With the sound of battle fading out, the more ground I covered, I realised just how far we were from the clearing. Despite escaping from the decisive battle, I kept my head on and paid close attention on the surrounding area.
Eventually, I reach the clearing with the caravan still stationed where it was originally. Though, now it'd appear the two birds pulling said caravan has returned as Water rests against them in far better shape than when I left.
"Akira..? Akira! Y-You're...- Rosebelle's not with you?"
Hopping onto his feet with enthusiasm, he rushes to meet me as he walks me to the caravan. The birds eye my every move as they look like they'd attack me at any moment.
"At ease; nothing to worry about."
With that, they return to resting as we enter the caravan. I expected to see Beatrice inside but found naught. After all, I'm not certain that the masked stranger really was her or not.
"She appeared out of nowhere and saved us by a thread, in fact that happened twice in the time I was gone."
"Another Candidate, huh? ...Well, if their able to hold their own against it, they could have a fighting chance. But," eyeing my injury, he soon grins, "Same thing with you, huh?"
With his arm missing, mine's in a sling; though I guess we really are sharing the same burden.
"...Without their help, I wouldn't be here. They're both strong as far as I can tell, but..."
"An Orc Hero, taking them down is no easy feat... I'm astounded that we actually stumbled upon one; here of all places. I assume that's why there was so many goblins about, they must've been relocating to a new hunting ground."
On both Rosebelle's and Luel's accord, this forest was supposed to be relatively safe. In that case, the goblins really weren't meant to be here.
"Still, it's strange," placing his hand against his chin, it seems something's not quite right with his earlier statement, "The ones here are likely from the ruins north of here, but if that's the case, that means something made them leave."
"...Is that so? But, will they be all right?"
Batting away their reasoning, I'm more concerned about the two who's still in battle with the Orc Hero. But if something made them leave, does that mean there was something which ordered the Orc Hero?
"Worried, hm? She did rush off after regaining consciousness. A person wouldn't be able to move with a wound that large; it could have been fatal. But she carried on regardless of what I had to say."
"..."
But still... that wound did affect her.
"Even in her state, she's combating the Orc Hero..."
In my state of worry, Walter nudges my arm while cracking a smile.
"Don't think too much on the negatives, if you do then you'll get yourself into a rut. Instead, place your faith in them. It may be difficult, but she'll pull through. If it's the Golden Rule, she'll be fine."
That's the second time I heard someone refer to her as that, not only that but Walter also mentioned Rosebelle as, The Berserk Fury.
"Golden Rule, hmm..? Where's Beatrice by the way?"
"Bea? Who knows... This wouldn't be the first time she up and left at the drop of a hat."
With that, he lies down as he caresses his wound.
"I see... You're not worried?"
Not knowing if Walter's either feigning ignorance, or truly not knowing where she is; there's no business in me prying any further.
"Worried? Hm, can't say, but I know she'll be back, like the many other times."
I shouldn't pry but, that doesn't exactly satisfy my curiosity.
"Is that so... How'd you two become work partners if one suddenly disappears without letting the other know?"
"Hah," with an upbeat laugh, he rises with a grin, "You wanna know?"
Before I could answer with a yes, he smirks as he walks pass me; before exiting the caravan, he looks back to me while parting the curtains, "It's a long one, I'll tell you over tonight's dinner when we get to Aisengard."
His regains his arm soon after as he then takes hold of the reins, "Hm, wait a second," taking a quick pause as though something abruptly caught his attention, I too begin to feel like something's amiss.
"Do you hear-... do you feel that?"
Scanning the vicinity, small tremors shake the earth as we're soon met with dozens of rushing goblins as they soon almost doubled in numbers.
"What the h-"
Taking cover within the caravan with hopes that they have yet to notice us, they pass by like a desperate mob; ignoring the birds cries.
"The cavalry has arrived... Though, not in our favour, tsk."
Clicking his tongue, he grabs hold of his poleaxe and leaps out of the caravan. Though, before he could, I grab hold of his arm.
"What are you doing?"
I knew exactly what he was going to do, however, I still asked him.
"If its one Orc Hero alone, I'm sure they can manage. But coupled with dozens of goblins, that's an entirely different story."
"So you're going to take them on on your own?"
"Heh, not all at once you see," hopping off the caravan, he takes hold of his weapon with both hands before thrusting the blunt end against the ground, "If I lessen their numbers even just a little, it's less of burden on them. Not only that, but their tunneling straight to their Hero; which means they're for easier picking."
A faint yellow aura soon surrounds him as he assumes a stance like one predator about to catch their prey.
"I know what you're thinking, Akira, And that's not going to fly."
"..."
Without further exchange of words, he charges the back line of goblins with a swift dash that kicks up dust. In an instant, he thrusts through one as he then projects the body to the others before it disappears. Not leaving himself open to a counter attack, he rolls to evade before swinging his pole around himself to catch the ones around him.
Despite Walter's attempts to pick off the horde of goblins, the mass pays no heed to his actions as they charge forth. Even though the numbers are well in their favour, they ignore his strikes as though they meant nothing. With his swings becoming desperate, he chases them into the forest.
"It's not going to fly, huh?"
Attempting to move my broken, dominant arm, it doesn't budge even a little. Not only that but without a weapon, I'm even more powerless than I was before.
But still... even so, I wish I could be of more use. And yet here I am hiding away inside a caravan.
I said I'd get stronger, but that won't happen if I don't put my all into it.
...
As sundown arrives; basking everything in its red light; the first person to return was Walter in rougher shape than when he left as he stumbles towards us. The birds were the first to greet him as they pull the caravan towards him before rubbing their feathered heads against his chest. Hopping off the caravan to meet him, he opens with a smirk as he holds his fist to me; with his other hand against his gut, "The Orc Hero is down," he says I nudge my own fist against his.
As though a weight has been lifted, I subconsciously sigh in relief as I may have even smiled.
"That's great to hear. But...-" I look around for the others, but no one comes into view, "Where's the others? Where's Rosebelle?"
My anxiety escalates as I almost break out into a sprint to search for them, though Walter places his hand against my shoulder.
"She's unconscious, but there's no need to worry. I figured you'd be in a better state, so would you mind getting her?"
"She's out cold? What happened?"
Realising the deep red powered marks behind him, it leads a trail back into the forest.
"I suppose she overexerted herself, she was the one taking the most heat. You'd usually switch between vanguards and yet she took the role of two; I guess it is true that she really does thrive off combat. I can't say it's a good thing; the way she fights, but it's one of the reasons why she's known as The Berserk Fury."
"That name again... Is that a title?"
"You don't know?"
He looks at me as though it's a pretty big deal.
"Titles are given to Candidates when they've achieved extraordinary feats, if you've received a title, chances are you're renowned one way or another. And as the title says, she's a force to be reckoned with. When the tough gets going, she's like an unshackled beast. There are many who respect her."
"..."
Left speechless, I knew she was strong but not to the extent of being renowned.
...
With the thought of Rosebelle in an unconscious state, I hurry through the forest as I follow the trail left by Walter.
Eventually, I reach the out cold Rosebelle sat up beside a tree with her outfit in tatters. A vibrant crystal lays upon her hand as her trusty Dawnbringer's faintly glowing against her lap.
"Rosebelle..."
In the aftermath of matter in a wasted forest landscape, a Hero lays against a tree. The scene is almost serene as I almost feel let down that I couldn't see her in action.
"The Berserk Fury... An unshackled beast..."
The word beast, I couldn't describe her as such. However, with that one fierce gaze she showed me that day; it's entirely believable.
If I continue to follow the path of an Adventuring Hero Candidate, will I ever be as strong as you? Will I ever get close?
I hold my hand out to her as I direct it towards her golden hair but before I could, her eyes slowly open.
"Aki-ra..?"
"R-Rosebelle?"
Not knowing where to place my hand, it's left in limbo as Rosebelle lets out a soft, gentle laugh.
"Hehe... sorry, Akira... I wasn't the first to greet you back..."
She smiles weakly as she doesn't try to move her body, or perhaps she's unable to.
"I-It's okay... Walter told me you're okay."
I scratch the back of my head as I attempt to find a solution. I mean sure, Walter told me to get her and I accepted. But now that I think about it, doesn't that mean I have to carry her? Can I even do that? It's not like I think she's heavy or anything but it's not like my strength stat is high!
"Oh, Walter... Yes, he was here wasn't he? And the other... hm?"
Just realising, the kunoichi is nowhere to be seen; she wasn't with Walter nor did he even mention her.
"...She's okay, most likely. Though I don't know where she is; she's not with Walter."
If she did meet her end, then he would have mentioned something relating to that.
"...Yes, she's-..."
At the boundary of consciousness, I gather the will to ask for her permission.
"S-Sorry, it's not comfortable resting here, is it? I'll carry you back."
Making eye contact as though to answer me, she returns to resting as I have a hard time figuring out just what her answer was.
"...It's not like I have much of a choice."
Rosebelle... You weigh a lot more than I thought.
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