Arc 4: What families entail

  Road to a hero:

  Three chances in another world

  Chapter 11. Tension

  A week passes, with no information given to the group about the date and time of the faction's meeting until this morning. Julius stands outside awaiting any message, he notices Peter sneaking through the trees to get to the Inn. Peter drops down to the ground, slowly approaching Julius.

  Peter: “Hey Julius…I gotta be sneaky just in case they’re any guards walking around.”

  Julius: “Well for any normal person, they would have not noticed you. So you did a good job hiding. The guards did show up a few days ago, checking if we were enemies.”

  Peter: “They also searched for Leo after he showed up at that bar.”

  Julius: “Beauregard is making sure nothing is left untouched…he is intelligent.”

  Peter: “Yeah that’s why we move at night…oh well the meeting will be after today. All the leaders will show up but only want themselves and one member of their faction in the room.”

  Julius: “Who will Leo be choosing?”

  Peter: “Well since they wanted an important person from each group in the room Leo chose me. At first, we were going to pick a random person so that the other groups wouldn’t know the stronger people in our ranks…but they thought that through.”

  Julius: “Well I don’t think they would expect a person as young as yourself to be very useful. We can use that to our advantage.”

  Peter: “Yeah and to make sure we could have as many people in the room we said your group isn’t with ours. But we left out that you’re a part of the Salvation Army, so you’ll have to think of something.”

  Julius: “That was an intelligent decision, one that I assume is yours?”

  Peter: “You would assume correctly…Leo says I’m the smartest person in the Red Arrows.”

  Julius: “Well I have high hope for you then. I will inform the others of the information you have given me. Now be on your way quickly, I’ll see you later today.”

  Peter: “Yeah right on, see yah and tell Soku I said hi!”

  Julius: “Alright then.”

  Peter starts to leave, with Julius entering the Inn. Julius prepares tea for everyone, then he knocks on each of the groups' rooms, waking them all up. He then walks back down to the common room.

  Soku: “Ugh…it’s too early for you to be awake…”

  Rosemary: “Did you get any information…”

  Julius: “I did in fact, Peter just came by and told me about the meeting. He also wanted to say hi to Soku.”

  Soku blushes, hiding her face in her coat.

  Rosemary: “Ooooh Sokuuuu.”

  Soku blasts wind in Rosemary's face, messing her hair up.

  Rosemary: “HEY!”

  Edward: “FOCUS!”

  Rosemary and Soku freeze up, scared by Edward's stern voice.

  Edward: “Sorry, sorry but this is serious, Julius what did he say?”

  Julius: “They are all coming here tonight, they have been told that we are our group. And we must pick the leader and one important person in our group.”

  Edward: “I assume that you’ll be the leader then…and I’ll be the other person.”

  Rosemary: “Makes sense.”

  Julius: “Actually I want Soku to be the second person.”

  Soku chokes on her tea in reaction to Julius’ statement. Edward's stern face moves to shock and shows a small amount of anger.

  Edward: “WHAT!? WHY!? FOR WHAT REASON!?

  Julius: “See, you reacting like that proves my point. I don’t know the details, but when Leo brought up the Gravestones you reacted strangely. I feel that I am correct to assume that you have a bad relationship with either Moro Gravestone, the leader of the Gravestone pirates, the Gravestone pirates themselves, or something related to them.”

  Edward: “Ugh…as usual your assumptions would be correct.”

  Julius: “Well then my decision will stay the same, Soku your ability to read people and see if they are lying is very useful in this type of situation.”

  Soku: “UG! Fine I guess I’ll do it.”

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  Julius: “Excellent, now prepare yourselves for the coming conversation between leaders. Depending on how this turns out, it will either be the end of our hopes to free Walgonia, speed up the time it will take to free it, or make it take longer.”

  Soku: “No stress right…”

  Julius: “Your fighting ability has grown a lot since I started sparring with you, so don’t downplay yourself. But do not be overconfident as well. You must be confident, and content with your ability and importance to this mission.”

  Soku: “Thanks I guess…”

  Edward: “Alright then.., if I’m not gonna help I’m just gonna swing this sword around outside.”

  Rosemary: “I’ll join you…I need to stop slacking on working out.”

  Soku: “Actually if you guys are gonna train or whatever I’ll join ya.”

  Julius: “I’m going to take a nap, to make sure I’m ready.”

  Edward: “Alright, well sleep well then.”

  Julius: “Thank you.”

  Julius walks upstairs, while the rest of them go outside to exercise and train. The day quickly passes, leaving everyone to await the arrival of the separate factions. Soku sits in her room, anxious and paranoid, with Julius sitting at the table. Soku sighs, slapping her cheeks, and enters the common room.

  Soku: “They should be here soon.”

  Julius: “Is Edward doing okay?”

  Soku: “I think he's just gonna wait in his room and come out just in case he hears something go bad, same with Rosemary.”

  Julius: “Alright, be prepared.”

  Just outside of the Inn, are three different factions. All about to enter at once.

  Julius: “They’re here.”

  Soku takes a deep breath, then the door opens. Leo enters the Inn, sitting down at one end of the table with Peter by his side. Another man enters the room, a demi-human smoking a cigar. He finishes the cigar and takes another out of his jacket pocket. He then sits down at one end of the table, with a fish demi-human by his side. The leader of the Spartans enters the room, with nobody by his side. His unclean appearance causes the room to feel nasty. His greasy hair brushes back and forth on his shoulders, and his dirty yellow, cracked, and crooked teeth gross out the room.

  Leo: “Is everyone accounted for?”

  Peter: "Oh…um…hey Soku…”

  Soku: “HEY…um…I mean hey.”

  Moro: “It seems we got out guys but this nasty ass dude doesn’t seem to have anyone with them.”

  Caesar: “This nasty ass dude's name is Caesar, and I just got beaten up by some of those guards. That's why I’m all greasy.”

  Moro: “Whatever…all you humans are disgusting anyway.”

  Julius: “Alright, we are all here to discuss our wants. I have already talked with the Red Arrows about helping each other to defeat Beauregard Valentine.”

  Moro: “And what if I just go help Beauregard, he’s got a whole army on his side. You guys just got a couple of men.”

  Leo: “I have three hundred men under my command.”

  Caesar: “And out of all your men you pick the kid?”

  Moro: “You’re one to talk. I ain’t ever heard of yah till a week ago. And you don’t even get a member of your crew with yah. Which was one of my demands.”

  Caesar: “They just help me out, I do all the important work.”

  Soku, Peter, and Moros crew members all stand behind their respective leaders. All looking at each other, all also trying to read the room for any lies or clues.

  Moro: “Look, all I want is the resources this island has. It’s rumored it’s got a mine of Dragon stone. And that shit goes for hundreds of gold coins on the market.”

  Leo: “If you assist me, I can guarantee mining rights to the Dragon stone.”

  Moro: “The chances of us taking out Beauregard are hella low. Better odds of me just trying to get his help.”

  Caesar: “Don’t you hate humans, I’ve heard all Gravestone pirates hate em.”

  Moro: “We DO! But we know when to put differences aside for victory.”

  Leo: “Look, all we need to do is come up with a plan. And we have more in common with each other than you do with my brother, I mean look at our mustaches, they’re the same style.”

  Moro: “Stop with the flattery, I just want my money. And my mustache is way longer than yours, mine hangs down to my chest! You're just touching your face.”

  The smoke of Moro's cigar blows into everyone's faces in the room, annoying all of them.

  Caesar: “Could ya stop smoking?”

  Moro: “Could you brush your teeth?”

  Caesar: “I do brush my teeth asshole! They’re just stained!’

  Moro: “I don’t give a damn you gross fuck!”

  Tension quickly rises in the room with Moro's guard slowly reaching for the sword on his side, and Soku doing the same. With the possibility of a fight about to break out, Leo snaps his fingers summoning his spear from the ground. This shocks the room, causing them to pull their hands away from their weapons.

  Moro: “So it’s real…you fucken do have a weapon of Alfheim.”

  Leo: “And I don’t wanna use it. Caesar, I don’t know what you bring to the table, or if you would be any help to any of us. Is there even a point to you being here?”

  Caesar: “Look I know I look shabby, my pants are ripped and my coat is all messed up but I’m telling you I’m worth it! I got hella manpower, and I myself am pretty strong if I do say so myself. Beauregard is smart, isn’t he? He already knows you guys are here and he has backup plans upon backup plans. But he doesn’t know me! So he’s got nothing.”

  Moro: “What about the pretty boy with the pink hair over there? You haven’t said anything, all you’ve done is sit there with that smile on your face, it's creepy CUT IT OUT!”

  Julius: “I apologize if I offended you. I am in control of a small group from Walgonia. If I take down Beauregard I will get the assistance of the Red Arrows. That is why I am here. You have extra strength due to all of your crew being experienced demi-humans. Though I don’t know much about Caesar I do know that he isn’t lying about his statements. Wouldn’t you agree with Soku?”

  Soku: “Um…yeah…”

  Moro: “What’s up with you guys having kids in your ranks!?”

  Leo: “Peter here is my best strategist. And I know that makes my army look stupid but I assure you Peter's plans and reasoning are the entire reason the Red Arrows are still around.”

  Moro: “Can’t tell if that’s impressive or really sad.”

  Leo: “Look it’s just a yes or no question. Moro your help would be a deciding factor in our victory. I don’t know much about you Caesar but I trust Julius’ judgment. So what will it be?”

  Caesar: “Look I’ll help ya out, and Moro you do know that Beauregard is hella racist right? I wouldn’t join up with 'em y'know. He would probably just turn against ya.”

  Moro: “Fine…come by Solon bay in two days you’ll see some of my men in the harbor. Come around the mountainside so you won’t be seen and I’ll meet up with ya so we can talk about battle plans…is that good?”

  Leo: “I think that’s fine…but I have another way of getting there.”

  Julius: “Soku?”

  Soku: “UM! I…think Moro is telling the truth… there is something off in the way he’s speaking but I see more truth than lies.”

  Moro: “Thank ya, I know I can count on a fella demi-human.”

  Julius: ‘Then I will be there.”

  Caesar: “HELL YEAH! Let’s take down that racist son of a bitch!”

  Leo: “Well put…I guess.”

  Moro stands up, putting his cigar out by pushing it on the table and leaving it there. He waves goodbye and exits the Inn.

  Caesar: “Man that guy’s scary…oh well SEE YA!”

  Caesar also exits the Inn, giving a big smile on his way out.

  Leo: “HEY YOU GUYS CAN COME DOWN HERE!”

  Edward and Rosemary come out of their rooms, walking down the stairs into the common room. Erin also comes out of hiding, walking out of a hidden room in the floorboards holding drinks for everyone.

  Edward: “I didn’t know you were down there! Are you okay?”

  Erin: “Aw you don’t gotta care about me! I’m all good, here I have some drinks.”

  Peter: “Did you see the scars on that guy's face?”

  Soku: “Yeah, the slits on his lips and the x’s on his eyes…it looked like a skull.

  Julius: “Similar to Gray's mask, though Gray's mask doesn’t have the crosses on the eyes.”

  Edward walks over to where Moro was sitting, staring at the cigar on the table looking as if he’s in a trance.

  Leo: “That went really well.”

  Soku: “Yeah but Moro seems a little… untrustworthy.”

  Rosemary: “We’ll have to be prepared for something to happen when we go to the docks.”

  Leo: “The mountain way down is hidden…but it’s open to the docks so we would be open to fire from ships.”

  Edward: “But if we go another way we’ll have to worry about guards.”

  Rosemary: “We might just have to bite the bullet and risk it.”

  Leo: “Bite the bullet? What’s a bullet?”

  Rosemary: “Actually I don’t know…my partner says it sometimes…but he has never explained it to me.”

  Peter: “Well we should be on our way I guess…”

  Leo: “Wait, we were gonna show you our hideout! Come on, follow us there. you‘ll have a place to rest so you won’t have to walk back early in the morning.”

  Julius: “Sure why not, come on let us go with him.”

  Edward: “Alright lead away.”

  They all exit the Inn, following Leo down the main road, back into town.

  END OF Chapter Eleven.