Scars

Having arrived back in Gourmet Inn, Ataru and Rosalind were each given a bowl of gruel for dinner. They sat in their room, pondering if they really needed to eat that badly today. Rosalind looked up from her bowl to him. “Ataru, would you mind if I asked you about something?” She stirred her wooden spoon through the food anxiously.

“Hmm? Sure, what’s up?” He shoved some of the gray mush into his mouth, trying his hardest to imagine it as a delicious bowl of stew.

“I’ve noticed that you tend to use your right hand for most things.” She motioned to his right hand, which he was currently using to hold his spoon. “But while fighting, you seem to favor your left.” She tapped the side of her bowl. “I’ve also seen you in pain, often holding your shoulder. Does this have something to do with you wanting to visit a healer?”

“Man, this stuff stinks, they couldn’t add some salt or something at least?” Ataru grumbled as he took another bite. Rosalind looked down.

“If you don’t want to talk about it, it’s fine.”

“Ugh.” Ataru let out a groan and set the bowl on the table. He reached to his shirt collar and pulled on it, revealing his bare right shoulder, on the front of which was a scar around a foot in length. “I was in a car accident. Both of my parents died, and my shoulder got wrecked pretty bad. I had to go through a ton of surgeries before I could even move my arm properly. Even now it’s stiff, and if I put too much strain on it, well, you get it.” He had never actually explained this to someone before, it was cathartic in a way.

“I see.” Rosalind said, looking at the scar before moving to his eyes. “So that’s why you were unable to fulfill your dream?”

“Yup, can’t really be a star pitcher with a busted arm.” He said as he went back to eating.

“I’m sorry, you’ve been helping me so much and I haven’t done much for you…” She let out a sigh as she poked at her food.

“What? You’ve done plenty. Heck I wouldn’t even have a place to stay without you. Not to mention how much you’ve taught me about this world.”

“That’s the least I could do. I brought you here after all...”

“Jeez, are you still bothered by that? I heard you calling for help and decided to jump into that lake on my own. That’s never going to be something I regret, understand?” Rosalind smiled and let out a light breath. “What? I’m serious.”

“I know, that’s why it’s so funny to me. I’m truly glad it was you that I summoned, Ataru.” She turned her head and forced down some of the gruel, clearly trying to hide her blushing face. He blinked, flustered and not sure how to react. He ruffled the hair on the back of his head.

“Thanks.”

They sat quietly for a few minutes before Rosalind spoke again. “I suppose it’s only fair if I tell you something, ask away.” She said, Ataru let out a hum as he thought for a moment.

“You mentioned being alone in a castle, were you really the only one there?” He asked. Rosalind took a deep breath, averting her eyes from his as she looked to the boarded window in the room.

“For the most part, there was only one person I saw regularly. Her name was Claire. She was my attendant, and the only friend I had since I was locked away.” She interlocked her fingers and squeezed them together. “She stayed behind to give me time to escape once the Agronia army found me. The last time I saw her, she was…” Rosalind wiped her watering eyes. Ataru held up his hands.

“You don’t have to–”

“No.” She interrupted. “I’ve been trying not to think about it, and that isn’t fair to her. She deserves better than that. She was a stern person, but so kind. I envied how strong she was.” She looked back to Ataru. “Would you mind listening to me talk about her? There are so many stories I could tell.” Ataru nodded.

“Yeah, that’d be great.”

Time passed as Ataru listened to tales of Rosalind’s time with her friend, until the sun set and she laid in bed, exhausted. Ataru exited the inn, feeling a tension in his chest. He needed to be better, not just for his own sake, but Rosalind’s. He went for a jog through the city, searching for something that had been on his mind. He hadn’t had a good workout in a while, and it was making him anxious. It didn’t seem like this world had any gyms, so the best he could do was find a spacious area to exercise. After running for a while he stopped at a small park. A soft, grassy area, scenic flowers, and plenty of space, it was perfect.

He entered the park and began his routine. With no weights to work with he’d have to rely on body weight exercises.

Around ten minutes into his exercise he heard a strange sound, like clanking metal. He looked up from his position doing push-ups, to see the Hero standing over him. “Gah!” He fell on his face, before quickly jumping to his feet and entering a boxing stance.

“There’s no need to be alarmed. I’m not here to fight you.” they said, their tone as calm as always.

“Then why are you here?” He asked, his hands still up.

“The same reason as you, it seems. A place to train.” They sat down a bulging bag onto the ground, whatever was inside seemed heavy. “But I’ve been meaning to speak to you anyhow.”

“Yeah, about what?” He asked, shadow boxing.

“Rosalind, how is she?” Ataru’s hands dropped. He didn’t recall Rosalind’s name being mentioned around the Hero.

“Where did you hear that name?” He asked. The Hero tilted their metal covered head upwards.

“From the princess herself. I believe it was around thirteen years ago. I was only seven years old. I lived in an Agronian settlement east of the Untamed Forest. Technically Ralechi territory, but it was allowed to exist if only due to its insignificance.” The Hero removed their right gauntlet, dropping it to the ground. Their arm was toned, and their skin was the shade of lightly sweetened coffee. I was just a peasant then, demons avoided us, refused to even touch us. But she shook my hand when we first met. I didn’t even think a demon could smile until I met her.”

“Uh… huh.” Ataru looked the Hero up and down, wondering where this was going.

“She stopped visiting one day, and a month from then the settlement was destroyed by her father. The god of mercy granted me the holy blade that day, it was the only reason I survived.”

“Huh. Why are you telling me this?” He asked. The Hero looked back down to him.

“I’m not sure myself. Sentimentality? Guilt over the death of her father?” They shook their head. “No, I suppose not. To tell the truth, I simply wish to know she is safe. She is the only one left alive that I have considered a friend, even if she may not remember me.”

“Why don’t you just talk to her?” He asked.

“I am the Hero, and the one that killed her father… It wouldn’t work, and I wouldn’t deserve it.” Ataru let out a groan.

“Fine, well, did you want something from me then?”

“Only to know that I can trust you to protect her.” They said, Ataru scoffed.

“She’s plenty strong, she doesn’t really need protecting.”

“There is more than one way to protect someone. I don’t know what she may be going through, but it must be difficult.”

“Well, you can count on me. I’ve already decided to help her anyway.” He said, thumping his chest.

“Very well. In that case I will leave you be.” The Hero went to pick up their things, but stopped as Ataru held up a hand.

“Hold on, you may not be able to see Rosalind, but you can see me.”

“And?”

“Train me.” He said, the Hero let out a raspy laugh. “Hey, I’m not joking here. You want her to be safe, don’t you?”

“Oh, I do. I just wasn’t expecting that. Alright Ataru, I will train you.” The Hero motioned to remove their helmet. Silver hair fell from the armor, falling just short of their shoulders. They had sharp, androgynous features, and piercing red eyes. Their ears were pointed, at least five inches in length. “I am known to most as simply the Hero, but if you are to be my student, then you may call me by my name. I am Rune.”

Ataru held out his hand for them to shake. “It’s nice to meet you, Rune.” A slight smile formed on Rune’s face as they shook his hand. “So uh, you’re a girl, right?” He heard something crack in his hand.

“Gender is irrelevant to a hero, though you can refer to me as such if you like. Now…” Rune reached into the bag on the ground and tossed a longsword to Ataru. He caught it, and was surprised by its heft. “Five thousand swings as a warm up.”