For a better tomorrow

I was back in Hilston. It felt weird. I had observed many of these people from my house my entire life, but they didn’t have the faintest idea of who I was.

I sat in a park and started to paint, using all the colors I had access to. It was a good rest between my Hero jobs. I was already a full-time Hero. After the battle against Amaru, we all got our titles.

However, my other companions had things to do during their time off, so I returned to the town where I was born, although it was not my home.

I wondered how the others were at this moment.

(…)

“What is that?” I asked Casper while looking at a huge machine with lenses pointing to the sky. “A weapon?”

“Not at all! Just my state-of-the-art telescope. With the Original Poem of Lightning here, I can empower it and see distant plants! Can you imagine the implications if we find life on other planets! How would they use Stanzas?”

“Sure, alien Stanzas… Casper, I was going to visit Adrien’s grave, would you like to go with me?”

Starcourse was as beautiful as ever and seeing that sky full of stars even made me curious to look at his telescope.

We stayed in front of the tomb for a while.

“I will never be at peace with it.”

“I know, but hey, with the telescope, you can look at the brightest star a little closer. What do you think?”

“That would be nice…”

We walked back and he petted my head.

“By the way, if your glasses break again, you can just come back to another pair. I will made them for free, after all, they will always be gifts from your brother.”

I smiled at him and looked at the sky, feeling connected to Adrien.

(…)

At the top of the mountain, in Vulkos Village, I met my sister in the new temple of the town. The old one was completely destroyed when Atsu wanted me to control the Cyan Demon.

The newer one was smaller, both in size and in number of members. The sign on the door reads ‘Free Swordsfolk.’

My sister was with a katana in her hands and with two other people (older than her) practicing the art of sword.

She smiled when she saw me.

“Takai,”

I received a big hug and gave it back to her. Looking at the burn scars I caused always made me feel guilty, but then I was also very proud of her.

“Are you sure you don’t want to become a Hero, Samu? Stay away from this place and all its memories?”

“I like it here, and I have good memories too. With the Free Swordsfolk, we can protect Vulkos and help people in ways Heroes can’t. Also, dad is locked up, so that is not a problem.”

“You do you… if you are happy, then I’m happy.”

“Do you know what would make me happy? If you told me about you girlfriend,” she said with most evil smile on her face.

“Girlfriend? What girlfriend?”

“You know very well what I’m talking about. When will you introduce her to me?”

I quickly turned my back on her.

“Well, very nice to see you, keep doing you good job or whatever… I have to return to the Tower of Heros. Bye.”

I started to go, but my sister didn’t leave me and kept asking about Agnes.

(…)

The air in Deep Green was always such a delight. The houses and atmosphere of the town were magical, but that was not the reason I was there.

It didn’t take long to find Worth. He was upside down, doing push-ups while holding a gigantic boulder with his legs.

“Worth, hello. Do you remember me?”

“What? Of course I do, Helia Vivarium. What are you doing in Deep Green?”

“I brought up to the leader of Heroes that Deep Green is in need of protection, so she chose me to be the Hero of the region.”

“Heroes… we don’t need you.”

“But don’t you want me?”

He didn’t answer immediately.

“There is no other Stanza user in town, so you will have to train with me, okay? Every day.”

“I can live with this…”

(…)

I was in the middle of the throne room, King Pompovisky was smiling at me, by his side was Master Gengis and the Paladins of Fire and Sky, the only ones who were not killed by Dr. Fritzroy and Amaru.

“Rita Fiori, you keep impressing me. Thanks to your training not only do we have an entire flying squad mounted with hurricane frogs, but we learned how to live in harmony with them.”

“That is nothing, my King. Just doing my duty”

“That is not nothing! You are an incredible asset to this kingdom. And considering all the tragedies ultimately… I decided to make you the first new member of the Eight Paladins.

I didn’t have words.

“Congratulations. I’m hoping we’ll do a good job together,” Master Gengis said.

“No, no, no. I’m too young, and too inexperienced.”

On top of my head, Blue B. was dancing happily.

“Rita, you saved the kingdom. I was the one who suggested you. I know you are ready.”

“But Master Gengis…”

“No, I’m not your master anymore. We are colleagues now. Welcome to the Eight Paladins, Rita Fiori.”

I froze in the middle of the room and Gengis needed to carry me out in his arms to my new room.

(…)

“So, the Original Poem of Nature just reached Acauã’s tribe along with a latter about how valiant a warrior he was. Along with the Original Poem of Ice that went to the Skurd tribe, the Poem of Water to Tangaroa’s old crew, and the Poem of the Sky with Raed’s nomads.”

Nikolay was working on a table, filled with letters and documents.

“Do you think it’s really okay to scatter the Original Poems this way?”

“It’s better this way. They are too dangerous to be kept together. Besides, there are still a lot of them in Reinaria. The Poem of Earth is underground in Ferro Valley, and the Poem of Alchemy is with you.”

“Okay, if anything happens, I will protect the kingdom with my powers. But haven’t you worked enough for today?”

“And what do you suggest we do?” he asked, trying to flirt.

I slowly approach his table, but I pierced my dagger in the wood and gave him a death stare.

“There is still a lot the wedding to organize! This is also your responsibility!”

He screamed and we started to decide what flowers would be on display.

(…)

It was weird to be in the director’s room of the Tower of Heroes. I was the currently strongest one, but still, that didn’t feel right.

The Tower of Heroes was still being rebuilt and I was the one in charge of it. In the beginning, our numbers were low, but after all that happened a lot of people from Reinaria came waiting to become Heroes. A lot of them were inspired by my old apprentices.

In the director’s room I had a huge portrait of Markus flouting all his muscles. Some people said it was bad taste for the leader of the Heroes, but I thought it was beautiful.

On my table I had the Original Poem of Fire. From time to time, I tried to read it and understand more of what it was, but it was too much for my brain.

The kids told me about the encounter with The Poet and I would have loved to meet her as well.

Still, there was a long way ahead of us to keep the kingdom safe.

(…)

So, there I was. Seeing my old town and painting. It was colorful and abstract, just like my soul.

Once I finished, I went to a store. My skirt was in fact too dirty and even cleaning it wasn’t working anymore. So, I chose one with all the colors in formless shapes and I thought it matched my style.