Nightmare

The Fittoa region's Citadel of Roa was one of the biggest cities in the area, but "big" was a relative term. It was still smaller than the expanse of countryside that made up Buena Village. If you walked the perimeter of the outer wall, you could probably circle the entire thing in two hours. Still, it was of considerable size for a city. The walls themselves were about seven to eight meters tall and wrapped around the entirety of Roa.

In the merchant district, the owner of various shops and stalls are setting up to start the day.

Reinhard was on his Knight Apprentice armor going on a patrol in the district.

"Good morning Rein-boy. You woke up early as always." One of the sellers gave greetings on Reinhard.

"Yeah, good morning to you too." Reinhard greets back.

"Hey Rein! Come here and have some to eat. We made extra and its a waste to throw it away." Another stall seller called out to him.

"Thanks. I'll remember it."

"Don't be so stiff. You're working hard for as young as you are. You need something to fill your stomach."

Reinhard for the entire month became popular fast with the local people here. These people are easy to make friends with.

Although he was a calm and silent boy who won't bother much with other people, interacting with the the common people is part of the job so he's doing alright.

He even became popular with people since he's doing the job flawlessly. Crime rates for the past month had been dropping.

When there is troubles and the involved people won't listen to him since he's just a kid, they will be met with a beating on their faces. Though he will use Healing Magic right after.

He established his authority and people won't dare question him again.

A couple of hours passed, Reinhard finally ended his shift for the day and decided to buy something in a shop before going back on his quarters.

"Hey! Isn't that Reinhard!"

He heard his name being called with his acute hearing.

"Ah, that's true. Reeeeiiin heeeere!" Rudeus waved his hands to him so that he will notice them.

"What a rare occurrence..." Reinhard was surprised that he saw them outside.

Rudeus, Eris, and Ghislaine the three of them.

"You're here too, huh?" Eris crossed her arms lifting her chin at him.

Rudeus was beside her with Ghislaine following.

"Rein, its a surprise to see you here. Are you busy?"

"It's the end of my shift. I just bought some things before I go back." Reinhard showed them some knitting tools and some balls of yarn. There is also a sewing kit of threads and needles inside.

"What's that for?!" Eris demanded.

"Its none of your business right?"

"What?! How dare you speak to me like that!"

Rudeus panicked and stopped Eris "Wait Eris! Don't go wild now! You promised remember?"

"Hmph!"

As always the relationship between Eris and Reinhard isn't pleasant. Eris always wanted to beat Rein in swordplay, but she's too weak.

Rudeus remembered that Rein can do handiwork like knitting, he even knitted socks for him in their 5th Birthday.

"What are you making this time?" Rudeus asks.

"I'm knitting them dresses."

"Them?" Rudeus was thinking until he found the answer a second later. "You mean Norn ad Aisha?"

"Yeah, don't you think it would be pitiful if they only wear hand-me-downs from us? They are girls after all, they need to have new clothes." Reinhard had a kind face while saying that.

Rudeus admired Reinhard. It seems that he's been thinking deeply about this. And he really truly cared for them.

"I want to give them something too..." Rudeus says.

"Well you better hurry up and buy something. You're here sightseeing right? It's a good opportunity to buy them something."

"Right, I just have the same idea."

After the brothers talked, Eris looked very upset that they were leaving her out of the conversation. She had no idea what they're talking about. Who this Norn and Aisha was.

"Anyway have someone deliver it to my quarters this day. You know I'll send this package."

"How nice, maybe I'll visit home in my next day off."

Unlike canon, Rudeus was not prohibited by Paul to not send letters and such. After all the reason Rudeus wanted to find work, is for his selfish reason to attend Ranoa University of Magic.

After that rare event of meeting them, Reinhard went back to the headquarters and report that there's no problem whatsoever.

-*-*-*-

{Part 2}

Reinhard went back to his quarters. Since he was a Greyrat, he had more luxurious room than even his superiors.

As soon as he got inside he neatly and orderly arranged his armor and sword. He do some small maintenance on them before he finally decided to do his business.

He whipped out the tools and stuff he needed and started knitting masterfully like a machine.

Then he created a dress, a cap, a glove, a sock. He used a wide variety of colors to make it fashionable. After all they are girls, as the man of the family he needed to spoil them.

Yes. He was a doting elder brother, the kind to spoil his younger sisters.

"What the..."

Not even half an hour had passed, he already finished all the things he was planning to do. Normally it would take him an entire afternoon, but today not.

"My eyes."

Now that he noticed, his eyes were overheated. And it was going through a cool down phase.

This eyes he had had the power to see through the world moving in slow motion. In his mind he spent more or less 3 hours knitting, but in reality he did it in only half an hour.

"I think I'll rest for today."

He suspended his training session in the afternoon to get some rest.

He rested his body on the pillow and closed his eyes.

-*-*-*-

{Sidestory}

"Darling, wake up."

"Five more minutes..." He groaned.

He just want to rest after his eyes got burned out. He didn't care who was calling out on him to wake up.

"Oh come on!" The owner of the voice is a woman.

Strangely enough, it seems he recognized this voice. It was a familiar voice that he loved.

Right, it was the voice of his wife.

His wife reprimanded him with her hands resting on her hips. "Darling, come on. We still have work you know?"

"What the..." Reinhard woke up in a vivid world.

He wondered why he is here. He should be in his quarters. But when he woke up, it was in a different ceiling.

"What's with that face? You looked like you have seen a ghost?" His wife told him.

He looked into the mirror and saw an adult version of himself. He looked like his father Paul, but his blonde hair and blue eyes was from Zenith.

"Ah, that's right. It was all a dream." Reinhard muttered thinking about his long dream a work of his imagination.

He dreamt of another Reinhard living his life, training his swordplay that could even go toe to toe with a Sword King at age 7 which is ridiculous.

In reality when he was young, he is very timid and shy. He was recognized by his magical talents to use Healing Magic Chantless, and his mother Zenith hired a tutor for him.

Although his father Paul taught him swordplay and he had talent, he rarely use it unless necessary.

Afterwards he studied in the Asuran Royal Academy, graduated as the class representative and became a doctor like Zenith.

He was a doctor, not a Knight.

"Hora, start eating and go to work. I still have to take care of the kids you know?" His wife served him his food.

"Ah yes, thank you." He gave his wife a kiss in her lips thanking her.

His wife's name is Sara Greyrat. Before she was just Sara, but after they got married she inherited the Greyrat name.

At a glance, she looked like a strong-willed sort, blond-haired, light blue eyes, and her looks were of an Asuran origins.

Her body wasn't of that voluptuous and her chest wasn't big, like a man of the Notos would love. She was the slender type who would look very agile in a fight.

They met when Reinhard was still a student in the Asuran Royal Academy and she was an adventurer.

One day Reinhard decided to go into a forest to gather medicinal herbs to concoct medicine.

He was trained in in swordplay and can use magic up to Advanced rank, so he can do it himself instead of hiring adventurers to do it for him.

He was able to save her against an Icefall Treant who is absorbing her for nutrients. As a doctor, his sense of justice to heal any sick/injured people was tickled.

One thing led to another, until they got married and had kids.

He worked in the Ars Capital of the Asura Kingdom as an Imperial Doctor. His wife was now working as a housewife raising the kids.

"I'm off to work."

"Take care, Darling."

Sara gave him a good luck kiss in his cheek, which made him smile.

He had a great wife.

"Papa bye bye~" His son, who looked a lot like him cutely says.

He was only 4 years old.

"Bye son, wait for Papa later okay."

And then he went to work.

As a God rank in Healing and Detoxification Magic, throughout the whole world he was famous. Royalty and aristocrats with illness that couldn't be healed through normal means go to him.

He was highly regarded by the people. He earned the name [Death God], when he defeated the previous [Death God] and became one himself. An ironic nickname for someone who is a doctor.

When he went to his office, a familiar face greeted him.

"Onii-chan, you're late!" She pouted at him, clearly she was angry.

"Good morning Norn. I just overslept, you don't have to be so mad you know?"

"Don't give me that! It's almost noon!"

"Now, don't mind the small details."

Norn gave up persuading him.

Norn grew up to be a fine young lady. She is now at a marriageable age, and she had countless suitors. Most of them were nobles and royals trying to made connections with him, and some were just after her beauty and body.

As the elder brother, he of course would protect her. But he will accept anyone who she chose to love.

Norn is still clumsy for her age. She was mediocre in any field. But she chose to work with him as her assistant. That's why she was being scolded by Norn that he's late.

Their father Paul and mother Zenith is still living in the Buena village peacefully. Throughout the years they are a one big happy family.

Paul, Zenith, Reinhard, and Norn. It was neither too big nor too small.

Right now both Paul and Zenith are Grandpas and Grandmas. They are a doting grandparents to his son.

"But Onii-chan. Don't you think you're missing something?" A voice that wasn't coming from Norn's spoke to his mind. It was very eerie that makes your gut swirl.

Suddenly the surroundings changed to darkness. Its as if he is swallowed into the abyss.

"Wh-what's going on!" He panicked.

Then he saw a woman. A woman who's eyes got plucked out from her eye sockets, her mouth spitting out blood.

She looked like a ghost that came out from a horror movie. It was like she is a vengeful spirit cursing him.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"That's cruel Onii-chan. How could you forget your dear little sister?"

Then memories flashed into his mind.

During his childhood, it was found out that Lilia was pregnant and Paul was the father. Zenith raised hell and Lilia was thrown out of the house.

He didn't do anything about it since he was very timid. He is till very young back then, 6 years old. In this timeline Rudeus didn't exist to intervene.

In the end it was said that Lilia died along with the baby in her womb.

Until today, it is something that Reinhard deeply regretted about. His conscience is haunting him like an inner demons about to consume him whole.

He's been wondering if he do something about them, maybe his dear little sister would grow up and he could have another little sister. Norn would have a playmate and it will be a one big happy family.

But that was only the ideal outcome. It was impossible to turn back time.

"Die... Die... Die... Dieeeeeeee!!!!" Like a shriek coming from a horror movie, the ghost woman who claimed to be his little sister.

Reinhard after feeling deep regret from his actions, he accepted the vengeance of the ghost with wide open arms.

-*-*-*-

{Part 3}

"Uwah!"

He jumped out of bed.

"Haa... Haa..."

His breathing was rough. His throat was dry, and his back was drench in sweat.

"...What a nightmare."

He removed his clothes and wiped off his sweat.

It was like he just woke up from a very long dream that turned out to be a nightmare. The memories from that dream was so vivid, that he barely remember the details.

"<<Let the vast and blessed waters converge where thou wilt and issue forth a single pure stream thereof>>, [Waterball]." He chanted and put the Waterball on the cup of water.

It doesn't mean that he didn't want to use Magic in a fight, means he don't know how to use it. He could light up a candle using fire magic and other stuff too.

After that he made some coffee and sat down beside the windows, with the cool night breeze hitting his face.

"Aisha, she's fine now huh... It's because of that guy." Reinhard now appreciated Rudeus more for what he had done..