The Explosive Hero

The 'heroes' kept galloping through the forest, they decided to eat without stopping. This way they didn't lose time. Though Sophie actually decided to ask why they would be so focused on getting to the Iron Gate fast.

Eizit looked at Azael, who sighed. With his permission, Eizit decided to tell her a bit more of the truth.

"We were ambushed by someone, we think he was part of some sort of gang that wants both of us dead. I got killed by him once, and saved Azael. Now, I have my reasons to think they'll send more people after us."

Sophie nodded, deciding to not ask why exactly they were attacked in the first place. She thought that if he didn't tell her why there must be a reason, and, after all, they just met. Essentially, she didn't expect him to fully trust her right away.

However, she knew they were strong, or at least thought they were. So she smiled to them and replied with a happy tone.

"I'm sure you'd beat up whoever went after you, because if you're here right now it means you already survived to them, at least once. And, because you have me now hehe"

"Yes! We surely could, however, I'd rather not take risks."

Azael spoke with a serious tone.

"We should also consider that your help is very subject to luck."

"Owww..."

"Hey! No need to say that, the girl just wants to be helpful!"

"It's fine, Eizit. I'm fine"

She said with a smile, what Azael hurt her, but she tried to not really focus on it. She wanted to believe he just had a bad day and that he'd stop being an asshole in the future. Maybe he just doesn't trust people easily.

"Oh! I just realised something guys."

Both Eizit and Azael said "what?", however, both of them said it in a whole different way. Which was clearly pointing out the differences between their way of acting.

The girl giggled at their differences, and replied to them.

"Well, you said you saved Azael and he's now travelling with you. Azael saved me and now I'm travelling with both of you too! Perhaps one day I save someone and they join us too."

Eizit liked the idea, and replied to her.

"So a chain of good deeds? I like it, I believe in you! Let's keep making this world a better place."

She nodded, who wouldn't like to do good? And also to be useful.

Sophie worried about that the most, specially after getting her star. She was worried about being useful, because of the unpredictable utility of her star, she couldn't really be useful all the time. Due to that, she feared not being strong and useful and eventually being kicked out.

However, she hoped that this time was different. She felt like that. Despite Azael being against her joining and being pretty rude, she just could feel like he was actually a good person... And that she'll get a chance to grow not only as a mage but also as a person.

She was actually excited to see what the future holds ready for them.

The group kept quiet for a bit, finishing eating their food as they kept galloping through the forest.

After being done, Azael asked a short question to Sophie.

"So girl, how long do you think that it'll take us to get to the Iron Gate?"

She thought for a bit, calculating in her head.

"Depending on the weather, between 5 and 7 days"

The tiefling nodded and, shortly after, the dark elf asked something too, with a slightly worried tone.

"Sophie, do you have food for the week? I don't know what you were doing when we found you, but you were probably not expecting finding us"

The girl shook her head, indicating that she did indeed not have enough food. However, she then waved her hands, speaking.

"Don't worry, we can just hunt some food. And even if I didn't expect finding you, I was wishing I'd find people to travel with... I was getting tired of the routine!"

Azael replied to her, curious about that routine she mentioned.

"Which routine, what were you making fighting a boar that was obvious not at your level"

She pouted, looking away. Replying shortly after.

"I have beaten boars earlier! I was just... Unlucky. Besides! I'm on my second death, I'm not that weak!"

Eizit giggled.

"You're not, Azael is also on his second death."

The girl looked over at Eizit, and asked with curiosity. Both of them ignoring an angry 'Hey!' coming from Azael in the back, frowning.

"Eizit, how many deaths do you have?"

"Just one, the same guy that chased us killed me"

She seemed surprised.

"And you managed to save Azael?"

Eizit nodded

"Yes, but it was luck"

She giggled.

"Oh luck, yes, luck is something I'm pretty used to."

Eizit giggled too.

Azael spoke from the back.

"And to being unlucky too, right?"

Both her and Eizit laughed at that, and Azael did so, but only slightly.

"Okay, I have to admit it, that one wasn't half bad"

She said giggling, and then acknowledged Azael's previous question.

"Now, you asked me about my routine. Well, I use to leave my humble house in the woods early in the morning and go practice my magic. Then, as the day goes on I try to hunt a boar or anything to eat. Just that somedays I'm not quite lucky and it backfires slightly..."

Azael sighed, thinking: "only slightly?". Eizit, curious, asked her something.

"How do you train?"

She replied, touching her staff slightly, which was being carried on her back.

"I basically throw out as many spells as I can, they sometimes repeat, so my plan is to be able to know more or less what I get despite it being completely random."

Eizit seemed amazed by it, and replied to her.

"Wow! That's some sheer determination!"

She laughed slightly, a shy laugh, a bit embarassed.

"Yeah... But it doesn't always turn out well. Besides, I'm too curious and I love action! I don't like the routine. Well, that's the first reason I'm here right now, I wanted to avoid it. Plus! I felt like I'd become stronger if I followed both of you instead of just randomly throwing spells at trees"

Azael, who had been quiet for a bit, replied to her.

"Well, you'll surely get more action with us, surely more than hunting boars. And also will be safer than alone, though that's kind of unsure, we seem to have a magnet that pulls dangerous people towards us"

Eizit followed up what Azael side, trying to cheer up the atmosphere.

"Well, whether we do or not. You'll also have a good time, Sophie. Azael can be a bitch at first-" "Hey!" "But he's a good person, just wait until he trusts in you!"

She smiled at him and thanked him, asking him curiously.

"Did it take you long to gain his trust?"

Eizit giggled and scratched the back of his neck, slightly embarassed.

"Well, not really. I saved his life so..."

Azael spoke

"He combusted to save my life, more specifically... He exploded two arms and two fingers to save me."

Sophie seemed surprised.

"Well, well! There's no need to mention that, now she may think that I am craz-"

"That's so cool! You're like a hero that puts other before him!"

She said speeding up and positioning her deer next to him, her eyes were full of respect and admiration.

Eizit giggled and scratched his back again, he was getting more and more embarassed.

"No, he's just stupid"

Everyone ignored Azael, but he was probably right. Exploding one's body for someone else is probably a sign of being stupid. Either that or not caring too much about yourself. Whether that is heroic or not is pretty hard to tell.

"T-thanks, but I don't see myself as a hero"

"Unless you think that heroes usually end up without legs and arms due to exploding them to push away 'enemies'"

"So he sacrifices his body repeatedly to protect others!? That's sooo heroic!"

"That's not what I sai- whatever..."

"P-please Sophie, I'm no hero."

"Okay, okay! I'll just stop calling you hero if you don't like it... But you surely act like one!"

Eizit sighed, remembering what his rational voice told him the first time he died. That he did because of 'The Hero Syndrome'. Did this mean he did everything because he just wanted to feel like a hero...?

Who knows.

The group resumed their journey, now being closer and closer to their destination, and having more fun than ever.