Sarah wakes up the following morning and finds her visitor staggering about the area as if he were searching for something. She walks up to him cautiously because he was not yet healed, and might be unstable.
“Excuse me sir, you are not yet better. Is there something that I can help you to find?”
“My locket…I can’t find…ungh!”
He falls to a knee and Sarah quickly helps him back over to the couch, lying him back down.
“Just relax. Is this what you’re looking for?”
Sarah hands the man back his locket and a big grin forms across his face, and almost a tear in his eye.
“That locket must really mean a lot to you, mister…mister…”
“Shiva. My name is Shiva Saotome, the chief palace guard of the castle Vanity. And yes, this locket is more precious to me than my life. It’s all that I have left of my parents.”
“Oh, I see. Well, it’s nice to meet you Mr. Saotome, my name is Sarah Tovah. Pardon me for being nosey, but is picture in your locket you and your parents?”
“Yes. That was when last I saw them. My mother used to always wear this locket around the house and I kinda liked it. I lost my parents when I was 13, and this sword and locket are all that I have of them, aside from this picture.”
“I…I’m sorry to hear that. The other young lady must be your wife then.”
Shiva hesitates for a second before answering, and Sarah gets the idea that she has asked the wrong question.
“I think I’ve pushed it too far,” she thinks to herself. “Maybe asking about his personal life wasn’t such a good idea.”
“Sonoko…she was my daughter, the only child that I had…….they killed her. To get to me. That bastard of the Dark Dynasty exploded her in front of me, I was out of power and couldn’t do anything but watch.”
“Dear me…I…I…”
Sarah’s heart went out to the wounded knight. His child’s death must have been recently, seeing how he was out of power and still seriously wounded.
“I’m sorry Mrs. Tovah. I’ve went on rambling about how miserable my life is without so much as even thanking you for your hospitality. I even raided your apple bin, please forgive me.”
“Please, no apology needed! You were hungry weren’t you? I’vent much in the kitchen, but help yourself. I need to head to the apothecary later on and pick up some groceries. But just rest now Shiva. I’ll be back in a few with dinner.”
“Non…nonsense. I can’t let you go and carry everything alone. It’s the least I can do to repay your kindness.”
Sarah tries to argue, but Shiva wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“God he’s cute…” thinks Sarah to herself as she grabs her coin purse. She and Shiva pick up quite a few groceries and joke around while shopping. It was apparent that Sarah was enjoying Shiva’s company but it was unknown if he had harbored the same feelings about her. Shiva had a veil of mystery around him that Sarah really wanted to unlock.
They finish up their shopping and begin to walk back to Sarah’s place.
It was night time, and a crowd of people were gathering at the main gate.
“I wonder what’s going on. Shiva?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll check it out.”
Shiva sets Sarah’s groceries down and heads to the crowd when a Brayzal burst through the crowd, making it’s way into the heart of the city. It spots Sarah and draws a very large sword, making it's way toward her. She temporarily freezes in fear, but Shiva wasn’t about to let her be harmed.
“Demolish weapons with fury, Hellcry Punch!!!”
He swings his katana forward, and a giant ghost-blade strikes up from under Brayzal, completely destroying his weapon. Shiva then runs in front of Sarah.
“Sarah, are you alright? Are you okay?!”
“I…I am…Shiva watch out!”
With no weapon to rely on, Brayzal had begun to run in on the distracted Dragon Knight. Shiva turns around and faces him with sheer anger in his eyes.
“You’re not gonna hurt this woman you son of a…”
Shiva hauls back both of his arms and strikes the ground, knocking Brayzal 20 feet into the air. He then draws his sword and cleaves the monster in half on it’s way back down.
“Dear me,” thinks Sarah to herself. “He’s extremely good. Is HE the hero destined to save the land of Ys?”
The screams of the villagers was proof enough for Shiva that more monsters had entered the area. He was furious.
“Sarah, get behind me. It’s time these goons learn they’re place in life.”
