Year 2: The First Conflicts - Chapter 1

The heavy air at the King’s Palace in Rhodes had slowly started to lift.

It had been a week since Princess Aeila and Dame Chelsea had been taken by the Demon Emperor.

On the surface, the Summoned Heroes had moved on, motivated and driven by the despair they felt to become stronger.

Just beneath, however, there were lingering scars from that day.

The two princes, Julius and Augustus, were lethargic at the best of times, a new instructor had to be found quickly to replace Dame Chelsea, and the citizens of the Free People’s Alliance had learned of the Demon Emperor’s welcoming present he’d sent the Summoned Heroes.

Dame Chelsea’s replacement was King Alexander himself.

“I can’t begin to imagine the pain you feel, but, remember this - this is what the Demon Emperor intends to inflict on the whole world should we fail,” he told them. “As a warrior, you must get used to this feeling because it’s impossible to save everyone. However.” He showed them a magnificent, confident grin. “We can save almost everyone instead.”

King Alexander didn’t change the training regimen that Dame Chelsea had laid out, but he did add in a weekly skirmish between the six members of Duncan’s team to see how far each of them had come. Whoever defeated the most opponents would get an additional allowance to spend when the Summoned Heroes were allowed to explore the city.

For five weeks, they had been almost confined to the luxurious and vast grounds of the King’s Palace, but King Alexander assured them they’d soon be able to travel outside the palace walls.

With two wins each under their belts, the final fight was between Duncan and Brenda.

Duncan could only use one of the twenty-four Futhark runes on his blade for an effect which was - Ehwaz, the Horse. When the rune was active, Duncan’s slashes became faster, though he had to manually activate it every time he struck.

Brenda, on the other hand, had already become capable of using beginner level fire magic whilst using Surtur, giving her a greater advantage in the fight.

Swordsmanship wise, the two were quite level, though Duncan’s sudden, and often unpredictable, increases in speed using Ehwaz gave him a slight edge.

However.

“That’s enough!”

After being disarmed and forced onto his back, Duncan was knocked out of the fighting ring.

“The winner is Brenda! Catch.” King Alexander threw her a hefty purse almost overflowing with coin. “That’s your personal allowance; you can spend it on whatever you want or how you like. Just don’t get it confused with the stipend our treasury will be handing out tomorrow.”

“Thank you very much, King Alexander,” Brenda said with a bow. Then, she turned to Duncan and offered the defeated boy her hand. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” He took her hand and she pulled him onto his feet. “Thanks.”

“Good work, you two.” Stephanie handed them two empty cups, then opened her grimoire and filled them with ice-cold water.

“Thanks, Stephanie.” Duncan took a refreshing sip and wiped the sweat from his brow. “I think I speak for all of us when I say thank you for learning the ‘Create Water’ spell. It’s a great help.”

Smugly, Stephanie put her hands on her hips and said, “That’s right, 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 spell if it’s so useful,” Feng Li pondered.

“My magic tutors did try to learn it, but they weren’t able to cast it, even after trying various incantations and whatnot.”

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

“Exactly - that’s how desperate they were to try it out.” Stephanie lightly fluttered the pages of the Book of Thoth before them with a sigh. “Five weeks and I’ve learnt three spells: Fireball, Create Water and Candlelight.”

“I thought magic spells didn’t have names in Aangapea.”

“They don’t - I just started giving them names to make it a bit easier for me when I’m visualising what kind of magic to use.”

“I see.”

“Oh, where’s Dao Chen?” Brenda asked.

“Her?” Blake huffed and crossed her arms. “She left just before Duncan lost, muttering about how much of a waste of time today was.”

“Even though she didn’t fight?”

“Heh - exactly.” Blake shrugged. “I don’t know why King Alexander even bothered to try and include her.”

Despite the king’s sincere request for them to all compete together, Dao Chen had wholeheartedly refused in a venomous voice.

“There’s no need for us to duel each other; all that matters is that we fight together when we need to, that’s all,” she’d whispered.

The king tried for all of five minutes to convince her to join in but gave up when he saw the vacant expression on Dao Chen’s face.

Everyone has their secrets, Duncan reminded himself. It’s not our place to pry, but I do wish she’d rely on us a bit more.

“Why’d she leave?”

“I believe it was my fault, Brenda. I mentioned that I believed you two were the strongest of us thirty heroes, to which Dao Chen seemed greatly annoyed by. She proclaimed herself as the strongest, Blake said that was impossible to know because she never trained with us, and then Dao Chen left incredibly angry.”

“Pride, huh?”

“Perhaps, or perhaps there’s-”

“No.” Duncan firmly put his foot down. “We don’t talk about that sort of stuff, not unless the other side wants to talk.”

“Of course, Brother Duncan, forgive me.”

“Feng Li, you did it again.”

“My apologies, Lord Duncan.”

“That’s worse!”

Feng Li smiled politely and bowed. “Pardon me, it was what I believe you would refer to as a joke…Duncan.”

“Hang on, what the hell?” Blake pointed behind Duncan and all eyes followed her finger.

With a disgruntled look on her face, Dao Chen was marching over to them with Dante at her side, smiling happily and with a slight skip in his step.

“Good morning, Duncan’s Team,” Dante greeted them, waving cheerfully. “What a wonderful day for exercise, no?”

“Go away,” Dao Chen hissed.

“Now, now, it’s important that the whole team’s here for this. After much planning, I’m pleased to tell you that we’ve finalise the details for each team’s assignments they need to complete within the next three weeks.”

“Team assignments?” Blake repeated.

Dante nodded. “In conjunction with the Adventurer’s Guild, each team will be assigned to different areas of the Kingdom of Rhodes to complete five tasks before the end of the month. While the exact details vary, you will be: gathering resources, picking herbs, defeating monsters, escorting and protecting caravans or important individuals, and you will be sent out to track down and hunt a specific game.”

“We have three weeks to do all of that?” Duncan asked.

“Yep. Just about enough time for you to all get back to the palace safe and sound before month’s end.”

“Are there any penalties if we fail to complete one of the assignments or if we are unable to make it back to the King’s Palace by month’s end?”

“Yes. Any team that doesn’t complete the assignments in full, and to the satisfaction of the clients and guild, will be forced to undergo much tougher training regimes and lectures in order for them to catch up with the teams that do complete their missions. If everyone fails.” Dante chuckled. “Then Aangapea and the Free People’s Alliance are doomed.”

“No pressure then,” Blake muttered to Stephanie.

“Well, I’m sure he’s just being dramatic.”

“Now, I imagine you’re all wondering why we chose-”

“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.”

“How do you mean?” Duncan asked.

“Firstly, 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.

“Secondly, 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.” Stephanie looked at the furious woman beside Dante. “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, then 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 do that, so-”

“Just because you said you would doesn’t mean you will.” Dao Chen glared back at Stephanie. “Of course, if you’re telling the truth, then that’s fine. Duncan.” She shifted her gaze to him and smiled gently. “You’re our leader. You have to 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 reached into his bag and handed them a sealed envelope. “That has all the details for your team; don’t disappoint us, heroes.”

***

“Come!” General Akechi roared.

“Akane, follow me!”

“Roger that.”

Together, Hajime and Akane charged at Akechi. They had their Divine Artefacts, Tonbokiri and Ukonvasara in hand, whilst their opponent held two steel katanas, though the one in Akechi’s left hand was shorter.

Hajime thrust his spear at Akechi, who skilfully moved his body out of the way, just as Akane swung her hammer at his right side. Akechi leapt back out of the way, keeping both heroes in front of him, and observed them closely.

Hajime was patiently waiting as Akane slowly moved around to Akechi’s left flank again.

“Not a bad strategy, however.” Akechi kicked off the ground and rushed Hajime.

He had moved so quickly that the boy had barely any time to react.

Hastily, he brought Tonbokiri in front of him to block the slashes, but Akechi sliced Hajime in two spots. The longer blade was blocked by the spear, but the shorter opened up Hajime’s side. Vomiting blood, Hajime collapsed onto his knees, leaving Akane alone to face Akechi.

“Stray too far from your opponent and your foe will exploit that gap, and turn the tide in their favour.”

Akechi swung his short sword, flinging the blood off it onto the dirt, then spun to confront Akane, kicking Hajime square in the face once his back was to him.

Hajime collapsed onto his back, panting and struggling to breathe, while Akane had a grim expression on her face.

I knew it, she thought.

Gathering magical energy around her hammer, Akane readied herself and, with a great war cry, swung her hammer forwards, smashing it into the ground. The ground split as bolts of lightning sprung from the dirt, threatening to strike Akechi.

However.

“You’re too exposed.”

Akechi had already dodged her attack long before it reached him. Decisively, he threw a spinning kick at the back of her skull and placed both blades against Akane’s throat, while crushing her right hand that held Ukonvasara with his boot.

“An attack that big should only be used when you’re confident that your opponent can’t avoid the attack, or when you’re confident you can react quick enough to their counterattack.” Akechi stood up and sheathed his blades, calling for Zuzu to come and heal her leader. “A weak strategy with many exploitable gaps.”

Akechi stepped to one side as Hajime’s team gathered around their defeated leader and Akane. “If you were not aware already, I did not use any magic whatsoever in that battle, nor do I ever when I fight. I have achieved this simply through hard work and perseverance. These swords.” He lightly tapped the hilts at his sides. “Are made of dragon-metal, but that is all. Hajime.”

“Y-yes?”

“Your enthusiasm is not bad; however, you are severely lacking currently as a leader,” Akechi bluntly stated. “As it stands, I fear for you and your team during the coming assignments. That said.” Akechi smiled a little. “I still believe in you and your abilities. Don’t disappoint me come tomorrow.”

“…I won’t.”

“Then, that’s it for today. Continue to stick to your timetables and regimes until tomorrow at dawn; from then on, what you do is entirely up to you.”

Akechi left them as the team awkwardly looked at one another.

“S-so, does anyone want to go and grab something to-?”

“Sorry, but I’m heading back first,” Akane said, cutting Zuzu off. She picked up Ukonvasara, gave Hajime one last disappointed look, then stormed off.

“D-don’t worry, Hajime, we’re-!”

“Sorry, Zuzu.” He smiled pathetically at her, slowly rising to his feet. “I just need some time to myself.”

“Would you like me to come with you, friend?” Amen asked.

“Nah, it’s…it’s okay.” Upon seeing the sad gazes locked on him, Hajime forced himself to laugh. “C-come on, guys, don’t look at me like that. I know it was rough today, b-but I promise you I’ll do better tomorrow. W-w-what today was, was, um, a learning curve, a-a-and! And, it helped me realise some…things.

“Sorry.”

Hajime couldn’t stand it anymore and ran away, ignoring the calls of concern from Amen and the others.

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

“Eh? B-but it was just-!”

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, hidden behind a small stone fence, he collapsed onto the floor and wept softly to himself.

“I’m…doing the best, I can.”

Don’t cry, Hajime Sakamoto!

He looked up instinctively, but couldn’t see who was talking.

Right…he always told me, not to be, such a cry-baby, didn’t he?

Hajime smiled thinly when he remembered his uncle, a firefighter who he’d always looked up to.

“A hero doesn’t cry, a hero doesn’t look for recognition,” he whispered, wiping his tears and slowly rising back onto his feet. “A hero - just does what he needs to.”

***

Sat on a bench away from the rest of their team, Hailey and Yve were relaxing together, talking and resting after battling each other for the past hour.

Their team, per Kella’s instructions, were to fight in pairs until someone had won five times. Hailey had won five duels to Yve’s three, whereas the boys were still fighting amongst themselves.

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

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

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

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

“Missed is what I think you mean.”

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

“Thanks.”

“Not even a slight blush?”

Hailey cocked her head to the side and lowered her eyebrows. “Why do you keep trying to make me blush?”

Yve shrugged. “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 for hearing something that embarrassing?”

Hailey shook her head.

“Damn. It’ll be a long, uphill battle with you.” Yve turned her focus back to the four boys battling a few dozen metres away. “How are you holding up?”

“…Not great, but…better than before.”

“Good.”

“I just, I don’t know…it still hurts so much, knowing that I died in front of her, that I let him down, that” She clenched her heart tightly. “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 stared up at the sky. “Honestly, I don’t know any more myself. It hurts so much that I can barely sleep, that I can barely breathe sometimes. I know…I have to move on, I have to…fight, but-”

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

“…Right.”

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

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

“Well, 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, you know.”

“What about Guy?”

“Are you kidding me? He’s nice, don’t get me wrong, but I can only see him as a little brother.”

“Ouch.”

“What do you mean by that?!”

“Well, if he likes you, then-”

“I highly, highly doubt that.”

“Why?”

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

“…Ah.”

The two giggled together, then looked back to the fight as Liam defeated Kavi.

“…How exactly were the support-type members of our group meant to fight?”

“I don’t know, but, there’s one thing I do 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 that they could stare into one another’s eyes, less than five inches away from each other’s faces. “I’ll protect you with all of my heart 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 before. This.” Hailey easily broke free of Yve’s princely hold. “Is nothing.”

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

“I know. Thank you.”

“Um, excuse me, sorry to interrupt your little play.” The two 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.”

“No, Gati, no it does not,” Hailey replied.

“It did back on Earth!” Gati proclaimed with a dramatic pose.

“Creep.”

“Hey!”

“Perv.”

“I 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 for a bit and I overheard Liam and Gati talking about how much they missed porn. More accurately.” Yve awkwardly scratched her cheek. “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.

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

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

“I knew that!”