Gilbert found himself lying on the trenches of Krieg once more dressed in his military uniform, the once pure sky was gone and in its place were the dark smoke that on occasion would rain acid upon them forcing everyone to wear protective gear to withstand the rain all the while the sounds of the Cannons fired from the OMT-8 Sleipnir Tanks can be heard in the distance and every few minutes an MVC-13 Zeus would go over the trenches above them and ride off into the next warzone.

A Stormtrooper approached him, it was hard to tell whether or not they were a boy or a girl due to the baggy and bulky clothes but what caught his eye was the sword that hung on his waist. Regardless, the Stormtrooper walked towards Gilbert and offered their hand towards him.

“Hey you, you’re finally awake.” The Stormtrooper said offering their hand towards him, even their voice sounded androgynous to be honest. "We had to drag you all the way back here to make sure that you made it in one piece."

"What's going on?" Gilbert said wondering what is happening, a part of him wondered if the defection and the arrival at Bael's estate was all a dream and that he was still at the siege.

“Don't worry this is all an illusion,” The Stormtrooper said as they pulled out the sword from their waist and offered it to him. “I came here to offer this sword to you.”

Gilbert wanted to reach out but he had a feeling that there's a catch behind it.

“What's the catch,” Gilbert decided to ask, this caused the Stormtrooper to chuckle.

“I knew you'd ask that,” The Stormtrooper sheathed the sword. Eventually the scenery changed, they were in a white desert at night all the while they stared at a blue sphere with a halo from the distance.

“What exactly are we looking at?” Gilbert said as they were staring at the sphere from the distance, in all honesty the blue sphere looked beautiful, like he couldn't help being drawn towards it to the point where he'd reach out and try to grab it.

“Beautiful isn't it?” The Stormtrooper said, looking at Gilbert. “That's Vestige, our home.”

“Why show me this?” Gilbert asked the Stormtrooper. "Is this some kind of windup to some grand quest--"

"--Yes--"

"--cause there's no way in hell I'm doing it." Gilbert said, waving his hands.

"I don't think you understand the benefits of being my chosen wielder," The Stormtrooper said as he crossed their arms.

"And I don't think you understand that I'm just a nobody trying to make my way through this already messed up world." Gilbert replied back. "Besides, what makes me so special that you had chosen me?"

"You already answered your question though," The Stormtrooper said as the rock behind them formed a small stool for him to sit on. "You defied orders and even offered servitude just so that you can give your companions a chance at living a better life."

"Anyone could do that!" Gilbert said in annoyance.

"Greed and Selfishness is what makes a human Human," The Stormtrooper said as he raised his finger and immediately a stone chair appeared behind him as well as the two Seat.

"For many years Humanity has been nothing but selfish and greedy, it's part of human nature you see, the Earthlandians want what the Urdheimrian have and vice versa, and the ones that predate the two nations want what the other have and vice versa." The Stormtrooper said as they now found themselves in the middle of a still ocean still sitting down on two chairs and upon the horizon the sun was rising. "It's like this ocean below us, it flows in one continuous direction."

The Stormtrooper then pulled out a large rock and dropped it into the ocean and upon doing so it caused ripples across the water. "But every so often a someone or maybe even a group of people would be able to cause a ripple effect that will reverberate throughout the years causing a lasting legacy."

"So you're saying that what I have done has set in motion many things that will forever change the world?" Gilbert said in confusion. "Look I get that you want me to take whatever quest you have in store but I'm just a grunt that ran away from my duties."

"Doubtful huh, well I guess I can't force you into taking the job I have for you." The Stormtrooper said as they stood up. "However if you ever need the sword at it's fullest potential, just call out my name and I shall be at your aid, but know that once you do so then you have accepted my task."

"Then I hope that time never comes," Gilbert said in a low voice. "What is your name?"

"Oh my name?" The Stormtrooper said, turning towards Gilbert. "My name is–"

[06.16.AC0119]

[Ashford Homestead]

Gilbert woke up to find himself on the bed with a heavy feeling on his chest, he turned to the side and found Bael peeling an apple using magic. She noticed him and gave him a stern look as she aimed her wand at him.

"Good you're awake, now tell me everything you saw in that dream." She said to him as he felt the collar around his neck begin to tighten much to his annoyance considering it was clear that she spent a good time waiting for him to wake up.

"The sword needed some kind of host, and I declined the offer cause it wanted me to do something for it!" Gilbert said in a hurry as he felt the collar tighten.

"Why did you said no?" She asked in annoyance.

"I have a feeling it was something annoying to deal with like slay a Prana Beast or create a group of people." Gilbert explained to her as she lowered her wand to which she sighed and gave him a disapproving look.

“Well you're right about that, Sunrise is basically the one who will choose who will change the world.” Bael said, setting aside her wand.

"So it's a lot bigger than I had expected," Gilbert said in a low voice.

THUNK!

The two of them turned around to find a messenger bird crashing into the window much to their surprise.

"Must be yours," Bael said with a low voice as Gilbert got off the bed and made his way towards the messenger bird that was patiently waiting for him. "From those friends of yours I assume."

"You guys don't use messenger birds?" Gilbert asked.

"We use a specific breed of birds for the job, and that is not that breed." Bael answered, crossing her arms as he pulled out the letter from the leg and read its contents.

'Dear Gilbert'

'How are things going? We were able to establish a small camp a few short miles away from the Valley and into a Forest known as Gilbertown. Why did we choose that name you may ask? Well we named it after you, to honor your leadership and sacrifice to make sure that we are able to make it this far. I know that you're now a servant to the mage but I was hoping that you two could visit us for the time being and see what we've accomplished.'

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

'Love, Melissa'

The news made Gilbert smile and he turned to Bael who was looking over his shoulder with a curious look on her face as to what Melissa sent to him.

"So are you going to visit them?" Bael asked.

"I'd love to." Gilbert answered with a smile on his face, to which Bael gave him a cheeky smile and sighed. "Fine, can't be helped, and since you're a good servant I'll let you go but only if I accompany you."

The two rode their way towards the small settlement of Gilbertown which was located into a forest area known as Wyrmwood.

About Wyrmwood, it was a deep dark forest that is generally home to a Clan of Druids who were mostly neutral towards the entire war between Urdheimr and Earthland. And while it doesn’t mention whether or not they have made contact with the Druids but if they were able to cooperate with the druids then their survival is ensured.

The two were riding on their respective horses, excited to see this new Settlement that they had been able to visit during the visit.

“You’re excited to see her aren’t you.” Bael said with a teasing smile on her face as the two rode through the forest.

“How can I not,” Gilbert said excitedly with a flustered smile on his face. “I want to give her a proper answer and maybe…”

“...I don’t mind if you get into a relationship,” Bael said reassuringly as she shook her head as she as amused at the flustered look that Gilbert was exhibiting. “Just make sure to make me the Godmother, who knows maybe your child will have a high affinity for Magic or something.”

Gilbert then proceeded to let out a loud laugh. “Too soon Master. Too soon.”

But their happy moment was replaced with that of a look of worry as they both saw black smoke on the horizon, the two exchanged looks and then hurried their pace towards the place with Gilbert having one thought in his mind.

‘Please be safe everyone.’

[Gilbertown]

[Wyrmwood Forest]

They arrived at the town amidst chaos, tents were on fire and several of his people were lying on the ground either bleeding out or dead from the fighting. Gilbert pulled out his rifle and started joining in the fighting, not caring who they were up against save for the fact that his people were in danger.

“I can’t be seen in this fight Gilbert!” Bael said using her magic to shapeshift into a rabbit and hide, Gilbert clicked his tongue and continued to fight on while he saw a handful of the Settlement defenders were fighting what appears to be mages wearing plague doctor masks.

One of the Mages spotted Gilbert and then fired an orb of fireball towards him, to which he dodged and opened fire at the Mage only to block it with a Protection spell. One of the defenders handed him a rotary Grenade Launcher and started firing it at the nearest Mage who would be killed by the explosion caused by it.

But as he was about to continue to fight onwards, he felt his body go numb and stiffen as he fell to the ground he tried his best to move his head and he spotted the caster as she walked towards him. For a moment he noticed the blue eyes were familiar, but unlike the warm eyes that showed happiness, they were instead cold and lifless.

“Take this one, I don’t care about the rest.” She said through a mask that hid most of her features. This caused two mages to approach Gilbert, one was wielding a bat and then everything went black.

[VESTIGE:SUNRISE]

Bael ran through the woods with a worried look on her face, she needed to flee the forest for the time being considering she just witnessed the Harbingers which were Urdheimr’s Elite Mages tasked in taking out any threats within the peace of Urdheimr known for their iconic Crow-like masks.

Or at the very least anything they perceive as a threat to Urdheimr.

She dodged the spells that were sent towards her, she pulled out her wand and deflected most of the spells that were sent towards her all the while using an illusion spell to hide her true appearance. As soon as they were finally out of sight, Bael turned into a bird and flew away from Wyrmwood.

Her flight from Wyrmwood eventually led her to the Merchant City of Versa and she collapsed to the floor and then let out a sigh. But as she let out a sigh and hid in the nearby alley and hid but she felt the sharp blade of a knife at her back.

“You’re a long way from your home,” The Muffled voice of Mika said, causing her to turn around with her wand drawn to find Mika wearing a scarf to hide his facial features all the while holding a rope dagger with a wavy blade.

“You’re a friend of Gilbert,” Bael said though that did little to drop her guard, Mika then responded by throwing his Rope Dagger at her only for her to deflect it with her dueling wand. “Wait, hear me out!”

“What do you want, Mage?” Mika said with a glare, it was a gamble but she needed help if she were to rescue Gilbert. While she is capable in certain fields, Illusion magic is not one of them and thus she needed one to allow her to sneak inside the nearest Harbinger before they decide to skin him alive and use his virgin skin as a catalyst.

While she is not good with Illusions, there’s a high chance a Street Urchin like Mika who managed to cast an advanced Illusion Spell to escape them might.

“Gilbert has been captured and I need your help.” She said raising a bag of Money hoping she can at the very least bribe him into helping.

"Why should I help you?" Mika asked her as he raised his dagger again.

'Cause you're expendable,' "Cause your illusion magic is good, and I'm no good with Illusion magic." Bael said trying her best to not sound condescending towards him. Truth be told she just needed someone to help her sneak in and she can take care of the rest. But she wasn't lying that his illusion magic is good, it was clear that Mika had been using it for stealing whatsoever and while there is room for improvement, his talents towards it is promising.

"What's in it for me?" Mika asked gripping his dagger tightly.

"Well what do you want?" Bael asked him as he paused for a moment, as though he was trying to assess the risks brought upon it. Truth be told this is a massive gamble on Bael's part as well as she barely knew the child and now she was putting her faith in rescuing her Servant into him. But surely this child believed in the concept of Honor among Thieves right? As payment for Gilbert's kindness he should at the very least be thankful for Gilbert saving him from being beaten to death.

"We'll discuss the terms once we survive this ordeal, I'll help you but expect something expensive in return." Mika said, sheathing his dagger as the two of them left.

Growing up, Valach Sallow learned that the world is harsh and cruel. How only the strongest dominate the world. He learned that the hard way after his parents sold him to be experimented on by Mages, eventually he learned to harness his abilities, he would eventually escape and begin again as Mika.

Valach died the day he was sold and in his place was Mika.

"Alright Mage, what do you have in mind?" Mika asked as they approached the walls of Castle Valdread, which is one of the many Castles owned by the Harbingers.

"I want you to distract the guards while I sneak inside, once I'm in I'll conjure these and have them wreak havoc," The Mage, later introducing herself as Bael Ashford, said showing him a handful of Golem Nuclei, Dragon Teeth and Homunculi Embryos.

They were the standard Fodder for Mages from what Mika studied. Golems are tough but slow, Skeletons are Fast but Fragile, Homunculi can perform low level magics but only for a limited time. All three make up the bulk of a Mage's personal army.

'For her to use that much, that Gilbert person must be valuable to her.' Mika said as he took up a sprinting position. "I can try to distract them but you have to be fast."

"Alright I'm ready as soon as you are." Bael said with a nod and upon cue, Mika rushed towards the gate where two Guard were staring at him. At first they gave him confused looks as to why he was sprinting towards them but then he activated his ability and they immediately went on guard.

He can't fault them for being on guard upon seeing him, as the spell allows him to slip into the realm between the Material and Immaterial realm, he calls it the Borderland. Technically speaking he could have suggested sending Bael through the Borderland and spit her out once they're inside but he wanted her to struggle as well but he didn't want her to know of his trump card.

Walking through the Borderland was like walking through a veiled hallway, he could easily peek through anywhere but only for a brief moment as being in the Borderland made him sick and nauseous. The longest was five straight minutes before vomiting.

Eventually he returned to the material realm and landed a drop kick on the first guard, threw his rope dagger at the second before he can react causing the dagger to lodge itself in her neck causing her to fall to the ground choking on her blood.

As soon as the guards were dealt with, Bael finally caught up and took the keys from the guards and snuck inside.

“Find Gilbert while I try to do whatever I can to wreak havoc,” Mika said as Bael began to summon as many Golems, Skeletons, and Homunculi and started killing all the guards that arrived in the area.

Eventually the two split up, Mika climbed atop of one of the Golems and started smashing things all the while occasionally slipping in and out of the Borderland to take out as many Guards as possible. It was fortunate that they only brought regular Guardsmen, had it been a Guard assigned to a Harbinger then things would have been far more difficult for Mika.

As he was dodging and taking out as many Guards as possible, he was struck with a petrification spell paralyzing him in the process.

The Harbinger that was tasked in protecting this and at the same time the one holding Gilbert hostage arrived. She held her 15 inch, Blackwood Thunderbird Wand and aimed at Mika.

She said the last words that Mika would hear.

“I'm sorry.”