The Demon King's Paladin Part 2. All Out War.

Chapter 427. A New Goal

                                                                  John Ericsson's Point Of View

I opened my eyes to see the light from the sun shining into my room. After taking a deep breath, I start to feel their hands around me. It's strange how it felt so odd not to feel this, and now I'm halfway to forgetting that they're there now. It's cause it's normal for me now. It's what feels right... Correct... Not sitting in a cell plotting when I could kill my captors and escape. Not having them before in that cold stone cell just felt so wrong. It's been 3 days since Warrick and Aqua visited to take a look at me. Besides their visit and shutting Rodrick up about me being a puppet for Alfheim, which was nice to see, I can't say there's been anything exciting that's happened. Really we've just been preparing for what's going to happen today.

" Hm..."

Just as I was beginning to get lost in thought, Anna grimaced in my ear. For some reason, it always seems that either Sarah or she wake up soon after I do. I've been trying to do my best to not move so they can stay asleep when I wake up, but it looks like I still need more practice to do that.

" Good morning, John."

" Morning, Anna."

" Your bruises are gone."

Anna smiled at me as she gently touched my cheek. The bruises she was referring to was from my sparring with Warrick. He seemed quite calm when they first arrived. Obviously, he was upset that I was captured, but I thought it would be fine since I was able to make it back... That was all washed away as soon as we started sparring. I felt like I was in boot camp. Warrick went full Drill Sargent on me and wouldn't release until the sun had long gone down. Not only that, but he kept trying to tell me what I was doing wrong while fighting, but I kept needing to remind him that Angel's Swordsmanship was influencing me to aim for his vitals and landing kill shots on him. He simply ignored it and kept going. It was only after I explained this to My Wives that I finally realized why he did it. It started with Sarah laughing quite loudly.

" What's so funny about all of this? I'm one giant black and blue bruise right now, you know?"

" It's just so nostalgic for me now. He did the same thing after I started my solo training with him while Uncle Crest taught you the basics. I asked Mom about it, and she said that he's done the same thing to my brothers and Cynthia as well. She said that it happens because he tries to keep a lid on things, but he tends to worry when we're not in his sights. It's his way of getting out all of the worry. He even skips the whole " you need to figure this stuff out yourself" thing that he usually does when he trains and spars with us and just gives us complete advice and solutions to any of our faults. It's him trying to make sure whatever happens doesn't happen again. It's just funny to be on the outside this time."

" Now that you mention it... Your hands and arms were always bruised at the start of our training for the Hero Party, weren't they?"

" That's why I was so happy when Uncle Crest said that you learned everything you needed to."

So, in other words, I was Warrick's stress doll for the day. He beat so bad it took my body till today to fully heal... I didn't even know that was possible. Even when I was fighting the God Of The Blackwoods I healed pretty fast... I guess it just goes to show that I'm not invincible.

" How do you feel about today, John?"

While I was lost in thought for a moment, Anna ever so gently placed the hand that was touching my face onto my chest. It looks like she was looking forward to today. Pretty much, we'll be going to Blackstone today. We were going there for 2 reasons, the first is that Asha and Sharon are really concerned about me. It looks like they're not going to calm down until they see Sarah, Anna and I in the flesh and that we're okay. As for the 2nd reason, it's because we'll be heading to Bestia after spending the day with Asha and Sharon. I actually wanted to stop by Darkheim first, but I was convinced by Charlotte of all people that King Alan's arm being reattached should take priority. The gem hasn't acted up or anything after I asked if it was okay, so I guess it'll be fine, right? I looked at Anna who was waiting for my reply and I told her what I honestly thought.