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Captain's POV
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"So that's why..." (Captain)

"Please... Please, protect her..." (Ryu)

"Well, I said that I would already... But the question is... How?" (Captain)

"..." (Ryu)

"You haven't thought of anything?" (Captain)

"I... I never gave it any thought. I just thought that... that if I stayed away from her, they'd never find her..." (Ryu)

"And now that you've been forced into a position to meet her, you decided to move the responsibility of protecting her?" (Captain)

"No! I... I didn't think of it that way... I'm... I'm just not strong enough." (Ryu)

"What... You think strength is the only way to protect someone?" (Captain)

"...? Of course it is. I mean... If I'd been stronger back then... Then they wouldn't have..." (Ryu)

"Ryu. Who am I?" (Captain)

"...? You? You're the... Captain?" (Captain)

"What else am I? What title did I get through overwhelming strength?" (Captain)

"...Hero." (Ryu)

"Correct. Now, do you think I haven't lost anyone before? Do you think I was able to protect absolutely everyone who was in danger? Of course I wasn't. But that wasn't because of my strength. It wasn't because of how fast I swung my sword, or how much power I put behind it, nor the muscle strength in my arms. Do you know why I was unable to protect them?" (Captain)

"...I-I don--" (Ryu)

"Doubt. My own doubt killed those people. The hesitation from doubts of my own strength stopped me from reaching my hand out even a second earlier. The doubts of my strength stopped me from acting alone, which cost me the life of a dear friend. So if you say you can't protect her, then you can't. Not because of your strength, but because of your mind." (Captain)

"... Not having doubts won't change the gaps in strength." (Ryu)

"No, it won't. But a cornered beast will bare its fangs when faced with unbearable odds." (Captain)

"..." (Ryu)

"Get going, it's almost midnight. Get some rest, and we'll speak about this again later." (Captain)

He gets up without a word, almost lost in his own thoughts as he leaves the room, resting his hand on his sword.

I said all that hoping that he doesn't stop trying to get stronger. I may have pushed him a little too far, but only time can tell.

I think a part of me is hoping that he'll ask me to make him stronger, but another part of me is also hoping that doesn't happen.

But I also said that I'd protect Akari, though I don't actually know how I'm going to do that. It's not like we can keep her around in the squad, since it's way too dangerous to be with us, especially considering the No-Names are back. 

However, I can't make her a maid in a noble's estate, since they aren't well guarded, and it would be cruel to make a 9-year-old work all day. Though I could possibly make her a noble's long lost daughter, I'm not sure how she'd take it, having to call complete strangers her parents.

Of course, this is all relying on Akari agreeing to leave Greif in the first place since it seems like she's become attached to Zion.

Haah... How does he manage to make things so complicated?

I sit still for a few minutes, contemplating my options before getting up off the chair and heading back down to the bar, my mind aching from thinking.

Sitting down on one of the bar stools, I order a mug of ale and look around at the near desolate inn.

Near desolate, as there was a single hooded figure on the far side, sitting at a table alone.

I couldn't tell where they was looking as their robe covered his face, but their body posture seemed to be pointing towards me.

I watch them for a few more seconds before a wooden mug filled with ale hits the bar before me.

Sliding a single silver coin, I grab the mug and finish it in a few seconds, feeling it run through my body before I stand up and walk over to the figure.

They seemed somewhat surprised at my straightforward approach, but also slightly amused, as I heard a satisfied gasp come out of them.

"... So?" (Captain)

"... You know, you've always surprised me." (???)

That voice. A voice that was hard to forget. A voice that permeated through the streets of Alzibria a few weeks ago.

"Kagei..." (Captain)

"I must thank Ryu, truly. Their Graces were truly worried about the location of the other child. Of course, they always knew where Ryu was, but not the girl." (Kagei)

"So you followed him? Since when?" (Captain)

"When? Hah! We've been following him since he was born! From his first steps, to his first defeat, to his first victory. Nevermind following, we were beside him the entire time!" (Kagei)

"So you followed Ryu. Why not the girl?" (Captain)

"The girl... The girl... Well, she wasn't... What did they say... Suitable, I believe." (Kagei)

"Suitable? For what?" (Captain)

"Who knows, but I'm sure I'm not telling you." (Kagei)

"Well, I didn't think you would. So, who are your "Graces" you mentioned?" (Captain)

"Who do you think? They're our leaders, and people who were closer to Ryu than even I was." (Kagei)  

"I didn't realize Ryu made such delicate relations with the No-Names." (Captain)

"Delicate? No, no. Those relations were strong, about as strong as..." (Kagei)

He doesn't finish his sentence, instead he lifts up a single finger and creates a magic circle at the tip, releasing an incredibly strong wind blast throughout the room, blowing out all of the candles inside.

"Well, should I thank you for showing off your abilities?" (Captain)

"I wouldn't be opposed to it, though, I'm sure you understand what my abilities mean to you." (Kagei)

"Why do you think your face isn't full of bruises right now?" (Captain)

"Oh, aggressive. Well, at least you know your place against me." (Kagei)

He says his final words while putting his hands on the table and pushing himself up, ready to leave.

"Leaving already? Well, I'm sure Asa can do just as good of a job as you can." (Captain)

"Ha... Haha... Hahaha! Asa? Don't joke with me. All she can do is kill. Those little needles of hers can't get information out of simply observing." (Kagei)

Walking out of the door to the inn, he puts his hand up and waves goodbye.

When I no longer see his silhouette at the door, a sigh escapes my mouth and a pain in my palm appears.

I hadn't noticed it while talking, but I had managed to crush a part of the chair I was sitting on with my hand while talking to him, causing splinters to cut it.

And as I think over the conversation we had, my frustration keeps rising as his final remarks keep getting to me.

'At least you know your place against me.' I couldn't do anything against him because he is the direct counter to my fighting style.

A wind fast caster can simply fly above a swordsman and rain down magic. The swordsman can do nothing except block, dodge and wait for the magician to waste their mana.

"Haah... Another drink for me!" (Captain)

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Author Notes
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Hey, another chapter! It's not been as long between these two chapters as the last ones, but a month is still a considerable amount of time.

I have to be honest though, I loved writing the conversation between Kagei and Captain. I hope I managed to make them both seem threatening while not ever actually planning on doing anything to each other.

But anyway, that's all for me, thank you for reading, please continue doing so and consider voting!