Arc 3 ( A Side ) - I Keep Calling Out Your Name.

3 - A. Our Lies.

As the wind and water erode the land, so too has life carved chasms and valleys in my heart, leaving scars no less than those on the earth.

I hold my hand forward, fingers outstretched, as light streams through the gaps. It defines me as I define it.

・

“Eternal spirits frozen in - ” Melia’s thundering voice signals the beginning of her assault, geometric patterns forming around the bear. Aura is quick to charge forward, driving into close range. The swordswoman’s right hand digs into the earth and tosses dirt up into Melia’s face. As the bear woman guards with one hand, Aura’s hand whips out, drawing a clean arc left to right. Melia immediately jumps backwards, staring at Aura’s claw grip and sheathed sword. Aura, left behind, sighs softly and puts her hands on her hips.

“You almost got me.”

“Almost,” Aura signs playfully, a resigned but good-natured smile floating across her face.

“Don’t worry, Miss Aura. If it was someone else, you would have gotten them for sure. It’s just… You never try the same thing twice.” Aura tilts her head at that, idly clipping her loose bangs back into place.

“It’s true, hero.” Ront is eating his lunch while they spar, expertly peeling an apple with a knife. “You may not notice, but you never stop thinking. About your surroundings, about other people, about the battle. It’s obvious to us though. Three months on the road together is plenty to learn a few things about you, Miss Zero Wins, One Hundred Losses.” Ront really needs to work on his naming sense, Aura thinks, but shakes her head and shrugs. She hasn’t really noticed, so maybe her companion is simply attributing things to her that aren’t there? People did tend to do that, especially given her situation.

The smile on her face doesn’t falter, even as she readies her sword and takes her stance again. Aura’s silver gaze turns sharp as she stares at Melia past its edge.

“It was too strange, so I backed off. If someone doesn’t know you or your personality, they would get fooled.” But, Aura counters internally, a person who didn’t know her wouldn’t realize she had been playing dumb. Melia raises her fists as Aura dashes in again.

In just a few months, Aura had broken the woman’s habit of dive bombing constantly - she had gotten much scarier. After she had tricked Melia into dive bombing herself into a river, the combat mage’s recklessness had reduced drastically. It was still her favorite move, but - Aura sighs and shakes those thoughts off. She’s in a fight, she needs to focus on what’s in front of her. As Aura gets closer, Melia shakes her head with a resigned look and slams her fists together.

“Ursine ignition.” The chant is only two words, so Aura isn’t expecting very much. She takes another step forward, then immediately leaps backwards as a sense of foreboding overtakes her. The space around Melia ignites, several paces in diameter, scorching hot.

“Oh, finally pulling that out?” Ront raises an eyebrow as Melia frowns, looking rather remorseful. Aura measures their distance carefully, checking the reach of her sword against the vortex of flame. Reaching down for a small rock, she chucks it at Melia. As it hits the perimeter of her spell, Melia’s flames knock it back and incinerate it. Aura’s sword won’t last more than a few seconds.

The woman stares for a while before finally putting her hand up in surrender and sheathing her sword. Melia clacks her gauntlets together as the fire vanishes, then strips herself of her weapon. How long had she been hiding that, Aura wonders, but she doesn’t ask. Not with the look Melia has on her face right now.

Instead, she sits down on a log and gestures for Melia to sit between her legs. Melia stares for a few moments, then glances over at Ront - who is pointedly looking anywhere else - then slumps down in her spot. Aura’s fingers slide forward carefully, gently working up and down Melia’s neck.

“You can touch my ears. I know you’ve been wanting to.” Aura lets out a little gasp as her fingers slide higher towards Melia’s ears, before she gently pats Melia’s cheeks from either side and presses her nose into the top of her head. As Melia lets out an adorable squeak, Aura locks eyes with Ront and calls him over with a tilt of her head. Slowly extracting herself from where she’s sitting, Aura sits down on the ground next to Melia. Ront finds his spot next to the both of them and gently ruffles Melia’s hair.

“What’s wrong, Mel?” Ront mumbles his question softly as Aura signs next to him.

“Melia, what’s on your mind?” Melia stares at Aura’s hands, then her face, then lets out a hmph.

“So Miss Aura doesn’t want to touch my cute ears after all?”

“They are cute, but not like this. You look unhappy. Wouldn’t you be much cuter if you were blushing and fidgeting and mumbling that I could harass your ears all I like?” She finishes her signing, then lazily leans back across the log, looking like a harmless river nymph.

“Hey, hero. Can you not harass our party member like that?” Aura lets out a silent laugh and smiles enigmatically as Ront gives her a skeptical, disbelieving expression.

“...I’m not going to let you touch them now. Not even if it’s you, Miss Aura.” Melia is pouting, covering her ears as though she’s about to be pounced on, but Aura shows no sign of moving from her spot. She only raises an eyebrow, then pushes the corners of her own lips up with her fingertips. Stop avoiding the question and tell us what’s on your mind, she implies, then settles in until Melia’s ready to talk.

“It’s just unfair. Frustrating. It’s...” Melia sighs and lets her head droop to the side. She had been saying that for months, that fighting against Aura was frustrating. That it was unfair. She never explained it, but now that it had come to this, Aura has no intention of dropping it. Her eyebrows furrow and the only motion she makes it to stop Ront from cutting in. He lets out a little grunt and lightly taps Aura’s shoulder with his fist, but stays silent.

There’s no point if Melia doesn’t say it herself, Aura thinks. It’s something she has to say. Something that’s in her heart. So Aura just sits there and waits, until Melia huffs.

“You should be winning.” Aura blinks in surprise. “But it’s impossible for you, Miss Melia. You shouldn’t have lost a hundred times in a row to me.” Aura tilts her head, drooping eyes relaxed as she shrugs. There isn’t any helping it, she can only manage what she can manage.

“Thanks to you, I can enter a dungeon. It wasn’t a wasted effort.” Aura signs slowly, her lips forming a concerned smile as she seems to laugh to herself. “I can probably manage against a dhoka now.”

“And that’s what’s so unfair. Aren’t you a hero? Why do you have to... ” Melia’s ears twitch back and forth and she slams her bare fist against the ground. “You’re better than that,” she roars. “You deserve better!” Aura, unfazed, just shakes her head and shrugs again. Her eyes droop a bit more as she sweeps her bangs back, blowing a few stray hairs out of her face with an exhale.

“We animal people have our overpowering physicality. The other races have their own strengths as well. Even humans, one of the weakest races in magic or strength, they all have the potential. This world, our world, is fair. Everyone has a chance to achieve! Ront and I trained in magic, despite being creatures suited for strength or stealth. But you, you!” Aura takes the verbal barrage head on, expression as calm as the empty sky above them, and shrugs again.

“Melia. You’re yelling at her. It’s not her fault, don’t scold her.” Ront cuts in, putting a hand on Melia’s shoulder. “I get that you’re upset, but… okay? Don’t say something you’re going to regret.” Melia growls and pushes the jackal back, huffing. Her glowering expression turns from Ront back to Aura as she continues.

“Why is it just you don’t grow! We’ve been training for three months. Your skills have improved. We’ve all improved, especially after those jaunts into the dungeons.” Aura remembers well, cringing slightly. Dungeons was a rather broad term, but the three of them had gone into both obviously constructed and natural dungeons. Luckily, she hadn’t encountered anything that made her struggle with the difference between monsters and people. No goblins. No demons. Isn’t she just being terribly human-centric with her ideals? Still, it’s what makes her human. After all, she had no problem cutting down wild boars. Her thoughts begin to jumble together as her eyes close, losing track of the conversation quickly. Melia’s point is that in this world, the act of entering dungeons and testing one’s limits bolstered an individual. That is the prevailing theory. Given the state of the world, the most common thing to do was simply kill. To rack up achievements. She doesn’t get it. She doesn’t want to get it. Aura sighs, but Melia begins speaking again before she can ponder further and get even more distracted.

“You probably haven’t realized. You stopped growing two weeks in. The experience of a D-rank adventurer in an F-rank’s body.” Aura’s eyes snap open and she jerks her head up. D-rank? ‘Dive Bomb Melia’ is a C-rank, and she’s leagues beyond Aura. “So you didn’t. You just… thought spars against me were getting tougher because I was getting tougher. The monsters we’re fighting against were getting stronger. So it all just seemed like an uphill challenge to you. Is that it. Is that it, Miss Aura.” Aura shifts backwards this time, her left hand rubbing her right shoulder nervously.

“You are so much smarter than you give yourself credit for,” Melia hisses. “So much quicker, so much more clever, and yet nothing comes of it. I… We see you struggling every day, and nothing comes of it. It’s frustrating. It’s unfair. Why is it just you that doesn’t grow, that can’t use magic, why is it you alone!” Aura’s shoulders pull in slightly as she stares at the ground, ears ringing.

“Oi, Melia, enough - “

“It’s not enough. Why is she still smiling after all that! I hate this. I hate this world that makes someone like her look useless. I’ve known from the start, from our first duel. You think you’re a burden on us, yet you’re clever enough to analyze the situation, and though you’re rough around the edges, your combat skills have gotten better. You’re not a genius, but you always underestimate yourself... You’re not blessed with superhuman abilities. Heroes are supposed to be extraordinary, but you’re above average. The only thing you have over others is that you’re persistent. You… even though I’ve won so many times already, you keep trying. Never the same thing twice. And even though you know you can’t possibly win now, you’ll still keep trying and still keep losing. As if you’re okay with losing. As if it doesn’t frustrate you. Doesn’t anything phase you, Miss Aura?” Aura stares at the floor for a few seconds, then turns her head up and offers a beaming smile.

“It’s okay. That’s just the hand I was dealt.” Aura grins, her silver eyes sparkling as Melia’s jade eyes tear up. If she can’t use magic, then fine. If she has no overwhelming ability as a hero, then fine. If she is just above average intelligence, if she’s got a weak body, if she’s reached the limit of her sword skills, then fine. It’s fine. She’ll figure something else out. She has to. Even if she can’t, she has to. She’s the vanguard for these two now, so she’ll pick up the shield, she’ll learn the spear, and if after all that, she still can’t manage it, then she’ll just do that. And they’ll be safe.

“It’s okay,” she signs again, a little more emphatically this time, giving Ront a sideways smile as well. His shoulders droop and his ears flatten against his head as he sighs and shakes his head. The jackal turns his head away and lets out a rough grumble with his throat, stuffing his face with the last of his food rather than speak up. Melia’s lips tremble and she covers her eyes with one hand.

“...This is what I find so unfair. You’re so unfair.”

・

“Aura! Stop staring at everyone like you’re some kind of tourist!” Ront nudges her in the side as Aura jerks to the side, pouting. She gestures vaguely and signs something back quickly.

“They’re staring at me though.”

“It’s because your hair is so pretty,” Melia asserts, putting her hands on her hips and puffing her chest out.

“It’s not your hair so why are you so proud…”

“Miss Aura’s victories are my victories!” Aura laughs a little and ruffles her fingers through both Melia and Ront’s hair, enjoying the brighter mood. She keeps her eyes focused on what’s in front of her now, however, instead of staring here and there at every animal person. Looping one finger around her hair, she discreetly glances around again. Not many strange hair colors, although there were definitely a few cases of white hair, no one had her silver tones. It did look like there was a culture of using dyes and paints though. How fun, she thinks enviously.

The line they’re in moves slowly. Positioned at the southeast part of the forest, but in an area still considered to be part of the human kingdoms, the forest embassy stood proudly. Surrounded by a small town, the massive building made of gnarled roots and a very rustic, cottage-like vibe shared its space with the adventurer’s guild. Thanks to the close proximity to many demihumans with sharp objects, many of which were animal folk themselves, the embassy didn’t see many problems - that’s how Ront had explained it. Ront steps up to the window, the guild cards of their party in hand.

“We’re here to register this human as part of our party and receive authorization to travel into the forest.”

“Ooooh, a human! It’s been a while. She’s cute.” Aura’s peeks past Ront, who’s speaking to a girl in a black and white vest with a ring of puffy fur around her neck. Her dark glasses are pulled down slightly, revealing her blunt talons. Her hair is layered in black and white as well, giving off a neat, professional, and slightly handsome atmosphere. Aura puts a hand on her heart and bows courteously, smiling back.

“Very cute,” she says, but then her voice stops as she frowns. “Say, jackal, what’s that human’s name?”

“Aura, penguin.” Ront answers, as Aura glances over at Melia and signs to her. Penguins are also cute.

“Melia, dear, Isn’t that ‘penguin’ ‘jackal’ talk somewhat…”

“It’s like when boys call each other shitheads,” Melia signs back, nudging her side and gesturing with her chin back to the conversation. The penguin woman adjusts her suit with a downward tug and lets out a sigh.

“I’ll be right back, okay?” The penguin, shifting back, reveals just how short she is as she scurries into a back room. Compared to the slightly tall Melia, the average height Aura, and the shorter still Ront, the penguin woman didn’t even clear Aura’s shoulder. Cute as a button though.

“Are you going to eyeball every cute girl you meet,” Melia grumps, crossing her arms.

“Boys too,” Aura signs back, winking. She lets out a slow exhale and crosses her arms as well, keeping an eye on the surroundings as best as she can. Melia’s just teasing her anyway. Cute is cute, and the receptionist was probably picked in part because she’s cute.

After about ten minutes, the receptionist peeks her head out of a room and gestures for them to come in. As Aura steps into the meeting room, there’s an elegant woman with golden hair and feathers across her forearms on one side and a large man with bear ears behind a table. The receptionist closes and locks the door behind her, then gives Aura a fierce look.

“We can’t grant your request. As of right now, you are… banned from entering the forest kingdom.”

“This ambassador regretfully acknowledges this claim,” the bird woman calls out, her voice clear and sharp.

“This ambassador apologetically acknowledges this claim,” the bear man calls out, his voice a rumble like thunder.

“Hero Aura,” the penguin woman begins, and Aura feels her arm jerked backwards by Ront as he shifts in front of her. His ears are lowered forward, fangs bared.

“We never said she was a hero.”

“So you know of her status. Good. Let me finish then, Mister Ront,” the female ambassador mutters. “We would like to invite her in with open arms. It’s clear you both trust her, as you are instinctively defending her from fellow animal people. The record on her guild card is sufficient, albeit just barely. Were she a normal human, there would be no problem. However… She is the human hero, Aura.” Melia steps forward, digging her elbow into Ront’s side before he barks roughly.

“With my sincere respect, Madam Ambassador,” Melia begins, prompting Aura to raise an eyebrow. What a refined tone of voice, Melia’s capable of talking like that too? “We are all part of the alliance and there have been cases of human heroes crossing into our territory and vice versa. And… it’s not like she announces she’s the hero. She’s more likely to hide it.”

“Miss Melia. Off the record, I want to invite her in. This human has a clear gaze and doesn’t turn her gaze away from us or the harsh reality in front of us, but carries herself with the dignity of the forest. I could have mistaken her for a river spirit.”

“But,” begins the rumbling thunder of the large bear man. “We cannot risk an international incident. We will not detain you but… We were passed this information by the adventurer’s guild. There is a search party looking for you, Hero Aura, led by Princess Gwyndolin of the Shuren Kingdom.”

“What the fu, ugh!” Ront’s temper flares up for a brief second as Melia elbows him in the side again. He’s always like this in front of authority, she mentally huffs, then stares back at the three officials in front of them.

“The Shuren Kingdom forcibly expelled Miss Aura from its borders with the threat of violence. Now they wish to find her?”

“That’s the information we have,” comes the receptionist’s voice from the right. “Which means we can’t harbor her, whom the Shuren Kingdom is hunting,” she spits out. “We apologize to the hero party. I… apologize to the hero party,” she finishes, gritting her teeth with a visible snarl, shoving her tinted glasses up higher to hide her furrowed brows.

“As long as the hero party remains together, until a time at which the hero Aura is no longer being pursued by the Shuren Kingdom, your party is not allowed within the bounds of the forest. We will provide a small amount of coin to help you travel.” Aura’s gaze grows muddy as she stares down at the table, then back at the people in front of her. Money again. A sack of coins as she’s kicked out of yet another place. And Gwyn is searching for her? Aura moves past her companions and dips her head low, then signs a few sentences. Bowing again, she offers the room her best smile and leaves the way she came.

“What did she say,” the penguin woman asks softly. In contrast, the bear man is letting out a sigh, having caught her meaning.

“Thank you for your candor and for treating me with respect. I hope the day will come when I will be able to greet you as friends. I look forward to a reunion with all three of you.” Ront finishes his translation, then steps towards the door.

“Us too. She’s nothing special as a hero or an adventurer. She’s nothing special, but we also wish to meet her again. At that time, we will greet you with open arms,” the female ambassador calls out, as Melia closes the door and the hero party leaves.