Storyverse

Chapter 1: The Next Day

It's been about three days. All that time, Oliver had been lying in his bed. But finally, after a few days have passed, he woke up. As soon as he opened his eyes and looked around, he felt a terrible pain in his right cheek. It was the terrifying slap that Cirael had given him. It would probably have flattened his head and killed him if he were a normal human, but Oliver was not a normal human. The winged one shouted:

–Ooooooliver! Who's Gerda?! It was bad enough already you're getting harassed by Ciel, a now there's a Gerda?! What are you, the protagonist of a third-rate Asian light novel?!

Oliver looked back at her with a stunned look and replied:

–My dear, what are you talking about? Who's Gerda? I've never heard that name before... although... wait... Gerda... Martha... Ludwig...

The expression on Oliver's face lost all emotion, and he began to slowly rise to a sitting position... only to be smashed back into the bed by his wife's fist.

–It's not funny! Do you know how worried I was?! You almost lost your mind! According to Ciel, you were about to have a breakdown! And you know how that would have turned out!

There was no trace of fake jealousy left, only the real love and concern in Cirael's mind and face... Even though she'd just hit Oliver. Twice. Her husband replied:

–Really, I don't know who they are! I just... felt it. These names are strangely familiar to me. It's like I've heard them many times before... and yes, I agree, I was a little over the top just now, trying to portray that state of mind... but you have to admit, it was funny!

–No!

Sighing and shaking her head, the angel tilted her head to the side and looked at Oliver with a sad expression. She rose from the edge of the bed and placed the tray of food and tea in the Clain heir's lap.

–Never had anything like this happen to you before. With strange names, some graves... please, do not anything stupid anymore, okay?

–Well... I don't like to make promises. But I'll try. I promise.

With a nod, Cirael kissed her husband on the forehead and was about to leave – Oliver needed peace now... which didn't go well with two blows to the face to delivered to her husband, but she knew better. She turned and was about to leave when she heard her husband's cry of pain. When she turned around, she saw that she had accidentally winged a cup of hot tea and spilled it right on Oliver. Covering her mouth with her hand, she squeezed her head into her shoulders and quickly left the room, calling for Ciel.

Some time passed. Oliver (already in dry clothes) alongside Cirael and Ciel, who were clearly reluctant to see Oliver go outside so oon, left the Clain mansion. They left to go to the same place where a good half of the capital's inhabitants went – to the city gates. After all, today was the day of reason why fair was even held – the return of the heroes from their triumphant campaign.

A procession of several men on horseback rode into the city to the cheers of the crowd. They were not the first world-saving heroes Oliver had seen. Apparently, threats to the entire universe appeared with enviable regularity, and they were stopped with the same enviable regularity. With pleased expressions on their faces, Clain and company looked at the most cliche-looking pair of knights imaginable and their companions. Those who had been around for centuries, like Oliver, Ciel, and Cirael, surely had thoughts along the lines of "I could be a hero, too," but did even it matter if the saviors of the world were chosen not by chance or even by some divine providence, but by the government of the kingdom? However...

–Hey, Ciri, why don't we take a trip? It's been 40 years since we've been out of capital!

Of course, Oliver, curious and barely able to sit still, suggested such a thing, again inspired by heroic deeds. But Cirael replied sharply: