'A Newcomer, this is the second time I'm hearing of it. Aren't they people associated with the Holy Kingdom's enemies?'
"I have nothing to do with the likes of Gait." Helios confidently proclaimed
"Ha...see I was right, you are a Newcomer."
"There is no way the normal citizen would think of the Gait Empire when they heart the the term Newcomer."
Jack continued "While this time the Gait Empire did indeed, get most of the Newcomers, it's not like we haven't gotten any."
"Um..then who are the Newcomers exactly?" Helios asked completly forgetting the idea of concealing his identity
"You can probably put it together yourself, was the term 'Newcomer' never suspicious to you?" Jack asked somewhat annoyed
"Then are they also people who have come from a different world?" Helios asked the big question. While the name Newcomer did indeed incite suspicion in him, he quickly discarded it, both because he wished to believe he was special and also because Joshua didn't question his identity. He figured it was unlikely for them to be people like him, he at most thought of them as a new generation of divine soldiers, bestoved by the gods.
"Indeed you are correct, you are not as special as you think Helios" by this point Jack's hold on Helios has completely vanished.
"But I still don't understand it why are Newcomers at the cornerstone of these rumors, are they supposed to be strong enough to turn the tides of battle." Helios asked still confused
"The answer is both yes and no." said Jack while circling around the small room
'Stop beating around the bush and just say it'
"While they do have the power to turn the tides of battle, it has nothing to do with individual strength. It has to do with the sheer number of them. Enough soldiers can turn the tides of any battle."
"How many of them, are there for them to be able to change things this much?" Helios asked a bit puzzled
"About a million."
Helios's jaw almost hit the floor while hearing this. He had already accepted that he was not as special as he had believed just mere minutes ago, but the number of Newcomers besides him still made his already low self-confidence sink even further down.
'Here I was thinking I was some sort of hero, meanwhile I was just one of a million people.'
Trying to regain he quickly asked Jack another question.
"But why did no one question my identity, why did they actually believe I was a member of the Pheonix family, if the knowledge of such people is considered common knowledge?"
"It's because you arrived late, about a year later than everyone else."
'Later than everyone else, does than mean..'
"But that does not matter, while its usual for a large wave of people to arrive all at once, there are times when some Newcomers come later than others. So it's all perfectly normal don't worry."
And with that Helios's hope of being the main character of this new world instantly vanished.
"So, what are you gonna do with me?" Helios asked with a dejected attitude
"We will follow procedure. You are still coming with me to the capital."
"Why? Will I get tried at court for impersonification?"
"No..you will just get offered the same choice every Newcomer gets, and you will also get documented as a Newcomer."
"And what sort of choice is that?" Helios asked, knowing that despite calling it a choice, it most likely isn't something he can choose.
"You can either choose to join the military for one year and get a permanent citizenship or choose to get willingly exiled from the Holy Kingdom."
'See, I knew I didn't have a choice, ahh these goverment officials always like to make themselves out to be much greater than they actually are.'
"Wow, great such a great offer" Helios proclaimed in a not so enthusiastic tone
'But I guess these conditions are not the worst, I know some countries I know did the same thing, the service time may have even been longer. Still going to the military during war times is a whole different thing.'
Finishing their chat the two left the room, but much to Helios's surprise Jack seemingly kept quiet about what happened in the room. Maybe he was considerate of Helios's position in the village and didn't wish to make his stay any harder.
"When do you wish to depart for the border Sir Pheonix?" asked Mr. Wallace
"We should depart the soonest we can. I need someone familiar with the terrain to come with me. Helios will also be taging along"
"Then if I may, I would like to nominate myself" the young Otto said while raising his hand.
Helios had the opportunity to chat with him in the last two days and he found out while only being fourteen years old, there is no one more knowledgeable about the surrounding terrain.
"I also would be happy, if it was Otto who came with us." Helios added
With the party decided, they all prepared and set of with Jack's flying carriage.
"I've never ridden one of these before" Otto proclaimed
"Though I suppose it must be an everyday occurence for you nobles" he said while looking at the two of them
"Ha..ha..right." Helios tried to awkwardly reinforce Otto's beliefs
"Well we do ride it sometimes, but even for us it's not an everyday occurence that we ride these."
And with that the carriage was already soaring trough the skies. The destination, the border wasn't that far from Alt Village, but considering surrounding terrain it was still much quicker to go with the flying carriage.
The party arrived in a mere five minutes and were ready to inspect the border. They all got out of the carriage and headed towards the border when when Helios noticed something.
The whole border was seemingly comprised of a great barrier that cut of everything that wanted to get through.
"Woah, this looks mighty impressive." Helios proclaimed in amazement
"Well it is a barrier that was put up by our great Goddess Remia!" Otto proudly proclaimed
'Seriously, with each passing day the goddess just keeps surpasing my expectations.'
Helios slowly got closer to Jack and whispered to him a queastion
"Hey are there any other gods besides the Goddess Remia?"
"According to the rules of the Holy Kingdom there aren't." Jack answered blankly
"And if we don't go by the Holy Kingdom's rules?"
"Then there could be a few."
"Like?"
"Like the Emperor of Gait, he's quite the powerhouse, even calling himself the 'god of war', but we don't see him as a god, merely someone that wishes to be one. He's still much too weak compared to our goddess, and also much too free."
Sensing that he may have accidentaly hit a weak spot for the people of the Holy Kingdom he stopped questioning about this world's gods.
They all walked closer to inspect the surface of the barrier for any potential cracks.
"If it was made by the goddess, do we really need to worry about the barrier having any cracks?" Helios asked with curiosity
"Yeah, I don't really understand it either, it should be perfectly safe. But I still must have been sent here for a reason, so I will conduct a proper investigation."
Helios and Otto silently agreed and followed Jack's lead.
They looked around in silence for about twenty minutes, when the silence was suddenly interrupted by Helios's question
"So if we hypothetically, do see a crack, what are we supposed to do."
"I will use the long distance communication channel in the carriage tell HQ about the issue, they will probably sent someone from the church. It's not something we can fix."
"Why ask?" asked Jack
"Um..just because.." said Helios while pointing at a small crack in the barrier
The crack was merely the size of one's thumb, but it was still a serious issue, one that could prove problematic in the future.
They marked the site of the crack, with a small tower of rocks and continued searching for other cracks in the barrier, but having found no more, after searching for another hour they decided to return for the day.
Nightfall was rapidly approaching by this point the three of them got back on the carriage and headed back for the village.
While on the way back Jack reported back to HQ.
"HQ it's Jack Pheonix, my recently conducted investigation of the border near Alt Village showed signs of damage on the barrier. Further investigation is required. I am requesting a high priest of the church for on site repairs"
Having finished his report the three of them started chatting about today's events.
"Any idea why there are cracks on the barrier?" Helios asked frankly
"No idea. No I do have an idea, but I feel that would be approaching the realm of blasphemy." said Jack with a concered look on his face
Helios didn't try to ask further, incase whatever Jack thought was indeed so terrible.
Having arrived back to the village just in time for nightfall, after doing their usual nightly prayers the three of them parted ways.
"It was trully a great experience Mr. Pheonix, even if my skills weren't necessarily needed." Otto thanked Pheonix
While Otto went back to his house the remaining two both went to the same place back to the tavern.
While going back Helios looked at the church and said.
"Even though I've been here for two days I've never actually had the chance to visit the local church."
"You can go tomorrow, for today you should just rest."
The two of them went up to the second floor of the tavern, coincidentally both of their rooms were next to each other.
They wished each other good by before they got into their respective rooms.
Helios having went through another tough day wanted nothing more than to have a good night's rest
'Hope today's gonna be a good night'