Chương 227: Rock bottom

It has been 2 days since we left the town. I killed everyone in that town and took everything we might need on the road. The town mayor had a map to the capital so I took that as well.

The journey is quite long. Nora and Masha are walking ahead of me as I ponder. There is a lot of distance between me and the capital.

I ended up on the farthest end of the continent and I need to travel to the center. There are 5 towns and 2 cities in between. Well I have already crossed one town so 6 more stops. The distance is considerable.

I wanted some sort of vehicle. Even a manual one would do. But that town only had carriages and the horses were gone. I am forced to take the road once again.

"You look grim! Is something the matter?" (Nora)

She asks me as I look at her. We got new clothes at the town. She looks a lot better than before. At least a lot easier on the eyes. Her complexion is improving day by day. She isn't looking all weak and lanky anymore.

"No, I was just thinking. The distance isn't shortening. Already a week has passed."

It has been a week since I arrived here. Wherever here is that is. And still no progress. Walking is fine but the distance is too much.

I have tried using Aera and Aegis. But they have not responded yet. It's like their functions as a spirit weapon have been sealed. My powers haven't come back either.

However the abilities I got from eating the stones are getting stronger. Or I am just getting better at handling them.

"Don't worry. Even if it is a marriage, it takes a long time to actually do that. The formalities take quite a while." (Nora)

"You sound like you have seen it before?"

"Doesn't stuff like marriage, childbirth, divorce, take a while?" (Nora)

"Can't say about marriage or divorce but yeah, childbirth takes a while. That reminds me, my mother was pregnant when I left. Is my sibling born already?"

I had totally forgotten about that. Maybe I missed the moment.

"So you are getting a sibling. Are you happy?" (Nora)

"Yeah. I was an only child but not anymore. It would be fun but I am worried about the age gap. I am already an adult when my sibling isn't even born yet."

Almost 20 years age gap must be pretty uncommon. Especially when there's only 2 of us.

"Is it a boy or a girl?" (Nora)

"I don't know. But I would like a sister. My dad also says a daughter would be better. My mom is happy either way."

"I see. I guess getting a sibling must be pretty amazing. You get another partner." (Nora)

She looks a bit sad when saying that.

"I know but my feelings are pretty complex. I have a daughter who is almost 8 years old. And she is getting an aunt at this age. Well, my parents are still young but I haven't felt something like this before."

"You have a daughter?" (Nora)

She stopped in her tracks and asked me with a serious look on her face.

"Yes. She is lovely bearkin girl. Her name is Eden. Do you want to see her picture?"

I take out my phone. I did bring it with me but never did I think that this would be useful here.

We took a family photo and I have a copy of that on my phone. The photo was taken moments before I had departed for this place so almost everyone is here.

"See, the girl on my shoulder is my daughter."

I show her the picture. Nora takes the phone from my hand and stares intently at it.

"Is everyone your family?" (Nora)

"Yes. My wives, my daughter, my familiars, my weapons, my disciples and my parents. Everyone is in this photo. See these two.."

I point at Aera and Aegis.

"They are this gun and this staff."

"So, they are spirit weapons. I have heard of such rare weapons but I didn't think you possessed humanoid types. There are only a few of them. Even the royal family has no more than 3." (Nora)

She hands me the phone and starts walking. But she knows an awful lot for someone from a village on the other end of the continent. She is getting more and more mysterious.

We continue our walk without any conversation. She somehow feels tense.

"Did something happen? You are acting a bit different after seeing my family photo."

"No. I was just wondering. I had thought that you were the same as me. Abandoned and all alone without anyone to rely on. But you have a big family and they all care very much about you." (Nora)

"Well, I am no different than you though. I killed a man when I was 10. Then I became an outcast. Even my parents were having trouble with me. But all of that fixed itself. Sometimes, you just need to wait. Time does heal wounds."

I was trying to sound poetic. But she stops and looks at me.

"You killed someone when you were that young?" (Nora)

"Yeah. He was about to violate the girls from my school. So I had to step in and take care of that trash."

That topic is something I openly discuss. It is a rather ironic part of my life but I have no problems with sharing it.

Nora was probably going to ask another question. However we were interrupted.

Something fell from the sky. I didn't notice it approaching us but I covered Nora before it landed.

Dust is flying everywhere. The area has become cloudy. I look towards the landing zone.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. What was that?" (Nora)

"Let's see. Take Masha and move back a bit."

She and Masha moves back a bit. The dust settles down and I can see the person who fell from the sky.

Shiny silver armour, wearing an odd helmet with a visor, donning a crimson robe and brandishing a great sword on their back, this person is most probably a knight.

"Doth thy mother know thy weareth her drape?"

It just came to my mind and I asked.

"Foolish barbarian, know your place. I, Sir Fulson Nendel, will put you in your place. Slaying you is my command and as a knight, my king's command is absolute." (Nendel)

So a knight sent to deal with me. However something odd happened again.

"His majesty has told me to use this as soon as I come in contact with you. It pains my chivalry however this is an order. I have to fulfill it." (Nendel)

He shows me a black metallic orb. He smashes that on the ground.

The grounds starts cracking. The cracks widen and starts splitting.

So, I am being dropped. This one is on me. I wasn't feeling it. Let's just drop down. Where can I go from here? That would be a good idea.