Chapter 22: Don’t Call Me Hero

Saria: “Prisoners!?”

Nathan wasn’t sure how she would react, but he had to know. There were too many reason why they couldn’t leave and not enough ways to leave.

Saria: “I don’t understand, sure we don’t leave the Garden, but not because we cannot, most of us have little to no interest in leaving?”

Nathan: “You want me to believe that no one here has even a slight curiosity as to what’s over these walls?”

Saria: “Well, I can’t say for sure, but why would you think, that we are imprisoned?”

Nathan: “………...There’s a thirty-meter wall, that can’t be scaled, if you fly too high, your met with an impassable storm. The only way out is hidden behind a waterfall, that leads to a door that can only be opened from the other side, not to mention the tribe of armed elves that wait on the opposite end and now I see Celes has some crazy ability that she can’t control.”

Saria thought a bit, after hearing all of that, it did sound like they were imprisoned. She shook her head, that just was not the case, but she was more concerned with her sister.”

Saria: “Celes, what does she do?”

Nathan stared into Saria’s eyes, she seemed like she honestly didn’t know, had he gotten his assumptions wrong. Saria being the leader and the oldest, should know of this.

Nathan: “She involuntarily creates forest and makes them grow out of control.”

Saria: “Creates a forest, I don’t see the harm in making more forested areas.”

Nathan: “Saria, what if she decides to visit a city?”

Saria thought about it, but Nathan was a little impatient at the moment.

Nathan: “I had wondered why this area became green again so quickly, what if this entire area was replenished, just from her having walked on it?”

Saria Never really thought of it before, the Gorgon had systematically dried up area after area and right after they would work to fix the damage. Though they never fully restored an area before the Gorgon came by again, the rate in which the area became green again was unnatural.

If Celes was the cause of that phenomenon, then if she was to step into any settlement, she could involuntarily wipe out an entire area.

Nathan: “Though some good news, it look like she can’t bypass natural obstruction, like thirty story cliffs, probably why you have such high security”, to keep her ability in check. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Saria: “……………….She can’t leave.”

Nathan: “Now you get it, someone knew of her powers and then placed her hear so she wouldn’t get out.”

Saria: “But, if this was a prison, then why would Lady Amelia have her study here, it wouldn’t make sense.”

Nathan: “I may not be from this world, but even I can tell, that study is for rare treasure, if I wanted to keep them safe, a place like this with such high defenses, would be perfect.”

Nathan leaped over to where Saria, making her flinched. He stood over her, his expression, scared her to no end.

Nathan: “Saria, I need you to be honest with me, I don’t like being lied to, if this place is a prison of some sort, everything I been told up until now could have been false, which would make the fact that I’m helping you, the fact that I made Anais and Iris help, the fact that I almost died completely unnecessary.”

Saria heart rate went up, she hadn’t lied up to this point, but everything he brought up, screamed the opposite. She wanted to tell him he was wrong, but her voice would not come out.

Nathan: Saria, so from everything I told you, all the security and Celes abilities are…….. you……… prisoners?”

He was right over top of her now, she was afraid. She had told the truth, but after what she did earlier, trying to trick him into helping instead of just asking him, he wasn’t going to believe anything she was saying. She could lose everything in the moment, the hero trust, his help and with the Gorgon on its way, her sisters could be hurt she just couldn’t afford to make a mistake.

*Tears falling*

Nathan: “Huh!?”

Saria: “UWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH, I DON’T KNOOOOOOOOOWWWWW!!”

A storm suddenly kick up surrounding the two, like the eye of the storm the spot between was calm, but the area had become a hurricane.

Saria couldn’t control her emotions anymore, she was as scared as everyone else, possibly even more, but everyone was looking to her and she had to be strong. The stress had built up to far and she couldn’t take it anymore. Nathan’s berating had taking her over the edge and she was literally a storm of emotion.

Saria: “I DON’T KNOW, I’M NOT LYING, I’M DOING MY BEST, BUT NOSTHIN GOWIN RIGHT, MY SISTERS ARE SCARED, THE TRIBE WAS WIPED OUT AND THE ON PERSON WE HAVE LEFT IS LEAVING, I CAN’T LOSE YOUR HELP TOO, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT SO SAY, WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

Nathan: “HEY, HEY, CALM DOWN!”

Nathans words fell on deaf ears, he went about this the wrong way. What was he thinking, trying to strong arm a girl?

Nathan grabbed hold of her, he had to calm her down. Looking around, a few trees and water from the river had been thrown into the air and now circled dangerously overhead. This was getting out of control quickly, He forced her to look at him.

Nathan: “SARIA, I’M SORRY.”

Saria: “*sniff* What?”

The storm winds slowed down, but they hadn’t stopped completely.”

Nathan: “I’m sorry, I jump to a conclusion and aimed all my frustration at you, it was wrong and I’m sorry, so please stop crying.”

Saria sniffled and wiped away her tears, her crying ceased and with it so did the wind. Unfortunately, that meant they could no longer support the trees.

Nathan: “Excuse me.”

Saria: “Ah, Hero, what are you-?”

With Saria in hand, Nathan quickly leapt away from the falling debris, seconds before they crashed down. Once they were clear, Nathan sat Saria down. Looking around at the damage, it scared him to think all this was just her throwing a tantrum. He turned back to Saria, getting herself together. He offered her hand.

He understood he was wrong, from her appearance and her age he assumed she was more mature then she actually was. Right now, she was like a kid who got blamed for something she didn’t do. They were comparable to Iris, at least she had instructions from Amelia.

Nathan: “Feeling better?”

Saria: “Y-Yes, sorry you had to see that.”

Nathan: “No, don’t worry about it, in truth if this was my world, a semi naked girl crying like that, while a man stood over her, I’m am truly glad no one saw this.”

Nathan was felt like scum, jumping to conclusions and trying to force the answer he wanted to hear, when she was probably telling the truth the entire time or at least her truth.

Saria: “No, I can see how anyone would believe what you did, but I can assure we’re not prisoners. I know this to be fact, the one who made this our home was our mother.”

Nathan: “Your mother huh, Celes mentioned her earlier, apparently, I’ve met her at some point.”

Saria: “What, where was this!?”

Nathan: “I’m sorry I honestly don’t know, I can’t remember anything between falling in a hole and waking up in the Amelia’s study.”

Saria: “If you had met that means, mother is awake, wait, how is she so certain you’ve met?”

Nathan: “Well it’s kinda hard to explain, well……. let me just show you instead.”

Nathan close his hand and then reopened them, the usual ball of light appeared. Nathan made several more, the at once tossed them to the ground. Each phasing into the ground and rising back out as fully grown plants. With the enchantment gone, his abilities were back at full power. He looked over to Saria and was shocked, she had that exact same reaction as Celes. One of disbelief and then a huge smile.

Saria lunged towards Nathan, he reflexively dodge, but she change her trajectory as fast as he dodge.

*Squiiiiiiiish*

She grabbed him and with snake like vice, smashed him into her bosom. Hugging him tighter and tighter, every squeeze cutting off his circulation.

Nathan: “MMMMMMMPPPPPHHHHH, *Deep Breath*, H-HEY, LET GO, SUFFOCATION, NO BREATHING, THEY WENT SQUISH!”

Saria: “Mother, she here, her blessing, so happy”.

Nathan: “LOOK HERE, TAPPING OUT, I’M AM TAPPING MMMPH MMMMPHH!!!”

Saria continued her embrace, long after Nathan stop fighting back, or moving at all.

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Nathan on hands and knees, sucked in breath after breath of air.

Nathan: “This is the third time tonight I almost died, well at least two of them would be a blissful end.”

Saria: “I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me, I was just so happy.

Nathan watched as this girl could not control her excitement, even now she continued to fidget.

Nathan: “Are you gonna be okay?”

Saria: “Yes I am, I’m just fighting the “Extreme Urge” to embrace you once again.”

Nathan: “Please don’t lose that fight, your hug was dangerous…….in more ways than one.”

Saria Eventually got herself together, but just in case, Nathan planted some Snyare for protection.

Nathan: “Now, if your mother was the one who built this Garden, then I can safely assume she knew about Celes.”

Saria: “Yes, Mother would definitely have known, however, Celes is amongst the youngest of us sisters and the Garden was here way before her time. Mother is many things, but a clairvoyant she is not.”

Nathan: “If you’re not prisoners, then if by any chance the Gorgon was to make the entire area uninhabitable.”

Saria: “I truly hope it doesn’t come to that but if that happens, then we would have no other choice but to travel to another Garden.”

Nathan: “There are more?”

Saria: “Yes including this one there are four. We are in the southern most Garden.”

Nathan: “Do you keep in contact with them?”

Saria: Yes, in fact my last message was right after all the trouble begun, I wanted to see if anything had happened to them as well.”

Nathan: “And?”

Saria: Nothing, they reported everything was fine, only our Garden was in trouble.”

Nathan started to formulate a thought, but he needed a little more information to put things together.

Nathan: “Hey, I know this is off topic, but is there anything of importance here, something the other Gardens don’t have?”

Saria: “Nothing I could think of, oh, Lady Amelia’s study.”

Could that be it, but if then if that was the case he knew exactly what was going here.

Saria: “Oh right, there’s also Celes.”

Nathan: “What about her?”

Saria: “Well she is next in line to become Mother.”

Nathan: “Your sister going to be your mom, how’s that workout!?”

Saria: “Huh, ah, ahahahahahahahahah.”

Nathan: “What’s so funny?”

Saria: “I’m sorry, but you misunderstand, though I refer to her as mother, it is not what your assuming.

Nathan: “Huh?”

Saria: “The term Mother is use in reference to our queen.”

Nathan: “Your queen?”

Saria: “Yes, she rules over all nymphs and guide us with her power to control and wield nature itself. She not our actual mother, she just is referred to as such. Celes will inherit the title along with the power, if anything were to happen to the queen.”

Nathan: “Something like death?”

Saria: “I’m afraid so.”

Nathan: “Well, if she so powerful where is she right now?”

Saria: “I don’t know, the last time she was here she said, she would be sleeping, but when I checked the bottom of her favorite lake, I couldn’t find her, until now, I thought she went to one of the other lakes to sleep. If she had awoken she would have come to greet us like always.”

Nathan: “(Bottom of the lake)Have she ever slept this long before?”

Saria: “No, we sleep for several hours like anyone else, but she has been sleeping for several years now. Though at some point she must awaken.”

Nathan: “Why is that?”

Saria: “Well, she replaced your Legacy with her blessing.”

Nathan: “What?”

Saria: “You understand how at birth everyone is gifted with a Legacy, even those from other worlds.”

Nathan: “Mhmm?”

Saria: “Well, in some instances, there are a few powerful beings who can rewrite ones Legacy, if it suits their needs.”

Nathan: “So she gave me these abilities, because it benefits her, sounds a bit selfish.”

Saria: “Selfish…………. I guess you could see it that way from your point of view, but to be honest, I’d prefer if you didn’t think such thoughts.”

Nathan: “Sorry, I’ll keep my thoughts to myself (This is the third time, what is with this world and doing what they want to me while I sleep).”

Nathan was feeling the same frustration from earlier, everyone keep saying that the modifications to his body are a good thing. He doesn’t actually hate them, but he wished someone would ask him if it was okay.

He shook his head and focused, he didn’t have time for this, he needed to figure out some stuff about Celes.

Nathan: “…………Wait a minute, if Celes is next in line doesn’t that make her a princess?

Saria: “ Yeah, I guess so, why does that matter?”

Nathan: “(Because, I just bathe with her and seen every nook and cranny, not to mention she pretty skillful with her hands.) AS IF I COULD SAY THAT.”

Saria: “Is everything alright!?”

Nathan: Yes, I just figuring some stuff out, thank you for your help, oh and sorry for holding you, also if I offended you in any way.”

Saria: “There is no need for apologies, this was a very engaging conversation.”

Nathan: “Well then, should we head back.”

Nathan had gotten what he needed, he initial thought were flawed. The ones he had now were way more solid. Plus, he really wanted to get away from her.

Saria: “Actually, c-can I ask a request?”

Saria twiddle her fingers, blushing as she got waited to hear his answer.

Nathan: “Uhh, sure?”

Saria: “If it’s at all possible, might I embrace you wants again?”

Nathan: “……………………..”

Nathan smiled to Saria, hop down from the rock and took off running.

Saria: “Hey, why are you running away, Hero?”

Nathan ignored her and disappeared into the trees.

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Nathan opened his eyes, the familiar white void stretch out into the horizon. He remembered running to his room after Saria ask to suffocate him with affection and now he was back in this white space.

Nathan: “There better be guns this time.”

Girl: “What’s a gun?”

Nathan turned around to find the same girl from last time.

Nathan: So, it is you again.”

Girl: “Who else were you expecting?”

Nathan: “Tall guy, dark skin, bald head, black clothes, really cool pair of shades and a shit load guns.”

Girl: “That’s a very distinctive image.”

Nathan laugh a bit from her reaction.”

Nathan: “So are you gonna tell me something important, or are you going to fade from existence again?”

Girl: “Actually, I’m just here to talk, you gotten out of the Study, that’s great.”

Nathan: “Yeah, but you could have told me the way out, if you knew.”

Girl: “Yes, but would you have explored and found all those wonderful items, even if you did, without my help you would have no way to transport it all.”

Nathan: “Well, you could have just told me everything.”

Girl: “Sorry, I was in a bit of trouble, I couldn’t stay long, but now I’m free to chat, tell me what’s troubling you.”

Nathan: “I’m don’t really have anything to talk about.”

Girl: “Really, not even about, how you made some girl cry?”

Nathan: “Aheheheh, you saw that huh?”

Girl: “More like you won’t stop thinking about it.

Nathan: “Yeah I really jumped the gun on that one, everything that happened, it all seemed way too-”

Girl: “Convenient?”

Nathan: “Like everything was set up for that conclusion, me having to fight.”

Girl: “Like I said, if you need to get something off your chest, I can lend an ear.”

The girl ushered Nathan to sit, he scratched his head, maybe she could offer some unbiased feedback. He began telling her about the fight he had with the Gorgon, follow by the conversations he had after wards and all his worries about him being the Hero.

Girl: “Why don’t you give up?”

Nathan: “……………Ok, that’s not what I was expecting to hear.”

Girl: What else is there to say, only an idiot would get caught in someone else’s melodrama and risk their lives for a complete stranger. I’d wouldn’t want to fight for anyone who couldn’t give a shit how I feel and then expect me to fight and die for them.”

She started flipping middle fingers into the nothingness. Nathan was surprised that her train of thought so aligned with his.

Girl: “I have a solution.”

Nathan: “Oh?”

Girl: “Your trapped in the Garden right now, right?

Nathan: “Right?”

Girl: “Then that means no one outside the Garden knows who you are or what you are, right?”

Nathan: “Ah, I see where you’re going, a simple plan, but it should work.”

Girl: “Right, right, see it not that hard, plus this way you can do what you need done, without drawing attention, just make sure you don’t do anything to crazy.”

Nathan breathed a sigh, it was such a simple thing to do, but the results should suffice.

Girl: “Is there anything else?”

Nathan: “Actually, mmmmmmph!?

Girl: “……………Huh?”

Suddenly, Nathan felt like he couldn’t breathe, like he was being smothered. All at once, the white along with the girl seemed to fade and was replaced with giant white puff, the looks an awful lot like marshmallows. Out of nowhere they had surrounded him, crushing and smothering him in a soft embrace. He tried to scream, but the marshmallows were relentless, quickly muffling his voice. Harder and harder it became to breath and then he was falling. Down along with the suffocating feeling.

*Thud*

Nathan: “What the Mmmmmmph, *Deep Breath*, SARIA, mmmmmmmph!?”

Nathan, awaken to find himself back in his room, within Saria’s embrace. He had fallen off the bed, subconsciously trying to break free of her grasp. She hug him tighter every time he pulled away, unconsciously shoving her chest in his face.

Nathan: “SARIA WAKE UP, SUFFOCATION, NO BREATHING, MARSHMALLOWS!”

The doors that separated his and Iris’s room burst open.

Iris: “HERO, WHATS WRONG, *Gasp*!?”

Anais: “What the hell are you doing!?”

Nathan: “IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK, GET HER OFF OF MMMMPPPHHH!?”

Celes: “*Yawn*”

All eyes turned towards the sound, Celes sat up in bed, the sheets falling off her as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She looked around, half asleep and then smiled to everyone. All eyes fell back onto Nathan.

Nathan: I’M TELLING YOU IT’S NOT THAT, MMMMMMPPPH.”

Anais: “Y-you, w-with th-the b-both o-of th-them?”

Iris: “Master....how could you?”

Nathan: “NO, IRIS IT’S NOT THAT.”

Iris: “Even the we’re in the same house, HOW COME THEY CAN SLEEP IN YOUR ROOM, BUT I CAN’T?”

Nathan&Anais: “YOUR WORRIED ABOUT THE WRONG THINGS!!!!!”

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_

Anais: “You want us to stop calling you hero?”

After clearing some misunderstanding and separating from Celes and Saria, the three decided to head over to discuss the plan of action.

Nathan: “Yeah, I thought about it and this the best thing for me.”

Anais: What do you mean?”

Nathan: “The other day I told everyone that I wouldn’t fight because I didn’t want to, that was only half of it. The truth of it all is, I hated that they believe that since I hold the title of Hero that I should confront the Gorgon on those bases alone.”

Anais: “Ah, that water nymph, who said it was your job.”

Nathan: “I don’t want the title to dictate the actions that people think I should take. If am going to fight anything or save anyone, I wanted to because I decided to do so. So, when we’re outside of the Garden, neither of you are to call me Hero.”

Anais: “I don’t call you that anyway.”

Nathan: “Yeah, but I was actually saying this for her.”

Anais: “Huh, oh boy.”

Iris floated along with a dead smile, she had tuned out the conversation, right after Nathan said to not call him Hero.

Nathan: Iris, I know you don’t want to but you have to.”

Iris: “Have to what “Hero”?”

Nathan: “Come on Iris, say my name.”

Iris: “No.”

Anais: “Why you being such a stubborn pest?”

Iris: “Rodents may be disrespectful and call him without a title, however, I shall not.”

Anais: “What did you say?”

Anais suddenly had an idea, she smirked deviously.

Anais: “You know, you’re being really disrespectful towards Nathan at the moment?”

Iris: “Hold your tongue Vermin, I would never do such a thing.”

Anais: “Oh yeah, well the hero is asking you to do something for him, but by not obliging, you are causing him unnecessary strife in the foreseeable future. He’s asking you, not to refer to him as such, yet you completely and utterly refuse to comply with his wishes. So, in this moment you are without a doubt showing him, DISRESPECT.”

Nathan: “Anais, Iris don’t listen to her-”

Nathan might as well have been talking to himself, Iris ad already taken Anais’s words to heart.

Iris: “(Is it truly disrespect? By referring to him as Hero I’m showing him the utmost respect, but he himself wish for me not to. Though a mere guardian, calling the Hero by his name is a complete show of disrespect. But continuing to call him Hero, I’m going against wishes, that is without a doubt disrespect, but as a guardian I must, but at the same time, I mustn’t. Doing what he asked me not to do, but having no choice but to just that).”

Steam began flowing from Iris’s head, she was nearing overload.

Nathan: “She having a meltdown, Anais, why did you do that (Aww, my persuasion points)?”

Anais: “Daaaaahahahahahahahahaha!”

Anais rolled around on the ground in laughter as Nathan tried to bring Iris out of her continuous looping chain of disrespect.