Hero and Maiden

CHAPTER 5 : HERO AND MAIDEN

“If you look at the sewer you won’t see anything besides fishes and clean water.” said him while we strolling in the city 

“Wow! Yakusoku sure feels like walking in a different world. Do you have any sacred place here?” I’ve seen Malac’s gold mosque, it’s really magnificence.

“Yeah sure we do. Let’s take a walk down the road, we will see the biggest shrine ever built in Yakusoku. Luckily, today all shrine maidens are off duty.”

We arrived at the shrine called Shinto Shrine. I take a walk by myself while the guard went to the toilet for a while. 

“Wow! That’s the biggest tree I’ve ever seen.” I was impressed by the size of the tree.

“It’s not just a big tree. It’s called Sacred Sakura Tree and also the oldest tree in Yakusoku.” Suddenly, a woman in shrine maiden’s dress surprised out of nowhere.

“Ah! You’re really going to give me heart attack. Why are you here by the way? Don’t all maidens are off duty today?” I said it while walking to a bench to sit.

She also took a sit on the other bench in front of mines. “Apparently, yes. We got a day off today but they didn’t say I can’t hang out here.” said her while smiling. 

Her smile made my heart races. I never feel something like this before. Are heroes allowed to have life partner? No, no. I mustn’t thinking about it ever again. 

“You doesn’t look like you are from here, are you a traveller?” the maiden asked while drink a cup of tea.

“No. I am not from here. I am just a knight on duty with Malac’s representives and we are here to discuss something about a shaman that tends to wake all Within Beasts. As rumours said, he made his way to Yakusoku after caused havoc in Malac.” I gave her my purpose for coming all away to Yakusoku.

“By the way, may I know your name?” I asked for her name. It’s fair to ask because I already revealed a bit of myself.

“Sara. Sara Hayami,23. And may I have yours?” said Sara.

“I am Lidros from Midland.”

“Are you really desperate to show off by using a hero name? I don’t know you are such a liar. A man that lied to a woman is a crime you know.” did she just called me a liar.

“I am the hero.” I tried to convince her.

“I think you wish you were.” What a stubborn girl.

She really pissed me off. I don’t want to do this.

*Stance*

Before I started my stance, my tour guard came back.

“Sir Lidros! Sorry for your wait. I just helped someone chasing a pickpocket. Oh! You already met Lady Sara, Yakusoku’s Shrine Maiden, popular with her charming beauty among other shrine maidens.” said the guard. He sure like to show off his knowledge.

I looked at Sara and she got red all over her face.

“Are you okay?”  I asked.

Her upset changed to excitement. Women really hard to understand.

“I can’t believe it. You are really Lidros! I am sorry for doubting you” she apologized while repeatedly bow at me.

“Please stop. It’s not like I have power to be mean at girl especially you.” What? Did I just made her look special.

“Sir Lidros, do you mind if I be your tour guide?” said her while staring at the guard.

The guard immediately left.

“Wait! Our tour not done yet.” I called him back but he just ran away without saying a thing.

“I guess I don’t have any choice. So Lady Sara, where are we going?” 

We walked out from the shrine

“Oh please! Call me Hayami and we are going to my favourite restaurant.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me to join her run. 

We ran to the restaurant and we sat at the corner table.

“May I take your order?” said a waitress.

“Give us two bowls of ramen please and two cups of green tea.” While Hayami ordered our food, I looked around and saw people gossiping about us.

“Is that Lady Sara. Why he went out with a guy?”

“Are shrine maidens allowed to go out with man?”

“She will be in so much trouble.”

I got curious. I need to confirm something with her. “Hayami. You are maiden right? Are you al-. Uh- Is ramen your favourite food?”

I can’t asked her is it wrong for maidens to hang out with guy, it’ll ruin the mood. 

She looked at me and smiled. “Not really. But it’s a good start for outlander like you.” 

Her smile comforted me somehow. 

“Actually, when I heard about you before I thought you are higher, ripper body and got voice like barbarian.” she said her impressions after hearing about me.

“What?” did my appearance spoiled her.

“I know. It’s funny because you fought a monster four times bigger than you. Turns out you are just a normal guy but strong.” said her.

“Do you hate me for not fulling your expectation towards ‘Lidros’.” 

“Actually no. To be honest you are way better than what I thought. I mean you are low profile person even though you are a hero for the humankind.” her words flattered me 

Suddenly, the waitress served us our meals.

“Open your mouth Lidros.” she fed me her ramen and I am all red.

“Thank you I guess.” She’s good.

Then, we continue eating till finished.

“Next stop, we are going to my favourite fishing post. We can go fish there.” 

Just like earlier, we ran.

After we arrived, she went to a cabin to borrow fishing pole. 

“Are you sure wanted to go fishing with your maiden dress?” 

“No. That’s why I only bring one for you. Show me your skill, ‘Hero’. *chuckle*.” she teased me.

Shoot! I never fish before. What should I do?

“I can’t fish but I’ll try.” 

“Don’t worry. I won’t laugh at you. Hehe” said Hayami while laughed at me, talk about energetic girl.

Hayami set up the bait and gave the pole to me.

“Okay! Let’s fish!” I threw tip randomly and wait.

We waited for a couple minutes then a fish hooked.

“Lidros!” Hayami shouted.

“I am on it!” I tried to pull the fish but the fish also pulling me.

“That’s the big one Lidros! Let me help.”

We pulled the fish together and finally the fish gave up. The momentum pulled us back and I tripped. Hayami also fell and dirty her dress.

“Hey! Your dress.” 

“Don’t worry. I got spare in my house.” 

“Excuse me for a while?” It’s almost late and I am not pray yet.

“Alright! I will go return the fishing pole and sell the fish.” then she left.

I cleaned myself and prayed.

“Let’s go back.” Hayami showed me a shortcut back to the shrine. 

Then we arrived back to the shrine.

I started to walk out from the shrine but Hayami patted my shoulder.

“Can you wait for a while? I would like to watch sunset with you. The view from here is really beautiful.”

“I would like to.” I guess nobody worried about me in the castle so I can accompany her.

The sun went down. It was really beautiful to see it from the high place.

“I guess it’s time for us to go back. Want me to walk you home?” It’s getting late to let her go home alone.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. Plus, this shrine is my home.” She surprised me not gonna lie.

“Thank you for your accompany Hayami. I would like to fish with you again sometime.” I bowed to her and I can see her bright smile.

Hero found Heart 

“Hurry up soldier! I owe you a training this morning. Remember? On the ship?” Laksamana out of nowhere hit me with his loud voice.

“Yeah! I do remember it. Let’s go!”

Then we head to training site behind the castle.

“Okay. Now, I would like you to spar with me.” Laksamana just asked me to spar with him.

“Kris fight?” I asked.

“Use all you got.” He pointed at me using his kris.

A man came and be our referee “Okay fighters, In your position.”

We got to our side to get ourselves ready and suddenly I heard people cheering.

“Look! The fight is going to start.”

“Our hero is going to fight with Shogun and Laksamana right?”

Wait what?! I thought I only fight with Laksamana.

“Surprise!” said Laksamana while inviting Shogun.

Laksamana and Shogun. Two greatest fighters in their nation are now going to spar with me. I should be grateful that we use wooden weapon or I surely die today.

“Let’s the spar begin!” 

Wait! We already start.

Shogun charged at me with his katana and I blocked him using sabre but the ****** was too strong and sent me flying.

“Too strong.” He’s really strong.

I stand and try to take him down with one of my combo. I happened to know that I can use all element attributes and I guess it’ll be more effective

“Sword Style: Kris. Enhancement: Lightning I.” I threw the kris at Shogun and he dodged just like I expected. I flicked right behind him and catch the kris.

“Sword Style: Zweihander. Enhancement: Wind I. Blowing Veter!” I hit my sword at his rib and sent him flying but Laksamana caught him. 

“Nice move kid!” Shogun praised me.

Then, I saw they talked to each other and nodded. I wonder what they talking about. 

After that they ran at my direction in one line with shogun as the lead. I prepared myself for any possibility.

“Wind Art: Wind I: Uragan ******.” He thrusted me but I blocked it with claymore enhanced with wind to blow his momentum. He smirked at me and stepped aside and I saw a kris flying at me with fire enhanced on it. I dodged it but it still managed to hit me. The throw made my shield broke and blew me away.

Then we started getting serious and fight only physically without magic. 

They were fast but I can catch up with them. I only can only defend their attack until I got an opening. While they keep attacking me, I saw a spot that can break their chain. 

Shogun is fast and Laksamana is agile. To break them I’ve to make them lose their step even just a second. I punched my hand on the platform and used earth magic to make a quake.

My guess was right. I really broke their chain and they stopped to balance their stance.

“Sword Style: Kris. 

Fire Art: Fire II: Ainfijar 

I went to Shogun in great speed while threw my kris at Laksamana and exploded the kris at him.

After that, I controlled my flying kris to fly back to me.

“Sword Style: Zeihander. Enhancement: Wind II.”

I thrusted Shogun with my zeihander and blew him to Laksamana. The only thing to do is sealed them before they got serious. If they got serious, I’ll be dead for sure.

“Seal Art: Vsasyvaniye Vetra.” I sealed them using wind suction looks like black hole.

The referee came and count to five but it’s pointless because wind seal interrupt all kind of magic that casted in it.

“We have the winner! Lidros the Hero!” Referee announced my victory and everybody started to cheer my name.

Then, I saw a familiar woman ran towards me. Turns out she is Hayami the shrine maiden.

“That was a great fight! When you flicked behind Shogun we can’t barely see you. Title ‘Hero’ really suits you. You defeated two S-classed fighter. I can’t believe it-. Ouch!” she praised me really fast and bit her tongue.

“Are you alright?” I know she’s not alright.

She got red and hid her face behind her hand. “Sorry to make you worry.”

Suddenly, King Kichiro came and all bowed down including me.

“Splendid fight, Lidros! Now she is your wife” said King Kichiro out of the blue.

All of us, me, Hayami, Shogun, Laksamana even audiences gasped by his words.

“Just kidding! You should look at your face.” now everybody calmed. Not gonna lie, his joke was really mean.

While he still laughing, his advisor coughed to get his attention. “Heika. Please don’t do that again you are king remember.”

“Pardon me. Where are my manner.” King Kichiro apologized.

“Lidros! We already got information that the shaman was already left Yakusoku and head to Midland.”

“What happened to Kitsune” said Hayami.

“We just found out that you are the Kitsune, Lady Sara. You inherit the power of Kitsune.” Said a shrine maiden while holding her hand.

I got confused. “What did you mean by she is Kitsune?”

“Kitsune already left the world and before she died, she asked an old lady who was live in the edge of Yakusoku land. Kitsune asked her to be part of her grandchildren.” the shrine maiden tell us more about Kitsune’s conversation with the old lady.

“By our meeting yesterday, we got the idea that with Kitsune power within you, you can be the most suitable person to fight alongside Hero.” said the advisor

“Yes that’s what I would like to say just now *fake cough*” said King Kichiro.

“And about you Lidros. By defeating Temasik before you now gained all of his power.”

What?! I didn’t expect that I was also one of their topics.

 “So, what we have to do now?” 

According to our information, Hayami will be my colleague to fight the shaman. And now that bastard already left and went to Midland to awake the Surtur.

“You, Hero Lidros and Lady Sara will go to Midland nation this afternoon. A carriage from Midland will be sent to pick you up.

“Hey Lidros! I guess my duty with you end here and I want you to win this fight and live a happy life.” said Parameswara while chanting some guardian spell to me and Hayami.

“I think we should get ourselves ready. The carriage might be here soon.” Hayami walked back to the shrine with her fellow maidens.

If what they said about me and Temasik were true, then I have to check something out. “King Kichiro! May I ask you something?” 

The king turned his body to me.

“I am all ears”

...Destiny Brought us Together...

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