At the corner of the street where the road split into two, a lone child stood. She looked no older than 6 and had bright green hair and had a fearful expression as she looked around anxiously. In the busy street, where everything was alive with motion and the vendors called out with their mighty voices, everyone paid little attention to the small girl.
Emilia's attention was instantly gleamed. Her amethyst eyes gazed at the child who looked so anxious. A flicker of doubt passed her face, but it was quickly submerged by another, more powerful emotion. Worry.
Hedin followed her vision, his eyes catching the small girl standing by herself.
And so, as Emilia began to call out to him. He had already moved.
His footsteps carried him confidently through the street. In no time at all, he was already right next to the small, uneasy girl.
He genuflected on the ground, holding a charming smile on his face.
"Hello there." He tried his best to make her feel comfortable. He wasn't the best with kids, mainly because there were little to no chance for him to interract with any. And the girl seemed to prove that.
The moment Hedin called out to her, she twitched. Tears started to well up at the corner of her eyes and she held her arms inwards, as if afraid of everything that moved around her.
Seeing this, Hedin didn't falter – for he had a special ability tailored for this.
Subtly, his eyes shone with the light of dawn. The surroundings seemed to instantly grow more cheerful and Hedin's form was highlighted between in all – it was as if he had suddenly become the center of all attention.
But strangely enough, even though everyone paid attention to him, even though everyone momentarily took note of his existence as he genuflected before the small girl, no one seemed to pay him any more of their minds.
The girl's eyes shone instantly. In her eyes, Hedin's form was surrounded by many glinting lights, innumerable in colour.
Aside from that, a phantom yellow light, akin to the light of dawn emanated from his body in a show of magnificence.
"Lesser spirits!" Emilia's surprised voice came from behind him.
It was at this point that Hedin too took note of the innumerable points of light that surrounded his body.
"Lesser spirits?" He muttered, mainly to himself. It seemed that his small show of Glory had attracted the so called 'spirits' in the area, drawing them to himself.
He wasn't sure how or why such a thing had happened, but he found it quite a normal happening.
Glory was, after all, such a power. A power to draw all in one direction.
The distraction lasted fleetingly, and Hedin turned his attention once again to the small girl.
He smiled again.
"Are you lost?" He asked in the softest voice he could muster. He had an inherently deep voice and was most accustomed to speaking loud and confidently with others.
The girl, although dazed by the spirits, nodded her head with an unsure expression.
"Um." Her voice was high pitched and notably childish. "Are you a knight? Mister?"
"A knight?" Hedin chuckled. "Well, I'm not a knight, young lady. But I am someone who can help."
Emilia also kneeled down near him, her amethyst eyes looking at the curious young child.
"Are you lost?" Emilia repeated Hedin's question, her tone soft and engaging. Her lips tugged themselves into a welcoming smile.
The little girl nodded her head, "I was with my mom... we were shopping in the street and then I couldn't find her anymore..." Her voice was a bit shaky and tears glistened in her eyes.
Emilia turned to Hedin, "Do you have any way to help? Perhaps your ravens can locate her mother?"
"They can, but it might take some time. I have a better alternative." He replied. Then, momentarily glancing at the girl, he got up from the ground and pointed right at the girl.
"Take us to her mother." He spoke. Nay, it was more of a declaration to the ether, a command uttered to an unknown benefactor.
And as if responding to his command, the surroundings rippled. The air seemed to grow lighter and a brilliant phantom of soft light materialized right beside her.
"Uwaaaah!" The little girl spoke in awe at the brilliant display. Emilia and Puck on the other hand watched with unconcealed curiosity.
The phantom soon shimmered into a tangible shape, it's humanoid figure matching more and more of the little girl it stood beside.
"Mister! Mister! What is this?!" The girl asked, excitement and shock evident in her brightly lit eyes.
Hedin smiled at seeing her expression.
"This is a fairy that will guide you back to your mother." He gave her a toothy grin.
"Should we follow along?"
Upon his words, the girl nodded vigorously and glanced rapidly between him and the phantom.
"Then let us go."
And with that, they resumed their walk. The phantom led them at the forefront, drawing many looks from the people that went about their ways and the shopkeepers that paused their relentless shouts to steal a look.
The girl followed behind the phantom, prodding at it to get a feel. Unfortunately, her hand seemed to pass right through it, as if it didn't exist at all.
Hedin and Emilia walked just a couple of steps behind them while Puck floated above Emilia's head, his sea green eyes – large for his small head – betraying his spirit of inquiry.
"Is that truly a fairy?" Emilia semi-whispered to Hedin who only shook his head in denial.
His face held a jovial smile as he said "It stems from the nature of my power. I've never seen a fairy in my life. They are also something regarded as folktale legends, though more obscure than spirits."
Puck hummed in curious thought.
Then, he yawned and stretched his body mid air with the sleekness of a typical feline.
"Well, I should go to sleep about now. It's draining to keep myself maintained." He spoke to Emilia. He turned to Hedin and winked at him.
"Keep her out of trouble, okay?"
Hedin nodded respectfully. Not missing a beat, Puck dissolved into particles of light that soon drifted apart with the wind.
"What was that?" He asked Emilia.
"Spirits use mana to keep themselves anchored as physical forms. They are ethereal in nature so staying tangible for long times drains them." Emilia explained without gap. They continued on with their walk, following closely behind the phantom of the girl.
Emilia once again turned to him and asked, "I've been meaning to ask, but what exactly is your power? It doesn't seem to be any conventional divine protection, neither does it seem like any magic I've heard of. It's alright if you don't wanna tell me!" She added at the end with a flustered smile, as if afraid of offending him.
Hedin shook his head.
"Not at all." He held up his hand where small orbs of light soon gathered.
"As I said, my power stems from 'Glory.' It is the concept of glory, given form through the Miracle."
"Miracle?"
"I don't know much about it's origin either." Hedin shook his head with an apologetic smile. Truth be told, as a hunter, he knew a lot more information about the Miracle. But he refrained from speaking about it. It was growing more and more on him that he might have been spirited away into another reality, perhaps in a similar manner to how Poemath, the First Betrayer, also known as the Second Hunter had been banished to the land of shadows.
And so, it might have be that the Miracle never existed in this place, as blasphemous as a concept that was to entertain.
But it was also one that ignited a hope inside him. Maybe, with the Miracle not being a thing in this strange reality, blasphemy and corruption of the great ones was also not a thing.
And so, he was cautious in delivering any information about it. He did not mind sharing such information, but it was overall a bad move if he did not have the leverage of appropriate knowledge beforehand.
"Oh." Emilia's shoulder slumped a bit in disappointment but she didn't let that get to her.
Instead, she placed a finger on her lower lip and theorized.
"Maybe it was a blessing by a dragon? Like how the royal family of Lugunica was blessed with dragon blood by Volcanica? Maybe your people were blessed with this 'Miracle?'"
"Theories can be just that. Theories."
Just then, a sharp cry of the girl rang in their ears.
"Mama!" The girl yelled as she watched the phantom version of her disappear into the air. And some distance in front of her, in the middle of the street stood a woman with similar hair colour.
The little girl wasted no time and dashed towards her mother.
The woman in question, although held worry on her face at first, snapped out of her anxiousness and caught sight of the one who had called out to her. Instantly, her face blossomed into a bright smile and she ran towards her child.
Hedin and Emilia followed the girl at a brisk pace, thankful that the girl had found her mother.
The mother went onto her knees and scooped up the girl into her arms. She tightly hugged her, as if afraid her precious child would disappear any second and she would again be left without her.
The child began to cry softly in her arms as they met – her small, stubby arms wrapped around her mother's neck.
Hedin and Emilia watched them with smiles on their faces. Shortly after, the mother thanked them fervently and wished to offer them some 'appas' from her husband's shop.
Such offers were politely declined, after which both of them headed off to find Emilia's lost item.
As they walked, Hedin could not help but speak.
"I apologize." He said, surprising Emilia.
"Eh? Why?" She asked, caught dumbfounded.
"Because I wasted time with the small girl." Hedin turned to look at her. His hand reached for his hat and pulled it down, holding it to his chest. Then, he bowed a bit.
"So, I'd like to apologize if I caused any discomfort in you. I realize that time could have been spent looking for you lost item."
Hearing his words, Emilia wasted no time in shaking both her head and hands in front of her.
"No no! You don't have to apologize! I would have helped her anyway, so if anything, you only made things easier!"
Her words seemed to bring Hedin some comfort, so he merely nodded and didn't say anything more.
"Then, I suppose we can finally get to the lost item."
Although Hedin had full confidence that Emilia was a kind person, alongside having proof that she didn't mind helping the girl – in that she didn't protest him helping her and that his power of glory confirmed it – it was simply right to say this.
She wasn't like the typical noble. Although she was being sponsored by a Margrave for whatever reason, she was not very haughty or arrogant.
But Hedin had his own image to convey! What kind of gentleman would he be, if he left the matter just like that!?
Anyways, with that done, they were ready.
The raven that flew overhead again began to guide them to their location.
Slowly, they made their way out of the busy merchant street and onto the main road where they made their way downwards, towards the lower districts of the commoners. As one moved down the heirarchy of the kingdom, one could clearly see the changes from the architecture alone.
The buildings in the merchant's district - the middle of the road in Lugunica's capital - were painted in beautiful colours, predominantly white. Towers dotted the landscape and banners of glorious red and green hung from the walls everywhere. The merchant's district was also notably more cheerful. But the commoner's district?
It somehow reminded Hedin of his own city - Mulberry, one of the largest cities in England and one of the remaining historical pilgrim sites of the First Hunter that was still standing. The city where he fought countless beasts of blasphemy, trying to protect the citizens.
But in more ways than one, cities in his reality were far more developed than the cities of this one. Things were a lot more convenient after the manufacture of the steam engine and later the various modes of transportation that used it. Trains, air ships, cars and the like. In general, it improved the living conditions of the commoners - though it was highly debatable. Technology allowed the common folk to stand on par with the hunters' powers and replicate their glory. Of course, the progress in tech also amplified the glory of the hunters.
But this reality, although seemed behind in technology it seemed to be somewhat safer. Because there didn't seem to be any corruption, or corruption bearing powers here.
Hedin thanked whatever power that governed this reality for the upteenth time today for not allowing an existence like a great one to exist in this world.
Shaking his head to rid himself of these thoughts for the time, he focused on the task at hand.
For obvious reasons, they continued further down from the commoner's district and into the lower slums area. The living conditions here were... questionable, to say the least. But Hedin had seen people living in far worse, so he wasn't particularly striken.
Though, he would be lying if he said seeing people living in such striking poverty didn't trigger a bad feeling inside him.
"It makes sense that the thief lives in the slums. The clothes she wore were quite tattered after all." Hedin mused absentmindedly as he walked alongside Emilia who looked around with a slight frown on her forehead.
"Hmm... Right." She said.
At this time, the sun was starting to slant down towards the horizon. Overhead, clouds swaddled off and away, like sheep lazily strolling through a lively pasture.
The shadows of the questionable buildings lengthened towards the east as Hedin and Emilia passed by a small stream. Dozens of ravens flew overhead, each looking down with it's empty eyes. One of them flew down to the two walking figures. With a flap of it's wings, raven slowed it's descent and landed onto Hedin's shoulder.
It croaked gently, prompting Hedin to scratch it on it's 'chin.'
"You seem really close." Emilia smiled, her eyes closing slightly in a kind gesture.
"Well, Ravens are a crucial partner to every hunter. As the humans the blessed with the power over glory, the Ravens are blessed with the power over Companionship." He explained, still stroking his raven. "That is why all ravens mate for life. When ravens bond with someone, they never let them go."
"That seems really nice." Emilia chuckled. "Is that also a blessing?"
"Yes." Hedin nodded. "All beings have an intrinsic blessing they possess. They are simply unable to bring it out most of the time. On the rare chance that they do, however, is where they can manifest incredible abilities. Ravens are one such beings. Though, even without them awakening such powers, said blessing does impact their natural life - in more ways than just the physical.
"Cats use their Claws and are naturally nimble. Dogs use their sense of smell at every small occasion. Birds flap their wings for the freedom that flight provides them with. Microbes infect and spread pestilence. And Humans cannot help but chase after greatness, after glory and their wish to immortalize their name in history. Each of them bears gifts."
"That's intriguing." Emilia's curiosity didn't seem to be satiated, but she held back from asking anymore questions.
The rest of the journey passed without any words. The slums were as one would expect. Striken with poverty. A sickly stench of piss and waste hung around some areas, while others had emaciated looking people who asked them for food.
Being able to do nothing for them left a bad taste in both of their mouths, but they couldn't provide any help. Even in his previous reality, Hedin didn't enjoy seeing such a sorry state for anyone.
The best he could do was alleviate their stress with glory, and for the next few days, offer a slightly healthier body due to their glory creeping into their physical form. Other than that, nothing could be done.
Soon, the ravens led them to the tail end of the slums. And in front of them stood a large wooden building.
Perched atop it was a single raven. It's empty eyes looked at both Emilia and Hedin as they stood before the loot house.
"Eh? Weren't there several birds in the sky? Where did they all go?" Emilia asked as she looked at the sky, her eyes betraying her confusion.
Hedin chuckled slightly and began to explain.
"Because ravens hold power over companionship, when it is combined with Glory, said power can be amplified. A raven can make copies of itself, each connected to the main body in a hivemind.
"Each copy is perfectly like the original. Furthermore, each could be the original one. It is the reason they are the chosen companions of the hunters."
Emilia nodded, though she still wasn't completely sure how it all worked. The way Hedin seemed to talk about these things was as if they were common knowledge. Clearly, they weren't - but even if she wanted to know more, as of now, they needed to retrieve what was stolen.
"Then... let's head inside. Shall we?"
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There are some inconsistencies with the work that'd I'd like to address first and foremost.
1. Ram does NOT love the clown from the start. What we see in season 2 was a result of Rem being erased. In the original timeline, because Rem was with Ram, she had a reason to be strong and because Roswaal threatened to kill Rem, Ram had always hated him. Although Roswaal wanted to use Rem to kill the Divine Dragon, Ram had no reason to try it beyond herself being forced into that position and making a magical contract.
Because Rem was erased, it never happened and instead of hating the clown, she projects her feelings of loss and depression towards the clown, the only person she was around with and it bloomed into a twisted form of Stockholm Syndrome- mistaken as love.
2. Return by Death does not create alternate timelines. It has been revealed in the light novel and for those of you that do not care about spoilers, here's a short explanation.
There this place where the books of death of everyone is recorded.
Now, if there was a separate timeline for each if Subaru's death, there would only be one. But there are multiple of his books of death. Basically what happens, when Subaru dies, Satella the best girl destroys the ENTIRE WORLD and restarts it at the point of the 'checkpoint.'
3. People have this notion that Reinhard is only strong because he has so many divine protections. No. That is literally not the case. He cannot lose. Bro is literally designed to be unable to lose. Within the native verse of course.
Even if you take all of his divine protections, including the Protection of the Sword Saint, that only puts a small dent into his overall power level. Now now, provided, telling salt from sugar is his greatest power so we will leave that out of the discussion to give Reinhard some face.
4. I will continue this at least until arc 7. Until then, I'd have thought up a way to end this thing so yeah. Again, because I am actually earning from this, this WILL be reaching an ending.... ideally.
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(Image Here)
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A/N: Read upto 10 advanced chapters on my patreon.
Link: patreon . c o m/Yesnth Just remove the spaces from between.
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Also, do remember to drop some power stones. It does help a lot as it improves the ranking and helps a story grow.
All stones are much appreciated.
Cheers~