I need to stop with the monthly updates and update more often. Also we finally see what's Sherman has been thinking this whole time!

Fang

"And that's that," Harley finished explaining to the trio on her adventure so far. Damn that was pretty long, but at least it isn't Pippin Tier, the male Fencer grumbled to himself. As he was still trying to keep an eye on Ethel.

"So before Lord Sherman called you here to join in the festivities you were back home basically doing what you've been doing during our journey, but then one day you decided to go on an adventure to learn more about our world with someone and you...left that someone behind?" Eryn commented, summarizing her tale.

"Honestly leaving someone like him behind, he's going to be angry with you" Fang heard Bahus commented, he sounded a bit annoyed as well. "And I'm not going to save you…"

"Wait...HIM?" the orangette inquired, looking clueless.

"Yeah, Harley what do you mean by him?"Fang followed with his partner's question turning his gaze to the voluptuous fencer. As he spots tall muscular man with dark clothing walk over towards them with a grim expression on his face.

"Oh well you see-" The dark brunette spoke, but was cut off with a growl from behind her. It was the man Fang spotted earlier.

"I see you went on ahead without me, and here you were the one to bother me with a request." A deep voice rumbled from him laced with anger.

"O-oh hey Apollonius, I'm sorry, but I got too excited I mean you were also notified by Sherman too so-" Harley jumped, trying to defend herself. Behind Apollonius was his fairy partner Seguro who was also expressing disappointment.

"Hold on, Hold on. Not only Apollonius is here, but SHERMAN told you two to come back to Zelwinds for what reason exactly?" Fang exclaimed, now confused. What WAS that asshole planning?!

"Dunno, he never really told us, but we decided to head on over since it's rare for Sherman to do something like this without a good reason from him" Harley shrugged, still intimidated by Apollonius's glare. "I said sorry didn't I?!"

"...Well it'll be good to see Emily again, she's living in the house I left to go with you on your journey," the raven-haired fencer sighed, as his anger cooled.

"What journey?" Tiara finally spoke up, after staying silent.

"Oh, I asked Apollonius if he wanted to come with me to help with my research, since I rather research than fight and I know he probably would want to fight to hone his blade or what not" Harley explained.

"And he helps with the cleaning and making sure Harley is bathed at least" Bahus butted in, "It's truly a wonder that he would help with that too,"

"That's because I cannot be journeying with someone whom lacks cleanliness and care for their body." Apollonius explained.

"You dumped me in a cold spring!" Harley huffed. "I almost got sick because of you!"

"Only because you wouldn't clean your body for two days straight!" Apollonius glared at her. Despite the arguing those two seem to commonly have, they look like they care for each other at least Apollonius does.

"You should of been there, Apollonius's face was red as a tomato, but he still made Harley take a bath" Bahus chuckled.

"I'm impressed with Apollonius's self control if he had to strip Harley down like that in order for her to get properly cleaned" Tiara chimed, praising the dark Fencer.

"D-Don't say it like that!" Apollonius's face starts redden with embarrassment. "Anyway where is Sherman?"

"Well he was over by the food stands," Karin replied "but, I lost them in the crowd."

"Y-YOU WHAT!?" Fang cried out, standing up in his seat. This was bad, very bad. He can't let that asshat out of his sight especially after he was going to...to.. Impure thoughts start forming Fang's head such as Sherman taking Ethel to a love hotel and further things escalate. Do Zelwinds even have love hotels!?

"What's your issue Fang?" He heard Eryn grumble, was that jealousy? Nah, probably not. He thought to himself.

"You don't understand, Ethel isn't ready for adult life just yet!" He tried to explain to his partner, whose eyes widen.

"A-Adult life!? Fang what are you babbling on about?! I told you this earlier, Lord Sherman isn't the type...well kinda, but still he didn't do anything to Ethel or Tiara when he was alone with them before!" She tried to reason with him,

"Aha! So he is, you just admitted it! Well no matter it's time for me to make sure Sherman doesn't bang Ethel!" He growled with such determination in his eyes.

"He's going to do what-" Fang heard Harley, but ran on ahead without replying to her.

Ethel

"I'm having tons of fun, Sherman. Thank you," the bluette faintly smiles at her date. He really knows how make girls happy, especially like her. They decided to walk into a more quieter section of the festival, the hushed murmurings and birds chirping was rather nice.

"I'm glad you enjoyed today so much. I told you behind I was going to make you feel special. Still you didn't have to dress in clothing you're not comfortable in just to make me happy," Sherman replied, sitting right by her on a bench. "You're beautiful as is, and you shouldn't force yourself"

"W..Well Karin picked it out for me so um.." Her face reddens, being called beautiful was such a nice feeling.

"Only because she wanted the date to go nicely I believe. White does looks good on you" Sherman smiles at her. These compliments...he really is such a gentleman as Tiara would say it. No...a Prince Charming in her books.

"You really like treating me so special is there any reason why?" Ethel turned gaze to him, he was close to her. Her ruby eyes meet his silver ones, and soon she felt hypnotized like she didn't want to stop gazing into his eyes. What's going on? Why can't I look away from him?

"Well you were crying and I wanted to rid of such a sad expression…" He started moving closer till their arms were grazing each other. "Isn't that what a friend should do? Comfort and make them happy. Am I making you happy and special?"

"Y-Yes you are. But…" Ethel soon found it hard to speak, they were really close to each other. What was he going to do Ethel wondered as she felt him moving a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. Their foreheads practically touching and their gazes not leaving each other. She felt butterflies in her stomach as she felt his hands on her back and the other not leaving her cheek .

"You really are beautiful my dear…I desire...to make you feel even more special,"

"S-Sherman...I…"

Our faces are so close...are we...about to kiss? I almost don't mind it being with him, but...

"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE DIRTBAG!" rang a loud familiar voice. The trance broke off as they both turn to see Fang. His face was full of anger, embarrassment, and something else she couldn't put her mind on.

"Hm yes? Is there any reason you left your own date in the dust and decide to follow us?" She heard Sherman's calm voice.

"W-What do you think you were doing!?" Fang demanded, walking towards them.

"Kissing her," Sherman replied bluntly. Ethel felt her face warm up from his answer, well...he's not wrong. "She is my date, and I don't see why you have such a issue Fang?"

"B-Because well…." Fang tried to explain, but nothing could come out from him. "You just can't!"

"Just because you were the leader of our previous journey, doesn't make you our leader now. That adventure is over," Sherman sighs. "You have no right to order me around,"

"Y-You..!"

"But, if you really desire it, I'll stop for now, and if you want I'll even let you have a chat with her. If you excuse me," and with that Ethel saw Sherman leave herself and a flustered Fang alone

"Are you okay Fang, why were you acting like that?" Ethel began talking to him, as he sat down by her effectively replacing Sherman's place.

"I just...don't like it when he was that close with you, and especially when he was about to kiss you…" he sighs. Ethel's eyes widen.

"Why?"

"I just don't, and it angers me because of that." Fang grumbled, before turning to him. "Do you...even like him like that?" his tone became genuine, sincere, and it almost scared her.

"I don't. He's a comrade and friend. I don't see him romantically," The bluette replied calmly.

"For someone you don't see romantically, you sure were okay with him trying to kiss you" Fang snorted, not buying.

"W...Well I let my guard down, it won't happen again!" Ethel was rather flustered, before thinking a bit. Was Fang jealous perhaps? That's impossible considering he likes Eryn and not me.

"Fang….you're not jealous are you?" She had to confirm this whether she likes it or not and it was the perfect timing.

"I..me pssh no, what makes you think that?" Fang merely scoffed, although she could see panic in his eyes, before trying to be calm "Do you wanna do something before Sir Douchebag comes back and tries to play Romeo on you,"

Ethel lets out light giggle which was rare for someone like her, and agreed to spending time with him.

Sherman

With a amused chuckle, he left the two flustered fencers alone. He wasn't actually planning on kissing her, but he saw Fang trying to look for them and he merely saw an opportunity to increase the fire to Fang's determination and to make him completely look like an idiot. He'll admit he has felt guilty taking advantage of Ethel like that, but if she wants to be with Fang then he must take the steps in getting Fang jealous and realizing his own romantic feelings for the assassin. Everything he's done was for her sake after Karin pleaded he help her fairy partner learn to love. Soon he found himself in an vacant alleyway, and it was perfect for his plan. The typical textbook cliche of having to save the girl from a group of evil men harassing her and winning her admiration.

"Hey there.. You the one in that nice clothing, didn't you hear about bad things happening in the alleyways" came a rugged voices that could only belong to a bandit, and even better he wasn't alone.

"Oh, I'm well aware, but this was the quickest way to get to my destination," Sherman replied with that false kindness in his tone. Zelwinds has quite the issue of bandits roaming around, I'm honestly surprised they never bothered to fix it. It's almost sad really. The bandit in blue smirked rather darkly, thinking it'll be a easy hit for him. The next thing that bandit knew was he was on the ground alongside his comrades and his "easy hit" nearly broke his wrist and was stepping on his neck.

"My my, it seems that even without Ryushin… I can beat you four into the ground," Sherman chuckled, digging his foot into the blue bandit's Adam's apple. He removed his foot before continuing, mentally disgusted with himself at how soft Fang and the others made him for a brief moment. "I have a offer for you all,"

"W..Which is?" A bandit in red finally spoke up, he was elbowed in the stomach.

"Go and harass a certain woman, and if you don't. I'll just end up killing you three." He spoke with such coldness that only winter could bring. "Break her down if you have to, make her beg for mercy, anything to get the one she loves to try and save her from such violence."

"Y..Yes W-we'll do that" a bandit in white whimpered, his leg limping.

"What's their name?" the bandit in red inquired, which gave Sherman the most darkest smirk. Such pathetic human beings, always trying to appease ones who carry more strength than themselves and would rather do that than rebel.

"Ethel is her name, she should be with a man name Fang, do try to hurt them as much as you can, but don't kill them," Sherman replied, he wasn't sure he should be thankful for the kindness Fang and the others rubbed off on him. But, if it's for world peace and justice, he would learn more about giving mercy to those that deserve it or a 2nd chance even. When it came to bandits, he would just off them given the mere second, but now he was offering them a chance to live. As he watches them leave to do their newly assigned task, Sherman turns to see a disapproving Tiara once he left the alleyway.

"Don't you think it's a bit dangerous to do something like that when Fang doesn't have Eryn with him?" She spoke, she sounded angry almost.

"If you witnessed the whole thing, you would see they are merely low leveled grunts, if they were nothing when I had to handle them then the man who sealed the Vile God will be perfectly fine," Sherman replied.

"Did you really have to go and attempt to kiss Ethel as well? Are you...having fun with this?" Tiara inquired, which caused the blonde to raise an eyebrow.

"Why should it matter?" Sherman asked, "If it gets the job done quicker, then so be it." He watched Tiara flinch a bit at such coldness. Ouch, even he was aware he was acting too cold towards Tiara of all people, his good friend.

"S-still this is all too sudden, and you're moving them along much quicker," Tiara tried to reason with him.

"That's because I have another mission soon, and one that may make me leave Zelwinds for quite some time," Sherman sighed, "Apologies, I acted too cold towards you of all people, it's just that no one else other than you and Ryushin know my true self and so I… have issues talking to others when I show my true personality, hence the white knight personality coming through,"

"Straightforward as always, it's fine," Tiara hummed, "But you're leaving soon?" But, before Sherman could answer her question he looked around to see if anyone was nearby and tugs her towards the secluded alleyway.

"Yes, I will be going under hiding soon. I've stolen something precious to a secret organization that may or may not come out of hiding to launch a campaign as projecting themselves as allies of justice known as, the Septerion Club," He began to lower his voice so only she may hear him.

"What did you steal? It's crazy enough you're stealing, but for right reasons unlike myself in the past," He heard Tiara's hushed voice press him onwards

"A bottle of wine," Came his simple quiet response.

"A-a bottle of wine!?" Tiara cried out, and on instinct Sherman moved his hand to cover her mouth before she could spill anything else louder.

"Sssh, yes, but this wine has a toxic substance that makes one terribly addicted to it, and it's their product to the people in which they plan on selling. I had Ryushin analyze it and that's when I discovered it. I actually called Harley to not only to come help out on Ethel's love life, but to ensure Ryushin's hypothesis is correct." The blonde sighs,

removing his hand from her mouth.

"And...if it's correct?"

"Then I would go into hiding, and take out the club without much disturbance from everyone, including you…"

"But, you can't go in alone, at least have support with you… or is that why Apollonius is here as well… It isn't it?" Sherman avoided her eyes after her accusations. "He's here not only because of Ethel's sake, but to help you with this mission,"

"Perceptive as always, I always did like that about you," He finally replied, " However Ethel is aware of the mission as well, and I plan on only bring Ethel and Apollonius as I've had much longer experience of working with them to know we will complete our mission with ease,"

"But, what about Fang, Harley, Pippin, or even me?!" Tiara finally let loose on him, her anger taking over. "We were with you just as long or even longer and yet you would rather have the ones who were formally our enemies assist you?! Are you...you some kind of dumbass or what!?" There it was, the delinquent side of Tiara or 'Delara' as Eryn tauntingly calls her.

"Tiara can you keep quie-" Sherman pleaded with her, trying to avoid her anger.

"Oh no, you don't! What's next you're going to bring Lola into this?!" Tiara growled, she was livid for sure. "We're your damn friends and teammates or are we not good enough to be your friends - Sir Douchebag!" and with that something within Sherman snapped.

"And it's because of that I don't want YOU helping, I can't handle another loss! It may be selfish, but at least you and the others will be alive! Try to think rationally and not with emotions Tiara! I thought you of all people would understand this!" He finally snapped at his first and only love. It hurts that he was yelling at her, but she had to understand. Like it or not, he was doing this to protect her from getting killed. He almost lost her once, he didn't want to lose her again. He...He didn't know what would happen to himself if she died and he failed to save her. It terrified him. It's terrifying how he's wailing on her his anger, he didn't want a repeat of Cavare Desert. Not a repeat. "You want World Peace as much as I do correct, then stay on the sidelines! If you get kidnapped yet again, I don't know if I can save you."

"That's okay, I'm a Fencer or you know...Fang could save me unlike a certain unwilling good friend of mine,." Tiara huffed, goddess be damned she knew how to set him off. He blacked out for a moment, and when he came to, Tiara was frozen her eyes widen as he had her pinned to the wall, his hands on her shoulders, threatening to dig his nails into her skin.

"You listen here. If you are so dependent on Fang or anyone else. Then you do not belong on this mission, we cannot be stuck babysitting someone pathetically weak. If you want to be of help, get stronger. Understand?" Every word that escapes his lips were cold, dead, and emotionless. Tiara nodded hastily, as he let go of her. Horrified at himself for letting his anger get the better of him. He merely walked away not caring whether or not Tiara was still there or not. It's times like this, is why he rather continue to have his love for her stay one-sided.

To Be Continued . . .

So now we finally know what Sherman has been up to! It seems he has other plans that works perfectly with making time to help Ethel out! Such scars on their budding friendship will only deepen as time goes on it seems.

Next time, Fang has to go beat up a bunch of low level grunts and Day 1 of the festival will draw to a close...