The walking journey, seeing a brand new world, was breathtaking for the new arrivals. The air was fresher, and there wasn't even any hint of pollution in the skies: no smog, no planes, no noise, and no significant signs of deforestation.
The city of Priestella was like a glistening jewel for the group. For them, the situation felt like fighting in a hopeless war, only to suddenly find a letter that they were permanently relieved. They didn't argue when Reinhard van Astrea offered a chance to leave.
They just took it.
For the new arrivals, the whole scene felt like a trip back in time. It felt oddly nostalgic to them, like exploring a rosy-tinted past. Several wagons, drawn by loyal and diligent Earth Dragons, passed by, their drivers waving to the leisurely tramping group.
Although they mostly waved at Reinhard van Astrea, recognizing him as the Sword Saint. The drivers and passengers kept their eyes on Reinhard, surprised to see him. Some of the passing wagons bore missing-person posters featuring him.
Izuku Midoriya's eager mood upon encountering several new and novel things, roared to a new high. He enthusiastically asked Reinhard question after question, and Reinhard answered them with relative ease.
Izuku was especially amazed by the Divine Protection of Explaining Things. He asked when Reinhard had acquired that amazing gift. "A few hours ago." Reinhard replied.
Izuku never ceased his interrogative tempo, taking up most of Reinhard's time. His small notebook was slowly filling up with his observations. The rest of the group watched it with relaxed chuckles.
Megumi Fushiguro kept silent, albeit his mood was somewhat less heavy. He, too, was impressed but never showed it. As a soft gust of wind passed by, rustling the short grass beside him, he breathed as if it were his first.
Deep down, he wished Itadori Yuji and Nobara Kugisaki were here. He breathed a sigh of relief knowing that Nobara stayed back since Shibuya was a disaster. He wished that, when he returned, Itadori and Nobara would still be both alright.
Kitoyaka Ayanakoji trailed slightly behind the group, hands in his pockets, staring at the city of Priestella with calculating yet eager eyes. He felt both excitement and relief. For quite some time, he had thought of himself as a prime predator, yet his previous experiences constantly destroyed that.
"A big fish in a small pond..."
"What?"
Ryuen Kakeru voiced out and walked beside him, albeit with considerable distance, only enough to hear Ayanokoji's mumblings. Ryuen still despised Ayanokoji's guts but kept his distance from. Soon he can make a move, but now, not yet.
There was a whole new world to experience. Revenge can wait, Ryuen thought.
Jin Woo Sung walked slightly behind Reinhard and the eager Izuku. He looked at the two and produced a soft appreciative smile. He had lost track of time in that godforsaken threshold, but assumed he had been there for two months or so.
He had bonded with some strange survivors and met some powerful foes. His experiences reinforced his already-formed perspective: to do whatever he could to become stronger. That armored divine beauty still lingered on the back of his mind.
One part is still impressed by her beauty, and one part is still itching for a fight.
The invigorated group continued on the dirt path; the city of Priestella was getting nearer. They had their own plans, but they all united around one idea: to return to their own realities.
...
...
...
When the group entered the city of Priestella, it was still under repair, though most of the heavy damage had been patched or already repaired. Despite a few buildings remaining toppled, demi-humans and humans worked together with hardened resolve to restore the city to its natural beauty.
Reinhard smiled at his new friends upon seeing them look like lost, wide-eyed tourists. Izuku, Megumi, Sung, Ayanokoji, and Ryuen kept shifting their heads as they walked, magnetizing their gazes to each demi-human or late-medieval-like structure.
A man gasped in front of the group, his mouth left open as if he had seen a ghost. A man of an unusually white complexion, wearing grey tattered clothing and a collared chain around his neck, stopped in front of the group. His grayish-blue hair with pink strands flowed against the incoming gust. He was tightly hugging two brown bags full of bread.
"Ah, Rachins! It's so good to see you! It's nice to see a friendly and familiar face."
Reinhard greeted with a wave and a smile. He was aware of how long he had been gone but tried to ignore that fact. The meal Felt prepared was long gone by now.
"Your lackey?" Sung asked, stepping forward.
"I wouldn't call it that. He's a reformed miscreant and a good kind-of-friend."
Reinhard answered, still smiling. Rachin's expression lightened, then weeped, dropping the two bags full of bread to the ground. Rachin immediately approached Reinhard and dropped to the ground, almost crying.
"You're alive! We thought you were dead! Everyone was looking for you! The whole city of Priestella and several camps have put aside their differences to look for you."
"I don't deserve such effort. I must apologize as soon as possible. That kind of energy must be focused on the witch cult and the reconstruction efforts, not on a knight like me."
Reinhard said, closing his eyes, his expression turned gloomy. He meant what he had said. Rachins remained unconvinced, slightly annoyed by the genuine humility.
"The Sword Saint! You!" Rachins shouted. "That deserves a considerable amount of effort since you disappeared after dealing with the witch cult invasion."
"Felt must be informed as soon as possible! She was worried sick. Even your grandfather visited her multiple times." Rachins continued.
Reinhard's expression softened, just a touch at the mention of his grandfather.
"He did?"
Reinhard muttered as he helped Rachins stand up, dusting Rachins' hands. A crowd was forming around them. The missing Sword Saint had finally arrived after a sudden hiatus. Izuku walked forward and looked at Rachins.
"He helped us; we are grateful for his help. If it weren't for him, we'd already be dead." Izuku said, gesturing for the rest of the group. They all hummed or nodded in agreement.
Reinhard turned to his group and began to speak. "Please, follow me, we have an establishment nearby. We can rest, bathe, and eat there."
(The next chapter is the Shield Hero. I will release two chapters tomorrow.)