Road to a hero: Three chances in another world. Chapter 25: Party in the castle

Arc 3: Choosing Reality by Embracing Life

It was in the inn, hours after Gray had left, and Rosemary was in a daze. Her hands were cold, alone, her head trembling.

Rosemary {Why didn't I do enough...}

She laid with her sweater off, staring at her many scars. Disgusted.

Rosemary {No, no...why did I ever think he could like somebody as awful as me.}

It wasn't that Gray was so great, it was just, he was the first person she ever talked to and made her heart flutter. He wasn't saying nasty things to her, trying to grab or cat call her, not even giving weird looks. Living in a Militia makes things like those a rarity. Even now all she could hear was the harsh voices of her father and mother beating down on her, screaming at her for how she failed the Golden Knights. How she failed Walgonia due to her selfishness. Unable to see that she was just a scared hurt girl looking for a family, looking for people who want more from her than her body or strength.

Rosemary {I spent so long thinking about myself, I didn't help him. I could have tried, I could have been nicer! Why wasn't I just nice!?}

Crying into her callused hands, she wiped it away and stood straight up the moment someone knocked on the door. Quickly putting her shirt on and turning around to cover her face.

Rosemary: "Come in!"

It was Musashi, with a grim look on his face, holding her armor.

Musashi: "The King wanted you all to wear your armor. I'm not in the best of moods so I think I'll go home and skip out on it, but..."

He wasn't the best at things like these, trying to avoid the more serious subjects aside from swordsmen ship or fighting. Mainly because he wasn't very good at things aside from that.

Musashi: "Gray, I wouldn't just accept he's gone."

Rosemary: "What do you mean?"

His words were a genuinely surprised, listening closely as she quickly stepped into the closet to put her armor on.

Musashi: "Running away because of how you feel about yourself, because of your regret. Those weren't things of somebody awful, just somebody struggling. If Gray is truly strong, the light he tries to be so hard and you somehow see him as, then he'll come back better than ever and ready for a fight."

Rosemary stepped out, swallowing's her feelings and trying to keep a content look on her tired face. But it did make her think, how would she feel if he came back? The longer it would take and the more she accepted it was the end, the harder it was going to be if he came back. But she also knew she couldn't live for somebody, if she did, then she wouldn't really be living at all. And she didn't want her time to be stopped anymore. Relying on something or someone to do that, that would be foolish. Although knowing that and truly living like that were too different things. It was a long road to any form of self acceptance, one she couldn't walk with anybody else but herself. So, she took a deep breath, and smiled.

Rosemary: "Well then, I guess if he comes back, we'll show him we're just as ready."

Musashi smiled after, stepping toward the long all. Edward stood in his thick silver armor, Soku in her oversized brown coat, and Ophelia in her short sleeved black dress. Ready for the coming party, along with the many other nobles rushing toward the castle with them. Musashi would step in front of them and guide them, looking forward while Edward and the others looked back at Rosemary. All feeling somewhat responsible for what had happened. But her forced smile made them force one as well, walking out of the inn and under the falling orange sun.

Musashi: "Alright."

He took a heavy breath, holding his aching head while the others looked toward him in anticipation for what he would say.

Musashi: "I'm proud of you, all of you."

Edward felt his heart rise in surprise, even more so when Musashi looked toward him with a smirk.

Musashi: "Especially you. Now I know I've been pretty up front with not wanting you to fight, you made it here yourself anyway. You waited, you tried, and you're really finding people. Your father, my brother, would be very proud of you. Jasmine, Bjorn, and Al as well. Even Kioshi's screamin about yah."

He placed his hand on his shoulder, giving him a nod of respect. He then looked to the others, eye to eye with Rosemary.

Musashi: "You are the type of light that comes once in a generation. Somebody, who at the core of everything, no matter what, would always be a good person."

Then down toward Soku, leaning over her pouting face.

Musashi: "Now I wish I got to know yah better and that you trained more, but still. Don't let anybody make you forget, your a damn kid. Do what you want, scream and kick when people try and stop yah, keep climbing as fast as your climbing, and you might go higher than any of them."

Lastly he kneeled down with Ophelia, holding her small hand within his far older, sterner, one.

Musashi: "And please, say outta trouble. You gotta lot of strong friends who are willing to fight to their last breath for you. You gotta keep them safe and they'll keep you safe. Just calm down and focus a bit."

Ophelia: "Yes sir!"

He chuckled, stepping down the road and looking toward the others in a strangely somber way. Like something Musashi has been awaiting was finally showing its head, or one of the many things that could happen was. Yet is was up for Musashi to determine whether which was the Truth or not.

Soku: "Anybody else get weird vibes from that?"

Edward: "I'm just happy."

Rosemary and the rest of the group walk back to the castle, along with the many nobles and few guards.

Soku: "Do we gotta go to this party?"

Rosemary: "You can stay behind if you want to. I thought we had to"

Edward: "Just think of it like, this is a reward for all the things we've done so far."

Rosemary: "That's a nice way to put it."

Soku: "Ugh."

They followed the large crowd through the halls and up a tall winding staircase, the many unidentifiable guards watching over them. Wearing old worm armor without any crest to be seen.

Rosemary: "Weird that they wanted us to wear armor, even bring our weapons."

Edward: "I think it is because we might be knighted at the end of the party, so they want us in highly dressed attire."

Ophelia walks behind the group, holding only Sokus hand, still lost in thought about Gray. Missing him and his antics.

Edward: "She's not taking this well."

Rosemary: "It was Gray's choice to leave, and I can kind of understand him, so I'm not going to get angry, but it still sucks that he's gone."

Soku: "Yeah it's whatever, pretty abrupt though, wish he could have warned us."

Rosemary: "Well he seemed surprised too, I didn't know he was suffering so much. I wish I could have helped him."

Edward: "If he wanted help I think he would've asked, suffering in silence can make you feel lonely though, I knew he was playing a character to some degree, but not that much."

Soku: "How much do you think it was?"

Rosemary: "Well I wouldn't say a mask. That makes it seem like he's too different people. Gray was just pushing himself to where he wanted to be, even if he wasn't really there or not. That is the him he wants to be, and everybody wants to be the best version of them. It's just that he thinks if he's not, then he's failed us."

They were a bit shocked to just how well she had understood Gray, making his screams of how she knew nothing about him seem all the more pitiful. But they had to stop and focus, staring at the large open doors to the castles main ballroom. All of the many, many people speaking and eating within.

Rosemary: "I'm kinda nervous about this whole party thing."

Edward: "Well most of the others are gone, only a few knights around, and just anybody who was in the exam. Even the other candidates left, though I think Kioshi will be there."

Rosemary: "Do you think Arthur will be fit for the title of king?"

Edward: "He wasn't my first choice, though he's better than Elizabeth."

Rosemary: "Yeah that's fair."

They all take a breath and enter the castle's ballroom, noticing all of the examinees talking with each other in the distance. Still the room glimmered, the bright golden chandelier hanging, the bright crystals, the tan stone, and the many many people. Noticing a majority of the guards were the ones that seemingly belonged to nobody, watching from the floor and the many balconies above.

Rosemary: "It's beautiful."

Edward: "Really flashy."

Soku: "It's alright."

Soku was more busy trying to stop Ophelia from running up to the many nobles, massive tables of food, and then the people they probably wish stayed away walking right toward them.

Julius: "Ah, you have arrived."

Julius stood in front of his brother, with Rosine standing far off in the corner speaking with the guards.

Edward: "Oh hey Julius, yeah we had to deal with some stuff before this but we made it."

Roy: "Where's your friend? Wanted to say somethin to him about how he spoke to our leader, and your new King."

He had a dirty smirk, cracking his knuckles, and making Rosemary's heart light up with rage. She held it in, however, the child by her leg screamed out instead.

Soku: "You can tell me? I think you'll get the same result."

She attempted to step forward, going to crack her own gloved knuckles, but Rosemary held her arm over her with trying to play it off.

Rosemary: "Gray is um, elsewhere at the moment."

Julius: "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, but do not let that stop you from having a good time."

Lloyd: "It's probably for the best. Arthur is goofy but he is spiteful. Very spiteful."

They waved and moved toward the tables, Rosemary and the others following behind after making their plates of food. Standing and grabbing things with silver tongs, looking over at Rosine with confusion.

Rosemary: "I don't understand, what faction do these guards belong from? And that girl is speaking with them, and she's Ravorian."

Edward: "Being King will give Arthur a lot of power, but he can't just do whatever he wants. I wonder if they're just a hired militia or something. Rosine speaking with them is confusing though."

Soku: "I wouldn't think about it that chick is crazy."

They moved toward the tables, speaking with each other over the loud crowd. Which grew louder and louder around them, as their King was on his way.

Soku: "This royal grub still isn't as good as a home-cooked meal."

Rosemary: "It's better than what we had when we lived in the West District, a big shift in a short amount of time. But it's not nearly as good as Als cooking."

Ophelia: "I miss our old house."

Edward: "Yeah we all did lose homes."

Soku: "Cause of those anarchists following Gray! Hell maybe he should be gone."

That was something that made Rosemary lock up, wanting to speak against it, but she just sighed and let it go.

Edward: "Well I think we're on their radar now, who knows they might be after us right now.

Ophelia: "Look!"

Stepping passed the roaring applause, in front of everybody at the end of the room, was Arthur and his squires. Many guards slowly surrounded them, pushing Julius and his brothers away to make space.

Arthur then begins clanking his glass, preparing himself to make an announcement. A massive smile forming on his face.

Soku: "It's our new king."

Then he screamed out, taking everyone's attention. And caused he guards to take a firm grip on their weapons.

Arthur: "OK EVERYONE I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A TOAST! I hope I am as good a ruler as I hope to be. I want to make this country happy. I want to help fix everything, I want to turn Walgonia from the strongest country in this continent to the strongest country in the damn world! NOW ALL OF YOU, LIVE STRONG AND LIVE WELL! FOR THE FUTURE OF WALGONIA!"

Right as his speech is finished, right as the applause got louder and louder, right as Kioshi stepped toward the middle of the room to clap the loudest, it all stopped. Shaking and shaking, the cold air, and then the cracks.

Arthur: "THIS IS THE GRAND STAGE, THE NEXT ACT OF THE WORLD! HAHAHAHHA!"

Everyone's eyes rose while their hearts sank, the windows erupting. It let the dark skies pour through, the guards screaming and taking out their weapons while tossing off their gear. Under it were cloaks and their plane white masks; the guards were all anarchists, spread throughout the castle. In an instant blood ands screams erupted around them, Arthurs massive black flames ravaging down the center of the room.

Kioshi: "NO!"

She screamed in an instant, attempting to pull everything infront of her with her blade to destroy the new, villainous king. Yet her mana did not work, her abilities, her OD completely sealed.

Edward: "EVERYBODY RUN!"

Edward, Rosemary, Soku, and Ophelia ran for their lives. Edward broke through the anarchists with his blade, Rosemary using her stages to push through, Sokus wind shoved them and Arthurs flames away, and Ophelia's screams kept their priorates in check. The roof would begin to crack and shatter, a volley of anarchists screaming while they jumped down below. The mass of Demi-human warriors tearing through the old nobles. Still Julius, Roy, and Lloyd tried their best to stay alive, cleaving through a mass of the guards along with the others. Kioshi instead took toward Arthur, attempting to slaughter him in an instant, but the mass of people around her forced her to slow down and think.

Soku: "SHIT!"

Edward: "KEEP GOING!"

The small number of knights try to fight the anarchists, though, with no hope. They are quickly out numbered and dealt with in a quick and bloody fashion. The anarchists rained down from the balconies, and the front door of the ball room, creating a small dense army for them to cleave through. Rosemary and the rest of the group try and run out of the castle, though blocking the main door is a man giving off an aura that can only be described as fear in carnet under his robes.

Rosemary {What is that!?}

Three anarchists stepped forward, the one in the center tearing his mask off. With shaggy blue hair, purple markings over his eyes and lips, and veins bursting with corruption. His face was quickly growing pale, his hair turned blackish, and he began smiling at them with his cracked and crooked teeth. Bleeding black blood from his mouth, wiping it away and causing Ophelia to scream out with tears in her eyes. To his left the anarchist grew, the cloak tearing and the skin underneath blackening. It would instantly folded and peel, showing a horrific skeletal figure. Holding out his hand while a wooden handle emerged with bright green mana. Then, it's long corrupted blade, a large scythe.

Rosemary, Edward, Soku, and Ophelias hearts had all fallen toward the abyss. With the sight in front of them, the impossibly dense and powerful corrupted aura coming off of them, and then came the third anarchist. Screaming, hunching over, and tearing off his cloak, he revealed a sickening face quickly growing old and scaly. A dense, thick, tough set of green scales for his snake like appearance.

"MY SOUL ACHES FOR THE HELSING, THE GOLDENWIND, THE ELF!"

The snake man screamed out, holding his chest and head with intense pain. The Jester looking one instead stepped forward, turning the knight running toward him into a bloody paste. Ophelia almost passed out, needing Soku to help hold her. Edward swung his blade around them, breaking through the slowly surrounding group while they thought of a way to live. But then came the glowing green scythe, a blade that felt as if a single hit would be their end. No matter what.

"Not yet."

Still the Jester stuck his hands out and stopped them, smiling as Edward screamed out with intense fear and panic. A level of fear that he hadn't felt since the day Moro stood over him eight long years ago. Edward takes out his sword, yelling while swinging at the floor with the massive blade. The force would then flood out, shaking and cracking the floor right underneath of them before collapsing it entirely. They fall into the hole, breaking off into an intense sprint down the hall they found themselves in. The powerful anarchists wouldn't go after them and instead set their sights on Kioshi Van Helsing.

Carla: "LOOK WHO IT IS!"

Carla was running down the other side of the hall, screaming with a massive crazed smile over her face, her blades forming.

Jeremiah: "Where's Gray!? I wanted to rematch him!"

Conroy: "Oh hey Edward! You wanna have a rematch!?"

Her siblings stood a bit behind her,

Anibys: "Dammit don't run off and get yourselves killed!"

Conroy: "Got it!"

Conroy ran toward Edward while Carla darted toward Rosemary and Soku, picking out their targets in an instant.

Edward: "I'll take him! Can you two handle her!?"

Carla leapt toward the four of them, Rosemary leaping forward and slamming her third stage fist against her barley blocking blades. Carla went tumbling down the hall, her brother Conroy leaping past her before pinballing off the walls toward Edward. He would spin right before slamming his thin straight sword against Edwards massive, thick, blunt blade. Rosemary didn't waste a second and moved toward Carla, Soku using wind to speed up and run right beside her. Ophelia would dash off to tremble with fear in one of the many guest rooms, praying for the safety of them all. And, that Gray may appear to help.

Carla: "WOOO! I LIKE THIS PLAN, COME ON GIRLS LET'S GO! LEAVE THE CAT GIRL BEHIND AND LET'S FIGHT!"

Jeremiah would grown with annoyance at the lack of any Gray Kyojin to fight, walking down the hall in a rage.

Jeremiah: "Uhg, fine you guys finish this here. Ima go kill some stragglers."

Edward and Conroy leave to another hallway, holding their swords at each other, while Soku fights Carla with Rosemary, then there's Ophelia hiding in a corner. Over and over Conroy slashed his blade against Edwards, grinning ear to ear behind his white mask with joy. But there was a giant difference between now and then. Then, Edward was trying so hard to keep it together. But now, after the Knight Exam, all of the fear and panic, the massive amount of bloodshed he had already seen, he was not going to hold back.

Conroy: "COME ON LET'S FINISH THIS ALREADY!"

Edward would grit his teeth and grip tightly on his blade, the Warriors Spirit building and building. Ready to turn Conroy into nothing more than a stepping stone.