I honestly wish I had good enough art skills to draw the art for my own fiction. It would help give you guys an idea of how everyone looks, because clearly im not good at describing people + surroundings.

This Isn’t the Type of Paradise I expected.

  Chapter 5: Once more! With Feeling!

The hooded figure stood overhead, covered by the darkness of the cave, making it hard to see his face. Not that I needed to see it. It was so obvious that it was---

“Kyousuke! You’re back! Where have you been?”

Ericka looked up at him as he jumped down from the balcony above.

Kyousuke was wearing a dark green cloak with a hood that hid his dark green hair. He has red eyes. His quiver was strapped to his back and he wore long brown pants.

“I was caught up in some… undesirable conflict. Sorry Ericka. So, who’s this burly old guy?”

He pointed at the once-thief named pocket with his bow. His arms and legs were spread out, unconscious.

“We were sent to deal with the recent robberies. Turns out this guy was the one that was behind it all.”

At least he’s ok. At least that’s what it looks like from here. Must be his earth type affinity.

“Looks like you guys got caught up in quite the stir-up.”

“Yes, we did, everything ended as well as it could have. But we have to take this guy back to town, Arturio is waiting f—.”

My left eye starts to sting and I flinch and shut my eyes in response. I forgot he cut above my eye and it was bleeding. The blood got into my eye. I start rubbing my eyes.

“Shinji stop it, you’ll only make it worse.”

I almost had it. Ignoring her, I continue to rub it, it hopes of it getting better.

…Spoiler alert: It did not.

“Shinji! I can heal it, stop moving so much.

“I got it. Don’t waste your energy on me.”

I didn’t have it.

“Shinji… look your eyes are red now.”

She grabs my hands hand pushes them towards my chest. I try to move them, but they are stuck in place.

“Foreplay? I didn’t know Ericka was into bondage. And in public?”

Kyousuke took a moment to make the worst misunderstanding as usual.

“Looks like it…”

“I am not!”

Her voice rose to a squeak as her furry ears perked in response.

“So this is what you guys did when I wasn’t around?

At first, Kyousuke looked confused, but then…

Nice Shinji!”

He gave me a thumbs up. His grin sparkled and I cringed.

“It’s not like that!”

Ericka’s face reddened. She looked at me, pouting. What did I do?

“If you were to walk into a field of tomatoes, you’d feel right at home.”

“Are you guys toying with me again?”

Kyousuke and I share a laugh at Ericka’s expense. Just like no-so old times.

“Sorry...”

Ericka begins to use her magic on my eyes by placing her hands over my eyes. Everything went dark. I feel a great deal of relief after that.

“I can’t believe you froze me? How could you?”

I don’t know if I’m tearing up or if it’s blood running down my face. I hope it was the latter.

“It’s your own fault for not listening to me. And we should get going and turn him in before he wakes up.”

She has a point. It’s getting awfully chilly in this cave and I don’t want to stay here any longer than I have to. Although that may be because of Ericka’s ice magic.

I almost forgot, we have to find the old thieves guild members. But I don’t want this guy to wake up. What should I do?

 I hear the door we came in from opening, creating a loud creaking noise heard everywhere. I see Kyousuke draw his bow and aim at the door, arrow in hand.

A knight from Mercidia raises his hands and waves to us. He stumbles forward, panting.

“The captain…told….me… to assist you… if necessary.”

“Don’t worry. Everything is covered here. See?”

I don’t think he’d have been much help in this condition anyways. My hands are still bound, so I tilt my head in the direction of the fallen man.

“Oh, well…I’ve also…been sent to tell you that the other knights have come back from their missions, and are coming to assist as well.”

“So they can search the rest of the caves for the old members, while we bring back this man?”

Ericka made eye contact with the knight, who responded in kind. He nods.

Well alright then. I head towards the opening on the other side of the room. I see a rope ladder and kick it off the ledge, securing an escape route. Although, with me as I am, I cannot actually climb it down. I look all the way down.

I can see the town from here. It seems to be still dark outside. I can only hear what sounds like crickets outside, and rushing water from the river below. The area is surrounded by a dense forest.

…It’s a long fall.

I definitely won’t be able to easily climb down from here, or carry the body. I ask Ericka.

“Hey do you mind---.”

“Nope.”

Thanks…no wait…

“Why not?”

She proceeds down the ladder before she could answer.

“You’re being difficult!”

“Kyousuke! You have to carry the guy! I’m bound up here. Hurry up!

I feel a push on my back. And then I saw the ground moving closer to me.

I turn around as I see Kyousuke waving to me with a smile on his face. I curse him on the way down.

“YOU ASSHOOOOOoooooooooooooole!”

                                                           *****************************************************

“So c-c-cold… I swear I’ll get him back for t-th- ow!”

I bit my tongue. I my old clothes were wet so I had to switch out of them. I got new ones from a shop in town. It was a brown leather, hooded military trench coat and some long boots. It was fairly durable, so I decided to get it. It was better than those other clothes I had. Ms.Falsa said it was her treat for getting her husband back. I don’t like to make a habit out of depending on others, but since she was returning a favor, I let it slide.

I was currently in Café Falsa’s guest bedroom. The bedroom was fairly small. It reminded me of my old dormitory room.

“It’s my fault, I’m sorry. I just didn’t want you infecting your eyes.”

She looked away, sighing. Her furry ears sag in response.

“I’m not falling for that this time. The sad eyes aren’t working on me. I could’ve really gotten hurt if I didn’t fall into the river.”

“I was worried about you too! I didn’t expect him to--.”

“I don’t need you worrying about me. I can take care of myself, but thanks anyway.  Next time, I’d like to take the ladder…with both hands.”

I gave her a smile and ruffled her long brown hair. She looks away from me.

“What’s with you…? You’re so stubborn.”

I chuckle at the thought.

“You’re one to talk. I actually wanted to do that whole thing alone, but I’m sure you would’ve found a way to get there alone, so I let you come with me.”

“I didn’t want you getting hurt. I know we haven’t known each other long, but I really care about you. I don’t want anyone dying around me anymore.”

Anymore?

She buried her head in my chest and wrapped her arms around mine in an attempt to hide her face. Her ears were down and her tail was moving furiously.

“Stop staring at me…it’s embarrassing.”

She looked up at me with her lower face still in my chest. Her voice sounded like a mumble.

“But you’re the one saying embarrassing things. I could take what you said the wrong way!”

It actually sounded like she confessed to me. My face reddens at the thought so I turn around quickly when she loosens her grip.

“I wouldn’t mind if you did.”

“What?”

“Nothing! I-I’m going to check on Mr.Falsa’s wounds, okay? I’ll be back.”

She quickly parted from me and left the room.

“Right…”

I grab at my chest. I feel pressure on my chest.

“This feeling again. It’s familiar. It’s pleasant, but it wants to stay forever. But what happens when you lose it, get dependent on it, or it gets stolen away?

I think I hate it. Whatever…

I shake these thoughts away. I don’t have time to worry about that.

After the whole ordeal with the thief Pocket, Kyousuke decided within his benevolent heart that it was a good idea to push me off the cliffs, into the river. The river, luckily enough for me, lead to the outskirts of Mercidia where Laurie found me drifting while doing laundry to get her mind off of her father. She then proceeded to tell me how much of an idiot I was before trying to helping me up. She failed. My weight was too much for her and she was dragged into the river. She then continued to barrage me with insults. I then realized the Ice magic that Ericka put on my arm has melted, probably due to the distance or the water. After getting out of the lake with Laurie, she escorted me back to the café.

…And that’s how I got here.

 Ericka told me that Arturio and Kyousuke brought the rogue Pocket to the castle the face his crimes. She also told me that Arturio had something important to give me later and that he wanted to give me something for the good work.

I decided to go to the training grounds as advised. I shouldn’t keep him waiting.

As I walked through the town, the usual hustle is nowhere to be found. The stores are all locked, and the stalls are empty. The whole town seems to be dark, except from the lights from inside the few homes of the nocturnals and the castle. I realized that I no longer get lost in the town, despite only being here for a week or so. Feeling good, but upset about the fact that the merchant square no longer held any wonder for me, I walked behind the castle.

When I arrived, I passes the clock and it read 3:30. It is still dark outside, so it must still be night time.

I opened the gates and I was greeted by the usual guards that I saw every time I pass here.

“Hey guys. Hard at work I see.”

I passed them by as they responded.

“Hey Shinji! Yep, the usual.”

“The captain is in the back.”

“Alright.”

As I pass through the gate, I enter a large field with training dummies. I see captain Arturio standing in the center of the field with his sword unsheathed and another in his opposite hand. He held his sword up high and stared intently at it, as if it meant everything to him. I looked fairly new, probably because he maintained it so well. It must mean a lot to him. I continue to approach him.

“This sword, is the first gift I got from my knighthood. The late queen gave it to me when I was assigned to her. From then on I promised to protect her with my life. It seems that promise was not well kept.”

…

I sit there. Waiting for him to continue.

“Me and the late queen were friends you know? Her name was Aika Mercidia. All queens adopt the name of the town. Was meant to be symbolism of the town being a part of them.”

“Silly right?”

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

He forced a chuckle. He had a brooding face.

“I think it makes sense…”

“I do too, well now. When I was a fledgling knight, I just laughed it off. I regret that day.”

“The queen was a rather immature girl, but with dreams like everyone else. She loved everyone in town and would buy something from every merchant in town, which would put the town’s budget in quite the pickle. She would not allow anyone on the streets at night as she despised homelessness. She wanted them to live in the castle but the advisor was against it and settled for a homeless shelter.  And I would walk along with her watching her put a smile to everyone’s face. Eventually, she would put one to mine.”

“She would always poke fun at my glasses, you know. Saying that I have beautiful eyes and it was a waste, which would make all the other suitors jealous. Which would make me blush furiously.”

He takes off his glasses and rubs them off of his shirt. He then puts them back on.

 She made fun of me daily, which annoyed me and I would have to cover her when she made the old advisor angry by not signing important paperwork. But she was the queen that I happened to like and I thought she would never love me back. I would do anything for her.

He looked up at the sky. The once blue sky was filled with black, containing an ocean of stars. There were not enough stars to illuminate the night, but you’d have thought it was.

“She would even keep me up doing her paperwork on nights like these. I wouldn't even mind doing it again”

…

“We eventually fell in love with each other though, which I couldn’t believe. Apparently I was very dense and she tried telling me multiple times.”

“Have you ever failed to protect someone? Shinji? Someone precious to you?”

What’s with that question?

“I think… I have? So much of my past is a blur, but bits and pieces have been coming back to me. I’m not really sure I want to remember.”

…

“The moments where you lose someone may make you stronger, but the price may not be worth it. I’d hope you haven’t, but loss teaches us what is important to us when it is not there. What we really take for granted.”

Why is he telling me this?

“I wanted to know if you have anything worth fighting for. A dream, a friend, family, lover, or even an ideal. He who fights for nothing is nothing but a beast. Are you a beast, squire?”

He throws me the other sword, and draws his weapon. It was a katana.

“It’s your gift. Take it, and show me what you fight for.”

He rushes towards me, unlike in our other battle. I’m not used to this at all. Are we not going to use the training weapons? No time for that. He’s coming!

“I’d like to think I fight not to die!”

“Then you fight like a beast!”

He runs towards me and jumps at me with his longsword, slashing downward. As I dodge it, the sword parts the ground beneath me.

“Woah! That could’ve killed me!”

“Really? I didn’t notice.”

“Something tells me you did!”

 I make an attempt to counterattack. I grab my sheathed blade and try to ram it in his gut. He vanishes over to the side of me.

“Huh?”

How did he?

He kicks me in the stomach and sends me flying, causing me to roll down over to the other side of the field. I end up rolling back up onto my feet. I was welcomed by Arturio keeping up the offensive. He slashed at my chest again and I give a backstep. One second he’s in my face and another he flashes towards me, standing in front of me. He kicks me away once more and I roll away once more.

How? He’s able to close the gaps quicker than he’s making them. Also, he’s able to dodge my attacks with great speed all the while, making more openings for himself. I know now, this captain is no pushover. He was definitely going easy on me last time, but not this time. This is the strength of someone who protects a kingdom.

I watch him once more, to see the secret behind his movement. He begins to rush at me once again with sword in hand. I notice his one of his hands is positioned behind him, constantly gathering air magic. I get it now.

He appears in front of me once more, this time almost instantly. My eyes couldn’t read him moving from one location to another. He stops to catch himself and slashes vertically across my chest, tearing a piece of my clothing away.

 It seems that means my shield is gone. I’m going to be feeling it now. I feel a grin forming on my face.

I back away, ready to act. I gather wind energy in my palm and place a wind mine on the hilt of my katana. He approaches me once more and attempts to slash and me quickly while maneuvering quickly after each slash. Horizontal, horizontal, thrust, diagonal. I dodged most of them with ease. He then again kicks me away.

 Kicks again? That’s really starting to hurt, with him kicking the same spot over and over again. Which I’m sure is intentional. My stomach’s kind of numb.

I stagger back and drop my sword and he appears in front of me again, preparing to strike. I clench my fish and activate the wind mine trap on my sword, causing it to propel towards Arturio at high speeds. Midway during his strike the sheath makes contact with his head, causing him to stumble forward and making the sheath go higher in the air. I take the opportunity to jump over give an axe kick to his back and jump up and catch my sword.

I twist my body in midair towards Arturio and place a wind mine trap on my back. Arturio recovers quickly and makes eye contact.

“It seems you never learn…”

…He placed a wind mine on my back, didn’t he?

He raised his left hand and made a fist and smiled.

…he placed a wind mine on my back.

At this situation, I’m currently launching towards him in midair with minimum control over my body.

I see him hold his sword with two hands and put it over his head in the 2 o’clock position.

So I’m assuming he’s expecting me to come at him at a certain speed, so…

…what if I double it?

“It seems you’re the one who needs to learn…”

I mocked his accent, putting my sword near my waist in a drawing position. I take my left hand and clutch the air in front of me, activating the wind mind I placed as well. This caused me to tear down to the ground at a speed so great the grass on the ground parted when I landed. I drew my blade as well as I could, but the speed I was going made it hard. Even so, I managed to slash through his waist.

Upon landing I fell on the ground, rolling violently towards the nearest tree, severing it completely from its trunk.

“Owwwww.”

A familiar darkness overcome me

                                                                                 To be Continued?

                                                  [x]    Yes?                                                    J  [ ] No?   J

What is this an RPG?! What’ll happen if I check no? Wake up already me! I’m already weirded out by the fact that no sticks out more than yes. And what’s with the smileys? This is not a happy time.

“Hey Shinji? You alright? Come on now don’t tell me a couple of slashes is enough to take you out?”

I wake up to this unbelievable statement.

“That seems like the appropriate amount of force to kill anyone! What am I Godzilla?”

“Godzilla?”

Oh right. Different world. Did Godzilla even get cut before.

“Nothing… So how are you alright? I didn’t hurt too badly, did it?”

He looked puzzled.

“Hurt? You didn’t even touch me Shinji, Aside from a headache from that trick and a sore back I’m fine.”

“Huh?”

Is he serious?

“You missed me lad. What you probably thought was my skin, was my scabbard to my sword, but this thing is quite durable. If you would’ve hit me with that, I would’ve definitely gotten more than a flesh wound.”

I hit my face with my palm. I start laughing hysterically.

“Hahaha! That’s hilarious. I mean, it’s not, but seriously the scabbard?”

Arturio looks worried. He tries to force a smile.

“I’m fine. Just hehe fine.”

Struggling to stop the laugh. I remember the question I wanted to ask before he came at me.

“Hey what happened to the queen?”

I noticed he was calling her the late queen and saying things like “have you ever failed to protect someone?”

“Ahh, that. She…died in the midst of a war. I failed to protect her when it mattered. She hated war and would do anything in her power to stop one. Us being a neutral being, she decided it would be best to stop the war with our limited men. Neither side had the will to fight, nor could they toss away their pride and stop so they didn’t. Within weeks, she visited the two nations and stopped the fighting, but had to get the word out somehow, so she went to the field by herself. Without me. Said it would be too dangerous. My thoughts exactly, for her. As she gave the order to the last side, she… was run through by a javelin one of the idiotic soldiers who thought their captain was being attacked. I didn’t get there in time.”

I’ve never seen him sound angry before. It wasn’t like Mr.Falsa, it was hatred. I’m sure I don’t want to know the fate of the other guy, so I don’t ask.

“But regardless, she told me not to hate anyone for this, at least she was the only casualty. Which made me even more upset, but I respected her final words. She told me to take care of our “little queen.”

“Our little queen?”

What is that?

“My daughter Ai. The current queen.”

Wait…what? The queen is…his daughter? Doesn’t that make him king? How didn’t I see this? So him and the Queen Aika had a daughter before she passed, and no one knew that he was the father?

“Wouldn’t that make you the king? Why aren’t you up there with her?”

“Because up there, I would only be a king who failed to protect his queen. Hurts less on my fragile ego this way.”

Sigh…stop messing around.

“Cut the crap. As a father, I know you want to be around her.”

“She doesn’t know I’m her father, I’m just a knight who happens to be very close to her. It’s better this way. I still get to see her every day, so it’s fine.”

 “So changing the subject, did you find an answer to my question? I told you he who fights for himself is naught but a beast, fighting purely for survival. An empty life. Are you a beast?”

I give it thought. All  humans instinctively fight for survival, whether they want to or not. Doesn’t that make all humans beast in some way? I think about what the rogue Pocket said to me:

            “We’re animals you and I. It’s in our nature to fight and take from others who have. You can’t please everyone, so I might as well please myself. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

So that was a man who embraced his beasthood. I don’t think I’m like that. I found my answer.

“I’m something worse than a beast. I’m a human. I fight for the people who can’t themselves. I don’t want to stand back while  someone’s in danger. If my own life is in danger I wouldn’t hesitate to escape with my own life, but I would never stop searching for a way for everyone to come out alive. There is no such thing as only 2 paths we humans can make infinite amounts of paths, that’s what makes us worse than beasts who only follow one.”

Arturio starts to tear up… Seriously?

“Well said, I think you’re going to make me cry…”

“Please don’t.”

“Oh, Shinjii that was so beautiful…”

“No WAIT! I said------“

“Waaaaaaaa!”

                                                                           And those tears would go on till sunrise