryo: “Any attack that uses spirits will leave its form and either empower you or dissipate entirely. And, depending on your mastery, you can disturb or disrupt elemental spells.”
Gray: “So that’s why that fireball…just vanished…that really is a strong power…well that’s all.”
Ryo: “I’m glad you contacted me, and I hope you have a safe journey.”
Ryo's spirit vanishes, leaving Gray alone once again. Gray slowly drifts off to sleep, and at the crack of dawn, Gray rolls around trying to wake himself up. He sits up, yawns, and starts to stretch before finally standing up. He turns to see Dema up, looking around.
Gray: “Hey you’re up. We gotta get moving so I hope you’re all rested up.”
She squeaks at him, rolling back over.
Gray: “Guess not.”
Gray walks outside to see Chris ready for him, sitting on the ground outside the barn with a Drake beside him.
Chris: “You’re up.”
Gray: “I see you got up early.”
Chris: “Wanted to see you off.”
Gray: “I don’t think Demas’ up for the trip…I can still go but I don’t think I’ll be able to ride her.”
Chris: “I figured as much, that’s why I got our friend here.”
Gray: “Oh, good call. So how far is it?”
Chris: “About a day trip. All you have to do is stick to the straight path and then you’ll see a pretty well-off village. Then go to the biggest house and you’ll find Jong.”
Gray: “Alright then, let me go get my stuff.”
Gray walks into the barn, taking a few pairs of clothes, his armor, and his weapons. He then walks back outside and gets on the Drake. He waves Chris and Dema goodbye before embracing on another journey.
END OF : Chapter Twenty-six.