Chapter 68: Broken Trophies

Iris: “Earth, what is that?…………Master?”

Nathan was at a loss for words, to hear someone casually mention Earth.

Iris: “Master, what’s wrong?”

Nathan: “Earth…..it’s the name of my world, you know?”

Sari: “Yes, other’s like you, who were summoned to Leseres, told me tales of Earth.”

Nathan: “Others from Earth?”

Sari: “Yes, the few of us who know them refer to them as “Travelers”. Like you, for no apparent reason, they were all brought here.”

Nathan: “No reason, they just showed up one day?”

Sari: “From the accounts I heard, most said they either woke up here, or had suddenly appeared her without any indication on how they arrived.”

Nathan had already come to that conclusion, it would have been strange if he was the only one who’s ever arrived from Earth. However, the way they arrived here, didn’t sound like a summoning. Since she believes he’s a traveler, that means she doesn’t know he’s the ‘Hero’.

Though, the thought of being suddenly brought to a strange world, while going about your day, it must have been stressful for the ones arriving and the ones being left behind. Nathan was all too familiar with people vanishing without a trace, this could very well be the cause.

Nathan: “(No, no, don’t go there, you’re past this.)”

He shook his head, to clear his thoughts, he nearly took himself to a place he didn’t want to go again.

Iris: “Master?”

Nathan: “I’m fine Iris, hey do you know where they are?

Sari: “I’m sorry, though I can tell who they are, I don’t know where they might be at this moment. It was during my travels, they may no longer in the places where we first crossed paths.”

Nathan was half disappointed half relieved, he didn’t want to get distracted and with this he wouldn’t. While Nathan was getting a grip on his feelings, Iris flew in front of him if to protect.”

Nathan: “Iris?”

Iris: “You, how did you discern Master was not a resident of Leseres? You conveniently left that point out.”

Nathan quickly realized he had dropped his guard while lost in thought. However, Iris was having none of that, she was on-point, and Nathan could feel the slightest bit of mana gathering around her. Sari must have felt the hostility, she threw her hands in front while shaking her head hurriedly.

Sari: “Wait, wait, it was his Aura.”

Nathan: “My Aura?”

Iris: “Elaborate.”

Sari: “The color of your mana, it’s what is referred to as your aura. Everyone has a color, a set color that does not change. However, his is multitude of colors, a characteristic only those from Earth share and a certain other group of people. Since he’s definitely not one of them, he can only be from Earth. That’ how I can tell he isn’t from Leseres.”

Iris: “And would you know he not one of ‘them’?”

Sari: “Please believe me, if he was one of them, I would definitely attack you, without fail.”

Iris’s gaze sharpened, but Nathan quickly caught her.

Nathan: “Iris stop, she’s telling the truth.”

Iris: “But-”

Nathan: “Iris, think about it, she clearly doesn’t want to fight you. Think of all the people who have met you so far, besides Matthew, who amongst them actively said something so provoking to your face? She was just speaking the truth, if I was the other thing she was talking about, she would have attacked already.”

Iris glared at Sari, but for now, she stopped gathering mana. Nathan was right, no one would actively threaten Nathan, if they knew Iris was there. Feeling the energies return to normal, Sari breathed a sigh of relief. Nathan grabbed Iris and placed her on his shoulder, so she could settle down and he could continue the conversation.

Nathan: “So, what color is my aura?”

Sari: “Well, when I first met back in the cavern, it was a blue color.”

Nathan: “And now, I bet is green.”

Sari: “Now, its pink.”

Nathan: “Pink!?”

Iris: “What’s wrong with pink?”

Nathan: “Everything’s wrong with pink, how do I change it back to blue?”

Sari: “You can’t, at least I don’t think you can, it changes on its own.”

Nathan: “So, I have to walk around looking pink, I'm not even a panther, I have canine features dammit.”

Nathan was dejected, of all the colors it could be, it had to be pink.

Sari: “Ah, it changed.”

Nathan: “Oh thank goodness, something besides pink I hope.”

Sari: “Magenta.”

Nathan: “THAT’S JUST A DARKER PINK!”

Nathan dropped to his knees in defeat; why must everything lead to the most feminine of outcomes, as if universal forces were conspiring against him.

Nathan: “What are trying to say Universe?”

Iris: “Master, I think your aura color is great, it suits you.”

Nathan: “Iris, I thought we were friends.”

Iris was trying and failing to cheer Nathan up, inadvertently hurting him more with her attempts.

Sari: “Don’t worry, like I said, your aura color will change, plus, not many people can see aura’s. See, it changed again.”

Nathan: “Oh yeah, what is it this time, a lighter pink?”

Sari: “……………………..But, it’s still shocking to see a Therian with such an aura, everyone from Earth I conversed with, stated soundly, there are only humans on Earth.”

Iris: “(The subject was changed.)”

Nathan: “(She just changed the subject.)”

Cold sweat ran down Sari’s face as she cast her gaze away from Nathan hoping he would take the bait.

Nathan: *sigh* “Well I’m not really a Therian.”

Sari: “What!?”

_

_

_

[Five minutes earlier]

*Bonk*Bonk*

Gideon: “Ughn?”

Gideon stirred in his sleep, he woke up to fine, himself being pelted with pebbles. It didn’t hurt, compared to his other wounds, but it was increasingly annoying.

Jonathan: “It took you long enough.”

Gideon turned over to find Jonathan, the source of the pebble barrage.

Gideon: “Jonathan, stop throwing shit at me.”

Jonathan: “Quiet down.”

Gideon came out of his stupor and realized he couldn’t move, both him and Gideon; along with all his men, were tied down. Then suddenly, all the memories rushed back to him and he immediately called out to Jonathan.

Gideon: “The Lycanian, where-”

Jonathan: “I said quiet, you’ll get us caught.”

Gideon noticed Jonathan’s odd movements; he was slowly trying to get his hand free from the plants coiled around him. Earlier he had tried to cut it, but the moment the blade touched the vine, it reacted by grabbing the blade and tossing it out of reach. For now, it didn’t look like anyone noticed, but he was not going to try that again.

Koshige was having the women gather together, but it was proving difficult. Some of them were refusing to move, having lost their will, but Koshige would force them to move, if it came to it. Ai and Kou were busy retrieving the weapons from the tied-up bandits and tossing them away. Most had woken up and struggling with the vines, if by any chance they were able to escape, they were making sure they had nothing to fight with.

It took a few minutes of experimenting, but Jonathan came to realize that as long as his movements weren’t too sudden, he could slowly shimmy free. Too fast and the vines would tighten, too slow and he risked being caught. It was a stifling process, but within a few minutes, he was able to get one hand free. Once he got free, he and Gideon could escape, while the Lycanian wasn’t watching. However, in the next instance, the dream of the both of them escaping went up in smoke.

Gideon: “Why the hell are my trophies doing out of their cases?”

Jonathan along with everyone else, turned their attention toward Gideon. The man who kept them captured for years, the man who took away their humanity and turned them into nothing but trinkets, was enraged. Even with him being tied down and unable to harm them, when they looked into his eyes, they subconsciously stood still. The training they went through for so long, wasn’t so easily forgotten.

Gideon: “Do you all understand what you’re doing right now, the effort I put into keeping you so beautiful, by exposing yourself to air, DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU’VE DONE!?”

The moment he screamed; several of the woman lost the feeling in their legs, but Koshige, who was close by went to their aid. Ai and Kou, assisted their father doing the exact same thing, comforting the fragile state Therian women.

Gideon: “Koshige you bastard, don’t touch my property with your filthy hands.”

Koshige gritted his teeth.

Koshige: “Your property? No one here belongs to you.”

Koshige took a step towards Gideon.

Koshige: “You hold no more power over these women. Once were done, were taking them somewhere you will never find them. Then we’ll search for their families and you will go into a deep dark dungeon, where you’ll rot for the rest of your life.”

Gideon: “Heheheh, hahahahahahahah.”

Gideon despite the pain, he began to laugh. With his lungs being squeezed, his laughter, sounded something demonic.

Koshige: “Something funny?”

Gideon: “Search for their families what a farce. Koshige do you consider yourself special?”

Koshige: “What are you talking about?”

Gideon: “Really Koshige…do you think you’re the only one I offered that deal?”

Gideon: “I did do a little experimenting with your family, but the deal was almost completely the same.”

Woman A: “Wh-What he is talking about.”

Gideon: “How many times must I tell you, TROPHIES DON’T TALK!”

The tone and his voice, was enough to shut up the woman who spoke, he still had a hold on their hearts even now. Their reactions brought a smile to his face, a bit a pleasure mixing in with th pain.

Gideon: “You belong to me, mentally and physically that was the deal I made with your kin. They go free and I can keep you.”

Woman A: “L-Lies, my husband, my son would never do this.”

Gideon: “What reason do I have to lie? I own you, if you don’t believe me, check that bag.”

Gideon brought their attention to the bag next to Jonathan, who’s mouth was agape of the idiot he was lying next to. One woman went to grab the bag, but Koshige stopped her and went for the bag himself. Ruffling through the papers, Koshige couldn’t believe what he was reading. While lost in the documents, the woman made a grab for the bag, accidentally knocked the bag to the floor and spilling the contents onto the ground

Woman A: “That’s my husband’s name, why would he sign something?”

She didn’t understand most of what was written, but one particular line, drew their eyes.

Gideon: “In order to escape, every single one of you were given to me by your family and added to my collection.

Woman B: No, my husband wouldn’t do that he-”

Gideon: “Loves you? Is that what you about to say? Ha! Rather it was your husbands, your sons, your brothers, they didn’t even last a month before they were ready to leave you, hell some of than escaped the first chance they got. I actually respect you in that regard Koshige. No matter what kind of bull-shit I put you through, you have every attention of leaving here with your entire family. That’s more than I could say, for these poor souls.

Young girl: “No, my brother………………he left me here and ran off?”

Koshige: “No, don’t listen to him, this bastard would say anything right now.”

Koshige continued to try to persuade them that it was all fabrication, but it fell on deaf ears. They were losing themselves, as they read the papers over and over, each time drawing ever closer to despair. It wasn’t a legally binding contract or anything, it was the thought of someone you loved, abandoning you without out a second thought.

Young Girl: “Mommy, that man’s lying right? Father and Brother are coming?

The little girls question went unanswered, as her mother wept while holding her. No family, no home, exactly what were they hoping for in a world that no longer needed them?

Gideon: “You are all nothing more than objects, a collection for the sole purpose of bringing me pleasure. The only place you belong is on display in my trophy room.”

In that moment something snapped, an inaudible sound, yet clear as day. The change went unnoticed by everyone except Jonathan, who redoubled his efforts to get himself loose. Koshige was at a loss of what to do, he had destroyed what little hope they had left and Gideon, despite the pain from the vines, just wouldn’t shut up.

Young girl: “Mommy?”

The woman hugging her child suddenly stood up and walked slowly over towards Gideon.

Kou: “Dad.”

Koshige: “Kou, what’s wrong?”

Kou pointed and Koshige turned to see the woman standing over Gideon.

Koshige: “What is she doing?”

Gideon: “I know you, you’re the trophy I dented earlier, but your healed? Who the hell performed maintenance on you without my permission?”

She clicked her tongue at Gideon’s words, she did not like what he had to say. The unbridled rage in her eyes, as she pulled out the dagger she took off of one of the unconscious bandits.

Woman: “I’m am not a Trophy.”

Koshige: “STOP!”

Koshige called out far too late, as the woman brought the knife down.

_

_

Nathan: “Circumstances, lead me to look this way, but I’m am on hundred percent human.”

Nathan had just finish telling Sari why he looked the way he does, not that he really knew. All he could tell her was what he was aware of.

Sari: “I wasn’t aware such a thing was even possible. A sleeping curse that lasted for thousands of years; used for healing? I never heard of anyone using thus way.”

Sari had so many questions, but she didn’t think he would give her any answers.

Iris: “Master, are you sure we should be telling her this. What if she speaks of it to someone else.”

Nathan: “It’ll be fine, she is also hiding the fact that she has a Legacy.”

Iris: “Huh?”

Sari: “Eh?”

Sari was surprised to hear him say that; how could he had found out? She could think of only one instance when that could have happened.

Sari: “Back then, in the cage, I thought you had done something to me.”

Nathan: “Well, you looked straight at me when I was invisible. I also noticed that there were some parts of your status I couldn’t read. I wanted to ask what it was, but only you could tell me how you do that.”

Sari: “I’m sorry, I can’t disclose that information, it a secret passed down in my family.”

Nathan: “Your family? But I don’t have the same problem with them.”

Sari: “No, not my husband and children, they are different from me, I’m sure you understand from how different we look.”

Nathan: “Oh, you mean your fur?”

Sari nodded in response and Nathan left it at that. They both had things they weren’t going to reveal to one another.

Nathan: “Oh well, anyway, I just want to make sure were on the same page, I don’t talk about you and you don’t talk about me.”

Sari nodded in confirmation.

Sari: “I’m fine with this arrangement, but I wouldn’t have spoken of you either way.”

Nathan: “That could be the case, but why take a risk, didn’t you and your husband plan to trap me earlier?”

Iris: “What?”

Iris turned to Nathan with an annoyed expression. Clearly upset that she’s finding out about this information so late. Sari just stared at the ground, not wanting to meet their eyes.

Nathan: “Don’t worry about it Iris, she already apologized, no need to get upset.”

Iris sighed, the annoyed expression still painting her face, Nathan placed a hand on her head in a move of apologizing to her, but she settled back down. Iris fluttered over to Nathan’s shoulder, close to Sari, not taking any chances.

Nathan: “What’s done is done, anyway about the other Earthlings. How long ago did you last meet one?”

Sari: “The last time, I think it’s been about ten years ago, near the central forest, close to Midheim. I believe his name was Bartz.”

Nathan: “Bartz eh?”

Sari: “He was a burly old man and he wore armor like the guards who protect Midheim.”

Nathan: “If he joined the city’s guard, then it might not be hard to track him down.”

Sari: “Do you plan to meet him?”

Nathan: “If I can find him, I’ll be heading that way eventually.”

Nathan understood, that his way of arriving was different, but they could be another hero among them. Iris said that in the legend, the original Hero party, vanish shortly before Elphina showed up, then there might have been another summoning, after he supposedly died and now.

Sari: “Actually, if you go there, try finding a Charmcaster.

Nathan: “What, why?”

Sari: “To find the owner of your curse. A curse like that must have some residual effects. Have you ever fallen asleep and something strange happens?”

Nathan: “Now that you mention it.”

Every time Nathan slept, he remembers being in a vast white emptiness. He recalled talking to someone, but could never remember the conversation or the one he was speaking to, just a feeling of enlightenment whenever he awoke.

Sari: “That’s due to the curses influence, if I recall correctly, there was someone in Midheim who could track residual magic, with a curse as powerful as this, I’m sure it would be no problem finding the culprit.”

Nathan: “Are you serious!?”

Iris: “Master, does that mean-”

Nathan: “We can find her.”

That was some extremely good news, without a doubt, the one who cast the curse on him was Amelia. If they could track down this Charmcaster, they wouldn’t have to search about randomly, they could focus on getting Ena home.

Nathan: “Then we will definitely will go, thank you so much.”

Sari: “This much is the bare minimum, compared to what you have done. I wish there was more I could do.”

Nathan: “Trust me, this was a big help. It will save a lot of time.”

Nathan pumped his fists; hidden goals were being handed to him one by one. Turn in Gideon, get the reward, rank up, head for the dungeon. Then off too Midheim to find the Charmcaster, then get a boat towards the north and head over to the Eastern continent. He also planned to search the bandits camp for anything of value. There is no such thing as a bandit who hasn’t pillaged and he was planning to take everything they had.

While thinking of these things, a scent wafted passed Nathan’s nose. It was an unpleasant scent, a familiar scent, but more importantly, a scent that shouldn’t be there.

Iris: “Kyaa, Master!?”

Iris and Sari both were shocked and confused, out of nowhere, Nathan took off running. The smell grew thicker as he got closer, the pungent smell of spilt blood.

Bandit: “Please no, gaghhh.”

The first thing Nathan witnessed is the sight of a woman plunging a blade into the neck of a bandit. A sickening squelching sound as she retrieves the blade only to plunge it into a different part of his body. Though it only stole his attention for a moment, the one scene was only a small portion of the entire portrait.

Sari, catching up to Nathan, looked on in horror. Her children huddled together up trying to drown out the scene by closing their eyes, while her husband fought the weapons away from anyone he could.

Koshige: “ALL OF YOU, STOP!”

His words fell on deaf ears, as bandit after bandit, all were experiencing the same thing. Rather, it was a sword; a dagger; an arrow head or just a blunt object, every woman now held one of these items. And with every swing of their arms, the object was plunge deep in to bandit.

Nathan ran down into the massacre, he cared nothing for the bandits being killed around him, only for the one he needed. He twisted his head around, searching for his prize. Then through the crowd of women, Nathan eyes fell on a particular two, the mother and daughter that were punished earlier.

Within seconds he was on them and with little effort he threw them aside. Nathan, being far too late, the body beneath him was nothing but a corpse. However the only reason he could tell it was Gideon, was because of the clothes he wore. One, two, ten, he couldn’t tell how many times they brought the knife down, but every slash, every cut, every stab aimed only for his face. The two women had made it abundantly clear, they never wanted to see it again.

Nathan: “What did you do?”

Nathan stared at Gideon, or what was left of him, but not in disgust, not in fear, the only thing he felt at that moment was anger. Everyone must have felt it as well, for even within their crazed state of mind, they could feel his rage and ceased all their actions. The area grew quiet, no one spoke a word, they just waited for Nathan to speak.

He stood up, he didn’t turn his head, but when he spoke, everyone’s heart skipped a beat.

Nathan: “What the fuck did you do?”