Arc 6. A seemingly endless loss
Road to a Hero:
Three Chances in Another World
Chapter 28. Hello sir
After a night of partying and criminal deals, Gray lays down on his nice soft bed beside a sleeping Rosemary. He undresses, snuggles up into his blankets, and closes his eyes, falling fast asleep. Then, as he drifts into a deep sleep, he sees a large black fire consuming a city. The horrific screams of his friends, Arthur's laughter, and Caesar's breathing filled the air. Being able to do nothing but watch, he’s forced to watch their skin boil, their eyes melt, and his body is consumed. All in just a few seconds, he’s been turned to ash, finding himself in a black void. His body reforms, being completely naked and severely cold. In this black winter, he’s floating in nothing, shivering to the core. The black void then becomes alive, stretching off into tendrils that grab Gray’s body, wrapping him in it almost entirely. His shivering turns to a nice sense of warmth, being sent into a trance, but a strange figure quickly pulls him out of it, granting him his consciousness back. But the strange figure is grabbed by the tendrils, being whipped away.
Now, about to be pulled back into the warm trance, he screams for help. And right as he’s about to be sucked back in, he bursts into an inferno of black flames, killing off the void, and waking him up.
Drenched in sweat, he flies up from his bed, fearing for his life. This causes Rosemary to wake up, comforting him.
Rosemary: “Gray! Calm down, it’s okay.”
She nuzzles her head into his back, trying to ease him down. But it’s no help, he’s panicking, hyperventilating, at a loss for anything.
Rosemary: “You’re safe…what dream was it? The Athens one, your parents, or something else?”
Gray begins to calm down, slowing his breath.
Gray: “I haven’t…had the parent one…since we left the mansion…”
Rosemary: “Okay, I know that. So what was it this time?”
Gray: “It…was nothing. A random dream…we gotta start heading to the mayor's office, so let’s get ready.”
Gray gets up and heads right to the bathroom. Inside the reasonably modern bathroom for a medieval period, shower and all, he removes all the sweat off of his body. Whilst in the shower, he lets the boiling water hit his skin, as if he wants it to burn the pain away. Inside Edward's room, he’s also suffering from a nightmare, but a much different one from Gray’s. It’s in a seemingly endless hallway, with a locked door at the end. But in an instant he’s pulled to it, being forced to listen to the constant banging on the other side. “Let me out!” is what is said over and over while scratching the metal door. It creates a sound so loud it echoes throughout the hall. Edward’s silent, as if he doesn't understand what’s happening to him, and then in a flash, he’s pulled out of the dream. He slowly wakes up, cracking his eyes to see the morning sun from his window. After a night of partying, he’s worn out, but he’ll manage. By the time he’s dressed and ready Gray’s getting out of the shower, letting his long wet hair dangle in his face.
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Edward: “Long night?”
Gray: “More eventful than long.”
Downstairs, Soku and Rosemary, who are already dressed, sit and wait for everyone else. Peter’s outside practicing with his rope dart, Lance sits outside on the front porch and Julius also waits outside. Julius, standing in front of his carriage, claps his hands right as everyone leaves the cottage.
Gray: “It’s too early to be doing this.”
Soku: “Agreed.”
Gray and the others follow Julius into the carriage, trying their best not to fall asleep. Even Peter, who didn’t party, but accidentally stayed up too late working on the Silver Chariot.
Gray: “So this is it right? Go see the mayor and we’re done with all this mission stuff.”
Julius: “Yep! And then you can relax, practice, and do whatever you would like.”
Soku: “Great…could go for a long break during this vacation.”
Gray and Soku slouch down in their seats, yawing on their way down. So in silence, they travel through the streets, over the stream, and up to a tall brick building with white columns and a golden-domed roof. Five acres of land, with smaller buildings on both sides. A courtroom, and another office building with similar designs to the main office building. The carriage pulls through the gate, going down the stone path toward the office, and finally pulling up in front of it. Everyone exits the carriage, stretching and yawning. Gray turns his attention to the large flag in the center of the road, blowing in the wind. Constals’ flag, a red star split in the middle with three small golden circles going down the cut middle.
Gray: “Cool I guess.”
Soku: “Kinda lame compared to all the castles we’ve been to.”
Julius: “Well Constal is a city, not the capital of a great country. It’s the only city recognized as great in all of Saga, the Holy City. Its founder who blessed this land is unknown, but his achievement is honored everywhere.”
Julius leads them up to the front doors, gently knocking. The noise of quick steps getting closer and closer is heard, and then the sudden peaking of a young girl through a side window is spotted. Everyone spots it, though everyone other than Julius is surprised, and as soon as they spot it she disappears, because she was too busy opening the door. The brown-haired girl, looking roughly fifteen, is dressed in a red and black long-sleeve short-shirted steampunk esc dress, with a red bow on the neck area. But once she spots who they are, she’s astounded, overwhelmed with joy.
Lisa: “OH MY GOSH! I’M LISA! AND YOU’RE THE HEROES OF WALGONIA!”
Her loud screams hurt everyone's tiered ears, other than Julius’, and they’re even more surprised when she runs up to greet all of them.
Lisa: “GRAY KYOJIN, THE PHANTOM KNIGHT! EDWARD VAN HELSING, THE END BRINGER, ROSEMARY GOLDENWIND THE LAST GOLDEN KNIGHT, SOKU THE ELF OF WINDS, AND JULIUS CROMWELL!”
Peters is annoyed at first, angered that she didn’t greet him, but he’s surprised when she spots him. Her eyes light up, overjoyed by the sight of him, and he’s embarrassed when she begins touching his elf ears.
Lisa: “Peter Day, the engineer! You engineered the sound system, and made multiple variations of weapons that giant companies haven’t been able to get close to! The horseless carriage, mini explosives, all unthinkable things you made! And to think you’re a Dark elf as well, I’ve never met a Dark elf!”
Peter is unable to react, overwhelmed, but his ego is stroked when he sees a jealous Lance staring at him. Lisa is pulled away by an annoyed black-haired woman, who jerks her back very roughly. This sends a chill down Rosemary’s spine, but she stands down, not wanting to make a fool of herself.
Assistant: “I am Mayor Greta Crossfeild's assistant, come inside and I’ll show you to her.”
Julius: “I think you for that.”
Lisa: “COME ON WE GOTTA GET GOIN!”
End of Chapter Twenty-eight