The Forgotten One

Charlotte ran out of the tavern. She looked around in every direction, but she found nothing. The hero was gone, leaving no trace, as if the ground had swallowed him.

The town was vivid as ever. Nothing had changed, and people were completely fine. Charlotte couldn’t help but sigh in relief.

Alysia came after her. “How can he just disappear as if nothing happened? Is it Lure Magica?”

“We could ask Leif,” Zoe suggested as she joined them. She was still holding Sybil by the hand.

Charlotte didn’t answer. She just turned around to look at them. Suddenly, something caught her eye. The tip of Bastion glowed with a certain rhythm, just like that time in the hero’s house.

She squeezed her eyes to make sure she was seeing correctly. She stood there staring at him for a long time.

“What are you looking at?”

“N-nothing, I’m sorry.”

She quickly looked the other way. She took a moment to replay the hero's words in her head.

“The other guy? From the same place?”

Old conversations with Bastion flooded her mind. Charlotte remembered some things that he had said before.

She stood in front of Alysia. Her mouth opened, but before she could make a sound, she interrupted herself.

“Do you want something?”

Charlotte hesitated.

“N-not right now.”

Alysia raised an eyebrow.

“W-we better talk to the other,” Charlotte quickly said, trying to change the subject.

“What’s wrong, Charlotte?” Zoe seemed worried.

Charlotte got closer to the three of them and lowered her voice.

“I-I think the hero may attack now.”

Zoe and Alysia exchanged looks.

“What?”

“I don’t know… but he mentioned that he wanted to see who was in his way.”

“So what? That doesn’t mean anything.”

“Maybe, but now that he knows we’re no match for him… he won’t hesitate?”

Alysia was left speechless.

“You’re right, and he also called you a replacement,” Zoe said, looking directly at Charlotte. “What did he mean?”

Charlotte ignored her question.

“I don't mean to be rude, but you're not the most skilled among us... and Hufgens and I are mere students.”

Alysia also approached them more and lowered her voice.

“Why will he attack us and not someone like Suri?”

“Lens is right. Miss Suri is extremely powerful."

Charlotte fell deep in thought. What they were saying made perfect sense, but a gut feeling made her doubt them.

“I guess you’re right, but still there’s something I need to check.”

She turned to look at Bastion, tucked away on Alysia’s back. He was still glowing on and off.

Without wasting any more time, they searched the entire town, looking for and finding everyone else, until they were finally all together.

“Did you find the hero? Is everyone alright?” The prince rushed to check on the four of them.

“We’re alright, thanks for asking.”

They were in a hidden alley of the town, far from the loud, upbeat surroundings. Charlotte explained everything, word for word. She omitted her whole experience dealing with her own past and fears, but in general, she tried to give as much detail as she could.

“The count also said he visited him,” Suri explained.

“Really? What did he say?”

“Pretty much the same as everybody.”

Suri made a sign for everyone to get closer.

She started whispering. “First, I’m glad you’re fine.”

“Thank you, Miss Suri.” Charlotte understood and also whispered.

“The others, did you find something?”

“Yes, there are some abandoned houses with the same hidden underground rooms,” Leif explained, also whispering. “We took and followed a path.”

“And what did you find?”

“Captain was right. They are connected. It’s like a big underground dungeon.”

“I see.”

They all kept silent, thinking.

“I need to ask something…” Charlotte raised her hand a little bit. “What is The Buried exactly?”

“It’s hard to explain…I would describe it as a sickness.”

“A sickness?”

Everyone turned to Suri, who was explaining.

“Yes, it spreads its roots. When it captures a victim, it corrupts them.”

Charlotte analyzed the information in her head.

“Has it always been that way?”

Suri looked at her with a deep gaze.

She sighed. “No… for a while, that tree was just a natural force.”

“Natural force?”

“Yes, it only used its roots to get nutrients, just like any other tree.”

“What nutrients?”

“Corpses and such, but it didn't harm humans.”

“So it changed when the hero arrived?”

“No, it was way before.”

“Why would the kingdom hide that information?” The prince asked quickly. His face unconsciously formed a frown.

Suri remained silent.

“Please, Miss Suri,” he insisted.

“I don’t have that information.”

Arthur sighed, annoyed.

“Well, something else?”

“Yes, Miss Alysia and I need to do something.”

Alysia furrowed her brow in confusion.

“Wha—”

“We’ll be right back.”

Quickly, she took her by the hand and dragged her away. They walked for a while, trying to lose themselves in the labyrinthine alleys. Finally, they reached a dead end, where a stray dog was searching around for food.

“So what do you want?”

Charlotte got distracted petting the little dog.

“R-right, I’m sorry.”

She stood up and pointed toward Alysia’s Back.

Alysia understood. She quickly drew Bastion from her back and held it between the two of them.

“Bastion?”

There was no response.

“Are you there?”

“Of course I’m here.”

Charlotte chuckled. “It’s been a while.”

“Yes, I thought you’d forgotten me.”

“Don’t say that.”

Alysia began to bounce her leg.

“So, what do you want?”

Carefully, Charlotte took out of her pocket the square metal object she had found at the hero's house. She took off the lid and turned the wheel. There was a hiss, and the flame came back on.

“What’s that?” Alysia was intrigued.

“I hope to find out.”

Charlotte placed the strange object in front of the staff and turned it on. She remained silent, waiting for an answer.

“A lighter.”

“So, you know what it is.”

“Yes.”

“So, it’s possible that the hero… is like you?”

“Yes, and it took you long enough to figure that out.”

Charlotte fell silent again, her eyes darting from side to side as her mind sank into her thoughts.

“But I don’t blame you. It seems like there's something bigger in this world.”

“This World…?” She paused. “You once told me you reincarnated…”

“And it's true.”

“Reincarnated?” Alysia questioned, becoming interested in the conversation.

Charlotte motioned for her to wait a second.

“Have you seen what the hero has done?”

“Yes, and I recognize everything.”

“From your world?”

“That’s right.”

Charlotte felt a sharp headache as she tried to remember everything. She started walking back and forth.

“What is going on? What did he tell you?”

Charlotte ignored him and kept her conversation with Bastion.

“The hero…said that he killed someone…”

“Yes.”

“And that someone…was…from…the same place….”

“Bingo! Or, well, do people play bingo in this world?”

Charlotte felt as if she were running out of air. Her headache intensified, and a loud ringing invaded her ears.

“You think he was responsible for what happened?”

“There’s a good chance.”

“But why? If he’s like you, why is he not a hero?”

“He was, remember?”

“And why did that goddess send you both?”

Charlotte raised her voice more and more and didn’t wait a second.

“I think to save this world.”

“From who?”

“I guess from that tree.”

“So the hero failed then?”

“Maybe.”

“And that's why the goddess chose you?”

“May—”

“And why did he kill you?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he saw me as a threat.”

“But if the tree wasn’t evil, why did it—?”

Alysia grabbed her by the collar, preventing her from continuing with the interrogation.

“What did you just say?”

“W-what?”

“Who killed who?”

“Miss Alysia, you need to know that—”

“Wait, Charlotte,” Bastion shouted. “Don’t tell her about the reincarnation!”

“W-why not?”

Charlotte found it difficult to speak as Alysia strongly grabbed her, almost lifting her off the ground.

“I don’t know how she’s going to take it,” Bastion said desperately. “And she’s already been through a lot.”

“So! Tell me!”

“The hero might be responsible for what happened to Bastion.”

“Wait! Don’t tell her that either!”

But it was too late. Alysia let go of her. She looked downcast, and her own hair hid her face.

“I see.”

After a few seconds, she raised her head. Her eyes were thirsty for blood, and Charlotte could hear her teeth grinding. Her breath slowed but was extremely heavy, like a bull ready to charge.

“Miss Alysia, please calm down.”

She ignored Charlotte and simply turned around.

Charlotte managed to stop her by the arm.

“Let go of me now!”

“I understand your feelings, but you have to calm down.”

“You don’t understand anything!”

Alysia tried to break free, but Charlotte held her arm with all her strength. They began to struggle.

“Please, you can’t go like that.”

“I said let go!”

Grrr wof wof.

Their dispute was interrupted by the stray dog from earlier. It was barking toward a corner of that dead-end alley. Charlotte got distracted, allowing Alysia to get away.

Without thinking twice, Alysia rushed to the corner and aimed with Bastion, ready to destroy whoever was there.

No one was there.

The dog was calm again.

“Miss Alysia… I understand your anger, but please. We have to do things right.”

She didn’t answer.

“We can’t act impulsively if we want to win…”

“Unlike you, I’m not trying to be a heroine… So, I’ll take care of killing him myself.”