Leo looked down. “Yeah. To tell ya the truth, Aki’s waiting for me in my room.”
“WHAT?!” Mina shrieked, clearly misunderstanding him.
Leo waved his hand in front of his face and clarified, “Don’t get the wrong idea! She’s not there for romantic reasons… There’s nothing weird between us. Something happened between her and Elias. She was bawling in front of his room when I entered the hallway.”
“Why?!” the others asked as one, worrying even more than before.
Leo placed his hand on his chin. “Can’t say. I haven’t heard the details myself. My guess is Elias lashed out at her… So I brought her to my room to ask about it.”
The others shared a look before Mina spoke for the group. “I see… At least that means Elias woke up. That’s good, but…it definitely sounds like he did something to upset Aki.”
“…Who can blame him after all he went through?” Louis prompted in a quiet voice. “Elias is strong, but even he has to be reeling in shock and doubt. I don’t think he will be able to brush it under the rug and act the way he did before like nothing ever happened.”
Everyone sighed and looked away from each other.
Surprisingly, it was Johann who broke the heavy silence hanging over the room. “Good grief. Elias is such a handful,” he said in a cheerful voice that belied his somber words. “Knowing him, he’s wallowing in self-pity, blaming himself for everything that happened. He has always been that way.”
Nostalgia reflected in Johann’s eyes as he thought back on his childhood with Elias. “Elias’s remorse is stronger than anyone else because he tries to be perfect,” he continued, speaking from experience. “He believes being the perfect Hero is the only reason for his existence…”
Everyone’s shoulders slumped as if they had each experienced that side of Elias for themselves.
“…But his heart is still human—it’s nigh impossible for him to remain perfect every hour of the day,” Johann sighed. “So I hope this incident will help our stubborn hero realize that’s why the Hero has a party—has us.” He gave a small smile. Those lips that were so unused to turning up managed to brighten the mood.
As strong as the Hero was, there were some problems that his strength alone wouldn’t be able to solve.
In those situations, he just had to rely on his fellow party members instead of going at it alone. If his abilities couldn’t break the deadlock, then he just had to have a friend who could do it. Elias needed to learn his limitations and when to ask for help.
In a sense, Elias was an extremely prideful hero. He was obsessed with being the perfect, remarkable Hero everyone in the world looked up to. Failing in any way made him question his mere existence.
“It’s because of his perfectionism that Elias refuses to let anyone see him look weak,” Johann said. “But this time he actually vented his anger on someone—namely Aki. I think that is a good sign. She is the Hero’s Right-hand and his secretary, so it’s a part of her job to look after him when he’s having a mental breakdown. Maintaining the Hero’s mental health comes with the job.”
Johann’s word choice was so funny Leo burst out laughing. “Comes with the job, huh? That’s one way to look at it! Seriously though, Elias and Aki are both such a handful. Take your eyes off them for a minute and they get into trouble. I’ve gotta be there to keep them straight.”
“Exactly. They think they can do everything alone,” Johann agreed.
“Like you’re one to talk!” Leo retorted, causing the smile to freeze on Johann’s face. Everyone laughed.
Johann was trying to solve all his problems without consulting anyone either. Perhaps everyone has a side that’s desperate to do whatever it takes to accomplish something alone, rather than ask for help.
Johann cleared his throat and changed the awkward topic. “Anyway, we will discuss what to do with the Book of Creation and where to go from here, so can you take care of Elias and Aki for us, Leo? I believe you can handle their issue best,” he said to Leo, then handed Louis the Book of Creation.
“Leave deciphering the text to me,” Louis said.
Louis must have been the most proficient with ancient script for Johann to give him the book. Having such a knowledgeable person on hand was a huge gain for their party.
Leo headed over to the dining room counter and ordered tea with honey from the innkeeper in the back.
Sweet drinks typically went over well with women. He hoped Aki would like it too. As he was thinking of Aki, Leo suddenly realized that Nako was nowhere to be seen. She was supposed to be waiting back at the inn with Johann when Leo went off to find Elias and Aki.
Leo returned to the table with two drinks on a tray. “Hey, Johann, where did Nako go? Out for more snacks?”
She was an assertive woman like Aki; maybe she went into town to buy things for her exhausted older sister.
Johann shared a look with Sutcliff and loosely shook his head. “…No, she…had to return to the Dark Lord’s Castle with him to attend to some other business. I was there when she left, so I can vouch for her safety…”
Leo eyed him suspiciously.
“I’m heading back to the castle first, so I’ll check in on Lady Nako,” Sutcliff chimed in before Leo could question Johann further. “You’re better off hearing about her situation from the Dark Lord.”
From the Dark Lord? Then it had to be a topic they couldn’t discuss here. With that in mind, Leo decided not to push it.
“That works. I’m good as long as she’s okay. I’ll let Aki know. All right, I’m off to cheer up our girl.”
Then I’ll have to have a good talk with Elias and help him snap out of his funk. These two always keep me on my toes, he thought with a wry smile.
The legendary brave who carried the fate of the world on his shoulders and was worshipped as the Hero was actually just a young man who worried like the rest of mankind. He needed a good scolding when he was in the wrong too.
And we’re the only ones who can do that as his friends.
Leo started up the stairs when Mina called after him. “Take care of them, Leo!”
Without looking back, he raised the hand that wasn’t carrying the tray. “You’ve got it. I’ll do something about this. Give me advice later if I need it,” he said, ascending the stairs under the watchful eyes of his friends.
They sent him off with the hope he’d succeed in the battle ahead.