Headed by a Snake



"What? N-no?"

Gobbuto realized his mouth was wide open. 

He quickly fixed himself. A professional gentleman had to keep his bearing at all times. 

"Ahem... I am not worthy of being--"

"[Sssstop right there, ya big ol' dork,]" Ree said, lazily lying back in her chair. "[You're worthy. And you're coming with us. It's already been decided.]"

"M-my place is here," Gobbuto countered weakly. 

[We need your strength,] Troia signed, before bowing politely.

Oh-- oh no. 

Gobbuto quickly bowed in return-- but that wasn't enough. Knocking back his chair, he dropped to a knee to make sure his head was lower than that of the Holy Princess. 

"P-please... do not bow, H-high Oracle-- not for me."

"Troia's right," Pale said. "We need you, Gobbuto. Your strength, your skill, your companionship. I'll talk to Tycon and have you reassigned to our unit... but only if you're willing."

"I..."

"[What's the big deal?]" Ree groaned, "[You joined us before-- or are you too good for us now?]"

"That-- that was..."

[This is your calling,] Troia signed. [Belonging to this generation, you are worthy. You are a Hero! We are all Heroes.]

Gobbuto swallowed. His hands were cold and trembling. His heart was beating so quickly, he feared for his life. 

He couldn't even speak.

He merely nodded his head. 

The Holy Princess-- her face beamed as if illuminated by supernatural light. She grabbed hold of Pale's arm, jumping in glee. 

"Glad to have you back," Pale nodded... "Little Brother."

"[Good job, big boy~]" Ree waved. "[I'm thirsty. Go get me a drink, Little Bro.]"

Gobbuto felt his eye twitch. When they traveled together before, he had refused Kimura flippant requests, claiming his age as a defense. 

It seemed she had remembered. 

However... instead of being annoyed, he felt a warmth in his chest. 

It didn't feel so bad... to be relied upon. 

Suddenly, the double doors to the game room burst open. 

It was Leader Tycondrius? And he looked like he was in a hurry. 

"Pale!!" Tycon yelled, "Gather your companions immediately. Then, head to the armory to prepare for a lengthy excursion."

Wh-what? 

They had a mission? And so soon?

Gobbuto was told that the Heroes rated a one week respite...

Something... terrible must have happened. 

Tycon walked toward them but stopped abruptly... "Hm... Gobbuto?"

...Gobbuto waved shyly.

"Wrong. Do it again-- and with respect."

Gobbuto straightened his back and rendered a proper salute, "Gobbuto, son of Gobsuke, reporting."

"Hmph," Tycon nodded, "Still professional in civilian attire, I see. You are your father's son, Gobbuto-- though your etiquette is far superior. I approve."

"R-received, Leader!!" Gobbuto responded in a loud voice.

"Sir Tycon!" Pale saluted, "Requesting that Gobbuto be assigned to our unit!"

"Consider it done," Tycon replied. "How long do you need to rally? As of current, the passage of time is not our ally."

Pale grabbed his spear, resting against his chair. Then he spun it around before slamming its base into the floor. 

"This is all of us, Sir," he said with a smile, "Requesting a bell to gear up."

Gobbuto summoned his courage to speak-- "L-leader! We have... paper..."

"(Speak freely, son of Gobsuke,)" Tycon said in accented Nemayan. 

He did not look pleased, but nevertheless, Gobbuto was eternally grateful for the kindness. 

"(We have prepared packing lists for emergency departure,)" he said. "(We can be ready to leave in 20 minutes, at most.)"

Sasarame had seen to it that preparations were made in the case of Hero's Hearth being overrun. Or perhaps she had predicted the current scenario? 

"I want you in the briefing room in one bell," Tycon commanded-- "not fifteen minutes prior, one bell exactly." 

Switching back to Nemayan, he added, "(Your journey may be a year or longer. Destination: unknown. Conditions: unknown. Do you understand?)"

Gobbuto slammed his fist against his chest in a salute. 

"(Glory to) Sol Invictus!"

Not just Leader, but the entire guild was relying on him. 

It was... his calling. 

War raged across the Realm, fighting against the shadows of dragons. 

And he-- as one of many, would stand against them. 

In that... he was content. He knew his place. He knew what had to be done. 

--but he was not blind. 

The time had come for the current generation to fight against tyranny. 

The dragons sought to slaughter those who fought and enslave their children. 

But... even against impossible odds, he and a hundred thousand others would fight and die to prevent that future. 

And the symbol of those hundred thousand... was a man in his midst. 

Pelor... Hero of Sol Invictus. 

That man turned to their Leader... 

"Brother-Tycon?" 

"Young Master Pale," Tycon scowled. "Why the f*ck are you still here?"

"What's at stake?" Pale asked, the flames of justice burning hot in his eyes. 

"Everything I still give a shite about," Tycon responded, the coldest steel in his voice. 

"Are... you coming too?"

Pale showed his concern as he glanced back to the Holy Princess. 

Troia... was in no condition to deploy. That fact was obvious even to Gobbuto, a man unfamiliar with the Divine Classes of the Holy Country. 

"This is a journey you must undertake without me," Tycon said. 

"And... Sasha?"

Tycon grit his teeth, suddenly reluctant. 

"I... will place her under your care... Heed my words, young man... if anything happens to her..."

The Ivory Prince did not finish the statement. 

No words were enough to convey his meaning...

But his intent was something even a simple beast would understand. 

"I'll keep her safe," Pale nodded. "Believe in me, Sir."

Tycon's face twisted as if he were in the presence of Stephanos, the Fierce Knight. 

"You are the future leader of Sol Invictus," he said. "And, as such, you are defined not by your words, but by your actions."

Pale grinned in response, "Troia, Ree, Gobbuto. Let's move."

"[I'm fired up!]" Ree exclaimed. 

Troia balled up her fists, her spirits high. 

"Everyone, please," Gobbuto said, reclaiming his helmet from Kimura, "Follow me to Armory."

"But before that--" the voice of a young girl interrupted, "how about you explain the situation, Father?"

...

Tycondrius was baffled by Sasarame's presence. 

Still dressed in her white, Tyrion robes, she always excelled in showing the proper etiquette and grace of House Charm. 

That kind and sweet child had never shown him such disobedience. 

Explanations were unnecessary.

They were also counterintuitive to his plans. 

Pale stepped forward, "I trust you, Sir Tycon. If you're hiding something, you must have a good reason."

Tycon grit his teeth. He was glad for the boy's faith. However, he was not acting with honor, as Pale might have expected. 

He was motivated by cowardice. 

And, as his daughter had implied, deceit was involved. 

It was for the best that they all heeded his commands. 

"Instant and willing obedience to orders," said a determined Pale. 

[I am willing,] Troia signed. 

Gobbuto inclined his head, "I hear and I obey."

"Yup, what they said," Kimura added. 

Tycon closed his eyes and crossed his arms, concentrating on his breathing. 

They would keenly remember the events of the sun. 

They would remember it as the sun their leader betrayed them. 

"Tell them, Father," Sasha urged. 

He could not. 

Any explanation he'd try to provide would be vague and full of holes. 

Any more duplicity and he risked losing the children's faith... 

It was... for the best.

"Father!!" Sasha shouted, "Tell them how you're sending us away!"

"Daughter!!" Tycon yelled, instilling mana into his voice to suppress hers, "that is *enough!*"

A brief silence reigned over the room. 

Sasha kept standing... her determination to rebel, unwavering. 

There was a sadness in her eyes that Tycon knew would plague his nightmares for the rest of his suns. 

"Oy..." Kimura grimaced, "What's she trying to say, Boss?"

She lowered her head, "It can't be... a dragon, right?"

Pale corrected her immediately, "Dragons don't exist, Ree." 

"One does," Sasha declared. 

"Boss!" Kimura exclaimed, "even if it's something that doesn't exist, we-- we can help!"

"Be silent, daughter of House Kimura," Tycon growled, "or I will *break* you."

With that, the young lady paled in fear, shutting her mouth as she took a step back. 

Troia, the Holy Princess, stood in front of her as if to protect her. 

She opened her mouth... and spoke in the language of the Celestials. 

"(ivory prince...) 

"(your heart cries out...)

"(in fear...)

"(in pain.)"

Fear? Pain? Nonsense. 

His heart was filled only with rage. 

"(Heed my words, Daughter of Flame!!)" he demanded. "(I hold RANK over thee!)"

--in... Celestial. 

He did not know he could speak that language until that moment. 

He knew it was Celestial because both Kimura Taree and Gobbuto immediately fell to their knees, bowing their heads to touch the floor. 

Troia was also in danger of falling but Pale kept her steady. 

That young man... ever-brave... ever resolute... his gaze remained steady and unbroken. 

Ah. 

Troia spoke true. 

As Tycon looked upon the boy, his heart ached. 

As he looked upon the son of his dear friend, he feared the boy's next utterance. 

Would he ask a question that Tycon could not escape? 

Would he show his disapproval for a man unworthy of leading his father's guild? 

Was he, too, hurt and afraid?

That boy trusted him. That was undeniable. 

Yet... Pale shifted his gaze, looking past him.

"We're going, Sasha," he said. "We need you, too. So let's all calm down and..."

"STUPID!!!" Sasha cried, "Stupid, stupid, STUPID PALE!!"

She stomped her way toward him and despite having to look up to his height, Pale shrunk back, his eyes wide. 

"How can you be like this?" Sasha demanded, "Father is sending us AWAY!! Off-Realm!! That is AWAY from OUR Realm! NEVER to return!"

Tycon held out his hand, "Daughter..."

"Don't TOUCH me, Father!" Sasha cried, slapping away his hand. "If you're so insistent, then just ⌈FORGET⌋ about me!!!"

Ah. 

Very well. 

Tycon looked up at the nondescript cavernous ceiling. 

His daughter had become rebellious. 

He apologized to Suka in his heart.

His life was no longer worth living-- or that's how it felt, anyroad. 

"Tycon," Pale said, his voice low but firm, "is this true?"

Tycon lowered his head, meeting Pale's gaze. 

The strength of his bloodline had made it so he was unable to lie without grave physical and magical repercussions. 

Granted... he could not lie to Palet, even if he had the option. 

--not when he looked at him like that. 

Tycon flicked his wrist, summoning a missive he had prepared beforehand. 

"I want you to seek out Hero Ravidius," he said as he handed it to Pale. "When you find him, give him this. He will provide you a semblance of safety and shelter. Then, he will assist you in finding a new Realm to champion."