Episode 43: Town of Aremi, we are back

The Horde was steadily defeated, forcing them to escape the kingdom, allowing the displaced people to return to their lands, it was finally time for the town of Aremi to return to their peaceful place. though some graduates decided to stay in the capital to work or prepare to enter the court mage academy, many others decided to return to their towns and help with reconstruction, including The Team, who on top of their fancy graduate uniform, wore their old adventuring gear, including Taro’s classic hat and cape

an endless caravan advanced through the gates, everyone remembering the dark times in which they crossed those gates the first time, and how different things were now

Taro: this place, no brings good memories

Shizuka: this must be where you guys fought the Horde, I know it’s been a while, but I’m still sorry I couldn’t help you

Nagye: don’t worry, you were umm k-knocked out

Ari: I also have no good memories of this place, but at least I’m glad it recovered from all the explosions that happened

Sidra: may this journey help us replace those nightmares with good memories

Taro: it gonna be 7-day trip. we pass by some towns, Riverside, and uhh, other one, I can’t remember,

Shizuka: So we'll get to sleep in the towns instead of walking nonstop? haaa that sounds great, back then was crazy, we were going -turbo mode-

Ari: What does that mean?

Taro: if you say -please teach me-, I teach you

Ari: -I love you Taro-, there, now tell me

Shizuka: waow Ari, so bold! kyaaaa hehehehe!

Shizuka had to explain because Taro was too flustered to even remember what the word was. The journey was full of teasing and flirting that amused and weirded the people around.

The caravans camped safely in the towns, enjoying the peace, the food, and the inns. Those towns had recovered from the devastation and offered a warm welcome to the caravans, which translated into huge economic gains.

Although some orsos and bandits attacked during the following days, The Team made quick work of them, a much different feeling to the survival struggle against the Horde, bruo, and orsos from last time. The Team knew themselves stronger, and the people felt safe under their protection

They all arrived on schedule to the ruins of their town, some structures were still standing, but all of the buildings had been damaged by the Horde or the forces of nature. People cheered relieved, others cried of relief, and others of sadness to see their town in such state

Taro: we back, town of Aremi, we are home

Nagye: It's great to be back. b-but why did the Horde have to destroy our houses?, I can’t see my house tower anymore

Sidra: the church is also in such deplorable state

Ari: the guild office… all our precious memories there, I’ll never forgive the Horde

Shizuka: Looks like we have a lot of work to do, shall we get started?

Taro: wait, we do something first

Taro unloaded a stone tablet from one of the carts, and they walked towards the guild office. Taro planted the stone tablet on the ground, it read “in memory of Seone of Aremi, the most rough and tough badass warrior we have ever seen, nothing ever fooled his eye, ha-ha!”

Ari: rest in peace uncle Chone

Taro: mazter, I always think you, thank you for everything

They all stood there in a moment of silence and prayer, remembering their times with the guild secretary, his kindness and warmth, his professional and even wise side, they didn’t notice when the duo of professionals planted their own tablet on the other side.

spear guy: Bordo my man, I will never forget you, we’ll go drink in your name after we’re done repairing

shield guy: we’ll repair your house first man, so you don't sleep outside hiohio—hio!, no, I won’t cry, Bordo wouldn’t like that

spear guy: he would be like “stop crying and hurry up, I’m getting thirsty!” hehehe. rest easy man, we’ll show you why we’re true professionals

Ari: rest in peace Bordo. guys, I’m so sorry for your loss

shield guy: don't sweat it, we already cried till we ran out of tears

spear guy: now we just shed booze hehehe. enough getting sad, let’s get this town standing, I don’t wanna drink in some ruins

all the townspeople began the restoration efforts. thanks to their mana techniques, they were able to get things to a livable state by night. but instead of going to their houses, they celebrated with an improvised festival in the town square. They unloaded the food and drinks they had been buying on their way there, knowing they would celebrate.

Ari: Now that our parents accepted our decision of, you know, being all married, where are we gonna sleep?

Sidra: good question, I’m not a priestess anymore, so I am technically homeless now, most unfortunate

Nagye: We can all sleep at m-my house. it’s a little crammed but, we’re used to sleeping together, li-like little pocs

sister Sunny: wouldn’t it be better if you all slept in the church?

Shizuka: woah! sister Sunny, when did you get here? you’re always so good at sneaking behind us like this, now you made me remember the good old days hehehe

Sidra: I appreciate your offer, but I’m afraid I’m not fit to enter the house of the goddess, I have been blasphemous and unruly, unfit to return to priesthood

sister Sunny: we all go through that phase my child, even I wondered if the goddess was really out there, yet the goddess welcomes me regardless. you are all warriors of the goddess, of course you are welcome

Sidra: thank you, I don’t think I will return to priesthood, at least not yet, but, I will perform the holy tasks to the highest standards, it’s the least I can do

Taro: we all do holy tasks together, I teach, I’m very good at holy tasks

sister Sunny: I was going to grant you all the guest’s privilege, but if you insist, well then, I’ll indulge. But don't just spend all your time in the church, don't you have more things you wanna do?

Shizuka: hmm, besides helping repair?... I would like to show my family that I am a real mage now hehehe, but I guess that won’t be possible

Taro: yeah, that be nice, see family in other world

sister Sunny: Quite ambitious indeed, I myself wonder if it's still possible, but don’t lose hope, I’ll search the archives and tell you what I know tomorrow. about the Transported, the worlds, and the portals

the team stood in silence, shocked at the possibility of being actually able to travel to the other world

Taro: (so there’s a way to travel between worlds voluntarily?)

Shizuka: don’t give me false hope, I’ve searched everywhere in the library and didn’t find anything

sister Sunny: the church has much more information on these topics, you’ll be surprised. In the meanwhile, anything that you want to do in our world?

Nagye: umm, oh!, going to the Naro forest river!

Ari: oh! true, we did say we wanted to return there just to enjoy, it’s been so long

Shizuka: Let's do it!, our new adventure will be to the river!

Sidra: we’ll replace the stressful memories with better ones again, most wonderful

Taro: oh! Shizuka, teach them about uhh, -swimsuits, for the full vacation experience-

Shizuka: -you want to see us in bikinis? kyaaa you perv hehehehe-

Taro: no no, I just think better, more comfort, not dirty

Ari: teach us about what? translate now you perverts

Shizuka: In the other world, there’s these clothes specially made for going to swim in the beach or river, maybe we should make some tonight. now I want to see you all wearing swimsuits too ehe ehehehe

Sidra: the beach? I’ve only seen paintings of it

Nagye: me too, I wonder if it’s true that it really has e-endless water

Taro: one day, if we can travel to other world, we go to the beach, together

Ari: that “together” is obvious you brute, even if you guys want to go to your world, if you leave us behind, I'll never forgive you…

Sidra: So now our adventures will be to have fun? most wonderful idea, may it be done

Nagye: m-may it be done, “oho-ohoho”

Shizuka: hehehe!, oooohohoho!

Sidra: you ladies are little imps… hehehehe, oohoho

when they returned to the church, they stayed late learning how to sew, and Shizuka guided them on how to design swimsuits