Arc 6. A seemingly endless loss
Road to a Hero:
Three Chances in Another World
Chapter 48. We Fear
After about seven hours, the gang makes their way to the mayor’s office by walking, since the streets are overcrowded by everyone. With the consistent parties, everyone in the city is already prepared for such an occasion, but to a much higher degree than before. It’s as if everyone in the city is outside their homes, wearing animal masks, and their most expensive clothing, and partaking in even more wondrous events. Smaller fireworks explode in the air, set off by families on the roofs of their homes, vendors call out, and service men and women give drinks to anyone who purchases them, accepting all ages from fifteen and up.
Soku: “So, can I have a drink?”
Gray: “Maybe a sip, but we’re prepared. You’ve got your armor on right?”
Soku: “Uhg, yes. All the things I need are on me, under my coat of course.”
Rosemary: “Gray, are you sure you don’t want the cloak?”
Gray stares at Rosemary, watching as she fiddles with the necklace he had purchased for her when they arrived, sighing as he answers.
Gray: “No, I don’t. I can’t risk losing myself to it if something happens.”
Rosemary: “Well I have it on me just in case.”
Gray: “Jong and the knights haven't shown up yet…and we weren’t able to contact the mayor for days…if the Sect attacks then we won’t have been able to prepare at all.”
Soku: “That’s if the Sect attacks, and it isn’t like we tried. Valatrositice isn’t our home, we’re visitors, and this “vacation” has been a stress-filled mess. I’m glad we’re going home right after this.”
Rosemary: “We still have to wait for Edward…”
Gray: “Last time I checked up on him he was just getting to the building. I don’t know if he’s gone in yet, but he’s going to have to wait a bit because we need to get to the mayor’s office, but it’s only a block or so away, it sucks that they blocked the street off till just a few minutes ago.”
Rosemary: “Edward can be a bit unpredictable in these situations…he’ll either be patient or he’ll strike right as he gets there.”
They begin to make their way through the crowd, with mainly Gray and Rosemary struggling to walk through the dense crowd of people surrounding the main gate which leads inside the mayor’s ground. Soku on the other hand quickly makes her way through, doing it with such ease it’s like she’s swimming through the crowd. Gray gets a better idea, grabbing Rosemary and hopping over the fence, to be met with loud boos and aws of people. They see a large stand newly built for this occasion right in front of the main building. They all spot Greta, her assistant Ganga, Lisa, Julius, and a crowd of bored and out-of-shape guards. The chatter gets louder the closer they get, being unable to hear anything other than the almost static-like noises coming from everyone. Once Greta spots them, she calls them up, greeting them, while Lisa jumps for joy at their sight.
Greta: “I haven’t seen you! I heard you got into some trouble in my office?”
Lisa: “YEAH! Did Peter win that fight against that loser by the way!?”
Greta softly nudges her daughter away, getting her quiet so she can talk with Gray and the others.
Gray: “We’ve been trying to speak with you for a week! We’re concerned that the Sect of Anarchy might be attacking tonight! We’ve gotten the Walgonian Knights to send a small platoon to assist us just in case!”
Greta is stunned and confused, though Ganga comes in to help her through it.
Gangat: “I don’t know if it’s right to trust their words. They barged into your office, starting a giant commotion that’s led to the disappearance of one Peter Day. These people mind you have been running around causing mayhem every time they go.”
Gray: “Hey lady, we’re just trying to help.”
Gangat: “Well why don’t you help by not making Miss Greta scared? These claims have no ground, there is no way that they can attack. They must get through the guard fog, make it to Constal, and set up a plan right under our noses. It’s dreadful you’d think we’re so incomitant that we’d let this happen.”
Soku: “LOOK LADY! WE’RE TRYING TO KEEP YOUR LAZY ASS CITY FROM BURNING DOWN! SO I’D TRY NOT TO BE ON THE BAD SIDE OF YOUR FRIENDS HERE! We’re nice enough to help, more than most people already.”
Greta: “QUIET DOWN! If we’re under attack we can defend ourselves. I thank you for trying to help, but I trust Ganga more than you people. She’s been with me for years and I’ve just met you. I’m sorry if this seems rash, but I don’t want to hear any more of this, but if something does happen, I give you a command to do whatever you see as necessary to solve it.”
Lisa: “Mom!”
Greta: “I don’t want to hear it! This is my order, and if they don’t like it, they can leave.”
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Gray quickly gets down on one knee, surprising Soku and Rosemary, though they quickly do the same.
Gray: “I’m truly sorry for causing so much trouble, so we’ll step off the stage and wait elsewhere. I assure you if conflict does arise we’ll be trying our hardest to make sure no harm comes to such a great city that’s let itself be our home for the past month and a half.”
Greta: “Alright then, I thank you for your cooperation. You may wait wherever you like, including the inside of my office building.”
Rosemary: “I thank you for your hospitality!”
Soku: “And…I apologize for raising my voice…it was uncalled for…”
Greta: “I accept your apology, now if you would kindly get off my stage I would appreciate it.”
As they begin to step off the stage, Gray locks eyes with the black-haired assistant Ganga, feeling unease and anger toward her. Lisa watches them with a sad look on her face, and Julius stares with no emotion at all, just a small picturesque smile. He’s wearing a much longer coat, but it looks very similar to his original one. Being mainly white with purple fur and a large popped collar with the same purple fur around it. Then, over his heart, is a small golden version of the Valatrositce crest, looking like a V but with the ends pointing down and inward only slightly. They make their way inside for the time being, and Gray focuses on Edward’s location. Edward, all the way in Valatrositce’s capital, makes his way through the equally crowded streets while he looks at the tall, brick building that is one of the Ruperts ' working buildings.
He feels Gray’s presence and lets him enter the building, but to Gray’s ghostly surprise, he finds no one inside. Edward then enters the building, finding only smithing equipment. The ground is covered in soot, ash, and bits of wood and meat, it’s like being inside of a chimney. Gray searches around, looking through the walls to find something, but has a better idea. He tries using his furthered skill in the spirit arts to search for life. He expands his mind from the small amount of spirits that are currently forming his astral form, to all the spirits in the small vicinity. Though, unbeknownst to him, this is something that Ryo even struggles with, because it’s far beyond the basics of the spirit arts.
The spirit arts are very much tied to the world, with spirits being the life of the world, but becoming one with the actual spirit and not their mana is much different. This isn't a connection to the emotion of the world but to the world’s OD itself. He finds it yet, but he gains such a strong awareness so fast, that his mind almost crumbles and he’s sent back into his body with a newfound understanding of his mana. What was felt quickly flees from his mind, but what he felt stays. Rosemary goes to comfort him as he begins hyperventilating, holding him with a soft grip.
Gray: “I…just connected to the world…I’ve been feeling this same thing the last couple of times I’ve used the spiritual state like there’s something far beyond what I’m doing but not that far off at the same time.’
Soku: “So, what about Edward?”
Gray attempts to project to Edward, but the second he tries, it’s as if his mind has run out of power.
Gray: “I can’t…I’m out of juice, I tried searching for life…and I felt it, but I just couldn’t hold it. Edwards is in trouble, I sensed at least a hundred people underneath the building.
Edward is confused, but he continues looking for any way to get to Peter without endangering his life. Suddenly, a false wall opens up behind him, so he hides to see what’s going on. But nothing happens, no one walks out, so he begins walking down the stairwell, below the building into a secret service tunnel.
He peeks his head out, watching as hundreds of gang members hull boxes somewhere, so he waits for his opportunity to follow. Just around the corner, behind a locked metal door, is Peter's room. Orson, the large bear Demi-human, opens the door and finds what he thinks is Peter sleeping. He is about to wake him up, but he feels like the kids earned some rest, so he picks up a box full of fire crystals. He grabs all six boxes that were in the room, shuts and locks the door behind him, and walks the boxes down the hall, to an underground train.
The small train that was built right under Valatrositce’s capital, is hidden from everyone, and due to its age, it looks much older than the newly opened rail system above ground. Beside the train filled with boxes of flame crystals, is another train, which is filled with gangsters dressed as Anarchists. Orson goes to grab more, but he bumps into Chester, who’s walking to Peter's room.
Orson: “Oh I got all of the boxes in his room. The trains are about to leave by the way.”
Chester: “Good. Now what was Peter doing?”
Orson: “He was sleeping.”
Chester: “WHAT!?”
Angered Chester starts running to Peter's room, unlocked the door, and goes over to Peter’s bed. He takes off the blanket to find pillows and a sheet balled up to look as if he’d been in it.
Chester: “ORSON YOU IDIOT!”
Chester begins screaming that Peter had gotten out and not to let the trains leave, but his screams are for nothing. The trains begin to leave with the last few boxes being loaded up and Anarchists getting suited up, though somebody does hear his calls, Edward. Edward leaves his hiding place, and like a whirlwind of force, takes out his sword and cleaves through anyone in his way.
The area is like a maze of hallways, so he uses Chester’s screams to guide himself. A few gangsters get in his way, but Edward brutalizes them. His large sword cuts through them with such ease it’s like stepping on ants. Their blood coats the walls, and an enraged Edward filled with adrenaline, makes sure nothing will stand in his way.
Chester and Orson make it on the train, and right before it gets out of distance Edward makes his way to it as well. Though, unable to run up to it in time, he begins sprinting to get as close as he can, and then uses his sword to propel himself forward. He flips himself with his sword with such force it launches himself onto the back of the train, barely making it.
However, one of the two people following Edward continued the entire way, and leapt attempting to jump onto the train. Edward, shocked to see that Lance had followed him, grabs the boy's hand, helping him on.
Edward: “The hell is wrong with you! How did…why did…THE HELL!?”
Lance: “I’m a trained member of the dragon army, tailing you was easy.”
Edward: “And why did you?”
Lance: “...because…. because Julius told me Peter was missing and I wanted to help find him!”
Lance shutters in fear, but Edward gets on one knee, puts his hand on the boy's shoulder, and smiles.
Edward: “Well let’s go save him.”
Inside the cars, one of the boxes gets kicked open from the inside, and Peter, dressed in the clothes he showed up in, along with his rabbit mask, falls out. Armed with only pieces of scrap, tools, and things he pierced together, hopes to stop the train and make it to Constal, with no knowledge of Ewdard coming to help him.
All the way in Constal, right before the New Year begins, Greta gives a speech to her People. Julius walks behind her as she begins, wearing a longer version of his white coat with the same purple furred cuffs collar, and bottom, with the golden Valatrositce crest of course.
Greta: “HELLO PEOPLE OF CONSTAL! WE HAVE HAD ANOTHER GREAT YEAR! AND I HOPE FOR ANOTHER GREAT YEAR TO COME! I BEEN SO PROUD OF YOU ALL FOR MAKING SURE WE STAY OUR HOLY LAND STAYS PERFECT! CLEAN! AND LIVELY! BESIDE ME IS JULIUS CROMWELL! AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD! A CITY STATE OF VALATROSITCE WILL BE ABLE TO SAY THAT WE HONOR VALATROSTICE’S NEW KING!”
Gray and the others hear this as they exit the room. They’re stunned by the revelation, as they had just seen the King a month and a half ago. As the last ten seconds of the citizens of Constal count down to the New Year, Gray feels something off. He pulls Rosemary and Soku to the podium, angering Greta, and confusing Ganga, who now has a smirk on her face.
As they reach zero, the fireworks go off, and he feels something wrong in the distance. With his newly found knowledge of what the world’s mana feels like, he knows this feeling isn’t related to the spiritual senses, but something bigger. The dark sky is lit up with colorful explosions, but dark smoke emerges in the distance. Gray eyes go black and his pupil turns white. Now, using his spiritual senses, he sees something in the distance. He watches as the walls of Constal fall, and Infected monsters from the guard fog emerge. Filled with fear, he turns to his left, watching as the other walls fall and the same zombie-like creatures that had attacked them in Walgonia’s raid ravaged the streets. The cheers of the people and the boom of the fireworks cover the sound of their entrance, and Gray struggles to scream over them. Gray’s eyes are wide open, his breath is faint, his hands are shaking, and his mind is both blank and racing at the same time.
Gray: “They’re here…”
Gray shoves Greta out of the way, pushing past his fear, and screams as loud as he can above the crowd.
Gray: “THE SECT OF ANARCHY IS ATTACKING! RUN! GET OUT! RUN NOW, RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!”
Rosemary and Soku get ready while Lisa and Greta’s faces drop.
Greta: “CITIZENS OF CONSTAL! RUN NOW!”
Gray looks over at Julius while on the verge of a panic attack, and sees a villainous smile emerge. His eyes open, and he glares at Gray, saying something that sends a shiver down his spine.
Julius: “Happy New Year, Gray Kyojin.”
End of Chapter Forty-eight