Road to a Hero: Three chances in another world. Chapter 22: Election Day

Arc 3: Choosing Reality by Embracing Life

They all sat within one of the two ballrooms in the castle, filled with knights and soldiers from each country. At the end of the room were three podiums with Elizabeth Voria the queen of Ravoria, Arthur Williams the Leader of the Dragon Army, and Kioshi, Walgonia's strongest soldier, and the worlds at that. With their flags hanging upon their golden stands, they all stood proud, with Musashi stepping in below them to face the crowd.

Musashi: "I have been chosen to ask the candidates some questions. So I will."

Arthur: "Come on, don't keep the people waiting! Ask away!"

Arthur slapped the table, with a bit of dark flames following, smiling like a child. Musashi sighed and rolled his eyes, getting laughs from Gray and the others, and looked up toward him.

Musashi: "What is your main plan, why do you want to be the ruler of Walgonia."

Arthur: "Valatrocitus is a great country! If I can use the tactics and techniques that we use in our own country that are already great, right here in Walgonia, we will be unbeatable! And with our forces combined our army will rival anything! Don't you want to be the most powerful country in the world after all!?"

And before the crowd could cheer out, with some from the other countries doing the same, Musashi yelled out.

Musashi: "Next!"

Kioshi: "I was born here. I spent my life training to protect this country. Walgonia is accepting of all people, demi-humans, humans, Dark Elves and elves. I want to continue the golden legacy we have, from Godrick to now. With our great power we can help all of our communities come together! I know that the relationship between humans and others is not good. No where close to it. Years of Wars, slavery, rightful rebellion's and everything in between. I want to make sure that that is all behind us. And I'll make sure I'm in front of everyone, to protect them."

her speech, while heartfelt and truthful, fell on the many deaf ears in the crowd. The Knights were all men brought into or born in nobility, around mid twenties all the way to their fifties; the people voting on their king were all drenched in the beliefs of their eras, which just doesn't resonate with what Kioshi is doing.

Musashi: "Next."

Elizabeth: "I want to bring Ravoria's great culture that I have crafted here to Walgonia. I want to fix and undo so much that is wrong with this place, it's people, and refine it into something spectacular! I turned my sad declining nation, consumed by war and madness, into a prosperous country, with art, music, and literature. Culture brimming within everyone. And our religion, our faith in the spirits of this world, will bring everyone together, and boost our morale in all the people!"

Musashi: "Alright. Elizabeth, Arthur, Kioshi, how will you deal with the conflict concerning the hatred and fear against Demi-humans and other non-humans currently building up in Walgonia?"

And of course the one that screamed out first was the one who held the most hate towards them.

Elizabeth: "I'm going to be blunt! Demi-humans are more monsters than people, some even can transform fully into monsters. Dark Elves? Titans made for battle. Elves? False people blessed with power they don't deserve, that they didn't work for! Half-Elves, a curse, a burden on the world. They are only good for causing conflict and wars. All of them. We went to war with them for over seventy years, and it only ended twenty or so years ago, yet you let them become your neighbor? How many family members have they killed for just the people in this room? They should be cast into war, as cannon fodder. That's all they are!"

While not everyone in the crowd agreed, honestly most of the people in this room were against the sheer hatred in her voice. However Gray was the only one seething with rage. However it wasn't because of what she said, no matter how much he wanted to believe it.

Gray {What the hell? This bitch is just a full-blown racist, Ophelia is just like a normal kid, with no malice or hatred in her heart. And This old hag is just going to hate her for no reason?}

He clenched his fist with anger, causing the real reason for his fury to strike out with pain. His injured arm, his stressed and worn OD, all of the injuries he's accumulated through his loss against Edward alone. His Pride, his Ego, everything within him was boiling. However the second most angry in the room was someone who did care deeply about what Elizabeth just screamed at everyone, about how wrong she was.

Kioshi: "WHAT!? Demi-humans only fought us because they were enslaved! They rebelled rightfully! Forcing them to act like animals, when they have thoughts and emotions. Treating them like monsters, people with lives and families, like nothing more than a scary cattle!? Of course they would fight back! The people of Walgonia are not as black hearted as -

That was a mistake, of all kinds.

Elizabeth: "What did you say?"

The water spirit mana in the air all became dense, the room freezing. Arthur couldn't help but lean over and smile, watching along like a movie. Kioshi, with a single drop of sweat going down her face, looked toward Musashi. Watching him sigh again, knowing that this outburst, that it dug the grave for her chance at the throne.

Elizabeth: "So you would take those murderous monsters over your people? My brothers, uncles, and my friends were all killed, and butchered by those... freaks! My mother was taken to me by warriors defending such monsters! My country almost fell to ruin because every country here and not here turned against us! But here I am, here all of my knights are! Some of them still have factions around, just murdering people at random. Have you ever heard of the Gravestone Pirates? the Blackbeard Pirates? They slaughtered an entire village right when the war ended. One of your villages."

This time it was Edward who felt a sudden surge of rage. To hear of his family, his friends, being used against his country. It was truly disgusting.

Kioshi: "That was a disaster, but if we had treated them like people from the beginning that never would have happened!"

Arthur: "Hey I just say divide the city, make the middle portion for people who don't care about the wars, and then give other portions their place to do whatever they want with their people."

A simple and obviously just thought up plan.

Rosemary {That is only temporary. It would just increase conflict. Man, I don't like this guy.}

Gray {Segregation never works. Why did he even say that if he obviously doesn't mean or care about any of it. Man, I hate this guy.}

Soku {These assholes know nothing about what they're talking about. They are a bunch of humans talking about non-humans. Like they're a problem to be fixed. Man, I hate these guys.}

Kioshi and Elizabeth were still yelling at each other, triggering Musashi to slam his foot on the now broken tiled floor beneath him. They both stopped, with his scream pushing them further into submission. Even if Kioshi was a lot, lot, stronger than him.

Musashi: "STOP ARGUING! Now for the next question. What do you think about the other countries? What do you think about their choices and the tests we saw in battle?"

Kioshi: "I love Walgonia for its people, Ravoria for its drive, Valatroctius for its strength and art. And the future knights we saw today, the ones that even outsmarted me, I think they are all amazing fighters! So great and confident in their abilities, trying their hardest. Even if some of them were weaker than others, it is still commendable they even made it here."

Elizabeth: "I find it terrible that my daughter had to go in alone, with no team, and yet she was able to make it to the second round of the tournament section. I had to be in the same room with that disgusting elf as well. I don't understand how you can let a demi-human and people who are friends with them in your army."

Elizabeth was staring directly toward Soku through the crowd in front of her, her frosty aura even reaching her. Leaving Soku seething with fury.

Soku {What the hell!? I didn't even do anything.}

Soku sits there, saddened and annoyed by Elizabeth's words. Gray sits in his constant anger, trying to remain calm after his friend was insulted and embarrassed in a room full of very important people. And still, it was boiling. However it settled for a moment as Arthur spoke up, but he seemed to finally drop whatever mask he was wearing just for a moment. Getting everyone's attention.

Arthur: "All of the countries here have people worthy of the glory and fame they'll get. But entire point of this entire thing, having multiple candidates from around the countries. For real change! Kioshi wants to keep everything the same, to use his strength to win right! But she's had this strength her entire life, she's been at the King, the entire government's side! The strongest in history they say! And still she sits here. Elizabeth, the next in a crazed line of Icey queens who wants to completely take over this place. I just want to make everything better, to make alliances! And when it comes to the groups, Julius and his brothers all did well. And yeah Rosine was pretty good to, going at it alone and everything."

His speech started as a true answer to Musashi's question, but it quickly devolved into something completely different. Something targeted, to boil over the rage in their heart. To insure the grave Kioshi dug was filled and patted complete.

Arthur: "But I mean I can agree that the Walgonian group was pitiful. Though your choice of a warrior was even sadder! You pick your daughter, you have one pick and you pick your weak daughter. EVERYONE! I think that shows what kind of leader she is. Throwing out good and strong people to pick her family. SHOULDN'T A GOOD RULER SEE ALL OF HER PEOPLE AS HER FAMILY? AND FOR WALGINA, THEY WANT TO PICK RANDOM PEOPLE OFF THE STREET! THAT BOY GRAY KYOJIN HAS ONLY BEEN TRAINING FOR A MONTH! A MONTH AND THEY PICK HIM and let's not forget Edward's sad showing of skill. He's back there isn't he? By the door. Son of Gotsu and a Helsing and he can barely stand to fight against a novice. Swinging that big sword, ruining his father's name! And to have a child fight? That girl ran out of her match crying and you want her to be a warrior!"

He bit his lip so hard it bled, his eyes burst with so much rage he almost cried, he gripped his hands so tightly he couldn't feel the pain anymore, but he was still holding out.

Gray {DAMMIT! WHAT IS THIS SHIT? A SMEAR CAMPAIGN? WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS?}

Rosemary leans over to Gray, whispering in his ear.

Rosemary: "Calm down Gray, just let it happen, it'll all blow over soon. I know it sucks. We just have to hold out and we'll get over it."

Gray struggles to keep in his anger, trying not to embarrass himself. But still Arthur continued, standing atop his podium and pointing to Walgonia's future Heros.

Arthur: "THAT ELF GIRL MIND YOU, IS A THIEF, YEAH A THIEF, THAT DEMI-HUMAN BESIDE HER IS ONE AS WELL! I can't believe they would let such filth inside the royal capital. The notorious thief, Soku the Wind thief, Soku the Elven thief, whatever. Then we got a failure of a Helsing, with black hair, no rage, and no strength. And the worst of all, sitting right in the front, with the golden hair."

Gray {NO, DON'T YOU DARE, YOU SON OF A BITCH!}

Rosemary grasped Gray's hand, holding it tightly and hoping with all of her might that this will all just stop.

Arthur: "ROSEMARY GOLDEN WIND IS A DESERTER! The last of the Golden Knights, and she sits right there. THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS HAVE BEEN HELPING WALGONIA OUT FOR THEIR ENTIRE EXISTENCE! They all fought their hearts out, and helped end the Demi-human war! And the last of those famous knights sits right there, she could have helped their legacy, stopped the Sect or saved more! Had a family or something! But now, she shacks up with the first guy she meets and some thugs. Spitting on their history. A failure on all fronts."

Rosemary struggles to keep her emotions in check, her biggest failure and the most important choice in her life story is being stomped on in front of some of the most important people on the continent. Then it happens, a decision that will echo through his life for as long as he lives. With his massive ego, which was just stomped on with his loss to Edward, and now this. Everyone important to him is being slandered right in front of all these important people. Filled with rage, arrogance, embarrassment, and egotism, Gray opens his mouth to speak.

Rosemary: "NO -"

Gray: "JUST SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH ALREADY! YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE YOU JUST SHIT TALKED, WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!? JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE A MAN-CHILD WHO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING OR CAN'T THINK ABOUT ANYTHING FOR MORE THAN DAMN SECOND DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT AND NOBODY'S GONNA DO SOMETHING' ABOUT IT!"

Arthur: "Oh really now? And who do you think you are? Talking to me like you're some grand person when you are just a sad, injured man."

Gray stood up, Musashi once again stomping his foot.

Musashi: "GRAY STOP THIS!"

But still neither of them backed off, leaving Musashi to look toward Kioshi with dismay.

Gray: "TO HELL WITH THAT! I THINK OF THE FACT THAT I'M A INJURED AND SAD MAN MAKES YOU LOOK MORE LIKE A LOSER! SITTING THERE ON YOUR HIGH HORSE INSULTING PEOPLE YOU DON'T KNOW! AND THAT WHOLE SEGREGATION IDEA!? YOU'RE JUST SOME TIRANT RACIST! ALL IT WILL DO IS INCREASE TENSION! BUT THAT'S ALL YOU WANT DON'T YAH!? ALWAYS MAKING PEOPLE MAD OR BREAKING THEIR THINGS! NO REGARD FOR ANYTHING! THAT'S YOU, THE RED HAIRED IDIOT! HAVE YOU HEARD OF THINKING SHIT THROUGH OR IS THIS A FIRST TIME!? HUH!?"

After all of that, all Arthur could do was laugh and smile in response.

Arthur: "I would like to ask you the same question. Talking to the commander of the Dragon Army as well as the Valatrocitus' Knights like you're better than me? What a joke. You talk with such a big bravado and blatant arrogance, that you know nothing about the basics of having friends, let alone a country. So what gives you the right to talk down to me like you're better than me? Are you possibly a member of the Sect? You share the same type of mana as them, even the same views, even the fact they follow you around. Why would anyone take your side with all these facts against you?"

Gray: "I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT, I'M TALKING ABOUT YOUR CHOICES NOT THE THINGS YOU'RE BORN WITH!"

Arthur: "Still doesn't dispute the facts. Get this imbecile out of here."

Gray: "What's wrong? Did I hit a nerve, what's next, you gonna cry if I call you a pea-brain? You haired bastard. A man baby thrown into a position he can't handle! A laughing stock!"

Arthur jumps down from his podium, landing in the center walkway. While Rosemary tries to hold Gray back he lunges out of her grasp, running to meet Arthur. Musashi went to dash down the hall to stop this but Elizabeth let out another burst of freezing pressure.

Elizabeth: "If you stop them I'll start quite the ruckus."

Twitching with anger, he held his hand to his sword while Kioshi already extended hers.

Kioshi: "You'll try."

Elizabeth: "Oh yeah, you. I wonder how many will die in the resulting battle? How many people are you willing to get killed for your silly games!"

Arthur's hand flamed out with a black fire while the room went silent. Elizabeth looked to her daughter, both enjoying the sight. The knights from all nations were silent, and Gray's friends spoke out.

Rosemary: "GRAY STOP! YOU DON'T WANT TO GET MORE HURT! You're OD just got put back together!"

Soku: "This idiot."

Ophelia: "GRAY BE CAREFUL! YOUR OD, YOU'LL BREAK IT!

No matter how many times they reached out he would pull away, pointing and screaming and sweating and spitting, succumb to his rage.

Edward: "I AGREE, GRAY CALM DOWN!"

Gray: "HOW CAN YOU SIT AROUND AND TAKE THIS!? I'M NOT SITTING DOWN OR CALMING DOWN BECAUSE HE DOSEN'T DESERVE IT, HE DOSEN'T DESERVE ANYTHING! I'M TIRED OF BEING TREATED LIKE I'M WEAK! BECAUSE I'M NOT! SO -

Musashi: "HUSH BOY! NOW!"

Gray grows a big smirk, knowing he's made Arthur mad. Though before Gray can do anything Arthur slaps Gray in the face, hitting him across the room. Gray sits up, wiping the blood from his face. His friends try to run over but Arthur stops them, raising his hand. Julius and his brothers watched from afar, noticing how Gray's lackluster sight was making Walgonia seem rash and foolish. And Kioshis inability to step in makes them look even weaker.

Gray: "Just a loser with too much power. WHAT A JOKE!"

Going against Rosemary's words his body bloomed with mana, surging out. Triggering Arthur to get even more invested.

Rosemary: "GRAY NO!"

Gray: "CENIC!"

Arthur: "Fool."

The room was covered in a black mist, letting Gray run forward. However the mist was cleared with a wave of Arthur's hand, grabbing Gray's throat and holding him up.

Arthur: "THESE ARE THE NEXT KNIGHTS OF WALGONIA! FILLED WITH ANGER, DARKENED BY THEIR PASTS OF MISSOURI! A JOKE, AND FAR TOO WEAK TO DEFEAT THE SECT OR ANY OTHER NATION! DO NOT LET THESE PEOPLE LEAD YOU ANY LONGER! JOIN VALATROCITUS! BECOME A BETTER, STRONGER NATION!"

With Gray's already destroyed body, he sits above the ground immobile. And when Arthur smirked, he slammed him onto the ground, knocking him out. The last thing he hears being his friends quickly moving footsteps.

Gray {Dammit...}

When everything went black, that darkness began to stretch. A darkness so thick he could smell it.

Gray: "Again? You're doing this every time I fall asleep."

Once again sitting within the misty dark space in a crisscrossed position just in front of Gray was Azalea, the Witch of Darkness. Smiling and laughing again as well.

Azalea: "You can't make this stuff up!"

Gray instantly fell, surprising Azalea and causing her to stop. He hit his chest over and over to try and get himself to stop, to stand and scream at Azalea, however he just couldn't. Instead he fell even further, catching himself with his trembling arms. His voice trembling just as much, broken, filled with the sadness and despair welling up.

Azalea: "What you wanna cry?"

Gray: "SHUT UP!"

Trying to use rage to push away the overwhelming feelings of regret and embarrassment he rushed forward, black tendrils shooting out of the ground and holding every limb of his body down tight. Lifting him into the air, gripping his neck tightly.

Azalea: "You're going to need to make a choice, fast."

Gray: "Choice about what!?"

Azalea: "A choice between whether or not you think you can really keep lying to yourself about your place in all of this."

Gray instantly pulled bad, his face covered in his flooding emotions. However, Azalea words were all to him.

Azalea: "You can deny it all you want, but I'm only telling you your own thoughts."

She smiled, licking her black lips as Gray fell back into reality. Gray wakes up, back in the Inn laying on a bed with the rising sun beaming through. A soft bed underneath him, his bandaged clothes still on, and the room dimly lit and almost empty. Aside from the beautiful girl trembling by his bedside.

Gray: "Ugh…"

When Gray saw her he surged, filling with embarrassment after everything he had done came.

Rosemary: "You're up…"

Her voice was one of hopelessness, somber, and a bit angry.

Gray: "I assume I missed the election…"

Rosemary: "Yeah, you were out for a bit."

Gray: "Who won the election?"

His voice had a faint bit of hope, hope that was shattered when he watched Rosemary struggle to answer. Muttering out -

Rosemary: "...Arthur…"

Even with the massive bags under his eyes, the stern glare, and the many wounds, he would explode out in a rage. Slamming the headboard with his flying fist.

Gray: "...DAMMIT! ALL!"

He held his face, trying to hold back any rushing tears. So he went to apologize and ease some of the damage he had done, until he saw the grim look over Rosemary's face.

Gray: "What's wrong."

Rosemary: "Gray…."

She was trying and trying, forcing herself to speak despite the fear holding her back. Screaming out after gripping tightly on her black pants.

Rosemary: "Why did you scream out at Arthur!? Why did you challenge him!? Why don't you listen? Why couldn't you just sit down!?"

Gray: "Because of what he was saying! He was crapping on us and I couldn't stand it! I did it for you! For all of you!"

Rosemary's voice rose and she gripped her hands tightly.

Rosemary: "I didn't ask you to do any of that! I can speak for myself, act for myself! You did that because you felt like it made you look bad! Your pride! Your choices! And I'm sorry Gray but...But you haven't even said sorry!"

Gray: "I..."

She was right, he hadn't. And her voice only continued to rise.

Rosemary: "AND WHY ON EARTH DID YOU ALMOST GET YOURSELF KILLED AGAIN, RIGHT AFTER THE STATE YOU WERE IN! THE STATE YOU'RE STILL IN!? I JUST WANT YOU TO BE SAFE! WE ALL DO! SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'RE SO WILLING TO DIE! I, I DON'T WANT YOU TO, NOBODY DOES!"

Crying and sobbing and trembling, trying to keep it all in. However she still wanted to help, gulping down the sadness and confusion, trying her best to understand him. Unable to see past the struggle in his face. From exploding Sokus home, getting Al killed and Edwards home burned down, causing Arthur to win the election, it was all to much. Stacked with the nightmares, Azaleas taunting, and the reason he had attempted to end his life in the first place. That wasted first life, that abandoned world.

Gray: "I'm sorry. And you won't have to worry about me anymore."

Her expression rose while her eyes got fainter, like the family she was building had just been shattered in a single sentence.

Gray: "Because I'm leaving, for everybody's sakes."