Chapter 57: What is a hero?
Careful Krista, your New Dawn is showing. If you keep pushing to hard you’ll accidently break him. Who am I kidding, you’re far to adorable for anyone to turn you down. Speaking of which, aren’t you happy that I made you two a couple? Have you confessed yet? Sorry, now is probably not the time to ask, but I want to know!
Okay, sorry. Important business, Melody, real name, Charlotte Rudemyer. She was born to a fairly wealthy family, with a lot of influence, but was born blind. Her family was known for their expectations of perfection. Whether this little detail of her life had any bearing on how she lived her life, I couldn’t know. She preformed all around Soaring Sun. Her music was well sought after and brought her parents much fame. On one of these routine tours, she turned up missing. Only to one day suddenly turn up by Dante’s side, under the pseudonym Melody.
Then Animus, well it pains me to say, but I have absolutely nothing at her. In fact, I was unaware they had someone with that name on their side. For her, you are on your own, I apologize. Stay safe, and I love you.
Krista stared at the piece of paper lovingly as she wrote back, Grand Auntie something came up, I’m going to need to talk to you. I’ve heard and learned a lot of things from Dante, and I need to know if they’re true or not. Things about the Grand Trees and the Knightley’s, some distressing things. I just have far too many questions, so I’d like hear your side.
In the meantime, I’ll be staying in Soaring Sun… with Shining Twilight. I promise you that I’m safe, both Amelia and I are safe; I need want you to know that, but Matilda was left on the way here, and Damien ran away.
It feels a bit too easy and way too convenient, so I suspect that Dante may have let him get away. Again, Amelia and I are safe, there’s nothing there that you have to worry about, but we need to talk. Face to face. I’ll leave it up to you to decide how we can do that.
“So, he’s really gone then?” Shix and I were currently engaged in a competition over who could hit the most targets, when Amelia came in to share the news that Damien escaped. Krista would never say that she lost their competition because of this, but she was also not going to say it wasn’t part of it.
“That’s 33-32, better watch out Krista, I’m catching up!” Shix exclaimed. Come on, don’t look like that. Forget Daddy, he left you here. Who does that, who leaves someone as beautiful as you with someone they consider and enemy?”
Krista thought that she wasn’t wrong, but that wasn’t the part that caught her attention, “You’re still calling him Daddy? He’s gone now, you don’t have to do that anymore. Honestly, you didn’t have to do it in the first place.”
“Meh, kind of just rolls off the tongue at this point,” Shix responded. “Easier than calling him Darius or Damien, whichever one he actually goes by. It’s like a cute pet name.”
“So, he was like a pet to you?”
“I didn’t mean a pet name for an animal,” said Shix a bit flirtatiously.
Krista didn’t appreciate the tone, “What do you mean by that?”
“Don’t worry about Daddy, you’re still my favorite!”
“I thought you guys hated him.”
“No, not really. Jikan, Dmitri, Phive, and I have never actually been to Journey. Dante had us stay here to make sure things kept running smoothly while they were gone. We’ve only heard the stories.”
“At least now, I won’t have to worry about him. Who am I kidding, he’ll definitely be in some kind of trouble soon.”
“Is that a smile I see? Feeling better already?” smirked Shix.
“If you don’t push your luck, I might even join you when you’re leading your soldiers in their drills next time.”
That immediately cheered and brightened her up, “You hear that Phive?! Krista’s going to join us in drills!”
Krista almost jumped, she had completely forgot that Phive was there. He really had no sense of presence, “That’s… good. Shix is happy. Good.”
She also still felt the way he spoke was a bit off-putting, “I need to go see Dante right now, so I’ll see you later Shix. Amelia, do you want to join me?”
Amelia, who was reading a book started to shuffle a bit then blush, “Y-Yeah! Sure, I’ll come along, but I won’t be able to stay long.”
Krista could already tell why, Amelia had been spending an awful lot of alone time with Dmitri lately “Don’t worry, I get it. Don’t want to keep him waiting.”
She glared slightly harshly at Krista, “As a matter of fact, I need to be there for Dmitri. Last week we were workshopping some make-up ideas I’ve been contemplating, and three days later I found him passed out in his lab. He almost died!”
“Well, isn’t that dedication?” Krista thought. “Looks like you caught yourself a good one!”
Amelia pursed her lips, unsure whether or not Krista was still teasing her, but she let a smile appear on her face, “You know, Damien told me that you confessed to him. Why did you never tell me?”
“Damien! He…what?!“When would that have ever even come up? It’s not like Damien’s the type to just share that type of information.”
“Would it change anything if I told you I pried it out of him?”
“No, not really, but y-yeah I did confess to him. He never actually gave me an answer though, and now it seems like I won’t be getting one for a while.”
Amelia’s smile widened as she teased her cousin, “Poor Krista! Couldn’t even start a relationship before me even though you’re older and have had a crush on him since forever.”
That’s just not fair! You just happened to find, literally, the perfect guy, completely out of nowhere! You also managed to meet him in circumstances that allowed you to stay very close.”
Amelia pointed a finger at her, “And you didn’t?”
“That’s a low blow, you always knew how to hit where it hurts. I’ll go find Dante alone, go ahead and scamper back to the lab.” Amelia felt indignant and was going to say something, but Krista stopped her. “I’m not mad at you, I just realized that I want to go alone. Nothing to worry about.”
Her bright smile calmed Amelia down, “Fine, I’ll be in the lab if you need anything. Don’t hesitate to come.” Krista nodded and waved her off before walking away. “Stay safe Krista!”
Krista made her way through Cold Castle searching for Dante. As she walked no one tried to stop her as she freely walked about the place. Being guest of honor, there was nowhere Krista or Amelia couldn’t go, at least no one had tried to stop them yet. Eventually, she found her way to Cleo’s office, if Dante wasn’t there she would more than likely know where he was. Once she opened the door, she was met with Cleo cheerfully conversing with Dante.
“Kristhalla, good to see you!” Dante abruptly ending his talk with Cleo to address Krista. Much to her annoyance. “Cleo and I were just talking about you, we figured-”
“No, my questions first,” Krista interrupted, “First Damien, you wanted him gone, didn’t you? You had Animus and Jikan watching over him, though Jikan was probably a nonfactor overall, Animus completely lost him? I find that very hard to believe.”
Dante smile waned slightly, “His presence here would have been… problematic. You said that you worked with the Guardians for a while, what kind of punishment do you think is fitting for someone that attacks a commanding officer with the intent to kill.”
Krista was slow to answer, “Capital. So, this was the alternative? Everyone wins. Let him loose and you won’t have to kill him, at least for now?”
Dante nodded his head. “That’s about the gist of it. Though no promises if we run into him anytime soon. Don’t think I could hold back the lot of them.”
“I still think you should have let Raven throttle the big bugger in his sleep,” Cleo said from her desk. “He’s just going to cause more problems for you in the future.”
Krista was still slightly confused as to why is Dante was being so lax about the whole situation. At least relatively. Most people would have harsher feelings for someone that tried to kill them. Moreover, someone who openly said that was their whole goal.
“I’m not in the business of killing someone just because they’re an inconvenience,” Dante replied. “Hey, maybe in the future, he’ll change his mind about wanting to kill me. Sort of like how I got through to you, Kristhalla.”
“Just call me Krista,” responded Krista.
“Okay!” he said excitedly. “Does that mean we’re friends now?”
“I just don’t like being called Kristhalla by anyone other than my parents,” she shot back.
“Either way, I’m a pretty hard guy to kill,” Dante shrugged. “He’s not the first to want my head, and he probably won’t be the last. Isn’t that right, Cleo?”
“It’s one of your worst features, too bad I still love that about you,” she said provocatively. “Is that all you wanted to know Krista? I feel like you have something else you wanted to say.”
“Hero, what does being a hero mean to you?” A shared dream between Dante and herself, but she couldn’t help but feel that they had different perspective as to what being a hero is. “To me, a hero should be a symbol of goodness. Someone unwavering in the face of evil and of a righteous heart.”
“If that’s true, then Dante is a hero already,” retorted Cleo.
“I’d like to think so, but my definition of hero is a little bit different,” Dante said before thinking about his answer carefully, “A hero can only be human, no different from you or me, what separates a hero from us are their actions. To be able to do what must be done.”
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Krista couldn’t say she was satisfied with that answer, “You idolized the Moonlit Knight when you were younger, right? You were inspired by them. That’s because they created an ideal that anyone could strive towards. Even those who were shunned like us.”
“Yet no one would have remembered the Moonlit Knight if they didn’t impose a 100 year armistice,” Dante countered. “If they didn’t find a cure for gorgon disease. If they hadn’t done what needed to be done.”
Krista relented slightly, “We may not see eye to eye on this subject, but I do appreciate that you didn’t back down on your opinion immediately. I at least know that means you truly believe your words. In time, maybe we can come to a consensus on what it means to be a hero.”
He raised his hands into the air, “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Chapter 58: Heading Home
Damien sat at a table drinking some tea his elder friend had him prepare, “They’re two weeks late!”
About a month ago, Damien had arrived at Horizon. Nearly a full year had past since he arrived in Journey, so his meeting time with the Lion Khan’s Blade and her crew was about to arrive. In the meantime, Damien though about rooming with Madam Heart before he realized that she’d roast him alive for leaving Krista and Amelia, so he’d been spending his days with Jhandis instead.
“Loud, aren’t you?” remarked Jhandis weakly.
“Sorry, I’m just…” Damien couldn’t think of the right word. Old age to have finally been catching up with Jhandis, since even before Damien had arrived, the old man was left bedridden. Honestly, he’d probably be dead if Damien wasn’t there.
“A lazy griffin’s mind becomes an egg,” finished Jhandis
“What does that mean?” Jhandis had picked up the strange habit of imparting strange metaphors such as this. Damien wasn’t sure that was just who he was or if it was because Jhandis was losing it.
“It means you’re bored,” Jhandis stated flatly. “That makes sense for a young man like yourself. There’s not much to do other than tending to my garden.”
True enough, Damien had taken to checking the place where Killian and crew left him off at least 4 or 5 times a week since he’d arrived to Horizon. Since then, a month has already passed, probably. Jhandis didn’t have a calendar and it was pretty easy to forget as days became weeks.
At this point, these outings were an excuse to play and practice with Fuzzball and Knight. By now, Fuzzball was already growing its feathers, and it turns out he/she, Damien didn’t know how to tell genders between birds, was trying to start flying, Albeit pretty poorly. What was peculiar was that Jhandis didn’t know what kind of bird Fuzzball was, even as strange, angled striped patterns appeared on its feathers. At best Damien knew that it resembled a young owl.
Knight, she, and Damien knew it was a she, loved to play hide and seek with him. Damien took it as training at becoming better at spotting Animus. Problem was that Knight was a sore loser and was unafraid to show he disappointment at being caught. Usually by playfully biting at Damien, which, when she was smaller, was more than fine. Now her canines were starting to grow in.
They’ll both respond to their names and could follow some basic commands. They were not at Fierce level of obedience, but they’re getting there. Damien also took the time to borrow one of Jhandis’s old boats to get them used to the sea. Fuzzball and Knight were naturals, but Nightshade took a while.
“Is it that obvious?” Damien asked. “So much has gone on these past two years that I guess the stillness is just a bit unsettling.”
Jhandis coughed loudly, “Where’s the young lass?”
Up until now, he hadn’t brought up the elephant in the room, but Damien guessed he was tired of waiting, “We had a difference of opinion about something important. I don’t know when or if we’ll ever see each other again.”
“Do you want to?”
“I don’t know if we should,” Damien shrugged. I’d probably just end up causing her more harm.”
“I didn’t ask if you should or even if you could, I asked if you want to.” Jhandis cut through Damien’s weak answer, wanting to hear his true thoughts, but Damien didn’t answer. “Lost are the fools who bury themselves under their own doubts.”
Jhandis closed his eyes after saying this and never opened them again. Died in peace in his sleep. Even after spending a month with the man, Damien had learned very little as to who Jhandis was. In his room, all Damien found was Jhandis’s medallion, a rusted great sword, and a ripped apart note where the only words he could make out was “my love.” Damien decided to bury these items alongside him in the garden he loved so much.
It was a week later when Damien saw the Lion Khan’s Blade in the distance. They had actually come. Damien was all but ready to jump for joy until he realized something. He came to Stellar to find an army, but here he was alone. Given their personalities, they were definitely going to have a laugh at his expense.
Soon the Lion Khan’s Blade came to a stop and a small boat started rowing towards me. On board, Damien could see three shapes. Two men and one woman. At least he thought it was a woman. The men look like Killian and Kent, however the woman didn’t seem like Adrian. She was much too… large?
“Damien! Damien!” Shouted the giant woman. “Are you there? Come out!"
From afar, Damien could barely make out what she was saying, but what he did now that she somehow knew his name. Damien hadn’t told anyone from Journey his name since he was 16. While he did feel like he could trust Killian, Damien felt that it was better to be safe than sorry.
“Killian!” She continued to shout as they reached the beach. “You said he’d be here. I wanted to meet him again!” That can’t be… no that’s not who I think that is.
“Khan Ulrich?!” Damien had to reveal myself, that was Leona Ulrich. “What are you doing out here?”
Upon hearing him, she ran towards Damien at a full sprint, “Damien!” Leona was easily over six feet and has quite the amount of muscle to match. She was also a lot faster than he expected.
“Gah!” Was all I managed as she tackled me to the ground. “It’s so good to see you again. I told you to just call me Sis or Leona. I thought you were dead. My little brother!”
“Breathe, can’t!” cried Damien.
Killian walked over and managed to pry her off him, “So, you really did know each other. Damn, you actually are Damien Grayson, I never would have guessed.”
“So, that cat is already out of the bag,” Damien lamented. “How’d you figure it out?”
Killian crossed his arms with his head held high, “With brilliant detective work of course!”
Kent elbowed him in the gut, “Adrian had to take out your contacts while they were caring for you. That’s when they noticed your purple irises. After coming into contact with Leona here, she swore it was you. Turns out she was right.”
Damien rubbed his eyes, “Figures, but that just raises more questions. How did you guys come into contact with Leona?”
She smiled and held tightly to Killian, “This guy here came to Powercene and told me he wanted to tie the knot. In front of everybody, you should have seen their faces. I couldn’t say no after that, and now we’re here.” Sure enough, Killian shared that large smile on his face, as well as a few new scars.
“You actually did it, you crazy bastard,” Damien replied as he smacked Killian on the back. “I’m happy for you!”
Leona closed in over Damien as she teased, “What about you. Seeing anyone? If you’re not, Valliena is still single. I’m sure she-”
Damien held up his hand up to stop her there, “L-Let’s not talk about that right now, more importantly let me grab my things, and let’s head back towards the ship.” On the ship, Damien was met with a lot of familiar faces, including Adrian who was holding onto the staff, “Oh! You’re an elemental user then Adrian?”
They looked confused, then looked at the staff. “Is that what it is? It just lights up yellow for me, I pass out, and we’re past the Contusis. Actually, this is the first time I’ve done it where I didn’t… there it is.”
They fell forward into Damien’s arms, completely unconscious. Killian decided to speak her next words for them, “It’s good to see you back Darius.”
Roars of agreement came throughout the entire crew. Damien was pleased to see that he was still welcomed.
“How many times do I have to tell you, he’s Damien!” Leona lectured. “Damien! My adorable little brother.”
Damien could only sigh to the thought that Leona still wants him to marry into her family. In hindsight, maybe should have just lost that fight to Valliena back then.
“Are you serious?” a couple of the guys who probably hailed from New Dawn spoke out. Aware that he should be dead.
At this point, Damien decided to just come clean, “That’s me, Damien Grayson of Acumenos, heir to the throne.”
There was complete silence for a while than an explosion of laughter, “Lord Chancellor?!
“Yeah, of course, he is.”
“Maybe next time he’ll show us around his castle!”
Jeers and laughs from all around could be heard. Not many of them actually believed the story Leona and Damien had was true.
Killian moved to calm everyone down, “Alright! Alright crew, settle down. We’re going to do as we promised and return Damien home, or at least that’s what I would say. Instead, I’d like to offer him a home, with us! What say you!”
The entire crew roared loudly again, and then look at him expectantly, “Guys, I appreciate the offer, but I’m on a miss-”
Killian puts a hand on his shoulder, “You came here looking for an army correct? We came here expecting to traverse with one, yet here you are alone. Rather than with some animal companions. I can feel in your spirit that things didn’t go as plan, and I’m offering you a different option. Everyone here loves you and thinks of you like their own brother. Wouldn’t it be easier to forget everything and just move on? Many of us have.”
It was an honest plea, and Damien could see that Killian probably had his best interests at heart, but, “I can’t accept that Killian. Instead, I’d like to offer you all a job.”
He sighed, “If it’s you, no especially because it’s you, I know that this will be something dangerous. My crew is all about danger and we’d love to help, but money is shor-”
Damien spilled the gems he’d been keeping in his gadget kit. Killian grabbed one of the gems and lifted it towards the sky. The sun reflected magically of the gem, creating a beautiful gem illumination.
“I hope this is enough to charter you for a while,” said Damien flatly.
Immediately, Killian kneeled on one leg, “Where to, my liege?!”
“Asshole,” Damien remarked with a smile. “I want you to temporarily become my personal navy. If this isn’t enough, I guess I could always… find more suitable sailors.”
Killian jumped on the gems as if Damien had threatened his mother, “No… this will do nicely! Anything else?”
Damien walked towards the bow of the ship, to get on last look over Stellar, “I’ve been going about this all wrong. I already have the people I need to take down Dante. I never needed New Dawn in the first place. I’ve just been looking for help in the wrong places.”
Leona gave Damien a hard pat on the back, “Where to then?”
“First, we’re going to stop by Sheildon on some important business,” Damien said while rubbing the welt forming on his back. “After that we’ll be heading to my home, Acumenos.”