The church of law was active even at night time. Trials being held, clergymen presenting their own case and appeals.

Behind the bustling noise of the court, Darwyn stood still, crossed arms.

Wearing not his armor, but plainclothes resembling the attire of every person inside the church. The only difference was its size.

“Do you want something, Sir Darwyn?” A voice of a female. One that he had heard several times. It was the nun.

“Nothing.” He told briefly. He appeared rude for a person that did not know Darwyn's behavior, but for those who knew, it came to them as silly.

The nun chuckled. “It really surprises us that you recovered this fast.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Darwyn did not reply after that. He kept his quiet, and the nun did so too. What should he say during this time? Should he continue the conversation?

Air exited his nose and grunted faintly. “Thank you for taking care of me. I think I can finally leave this place tomorrow.”

The phrase thank you was not something the nun expected to hear from this giant man twice. She was stunned for a moment before laughing once again. “Your welcome, Sir Darwyn.”

As if waiting to finish their exchange, something audible came from the distance.

Thud thud thud! The hammer of the judge, the bishop, battered the wooden table continually, announcing his verdict to all listeners.

Darwyn did not hear what the bishop had precisely said but he knew that the convicted was guilty. Though he was a servant of justice, he had scant experience to see prosecution being held like this because he was busy fighting monster and criminals, giving his judgment on the spot.

The court was filled with staggering silence, the paladins that were distilled took the now criminal man, guiding him to the prison.

The criminal gritted his teeth, then... He seized a sword from one of the paladins and lunged himself high.

“Stop the rogue!” A rogue! Once part of the Thief Guild! If he fought the paladin, no doubt he would lose. But that was not something he planned to do.

He was trying to escape by using his ability that he had honed for years as a rogue. The spectator, alarmed at what was occurring left their seats, scrambling in different directions.

Now the rogue's eye was set on the valuable nun, thinking of using her as a hostage. The burly man beside her? No problem, with the rogue's speed, he could outrun anyone.

Wielding his stolen blade with confidence, the rogue set foot, heading for the nun.

Darwyn was quick to note the rogue's plan, blocking the pathway and guarding the nun as well.

“Heh! Too slow!” The rogue said, flashing before the eyes of Darwyn.

He was certain, that Darwyn cannot do anything to him. He pressed forth—

“Gak!”

A sudden pain jolted his neck, it was harder to gasp for air. He was late to realize that the giant man was anything but ordinary. A top-class adventurer.

Darwyn grabbed the rogue without hesitation, boosted him up in the air, and slammed him into the ground with all his might.

“Guk!” Saliva fled his mouth in slow motion, he bounced when he collided to the floor. The sword let out a clang as it hit the bottom when the rogue let go of it unconsciously.

Darwyn nonchalantly mashed the man with his foot, stepping deep into his torso, making sure that he would not move any longer.

“Take this man.” He ordered the paladins who were still in a state of shock. Without his armor, the charisma that Darwyn had when commanding people rose tenfold.

“Yes!” The paladins strode in unison, hurriedly. Dragging the rogue against his will as they exited the court.

He was satisfied with that, then Darwyn brought his palm near his face and moved his fingers. I haven't regained my full power yet...

His strength was lower than usual. He had trouble lifting the man when in the past, he could do it as if he was breathing.

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“T-thank you...Sir Darwyn...” The nun squirmed her body while saying this. But Darwyn being Darwyn, dismissed her with a “Yes,” before turning back and fleeing the place.

He cannot stay like this. He needed to bring back his vitality as soon as possible. But how? Darwyn grunted at his obliviousness. If only he was smart, like those magic users and scholars.

Though he was not alone, his footstep echoed through the hall. Captivating interest from the passing priest and acolytes.

Tomorrow he could finally see his party members. They need to prepare for the attack of the giants.

Along the way, he was greeted by walking people.

“Good evening Sir Darwyn!” Said one of the squires, saluting and looking at him with respect.

“Yes,” Darwyn replied with a nod.

“G-good evening... Sir Darwyn...!” Now it was a young cleric in a pure white uniform. She was blushing, her hands behind her, she shrugged her shoulder.

“Yes.” Then again with that reply, but it was enough for the cleric to smile happily as she trotted in a good mood.

“Yoo, Evenin' Sir Darwyn!” With a loud voice, an old priest exclaimed. Grinning while carrying a scripture that he has prepared for today's lecture.

“You too.” He answered back at the man.

He proceeded his strode, not forgetting to reply to everyone that had greeted him in good favor until he reached his place and entered it.

Nothing had changed inside his room, it was still the same ever since he first woke up at the very same bed he was staring.

Everyone was kind to him. The church was welcoming even though he did not originate from this region. For that, he was very thankful.

His large body rested on the soft bed. It screeched at the hefty Darwyn, but he paid it no heed and wondered about what to do tomorrow.

What should he say to them? To Shen and Liliana? Would they get angry at him? Probably. But it could not be helped. It was a proper response when someone went missing without a word.

Conjuring all the thoughts inside his mind, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

What will come shall come. He heard that phrase someplace but do not know where. Worrying would not do much. And it was not his style to overcomplicate things.

He cleared his mind with a grunt. Immersing himself with the commotion of the city. Somehow, he found comfort in doing that.

What was left was to wait for the next morning to come. And Darwyn did just that.

***

The fourth day has come and he roused up quite early, like always.

His armor made a rattle at the activity of his body. The cold metal carried a familiar feeling, something that he had missed unconsciously.

Standing at the gate of the church, Darwyn was exposed to the vast sky of violet, expanded broadly above, covering the entire city with its amethyst light.

The chilly air compressed into his lungs lasted until he finally gave a puff, producing a white vapor from his visor that floated with a dance.

Ever so slightly, he took his first step, then followed by another, until he commenced to walk mechanically. Deepening himself into the thick snow laid on the street, leaving cavity the size of his boots.

Buildings that he had never seen in his days of rehabilitation prevailed even to the blizzard storms that passed.

One by one, he started to recognized the structures as he inspected every cranny, the way he did before arriving at the church and losing his consciousness.

From behind his helmet, he discerned the tavern that he was staying in. Approaching, Darwyn unlocked the door, careful not to make any noise.

But even with his caution, the mere weight of him banged the floor.

“Erk...” How could he forget that his weight was nothing to scoff at? That was the effect of not wearing his armor for days.

He traced the stair and tread heavily at each elevated section until reaching the second floor, to where he and his party rented a room.

The dark atmosphere was still visible to the trained eyes of Darwyn, he could even see the small tinge that smudged the walls.

Making clamor he did and reaching his own room. From his kit, he pulled a key that was given to him by the owner. He worked the knob left and right, pushing it after he heard a metallic clank.

Here, nothing was altered. His belongings faithfully waited for him, not moving even an inch. The dim room soon produced a sound of pounding.

A tiniest of disturbance made Darwyn turn his head to his shoulder, his hand on the handle of his sword.

There was something that hid behind the door, only exposing itself with a tilt, peeking at him. Willowy fingers grabbed the edge of the wall. A pink hair strand was standing straight.

Her eyes were moist and broad. Her face only revealing its upper half and hid her mouth and nose and chin.

“Is... Is that you... Darwyn?” The voice, transmitted several sentiments at once, caught his attention and provoking a grunt from him.

“Yes.” He said briefly as if he has no time for this conversation. But the girl understood that it was just his nature to answer like that.

“Are you alright?” The girl followed. Just one look at her and someone could tell that she was close to bursting into tears. Darwyn, too, noticed that. So that was why he answered as soft as he could, though it was still low, grumbling even.

“Yes.”

The girl was listening to him, and she rubbed her damp eyelid with her palm before finally revealing her whole body. She wore her favorite sleeping clothes, the one that Darwyn saw when they went to eat outside.

“Aren't you gonna say something?” It has a mix of command and pleads. The girl peered at him with an upward gaze.

“Hhm... Sorry...” Darwyn said with his low voice.

Her bare feet touched the cold floor, rhythmically producing thump. She ceased her pace in front of Darwyn. She was a lot smaller than him and yet she exhibited no fear.

“Remove your helmet.” She said. To which Darwyn obliged without resistance. His hand popped the strap under his helmet and pulled it out, exposing his face to the open air.

The long brown hair was tied up so it would not hinder or annoy him in some way. His sharp chestnut eyes stared deeply into the girl.

The girl, Liliana, gazed down, concealing her expression. Her hands were wiping her eyes again and again before opening her mouth.

“Shen, come out,” Liliana said without moving her face.

It was the elf of the party that entered the room noiselessly. She wore her monk garb. Her long ears twitching. She was the same as ever, but with an only slight change.

Her eyes have a tint of red and her cheeks flushed. She still held her usual seductiveness, but her lips were in reverse crescent, signaling her sadness.

“Just... Where did you go Darwyn...! We're really worried you know...!” Shen was clearly angry. Tears fell from her eyes, and she was doing her best to keep her cheeks dry with her hands. “Don't do that stuff again alright...!”

Darwyn heeded every word that Shen and Liliana had said. He accepted all of that without excusing himself.

“Sorry...” Was all he could utter. How lucky was he, that he gathered companions that were truly concerned for him. But he could not promise that he would not do something dangerous again. Everything but that.

“Darwyn... You idiot... Making us look like this...” From below, Liliana was complaining to him. She raised her fist and battered his armor.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Harsh metallic noise reverberated the place. Her fist turning red. Darwyn grabbed her hand to stop her further harming herself. When he did that, Liliana lifted her face.

She has the same pained expression as Shen, her beautiful complexion was ruined by tears. She bit her lips, then frowned at him.

“I'm really angry...! You know that...!?” She almost screamed but managed to surpass her tone.

Darwyn said nothing but instead placed his large hand at her head, patting her.

“What are you doing?” It was only reasonable that Liliana found this all too confusing. But still, she displayed no sign of resisting. In fact, she was savoring every rap of Darwyn.

“When I'm sad. My mother always caresses my head to calm me down.” He continued stroking her hair and then looked at Shen. “I don't know what to exactly say in this situation. This is the first time I experience something like this.”

He then shut his eyes, giving a sigh. “I am very sorry. I won't promise that something like this will not happen again but...” He stopped the movement of his hand.

“As long as my mission is not completed. I can assure you both that I will not die. That, I can guarantee.” This was not a lie. And he was more than ready to accomplish the will of his goddess.

The reunion of the party was held the day before the attack of the giants. It was only a matter of time before the city faces the forces of chaos.