Some time before, outside not too far from the palace.

  Under the night sky brightened by the moon and stars. A lone speed orientated sky ship was afloat. On its deck was a youth dressed like an aristocratic of the medieval era, out on a hunt or horseback riding. Wearing leather boots, pants, a shirt, a vest and a blazer jacket, everything was black except the shirt which was just dark in color. It matched well with his short black hair that reflected some of the moonlight. By his waist was an elegant sword.

  Creak.

  The cabin's door opened as another young man walked onto the ship's main deck, it was Aleus.

  Now changed out of his formal attire and into a white robe, adorned in Romanian manner, with a slim fit long sleeve shirt underneath. On his right hand, the index finger, middle finger and thumb were adorned with gold finger armor. Lastly there was a belt or sash running around his waist with a pouch hung on it.

  "Was it necessary to change right now?"

  Hiro asked without turning his head to look at Aleus who had joined him on the deck.

  "You did say that it's dangerous. I believe at least this amount of caution is warranted."

  Hiro nodded slightly having expected such an answer after explaining some of the conditions and making it clear that danger could spring out at any point after their departure.

  (Still, I didn't expect him to gear up so soon. From his perspective there's still the issue of 'departure'. After all, as long as we're still on the this continent there's nothing I need to make him wary of. In fact it should be the other way around.

  I really should have spared some time to explain to him what I meant by leaving this World, I doubt it's what he has in mind. It's not my fault, right?)

  Hiro drew in a deep breath while he realised what he had missed from his reasoning. His corrected conclusion for Aleus gearing up this soon, was Spiriton. Having seen it cut space thus making a long journey into an instant, Aleus would more than likely assume the same was true of their departure especially with his misunderstanding of thinking Hiro came from outer space.

  (Traveling such distances with Spiriton, is it possible?)

  Hiro who hadn't thought of the holy sword as a mode of transport suddenly had the thought, to his knowledge the most it had allowed him to traverse was from the moon to the world. Of course this didn't include how far it allowed traversal between itself and wielder.

  "Are you just going to leave like this? I know it it's out of the blue, which is kinda my fault, and you may not really have gotten close with anyone in the palace. But I know a few who it would mean so much for them if you bid them farewell."

  Aleus suddenly asked with a reserved tone.

  "I suppose it's a normal thing to do."

  Hiro said not actually giving an answer as he recalled his bitter departure to his comrades.

  "Let's just say bidding farewell to others after failing to do a proper one to those I care for most, is not something I'll do for a time."

  "I... see. Now I'm curious, what happened? Of course if you are willing to share."

  Hiro looked into the distant as he recounted in a simplified manner.

  "By some manner of higher intervention I failed to subjugate a war mongering tyrant, leading to the loss of not just my life but everyone in my party."

  (Being immortal isn't such a blessing after all.)

  Aleus thought with an of expression of pity, about to offer his condolences when he heard Hiro's next words.

  "I managed to undo most of it, their deaths residing only in memory.

  But after my death I learned something I could not ignore. A higher intervention that can swoop in, causing the loss of lives across the lands, the Worlds, unchallenged.

  As a hero and someone who has loved ones I simply couldn't ignore this.

  As such, it's easy to imagine that the danger ahead is anything but trivial, only an entity befitting the title of divine could ensure success."

  Aleus resisted the urge to gulp, having not expected such information. He realised his understanding of Hiro wasn't just lacking but also inaccurate.

  (A month hasn't even passed since we met, without him sharing his past I'm bound to make such errors. Perhaps I should ask him to explain in detail some time in the future, after all by accompanying him I can be said to be a part of this.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  And is resurrection so common where he comes from? To speak so casually about it. Even if it is just a few times, it is envious.

  Also roadside trash, isn't this a not modest description of one's self in relation to a divine?)

  A series of thoughts flashed through Aleus's mind as he spoke.

  "So after they died you couldn't bare to see such a thing happen again so you set out on your own, probably without their knowledge."

  (Technically they didn't die, instead were turned to cursed objects which is worse than dying. And they have no recollection of the event since it never 'happened'.)

  Hiro corrected in thought as he said.

  "More or less."

  He then half turned his head to face Aleus and asked with a scrutinising gaze.

  "Aren't you afraid, having second thoughts?"

  Aleus didn't immediately answer as though really giving it some thought, of course he didn't take long to reply.

  "Hmm, against the fragment or a divine what is the difference?

  From where I stand, opposing either of them leads to death with no hope of survival. I don't see any reason to fear one more than the other."

  His tone natural like he was stating an obvious fact, causing Hiro to chuckle.

  "Right."

  "This may be out of line and I may have been bordering on this edge for a while now. But I don't think what you did was right."

  For a moment Hiro had was taken aback before he internally confirmed what Aleus was referring to, he smiled. He wasn't offended, instead he felt this was something he was wishing to hear, perhaps even why he shared this incomplete truth.

  "I understand the level of danger but leaving just like that is disrespectful to them. I ah... I don't know your comrades of course but judging by how you speak about them, I'm more than certain they wouldn't want you to go alone.

  And this is just my belief but, eventually all that's alive dies. Be it old age, disease, injury. So death cannot be a justification to not do something or prevent another. The only death to avoid and lament, is a meaningless death brought by a meaningless life, perhaps."

  Aleus paused sensing that there was a change within the palace. Likely a guard had reported to his father as he planned. After confirming this he continued.

  "Your friends, even if you told them death was certain they would have followed you whether you allowed it or not."

  "I know."

  Answered Hiro with a forced smile.

  "And what about you being able to revive, if you didn't have such a blessing would your decision be different?"

  "No."

  "Every single one your answers is proof you owe them an apology. No matter how long it takes to complete this journey, don't forget that.

  Because just as you would risk your life for their sake, they would do the same for you. But you denied them that right."

  Hiro's mood brightened as he nodded with a slight smile.

  (This fellow, he definitely has a talent for preaching, perhaps I should recommend the faith system to him. He's likely to thrive with it.)

  "Besides if you can take a weakling like me, it just goes to show how irrational your decision was. That is if they were comparably as strong as you."

  "Yes, they were. And you don't have to sell yourself short, I see a lot of room for growth in you. You just need the right environment."

  (Besides, you have the dream rune as protection.)

  Hiro added inwardly causing B One to laugh.

  "Oh, Hiro you've come this far but you forget the most basic of qoutes, for anyone regardless of reason finds themselves on the path of conflict and strength. It's been said across countless Worlds, echoes throughout time from the beginning of conflicts to the end of conflicts, perhaps in different forms but a constant message.

  'The strongest abilities and fists don't win battles, only the individual does.' or as others simplify it to, 'there is no strongest ability, only strongest individuals.'"

  Hiro inwardly snickered at himself, unknowingly he was dismissing the possibility of their abilities proving to be useless while he judged that despite the gap in strength he was expecting he would prevail if he didn't go for a head on confrontation. In way he acknowledged that the strongest fist wouldn't necessarily be the winner, but didn't question the strongest ability's chance at victory.

  (Have I always had such an approach subconsciously or is it an after effect of triumphing over the fragment despite it having grown past ten times stronger than I during the fight.)

  He became wary of such an error changing his state of mind to not fall victim to it in the future, while he silently thanked this mysterious entity he was now bound to.

  "They should be here any minute, I can hear them boarding the sky ships."

  "No worries."

  They began to waited in silence but before anything happened Hiro suddenly chuckled causing Aleus to give him a curious gaze.

  "It's nothing serious, just this talk of departure gave a certain thought.

  When a soldier is about to leave for a war or anyone in an equivalent scenario. It's a common thing to shoot your load and hit the road."

  Aleus almost dropped his jaw from shock, thankful he didn't have anything in his mouth at the moment, otherwise he feared it would all come gushing out.

  He had never heard such blunt and vulgar words before

  "What?"

  "Sorry, that was a strange thing to say. Wipe it from memory."

  "No, no. I think you are on to something. Men going to war are expected to die but blessed to return.

  So what would happen if they were to die en masse, beyond the possibility of losing a war there's also the reduction in manpower for those left behind. But with maidens bearing child, the population doesn't suffer as much. Houses don't vanish overnight from losing a head, a next generation is secured."

  He started explaining, reasoning so as to calm himself and act normal.

  "I don't know if you thought too much about this or I've thought too littl.

  The first thing that came to mind for me is, they are just trying to get some in case it's the last time they could."

  Hiro said humorously, having not expected Aleus to respond in such a manner. He was about to dig an even bigger pit for the latter to fall into when he saw what they were waiting for was just moments away, thus he gave up on the matter.

  "Why did you choose such a bizarre form of exit?"

  Hiro finally asked what had been on his mind since moments ago.

  "I suppose I do owe an explanation, it's because of a promise between a father and son.

  You see, when my father gifted me with this sky ship, he promised that when the skies cleared we would play an ancient game. Sky Fire, a survival game invented to familiarise survival methods and hunts in the skies of old."

  (So that's the story. Did you not say so before because you didn't want me to agree because of sympathy?

  So it wasn't a manly way of doing things?)

  Hiro wondered inwardly while he dismissed the subject as though he was only asking in passing and instead he said.

  "Here they come."

  With a nod Aleus sprang into action accelerating the sky ship as they fled in the opposite direction.