The Many Burdens of a Hero

 Flickering yellow light from a nearby mana-crystal powered lamp luminated the dingy alleyway next to a building whose beauty could only be appreciated once entered; Paradise Lost.

 Despite the seedy nature of the street I was in, they managed to keep it relatively tidy and free of the smells I would associate with such a place. That, or I had gotten used to putrid odor thanks to my hometowns lack of hygiene.

 Today I wore more casual clothes and shaved the little white hairs around my chin and neck on Arisu's advice. She said 'women take notice of guys that take care of themselves' or whatever that meant.

 Unfortunately I cut the left side of my cheek with the straight razor so had to apply a small adhesive talisman, no bigger than my thumb that Arisu also incidentally made. 

 A purpose made 'Tali-Aid' to disinfect and protect, rather than heal, as it would come naturally over time while serving as a reminder.

 My upper half was covered by a light blue overshirt with breast pockets over a loose white t-shirt. Complemented by black pants and white 'sneakers', as Arisu called them.

 Enda insisted I continued to wear Hawk's soul around my neck as a reminder until she could figure out what to do while eyeing over each of the stones collected from Tyrant's rest.

 One benefit I was glad to have thanks to my blood was how effective it was at keeping sickness away and healing faster than normal when I slept, however, I felt the strain after yesterday's events to the point of feeling so sore I doubted my ability to do a single pushup.

 I guess that's the point of a rest day, even if it leaves a longing to still do something. At least my legs still worked.

 "Strange, the smell is familiar but not the man. Who are you?"

 "Uh, it's Touji. I've... grown a bit"

 Wait, smell? Do I smell bad? I washed and everything!

 "Mrmmm, about five inches taller than I remember"

 Mistress Rose squinted her eyes, desperately trying to draw similarities between what I had once looked like when I first met her in Winter. My hair, eyes, and most jarring; height, had all changed.

 However, this was also my first time seeing her face, as it was covered by a silver spartan helmet last time we met.

 After coming face to face with her, I realized why she was called 'Rose', as her eyes were rose pink and her hair was a mixture of three colors; magenta, amaranth and lavender, all tied back with a soft spongy string.

 "*Tsk*"

 Realizing she had opened to greet whoever was at the back door in a nightgown, somewhat revealing attire, she slammed the door in my face. After a few minutes she returned wearing a fluffy hot pink dressing gown.

 A far less transparent option, not that the back door was open wide enough to see anything anyway.

 I was starting to get the impression that pink was her favorite color, even if she didn't seem to show that side while working. Probably a good thing.

 Yawning as she welcomed me, I made a mental note that she was not a morning person, although it was ten o'clock now.

 "You're early- Awahh- come in"

 "Ota said before lunch but I wasn't really sure what she meant"

 "That's four hours from now, do you have a pocket-watch?"

 "No... Do I need one?"

 Rose yawned as she guided me down a rather pristine staff-only hallway, leading to a large break room and kitchen. White marble floors, hanging greenery and perfectly chiseled pillars made the place look too good to be used in the way it was.

 The building that worked as both a love hotel and brothel was surprisingly big, although I had my doubts if I would be allowed to explore the place.

 Darkness swelled under Rose's eyes, enough to pass as an overabundance of makeup, clearly she had been working last night as well. To what extent, I could not say.

 "I have half the mind to put you asleep and fill your head with nightmares... Engh, want some coffee?"

 "No thank you"

 "Too bad, I'll throw in some herbs and wine anyway. Ota will be here shortly, then I can discuss something with both of you"

 Who puts herbs and wine in coffee?

 "Is it about her curse? You put it on her, didn't you?"

 "Patience- I will explain once she arrives"

 A smile crept onto the side of her face when I mentioned the curse. After leaving it unaddressed for so long, I felt the need to bring it up, especially with what happened recently outside my old home.

 I sat down on a repurposed wooden chair that I dare not ask what purpose it once served, similar to the torture devices in Merrah's basement. At least it was far smoother and comfortable.

 Rose spoke again, curious about what was happening with my family.

 "How's your sister?"

 "Good I guess, I mean not really... She's moving out but it's complicated"

 "Ota told me you almost killed her"

 "I... I made a mistake, and a Goddess interfered. In a few days I have to go try find stuff that will help heal her"

 Her intentions shifted from curiosity to seeking assurance, or at least that's what I assumed by how similar it felt to desiring safety.

 "And how did that happen?"

 It was clear Rose didn't care about Arisu, no, she was more concerned about her adopted daughter. 

 That was something I couldn't blame her for. Nevertheless I gave as honest a response as I could while she brought a silver kettle over an iron stove top.

 She grabbed a handle in front of the cast iron box, pulled it back before twisting to reveal a red hot surface inside one of four circles sitting on the top of the oven, then pushed it back in place.

 "Arisu wanted to make sure how stupid I've been, and I thought she was going to kill me, so when she pinned me down, I..."

 When I looked down at my arm, a skin flake resembling a Dragon's scale fell off and slowly drifted towards the ground like a wilted tree leaf, displaced by the wind.

 "-I tried doing something I hadn't perfected yet, and it got mixed up with one of the 'Fates'"

 "Hmph. And what is required to make this 'medicine' of yours you mentioned earlier?"

 "I've already said too much"

 Unexpectedly, my answer gave her pause to reevaluate her approach, as if for some reason withholding information and coming to the realization how much was said won her approval.

 It was then that Ota arrived, looking both energetic and exhausted.

 She chose an outfit that was rather unusual for her; baggy black pants with suspenders hanging by the side paired with a tight fishnet shirt underneath a crop top covering her breasts and not much else.

 Strangely, her abs did not seem as defined as they were yesterday. Somehow her hair had grown an inch and now had an undertone of red alongside two matching highlights, side by side next to her right eye.

 Her clothing sported small bits of red and purple, and her fishnet shirt acted as a sleeve for her right entire, with two black straps around either side of her pelvis, however, I was unsure if they were part of her pants or something else.

 Overall, extremely fashionable, topped off with a black cap with red underneath, perfectly matching her hairstyle.

 Yet it felt like it was missing a few pieces.

 "...Touji?"

 "Sorry, sorry, it ah- You look good"

 "Th-thanks... uh"

 Ota scratched her cheek, blushing at the complement while trying and failing to hold back embracement. Without a doubt it was my favorite outfit she had worn so far, as it screamed everything about her in a single glace.

 "Please take a seat, there's something I need to talk to you about"

 "Huh? What for?"

 "Promise me you'll let me explain everything Oats"

 Oats?

 "Ok, but like, what is this about?"

 "Your curse"

 The room grew deathly silent, broken up by a screaming kettle.

 Rose slowly made each of us a hot drink while she explained her train of thought after adopting the Oni.

 "Growing up in an Brothel is no place for a child, so out of fear, I prepared a... countermeasure. If anything was to happen, and you where unwillingly taken, it was to activate"

 "What are you saying..."

 "I saw the aftermath of the incident and the curse activated too late. I failed as a parent"

 "You- YOU DID IT?!"

 "I'm sorry- I must of caused you great confusion"

 Rose's voice trembled and her hands shook while trying to stir the dark mixture held deep within each mug, leaving spots of black on the pristine marble counter. She attempted to hide her face and swelling emotions.

 "For the longest time I thought it was me you know? I even ran naked down the street once- and people looked- but they didn't care..."

 "Yes, like a clothing dummy. But instead of getting getting rid of it after a while, I kept it"

 "All this time, you saw me trying to figure out what was wrong... and you said nothing, you just watched, and bought me stuff, but none of it helped. A random adventurer had to tell me it was a curse!"

 Tears began to form in the corner of Ota's beautiful purple eyes as she got up from her chair, looking to leave.

 "You're lucky I hadn't put on makeup yet"

 "Oats please-"

 Forgoing the hot mugs with a loud smash, Rose ran over to hug her foster family from behind. Tears trickled down the Mistresses face as her arms wrapped around the Oni's shoulders.

 "When you came back that day- ripped clothes- bleeding- then you hurt yourself more..."

 "All I ever wanted was to know what love really was, what it meant"

 "And you have! I- I left a small flaw in it, one thing that could break it… Love, greater than mine"

 "You mean?!"

 "It was gone by the time you came home, I imagine you know how"

 When we kissed…

 The Oni was dumbfounded, not realizing the reason why the Scouts were interested in her body, as it was no longer protected by a curse placed on her soul by Rose to protect from any other attempts to defile her body.

 "You've always been beautiful my dear. I didn't just fail to protect you, I failed to prepare you for the world"

 Realizing what it all meant in a moment of clarity, Ota took a deep breath, turned around and returned the hug.

 "You didn't fail me mum, I love you"

 "That's the first... I love you too my daughter"

 In the end, the Oni did not run away or rebel now knowing the truth. She understood and accepted what Rose did was only for her sake. 

 Placed on a thorny path, Ota wandered through the garden of life, blissfully unaware why the prettiest of flowers must protect their delicate petals. Yet all plants need the heavens to weep and the sun to bloom.

 But the light must know darkness to understand what it means to shine.

 ***