The group was ushered out of the palace and onto carriages, Mia and John were placed in their own carriage while Athena had her own with Rowan, who was dragged along under the pretense to review Mia to see if she was ready. While Mia was glad she had managed to avoid the princess, she couldn’t help but feel nervous.

Mia could tell the princess was ignoring her, or at least not acknowledging her directly. She guessed it was because she was already mad at John and besides being her spy, Athena held no interest in her. She’d just have to hope it was nothing more than that and dread the eventual alone time Athena would force.

But for now she was alone in a carriage with John as they traveled down the roads of the capitol. Mia getting a nice view of outside the carriage from the window. After passing the castle gates they headed down the west road, passing by a large building with several robed figures. Most praying by the steps while others came in and out of the building accompanied by other figures cloaked in black, usually carrying packages on their back.

“That’s the church.”

Mia tore her gaze from the window and looked at john who spoke “The church?” She asked.

John nodded “That building that rivals the castle in size is the church. Learned about them in my lessons.”

Mia went back to looking, the robes seemed familiar, but she couldn’t place it. She almost felt instinctual fear from it, telling her to look away or hide or else she’d be noticed but it was bugging her. Just where did she see them before…

“You interested? They were the people that liberated you, after all.” John said, noticing her interest.

Her eyes went wide, how did she forget? While missing a few details like gold trimmings and the shape being slightly different, that was where she knew them from. The images from three years ago flooding back to her “Right… who are they?”

“Don’t know your own saviors?” John chuckled “Well, I guess you did have a lot going on.” He shrugged

Saviors… Mia sighed, if not for the death order she’d correct him “Yeah, no time.” She said, thinking she might as well get information out of him. She’d at least like to know the name of the organization that ruined her life.

“Figured.” John said then continued, looking out the window at the passing church. “These guys are believers in the god Gaia, the god of the earth. They believe that one day their god will descend and bring peace. It is why they are so concerned with stopping the demon lord, even asking this nation of Eldaha to cooperate with them.”

Mia nodded; it was the same stuff she has heard before, still having no idea who this demon lord even was. “Only this church?” she asked, while the building was large she doubted this was it when it came to the organization.

“No,” John shook his head “This is just a branch sent from the holy nation up north apparently. In my history lesson this branch established itself five years ago. There is a whole country that worships the goddess Gaia up north.”

Mia watched as they finally passed the church, keeping her eyes lingering on it as long as she could while going over what the hero said in her head. In just two years in a foreign nation the church started a war with another country from within it’s borders… Mia didn’t know anything about politics or how the world works, but just from hearing that she felt something was off… could be just because she was personally affected by it.

She wanted to confirm with John but didn’t know how to or even if she should. She shook her head, no she should ask. Fighting an oncoming headache, she faced John “Two years then attack? No body mad?”

John paused, thinking for a moment before answering “I found that weird to, but they apparently noticed your plight and came to the beast man’s assistance before being pushed back by the demon lord’s forces. The king of this nation also agreed something should be done before it was too late.”

“hmm.” Mia leaned back in her seat, idly looking out the window. “King approved…” She mumbled; the whole situation stunk.

“Yeah, and since then even though they were pushed back, it was said they managed to delay a great invasion. So I guess naturally they were seen in as heroes to the people here… well, that invasion is coming soon, hence why I was summoned.” John nodded to himself. “Which is why I want to get out there and help people, not be stuck in the castle training.”

Mia wondered just what invasion he was talking about, or what they even taught him. While she was only eight at the time she didn’t remember seeing or hearing anything like that. She inwardly shrugged, there was nothing she could do right now.

John continued “For starters, I gain 50 points per level up. You’d think they would want me to go out and level as fast as possible but nope. They have me taking history lessons for the nation and the church.” He sighed, leaning back “I just want to explore, do my own thing with some companions and save the world along the way…”

Mia nodded, not paying attention to his ramblings as they continued till they were out of the capitol, riding on cobbled roads. While not the forest she grew up in, just seeing grass, trees, and the few houses and farms dotting the landscape was a very nice change of pace. She believed the last time she saw the outside of the capital was 2 years ago. It was ruined when she noticed the beastman working the fields, slave collars around their necks.

John paused, noticing Mia’s brightened expression “See? Isn’t this already better then being inside all day?” then the familiar black void appeared next to him as he reached inside “Not only can we fight monsters and level up… I was thinking we could also play with these.”

Mia’s ear twitched and she looked over to see John pull out three objects. A red ball, a wooden plate he was holding upside down, and a long thin twig with a feather attached to the end of it. She crooked her head to the side “What are those?” she asked.

“Toys.” He said with a chuckle. He held up the red ball and plate “This is just a small ball, I’d throw it to you and you’d bring it back. Same thing with this, it is called a frisbee and fly’s further then a ball.” He tossed the ball up into the air “We’d call this game fetch back in my world.”

Mia watched the ball as he tossed it, a frown forming on her face. She didn’t know why but the way he described it felt… off. She glanced towards the twig “Also throw that?”

John shook his head, placing the ball and frisbee down. He picked up the twig and started waving the feather towards Mia ‘No, this is something else I made if my companion was a cat. Its hard to explain to you but, uhm, you’d just wave it like this and the cat will play with it.”

Mia watched the feather fly Infront of her face, she couldn’t imagine someone taking joy out of it. If anything, it was annoying. Losing her patience with it she swatted it away from her face, noticing an immediate reaction from John as he smiled widely “They would play with it?” she asked.

“Yeah, like that!” He said, then excitedly started waving the feather closer to Mia.

Annoyed, she grabbed it, narrowing her eyes “It’s annoying.”

“Oh,” John dropped his shoulders in disappointment. “Sorry…”

She let go, allowing him to store the twig in his inventory. She could guess why the other two felt off, they were games designed for a pet to play. She knew what a regular dog and cat looked like, some nobles having them, and the imagery of those animals playing in the way he described fit. “Am not a pet.” She said, headache pounding as she spoke out.

John looked down “Yeah… I know.” He then brought his gaze out the window “Just, in my world some stories had beastman who’d like to play it. Some even catching it in their mouths” without turning his head, he peaked towards her.

He wanted her to do it… no, he expected her to. Her ear flicked, while she had firsthand experience with some weird ideas about beastman, catching something in her mouth as it flies through the air was something new. Maybe some other type of beastman would do that, who knows maybe other fox beastman would but for her unless she was ordered to, she didn’t picture herself ever doing it.

“No.” She shook her head. She then noticed john frowning and sighed “Do not mind playing normally… Catch and throw back, with hands.” She said, not wanting to make him too disappointed and risk his story.

John smiled, storing away the frisbee and smiling widely at her “I will accept that.” He said, lightly tossing the ball towards her.

She caught it, he meant right now?! She looked towards him, his expression saying he fully expected her to throw it back. She sighed tossing it back and watching him happily catch it.

It was going to be a long ride…