Arc 4: What families entail
Road to a hero:
Three chances in another world
Chapter 30. Reunion
After hours of flying Gray makes it close enough to see the bridge which leads to Athens. Gray rubs the newly formed scar on his lip, sighing.
Gray: “Amazing…flying is terrifying. Ugh, Ryo was right, using that spirit state takes a lot out of you. I was barely in it, and I hardly fought but I’m still aching. The night sky should make it so I’m not seen…then I’ll head towards that inn they told me about.”
Gray: {Thinking about it…I think I should have checked on Chris…oh well too late now.}
Gray flies high above the bridge, looking at the small island.
Gray: “I can see the whole island from up here. A bit of woods in the front, a small town, then big walls that protect the inner city. A big castle at the end of the island, that castle kinda looks like a big pillar... weird. And near the northwest side…IS THAT A VOLCANO!? IT IS, that’s awesome. Now the Inn should be near the front…I think I see it.”
Gray flies towards the Inn, curving through the wind, and lands neatly in front of it. But he hears yelling from the inside and walks closer to hear.
Just inside the Inn, unknown to Gray sits Erin at her desk talking to guards.
Erin: “I told you they aren’t here. You come here every week and I give you the same answer.”
Guard: “We just need to make sure that Gray Kyojin hasn’t shown up yet.”
Erin: “Well he hasn’t”
Guard: “Alright then we believe you, let’s leave.”
Erin: “Good day.”
Gray watches from atop a tree as the guards leave her Inn. One of them knocks on a tree three times before leaving.
Gray {The hell was that?}
Gray goes to jump down, but he hears more people. He looks down to see what looks like five pirates walking toward the inn.
Gray {Shaggy clothes...eye patch…peg leg…hook…PIRATES!}
They walk in to confront Erin, and this time Gray moves in closer to get a better look.
Erin: “Oh more guests, how may I help you today?”
Pirate one: “Oh she’s a looker.”
Pirate two: “You can do that later, now missy won’t you be a doll and tell us if you’ve seen Gray Kyojin around here…cause he should be here today.”
Erin: “No, Mr. Kyojin is not here today.”
One of the bigger pirates walks up and smashes Erin's desk. The other pirates flinch, but Erin remains still and content.
Erin: “I would have to ask you to leave now.”
Erin stands up, but before she can do anything one of the smaller pirates gets grabbed by a black tendril and is pulled out of the Inn. Suddenly all the crystal-lit lamps in the room go out, setting the tone.
All the pirates jump up, one of them grabbing Erin by the side and placing a knife to her neck.
Pirate one: “HEY! WHAT…WHO ARE YOU!?”
The room is flooded with a cloud of thick black smoke.
Pirate four: “I GOT THE GIRL BY THE NECK!”
They all see two faint white lights amidst the black smoke, like the eyes of a ghost. All the mist is pushed aside quickly when the unseen man enters the common room. One pirate, then another gets hit to the ground. The biggest man swings a club at the ghost, looking at his now visible face. One sees the white mask with the three lines carved into it, realizing that it’s Gray.
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Gray moves back, dodging the club. He then stands on the club, so when the man picks it up he’ll be at face level. The pirate flinches once he sees Gray's masked face, allowing Gray to punch him in the face, promptly knocking him out.
The last pirate squirms in fear, shaking in his boots.
Pirate four: “I’LL DO IT!... I PROMISE!”
Gray gives the man the side eye, his blade eyes striking even more fear into the dirty pirate. Before Gray can assist, Erin frees herself by flipping the man to his side and holding his knife to his face.
Erin: “Say good bye -”
Gray: “Stop. let him talk.”
Pirate four: “I…ain’t…got nothing to tell you!”
Erin stabs the knife into the pirate's leg, turning it as he screams in pain.
Pirate four: “FINE! FINE! We…were sent here to ask…this nice…scary lady where you were…and now I found ya…”
Gray: “Is that all?”
Pirate four: “YES!”
Erin digs the knife into the man's leg, making him cry and scream even more.
Pirate four: “I PROMISE, PLEASE NO MORE!”
Gray: “Miss, would you stop.”
Erin backs off, letting the man wake his friends and run off. Before he leaves he stands at the door.
Pirate four: “They’re right to call you The Phantom…”
He then runs off, holding his leg tightly as he does it.
Gray: “What’s this about a Phantom?”
Erin: “It's what they're calling you on your wanted poster. That thing's everywhere, Wallonia's traders.”
Gray: “Oh, well that sucks. And I haven’t explained why I’m here…my friend Rosemary told me to come here and ask you for directions a few weeks ago?”
Erin: “OH! Yes, I know her, she and her friends stayed with her just a bit ago. I was to show you the location of the Red Arrows.”
Gray: “Nice…um could you show me? Sorry, I’m kinda in a hurry”
Gray removes his mask, his eyes returning to their normal state. Gray takes a deep breath, and then he also removes his cloak to calm down.
Erin: “Are you okay?”
Gray: “Sorry…I’m fine…just tired and a little worn out…or a lot worn out.”
They walk outside, and Gray greets a hidden Dema with a hug.
Erin: “Wonderful… an earth-bound dragon…the hideout is underground…you may have an issue getting her down there.”
Gray: “Since those pirates gotta go, they might come back with more dudes.”
Erin: “I’ll have to gather my things…”
Gray: “I can go back and help you if you want.”
Erin: “No that’s quite alright… I’ll do it later. I don’t have that much stuff that I care about.”
Gray: “Ug…okay then, let’s get on Dema and get to the hideout or whatever faster.”
Erin: “Good Idea, I can lead her there for us.”
They sit on Dema, and Erin picks up the reins to lead her there. Dema tucks her wings and takes off, dashing through the woods. Gray struggles to hold on but in only a minute or two Erin stops Dema right at the entrance of the tunnel.
Gray: “Nice! Is that a fake panel?”
Erin: “Yep.”
Gray: “What about Dema, I don’t think she can fit down there.”
Erin: “Miss Dema, may you hide until we call for you?”
Dema squawks spread her wings and took off into the trees.
Gray: “Neat trick.”
Erin: “Alright, let’s be on our way.”
Erin leads Gray through the dark tunnel, Gray groans, and moans until they finally get to the wooden door at the end.
Gray: “Here we go…Rosemary, Soku, Edward, and Julius…just behind this door.”
Gray walks in front of Erin and quickly opens the door, the bright lights blinding him. Gray is amazed to see a few hundred people running back and forth through different tunnels, walking into the giant main room Gray finds himself in and walking out of the many doors. They all hold bits of armor, ore, and weapons as if they’re preparing for something big, and unbeknownst to Gray they are.
But once they notice Gray they all stop in their tracks. Gray sees a man with light yellow hair and a styled mustache similar to a Chinese mustache. Leo walks up, spear in hand, and points it at Gray.
Leo: “And who might you be!?”
Gray: “I’M GRAY KYOJIN! AND I’VE BEEN TOLD YOU’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR ME!?”
Leo: “OH! YOU’RE FINALLY HERE! AND YOU’VE BROUGHT A FRIEND!”
Erin: “HI, I’M ERIN!”
Erin waves her hand excitedly, and Gray jumps to the bottom floor and approaches Leo.
Gray: “So, are my friends here?”
Leo” About that…”
Gray turns to see an elf girl with green hair touching her shoulders running at him at a high speed. He moves back but is surprised to be hugged by her, and very tightly at that.
Gray: “Soku?”
Soku: “...You made it…”
Soku quickly backs off and brushes her clothes off.
Soku: “You’re filthy.”
Gray: “And you’re muscular, and your hair’s growing pretty fast.”
Soku: “You do look oddly a bit older, and you're growing out pretty well at that.”
Gray: “And where’s Rosemary? I was really looking forward to seeing her. Edward too I wouldn’t mind looking at that hulking dude. Oh yeah, and Julius too I guess.”
Soku: “About that…”
Gray: “Hey, calm down now…what happened? Are they asleep?”
Soku: “Rosemary and Julius have been taken captive…by Bearugard…”
Gray: “WHAT!?”
Gray’s overcome with anger, his eyes flicker white but he composes himself taking a deep breath after breath.”
Soku: “The hell was that…?”
Gray: “Nothing…I’ll explain later, so what about Edward.”
Soku: “He’s…gone.”
Gray's eyes blast a pure white glow causing all the Red Arrows to think hostilely. Gray punches the ground, cracking the stone. Gray stands up and breathes out, once again regaining himself.
Soku: “That is creepy…”
Gray: “Who…did…it…?”
Leo grabs Gray's shoulder, staring him in the eyes.
Leo: “Moro, one of the captains of the Gravestone pirates. And he’s still here, he’s working with my brother. Tomorrow morning the leader of the Spartans will bring his forces here. And we will meet my brother at his castle…and try to talk it out.”
Gray: “Got it, I’m in.”
Leo: “Good, Soku showed him where he can rest. We will get up early tomorrow.”
Erin: “UM…WE GOT A EARTH-BOUND DRAGON OUTSIDE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOMEWHERE SAFE!”
Leo: “OH, HEY I KNOW YOU! UM, CAN SOMEBODY HELP HER!?”
Soku: “OH HEY ERIN!”
Erin: “HEY SOKU!”
END OF Chapter Thirty