Shirou and Yuuki

The blast swallowed everything.

For a moment, I couldn't see anything.

I could only hear the ringing in my ears.

Then I felt it.

Another presence.

Something far more powerful than the monster we had been fighting.

What... is that?

I slowly raised my head.

The giant snake-like creature was still standing.

But something had emerged from the broken seal.

Before I could even understand what I was looking at—

Slash.

The creature beside it was cut apart in a single strike.

I froze.

One strike...

Whatever had just attacked was beyond anything I had expected.

I looked around helplessly.

Then my eyes fell on Ryan.

He was lying on the ground.

Tiara's voice.

“Vinaas, use this power when the situation truly matters.”

“It seems you have already used the effective one I gave you.”

“But this power is different.”

“It can heal greater wounds.”

“It can also restore the life force of the person you desire.”

“But remember...”

“This power can only be used once.”

“Old man!”

I rushed toward him.

As I ran, something suddenly came back to me.

I reached Ryan.

“Old man!”

I grabbed his shoulder.

“Wake up.”

Ryan slowly opened his eyes.

“Vinaas...”

His voice was barely audible.

“You need to leave.”

“No.”

“Leave this place immediately.”

“I can't leave you here.”

“Kid...”

Ryan struggled to speak.

“You have to go leave this old man here to die in the same place as his brother did.”

I shook my head.

“No.”

Then I felt it.

The presence behind me.

The creature that had broken free from the seal was approaching and by the looks of it it totally killed the creature.

Slowly.

Its footsteps shook the ground.

Ryan looked past me.

His expression changed.

“Vinaas... run.”

I turned around.

The creature raised its arm.

Power gathered around it.

Ryan shouted.

“RUN!”

I slowly stood up.

I looked at Ryan.

Then at the creature.

No I'm not going to run today.

I tightened my grip.

“I promised you.”

Ryan looked at me.

“I promised I would make sure you returned safely.”

“Persephone.”

The sword appeared in my hand.

I walked forward.

The creature prepared to attack.

I drove Persephone into the ground.

BOOM!

A massive magic circle spread across the shrine grounds.

Lines of magic expanded outward beneath our feet.

The entire area began to glow.

The creature stopped.

I looked toward Ryan.

Then I raised my hand.

“Asclepius.”

The ground beneath us began to shake.

A tremendous amount of golden light erupted from beneath the shrine.

It rose around us like a pillar.

The light grew brighter.

Brighter.

Until I could no longer see Ryan.

I could no longer see the creature.

I could no longer see the shrine.

Everything became white.

And then—

Nothing.

ONE WEEK LATER....

One week had passed since the incident at the Shrine took place.

Ryan slowly opened his eyes.

He stared at the ceiling and it felt familiar to him.

For a few seconds, he didn't move.

Where am I?

He looked around the house.

He slowly sat up.

“My... house?”

He looked at his hands.

Then at his body.

He was alive.

Was all of that a dream?

The Shrine.

And what about my brother's remains.

The creature.

Vinaas

Everything.

It couldn't have been real.

Then the door opened.

A young girl walked into the room.

She looked at Ryan for a moment.

“Oh, you're awake.”

oh this news might make my master happy.

Ryan stared at her.

“Who are you, young one?”

The girl smiled.

“My name is Yuuki.”

“Yuuki?”

“Yes.”

Ryan looked confused.

“And what are you doing here?”

“I came to check on your condition.”

Ryan stared at her.

“Who sent you?”

“My master.”

“Your master who might they be?”

She nodded.

“My master's name is Vinaas Nullka.”

Ryan froze.

“...What did you say?”

“Vinaas Nullka.”

Ryan stared at her.

Vinaas...

He slowly lay back down.

“I must still be dreaming.”

Yuuki blinked.

“Eh?”

Ryan closed his eyes.

“Wake me up later.”

He pulled the blanket over himself.

Yuuki stood there, completely confused.

A few moments later—

“Well, well.”

Ryan's eyes opened.

That voice.

I walked into the room.

“Old man.”

Ryan stared at me.

“You're finally awake.”

He slowly sat up.

“Vinaas...”

I smiled.

“And as I told you...”

I pointed toward him.

“We finally made it home.”

Ryan stared at me for a few seconds.

Then he remembered something.

“The barrier.”

His expression became serious.

“What happened to the barrier?”

Before I could answer, Yuuki stepped forward.

“My brother took care of it.”

Ryan looked at her.

“Your brother?”

“Shirou.”

Ryan's eyes widened slightly.

“He repaired the barrier?”

Yuuki nodded.

“Yes.”

She smiled.

“You don't need to worry about the barrier fading anymore.”

Ryan remained silent.

He looked at me.

Then at Yuuki.

“Old man.”

Ryan looked at me.

“What is it, kid?”

“If you're feeling well enough, follow me.”

“Where are we going?”

“You'll see.”

Ryan slowly got up and followed me.

We walked for a while before reaching a quiet place outside the town.

There was a grave.

It was about to be buried.

Ryan stopped.

His eyes widened.

“Is that...”

I nodded.

“Your brother.”

Ryan stood there silently.

For a moment, he didn't say anything.

Then he slowly walked toward the grave.

I let him have some time.

After the burial was completed, I took Ryan to a nearby place where he could sit.

He looked tired.

“So,” I said, “let me tell you everything that happened after you passed out.”

Ryan looked at me.

“Everything?”

“Well... the long story short version.”

I sat beside him.

“After you passed out, a miracle happened.”

Ryan raised an eyebrow.

“A miracle?”

“Yeah.”

I pointed toward the town.

“The people I can call Shirou, the butler, and Yuuki, the battle maid, are actually the Guardians of Lionheart.”

Ryan stared at me.

“What?”

“It's a long story.”

I continued.

“They took care of the situation, and the barrier crisis has finally been solved.”

Ryan remained silent.

I explained everything that happened after the Shrine incident.

What happened to the barrier.

How Shirou and Yuuki became involved.

And how Lionheart was finally safe.

When I finished, Ryan sat quietly for a while.

“So... the barrier is really safe now?”

“Yes.”

He looked relieved.

“Good.”

I stood up.

“There is one more thing.”

Ryan looked at me.

“I think it's time for me to leave.”

“Leave?”

“Yeah.”

I looked toward the road leading away from Lionheart.

“I'll be leaving tomorrow.”

Ryan stared at me.

“Tomorrow?”

“Sorry for making it so sudden, old man.”

I smiled.

“But there's important work waiting for me outside.”

Ryan didn't answer immediately.

He simply looked at me.

After everything that happened...

Our time in Lionheart was finally coming to an end.

Ryan suddenly stopped me.

“Vinaas.”

I turned around.

“What is it, old man?”

“There is one final thing I need to tell you before you leave.”

I looked at him.

“I know who you really are.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Who am I?”

“You are one of the Heroes who were summoned to this world.”

I froze for a moment.

Ryan continued.

“I knew about your arrival one week before you were supposed to leave Lionheart.”

“One week before?”

“Yes.”

I stared at him.

So this old man knew all along?

“There is something else.”

“What?”

“I believe you have already met my disciple.”

“Your disciple?”

Ryan nodded.

“Can you remember her?”

I thought about it.

I tried to remember.

Nothing came to mind.

“No.”

Ryan looked at me.

“You don't remember?”

“No. Who is she?”

Ryan smiled slightly.

“My disciple is Rerisa Aster.”

I froze.

“...What?”

Ryan repeated it.

“Rerisa Aster.”

I stared at him.

“Are you serious?”

Ryan nodded.

“You're telling me that you know all about me...”

I pointed at him.

“And your disciple is Saint Rerisa?”

“Yes fist she is my disciple and later saint.”

I rubbed my forehead.

Of all the people...

Ryan smiled.

“You'll understand everything eventually.”

“Old man...”

“Hm?”

“I don't want to understand anything right now.”

I turned around.

“I'm resting today.”

Ryan laughed.

“Alright, kid.”

I started walking away.

“Tomorrow is the day of departure.”

I stopped for a moment.

Then nodded.

“Yeah.”

Tomorrow...

I would finally leave Lionheart.

The next morning finally came.

I stood at the gate of Lionheart.

A lot of people had gathered there.

The townspeople.

My three apprentices.

And Ryan.

It looked like the entire town had come to see me off.

One of my apprentices came running toward me.

“Boss!”

I turned around.

“What is it?”

“Why are you suddenly leaving?”

I looked at the three of them.

“It's almost time for me to leave.”

They looked disappointed.

I smiled.

“But before I go...”

I looked at them.

“Congratulations, new doctors.”

The three of them looked at each other.

Then they smiled.

Before I could say anything else, someone from the crowd called out to me.

“Vinaas!”

I turned around.

Several townspeople stepped forward.

“Thank you.”

“You saved us.”

“If you hadn't been here during the dragon attack...”

They continued thanking me.

I didn't know what to say.

So I simply smiled.

“You don't have to thank me that much.”

I looked around at the town.

“I'll come back from time to time.”

The townspeople smiled.

Then I heard a familiar voice.

“Kid.”

I turned around.

Ryan was walking toward me.

I smiled.

“Pops.”

He stopped in front of me.

I looked at him.

“Did you get the thing I asked for, Pops?”

Ryan's eyes suddenly became watery.

He nodded.

“Yes, grandson.”

I stared at him.

“Why are your eyes all teary, Pops?”

Ryan quickly wiped his eyes.

I smiled.

“Do you not like the name or something?”

Ryan laughed softly.

“When are you coming back?”

“In the next six months.”

I pointed at him.

“I'll definitely visit.”

Ryan looked at me.

“And this time, I'll come with your disciple.”

He smiled.

“And with my friends.”

I paused.

“Oh, and there's still one gift left for you at the house.”

Ryan looked surprised.

“A gift?”

“Yeah.”

I smiled.

“I want to see how you use it when I come back in six months.”

Ryan nodded.

“I'll make sure you see it.”

I looked toward the road outside Lionheart.

Then back at him.

“Alright, Pops.”

I raised my hand.

“It's about time.”

Ryan smiled.

“Take care, grandson.”

“Bye.”

I turned around.

And started walking.

I passed through the gate.

Then continued into the forest.

I didn't look back.

Soon, Lionheart disappeared behind the trees.

And so did I.