THAT DAY I BECAME A STAR

The night following my fight, the girl whose name I still don't know, is still sticking to me. Fixating my face with her eyes like the most fabulous mystery of the world.

"Is there a problem?" You don't get tired of looking at me?

"No, there is absolutely no problem."

"Then what is it? You are angry that you lost your fight?" 

"I told you earlier that I am not."

"Can you please tell me why you keep looking at me then?" 

"I am trying to read your mind." 

"What?!" Wait, she can do that too? "Read my mind? Seriously?" Let's try to act casual.

"Yes. I was blessed by the goddess with the ability to read people's mind. Although there were other people before whose's minds I couldn't read as well, you are the first who looks normal that I am not able to pierce through." 

"Is that so…And aside from me, who else were you unable to see through?" 

"Hm…The heroes, the saintess and the high…No, wait, I read the high commander's mind once." So; she can't read what I can't as well which is a relief since it means it is not a matter of me being not talented. But I am surprised that she could read Dilt's mind. I never managed to as far as I can remember. So this girl is better than me at this. 

"And how does it work?" 

"You aren't afraid?" 

"Of what?" 

"Of my powers. Everybody else has always been afraid of it." Sigh…Again with the sad story of somebody who couldn't have friends. 

"Well, you can't read mine so no, I am not afraid." Besides I can…not do the same as well. So just like you can't read my mind, I cannot read yours as well. I thought it was a matter of being stronger but it seems it isn't the only condition. There is something else that is needed.

"I see. Then that means we are friends?" 

"Are you asking me or telling me?" 

"Father said that I shouldn't hesitate to befriend someone who isn't afraid of my power and is sincere about it." 

"I see. Then we are friends, I guess." 

"Really? That's good." She doesn't show any particular emotion. Are you happy? Are you not? 

"You guys aren't eating?" Germinia and the others arrive after that. Each of them is holding a plate of food which is warm and still emanating vapor. 

"I am." I turn around but the girl holds my hand. "What is it?" 

"This girl." She points at Germinia. "She wants to kill you." 

Germinia looks at the girl with surprise for a moment then simply sits on a chair and continue eating like nothing.

"Hm…What is your name?" I can't continue to call her 'you' like that.

"Sarah. Sarah Siltarius." Siltarius. It sounds powerful somehow. I like that name.

"Sarah, you can ignore that girl. She is always thinking about weird things." 

"Even if she wants to undress me?" 

"Huh…" I look at Germinia who this time is looking at Sarah with the eyes of an owl. 

"How?" She stands up and goes to the girl.

"I can read thoughts." 

"Wait, what?" 

This time, it is not Germinia but Keltia and Peter who stands up.

***

"And now?" 

"Pineapple and strawberries. Inside a crepe, with sugar. And mint." 

"You can seriously do it." 

Somehow, Sarah telling us that she can read minds has turned into a festival of some sort where those three took turns to see if it was true. Though, in Germinia's case, it was pretty much the same thoughts every time. 

"You guys are not afraid?" 

"Of what?" 

"Of my power?"

"Huh…" 

"Don't worry. All of them are weirdos as well so they just recognize one of their own."

"Like-"

"You are the weirdest of them for me." That's was completely unnecessary, Sarah. I thought we were friends. "What?" 

"You are my friend, remember? You aren't supposed to ditch me out like that?" 

"I am not. I only said the truth." 

"The truth isn't-"

"Don't let him get to you." Keltia comes to her and brings her away from me. "You are perfectly right. He is the weirdest human you will ever encounter on Schamerin." 

"But you stil-"

"No, no, no. Let's keep quiet for now, shall we?" 

Keltia puts her finger on Sarah's mouth while bringing her away. After what I stay with Peter and Germinia. 

"Though, she is right. You really are weird for being able to survive from an Angas pool."

"Not this again, Peter." I thought that case was close already.

"If only Derkheil was as lucky." 

"Stop. Don't bring this again." Thanks, Germinia.

"I am sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." 

"I know. So stop talking about it." Germinia stands up and leaves as well. Well done, Peter. Now if only you could leave as well.

"You have a knack for this. Even more than me." 

"Not when you can even make the heroes angry." 

***

The next day, Frankher calls us mercenaries again. We all go to the captain's tent and they are both sitting in front of us with a map and wooden pieces placed on it. I can easily guess that the black round piece there is the city we want to conquer but I wonder what represents the rest.

"Good morning everyone." The captain opens the conversation. It is somehow weird not to see him drunk. I had already categorized him as no good drunkard. Now, he will only be a no good captain. "As you already saw during your mission. The target is currently held by the Longinus and its location makes it difficult for us to conquer." 

"Which is why we have decided to give you guys a new role." Frankher then takes the floor and stands up. He takes some piece of woods placed on the map then places them near the round and black piece. Like I thought, it is the city.

"Sir, you want us to be the spear of your formation?" A mercenary from another group asked something with a slightly desperate voice?

"So what if he does? We just go and bust it all open. That is that." And one of our own answers him with a straight and determined voice. So it is not all mercenaries who are as crazy as Willhem's group. It is good to know but not good as well since it also means I am the same. 

"Silence. As I was saying, your task will be infiltration this time." 

"Infiltration…" 

"Wait, that's even worse than being at the front!" 

"I said silence." Frankher's voice becomes more menacing and everyone shuts up. "For those of you who don't know about it. The dome you have observed is created by a pillar condensing Regas. So, as long as it is active, we won't be able to enter the city normally."

"But, sir, if I may. During the battle in Obarion, that dome faded while we were fighting. Then the mortars destroyed what was left of it." Yep, I do remember that as well, Hendrick. The dome of Regas definitively faded enough after the Longinus started coming out of the fort. But most likely…

"Their protection most probably failed at the time. But I can assure you and so can the Star of Mercuria, that this thing isn't something you can break through. Nor can you wait for it to break apart." 

"And even if it does, what will come out of it will be most problematic." 

"Indeed." People all look at me then at Frankher who followed me with a really good timing. 

"As such, my men were able to dig out some good intel." The captain stands up as well and comes to the table with the map. He must have felt useless there, quiet and sitting like a dog. Don't be mistaken, man. You are.

"Which kind?" Willhem also thinks the same, see?

His face tells you all about it if you look, right?

"The kind that helps. There is a secret passage that was dug up fifty years ago as part of the sanitary project of the city. Although it wasn't completed, there is still an old entry near the city that leads directly to a building inside the city. If it hasn't been discovered, then we can use it to enter and from there…" 

"You speak as if you are coming. Why are you making it sound so easy?"

"I am not coming but…" 

"The captain has a role as important as yours. While you will stealthily infiltrate the city, he will be leading the troops with me to create a diversion and reduce the number of enemies inside the city. That way, you will have an easier time there." 

"I see. That's good enough." 

"No way!! Like fucking hell it is good!! Have you guys finally turned crazy?!!!" 

The guys that I had beaten up before, the old comrades of Willhem seems scared. I could speak but I will let Willhem deal with them.

"If you aren't ready for it, then you leave now. And go back to Nivalnheilm." But it seems Frankher has decided to do it. "I know it is a difficult mission but just like you will be putting your life on the line. So will be all the soldiers outside this tent while trying to protect you. If you think you aren't cut for it, then the door is open." 

Frankher points at the entrance of the tent with his hand while looking at all of us with a threatening face and serious eyes. 

"Hey, Will, you aren't seriously going to do that, right?" You just asked the worst person for support.

"Fufufu. You don't remember what I told you the other day. The eight of us defeated a thousand Longinus all by ourselves. And Our captain even massacred a Longinus dragon. Conquering a mere city is just lunch to us."

Willhem puts his hand on my neck and lies on me while saying that with the smile of the most confident man in the world. He should precise that the mortars participated as well, though. 

"Those are just lies! If somebody like that existed, the world wouldn't need heroes!!" 

"…" I don't know why but those words just angered me for no reason. But before I can speak any further, it is not only Frankher but the captain and the two soldiers that were inside the tent with us as well that goes berserk with their aura.