Woo hoo, I finally have a cover art thanks to JCode, early update to celebrate.

2.2

Encounter with the third kind

In front of Hiro was a monstrosity and yet the young man felt no fear. Had he become braver after so many trials, or maybe this was just impossible to be afraid of.

Unlike the previous monster this one was more recognisable, it was the black dog of death, a Cerberus. Or more like, a puppy Cerberus. Yes, the three-headed dog in front of him was just a cute little creature. Only one of its head was even hostile, ready to bite. The left was busy looking at a butterfly while the right was just staring at Hiro silently.

The middle head let out an adorable roar and charged at… a butterfly. After some amount the effort, the creature finally attacked its target, which turns out not to be Hiro. It was Suiren, actually, who simply kicked it away and with her enhanced strength for quite a distance.

The dog was unmoving. Even though the thing was hostile, the young man felt rather bad.

Hiro turned to Suiren to a blazing flame coming toward the woman. Before the young man could even say 'Watch out!', his aide had already side stepped the danger.

The flame came from a girl around her teen, with striking blue eyes but curiously jet-black hair. While her facial features were rather reminiscence of the native, there was something striking and dignified about her. She wore a thick brown leather jacket and pants, these were designed for combat. Her limbs all covered by shiny metallic gauntlets and leggings.

Welding a flaming long sword, the girl truly stood out as someone extraordinary.

She dashed at Suiren while also swinging her burning weapon with great precision. Quite a display too bad it ended in an instant. Her masked opponent met the girl weapon with her own naginata. With one swift twist, the long sword parted from its owner hand and was flung away.

Before the girl could recover from that disarm, Suiren stepped forward to her right. The woman placed her foot behinds her opponent legs and shot her left palm upward. The hit connected with the girl chin while also tripping her from behind, she was spun head straight into the ground.

In an instant, that threatening figure was sent tumbling, all the while her opponents remain graceful. Hiro didn't know if that girl with the flaming sword is horrible or Suiren is simply amazing or maybe both.

[OI] Momo-chan yelled, attracting Hiro attention [LOOK AT THAT GIRL FACE!]

Everything happened with such speed that details faded in front of the young man's eyes. Nevertheless, the words of his disembodied friend allowed him to concentrate. He then saw it, the girl terrified expression.

And she had every reason to as the naginata came down straight to her neck. There was nothing that she could do, her life would end here at this moment in just one swift strike. The girl could hear someone yelling in the background just before the blade touched her neck.

"STOP" Hiro ordered and Suiren obeyed just in time.

The girl could feel the cold steel flirting with her delicate skin. Such a realisation overwhelmed her with fear. It subsided, however, when it was clear that she would survive this ordeal after all.

Suiren stood aside as Hiro offered the fallen girl a hand which she gladly took.

"Allwch chi ddeall fi?"

"Kannst du mich verstehen?"

"هل تفهمنى؟"

"Você consegue me entender?"

"An dtuigeann tú dom?"

"Peux-tu me comprendre?"

The girl, who was now standing in front of Hiro, said rapidly in what seemed like multiple language. The young man didn't even recognise any of them. For the first time in his life, he felt like an idiot.

"Can you understand me?" Seventh time the charm, however, the girl finally arrived at Japanese.

"Yes, yes I can"

His answer was simple but seemed to have a profound effect on the girl who couldn't contain her happiness. She tried to hold back but couldn't help but muttering 'Finally'

"My name is Willow von Brandt, it is my greatest honour to be graced with your presence"

She gave the young man the most formal salute. The girl was still wary of Suiren who was still standing behind him. Nevertheless, her feeling was genuine, for some reason, meeting him was to her a great honour. Was it because he helped slay the monster, he wondered.

"I am Hiro, there is no need for you to be so formal"

"I shall take note of that"

Probably not judging from her tone, which was still rigid. Willow respected him greatly, a fact that made Hiro rather uncomfortable. After all, the two were effectively strangely and yet she already had a strong view of him. The girl looked at him and continued in amazement.

"I have heard about the power of a Herald, but it is still a marvel to behold. To think you would be able to subjugate a Fallen like that, truly admirable"

Momo-chan: [I can't be more lost than this] Commented Momo-chan who was uneasy about the whole situation. Hiro was as well, but it seemed like Willow may know of why they were here, seeing that there was already a title for him, Herald. While finding somewhere that wasn't a plain may be more appropriate, the young man still inquired about his situation anyway.

"Thanks for the compliments, but what is this Herald and Fallen you are referring to?"

"Oh my, I let my excitement get the better of me, my apology" Willow bowed "Worry not, I will explain everything"

Before Hiro could suggest finding another place more suitable to converse, the girl continued. She was certainly excited about this whole ordeal. Was that a trait of everyone here the young man wondered. The people were all so enthusiastic, especially Owain who seemed like he drank sugar instead of water. Willow didn't seem to fit in though, she had black hair after all.

"Before I could continue, could I ask something, Herald?"

"Of course you can, and please call me Hiro"

"Am I the first person you could understand?"

The young man was going to say no, after all there were Suiren and Momo-chan. But he decided against it "Yes, so I really don't know anything about this place at all"

Hearing those words, the girl's face beamed with happiness.

"Then I humbly welcome you to this world we call Eden. This land is split into four countries, led by the Divines, carriers of god's will. Under their rule we prosper and flourish. But recently, our kingdoms wide communication system suddenly malfunctioned. While we certainly had contingency plans for such a case, the scale is still unimaginable. Furthermore, horrible monstrosities appeared, plaguing our lands and our people"

Willow paused, biting her lips in frustration. Such an obvious sign but Hiro couldn't tell if it was intentional or not. The girl continued.

"Our communication system is still down, preventing the Divines from bestowing their Edicts. And so, the monster continues to wreak havoc. We tried to combat these creatures to no avail, seeing that they are numerous and fierce and their origin unknown. But it has been foretold that in time of chaos, the god shall call upon heroes from another world, the Heralds"

"Wait, so what you are saying is that I was summoned here to save the world?"

"In short yes"

There you had it folks, Hiro the programmer here to be your saviour.

Momo-chan: [Talk about absurd! There must be some sort of mistake here]

Hiro: {Well… in all the stories, the hero is always the most unlikely…}

Momo-chan: [Even you sounded unconvinced of your own words]

Hiro: {Of course, I also think this is a mistake, the one they are looking for is probably that knight}

Momo-chan: [Probably… Man, I feel bad for the girl]

Hiro: {Why?}

Momo-chan: [She is so excited, looking forward to meeting a hero and then there is you]

Hiro: {…}

Momo-chan: [Oi, where is the retort, don't leave me hanging]

Hiro: {There is nothing, I am also feeling the same here}

Momo-chan: [Oh…]

That was awkward, both outside and inside. Of course, there was a probability that what she was saying was bollock. But too many unimaginable things had already happened. Heck, Hiro being here was weird enough. And so, without evident to the contrary, the young man accepted this as truth, for now. He still wanted to ask more questions though.

"Earlier, you were talking about the Fallen, what is that exactly?"

Talking about that suddenly made Willow rather down. Was that a sensitive topic!

"Well, the Fallens are those who reject the Divines. They are banished by the gods and had their minds erased. Forever branded by the white mask and a halo, they become empty shells, compelled to strike at their maker. The Fallens mindlessly seek to disrupt the peace of this world. There had been many attempted to help them to see the light again but they were all futile. To be denied the grace of the Divines is truly saddening"

Biting her lips once again, Willow looked up with optimism.

"But still, that Fallen behind you, I attacked her because I thought she was going to hurt you. But I was wrong, there is nothing I can do but apologise for my ignorance. But seeing her now I can't help but be hopeful. Maybe one day she, no, all of the Fallens will truly be saved and see the light of the Divines"

Hiro truly hated to burst the girl bubble but he wanted to be truthful "Actually, I have no idea why she is like this. I was probably just at the right time at the right moment"

"May I ask how the two of you met?"

"Well, it was when I first came to this world, she was trying to kill me. Then I… passed out and when I woke up, she is already like this"

"Then I am sure it was you. She must have felt it, your presence as a great Herald" Willow approached him, her eyes looked like they are sparkling "Graced with your visage, that Fallen must have sense the error in her way. It seems like she hasn't fully escaped her warped mind yet but I am sure you can guide her, all of them, the light"

Hiro could feel goose bumps all over. Willow being this close to him didn't make him any less uncomfortable. This kind of reminded of all the strange cults that kept popping up. They all sounded ridiculous but their followers all strangely devout.

Momo-chan: [I can see nothing but red flags]

Hiro: {Well, I don't think she is lying…}

Momo-chan: [That certainly sound convincing]

Hiro: {I am the one who has to interact directly with her here and this is too creepy}

Momo-chan: [Actually, I also think she is saying the truth… or at least what she really believes]

Hiro: {Then either we are some sort of hero or that girl is completely off her rocker. You know what is most terrifying?}

Momo-chan: [What is that?]

Hiro: {Both of that options seem plausible somehow and I am definitely not a confident man}

Momo-chan: [Now that's horror right there]

Hiro: {But there isn't much for us to do…}

Momo-chan: [… But to go with the flow]

Hiro looked at Willow and something about her kind of soothed his worry. There was something wholly innocent about her and she was so convinced that he couldn't help but believe just for a bit. Emotions truly are contagious.