Chapter 25: A Hero’s Duty Part 1

Nathan Lowell Level: 8

HP:2115/2115 MP: 207/338 SB: 75 /100

Title: Sweeper

Race: Human/Lycanian

Legacy: Nature’s Blessing

Skill: Tweak

Ability: Phytokinesis, Heal, Therapy, Tranquil, Plant Growth, Gardener Ability: Photosynthesis, Threat Detection, Clearmind, Enhanced Reflexes, Hyper Senses, Co-op Stats Party: 4

STH 71 Inventory

DEF 111

INT 62

AGI 99

LUCK 80

Persuasion 12% Bribery 8% Thievery 45% Charisma 31% Finesse 19%

Titles: (Hero?)

Nathan: “Heheheheeheheeheehehe, aheheheheheheheheheheh!”

Iris: …………..Master?”

Nathan: “Huhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhu!”

Saria: “……………Hero?”

Nathan: “Hahahahahahahahahahahahahah.”

Celes: “(HERO?)”

Nathan: “AHH Celes, don’t scream thoughts at me.”

Celes: (I’m sorry, could you please stop that creepy laughing?)”

Nathan: “Oh……….. sorry.”

Nathan laugh awkwardly, everyone’s eyes were on him. He was so absorbed in his levels he had not realize he was even making a sound. He decided to equipped one of his title and "Sweeper" was the perfect fit. It increases his strength by three points, but the best thing about this title, it increase finesse by three percent. The higher his finesse the easier it was to deal critical and one-hit strikes.

Nathan got up, he was going to continue creating seeds, all towards completing his strategy, but was stopped by Iris. His plan is the same as the one he was captured by, but with all the plants grown by him. This way he has complete control over the area, but he had to rest for a moment or more like he was made to rest.

He had produce a lot of seeds and making each one stronger with his blood. He had to be honest it was tiring and it wasn’t like all this was free. Making seeds usually two to ten mana points, depending on the seeds variety and function, plus he needed a drop of blood for each individual seed to activate his Gardener ability, which also use twenty mana points.

If he heals himself, he will be wasting even more mana and “Heal” doesn’t replenish his blood. Even with “Photosynthesis” refilling his mana, fatigue from blood loss was apparent.

Iris, decided he was going to take a break after making all the seeds and leave prep for everyone else. She was incredibly annoyed right now, Nathan hurting himself was the single thing she just could not tolerate. She understood the reasons like always, but the second he was done, he made him sit and watch.

As he watched everyone getting things ready, he felt the need to help.

Water Nymph: “Oh my, Miss Iris, the Hero’s not resting.”

Nathan: “Ah, tattletale.”

Iris: “Master, didn’t I tell you to rest, please stop making things difficult.”

Nathan: “Oh come on, it’s my plan I should help, besides how do you plan on lifting this?”

Iris pointed to the pile of wood, it lifted from Nathan’s hand and move next to Iris.

Iris: “No need for your assistance, please continue resting Master.”

Nathan “Grrrgggh, darn independent women.”

Iris lifted levitated Nathan off the ground and sat him back over on the pillow she had brought with her.

Iris: “Now, “Master” this is the fourth time, please just rest.”

Iris floated away to finish, while Nathan sat there, hands on his chin, sulking. Every time he would attempt to help, one of the girls would rat him out to Iris and she would fly over and sat him back on the pillow. He still felt tired from the blood loss and his mana wasn’t at full compacity yet, but he couldn’t just sit and watch a bunch of girls work on something he though up.

????: “Psssst!”

Nathan looked over to find someone waving for him from behind a tree.

Nathan: “(Now what could she want)?”

Nathan checked to see if anyone was watching, sure that there wasn’t he snuck away towards his caller. Coming into the area he saw her, trying to stay out of sight.

Nathan: “What can I do for you, Lynn?”

Lynn: “You mind if we move a little further away?”

Nathan: “…………….Sure?”

Nathan was a little worried, he didn’t feel it at the moment but she definitely at that time, she was definitely throwing invisible death threats. Following her into the darker parts of the woods didn’t seem too smart though it was too late for that he was already behind her.

They walked a littles way off, just out of hearing range. There were a few more nymphs around, all the ones who decided to stay behind. Nathan put up his guard, he was still a little tired, but if he had to, he will defend himself.

Nathan: “So, what did you need?”

Lynn bowed her head.

Lynn: “I wanted to apologize for how I acted earlier, I did not mean to sound ungrateful.”

Nathan: “It’s fine, I wasn’t particularly worried about it, if you could please everybody, “Disagree” would lose its meaning, but I don’t think that’s all you wanted?”

Lynn: “No, actually-”

She paused, like she was trying to find the right words to say.

Lynn: “I-I want you to send Saria and the rest of my sister’s home.”

Nathan: “What?”

Lynn: “You must understand, that all this is fruitless, the creature want be stopped by these traps and your actions are putting them all in needless danger.”

Nathan: “Excuse me, my actions!?”

Lynn: “Come now, because you put these silly thoughts of fighting in their heads, there willing to put themselves in harm’s way, thoughts like this never occurred until you arrived, it could only be your fault.”

Everyone around agreed on what she just said. They pleaded for him to comply with Lynn wishes, they wholeheartedly believe, Nathan was responsible for their sister’s change. His words might have awoken something in them, but he never asked them to move. He doesn’t remember doing anything to warrant these accusations and all of them casually saying it was his fault, like it was a given.

Nathan: “……..Well, I’m outta here.”

Lynn: “Wait, what about my sisters.”

Nathan: “Yeaaahhh, I’m not going to do that.”

Lynn: “What?”

Nathan: “Complying with your selfish wishes, would mean I would have to step on their “Determination, which I won’t do. And to be honest, to be honest I don’t like you or owe you anything.”

Water nymph: “How dare you speak to Lynn that way!?

Nathan glared over to the spectators, who instantly quiet down upon eye contact. He turned back to Lynn.

Nathan: “If you want Saria to go back, then tell her yourself, she’s your sister.”

Lynn: “BECAUSE, SHE WON’T LISTEN TO ME.”

Lynn outburst shock the other girls standing around, she was angry.

Lynn: “I went to her, right after you finished talking, I ask her, pleaded for her to not go, let you and the guardians deal with it, but she wouldn’t listen. But she listens to everything you say, like as if you were Mother, she doesn’t doubt a word you say.”

With that, Nathan started to get it, it’s because no one knows about his relations to their queen except, Celes and Saria. If it’s like this, it would be better to just come clean. A little extra affection, wasn’t worth dividing these sister’s faith.

Nathan: “Hey, listen about that, actually-”

Lynn: “STOP, I DON’T WANT TO HEAR IT!”

Nathan jumped from that, that was truly startling. Lynn tightened her fist, her emotions were coming out.

Lynn: “The way she looks at you, her affection, the way she clings to you, even to climb in the same bed. Why………………… why, does she do that for you, WHEN I WANTED HER TO DO THAT TO ME, ALL THIS TIME!?”

Lynn, it took her a second but then realizing what she just said turned bright red.

Nathan: “(……….Ooooooooohhhhhhh.)”

Iris: “Master, there you are, huh, what’s going on?”

Iris and Celes came looking for Nathan, after noticing he was gone. Upon their arrival, all the girls dipersed, except Lynn who pointed to Nathan, still beet colored.

Lynn: “I-I-I-I WANT GIVE HER TO YOU.”

Lynn flew off with those words, leaving Nathan stupefied.”

Iris: Master, what’s going on?”

Celes: “(Wasn’t that Lynn, why was she here?)”

Nathan: “……………..I think I just became the heroine.”

Celes&Iris: “(Huh?)”

_

_

Iris: So, childhood friend(Lynn), who grew up with the main character(Saria) secretly harbors feelings for her.”

Nathan: “Right.”

Celes: “(And the new transfer student(Nathan), who the main character, had a sudden interaction with, like seeing them naked, running to school and crashing into each other, her suddenly materializing in his tub completely naked, lead to the main character having feelings for said transfer student.)”

Nathan: “Right, right.”

Iris: “But, the childhood friend who won’t give up, has come to declare war on the transfer student, creating the clichéd love triangle, that you had no intention of joining!?”

Nathan: “Yes, yes, now do you get it?

Celes and Iris look to each other.

Iris&Celes: “(No.)”

Nathan: “Augh, if Anais was here it would be easier, seeing as how no one can hear your thoughts but me, Celes.”

Celes: “(No, I’m sure she would not understand either.)”

Iris: “I don’t understand, why is she so focused on stopping everyone from bettering themselves?”

Nathan: “In my world we have a saying, “To stand on one’s own feet”.”

Celes: “(What does that mean?)”

Nathan: “It’s what you and everyone here is attempting to do, you all decided your tired of being protected. Your guardians are MIA and you can’t just sit around watching other people fight your battles. Even if all you can do is slow it down, you still want to know that you at least tried to protect the ones you love with your own to hands.

You want to be that wall between them and whatever seeks to cause them harm. That feeling, that fire, that rages inside, the one screaming, I WILL PROTECT, that is the only reason someone should rush into battle. Even if you fail, right now all that matters is you tried, because in the end, it’s better to have tried and failed then to have never tried at all.”

Charisma +10

Nathan: “What the?”

Nathan looked up, he was startled to find everyone that everyone was staring at him, they had heard every word. The girl began to double their efforts, there would do what they had to do to protect their home.

Iris: “What an inspiring speech Master.”

Celes: “Yes, you certainly have a way with words.”

Nathan: “No, no, I honestly was not trying to inspire anyone, you all need to stop eavesdropping.”

Iris: “Alright, I shall get back to coordinating the plans, please excuse me.”

Nathan: “Well, then I’ll join youuuu?”

Nathan was once again lifted of the ground, floating over to the pillow and drop off.

Iris: Master, you have not yet recovered, please wait and rest.”

Nathan: “Uuuuuuuuuuuuuughhhhhh!”

Iris bowed and then flew off and continued her work. Celes watch on as Nathan groan in boredom.

Celes: “(Hero, I know I said this before, but thank you for everything.)”

Nathan: “I’m not really doing anything but, your welcome I guess.”

Celes shook her head in disagreement.”

Celes: “(To be honest, until you arrived, we would have never thought to do this, we just sat around doing nothing).”

Nathan: “But you did, you caught me in a trap twice, I wouldn’t call that sitting around doing nothing.”

Celes: “(We only moved, because we thought you were holding our sister hostage, otherwise we would have avoided you as well.)”

Nathan: “Celes, if you were listening to me at all a minute ago, that should be the ONLY reason you throw yourself into danger.”

Nathan patted her head and smiled.”

Nathan: “You all felt you needed to save your sister and was willing to fight in order to save her, even though you were scared. You guys always had it in you, you just needed the right reasons to act, you did a good job, stop doubting yourself.”

Celes hid her face, as Nathan rubbed her head, no matter how many times she thanked him, he always came up with a reason why she shouldn’t.

*Shwip*

Nathan froze in horror, while rubbing Celes’s head, he accidentally ripped out one of the flowers.

Celes: “(Ah, there goes another one.)”

Nathan: “AAAAAHHHH, I’M AM SO SORRY, DID THAT HURT, ARE YOU GONNA BLEED OUT, IS THIS REGICIDE?”

Celes: “(Hero, please calm down. You didn’t hurt me, it was just time for them to fall out, it happened every so often.)”

Nathan: “Really?”

Celes: “Yes, these “Genobes” keep my body pure and get rid of any infestation.”

Nathan: “Ah hunh?”

Celes: “Once they’ve turned completely black like this, their job is done and they fall out and are replaced. See a new one has already appeared.”

As she said, another one, had started to grow.

Nathan: “When you say infestation, you mean like poison?”

Celes: “(Yes, poison, insects, parasite, whatever inside me that shouldn’t be, the Genobes will eradicate it.)”

Nathan: “Ah……….. very helpful indeed(Gross).”

Celes: “(And if you remove the flower, when it first grows.)”

Celes pulled the newly sprouted flower from her head and placed it to the ground. A root grew, and buried itself into the ground, making a new flower.”

Nathan: “Oh?”

Celes: “(Hero, try placing two seeds in the pod).”

Nathan did as he was told, he placed to seeds on the flower. The pedals close around them, then begin to twinkle. When it reopened it there only one slightly larger seed, but it had turned completely black and lifeless.

Celes: “(Ah, so it was a dud, I guess those two were not compatible.)”

Nathan: “A dud, oh, it crossbreeds.”

Celes: “(Right, when they cannot perform their first function, they move to their second function, the ability to cross to plants. However, as you can see here, not all seeds can be crossbred, the results will be a dead seed like this one.)”

Nathan: “Oh, sound a lot like “Crafting” in games.” Not everything mixes so you have to experiment, but when you do find the right mix, the result could are almost always something truly unique.”

Nathan down at the flower, after hearing about it, he really wanted to have it. It would come handy later on, if he found the right combinations, he could add something to his arsenal. Right now, the Snyare and the Uzy was all he had that could cause damage, he could use his blood, but constantly doing that was definitely not a good idea, plus Iris would kill him.

Celes: “(Go ahead, I don’t mind if you eat it.)”

Nathan: “OH, I was that obvious huh, as long as you don’t mind?”

Celes: “(Please, I insist.)”

Nathan didn’t hesitate, and casual chewed on the flower.

*Ding*

Genobe consumed, Utilization countdown: 234 hrs

Nathan: “(Whoa!)”

He thought he could use this to help with the plan to slow the Gorgorn, but there was no way. While Nathan, fiddle with his screen, he had noticed Celes face. The thought, that a part of her was now a part of him, made her face flush.

Celes: “(Ehehehe!)”

Nathan: “Hey, you sure you’re okay?”

Celes: (I’m fine, n-nothing’s wrong.)”

Nathan: “But, you’re all red?”

Celes: “(It just the heat, I-I should get back to work, I’ll leave you to rest.)”

Nathan: “If your hot, you shouldn’t keep working.”

Nathan words fell on deaf ears, Celes quickly jumped up, she hurried off to join the others, leaving Nathan to rest.

Nathan: “………….Wait, aren’t we both resistant to heat?

_

_

It has been a few hours and still Iris forbade nathan to work, he was bored out of his mind.

Nathan: “That’s it, I’m outta here.”

Wind Nymph: “Ah, Miss Iris, he got up again.”

Water Nymph: “He’s trying to sneak away.”

Nathan: “Bunch of snitches.”

Iris: “Master, this becoming a nuisance.”

Nathan: “I’m not trying to help, I know when I not wanted, I’ll just going for a walk.”

Iris: “Then, I shall accompany you.”

Nathan: “No that’s okay, I’m just going to meet up with Anais, the study isn’t that far from here and your needed here.”

Iris: “My first and foremost responsibility is to you.”

Wind Nymph: “Miss Iris?”

Iris: “Hmn?”

Wind Nymph: “Sorry to disturb, but would mind showing us the layout for the traps once more?”

Iris: “I’m sorry, but I will be escorting Master somewhere, I help once we returned.”

The wind nymph looked around.

Wind Nymph: “Umm, where is the Hero?”

Iris: “Huh, ah, master snuck away.”

Iris began scanning the area for his signature, but could not pinpoint his location.

Iris: “For shame, using abilities I gave you, to avoid my detection.”

Iris looked down at her hand, he could hide from everyone else, but not his teammates. Currently he was making a beeline for another arrow. She sighed and turned back to the nymphs, as long as she knew where he was and how to get there, she could meet up with him at any time.

Nathan reappeared a little ways off and looked down at his hand. He was sure, she would be tracking him with the mini map on her hand, but she must had decided to stay behind.

He looked down at his hand, his MP was nearly filled, but he still felt tired. Maybe spilling all that blood just to beef up his seeds, wasn’t such a good idea, he could have only evolved what was necessary.

He shook his head, right now, there was no such thing as unnecessary. If he wanted to get through this without fighting, he would have to suck it up. Besides if Anais brings what he asks for he, the Gorgon would be powerless to locate anyone.

Nathan look up, the study was in view, he never took the time before, but it was a pretty wondrous sight. A tree atop a small hill, whose roots stretch down to the caves entrance, acting as a sought of natural camouflage. For someone from his world, this was a wonderful sight.

*rustle**rustle*

Nathan: “Who’s there?”

Nathan turned his head towards the sound, the wind was blowing, but that was way to distinctive to be the wind.

????: “Kyaa, *thud*”

Nathan: “Huh?”

Nathan walked back into the woods, he found a nymph, sprawled out on the ground from tripping over some bushes.

Nathan: “You again?”

Lynn quickly got herself together, completely ignoring the fact that she had just fell.

Lynn: “I wanted to speak with you once more, to make sure there was no other way.”

Nathan: “………….Hey, are you okay, you don’t look so good?”

Nathan, look her up and down, she looked as though something terrible has happened. A few hours ago, she was full of energy, now it look like she could collapse at any moment.

Lynn: “I-I’m fine, j-just are you going to admit what you did and send my sister home?”

There she goes, accusing for no apparent reason, he went from worrying to irritated instantly.

Nathan: “Second verse, same as the first, well, I’m outta here.”

Nathan turned to walk away, but then stopped. Now was as good as time as ever to explain why Celes and Saria were all over him the past few days. As he turned around, he was met with Lynn face to face.

Lynn: “*Fwooh*”

Nathan: “*cough cough* What the hell, why did you do that?”

Lynn: “I’m sorry, but you should have done your job.”

Nathan body suddenly felt heavy, like his legs couldn’t hold him up. What the hell did she just throw at him. Nathan looked up to Lynn, her face half anger, half afraid.

Nathan: “Ugunh, I-I don’t understand, I can’t be poisoned.”

Lynn: “Y-You can’t, well it doesn’t matter, I didn’t poison you, nor would I. How can you performs your duty as Hero, if you’re sick?”

Nathan: “Then what………?”

Before he could finish his sentence, he fell unconscious. Once she was sure he was a sleep she called out to her sisters. Two wind nymphs, crated an air current, that gently lifted Nathan off the ground. The wind encircled him and as if becoming the wind itself his body vanished without a trace. The two wind nymphs vanished as well, leaving Lynn alone. She hugged herself, trying desperately to type her shaking.

Lynn: “If you had just done your job, this wouldn’t have happened.”

*Fwossh*

Lynn: “AH!?”

The ground in front of Lynn, burst into flames, causing her to fall backwards. She turned to see the brown haired Therian girl, hands aflame from the spells she had yet to unleash.

Anais: “That was a warning, I don’t know what’s wrong with you and I really don’t care, but you’re going to call your sisters back, right now.”

Lynn shook on the ground, she had never been attack like this before and the Therian girl was closing in.

Lynn: “Stay back!” *splish*

Lynn swung her arms and a small torrent of water, surge towards Anais.

Anais: “Tch!”

Anais tossed the remaining spells at the wave, but it did not stop.

Anais: “Dammit!”

Lynn watched as the flood over took the Therian girl, it swirled around her and she was soon encased in a giant bubble. Lynn saw that the girl was struggling trying to get out, but to help her, she didn’t know what to do. She was panicking, not knowing what to do, she took to the sky flying away and leaving the girl to her fate.

Lynn: “Th-That wasn’t my fault, she attacked me, I didn’t know that would happen, it wasn’t my fault.”

Surely now the girl should have drowned by now, Saria would be sure to hear of what she’s done, she we be upset with her actions.

Lynn: “No, that girl was a part of the Hero’s party, if she dies, it meant she wasn’t strong enough, weaklings shouldn’t be in his party in the first place.”

She repeated this over and over as she flew away. That what she will say to Saria, she would definitely understand her after this.

Lynn: “She’ll see the light, just you wait sister, I’ll make everything normal again.”