Chapter 2:

Salvation Files Entry 1 First half.

Insurmountable Obstacles


A/n: Hiro and Mamori are physically 19 right now. On an entirely unrelated note Soteria likes to dress Mamori up in cute clothes. 

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Chapter 0: Miasma and Mist.

In the center of the forest that served as the barrier between  An old country and a new country that has declared it's independence from it a crack appeared  in the ground Leaking miasma. Meanwhile in the wasteland to the west of both countries a crack in the fabric of space appeared and started leaking mists. The two countries were making preparations for summoning otherworldlers in preparation for the hostility between them to reach it's boiling point. They would come to learn of these two events when their attention was drawn to them by force when the things behind their respective barriers broke through.



Chapter 1: Cecil Daubney and the Unbound Saint.

Cecil was quite displeased that he had been brought to witness the Saint's summoning ceremony. The sacred sword had already chosen him as a Hero what did they need to call a trumpeed up Priest from another world for. The Archmage had finished his incantation while Cecil was stewing in his thoughts. A flash of blue light illuminated the room and in the middle of the Summoning circle was a girl with shoulder length  brown hair in a light orange Nobles Dress sitting at a table facing away from the gathered crowd. Cecil noted that she had nice and wide hips.

"Envoy of Salvation—" The Archmage started only to be interrupted by a crunch.

It appears that the summoning caught the Saint in the middle of a meal. All attention went to the table that had been summoned along with the Saint It was stacked with foodstuffs. It appeares that the Saint had finished whatever she was eating because she reached for the next item. It was a cup of some sort of green semi-solid cream. She started eating that as well. 30 minutes later the table was cleared and the Saint was laid upon it lightly snoring. A barrier surrounded her and the table. No one could get close.

"I guess.....we have to wait until she wakes up?" The Archmage said.

"...." Cecil wondered what she was eating at the beginning of her meal to make that crunchy noise.

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An hour later the Saint yawned and roused herself. Her head moved left to right And then she turned around to face the crowd gathered. She stood and the Table she had been sitting on vanished. 

"Greetings. I am Mamori. I have answered the call of Salvation." the Saint said with a curtsey. "I have been informed of the situation. Who is to be my traveling companion?"

Cecil stepped forward, "That would be me! Not that I need help to save the world ——?!" The Saint's bright brown eyes were on him and Cecil suddenly felt that they were staring into his very soul. The Saint blinked and he no longer felt as if he was being dismantled. He let out the breath he hadn't realize he had been holding.

"I see." The Saint, Mamori, said with a radiant smile. She walked out of the summoning circle over to Cecil and grabbed his wrist. "I suppose you'll do. Tell me the way to your father, Cecil." Mamori started to lead him out of the room.

'Eh?' Cecil startled. 'How'd she know my name? I hadn't said it yet. And what was with that smile? Don't tell me she fell for me?!' Cecil was in a daze as he led Mamori to the Audience chambers. 'Well I suppose I do radiate a certain charm. I'm a Hero and prince After all. I've read that most Saints and Heroes fall in love. I didn't think it would be Love at first sight for her. I suppose I'll get to know her and see if I fall in love with her as well' Cecil had completely misunderstood the brightness of Mamori's smile. He would come to understand on their journey.

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8 minutes later in the Audience chamber.

The Saint was directing the unnerving stare she had leveled at Cecil at the King who was struggling to speak. 

"I should mention," she said twirling a lock of her wavy hair around her index finger. "Any active attempt to use me for the sake of your country or family won't tolerated. I'm here to save the people after all." She smiled at the King who had shut his mouth suddenly. "You should be aware that there's a time limit."

The revelation took the whole court was taken aback. There were no records of time limits for Summoned Saints.

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Chapter 2

Cecil Daubney and the Punch Clock Saint 

"I'll only be hear 8 hours each day and my contract my contact lasts a year. I shall only answer your call 5 days out of Seven." St. Mamori explained. "I'll expect compensation."

"You want to get paid for helping people?! " The King said incredulously.

St. Mamori looked back just as incredulous. "Of course. The Goddess I serve under is the the Goddess of Salvation and I'm the Saint of Healing and Protection. Soteria-sama isn't the goddess of Charity. Although we do like them."

"...We see." The King said. After struggling for five minutes the King relented. "What do you want."

St. Mamori smiled, "Thank you for acquiescing so easily. I'll take books on your Kingdoms medicine and healing magic as compensation for this summoning And give me 10 {Glass coal}¹ at the end of the month." 

"That's it? We can  prepare some Glass coal for you now if you want." The King said.

"No. No." St. Mamori said and clapped her hands underneath her chin. "I'll take that after the one month period. I'll earn it. I will take the books now though. Just in case I can't read them...." She turned to Cecil, "May I have the Hero Prince accompany me?"

"Why do I have to-?!" Cecil started to object but was cut off by his Father.

"Cecil. You will do as the Saint has requested. You might learn something yourself." The King declared.

"....Yes, Your Majesty." Cecil accepted his King's order and led St Mamori to the Library.

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It turned out that Mamori could not read the Kingdom's language. Although she could read the language of the Empire for some odd reason. So Cecil and Mamori spent 6 hours coming up with a reading chart for his and her Alphabet. By the time they were finished Mamori had started to glow.

"Oh look at the time." Mamori said grabbing Cecil's hand and turning it over and tapping  it. A picture of a circlet made of leaves appeared on Cecil's hand. "There now I'm anchored to you. Bye~" Mamori faded out of existence leaving a flustered Cecil behind.

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Chapter 2.5

Heiwano Mamori and the Fancy clothes.

Mamori appeared in her houses living room. Her mother was on the couch watching TV.

"How long was I gone?" she asked her mother collapsing next to her.

"8 hours exactly. Good job today~" Kana said turning away from the TV to her daughter. "I see it's a hooded medieval sorceress dress today. As always you're adorable" Kana casually took a picture.

"Geez, Okaa-san." Mamori complained relaxing from her automatic pose. "At least tell me you're going to take a picture." 

"Sorry Sorry," Kana was utterly unapologetic and sent the pictures to the rest of her family. "Are you going to be okay on sleep? You're taking night classes too."

"No problem! Soteria-sama gave me the training space as a gift. I can use it as a medium for teleportation or I can just go to the space itself. She taught me how to adjust the time in there too."

"I see." Kana nodded. "Looks like I don't have to worry." 

With that Mamori and Kana settled in and watched TV until the rest of their family came home.

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Chapter 3: Cecil Daubney and the Saint's taboo.

It had been  2 weeks since Mamori had been summoned and they had finally headed out on their Journey of Salvation. It was surprisingly engaging learning with her. 

"Say, Young Cecil—?" Mamori started be before being cut off by Cecil.

"What do you mean 'Young?' You can't be any older than me. In fact aren't you obviously younger?" Cecil interrupted her in good humour.

"Is that how that got translated?" Mamori wondered wide eyed as her hand flew up to cover her mouth. "I was using the way to address male colleagues. Thank you for the compliment but you're only 16. You are quite a bit younger than me." she clarified.

"There's no way you can be older than 15?!" Cecil was flabbergasted "....how old are you? Supposedly." 

Mamori patted his arm twice, "You know in my culture asking a woman's age is very rude. In addition to that my family has the policy if only revealing your age to your spouse and family. Do not ask that question again, alright?" The expression Mamori turned onto Cecil only resembled a smile in form 

"... okay." Cecil relented.

"We're here." Mamori said.

Cecil looked up and realized that they were in the Castle town's slums.

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Chapter 4: Cecil Daubney and the Salvation of the Slums 


"Why are we here amongst these people, Mamori-san? Surely we're wasting time on our journey to save the world." Cecil pointed out. "It's dangerous to be here as well."


Mamori turned her eyes on him and suddenly he was back in that room when he first caught her attention. "Saving your world is not my job. Did you forget that am here to save the people?"


".....These people as well?" Cecil questioned. "Nothing will come of it."


"That's where you're wrong." Mamori crouched down and caught the small gutter-rat about to rob her in her arms. She stood up with the grimy swollen faced child in her arms. "There's always something to gain by helping the unacknowledged. Mamori vanished for a moment with the child in tow. Cecil blinked and Mamori reappeared with the child. The child's face was no longer swollen and Cecil could at least tell that the Child was a girl. "Now lead us to the Cursed mansion, darling."


"Yes! Big sis!" The little girl said and started walking towards their destination. 


Mamori turned to Cecil, thankfully not with the gaze that unnerved all who it was directed on. "If you're going to be a Hero, Young Cecil. You mustn't neglect saving those who are less fortunate. Especially not when they're in your own city." Mamori turned and followed the little girl who had stopped and waited for them to catch up. Cecil had no choice but to follow her.


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2 months later




The Slums looked completely different. It easy o longer riddled with grime and dust but just looked like a regular lower-class distract of Castle town


Mamori had Cecil cut a ribbon while she announced.


 "In the name of Prince Cecil, I declare this the Soap Quarter!"


The gathered crowd cheered.


Mamori started to glow. "Oh! Looks like my time's up!" She said. "I'll leave the rest to Prince Cecil! She turned to Cecil." See you in Three days." Mamori said as she disappeared.

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Chapter 4: Cecil Daubney and the Gentle Green skin.

It was the first day of Mamori's refusal period after converting the Slums to the Soap Qu. Cecil was in the Castle when his father ordered him to talk to the newest guest. 

"After all," The King said, "If we can force an alliance by getting this princess to fall in love with you We'll have accomplished our goals. "After all we can't use the Saint so we might as well try this."

15 minutes later he was led to his younger sister's chambers. His anger rose as he recalled how the Empire had taken her hostage and his father had dismissed it as necessary. "He opened the door to find a, he looked at her hips briefly to be certain, a short woman in a figure defining Charcoal colored glove sleeved dress facing away from him. She was standing in the middle of a Magic circle that covered the whole room. It was the magic circle used for confinement.

"Oh?" She said turning around to face him, briefly enchanting him with her Laurel eyes."Are you to be my companion for today?"

Cecil blinked and noticed that her ears were pointed and the rest of her face was a darker shade of green than her eyes. 'A Green skin....no an Imperial. What's an Imperial doing here?' Cecil wondered. "What's an Imperial like you doing in my sister's room. In a confinement circle, no less. Are you dangerous?"

The short Imperial girl blinked tilting her head briefly bringing Cecil's attention to her Blue fire colored hair. "So you're the Hero Prince? Surely you're aware of the Hostage exchange?"

"What are you talking about?! You Imperials kidnapped my little sister" Cecil accused.

The Imperial woman briefly looked down at  the main pattern of the magic circle she was in and back at Cecil. "We're you told that? I suppose you could say that The Kingdom kidnapped me in retaliation?" The Imperial woman said. "Although there was a contract drawn up." She revealed casually.

"Wh-what?!" Cecil startled. He hadn't heard about that.

"Oh! Pardon my Manners. I haven't introduced myself. Third Princess of the Verdant Empire, Hostage to The Kingdom, My name is Arabelle zu Laurbeeraugen." Arabelle performed a perfect Kingdom curtsey.

"....Cecil Daubney. Hero of the Sacred sword and third prince of the Kingdom." Cecil performed a rather Clumsy Imperial bow in return. Thankfully Arabelle didn't laugh at him." Nice to meet you, I suppose."

"I am gladdened to make your acquaintance." Arabelle said smiling. "I assume that you will be joining me for tea?" she said as the maid who had been watching this exchange finished setting up the table and walked out of the room.

"I suppose I will," Cecil said walking into the room.

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an hour later


Cecil and Arabelle were getting along swimmingly.

"My Eldest brother is the Crown Prince. My second big brother is working his way up the parliament. My Eldest sister has become a general. And my second big sister has already gone to secure an alliance by studying in a foreign magic academy." Cecil said.

"I see." Arabelle said as she slipped her tea. "I've heard the princess I've been exchanged for is a genius as well?"

"That's right. I want to be useful to crown and country but I'm dumber than my siblings, so I thought maybe joining the Crown city guards was the best way. I was further from the castle than I had been previously. The main Guard station is between the merchant and noble quarters. When suddenly I was drawn to the Sword's Sacred Pedestal. Before I knew it the sword that was embedded was in my hand and I was being lauded as a Hero."

"So you'll be useful to your kingdom then?" Arabelle asked gently.

".....I thought so. But so far I've only managed to assist in helping the poor in one city." Cecil sighed.

"Well," Arabelle put her gloves hand over Cecil's making his heart skip a beat, "You still helped people didn't you? Isn't that worth something."

"...." Cecil stood up. "I guess. Although I must tell you. The King wants to foster romance between us."

Arabelle smiled at him, "Now why would you tell me that? I have the advantage now you know?"

"Maybe it's because I'm dumb but I'd rather be honest with the lady I court for any reason."

"My, oh my," Arabelle relaxed. "I certainly didn't expect a Kingdom Royal to be so honest and cute. Aren't your type usually more domineering and selfish?"

"I could say the same of you. Aren't your type usually more defiant and devious?" Cecil countered.

"Well said." Arabelle granted as she stood up.

"I'll take my leave of you now." Cecil said with another incredibly awkward imperial bow.

This time Arabelle did laugh as she curtsied. "Thank you for keeping me company. Until the next time, your Highness."

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The first day following Mamori's refusal period.

Mamori was smiling at Cecil, "I see you've met The One that will be Chosen?"

"Excuse me?" Cecil asked.

"It's nothing it won't happen until —" Mamori jerked upright just as a  Flash Blinded the castle. "Oh no...."

"What happened,"Cecil asked.

"Take me to her. Your Kingdom's hostage has just been Chosen!" 

"...you knew about the hostage thing too?" Cecil asked 

"No time for that!" Mamori snapped at Cecil, "Two Very Bad Things just reached the tip of their tendrils/fingers into this world. We need to to get to them before they can break free!"

End first half of Salvation file 1


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1) There was a translation error. Mamori said diamond but Cecil heard Glass coal. Diamonds were common enough in this world to be used as fuel.