Prologue: Humble Beginnings

Rain pour down from the heavens as dark gloomy clouds covered the sky, blocking out all the sun's rays. The leaves shook with each drop pelted them, the dirt soaked and turned to mushy mud, the animals hid in their burrows or inside hollow trees to stay dry.

On such a gloomy day, a lone man rode his carriage through the heavy rain, pulled along with a filolial, a white bird the size of horse with the strength of one and more. He sighs as he felt the rain pelting against his leather poncho, pulling his hood further down as he looks up at the dark cloudy sky, "What a day… it was just sunny moments ago, and now it's raining cats and dogs…"

'I should have left earlier… those clouds are such obvious signs…'

"Hm?"

He quickly pulls his mount's leash, stopping his bird in its steps.

In front of him is a wooden cart, toppled over and demolished beyond repair. Its wheels broken into splinters and the main body is torn completely in half. Not only that, there are a several bodies lying about, pale skin getting soaked in both the rain and their own blood.

From how pale and faded the bodies are, he reckons they have been dead for quite a long time. Whatever did this have not been merciful, a lot of them are missing limps or a good chunk of it blown away by something. One even had half of his head chomped off my something with strong jaws.

Getting off his carriage, he searched the cart for any survivors or anything that can help identify the perpetrators. Sadly, all he found are bloodied bodies and nothing more. "No survivors. Damn, I guess I was hoping for too much–"

"WAAH! WAAAH! WAAAAHHHHH!"

Cries of an infant caught his attention. He quickly dug through the wreckage, unwillingly push aside a dead woman to find a small bundle of blue cloth. In it, is a small crying baby.

'She must have died protecting her…' He thought as he glanced at the dead woman that was on top of it, 'A mother's love never ceases to surprise me…'

Gingerly, he picked up the crying infant, gently rocking it to try and calm it down. "There, there, little one. It's okay. Nothing's going to hurt you." After a few long seconds, the infant slowly calms down and their cries are reduced to sobs.

'I can't just leave a baby out in the wild.' He thinks to himself, 'But Lurolona has no orphanage as far as I can recall, and closest one is at least a week by travel…'

"Heheheh~!"

The baby broke into giggle much to the man's confusion, before wincing in pain as they pulled free a strand of his beard. "Owowow! You have quite a grip, don't cha?"

"Hahaha~!"

"…"

Seeing the once crying baby break into laughter, he came to a decision. One that he knows would change his life forever.

"Easy… easy…"

My hands shakily hold the two bottles filled with two very important liquids over the funnel. With a steady breath, I slowly pour them and watch the Green Plant mixture mixed with the Aero Flower compounded fluid.

The green and blue mixtures swirls around in the flask for a moment, before their colors blend together to form into a fluid of the shade of sea foam.

"C-Could this be…!"

I remove the funnel and check the completed mixture in the flask. A tense moment later, the notification of the item is revealed.

[Recovery Medicine (Advanced)]

"There's an additional description…! Yes, yes! YES!"

I couldn't help myself and let out a loud cheer in my lab. At last, I've completed it! My new potion! I knew using Aero Flowers would work! If that flower can used in healing ointments, then it can probably use as a potion ingredient!

Normally Recovery Medicine are split to three tiers: Weak, Normal and Strong, and they are all used for minor wounds and simple diseases like the common cold. But thanks to the addition of Aero Flowers, I got to a new tier! And by its description, it should be stronger than even the strongest tier Recovery Medicine!

Too bad Aero Flowers are pretty scarce in the wild. They are also pretty hard to pick and easily prone to bruising if not handle right. Not to mention the balancing ratio for Aero Flowers to Green Plants are pretty strict. Even a slight unintentional change to it would ruin the potion and just turns into this useless grey sludge.

This would not work as a commercial product for the common folk, way too expensive and too difficult to mass produce. Maybe it can work as a high-class product for adventurers? Or as a luxury item for the nobility?

Either way, I got to check how well this medicine work compared to the normal Recovery Medicine before deciding.

*knock**knock*

"Liya? What's with the shouting? Is everything alright in there?"

"Yeah, gramps! Just finishing up my latest experiment! Which is successful, by the way!"

"Oh, that sounds great! But you do remember to finish up the order of normal recovery medicine, right?"

"…oh crap."

"I take it you forgot? You better hurry, because I'm leaving by noon!"

"O-On it!"

I quickly move my hands and begin my work to fill up the rest of the order.

My name is Liya, a 20-year-old apothecary and part-time adventurer.

I possess scruffy shoulder length silver hair and big bright yellow eyes. My overall appearance is what many would call affectionately feminine and cute, exotic even due to my unusual eye color.

Too bad I'm a guy. Such features would only cause countless misunderstanding for me. It doesn't help that I'm one of the few shorter guys in my age group.

If you are wondering where I am, this is my home in the forest where I lived with my adopted grandfather and apothecary mentor, Hohenheim. I usually just call him gramps.

He found me in the rain in the hands of my dead mother when I was still a small infant, and has raised me on his own ever since. When I showed interest in his work, he enlisted me as his apprentice and showed me the ropes of an apothecary. Everything I know, I've learnt from him.

Even now, after graduating from my apprenticeship, I still work with him here to create many medicine and potions to sell. Which is what I'm in a panic of making.

There's a small fishing village over the hill that goes by the name of Lurolona Village. Me and gramps often make our daily income by selling medicine to the village's general store, which isn't much but just barely enough to buy our meals.

That's what the part-time adventurer comes in.

Adventurers often earn quite a bit of money depending on the rank, even the lowest ranked adventurer can earn quite a lot in comparison. I'm currently in the higher end of the lower ranks, and can earn about more than enough to better our average income in the long run. It also helped that the city has more than enough adventurer jobs for me to take.

Not today, though. I'm currently on my day off to help with gramps's apothecary work.

After a quick check over the hastily made medicine and the antidotes, I load them all in a large crate and load that crate into the wagon parked outside our small cottage in the forest; my apothecary mentor and adopted grandfather is sitting at the driver seat waiting for me with his white filolial Blanc.

He is adorned in a light grey tunic under a brown coat with a pair of black pants tucked into some leather boots. A small leather bag is sling over his shoulders that houses his medical supplies. He also has an axe strapped by his hip for reasons he refuses to tell me.

He really like bring that axe around with him…

I myself am in my usual attire of short-sleeved beige tunic with a leather belt around my waist, black pants and brown boots. I also have a pouch to store the coins I have hanging on my hip, as well as the short sword strapped on the back of the belt.

"You finally done?" He asks me.

"Yeah." I nodded as I prop myself onto the ledge next to him, handing a jerky to the white gluttonous bird to snack on as we went on our way, "Got too into the experiment that I forgot about the orders."

"The one with the Aero Flowers?"

"Yup. And I've succeeded! Check it!"

I took out the newly made advanced Recovery Medicine for him to see. He took the glass tube from me and swirl the blue liquid around.

"Advanced? Huh, that's a new one. You really outdid yourself, Liya. Didn't think that adding Aero Flowers to the recipe would create this."

"I know, right? Aero Flowers are good for healing ointments and salves, and those just hasten the healing process and nothing more. So, I thought maybe I can add that into the Recovery Medicine to boost its recovery strength. Took me about several dozen failed attempts to get the right ratio."

"Is that what that grey sludge in the bucket is?"

"Yeah, unfortunately. It's not poisonous, if that's what you are wondering."

"So, does that medicine work?"

"Not sure. I haven't got the chance to test it yet."

"You better not cut yourself just to check, you hear!? I didn't give that sword to you for that."

I nervously chuckled at that. Maybe I'll catch some Usapils later to check the medicine potency… They are going to be dinner anyway, so it should be fine.

"And here are the last of them. You should have enough stock to last the next couple of months or so."

"Oh, thanks again, Hohenheim. Your medicine has been a great help to the village. You wouldn't believe the amount of injuries those fishermen can get within a day."

I place down the last of our crates on floor with a heavy sigh and walked out of the storeroom, just in time to see the dog demi-human lady handing over a pouch of coins to gramps.

Lurolona Village is a fishing village primarily inhabited by demi-humans, which is an outlier in the kingdom we are in. Melromarc is a human supremist kingdom, where demi-humans are often discriminate against and even abused on the daily basis. It is not rare to see demi-human slaves in chains working the fields or doing demanding manual labor around the kingdom's borders.

Lurolona is different, as not only it is populated by demi-humans with proper rights and jobs, they are also protected by Lord Seaetto, one of the few noble lords that treats them like normal people. No slavers or raiders may dare try to deal with this village while under his protection, while normal trades are allowed.

Despite the long distance, due to gramps regular trades with Lurolana, I ended up spending majority of my childhood growing up in this village, being friends with the demi-humans living here.

To me, this village is just as part of my home as the cottage in the woods.

"Sup, Liya~!"

I let loose a small sigh before turning to face the orca demi-human lady entering the store and walking towards me with a waving hand. The lady in question has long black hair and shimmering ocean blue eyes with some marks on her skin and limps that could be mistaken for tattoos; adorned with the skimpiest attire someone who isn't an aquatic demi-human would normally wear.

This is Sadeena, the orca demi-human and this village strongest fighter. Normally, she'll be out fishing but I guess today is her day off, or second one, or third, that depends. To be honest, despite her loose demeanor, she does handle herself seriously.

Most of her time.

"Hey, Sadeena." I greeted, "Not fishing today?"

"On my way to it." She noted with a smirk as she pats my head to my annoyance, "Just came by to see my cute friend before leaving."

"Don't call me cute." I stated angrily as I shoved her hand off my head. Seriously, she does this every time we meet! Sure, she is technically taller than me by about a couple of inches, but still!

"Just face it. You are cute."

"Am not."

"Are to."

"Sadeena, I believe you have somewhere you need to be?" The general store owner tells her.

That got the orca woman to get her hand off my head. She gives me another wave and a wink before exiting the store.

As you can see, our relationship is more or less a form of younger brother older sister dynamic. Although to be fair, she is older than me by about four years, give or take. Now if only she can just act more mature most of the time…

"Liya!"

I turn around just in time to grab the running dog demi-human kid by the name of Keel as he jumps onto me. Close behind him are a raccoon demi-human girl called Raphtalia and her best friend Rifana, a weasel demi-human girl.

"Keel. What did I say about leaping at me?"

"To do it every time we meet?"

"That's not what I said and you know it."

I rub my knuckles against his scalp hard, getting a squeal from him as a response. That got Raphtalia and Rifana to giggle at our antics.

These three young demi-human children are often under my ward when I was younger, often as their babysitter whenever I came by with one of gramps's daily medicine deliveries. That never changed until I began my part-time gig as an adventurer. Now I only came to the village every couple of weeks.

"So, you guys keeping out of trouble?" I asked them.

"Yup-"

"Keel ate a poison mushroom and got really sick."

"W-What, Raphtalia!"

"…Keel." I look at him with a frown. His guilt is as clear as day to me. That got me to lightly bonk him in the head, "You idiot. It's common sense to NOT eat any strange mushrooms you find in the forest. You are lucky the antidotes are enough to cure you."

"I-I was just curious! A-And, you make medicine from mushrooms too, right? So, they all can't be-OW!"

I bonk him in the head for that response before starting my lecture on the dangers of eating wild mushrooms to him. No wonder there's a shortage of antidotes lately… Hopefully, this would teach him to not get himself poisoned again from eating random wild mushrooms.

That evening, Gramps willing gave me a ride to Port town Lola in between his deliveries.

This town is located south of Lurolona, and is closer to our cottage in the woods. It's a port town which harbors is where some of the goods from the other islands off the coast trade in their goods. Ranging from fruits to other produce like seafood. It also houses a branch of the Adventurer Guild where I operate from.

But I'm not here for my adventurer job. It's my day-off, after all.

Lola is also where the smithy that I've left my main weapon at for some maintenance is at. The last request I have undergone has kind of left some minor undesirable marks on it that might cause some trouble down the line if not taken care of soon. And today I'm here to see if they have finished it.

"Kagu, is my stuff ready?"

"Oh, hey, Liya. Yeah, I just finished fixing it up."

The blacksmith, a muscular tanned woman by the name of Kagu walks out from behind the counter with a grin while hanging her leather apron to the side. She has dark grey hair and onyx black eyes, and is wearing a dark blue overall over white shirt that could barely keep her pretty impressive cleavage with brown leather boots and gloves.

Kagu is the owner of the town's only weapon shop, and is this town's best smithy when it comes to weapons and armor. She's the one most of the adventurers would go to for any new weapon and armor. Her services are pretty hefty, but are fair most of the time.

"You know, I still can't believe you use this as your main weapon." She stated as she rummages under the counter, "Wouldn't something less complicated be more effective?"

"That's what the short sword is for." I pointed out, patting the short sword my hip, "But that weapon, well it's hard to explain. It just feels right, you know. It also helps that it has pretty high stats."

"You sounded like a warrior there. Are you sure you are an apothecary?"

"Still am."

"If you say so. Here she is."

She found what she was looking for and places the weapon on the table.

At a glance, it looks like an unfinished weapon, or at least a failed creation. Red leather wrapped hilt with a pointed steel pommel, steel metal guards too thick for any sword with an embedded circle of bronze in the middle of it, and its 'blade' is too small to be consider one.

But looks can be deceiving.

I pick up the weapon called the Chain Cross, and swung it about. On que, the blade detaches itself mid-swing and swung out with metal chains connecting it coming out of the weapon. I swing the chain about as effective as a whip can, spinning it about and even twisting it around my body before sending the blade tip forward like an arrow, stopping right where in front of the door before retracting it all back into the hilt.

The Chain Cross is a unique weapon I found on some street stall a couple of years ago. It is obvious that the seller is marketing fake magic weapons for high price as a scam, except for this beauty here. Unlike the others, the thing has a pretty high attack stat despite is appearance. It was only after I purchase it at a ludicrous price (All that request money… gone like the wind…) and swing it about that I uncover the hidden chain whip within. It's a tricky weapon to use, but after many painful practices, I've managed to learn how to wield it as effective as any sword or spear.

I still kept the short sword as a backup weapon, though. One can never be too careful.

"No matter how many times I see you use it, it never ceases to amaze me." Kagu noted in awe.

"You've done a great job as always, Kagu." I noted as I slip it on my custom holster for it on my right hip, "How much do I owe you?"

"Well, it's one hell of a weapon to perform maintenance on. Those chains of yours are hell to fix, even if it is just one link. Not to mention I have to also rewrap up the handle with brand new leather wraps…"

"Which adds up to…?"

"About 20 silvers, give or take."

Yikes, that's quite a sum. It's… about half my monthly earnings. Do I even have that many on hand right now?

A quick check in my pouch, and I place about 10 silver coins on the counter, "Is it okay if I pay the rest tomorrow? I don't have that many on hand right now."

"Hm… fine. Only because you are my most faithful customer."

"You say that to everyone who come here."

"But you are my best regular." She noted with a wink, "And the cutest looking~"

"Ugh…"

I groaned at her teasing before leaving the shop, gramps's wagon is still out there waiting for me. Blanc snuggles up to me, before diving into my pocket and pluck out a jerky to snack on.

Didn't you just have your dinner moments ago, you sneaky glutton!?

"You finish?" Gramps asks me as I got into the wagon.

"Yup, good as new. But I now owe Kagu 10 silvers tomorrow."

That's digging into our savings a little. I better go for some good request tomorrow to make up the loss. I think there are some porcupine subjugation requests on the board. Their hide to sell quite a bit of coin.

"Oof. Well, at least adventurers earn quite a lot. Although most of them are gone from all the weapon and armor purchasing. I can spare you some money if you want-"

"No, no, it's fine. I'll figure something out."

The last thing I need is to start getting into gramps's savings. Our medicine does sell well enough, but considering gramps's age, he could hardly make that many trips all the time anymore, and the amount he could create per day isn't much to cover the cost.

At least we grow our own herbs. It cut down a lot of the cost. Too bad I can't cultivate Aero Flowers… I could make a killing with that advanced Recovery Medicine.

"I better work hard tomorrow…"

A humble apothecary and part time adventurer in the boonies, that's what Liya is.

A simple life with a simple purpose of living for tomorrow. That's the life he knows all so well.

Little did he know, that life of his is going to change for the worst.

For its only weeks later, when the world ending disaster that are the Waves of Destruction would come crashing down on his life, changing it forever.

The chains of his fate, would soon unravel.

And his tale as a Hero's companion and trusted ally, would soon begin.

…
To be continued…

Welcome, those who came over from my discontinued series by the same name, and newcomers from far and wide of the internet. Welcome, to Shield Hero: Chains of Fate.

For those who are wondering why I am rewriting this whole thing, well…

I've joined the Shield Hero discord (the invite code is: /shieldhero), and one of them really dug into me for my hero weapon replica and pointing out how impossible that is in canon lore. So, after getting roasted on for my idea, I decided to switch things up a bit and just went with the hero companion route instead.

So yeah, Liya still get what is essentially a Combat Cross from Castlevania: Lords of Shadows series. But he would be a part-time adventurer while working as an apothecary as well.

With that, I wish for all of you to be of good health, and thank you all for reading this!