Life in a new Kingdom

After a few days on the road, the land already seems drastically different from the snowy plains I've become used to. The extra supplies and funds from the Guild allowed us to stop in an inn or tavern for decent hot meals and beds. I know Lukia was immensely enjoying some of the luxurious benefits granted to us. It was nice seeing her warmer after what happened. She hasn't fully recovered, but I can tell she is making progress. Gale looks on after us from time to time, I've noticed. Acting like some big brother was awkward at first, but I just let it happen these days.

Herk and Ivian have been adamant about getting better with their roles in our party. A six-man team is a solid number for our group. We have formidable front-line fighters, a good healer, a perceptive rogue with a high awareness for danger, a long-range attacker with small nature magic and healing, and there is me. I have good swordsmanship, reaction time, instincts, adaptability, and protection magic and can be a ranged attacker. Very versatile role that is dependent on the situation. However, my experience with this group has been minor in terms of being a team. This quest isn't an easy task. There are risks of casualties if we don't work in tandem.

I don't know if anyone feels the same as me. This constant feeling of caution. If something goes wrong, how do I fit in helping without screwing up? I hope I learn as we travel together; I don't want to be a burden, given how young and still a child I am. Being strong isn't the issue; it's if I can keep up with them as a team.

In my stupor, Gale places his hand on my shoulder and speaks. "I know that look anywhere. Something must be bothering you pretty bad." His face was a bit flushed by alcohol. Despite cutting back on not getting drunk anymore, it has not stopped him from having fun. I'm glad.

Gently peeling his hand away, I step off the stool and face the doors of the inn. "Just stuck in my mind. You don't have to worry about it."

"It can be pretty uncomfortable if you let it."

I stopped in my tracks. Just turning my head slightly, Gale was giving me a knowing look. I let out a sigh before dropping my shoulders. The inn was full of patrons, including us; however, Ivian and Lukia turned in early while the rest of us enjoyed the evening. "The feeling is mutual?"

Without missing a beat, Gale approaches and pats my shoulder. "Of course. You're new and it was just yesterday that it felt like we just got Lukia in this team. Not fitting in is natural until you do. You'll understand soon enough how we work together in the future. Until then, don't be afraid to hold back if you are unsure. We may not look it, but we do care about how you fit into this group."

"If only it were that easy." I rub my head and filter my fingers through my hair, wiping the sweat off my brow.

"You did well back in the nest, why are you feeling this anxious about traveling with us."

He's right. Naturally, I wasn't bothered by this. However, unlike who he saw back in the nest, it wasn't entirely me. I've noticed it for a while, but when under extreme stress, my mind is hazy. I am still in my own state of mind, but something never feels right. "Just nerves, I guess. I feel like I know you guys, but I don't. Maybe when I talk with everyone, then it might be easier." Lying to him now isn't a bad idea. I wasn't entirely truthful, but I think spending more time would help.

After my encounter with the goblin's nest, I have been more aware of my own thoughts. I have slight moments where I feel still, like an ocean that is barely moving. Clarity and focus guide one to victory. My subconscious, triggered by battle, was the obvious hint of this cause. Sato Haruki is like a ghost that whispers in my ear, telling me what I must do and how I should feel. The subconscious that guides my body and actions is only one thing of many.

"Just be sure to do just that, Caleb. I am sure everyone would want to hear your story, too."

"Right. Well, I think I should turn in for the night. Don't want to spoil the mood."

"I won't stop you. Have a good night."

"You too, Gale. Thanks."

"What would I be if I didn't look after my men?"

Ending our conversation, I entered my room and placed my sword alongside the bed. A window looking into the distance of the land before us. A looming sight for those who enjoy the view. The night ended quickly as soon my body laid in bed. We all grabbed our horses from the stables the following day and proceeded on our journey.

Gale led us on. The shifting winds of the land were fresh and full of life. Our time was precious, so we hurried along the path. The wondrous feeling of an adventure was still charming. Each new landscape, tree, grass, ruins, everything. Telling a story of past lives or just moments in someone that meant something.

Lukia trailed back and pulled down her hood. The amber strands of her hair flowed in the wind. A soft smile across her face showed how much she loved feeling it. "Isn't this just great?" A soft tone in her voice with each word that escapes her lips.

"The freedom of this life is special." The sounds of my voice were still harsh from the change; I cleared it for a moment and continued. "I can see why you guys enjoy it."

Lukia turns to me and draws closer. "Did you ever dream of being an adventurer?"

"Not so much that I wasn't against it. Being a noble, I held off on such thoughts, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't happy to be on the road like this."

"Woah, look at young Caleb speaking like a real person."

"What's wrong with how I normally talk?!"

A soft, snickering laugh escapes past her fingers as she tries to hold it back. "J-Just don't blame me when you are weird sometimes!"

"What?! Oh, you-"

"Halt!" Gale orders while holding out his hand, causing us to quickly slow down. "I think we are being watched. Lukia and Ivian, get off your mounts and scan the area. The rest of us will be bait. Caleb stays behind Herk and Yann to cover our flank."

Without a word, we slowly got into position and gently trod our horses forward. Gale keeps an eye on the trees or grass for sudden movement and holds a hand on his sword. The silence is broken apart with the horses' hooves clicking against the road. A soft sweat drips across Herks forehead, and Yann pays attention to the surroundings.

"Keep this pace for now. If they give the signal, we should be fine to move ahead."

"Gale, what do you think we are facing," I say softly while looking behind us.

"You probably don't smell it, but we do."

Certain scents of monsters can differ drastically when traveling. Years of encountering such creatures are vital for being an adventurer, as knowing what you are facing could help you prepare for conflict. I try to smell, but only small whiffs of something odd fill my senses. I already know how goblins smell, and this is different.

Gale has a unique sense of smell compared to everyone else. Making his judgment all the more important in preparing. A soft hint of aggression fills his eyes; drawing his sword, he leaps off his mount. "Caleb! Cast a barrier behind us!"

I reel back my horse and turn around. "T-There's nothing-"

"Just do it!"

A quick blur of movement zips past my eyes as a medium-sized creature bursts from the trees. It lands with a thud, and its dark eyes focus on me. The creature is covered in spines that protrude out of its body except its face. A variant of kobolds, which are usually scaley-like lizards, are instead covered in sharp spikes. These creatures are quick and agile but typically aren't difficult to kill with a single blow.

"Barrier!" I raise my hand forward, and using the artifact, I generate a bright wall that barely prevents the kobold from attacking. The spear the creature wields crudely breaks apart, and a look of confusion sprouts from it.

"Gale!" Yann shouts as another Kobold with similar spikes across its body leaps toward him. He steps to the side and slashes the head clean off with one solid motion before dashing back and leaping over my barrier to cut down the other, flanking us.

"Caleb, keep the barrier up. We don't know how many there are, and if you can cover us, we can handle this."

"You got it!" I knew from the way he was talking that he wasn't trying to boss me around or make me feel incompetent in the group, far from it. He wants me to see how they fight and how they work together when the circumstances are normal for our group. I understood, and yet, I felt the need to draw my sword.

Adjusting the barrier, I feel a sense of danger approaching from our left; another kobold hidden in the grass leaps forward before a dagger and arrow strike its chest and back. Lukia and Ivian reveal themselves to give us support. Ivian dashes to retrieve his dagger and blends into the shadows to sneak around once more. Lukia takes a sniping position with her bow and covers the party.

Yann grabs a giant battle axe and slams the ground, causing it to rumble under his strength. He lets out a mighty shout as his body bulges from his muscles. Using a taunt ability, the hostile creatures click their tongues in their weird language. Unknown to what they are saying, they must be communicating in attacking.

Herk chants a soft prayer and casts a strength buff on Herk. His body glows a bright red before a group of frustrated kobolds leap forward, rolling down the hill to pick up speed. With a twirl of his axe, Yann slices through each one as cleanly as possible to not take any damage from their spikes; he pushes them off to the side with his weapon.

Gale quickly swings around in a dash, claiming two more Kobold heads. Wiping the blood off his blade, he turns away from the attention of the front and regroups. Giving a signal, Ivian and Lukia quickly return. Nine dead Kobolds lay helpless to the side.

"Is that all of them?" I ask.

"Their blood is in the air, so it's a bit difficult to sense anything else. But with how we dealt with them, I don't suppose they would continue to attack." Gale waits for a second to survey the area before mounting his horse. Ivian and Lukia do the same.

Caught in the moment, I release the barrier without thinking. Gale turns his head and shouts. "Don't drop it yet! They might be still waiting-"

In a blur, a spike is shot from the body of a hidden Kobold as it leaps behind a tree, just barely obscured by the elements. I go to draw my sword, but the spike slashes my shoulder as it narrowly hits my chest. Falling off the horse, I roll to my feet, and using the singing sound of Tempest, I deflect the spear from the creature and shove the blade through its head. The dark blue blood leaks down its face before I remove the blade entirely. A soft stink of their bodies turns my stomach.

"Sorry! I didn't think we were in danger-" Before I could finish speaking, a sixth sense in the back of my mind tingles for a moment. The last time I got this feeling was against the Shadow Hunter, a creature or force that could end me instantly if it could. "EVERYONE SCATTER!" Shouting without thinking, everyone heeds my warning and spreads out. I slap my horse to make it depart away.

"Caleb, don't stand there-" Yann calls out before a giant rumble in the ground stirs. Sounds of loud and heavy footsteps approach, crashing through the trees and knocking them apart. I roll out of the way before a small group of minotaur's crash through. Splinters of the shattered trees fly across the path with their arrival. The massive humanoid creatures with the bodies of bulls, standing ten feet tall and wide, let out a roar that pierces our ears.

"Shit! Caleb!" Gale calls out with his blade tightly pressed in his hand.

"Circle them! They won't know what to do!" I yell to everyone.

With the four new creatures in our sights, they shift their attention around the six of us. A slow but steady pace, we hold our ground. The minotaur's were hunting these kobolds for food. And they laid an ambush to fight back, which we stepped into. Caught in their sights, the horned mass of flesh breaks away, and three turn to face Gale and everyone else. One of them shifts their attention to me. They had intelligence like the basilisk that Nana fought.

"Lukia, Herk, provide support for us three. We are going to need it. Caleb, good luck!" Knowing my fight would be alone, we understood that we had our respective roles.

Without much hesitation, the minotaurs sprang into action, charging at us with their horns ready to gore us. I couldn't pay attention to Gale or the others with this beast is in my sight. With my blade, I slid down with a horizontal strike that clipped the cheek of the creature. The dark red blood oozed from the wound before it just snarled and, wielding a massive axe, twirled the blade around before swinging it down.

Rolling to the side, I feel the vibration ripple through the ground as it splits apart behind its might. I look at the small crack of earth that is torn apart and back to the creature. It will surely kill me if it lands a solid blow. Speed would be my saving grace. On my feet, after dodging another strike, I slip past it with my blade piercing its stomach. The tough exterior of the muscle stops my blade nearly a quarter way in before I retract it. A large fist of the minotaur hits my side. The force of the attack threw me off as it connected. I guided my body along the punch but the force behind it still knocking me to the ground.

"Barrier!" With a split-second cast, I just defend against a killing blow that makes the minotaur recoil from the barrier. With another cast, I block the next few strikes, rippling through the magical essence; I grip Tempest and drop the barrier the moment the minotaur recoils off the barrier. Dashing forward, my sword plunged deep into its arm as I pierce bone, the wails of the creature strike my ears before it pulls back.

Not giving up on my advancement, another slash across the arms of the minotaur before it turns to me out of rage. Narrowly avoiding a swing from the axe, I back away to gauge my distance. Glancing over, Gale had killed one of the minotaur's. The creature fell with his sword deep into the creature's chest.

The beast charges forward, giving me time to avoid the charge and land another strike on the back. Heavy breaths leave the minotaur's mouth, showing its exhaustion; I can finish it off at this rate.

"Behind you!" Herk shouts. A cold feeling pierced my leg as one of the dying kobolds had the strength to break off one of their spikes and attack. The cackling laugh of the kobold turns into a gargle as the dark blue blood leaks out from its mouth before dying. The pain crawls up my leg and then to my stomach.

No time to pull it out, I slice the ends off to prevent it from getting in the way before I stumble out of the way from nearly being beheaded by its axe. The grass sways with the sudden burst of wind. Blowing my hair around my head, I grip my sword tightly; a weird sensation tingles my fingers.

I look down to see that the wind took shape around the hilt of my sword. The gem in the hilt and the blade itself catches the wind around itself. A magical enchantment allowing the user to capture and contain gusts to unleash. It has been slowly accumulating since being drawn. "Tempest..." The name felt ironic now that I say it. A soft smile to signify the moment; I look forward to the large minotaur. It crapped its hoofs onto the ground to prepare for another charge with the axe raised high. "Gee... You are predictable..." A sense of boredom. It was slight but noticeable.

The others slay the last couple of minotaur's. They turn to my battle with eager looks. Gale steps ahead and raises his hand, giving them orders to stand down. Some protest but soon follow along. "Caleb! You got a small audience; don't embarrass yourself." He wants me to prove myself. His voice is supportive, while his words are a message to acknowledge my skill alone.

I let out a laugh. My injured leg has gone numb, and I can barely move it without stumbling around. If this is my stand, then I need to try something. "Give me your blade, Gale!"

"Huh??" A long look of confusion on his dumb face nearly pisses me off.

"Just toss your sword before it charges! I got a plan!"

Looking down at his weapon, he sighs and winds his arm back. "Fine! Take this!" He overhead throws the blade toward me. The last minotaur lets out a roar before charging. The moment it reaches striking distance, Gale's blade reaches my left hand and swiftly deflects the horns upward, just missing me. With Tempest, I thrust with all my strength and only pierced a few inches deep. The muscles were tough. But having magic on my side could easily defeat something this massive.

"Tempest Burst!" Channeling the magic within the blade and using its name, the winds the blade had consumed unleashed all at one, winding around the blade they are fast and sharp like a spinning blade constantly moving.

The minotaur reels back from the pain and attempts to back away, but I hook into the ground and twist the blade. Causing the burst of wind to rip further into its stomach. Bits of gore and blood stains the wind circling the blade, turning it into a whirlwind of blood.

"Sword Art: Hellfire Blaze!" Taking a deep breath, my lungs burn as the power channels throughout my body. It soon enters the sword, causing a dark red flame to mix with the swirling wind. The flames instantly consume oxygen, creating a bigger flame that expands quickly. Engulfing the minotaur from head to toe, it falls back, flailing its arms wildly.

Coughing from the smoke, I leap into the air and stab the burning beast in the head. The life in the eyes had begun to melt from the flames, but I watched it die before leaping off the corpse before it set me aflame.

The embers soon die out, and the charred corpse turns to ash. With my victory secured, I turn to join my companions. The second I take a step with my injured leg, I slip and face plant.

"I can't get up."

Everyone bursts into laughter. My face turns a little red as embarrassment clings to me.

"Herk, if you please." Gale motions to Herk with his hand.

With a smile, Herk can't keep his laughter in as he slowly approaches. "Oh, this was too funny to see."

"Oh, ha-ha, just get the hell over here. My leg is completely numb; I think the nerve was pierced."

"Let me look at it..." As Herk sits me up, he looks at the broken spike in my leg. Lukia and Yann turn to gather the horses; Ivian and Gale keep a solid lookout as everything is being settled. Herk taps my leg. "Do you feel this?"

"No, I told you it must be on a-NRRRRAAAHHHHH!" Without giving me a warning, Herk rips out the spike with a solid motion. The pain from the nerve that is severely ripped from my leg shoots all the wrong signals to my brain. I hold my mouth as I hopelessly scream into my hands. A second passes, and I let out a long breath.

"Better?"

"...Ouch..."

"That's good. Let me patch you up." With his hands wrapped around my leg, he channels the magic of his artifact and casts healing across my entire body. The cuts and wounds I sustained in the encounter are soon removed, and Herk lets out a deep sigh, showing signs of his stamina being at its limit.

"You are still able to move?"

"Yeah, I didn't completely drain myself helping everyone." He slowly walks toward the horses brought by Lukia and Herk. Gale walks over and gives me a hand.

"Good job taking that bastard down."

"It was strong but predictable. Their intelligence was a bit higher than expected."

"Not enough for them to make use of it. We'll have a short rest before continuing on our journey. Take your time, you earned it." He leaves with a pat on my back and converses with everyone else. He grabbed his sword without me noticing as he returned. I followed soon after sheathing Tempest.

An hour passes as we sit in a small clearing, slightly away from the battlefield, and take a moment to catch our breaths. I didn't notice due to my own fight, but the three minotaurs did some damage to Yann and Ivian. Lukia suffered a bruise on her chest from the mace of one of the creatures hitting her. Gale sustained very minor cuts or small bruises. Ivian kept to himself, but he lost a tooth in the fight. Thankfully, when Herk fully recovers, he would use a high-level regenerative spell to replace what was lost. Yann's arm was bent badly after he put all of his might into cleaving the last minotaur before mine but broke his arm in two places. With a split and time, Herk could help speed up the recovery drastically. The pleasures of having a good cleric on the team really saved this team far more than they would admit.

After setting back onto our journey, Ivian invited me to talk. Our horses trod next to each other. The smaller build was human but nimble; his greasy black hair covered most of his ears and the sides of his head when his hood was down.

"Does it look bad?" He showed me his missing tooth, and I could see that it didn't come out clean.

"Good news or bad news?"

"So, it's pretty bad." He sighs and rubs his swollen cheek.

"Herk is pretty reliable for a cleric. Very rare to find one such as him."

"He's a miracle worker. Yet he never seems to overstep in his own light."

"What do you mean?"

"He came to me about his abilities being helpful, but he seems like if he is the one in trouble, it would put us all in trouble. I told him he shouldn't think like that, but he insisted that he should do more for the group. His combat abilities are much lower than all of us. But he can hold his own."

"Did you tell him that?"

"I tried, too. Didn't want to hear it."

"Interesting. If he is worried about getting himself hurt and unable to support us, I guess I should see if I can learn from him so he doesn't always have to do the work."

"Lukia is our other healer when things go bad. You shouldn't waste your talents in trying to develop more healing abilities."

"I'm a fast learner."

"Suit yourself."

"Speaking of which, I would like to know how to use lock picks."

"Are you trying to get on my nerves with this? I understand; you are pretty amazing, but don't steal our roles."

"You all have important roles. I adapt the quickest in most situations. If I have knowledge of our enemies, I can apply tactics just as fast as Gale on the move. If I can learn a bit of everything, I can pull our heads out of danger if it comes down to just me."

"So annoying."

"Is that a no?"

"Let me rest up a bit and I'll teach you the basics, just know if you break my tools get ready to pay in blood and money."

"Scary. I'll do my best."

"Alright, go on; I need to let this swollen face rest."

"Sure." Pulling my horse to the side, I ride in the middle. Just several days into our Platinum quest, it has proven that we aren't dealing with goblins or wolves. This area and probably further down south we go, difficult creatures will be the norm. I just hope that whatever happens, we can handle it...