I was standing in the middle of a village. It was calm and the sun was setting in the sky giving the sky an orange tinge. There were houses, and other buildings surrounding me but not a soul in sight which gave the village the feel of abandonment. I turned and looked around, realizing I've been here before. I recognize the coastline, the ocean and the town hall, but it couldn't be. I began to walk down the street toward the town hall and noticed the green flag with what looked like a shield in the middle, flapping in the wind.

Why am back here, this village should have been destroyed in the wave.

Just then, the village instantly burst into flames. Smoke began to fill the air and I began to cough as I choked on the smoke.

I turned to see the flames began to build up behind me and I started to run from it. As I ran it felt like the flame behind began to grow more intensity like they were following me. I could barely see where I was going as the smoke began to grow more intense as I tried to get away. It burned my eyes like someone was rubbing sandpaper on the.

All of the sudden, I took a step and slipped off the edge of the cliff. I found myself plummeting towards ocean below. Just as I hit the water, I found myself laying in a bed. Looked around confused but realized I was in my room at the inn.

It was just a dream.

I could feel my heart was still pounding inside my chest and sweat was still forming on my face. This was not the first time I had that dream, but It had been awhile.

I turned and looked out the window. It was still dark outside, but I could see the horizon starting to bright up signaling dawn was near. I sat up and wiped the sweat from my face well I felt my heart begin to slow down.

If I were to leave now, no one would know till I was long gone from here. It is the perfect time to leave quietly.

I got up and began to gather my thing when I heard a voice whisper inside my head.

"Loyalty"

I paused what I was doing and stood there motionless at the word.

Loyalty, for the longest time that all that mattered to me in life but now, I didn't see much in it. My team, my brothers I fought with back when I was in special force were a world away. Malty and the King betrayed me making me the criminal I am today and when I decide to try and save a village and asked Adam to stand with me, he turned his back on me. In this world there was no such thing of loyalty.

Just then the sun broke the horizon and light began to fill the room and I felt the warmth of sun on my back of my neck.

That is when it hit me.

Naofumi, Raphtalia, they need me. If I walkout now, I'm walking out on them and that is not who I am. If I walk out on them, I'm no better than Adam.

I finished up gathered my gear and head downstairs. I wasn't leaving but I need some fresh air to think on how I am going to deal with Detective Williams when he come back. I could just kill him the next time a saw him, but they would just send another one after me and that wouldn't really be help my bounty over in Faubley. What I didn't get was how he was operating in Melromarc. Last time I check, it was illegal for them to operate here. That whole reason I was in Melromarc was to avoid them, yet here they are.

I head for the door when.

"Mr. Mills," Eve callout from the inn's kitchen

I smiled and walked over to the doorway to the kitchen and lend up against the frame.

"Eve, how are you doing this morning?" I asked with a smile.

"Fine, and yourself?"

"Can't complain, beautiful morning."

"Well what are you up to right now this early in the morning?"

"Nothing really, just heading out to get some fresh air."

"Well, come join me for a cup of coffee. You look tired?"

I took a second to think. I was going to say no, but I could really go for a cup of coffee.

"Well, why not," I said and head into the kitchen and took a seat on a stool.

"I hope you don't mind if I prepare some of the inn's food for day well we talk."

"Not at all, do you need any help?"

"Nah, I should be fine," she said as she poured coffee from the kettle into a mug and passed it over.

"Thanks, are you sure you don't want a hand with anything? I feel kind of useless just sitting here." I asked again just to be polite.

"How about you just keep me company. I have done this a hundreds of time, but it nice to have someone to talk to for a change," she said as she proceeds to cut up some fruit with her back to me.

I took a sip of my coffee. Every time I've seen her, she was working in the inn, but I have never seen her outside enjoy her life. She was ether working in the inn or chasing done dine and dashers.

"Every time I see you, you are always working, how come?" I asked.

"Well, it's all that my family has. It's been passed down generation to generation, and one day it will be mine to pass down to my kids, whenever I decide to have some."

Guess this inn was her family's heritage in this world but if I were her, would be dyeing to go on an adventure somewhere and not stuck here with my mother and father.

"Hey, speaking of family, where is your father? I haven't met him yet," I asked. I met her mother but there was no sign of her father.

She paused what she was doing but kept her back to me.

"He ran the local blacksmithing shop here in town before…."

"Before?" I asked, but I had a strong feeling what she was going to say.

"Before he was killed in the wave."

And now I feel like a jerk for asking.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I'm sure he was a great man."

She turned around to look at me, I could see she was emotional talking about it.

"He was. He was on one of his business travels purchasing supplies for his shop when the wave hit and was killed."

She then walked over to a shelf and took a book off it. She came over and took a seat on the stool next me and opened the book revealing it was a photo album. She flipped through a few pages until she found what she was looking for.

"That's him," she said pointing to a photo of man. The photo was in black and white, old and a little grainy. Her father was old, bald and wasn't smiling in the photo one bit. He looked like the type of man that you didn't haggle on the price in his shop. There was one thing that caught my attention was his eyes. It had seemed the Eve got her looks from her mother, but her navy blue eyes were definitely from her father no doubt.

"He looks like a great man. I don't think there was any haggling in his shop."

"Nope, it was either his price or the door," She responded with a bit of a chuckled.

"I can respect that, mind if I keep looking through?" I asked her.

"Go ahead," She responded as she got up and went back to chopping fruit like before.

I began to flip through the photo album, there were photos of what I assume was Eve back when she was child and a younger version of her mother and father. Flipping through made me think of what I missed in my childhood. I never had any of this.

"So, what about your family?" She asked me.

"What about them?" I said trying to play like I didn't know what she meant.

"What does your mother and father do?"

I remained silent and she got clue pretty quickly.

"I'm sorry," she apologies for asking.

"It alright, they passed a long time ago, when I was really young."

It never really hurt me when some asked about my parents but for some reason for the first time a felt like there was a hole in my heart, like there was something missing. Maybe it was because I was looking through this photo album showing me the happiness I missed in my childhood.

"Did you know them at all?" She asked.

"No, unfortunately not. I don't know if that has help me coup with their loss or not," just then I flipped to a photo of Eve and someone I recognized. It was that knight for the last night, I recognized him because of his scars on his face. They were standing together with his arm around her and they were both dressed up in fancy clothes with smiles on there faces, but not one of those fake smiles you do for photos, these were real.

"You and that knight from last night are quite close," I asked.

"What makes you say that," She said.

I turned the book and showed her the photo.

"Oh that. That photo is from a few years ago." She said as she walked over and took the album from me and paused for a moment as she looked at the photo.

"His name is Anthony Roy, known him since we were little kids. His family owns a farm just on the edge of the village. He was my best friend since childhood and soon was my boyfriend for the longest time until he joined up with the royal knights," She then closed the book and returned it onto the shelf she got it from.

"What happened?"

"Just, we drifted apart over time. He became a lieutenant and started to spend more time in Castle Town."

"That's unfortunate, you both looked like a happy couple in that photo,"

"Yeah," she signed a bit.

I took another sip of my coffee.

"Have you had someone in your love life, Mr. Mills," she asked.

"No one currently… but there was this one girl."

The very thought of her, I could feel the anger build up inside of me.

"Yeah, who was she?"

"Just some girl. She betrayed me and that it," I said as I could feel anger build up inside of me.

"Betrayed how?"

"I end up with innocent blood on my hands," I yell hitting my fist on the table causing it to shake.

Eve jumped a little at my sudden outburst. I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. Alcatraz, you are better than this.

"Sorry for my outburst their Eve, I don't know what came over me there," I apologized to her.

"I see that she has hurt you pretty hard."

"She was my first love and my last," I said and took a sip of my coffee, "The worst feeling in the world is knowing you've been used and lied to by someone you trusted."

"I'm sorry to hear that, I'm guessing that you seek revenge on her."

"Of course, I do, but I rather not sink to her level when I can rise above. Anyways revenge is a fool's game anyways."

"Wise words," she said with a smile.

"I've seen firsthand what happens to someone who seeks revenge," I said as I took another sip of my coffee finishing it up.

"Hey, before I forget, who was the man you were talking to last night on the balcony? I saw you two chatting last night," Eve asked.

"Just someone looking for a friend of mine."

"He isn't from around here is he, those cloths and the weapons he carries?"

"He is from Faubley."

"Faubley, I always want to travel there. Have you been there?"

"Yes, it a beautiful county. The cities are little crowd from my taste, but the county is quite beautiful."

"Yeah but I heard there are a ton of dangerous outlaws out there that would kill anyone that looked at them the wrong way."

Before I could respond, Naofumi walked into the kitchen.

"I thought I heard you in here," he said to me.

"Yep, what up?"

"I thought we could go over the plan for today?"

"Sure, do you want to get some breakfast as we discuss it."

"Might as well," he said and left the kitchen.

I got up and Eve pulled me aside.

"Is that the Shield Hero?"

"Yep," I said as I made my way to the doorway

"The rapist like the King says he is?"

I stopped and turned to look her in the eye.

"Now just because the King says something doesn't make it true, it not the only lie that has ever come out of his mouth," I said and left the kitchen.

I took a seat at the table were Naofumi and Raphtalia were. Shortly after Eve came and took our orders for breakfast as well as refilling my cup of coffee. After she left, we began to discuss our plans for the mine.

"So, you think we are ready for this fight," Naofumi asked me.

"With you defending and Raphtalia and I attacking, we should be able to do this easily. This fight will be a piece of cake," I said and took a sip of my coffee.

Just then Eve came with our breakfast.

"Ok, we have the kid's breakfast," She said placing it in front of Raphtalia, "Steak and eggs," placing the plate in front of me, "and the cheapest breakfast we have," placing it in front Naofumi.

"Enjoy," she said and took off to the kitchen.

"You know I'm buy breakfast, you didn't have to get the cheapest meal. You could get something more flavorful."

I know he was cheap with money, but he could have gotten something a little more flavorful.

"Yeah, it wouldn't matter anyways," he responded as he picked up his fork. He then looked over at Raphtalia who was about to eat with her hands.

"Raphtalia, table manners."

"Right," she said quickly picking up a fork and knife and proceeding to eat her meal.

I proceed to eat my food as well as Naofumi.

"So, what time do you want to start this … dungeon," He asked me.

He was right, it felt like we were walking into a dungeon like the ones from back when I played World of Warcraft in my younger days. I still remember the first dungeon I ever did, Shadowfang Keep. This world truly did feel like a video game, but it was real life. Death was death.

"Noon, that should give us a few more hours to gather some more herbs and make a few potions for the fight," I told him.

"Sounds like a plan," he responded and took another sip of my coffees.

The sun was at the highest in the sky and we sat there making some last-minute preparations in front of the entrance of the mine. Naofumi and Raphtalia were prepare themselves for the fight well I was going through my bag. I had my molotovs I made yesterday stored in there.

"Hey Alcatraz, here," Naofumi said handing me three minor healing potions. He was still working on making a few more as some last minute preparations.

"Thanks, did you add Forest Cress like I said?" I asked.

"Yes, increased the effectiveness of them by a tiny bit," He smirked, "You know a lot of helpful tricks."

My alchemy, skill wasn't high, but I knew a few tricks on making basic potion and poisons in the field and how to get the most out of them. I was never big on making potions but if I had, to I would.

"Good, it's a trick I learned well traveling," I said put them in my bag when I notice a tiny vial at the bottom I didn't recognized. I took it out, it was a reddish semi clear liquid, Catalyst flower oil. I smirked and took a cloth out of my bag and unsheathed my sword. I popped the lid off the bottle and dripped half the bottle contains onto my blade and coated the oil into the blade with the cloth.

"What are you doing there Alcatraz," Raphtalia noticed what I was doing and came over and asked.

"Just some last minute preparations. You know, Naofumi and I should be able to handle this on our own if you want to stay behind were it will be safe," There was no way I was going to force a child to fight but it wasn't up to me really.

"No, I'm coming with you guys," She said smiling at me.

"Then pass me your sword," I said and stuck my hand.

"What's wrong with it this time," she said passing her sword over.

"Nothing, just oiling your blade," I said as I repeated the process on her blade.

"Oiling?"

"Yes, oiling your blade can help you gain an advantage in battle. Different blade oils can Increase damage, add fire or frost damage. The list is endless, I'll show you a few when this is all over."

"Sure," She said excited at that idea.

"This one should increase the damage done by this weapon a slight bit. Just make sure to clean the sword after or this stuff will eat right through the blade," I said handing it back to her. I then turned and looked at Naofumi.

"Ready?" I asked him.

"Ready as I will ever be. You?"

"Nope, but what the hell, let's do this," I joked to him. He responded with a smirk and looked at Raphtalia.

"Raphtalia?"

"I'm ready, Master Naofumi,"

"Let's go then."

We entered the mine and lit the lantern that Eve kindly let me borrow for the inn. We made our way down the mine tunnel. Just like before the mine tunnel changed from wooden supports to rock. In no time we reached the first cavern and didn't even run in to one monster. I walked over to the edge of the cliff and looked over at the edge. I could see the bottom and the stream the flowed through. I also saw the remains of the bridge that I guess that was used to cross over to the other side of the cavern.

"Alright, now where too Alcatraz, we can't cross there," Naofumi said pointing at the at were the bridge use to be.

I got down on one knee. I notice a bunch of tracks leading down a path towards the bottom. When and doubt follow the tracks.

"This way," I said, and they followed behind me. We reached the bottom of the cavern and walked along the stream passing by the remains of the bridge. I looked ahead and notice some movement and immediately put my hand up giving the order to stop.

I could see five, no six pairs of red glowing eyes about twenty meters ahead of us. It was too dark to make up their bodies, but they were there, and they knew we were here.

"Get ready," I said as I put the lantern down.

"How many?" Naofumi asked as he and Raphtalia got ready.

"Three at least," I said as I took one of my molotov out and my lighter, "Come on, we need to get a little closer."

We began to walk closer to the monster and that when they began to growl.

"On my go, we attack," I said as I lit the cloth of the Molotov with my lighter.

"Ready, GO!" I yelled and through the molotov at one of the Black Cerberus, the molotov broke upon impacted cover one of the black cerberus in flames. It let out a cry as the flames began to burn it body. This instantly brighten the surrounding area revealing the other two black cerberus.

Black Cerberus Pup

Level 10

They were small and low level, so this was going to easy. The one hit by the molotov collapsed to the ground and began to die as the fire burned across his body. The two remaining black cerberusconfused and disoriented by the light began to retreat back into the darkness. I unsheathed my sword and got ready.

"Raphtalia and Naofumi you two take the one on left, I'll take the one on right," I said as I ran at one of beast, well they engaged the other one. With the swing of my blade, I cut both black cerberusheads off killing it. I looked over to see how Raphtalia and Naofumi and saw that they had also killed their target with ease.

The fire from the molotov began to die out, I walked over to the burnt up monster and stabbed it in the chest making sure it was dead. It didn't react at all.

"You're the man with many tricks," Naofumi said.

I looked behind them and noticed some movement on the ledge right above him.

"Behind you!" I yelled out and he turned to block an attack from another black cerberus. This one was much bigger than the other three. He was blocking the creature from taking a bit out of him with his shield.

Black Cerberus

Level 20

"Hang on," Raphtalia yelled as she ran over and jumped at the creature stabbed the beast in one of its heads Just before it could react, I took my revolver out and shot it in the other head killing it.

"Are you ok Master Naofumi?" She said run over to his side.

"Yes, they are sneaky bastards."

He was right, they had high stealth and could easily sneak up on us if we let our guard down.

I went over and picked up the lantern.

"Come on, let's get to higher ground, there a lot of place for an ambush down here."

We made or way across the stream and back up the cliff. We final were able to continue down the tunnel toward the second cavern. We faced a few more level 20 black cerberus but made quick work of them. As soon as we knew it, we had entered the second cavern.

This cavern was much darker than the first. It still had some sunlight coming through cracks and holes in the roof, but it was missing gem that help reflect the light like the first cavern. I notice that this cavern had a cliff to the right. I walked over to the cliff and looked down. It was too dark, and I couldn't see the bottom so took a rock and tossed it over the edge and listen for a few seconds but didn't hear it hit anything. If there was a bottom, it was far, far down.

"Better not fall, it a long way to the bottom," I told them.

Just then I began to hear large footsteps slowly coming our way from the back of the cavern.

"Something is coming, something big," Naofumi said looking at me unsure.

"Yep, get ready," I told them as I took a molotov out and lit the cloth. Just then, two pairs of blood red eyes appear on the other side of the cavern looking at us. As the footstep got closer, the eyes grew. I could feel my heart ponding in my chest as the outline of the creature started to become clear. It was twice the size then the last few we faced.

Black Cerberus (Beta)

Level 27

It was the same level as me and I felt a bit of relive come over me.

"It's so big," Raphtalia said shock at the sheer size of it.

"The bigger they are the harder they fall," I smirked.

"Ok, I'll cover you two well you guys kill. If this goes south, we bail, right?"

"Yeah, but that won't be happening," I said as I through the molotov at the Beta. It broke on impact and splashed flaming liquid onto the beast's body burning it. This shocked the Beta and it let out a cry as it took a step back well the flaming liquid burned its skin. I lit another molotov and through it at it, hitting one of its heads and engulfing it into flames just as the other flames began to die out. This enrage it and it began to charge at us.

Naofumi ran at Beta. The beast tried to take a swing at him with its paw but Naofumi managed to block it with his shield. The sheer power of it attack would have been enough to one shot me so there was no fooling around. The flames from the second molotov began to die out and it seemed that the head was no longer alive. It just sung around lifeless.

"AAAAHHHH, I can't hold this thing for long," He said as he struggled to hold it in place.

We are going to have to kill this thing and fast, I could tell he was struggling to hold it back. I had underestimated the power this beast holds. We would have to kill it smart and quick and that's when an idea came to me.

"Right, Raphtalia come on, I have an idea," I told her, and we ran over to the side of the creature well it was busy focusing on Naofumi.

"Ok Raphtalia, I'll give you boost up there. Once you get up there, go for the head."

"What!"

"Guys, whatever you are planning, hurry up and do it!" Naofumi yell as the it kept pushing on his shield.

"It's the only way to kill it quick. Stab the head where the brain should be. With any luck, that would be a kill shot," she had a very unsure face at the whole idea. She looked over at Naofumi and then me and nodded in agreeance with my plan. I gave her a boosted up on the creatures back and she started to make her way toward the head. As she did that, I went over and stab my blade in the creature's paw that Naofumi was holding back with his shield. This cause the Beta cry out in pain and took a step back.

"Thanks," He said.

"No problem, but we aren't out of the woods yet," I said as I noticed three smaller black cerberus trying to flack us from the side. I took my revolver and fired the five remaining shots in the cylinder killing two of them and sending the other one retreating back.

I reloaded my revolver and looked over at the Beta. Raphtalia was climbing up the Beta's neck. It swung back and forth as it tried to knock her off, but she held on tight. She managed to make it onto the top of the neck and dug her sword straight into the back of Beta skull.

The Beta let out a roar and began to stumble. Raphtalia began to lose her grip. I bolt over and dive just in time to catching her before she hit the ground. I slid on the ground for a bit final came to a stop. I then looked back at the Beta just in time to see it collapsed to the ground. It let out one more whimper as it died, and its body became lifeless.

1080 XP

"Nice job Raphtalia," I said as I got up. I walked over to the Beta and took Raphtalia sword out of the Beta head and hand it back to her.

"That was quite a fight," Naofumi said as he came over.

I looked down the cavern and noticed many pairs of red glowing eyes looking at us. From what I counted, there were more than two dozen pairs looking at us.

"Um guys, I think we should go?" I said as I took a step back towards the exit when there was bloodcurdling roar coming from behind us.

"What was that," Raphtalia.

"Whatever it is, its big," Naofumi add.

"That's the Alpha. I don't think we will be leaving anytime soon," I said as I hear loud footstep slowly coming from behind. Each step got louder as it got closer. It had seemed that the hunters have become the hunted.

We back up from the exit and into the center of the cavern. We were surrounded and or only exit was now blocked.

Just then the Alpha appeared. It was a little bit bigger then then the Beta. The first thing that I noticed that set it aside from rest of the black cerberus was that its eyes. They were colorless and didn't glow at all.

Black Cerberus (Alpha)

Level ?

What, I can't see the level? The Alpha level must be a much higher than my level. There is no way we can fight this thing on our own.

"Alcatraz?" Naofumi said most likely noticing it too.

"Yeah I know," this is suicide if we even try to fight this.

"What do we do?" Naofumi asked.

"Just hold, they haven't attacked yet." There is a reason for that, the pack could have easily over ran us by now, but they remained where they were.

It let out a growl and the pack behind us began to back away.

"There retreating," Raphtalia said.

He wanted the pleasure of killing us himself.

"Yeah, he pissed off that we killed his mate," I said as I took a molotov out and lit it, "Once it disoriented by the light, we run."

They both agree and I throw the molotov at it hitting it in one of it heads. It didn't even flinch at the fire and just stood there not even being effect by the fire and light.

"Um Alcatraz," Naofumi said.

It's blind and too high of level for the molotov to have any effect on it.

"Yeah I know."

Just then, it let out a roar and charge at us.

"Look out," I said, they dived right, and I dive left and end up getting knocked as the Alpha hit us causing me to roll on the ground until my back hit a crate.

I slow came to my sense. I looked around and realized that I would have rolled of the edge of the cliff if it hadn't been for this crate. I used it to help get me to my knees when I realized the top of it was loosen off and looked inside to find it was full of dynamite.

"Alcatraz, come on," I heard Naofumi call out. The Alpha was slowly walking toward them and ready to finish them off.

I smirked, let's hope this works because I don't have anything else.

I took my revolver out and fired two shots at one of the Alpha heads. The bullets just bounced off having no effect, but he turned too looked at me like he could see me. I felt the hairs on my back of my neck stick up. He began to walk towards me preparing to charge.

"Come on Alcatraz!" Naofumi called out.

"Alcatraz!" Raphtalia cried my name.

I fired three more shot at the Alpha and that when it charged at me. Just when he was halfway towards me, I charged at him, drawing my sword. Just before he could attack me, I slid between it legs and cut into its front right leg and back but end up getting my sword knocked out of my hands.

I got up and saw the Alpha was now next to the crate of dynamite. He just stood there, staring back at me preparing to charge at me once more.

Just where I want you.

"Come on Alcatraz, now our chance to run,"

Even if we run, he would catch use before we even got out of this cavern.

"Just one second," I said lighting the molotov.

"Alcatraz!"

I throw the molotov at the Alpha and just before it could hit the creature, I took my revolver out and…

Bang!

I shot the bottle and it doused the crate in fiery liquid.

"Great you missed. Like that was going to do anything at all, now come on."

"Just wait," I told him.

Any minute now and…

BOOM!

A huge fire ball lit the cavern up and fire engulfed the half the Alpha. I was launch back by the blast wave and hit the ground and rolled a few times till I stopped. I sat up and looked at the Alpha and realize that I blew off its right front leg as well as one of its heads. It let out a whine and then tumbled off the side of cliff. It let out a cry that slowly faded away as it fell into the darkness.

1548 XP

Naofumi and Raphtalia ran over to me.

"That was craziest thing I have ever seen," Naofumi said.

"Yeah, but it worked."

"Alcatraz, your leg," Raphtalia said pointing my leg. I hadn't notice till now but there was a piece of wood that must have broken off the crate and jabbed into my right leg. I didn't feel any pain yet but that must be because of the adrenaline from the fight.

Just then the remaining cerberus began to growl and close in on us, properly pissed off that we killed their leader. In my condition there was no way I could run.

"Guys run." I said as I began to reload my revolver.

"What?" Naofumi said shock at what I just said.

"Just…" before I could finish the top of the cavern started to shake and rumble and began cave in on the remain of the pack crushing and killing them. The dust settled reveling that the back of the cavern had caved in properly due to the explosion for the dynamite. This left us unscaved in the cave in and alone in the cavern.

"Well that was lucky," Raphtalia said surprise at what just happened.

"Yeah. No kidding kid," I couldn't believe our luck on that one. Just then I started to feel the pain in my leg. I took one of the healing potions Naofumi gave me earlier which numbed the pain a bit, but this wound needs more than just a minor healing potion.

Naofumi helped me to my feet and support me as I stood.

"Are you going to be alright," he asked.

"I should be fine, but maybe I should go see a doctor when we get back, let's just find my sword and get the hell out of here."

"Yeah, I would have liked to absorb those monsters but there now under a pile of rubble."

I was about to say a joke when R

"Um Alcatraz," Raphtalia said holding my sword, well what was left of it. Two thirds of the blade was broken off. She handed it to me, and I took it and examined it. My sword must have gotten caught up in the explosion blowing the end of the blade off.

"Was it expensive?" Naofumi asked.

"It wasn't cheap, custom made by a blacksmith in Castle Town," I said putting the remaining of my sword in my sheath.

There was a sharp pain in my leg, and which caused me to tumble. Naofumi mange to catch me before I fell to the ground.

"We got to get you to a doctor, come on," Naofumi said helping me walk.

We made our way back through the tunnel toward the entrance.

"You were right, we made some good XP," Naofumi told.

He was right, I was now level 29, Raphtalia was level 25 and Naofumi was level 24. Although the Alpha was a lot higher level then I though, we did defeat even though luck was on our side for that fight.

"Yeah but I think we should have level up a bit more before we had gone in there,"

We made our way out of the mine and started to head back toward the inn. The sun was still up and by the look of it, dusk was still a few hours away.

We walked into the inn and Mrs. Lyon was there to greet us.

"Mr. Mills, what happened?" She said as she came over.

"Playing with dynamite," I joked with her.

"Get him upstairs, I'll send for a doctor" She told Naofumi.

"EVE!" she then callout, "Go get Doc Garrett."
Eve came down the stairs and was shocked to see me injured.

"Mr. Mills your leg," she said but before I could respond her mother was quicker.

"I think he know about his leg. Now hurry and go get Doc Garrett."

"Right," She said and took off out of the inn.

"Get him up to his room, I'll send Doc Garrett up there when he gets here," Mrs. Lyons said.

Some time went by and the doc came and bandage my leg up. I was lying there examining what was left of my sword. I've had this sword for such a long time it was a shame that it final has met its end.

All the sudden there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," I yelled out and the door open and eve came in.

"Mind if I come in?" she asked. She was holding a tray with carrying something with a cloth over it.

"Not at all," I told her. She came in, shutting the door behind her and took a seat on the bed place the tray next to her.

"How is your leg?" She asked taking her hand and examining the bandage.

"Well better than my sword," I responded holding up the remains of my sword, "Doc removed the shrapnel and bandaged it up. Should be heal up in a few days."

Back on earth, wound like this would take months for it to heal but, in the world, it only looks a few days.

She continued to examine the bandage when all the sudden I jerked in pain when she accidently touched a tender spot of the wound.

"Sorry, I just wanted to make sure the dressing was tight" she cried quickly removing her hands away from the bandage.

"It alright, still a few tender spots,"

"That's why I brought you this for the pain." She said taking the cloth off the tray reveling a bottle of liquor.

"What do you have there?"

"Why don't you take a look for yourself," she said and passed me the bottle. I couldn't read this world language very well. I knew a few words but not much so I couldn't read the label of bottle but recognized it to be Eastern Harvest Mountains Faubch.

Faubch was basically scotch like back home. Like scotch, faubch was distilled in Faubley. From what I've been told Eastern Harvest Mountains was some of the more expensive distilleries out there and one bottle would cost an arm and a leg.

"Expensive stuff," I said handing the bottle back to her, "what the reason?"

"For your success in clearing the mine out."

"Were did you get the money to afford a bottle Eastern Harvest Mountains Faubch, aren't they like 6 gold for a bottle?"

"Yep, but this was given to me a long time ago as gift and I would like to share it with you," she responds and popped the cork off the bottle and began to fill the two glasses.

"Well if you insist then I guess I have no choice, it not like I can run away at this moment," I said as she handed me a glass.

"That the spirt," She said and held her glass up with a smile. I smiled back and held my up and at the same time we drank the faubch. It went down like the smoothest whisky I have ever had. Well I was enjoying it, Eve was making disgust face.

"Don't like it?" I asked her.

"I'm more into ales, hard liquor not my kind of taste but you know what, I feel like I'm going to have another," She said and began to fill her glass again, "Would you like another."

"Sure, why not," it wasn't every day I was drink expensive whiskey or faubch I should be calling it. I stuck my glass out and she began to fill it up once more.

"Can I ask you something?" she asked as she finished filling up my glass.

"Sure."

"Why do you fight with the shield hero. Not only is he rapist but he also a slaver. And not only that, his slave is a child," she asked.

"Trust me, he is not a rapist. I won't believe a signal bit of trash that came out of the King's mouth."

"You don't like the King, do you."

"I'm not one for royalty and someone use his power for himself then for the people, let's just put it that way."

"And what about his slave."

"Raphtalia maybe his slave but I bet if she didn't have that slave crest on her, I'm sure she would still remain by his side. Let me ask you something, does she look like and ordinary slave, bruised up like she has been beaten to near death and cover in dirt like she has hasn't bathed in weeks."

"No, I guess your right but it's just odd that he has a child as slave fighting for him."

"Yep, I know. It is very odd but let me tell you, she is quite the fighter. She still needs to work on her sword skill bit more, but I bet she will surpass me in swordsmanship soon."

"Ok, but why do you fight by his side, there are three other more powerful heroes out there, he is the weakest one out of the four heroes. He can only defend and not attack."

"Yes, you maybe your right but have the other three heroes help out this town in anyway?"

She smirked.

"I guess you're right," she raised her glass, "To the Shield Hero."

"To the Shield hero" I said, and we clang glassed together and drank.

After that, we chat a bit more and had a few more drinks until I final dosed off.

The next morning, Naofumi and Raphtalia came to visit me in my room.

"So, we will be back in a few days," Naofumi said to me.

"Be safe out there, I will be here when you two return from you travels and hopeful, I will be back on my feet,"

"Well, I'll be looking from my share of the reward from clearing the mine when I get back,"

"Trust me, you will get. I'll go talk to the governor of this region once I'm able to walk again."

"Alright, Raphtalia we are head out," he said as he made his way out of the roam, leaving only me and Raphtalia.

"Raphtalia take care of him,"

"I will, and you rest up," she said with a smile.

"I will kid, see you when you two get back," I said as she took off out of my room after Naofumi. I wasn't sure if it was just me, but she seems a little taller and almost older than before or maybe that was the hangover.