V6 C1 - The Second Month Begins

The oppressive air surrounding the King’s Palace had slowly started to lift.

Princess Aeila and Dame Chelsea had been taken by the Demon Emperor, and Prince Julius had been given to the Free People’s Alliance.

On the surface, it appeared like the Summoned Heroes had moved on, their despair driving them to become even stronger - just beneath, however, there were many lingering scars from that day.

Prince Augustus had become even more of a recluse, Prince Julius said and did nothing, and King Alexander had personally taken over Duncan’s team’s training in place of Dame Chelsea.

“I can’t begin to imagine the pain you’re all feeling but never forget this feeling - this is what the Demon Emperor intends to inflict on the whole world should we lose this war. No one can save everyone but there are plenty of lives we can save.”

King Alexander kept Dame Chelsea’s previous training program and then added in a weekly skirmish between the six members of Duncan’s team to see how far they had come.

For five weeks, the thirty Summoned Heroes had been confined almost entirely to the grounds of the King’s Palace, but the Alliance leaders wanted them to have greater freedom to explore the city of Rhodes during their free time - but first, the heroes had to get some more experience under their belts.

Duncan could only use one of the twenty-four Futhark runes - Ehwaz, the Horse - which increased the speed of his sword’s slashes, but he had to manually activate it every time he wanted to use it.

Despite his self-diagnosed slow progress, he and Feng Li were the last two left in today’s six-way skirmish. Feng Li had much experience before his death and he had quickly mastered beginner level fire magic whilst using Surtur, giving him a greater advantage in the fight.

It also hadn’t taken him long to master the sword forms of Aangapea, making him a far stronger combatant.

Normally, at least.

“That’s enough!”

Feng Li had been disarmed and knocked outside of the fighting ring - Duncan, the victor, was barely standing, struggling to catch his breath.

“Nicely done, both of you,” King Alexander applauded their efforts before leaving on official business.

“Good work, boys.” Stephanie floated two cups of freshly poured ice-cold water to them using the spells in her grimoires.

“Thanks, Steph.” He sat up and downed the drink in one. “I think I speak for all of us when I say thanks for learning ‘Create Water’. It’s been a great help.”

“Good, praise me more, esteemed leader!”

“While Sister Stephanie’s progress is indeed impressive, I must wonder why no one else in Aangapea has thought to create or learn such a useful spell.”

“My tutors did try to learn it, but they couldn’t cast it no matter the incantation or whatnot.”

“I thought you didn’t normally need to use incantations for magic in this world,” Blake said.

“Exactly - that’s how desperate they were.” Stephanie fluttered through the pages of the Book of Thoth. “Five weeks and I’ve learnt three spells: Fireball, Create Water and Candlelight.”

“Spells have names in this world?”

“They don’t,” Stephanie said. “I just started naming them to make it a bit easier for my visual training.”

“Right. Anyone seen Dao Chen?” Brenda asked.

“Her?” Blake huffed. “She left just before Duncan’s victory, muttering something about how today was a waste of time.”

“But she didn’t fight today, did she?” Duncan asked.

“My thoughts exactly. I don’t know why King Alexander even bothered to try and include her.”

Despite the king’s sincere requests, Dao Chen had wholeheartedly refused in a venomous voice.

“There’s no need to duel each other; all that matters is that we fight together when we need to and that we get stronger. Nothing else matters,” she’d spat.

Everyone has their secrets and it’s not our place to pry, but I wish she’d rely on us a little bit, Duncan thought.

“Why’d she leave?”

“Probably my fault,” Brenda answered. “I said something about how I thought you and Feng were the strongest out of us lot, Dao Chen got pissed off and said she could take you both, Blake said she should show us, and then she left incredibly angry.”

“Pride, perhaps?” Stephanie suggested.

“Maybe, or-”

“No.” Duncan quickly shot Feng Li and Stephanie down. “We don’t talk about that sort of stuff, not unless the other side wants to talk.”

“Of course, forgive me, Brother Duncan.”

“I told you not to call me that.”

“My apologies, Lord Duncan.”

“That’s worse!”

“Pardon me; it was merely a joke…Duncan.”

“Hey, check it out.” Blake pointed behind Duncan and all eyes followed her finger.

Looking disgruntled and ready to hit someone, Dao Chen was marching over to them with Dante by her side, a firm hand on her shoulder and a slight skip in his step.

“Morning, Duncan’s Team - lovely day for exercise, right?” Dante released Dao Chen just before she could hit his fingers. “Do let me know if you guys ever come up with a catchier name."

"Go away."

"Now, now, Dao, don’t hiss - and don’t shoot feather arrows at me!” He caught all three between different fingers and smiled. “It’s futile, after all. Now!” He clapped his hands. “After much planning and deliberation, I’m pleased to tell you that we’ve finalised the details of the first assignments we’re going to send you guys on for the rest of the month.”

“Team assignments?” Blake asked.

“Correct. In conjunction with the Adventurer’s Guild and other agents, each team will be assigned to different parts of the west where they will have five tasks to complete. The details will vary, but each of you will be gathering resources, picking herbs, defeating monsters, escorting and protecting caravans of important individuals, and you will be hunting specific game.”

“Three weeks to do all that?”

“Should be enough time to do the lot and get back home before month’s end.”

“Are there any penalties if we fail to complete one of the assignments or if we don’t make it back by the end of the month?”

Dante nodded at Kayleigh. “Any team that doesn’t complete the assignments in full and to the satisfaction of us, the clients and the guild will be made to undergo much tougher training regimes and lectures. If everyone fails.” Dante chuckled. “We’re truly screwed.”

“No pressure then,” Blake mumbled to Stephanie.

“I’m sure he’s just being dramatic.”

“Now, I’m sure you’re all wondering why-”

“It’s to prepare us for when we’re ready to fight the Demon Emperor.” Stephanie cut Dante off. “At some point, we’re going to be sent to the frontlines to fight, and so it’s important that we can not only keep ourselves safe but also survive in case the situation changes.”

“What do you mean?” Duncan asked.

“First, the hunting and gathering exercises. All three of these activities are ones we might need to do when we’re thrust into a real-life combat situation on the frontlines, in case supplies are scarce, we’re separated from the rest of the army, or if we’re behind enemy lines. If we can’t find wood for fires, herbs to heal our wounds and cure our ailments, or if we can’t hunt for meat to eat, we’ll die.

“Second, the escort and monster assignments. They’re included to give us life-or-death combat situations where we will have no choice but to defeat and kill our opponents. I imagine that there’s a large number of bandits, mercenaries and hired thugs along the routes we’re being sent to guard people down, so they expect us to run into trouble there and defeat the attackers. Given how Dante said they didn’t want to put us in any real danger, there’s a very high chance that they are low-level threats, like bandits with only rusty swords and broken shields, the sort of enemies we could all defeat in a few strikes at most.

“Finally, there’s the fact that eventually we will have to fight for our lives against the Demon Emperor. Right now, the leaders of the alliance and our trainers want us to become strong, brave heroes, symbols of hope and capable of leading their armies into battle. If we’re incompetent, scared or struggle to do basic tasks, then no one will want to follow us. Likewise, I believe that this whole three-week assignment’s main purpose is to strengthen our team’s bonds, and our leader’s capabilities.

“Dao Chen. It’s no secret that you’ve been keeping as much distance between us and the others as possible, but that won’t be possible if we’re acting as a unit. If you start defying Duncan’s orders, it could get you or us, or both, killed and that’s unacceptable. Whether you like it or not, you’ll have to learn to get used to us and work as a team.”

“I’ve always said I’d-”

“Just because you said you would doesn’t mean you will.” Dao Chen glared at Stephanie. “Of course, if you’re telling the truth, that’s fine. Duncan.” She shifted her gaze to him and smiled gently. “You’re our leader. You must get some experience with time management, planning, division of labour and more, so this is the perfect time for you to start honing your skills. I imagine that Dante and the others intend for us to do this intermittently so that we get more practice, but I’m not sure how often that will be.”

With her arms crossed and a smug smile, Stephanie turned back to Dante. “Does that just about cover everything, Instructor Dante?”

“…Um, did I do something to upset you Steph, or did you just want to steal my thunder?”

“The latter.”

“Sister Stephanie never misses an opportunity to show off.”

“…Somehow, that doesn’t make me feel any better. But yes, Steph’s absolutely right - these are real, live combat scenarios and tasks that you’ll have to undertake. How and in what order is entirely up to your team and its leader, so don’t expect any favours from us. Here.” Dante handed them a sealed envelope. “That has all the details for your team; don’t disappoint us, heroes.”

***

“Akane, follow me!”

“Understood.”

Hajime and Akane charged at Akechi, their Divine Artefacts, Tonbokiri and Ukonvasara in hand. Lord Akechi stood before them with two katanas.

Hajime thrust his spear at Akechi but the general skilfully dodged and then ducked beneath Akane’s follow-up swing with her hammer. Akechi then leapt backwards, keeping both heroes in front of him, observing their movements closely. Akane slowly moved to Akechi’s left flank again while Hajime waited for her to get into position.

However.

“Too slow!”

General Akechi wasn’t going to give them time to get into position.

He charged Hajime too quickly for the boy to react and swung with both his blades at once. Hajime desperately tried to put Tonbokiri between them, but one of the swords still pierced his side, making him vomit blood. Hajime collapsed onto his knees and Akechi kicked him square in the face, launching Hajime onto his back and he nearly passed out from the impact.

“Stray too far from your team and your opponent will exploit that gap and turn the tide in their favour.” The general turned to Akane; her expression confirmed what Akechi thought - she was frustrated with Hajime, in more ways than one.

Akane gathered magical energy around her hammer before running at Akechi; the ground split as bolts of lightning sprung around her, threatening to strike Akechi.

“Impressive control but.” Akechi stepped back closer towards Hajime. “It’s not perfect.”

Dammit!

In a panic, Akane discharged the lightning magic into the dirt and Akechi exploited that perfect opportunity; her concern for Hajime had caused her to lose the fight.

Akechi locked Ukonvasara between his swords and ripped it free from Akane’s hands, before kicking her hard in the knee and then kneeing her in the nose. Akane was too disorientated to see Akechi’s next attack, a powerful roundhouse kick which sent her tumbling onto the dirt beside her team leader.

A decent strategy and execution, but that’s it. Akechi sheathed his swords. Disappointing - Akane would have been the better choice for a leader.

"If you were not already aware, I didn’t use magic at all, nor can I use any to begin with. I have achieved this level of skill simply through hard work and perseverance. These swords.” He tapped their hilts. “Are made of dragon-metal, but that’s all. Hajime.”

“Y-yes?” The wounded boy asked, trying to sit up right.

“Your enthusiasm is not bad, but you are severely lacking currently as a leader. As it stands, I fear for your team’s safety during the coming assignments. However, I believe in you and your abilities - don’t disappoint me.”

“…I won’t.”

“That’s it for today. Healers.”

Akechi left them in an awkward state.

“S-so, does anyone want to grab-?”

“Sorry, but I’m heading back first.” Akane cut Zuzu off and picked up her hammer, giving Hajime a quick, disappointed glance before storming off.

“D-don’t worry, Hajime, we’re-!”

“Sorry, Zuzu.” He smiled pathetically. “I need some time to myself.”

“…Are you sure you wouldn’t rather have the company of a friend?”

“Thanks, Amen, but…it’s okay.” When he saw the concern on his teammate’s faces, he forced out a laugh. “C-come on, don’t look at me like that. Today was rough, b-but I promise you I’ll do better tomorrow! W-w…What happened, um, today was…a learning curve, a-a-a-and! And…and…it helped me…realise…things.

“Sorry!”

He couldn’t take it anymore and ran away, ignoring the concerned calls of his team.

“I was wrong about you,” was the first thing Akane had said after their first training session as a team.

“B-but it was-!”

Akane sighed and shook her head. “Don’t bother. Show me, don’t tell me. If you don’t, I’ll take over and make life easier for all of us.”

When Hajime was finally alone, in a remote part of the palace, he collapsed onto the floor and wept to himself.

“I’m doing…my best…and yet.”

Don’t cry, Hajime Sakamoto!

He looked up instinctively, but he couldn’t see anyone around him.

Right…uncle always told me not to be a cry-baby…Hajime thinly smiled and rested against the wall behind him.

His uncle, the brave firefighter, the person in Hajime’s life he looked up to most, the person who he wished to be as cool as one day.

“A hero doesn’t cry; a hero doesn’t look for recognition. A hero…a hero just does what he needs to do.”

***

Hailey and Yve were relaxing together on a bench near the rest of their team, taking a well-deserved rest after an hour-long battle against each other.

Per Kella’s instructions, their team were to fight in pairs until someone had won five times - Hailey won five duels to Yve’s three, but the boys were still fighting each other.

“How’d you make your bow, Vijaya, collapse into that bow-sword-spear thing?”

“Honestly, I don’t know,” Yve confessed. “I just suddenly knew I could collapse it into a melee weapon if I moved parts around, and then, yeah…I just started swinging.”

“And you managed to get around my shield, Pridwen, like that.”

“My arrows curved past it a few times, too.”

“Missed is what I think you mean.”

“I purposefully aimed several metres to the side of your shield.” Yve poked Hailey’s cheek. “I wouldn’t want to cut such a pretty face.”

“Thanks.”

“Not even a slight blush?”

“Why do you keep trying to make me blush?”

“Don’t know, just thought it might be fun. Break down the stoic exterior and reveal the cute, blushing maiden beneath. Not even a blush out of embarrassment from hearing something that cringey?”

Hailey shook her head.

“Damn - it’ll be a long, uphill battle with you.” Yve looked back at their team. “How are you holding up?”

“…Not great, but…better than before.”

“Good.”

“I just, I don’t know,” Hailey whispered. “It still hurts so much, knowing I died in front of her, that I let him down, that.” She clenched her heart. “He’s…not here.”

“…I don’t know if that’s a good thing you loved him that much.”

Hailey let out a bitter laugh and looked up at the sky. “Honestly, I don’t know myself anymore. It hurts so much I barely sleep, that I can barely breathe sometimes. I know…I have to move on, I have to…fight, but-”

“Stop.” Yve poked Hailey’s cheek. “You don’t have to go back to that place. Just stay here, in the present, with me and you team, okay?”

“…Right.”

Yve smiled a little. “Probably doesn’t help that the guys on our team are just immature brats, especially compared to him, right?”

Hailey giggled a little. “Well, everyone always does when you’re in love, right?”

“I wouldn’t know about that.”

“What do you mean?”

“Always single, me, never enough time for love back home. Could never find someone I felt that spark with.”

“What about Guy?”

“Are you joking? He’s nice, don’t get me wrong, but he’s more a little brother than anything.”

“Ouch.”

“What do you mean by that?!”

“Well, if he likes you, then-”

“That won’t ever happen.”

“Why?”

Yve smirked and leant in close to Hailey’s ear. “He’s gay.”

“…Ah.”

The two giggled, then looked back at the fights as Liam defeated Kavi.

“How exactly are the support members of our group meant to ‘fight’ solo in training?”

“I don’t know, but there’s one thing I know.”

“What’s that, Yve?”

“No matter how incompetent, lazy, or perverted our teammates may be, I promise you that you have nothing to worry about.” In an overly dramatic fashion, Yve embraced Hailey and cupped her chin with one hand, lifting it slightly so they could stare into one another’s eyes, barely five inches between their faces. “I’ll protect you will all of my being from those beasts, my princess.”

“Yve.”

“…Hmm, not even a slight blush.”

“I’ve pretended to kiss people, been half naked and had to say the most embarrassing things before on stage. This.” Hailey broke free of Yve’s princely hold without much effort. “Is nothing. Might as well has been a handshake.”

Yve playfully clicked her tongue and smiled. “I did mean it though.”

“I know - thank you.”

“Um, sorry to interrupt your little play.” The girls turned and saw Liam and the guys watching them. “But we are not beasts.”

“Oh, sorry.”

“Thank-”

“I was trying to sugar-coat it, but I meant perverts.”

“We’re not!”

“All men are, Liam, no sense denying it.”

“Gati, don’t just confirm to the two hot girls in our team that we’re pervs!”

“For the record, guys, being called hot does not make a lady’s heart skip a beat,” Yve said.

“Oh, I assure you, it does.”

“I assure you, it definitely does not,” Hailey said.

“It did back on Earth!” Gati proclaimed.

“Creep.”

“Hey!”

“Perv.”

“Can’t deny that!”

“Yve, Hailey.” With an awkward laugh, Adrien spoke up. “Please don’t judge us by Gati’s standards. He’s a…special…case.”

“How rude!”

“As is Liam.”

“Oi.”

“No, he’s right,” Yve mused. “Last week, I was heading back to my room after training and heard how much Liam and Gati missed porn. More accurately, I think everyone on your floor heard.”

“You don’t get it, Yve. I used to do it two-three times a day and now, now.” Liam dropped to the floor and smashed his fist into the dirt. “Now I have to try and use my imagination and then it gets creepy and weird, and then I can’t do it!”

“I’m the same!”

“Gati!”

“Liam!”

The two hugged each other, both weeping in an overly exaggerated manner.

“Seriously, please don’t judge us by their standards.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it, Adrien.” Realising what she had said, Yve blushed and screamed, “That doesn’t mean I want to see or hear about it!”

“I knew that!”

***

Late at night, the leaders of the summoned heroes’ teams gathered in Duncan’s bedroom

“Thank you all for coming,” Duncan began. “I know we’re all quite busy, especially now after Dante handed out everyone’s assignments, but I thought it was worth discussing them with the five of us.”

“Damn. And here I was thinking it was an invite to a secret or-”

“You made that joke last week, Yve.”

“Ah, right.” She giggled at Kayleigh’s remark. “So, where is everyone getting sent?”

“We’re heading east to a hamlet called Macce.”

“West to a village called Acre.”

“South to a market town - High-cart or something, I think.”

“North…some lord’s keep,” Hajime whispered.

“Interesting. Duncan’s going east, Kayleigh west, Guy’s going south and Hajime’s going north, and my team is stuck here in the capital.”

“Duncan, the map.”

“Ah, right, sorry, Kayleigh.” He quickly unrolled the map of the Kingdom of Rhodes Kayleigh had found.

“…No one’s more than fifteen miles away from Rhodes,” Kayleigh noted.

“My team’s definitely not.”

“Not helpful, Yve.”

Yve laughed and playfully stuck out her tongue, but Kayleigh was not amused in the slightest.

“Stephanie said they didn’t want to put us in any real danger or let us die, so I guess this was the best solution they could come up with to let us get combat experience whilst minimising the risks. Still, I would’ve liked to see the situation closer to the frontlines.”

“Doubt they’ll ever let us get that close on these assignments,” Yve said. “But I understand your frustrations. It’s difficult to feel a sense of urgency when you can’t see what the threat is really like. You don’t think the monarchs are keeping anything from us, do you?”

“Maybe. It’s hard to say for sure, but I think it’s highly unlikely. While I imagine they are trying to keep us from learning every little detail about the Demon Emperor and his forces, I don’t believe it’s done with malicious or ill intent. It’s simply done to keep our spirits high and not let our souls get crushed by despair.”

“How kind of them, eh?”

With a small hum, Duncan placed five small flags onto the map, marking where each of the teams were being assigned.

“What is it?”

“Nothing, it’s just-”

“Frustrated?”

“A little.”

“Oh! Then, let me-!”

Kayleigh quickly smacked Yve over the back of the head before pushing her towards the silent Guy and Hajime. “About Chelsea?”

“…Yeah.”

With a small smile, Kayleigh stroked the top of Duncan’s head. “Don’t worry - you remember what she said, right? She’s waiting for you. She’s an experience knight, she knows what she’s doing and, when we’re ready, we’ll bring her home.”

Duncan smiled. “Thanks, Kayleigh.”

“You’re very welcome.”

“I meant to ask.” Suddenly, Guy spoke up. “Did any of you hear about the attack in the north?”

“Yeah - thirty thousand skeletons assaulted the northern border, but there were few casualties.”

Guy nodded. “Not sure why, but I found it really strange when I heard that.”

“What a coincidence, so did I,” Yve said. “Kayleigh, when you asked King Alexander what the size of the Free People’s forces were, what did he say?”

“Just over a million, including reserves and new recruits.”

“No matter how you look at it, it’s a pretty pointless attack.”

“I thought so too, but I didn’t know what to make of it,” Kayleigh answered. “At first, I wondered if the Demon Emperor had spotted a potential gap in the Alliance’s defences and wanted to penetrate it quickly with a strike force, but I later learnt from Dante that it was a fort along the line that was attacked.”

“Why would he-?”

“A probing strike or-”

“Misdirection.” Yve finished Kayleigh’s thought.

Kayleigh nodded. “Given everything we’ve heard about the Demon Emperor, the latter two options seem more probable. The Demon Emperor is a cunning, tactical and careful strategist who doesn’t move or attack unless it serves a purpose. I would wager that the Demon Emperor is attempting to gauge the strength of the Free Peoples Alliance’s forces like he did the Holy Legion of Themis at the Battle of Black Port.

“Or maybe it’s something even simpler and he wanted to see what our side would do in response.”

“What do you mean?” Guy asked.

“If the Alliance forces collapsed and fell apart at the slightest provocation, that would be valuable intel. If they repelled him easily, it’d mean he’d have to revise his tactics or reconstitute his army to handle our forces. All the Demon Emperor loses are thirty thousand skeletons for all that valuable information, while the Alliance remains trapped in the west until we’re ready to invade the east.”

“And that could take months or even years,” Yve muttered. “No wonder they’re all so eager to see what we can do.”

“Hajime?”

“E-eh? W-w-what, Duncan?”

“Sorry for making you jump, but you haven’t really said much tonight, so I was just worried that-”

“Y-yeah, it’s fine, Duncan. Just…a little under the weather after all the training we’ve done lately.”

“Really?”

“Y-yeah.”

***

“You are far too hard on him, Akane.”

“He’s our leader and-!”

“He’s not a disciple of a great warlord like yourself,” Amen reminded her. “Akane, until five weeks ago, Hajime was a regular high school student. He attended classes, did his homework, played videogames, read books and imagined what it’d be like to be a hero in a story. The brave hero who slays the dragon and saves the damsel, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready for it to become reality.

“To him who lived his whole life in a peaceful country in a peaceful time, war was a foreign concept to him. Akane, you were born to be a noble lady of Japan, trained in the way of the warrior, of the wife, of the soldier and the strategist from a young age.”

“Don’t speak like I’m ignorant of these facts, Amen.”

“I didn’t intend to. I merely wanted to remind you not to place such high expectations on others like that.”

“My instincts have never been wrong.”

“I never said they were. No doubt, as you believe, Hajime Sakamoto will become a fine young man, a good hero and a strong leader, but he isn’t even twenty years of age yet.”

“I was-”

“Akane.” He gave her a solemn smile. “Why do you insist on comparing everyone’s abilities to your own? Hajime is trying his best. Clearly, while he has always wanted a chance to shine and prove himself, he didn’t expect to be thrust into a situation like this. He didn’t grow up in anywhere near as harsh or strict as an environment as you did, so please don’t start negatively commenting on his hard work and effort.”

“I…I was…”

“I understand, but perhaps it would help you if I told you a little about my own circumstances.

“I was born and raised in the city of Cairo, capital of Egypt. I was by no means poor or from an unfortunate family, but we were far from wealthy. My parents’ jobs put enough in our pockets to own a house, go on holiday, study abroad and even save up for mine and my sibling’s weddings. However, when I walked the streets, I saw just how little power I truly had first hand.

“I witnessed cruelty, corruption and brutality all caused by those whom controlled vast wealth and had the right connections. They could lie, cheat, steal or even commit murder in broad daylight and no one, and I mean no one, would bat an eye if they pulled the right strings on the puppets they called friends. Their friends, in turn, would come to pull the strings on the offenders, calling in favour for support in elections or some other business.

“Of course, on the surface, all of this was buried under fake bulletins and articles, dismissing claims and finding the government innocent of all charges. I was outraged, furious at such a practice, but ultimately kept my head down for fear of losing it. When I studied abroad in the USA, I learnt that it was not just my homeland that engaged in such practices. All that differed was how many openly spoke out against it.

“No matter where I looked to in the world, all I saw was the rich and powerful playing around however they wanted and all I could do was watch on, powerless, unable to lift a finger to stop them. If I did.” Amen chuckled bitterly. “I would be lucky to keep my head, let alone a finger. I imagine that there must have been warlords in Japan that did similar things, no?”

“…Regrettably, yes,” Akane whispered. “But-!”

“When I was alive, all the countries of the world were no different. Those in power pulled the strings on those of us we call citizens and we can’t help but dance to their tune. A war could break out because a handful of men couldn’t agree on a peaceful solution, and the result?” Amen grunted. “Thousands dead, tens of thousands more displaced and those responsible for starting the fire? Safe and sound, hundreds of miles away from the blaze.

“Egypt was engaged in civil war when I passed away; more accurately, the news broke in the early hours of the evening as my family and I enjoyed a meal. The news was that shocking to me that I choked and died.” Amen laughed. “I wonder if I might be a contender for the Darwin Awards?”

“Dar-win Awards?”

“That’s unimportant. When Harmonia offered me a chance to stand against the tyrants I despised, I accepted instantly. I imagine that Hajime accepted just as quickly once he realised he could make his dreams come true. Give it time, Akane, and I guarantee you that Hajime will prove that you were right about him.”

With a gentle smile, Akane nodded. “Yeah, thank you, Amen.”

“You are most welcome, Akane.”

***

After finishing the last book she’d borrowed from the library, Kayleigh collapsed onto her bed and stared blankly at the ceiling.

Weeks had passed and it still hadn’t settled in.

Death.

Rebirth.

Heroes.

Demons.

Magic.

Monsters.

Lazily, she looked over at her gauntlets, Járngreipr, and sighed.

Two months ago, all I was concerned about was studying for my exams.

Five weeks ago, I was just out shopping with my friends when that bastard hit me with his car.

She smiled thinly and stared back up at the ceiling.

“Life’s really not fair,” she muttered in German.

Kayleigh. She remembered the boy she once had a crush one. What do you want to be when you’re older?

“What did I say to him, back then?” Kayleigh rose from her bed and picked up Járngreipr. She traced her fingertips along the metal, causing several harmless bolts of lightning to flare up and dance around her hand.

A doctor.

For years, Kayleigh had studied to become a doctor.

She had been determined to figure out the cause to his disease before it claimed him, only to lose him three years before her own death.

I’m sorry, I couldn’t do anything for you, but. Kayleigh thought of her two closest friends, Duncan and Hajime, and coldly stared at her Divine Artefact. I won’t lose them, no matter what.