Headed by a Snake



The Holy Princess sighed and shook her head. 

[You are one of our dearest friends,] she signed. [I wish you would be more confident.]

Out of nervousness, Gobbuto tried to change the topic. 

"If... fishing for cards... not so good... we can use sticks and twine. We go outside. I will give instruction."

There were few topics in which Gobbuto was confident in teaching Pale... and in those few, he doubted he had much. 

Since the Heroes had returned from the Outer Planes, the man once a couple years his junior had become his senior. 

It wounded his pride to be surpassed in a way he never thought possible-- but only slightly. 

Pale was a Hero. He was not bound to the common logic of the Realm. That was an indisputable fact, drilled into his head, from accompanying the Hero Party in the wilds of the Old Country. 

[What's wrong, my Hero?] the Holy Princess signed, looking to Pale. 

"He's not *yours* Troia," Ree mumbled. 

Pale sat back in his chair, smiling weakly, "Thanks, Gobbuto. I..."

He sighed again... continuing in a small voice, "We told you about Vanya. I think you would have liked her."

Gobbuto was uncertain where the Hero's logic was headed. He was accustomed to collaborating with others in the field-- but he'd never *liked* a girl before. 

"She belonged to a tribe of fisher-folk," Pale explained. "She taught me a little bit, fishing in the ice lakes of Rimefang Ravine."

Vanya... 

Shortly after Gobbuto left the Hero party, they recruited a Shaman in the Plane of Ice. 

The fate of that woman... 

Gobbuto put down his cards and slowly reached over to place a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder. 

He did not know what to say... or even if Pale wanted to hear it. 

But he felt obligated to assure his old friend... to tell him that he was not fighting his battles alone. 

On the left, Ree grabbed hold of the Hero's arm in a hug. 

On the right, Holy Princess Troia placed her gentle hand atop that of the Hero's. 

"I'm okay," Pale said, forcing a smile. "Thank you... Ree... Troia... and thank you, Gobbuto."

The Hero of the Realm took a deep breath... and his smile became genuine. 

"That just means we can't slack off during Boss's training," he declared. "For Vanya... for the people of our Realm-- and even Realms beyond ours."

As Gobbuto withdrew his arm, he again wanted to don his helmet. 

The Call of the Hero... that was the culmination of all his ideals. 

And hearing those words from the Hero, himself, made his heart swell with both pride and trepidation. 

He felt his lips quiver and the budding of tears at the corner of his eyes.

...But Ree had taken his helmet, sticking out her tongue in a teasing manner. 

So... he steeled his expression as best he could.

"Besides fishing, Gobbuto," Pale said, "I was hoping you could teach me how to shoot?"

Ah. He could do that. There was a good selection of hextech pistols and rifles in Hero Ravidius' armory. 

Gobbuto had begged to be instructed in marksmanship from a young age. Noble Father finally taught him the basics when he was 3, albeit reluctantly. 

Back then, Gobbuto did not know the reasoning behind his desperation. But as he grew older, he understood. 

It was the irrational fear of missing out... of losing sight of his goals. 

The younger him wanted to train for war, like the other children in the tribe. 

Thankfully, his persistence and hard work meant that an older, more successful him finally had something he could impart to his good friend. 

Pride. 

Confidence. 

Honor. 

Knowledge. 

Every gift granted to the Hero, no matter how small, would aid him in his coming battles. 

Gobbuto only hoped they would be enough. 

One sun, the Fate of the Realm would be entrusted to his hands. 

And he feared, with the threat of dragonfire on the horizon, that sun would come within the next few weeks...

"Oy, big guy," Ree said, making loud knocking bangs on Gobbuto's helmet-- while she was wearing it. "No good, I think he's broken."

[Stop teasing him,] Troia scolded. [It's cute!]

Gobbuto shook his head. 

"I... would be honored. Everyone. I will hold a class."

"Sounds great," Pale nodded. "I'll bring it up with Boss when we meet for afternoon training."

"[UggGGhhhh~]" 

Ree dropped her head onto the card table. Her helmet-- his helmet clanged on the hard wood with a resounding thunk. 

"[I haven't even recovered for morning training,] she groaned. 

Her voice seemed almost cold, echoing within his helmet-- several sizes too large for the human girl. 

[Boss knows best,] Troia signed. [But I'm not sure I can stand up after sitting for so long.]

"You're fine, right, Gobbuto?" Pale asked. "You're so tall, running must be easy."

Gobbuto dropped his gaze, "I... am not... accustomed to training in full armor."

During training, Tycon told him that moving so much mass put a greater strain on his body. It was almost physically painful to be told of his flaws in a blunt, yet unquestionable manner. 

The Holy Princess bowed her head. 

[It's my fault,] she signed. [If only I could use Divine Healing...]

That... was difficult. Troia was left greatly weakened after a recent incident in the Plane of Fire. Gobbuto did not ask for the details, but he trusted her judgment. 

"[DooOon't kid yourself,]" Ree responded in a flippant voice. "[Knowing Boss, he wouldnt've even allowed it. His favorite training is the BO-ring kind.]" 

"It... kinda makes sense," Pale said, smiling awkwardly. "Really. I know I'm a lot stronger because my fundamentals are pretty good."

"Noble Father... he only taught me the basics," Gobbuto shrugged. 

"[Hey. Oy. Gobbuto,]" Ree said, turning to him. "[You're super-talented.]"

Was he?

He was sitting in the company of a Divine Armor pilot, a Martialist with a transformation ability, and a literal Hero. Compared to them, his only laudable talent was breathing through his nose. 

"Without your guidance, we would have been lost in that Nemayan forest for moons," Pale grinned, "probably eaten by bears!"

That was an exaggeration. Also, they would have been eaten by wolves. 

[He does not know the meaning of fear,] Troia signed. 

That... that was because it was hard to think when he was nervous! That wasn't fair! 

"[So surely, you know a healing Spell or two?]" Ree asked. 

"I do not," Gobbuto replied flatly. 

"[Then you probably know someone with a good Support class? One that can heal?]"

Gobbuto rolled his lips, mindful of his still-growing tusks. 

He did know one. 

But she was also known to the Heroes... 

Thus, he shut his eyes briefly, as she shook his head. 

"[Yeah,]" Ree sighed. "[I figured as much.]"

[She is the only one,] Troia signed. 

Pale sucked air through his teeth, "I'm confident about a lot of things... but getting Sasha over to our side is definitely not one of them."

[It is a challenge to be overcome,] Troia signed. 

"I dunno," Pale chuckled. "You're really thinking too highly of me on this one."

"[I kinda hate it]," Ree said. "[Boss treats Sasha like my dad treats me.]"

Gobbuto narrowed his eyes, "My noble father has never once embraced me-- nor any of my 35 siblings."

"[And that's why you have daddy issues,]" Ree instantly responded. 

"I've... honestly forgotten what my dad looks like," Pale added. 

[Hello and welcome,] signed the Holy Princess, [to our guild, named: Daddy Issues.]

Ree sat back in her chair, crossing her arms... "[You guys suck.]"

"I don't know how I can even face her," Pale sighed. "Usually, my honesty seems to win people over... but Sasha hates me so much, she won't even look at me."

[You can look at me all you want,] Troia signed. 

"[No!]" Ree shouted, "[Look at me, Pale!]"

"I... also, am willing," Gobbuto followed. "You may look at me."

Admittedly, he wasn't certain the meaning of his words. He did not have a solid mastery of the common tongue. 

But everything seemed well. 

"Thanks, guys," Pale smiled. "At least I feel a little bit better."

Sasha's prowess as an Oracle and Divine Healer would provide veritable benefits to the Hero Party as a complex, aggregate unit. 

But... Pale's concerns were valid. 

Even Gobbuto, as dull as he was, sensed Sasha's almost palpable dislike of the Hero. 

"[Oy. How about we have Gobbuto ask?]"

Eh?

[That! is a wonderful idea!]

It was? 

"Gobbuto... do you think you could do that for us?"

No? 

Or... that is what Gobbuto wanted to say.

But for once... the Hero of the Realm was relying on him. 

"[You're the only one that can keep up with me in the field,]" Ree added-- "[besides Pale, of course. It'll be good to have a dedicated healer so we can go crazy.]"

The Holy Princess stood up in her seat. 

[I'm always so worried about you both!] she signed. [If you can convince her, I'd be so relieved...]

"I know it's kinda cowardly of me," Pale said, standing up as well. "But it would be mean a lot to me, if you helped out, Gobbuto-- and like the others said, you'd benefit too."

...Huh?

"How... do I... benefit?" Gobbuto asked. 

Pale tilted his head, "A... aren't you coming with us?"