Arc 7. Death to what came before

  Road to a Hero:

  Three Chances in Another World

  Chapter 17. Up top

  Just after shaking hands with Ander, he begins to lead Gray around the giant tree they stand on. The sheer height is enough to make Gray sick, but he keeps himself composed in front of the man who had defeated him just a day prior. What Gray assumes to be Ander's son follows, seeming quite happy to be near Gray. He’s silent, only squirming a bit, until he runs in front of the two, bowing to Gray.

  Ari: “MY NAME’S ARI! SON OF THE GREAT ANDER, CHAMPION OF THE SUN!”

  Ander looks at his son with disgust, furrowing his brow. Gray sees this, a bit confused, as Ander had just dropped the kind demeanor he was using before. Though Ander isn’t mad at his son, he’s mad at what he’s doing, and that is bowing his head to Gray, which directs his fury at him.

  Gray: “Um, Hi Ari.”

  Ari looked just like his father, fixing his shorter yellow hair, spiking back with its red ends, sniffed his small black nose, and smiled with his sharp teeth, showing off a chipped one right in the front. He dressed just like his father as well, but instead of the red sash of leaves, he had wrappings on his hands and feet, and wooden vambraces. Gray, still confused, has yet to realize why he’s acting this way. It’s almost as if he doesn't want to understand that yes, in fact, Gray Kyojin is famous around the world.

  Gray: “I like the little braids, guy. Especially the chime handing off the large one.”

  Ander: “Boy!”

  Ander's loud, bombing voice sends shivers down everyone's spine, especially Ari. Even the women, cloaked in dresses made of leaves, quivered at his words, backing away from them. Ari quickly runs off, grabbing onto the ropes dangling off of the wooden platform they stand on, that circles this top level of the tree, sliding down to another wooden platform. Down below that one, is platform after platform, working as ground for everyone to live on. It holds various Demi-humans, farms, and homes, a small community on such a large tree. Ander, how much quieter, leads Gray past some of the homes to a large wooden staircase going up the side of the tree, which leads them to the very top. It’s where all of the giant branches extend out creating the large leaves that cover the top of the tree, and cause a large shadow to form on the ground below. The area is bustling with glowing green spirits, all creating a warm, healing feeling that Gray can’t seem to resist. Both still being quiet, Ander leads Gray to the center of the tree canopy, which is a large tent made from leaves, branches, and mud, resembling a rather large Tipi. Ander leads Gray inside, giving him a look at Ander's cozy home. With a furnace at the back, a few sleeping mats, shelves, and a large rug in the middle, it’s extremely minimalist. The only thing that seems to express character is the large spear being hung up on the wall, which has a large red feather at the back end.

  Gray: “You take to kill me?”

  Ander: “I wouldn’t be opposed to it, though you don’t seem like you’d care either way.”

  Gray: “All I want are my things and my dragon. Then I’ll leave.”

  Ander clenches his fist, breathing heavily. He tenses up his muscles while Gray remains still, though that doesn't mean he’s not ready to attack.

  Gray {I lost before, but he had some help. But I’d assume he’ll get more with all of these witches walking around…I could use Knightic…but I’m trying not to. When I use it, sometimes it forces me into a spiritual state, so I don’t know if the same would happen with my flames. I can’t control them, and my body can’t handle it. One wrong move and I’m nothing but ash. If I want to keep going, I’ll just have to follow whatever this bipolar Lion orders me to do.}

  Ander: “I hate you humans, and all of this useless fighting. And I hate that you’re in my house even more, your nasty smell is getting everywhere.”

  Gray: “Eck!? You’re the one who took me here genius.”

  Ander: “Because I’m not stupid enough to get held down by my opinions, unlike most Demi-humans and Humans, but this also goes for Elves, Dark Elves, and Half-Elves. And I’d like to give you your things and let you go, but later today, because it’s spring, it’s going to start raining next week. Which will flood the bottom level.”

  Gray puts his arms behind his head, rocking back and forth without a care in the world, but with a serious look on his face. But the words from someone behind him scare him, causing him to fall over.

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  “You’re really bad at controlling your mana, but you’re a damn smart fighter.”

  Laying on the floor, he turns his head to see one of the witches, looking a bit harder to see that it was the one he had faced before.

  Gray: “Well aren’t you sneaky.”

  Ander: “Hush boy. I agree with you Sow, this boy is a bit confusing. With all of the words surrounding him, you’d think he’d be a better fighter. Being trained under Musashi Van Helsing, Ryo Hollis, and Lincoln Valentine, beating Arthur Williams, leading the Heroes of Walgonia, and yet, he’s such a simple being.”

  Sow, the witch begins to chuckle at Gray. She removes her wooden mask, showing off her old, warped face. While she’s human, it’s shifted, and distorted, producing an aura that would cause one to assume they were a spirit being, even if she isn’t.

  Gray: “I’ve only been training for a little over a year, so sorry for not being a high tear in the verse.”

  Ander: “What are you babbling about, you damn corrupted being.”

  Gray: “You talkin’ bout my OD? I didn’t make this goofball, I just happened to have it forced into me.”

  Ander: “So did you have the cloak of darkness forced onto you?”

  Gray: “Well, kinda, but I’m using it because it’s useful. And can I have that back by the way!? I’d like to have it!”

  Gray quickly becomes hostile, so Ander and Sow do as well. Ander slightly lifts himself, while Sow places her open foot on the mossy ground. Gray realizes that his slowly growing addiction to the cloak is showing, so he tries to calm down, even when just thinking about not wearing the cloak stings his skin.

  Sow: “Your mana is flaming, and you’re a very passionate man. But it’s not refined, it’s not held down, and bits of it are uneven, even if you’re trying to hold it down. I can tell you want it to be an aura, but it’s still not where it should be.”

  Gray: “Are you gonna keep critiquing me or am I gonna be able to do stuff soon.”

  Ander: “Look, I can give you a place to rest for the next week, but after that, I want your help with something. I assume you’re going to want to be a part of it anyway.”

  Gray: “What is it?”

  Ander: “Near the cracked wall of Ravoria’s capital, they’ve set up a small camp to kill trespassers. But they’re trying to make their way into the bog, and we can’t have that. If you help me get close then you can pass, I’ll decide if I want to attack after.

  Gray rubs his face, tired, injured, and a bit bored. Though he continues paying attention, trying his best to keep himself awake, as he hasn’t gotten a good night's rest in days.

  Gray: “Why do I have to do it alone? For punishment?”

  Ander: “No, it’s because we don’t want anyone to know we exist. Our community is hidden, the village outside of the entrance is evidence of this. You met them, they even gave you that ring, which I assume they gave you to tell us you weren’t a threat. If you didn’t have that, you’d be long dead.”

  Gray: “Oh yeah, the village leader did tell some kid to shut up when he mentioned a witch. Alright, I’ll help, even if I had to anyway, but where can I get some rest, and where’s my dragon?”

  Ander: “I’ll show you to your home later, but we’re holding your EarthBound Dragon, as we don’t want you leaving early. And you won’t be able to take her into Ravoria anyway, as flying creatures that don’t belong to the royal family are banned.”

  Gray: “Ugh, just like Valatrocitus. Seems this world hates the usefulness of flying.”

  Ander begins to stand up, leading Gray out of his home. He ends up leading him down the tree, past all of the other Demi-humans and witches to the center platform of the tree, and while he leads him there, Gray tries to learn all he can about Sow.

  Gray: “So, you’re a witch right?”

  Sow: “That’s quite the mean name, but a nice one! I do love it, it sounds wicked, scary, and AMAZING! Spirit magic is pure bliss, and all of the witches here have it!”

  Gray: “Really!? I thought it was like, super, SUPER, rare.”

  Sow: “Well for normal people yeah, but we live in the Ever-Bog! We’re made by spirits, for spirits! While I can’t summon weapons, I can summon the souls of spirit beasts I’ve slain, and just like all other spirit mages, manipulate the earthy things around me! It’s lovely!”

  Gray: “You sure love talking about your powers huh?”

  Sow: “I SURE DO! But you don’t seem to. You have such a massive connection to the spirits, you have spirit magic! But you don’t, so you’re not as lovely as me! But you sure are blessed! All of your teachers are extremely powerful, your achievements are world-round, and you are quite the specimen.”

  Gray: “It’s whatever.”

  Ander stops right in front of another Tipi, angered beyond belief. While he was already frustrated with Sow and Gray’s annoying banter, Gray’s lackadaisical attitude toward his blessings is deeply infuriating.

  Ander: “Here. Now, I’m gone. Come up to the fourteenth level for dinner if you’re hungry, and all of your things are in your home. Now, don’t speak to me.”

  Sow holds Ander by the arm as they walk away, leaving Gray by himself. He steps into his cold Tipi, which is also small, with almost nothing in it, and is filled with dirt and spider webs. He finds his bags on his bed made from animal skin, which he promptly goes through to find that his things are all there. He also finds the necklace holding the cursed charm, and almost instantly puts it on, but he’s stopped by the light golden scarf; the scarf Rosemary made for him. He places the cursed charm on a shelf beside his bed, cleaning the hut right after.

  While brushing the dust, cobwebs, and real webs away, his long greasy hair dangles in his face, annoying him. It doesn't annoy him for normal reasons, but because it reminds him of Rosemary. The only reason he had grown long hair was because Rosemary liked it, but now she’s not here to take care of it, and Gray’s far too lazy to do it himself. So he looks into a cracked mirror sitting against the tarp wall, grabs the wrist talon from his bag, and begins cutting his hair to the best of his ability. While it doesn't look bad, it’s a little uneven, and lacks any lairs, but looks just good enough to look like a bad barber did it and not a child.

  Gray: “Meh, a bit shorter than it was when I first got here but it’s whatever…guess I got a little more than a reset.”

  As for the room, It’s not perfect, but it’s clean enough for him to want to lie down. Now, with the cold thin air, the second he lays down he begins drifting off to sleep. Now if fear of his nightmares is prevalent, but he needs his rest, so he closes his eyes and gives in to the chance that is his mind. While he goes in and out of consciousness, he feels the silent whisper coming from the cursed charm, but his mind is too faint to take it in. So, after strange interaction after strange interaction, he’s finally given a moment of rest on a bed, even if it’s a bit dirty, small, and flat. Though, it’s a bit better than just the hard floor, not by much.

  End of Chapter Seventeen