Chương 81: Chapter 69. Last Night

We entered the castle without much fanfare. I noticed that the Soldiers were moving all around us. From one place to another, like chickens without heads. They were so busy they didn't even greet Warrick or Aqua. I turned to Sarah before asking her about it." Sarah, aren't they supposed to greet you guys?" Sarah turned to me and began to answer me." Usually yes, however, because of the hero arriving soon, they are taking defensive measures to make sure that we are ready regardless of what happens.

I personally think that they are all over reacting. I mean, after all, we're going to handle it without much of a problem I imagine."" I see. Well, better safe than sorry, I suppose? In a way, I'm looking forward to this fight. I do want to see the difference that these 3 months have made between us."" Don't worry, John, you're barely recognizable from when you first arrived. It's almost a shame, you were cuter back then."" I agree. Recently, Master has become so dashing!"

Anna agreed with Sarah's assessment of my progress. Her eyes were glowing like a forest full of lightning bugs." I'd rather be seen as "cool" than "cute" anyways."" Don't pout, John, I never said your current state is worse than the one from before. It's just different. It's like a different way to cook your favorite meal." We continued to follow Alex as I occasionally gave Sarah the side eye. Before long, we entered a somewhat large room with a big square table and chairs to sit in. Donovon also joined us.

Alex gestured towards the table and began to speak." This is a Strategy Room. I brought us here to work out what we all are going to do tomorrow. The Border is well-guarded, but we haven't planned anything for actually confronting the enemy as that isn't our job. So, Father, Mother, have you thought of what we will be doing?" From that point on, Warrick and Aqua, more or less, made an outline of a plan.

The simple version of it is that the party of myself, Sarah, Anna, Cynthia, Asha and Sharon will meet the Hero Party while they move through the small Forest before reaching the Border's walls. I asked for the girls to separate the party and to leave the Hero and me to fight 1 on 1. My request was granted. Even though all of the girls looked at me as if they were dissatisfied with my decision. After that, it was dinner time. Anna and I had our own food in the kitchen.

Once dinner was finished, Alex and Donovon visited us from the dining room. I waited for either of them to speak first. In this case, it was Donovon." Marquess Matthew, I would like to apologize for what I almost had done. King Warrick and Queen Aqua explained what you have done for the Royal Family. I let my own bias cloud my judgement. I apologize for that." Donovon bowed his head. I was confused by this. Alex saw my confusion and began to speak." Captain Don is an Honorable Person, Matthew.

You see, he reacted the usual way he would from years of fighting Promethia. When he saw you, it was more muscle memory than any kind of hatred for Humans. I can vouch for the man, he saved my life, time and time again. Once Mother and Father explained what you have done for my Family, Captain Don felt greatly ashamed for his actions. I hope you can accept his apology!" Alex seemed to be telling the truth. Donovon still hasn't risen from his bow. Now everyone in the kitchen was staring at me. Tap.

I felt a tap on my arm. It was Anna, she began to speak." Master, if you truly can forgive him, then forgive him. If not, do not let the stares change your mind!" Seems Anna is still angry about the "almost attack" from earlier. I think the poisoning, followed by this, may have caused a great amount of stress for her. I'll need to find some way to help her relax after this is all over. After nodding to Anna, I turned to Alex and Donovon and began to speak my mind." You can raise your head, Donovon.

You know, since I got here, I've been given the side eye by so many people. Granted, I've found Good Friends along the way, but you're the first person to apologize to me over something like this. I accept your apology and hope we can build a good Friendship moving forward." I extended my hand and waited for Donovon to rise from his bow. In time, he did and he shook my hand as well. Grip! With a strong grip no less...

Once the apology was made, Alex and Donovon said their goodbyes and said they had to be somewhere now. After they left, Sarah and the rest of the girls had come to Anna and me. It seems they were finally let go so the "adults" could speak in peace. I thought it was strange, since we would be the ones fighting the Hero Party. Maybe they were deciding some kind of defensive formation moving forward? While I was thinking about it, the girls chatted amongst themselves.

Cynthia somehow snuck to my side and surprised me when she began to speak. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon." Are you okay after today, Matthew?"" Wah!" Cynthia stared at me with a playful smile as her light-pink eyes shined like a kid finding a new toy. I calmed myself down and began to speak." Thanks for scaring me. To answer the question, I feel okay. I'm somewhat used to being ostracized. It's easier to deal with now though."" Why is that?"

Cynthia looked concerned as I spoke." Well, it's because I have all of you by my side now. I hope we can continue being Friends after all this as well, Cynthia." Cynthia seemed to be embarrassed by what I said. Also, at this time, I noticed that the girls stopped speaking and also, they all seemed to be a bit red? Wrap! Squeeze! It didn't take long for Sarah to walk in front of me and hug me." Of course, I'll always be by your side from now on! It's far too late to get rid of me now!" Grip!

I felt my hand being held as well from my side. That's definitely Anna. Wait my other hand? I turned to look at who it was and was very surprised. Cynthia had moved behind me and the person who replaced her was unexpected." Asha?"

"!"" Ohoh?" Asha was holding my hand while she had crimson red cheeks. Asha seemed to go redder once I noticed her holding my hand. Sarah made a quizzical sound. Asha eventually looked up at me and began to speak." Idiot. You can't get rid of us that easily now."" Yes, especially now, isn't that right, Sarah?"" Yes, Anna. That is the case. But everything will be fine, as long as we all remember the Rules."

As Asha had seemed to be confirming what Sarah had said, Sarah and Anna seemed to be talking about something I didn't know about? pull... Before long, I felt a pulling of my shirt from behind me. I turned my head to see Cynthia staring at me." We won't be going anywhere, Matthew. You have my word on that one."" Okay." Since everyone but Sharon was accounted for, I looked to see where she was. She was behind Sarah. She looked confused. Like she wanted something, but didn't know what to do.

She saw me staring at her and was startled. She began to speak after calming down." You're my First Male Friend, Matthew! I don't plan on changing that!" I smiled at Sharon and replied to her." Yup, I don't either, Sharon!" For some reason, Sharon looked disappointed by my reply, why is that? Regardless, it was getting late, so we chatted a bit more and then we all went to our rooms to sleep. Anna guided me to the bath and after I was finished, Anna left me to my room while she took her bath.

Before long, she arrived back to my room and we began to talk. Anna started the conversation." John, how are you feeling about tomorrow?"" I do feel a bit strange if I'm being honest. On one hand, I'm going to be engaged in a fight with a person I've wanted to hurt for 4 years now... On the other hand, I don't want you guys to get hurt. And the girls you'll be fighting didn't do anything to me really."" That's what makes them guilty!"" What?" Grip! Anna held my hand tight and startled me with how loud she got.

Anna looked at me and began to speak.

"How they could just let that boy hurt you, when they were supposed to be your Friends. It's so wrong to me!"" I agree!" To Anna's words we heard a familiar voice shout in agreement. I quickly looked at my window and there she was, Sarah had entered through the window of my room again." Are you scared of doors or something?"" No, I just like surprising you. Now then, since she has one hand." / step. step. step. pomf. / Grip! Sarah sat down to my left side and grabbed my hand. Sarah and Anna's hands were warm.

I squeezed them back and they responded in kind. Sarah began to speak." As for tomorrow, I'm certainly looking forward to it!" Sarah sported a bloodthirsty grin. This surprised me." Sarah, why are you looking forward to it so much?" Sarah turned to me and changed her smile to a warm one." Simple! After you put your past to rest, we can finally move forward together. All 3 of us."" The smile you just had, says you're looking forward to something else, what is it?" Sarah looked at me with a hint of guilt."

Well, you see, I've never told this to you before, but I actually saw some of your memories back when you healed me. I saw a few things that happened to you. Some from your childhood, some with your Parents and while you were in school. I saw what they did or didn't do. And I will be honest. I want to fight and beat Laura for her entire attitude towards you. I'm sorry I never told you about it before." I was a little surprised at Sarah's confession. But it makes sense.

She seemed to have a severe dislike of the Hero Party that was more than just them being a threat to her family. She's evened mentioned Laura a few times, but not in the way someone who didn't know about our relationship would." I forgive you. But who else knows? I can tell Anna knows." Sarah looked to her side and then began to speak." My Parents, Cynthia, Sharon and Asha. And Sharon and Asha's Mothers. But for Aunt Pena and Aunt Tina, they only know about some of what has happened with the Hero Party.

In particular your childhood friend, the hero's actions towards you and the fight you had before being Summoned here." That's a lot of names. She seemed really upset about it." I forgive you, but let's keep my past to ourselves from now on. Agreed?"" Agreed!" Both of them have answered. Anna began to speak after that. I'm sorry for keeping it a secret, John."" It's okay, Anna. I mean, how do you even begin to start a conversation like that anyways?" Raise. Pat... I pat her head with the hand she was holding.

She seemed to like that." Hey! What about me!?" Raise. Pat. Sarah was jealous. A swift hand on top of her head seemed to calm her. After a few minutes, I took my hands off of their heads. They both looked unsatisfied. Anna apparently, was the most unsatisfied. Push! Kiss! To the point where, for the first time in a long time, she proceeded to jump onto me and kiss me." Hey! Anna, that's not fair!" Anna paid Sarah no mind. Before long, Anna rose up from me to catch her breath.

I was able to breath in before my mouth was forcibly blocked again, but this time, it was sealed by Sarah. And she wanted something "special", since Anna was the first to kiss me. I felt her tongue enter my mouth quickly. I went with the flow, so Sarah didn't feel left out. After around 2 minutes, Sarah rose from me and I breathed in before my mouth was sealed by Anna again. This time, she also used her tongue. 30 minutes had passed of them both taking turns with kissing me.

Before long, the exhaustion of all the traveling got to all 3 of us and we all slept on the same bed. Sarah and Anna wrapped themselves around me and we all drifted off to sleep.