Plans for the future

It was not perfectly a circle, but it was shaped like one. Some protuberances here and there, some islands on several parts, and different forms of geography, but my mind kept telling me it was too circular to be natural.

Could it be like the maps from medieval times? They were imprecise and mostly made for political reasons, showing a false worldview. Or something else was happening here.

Then it was the fact that the different nations had a very similar amount of terrain. The only one that seemed to have lost was the Neutral Lands as they called it. Almost like it was balanced in some form of way.

"This dates from centuries ago" Dara started to explain "It is said that the land was different in the past, much more chaotic in form. Until the 4 gods, Kalamith, Karitha, Kamur, and Kalia declared war on each other. The war was so terrible, that in the final battle, a flash of light engulfed them and a great cataclysm took place and the land slowly reformed to what it is now."

"The gods never were seen since then" explained Kali from her seat "But people claim they are still around. And then one of them brought you here by accident and a hero."

"But who is the supposed hero meant to fight against?" I asked. Normally, the hero that gets summoned in different novels, animes, and mangas is set on defeating a form of evil. Kali, however, was a small threat, and I doubt Balor is a summoned champion.

"All we know as of now is that each nation summoned a hero from another world" then spoke the orc chief, taking a step forward "But they are and what are their skills is what we have yet to find out. But before we could get that information, we had to back down because of the attacks on our territory"

"So we are in the dark about them," I said while looking back at the Orc "That is when I appeared."

"Yes, you appeared on a column of light we could see from the castle," said Kali.

"A column of holy light and energy, I might add" Dara added. "Which is why we know one of them summoned you. And by the name on your underwear, we know it was Kalamith"

That was not a detail anyone needed to hear. Everyone was giving us the weirdest of looks.

"Yes" Kali nodded "Which brings us here today"

I looked around and saw everyone looking at me. Why? Why was everyone so focused on what I was doing? Why was my choice to stay so important? I am nothing special.

"I don't have anywhere else to go," I said, avoiding looking into anyone's eyes by looking into a random spot in the chamber "I will stay, but I don't think I will be of any help"

I saw Dara fixing her glasses while Nayleth rolled his eyes. I still could not figure out what they saw in me.

Later, Maple and Reynard were with me on the courtyard while I was trying my sword on the same dummy that Dara made me try the other day. I was surprised it was not burned after Kali's fireball hit it.

[-78]

[-84]

[-80]

My damage numbers had increased. I was not doing anything close to the base stat, and I could feel my body more used to handling the sword. It was like something on the System that made sure I improved with every kill I gained.

My sword increased in power while I got better at using it's power.

"So, if I continue defeating enemies, I can become stronger," I said to myself. It was not something I would not expect, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, doesn' it?

But it was still a weird feeling knowing full well this was making changes in my body and making me stronger.

"I wonder if I can learn magic" was my next query.

"Have you tried asking Lady Dara to teach you, mister?" Reynard asked while looking at me.

"Yeah, maybe I should ask her about it. She seems to understand how the system works without problem" I said and turned to the two children, who were sitting on a box that was there, looking at me.

"Miss Dara seems to be smart," said Maple.

"She always knows about stuff" Reynard added.

That is one way to say it. Every time I have a question she seems to know the answer. Maybe she knows something about my class or can teach me magic spells.

I was imagining myself casting her fireballs with one hand, becoming a spellcaster and a grand wizard later. Like dreams I had when I was a child and played with my friends.

Both siblings were looking at me with curiosity, I was most likely smiling like an idiot while I was imagining myself casting spells. I always dreamed of becoming a wizard when I was their age.

"Aren't you two bored of just following me around? I am not the most fun person to follow around" 

"You are not boring," said Maple.

"Yeah, you are" commented Reynard at the same time.

I could tell the difference in personalities from a distance.

And yes, it did hurt a bit to have heard the sincere truth, even with Maple I could tell she was just being polite to not hurt my feelings.

"You cannot say that, Reynard!" she said, scolding him "Mom and Dad told us to be polite with people!"

"They told us not to lie either!"

They both had a point.

"Well, both are correct" For some reason, I felt the need to teach them a bit "You need to be polite, but at the same time never lie"

"But what if telling the truth hurts someone's feelings?" She asked.

I felt like I was going to throw myself into a loop if I did not answer correctly.

"Well, sometimes the truth hurts"

"Have you ever been said something true but it hurts you?" Reynard asked.

I looked to the side. That question made me remember the discussion I had with my ex-girlfriend that ended up with her breaking up with me. She said many things about me, like I always keep my distance, that I never show my emotions, or that I would just never talk to her about how I felt or ask her about them.

And then came what the two siblings told me earlier. They said they were asking me questions the other night and I was barely answering, like I was gone.

"Sir? Are you okay?" Maple asked while tugging my sleeve.

I did not notice she got close.

"Y-yeah, I am okay" I answered, although it was mostly to not make her worry.

"Mister Marcel, can I ask you something?" Maple asked.

"Of course, ask me anything," I said, although that was a loaded request.

"Are we going to recover from this?" she asked with a curious expression.

Being sincere, I was not sure. I did not like to say stuff I was not sure what our chances of coming out on top were. It was a gamble at this point. But one where I had to manage the odds in my favor if I needed to survive. Probably there was a chance.

I knelt before her to be closer to her height, trying to put up my best smile.

"Well, we need to make sure we do" I answered.

"I ask because… I promised I would smile and live to them but…" her voice was coming short and shaky. Then, tears started to fill her eyes "I miss mommy and daddy…"

She started to cry in front of me.

"N-no, sis! You don't have to cry!" said Reynard, going closer to her "W-we promised we… we promised we… WAAAHHHH!" he started to cry with her.

For a few seconds, I was stunned. I was not sure what to do. Both children were crying in front of me. I looked at them surprised, trying to think what to say to make sure they were okay.

But nothing came out. But I knew I had t do something, so all I did was wrap them with my arms and hug them, letting them cry against me. Both held themselves against my clothes.

It seemed like they were crying all the tears they held during these last couple of days. They were not going to hold them for much longer, at one point this was going to happen no matter how strong they were. It did not matter what kind of promise they made to their parents, they were just children.

"Is okay, cry if you must?" I said, trying to say something to comfort them "I know it hurts"

I held them for as long as they needed. I could not believe that they were pushed to this point by the soldiers of the Holy Nation. They were just innocent creatures that were hurt and damaged by the desires of whatever they stood for.

I knew this was not going to bring their parents back.

But I needed to grow stronger.

And my first target was strong enough to kill Balor.