Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"You should have let me get everyone to safety, Master Lloyd. I’ve told you before that as the heir of this–”

“And I’ve told you ,” he interrupted, “that as heir I need to be on the frontlines. It’s not right if everyone else is in danger while I’m just twiddling my thumbs waiting for it to clear out. How can they trust me enough to buy from me if I run away every time there’s trouble?” Javier’s face twisted with disdain at his final thoughts, yet he didn’t bring up the topic again and continued to bandage his arm. His movements were deft and precise. 

“I still wish you would try to avoid danger a little more. It’s my job to protect you and you’ve been making it exceedingly harder.”

“At least I make your job interesting?” Javier’s lips quirked upwards briefly before falling into a hard line again.

“You’ve always had a habit of doing that. Though I much prefer this to trying to find whatever ditch you’ve wound up in after your nights at the pub.”

“Can’t you just forget those days? I haven’t done that in months!”

“True…” Javier finished tying the bandage on his arm and stepped back to assess his work. “I would advise you to not work so hard this week and allow your arm to heal.”

“But I’ve got five orders to fill! I can’t break my word!” Confusion swept across his expression before he schooled his features. 

“I sometimes forget your change of heart… Tell me what is needed and I will accomplish it for you. You can even come and direct me so I may fulfill your plans exactly.” Lloyd blinked as a blue box popped up in front of him after Javier spoke. 

Notification

Your Approval Rating with Javier has increased by +5. 

Your Approval Rating: +3

You earned 50 RP for improving your relationship with a key character.

Current RP: 1280

Lloyd blinked once, twice, then three times just to be sure he was reading it correctly. He ignored Javier’s frown at his silence and narrowed his eyes at the message. His approval was… positive? Every single one of his approval ratings had been negative since he woke up in this world as Lloyd Frontera. But this was… positive? 

“Master Lloyd?”

“Hm?”

“The orders…?”

“Oh! Yeah, yeah, don’t worry I’ll tell you what I need to get done. I’ll get my summons to help too.” The little message box disappeared with a quiet ding and another took its place.

New Achievement Unlocked!

Loyalty of a Knight: You have earned Javier's loyalty with your diligence and hard work. Whenever Javier is fighting within six feet of any Frontera family member his stats increase by 2.

Lloyd glanced up at Javier. He felt a smirk creep across his lips. Not only did he finally soften the knight towards him, but now he could use him in his projects twice as much! 

“So you don’t mind me ordering you around now? Maybe you actually like me? We can be friends?” He teased. A deep frown marred the knight’s features and another blue box popped up.

Notification 

Javier is disgusted at the idea. Javier's approval of you has decreased by 3.

Your Approval Rating: 0

“Oh come on!”  

Chapter Text

He just wanted to live the nice life of a country lord's son. Was that too much to ask? He’d brought so much as Suho Kim to this place and had worked on reducing the debt his family owed. So why did it seem there was so much preventing him from that sweet life of luxury?!

This town had requested ten orders of his ondols and yet after three weeks of sending his workers out to gather the money and send a request for what supplies were needed, nothing had returned. Not a messenger or a single letter informing of their arrival. 

Whoever had prevented him from getting his money–and possibly damaged his property (workers)–was going to have hell to pay! 

Javier walked quietly behind him along with a few soldiers the Baron insisted go with them. He wouldn't argue with him, but they were basically useless. If he couldn't take care of the problem, then Javier certainly could. The man could almost be called a superhuman with the power he had. Sure there had been stuff that he'd struggled with in the book, but with Suho Kim knowing everything that happened… He couldn't help but smirk.

There isn't anything I can't plan for!

"Master Lloyd," Javier interrupted, "it seems we've reached the town." The woods opened up to a quaint village, smaller than the one his family oversaw. However it wasn't nearly as bustling. Quite the opposite actually. There were hardly any people out at all and those that were shuffled around looked tense and worn. The air seemed charged with apprehension as if everyone was holding their breath in anxious anticipation. 

"You men stay here near the entrance, Javier and I will go ahead. These people look like they might get spooked if all of us go in at once." The men glanced at each other before nodding and Lloyd swept into the village. The people he passed didn't meet his gaze and those that did gave him looks filled with absolute terror. He couldn't spot any of his men among the townsfolk and finally he just picked the closest person to them to speak with. "Excuse me," he called to a woman. She flinched at his voice and slowly turned to face him. There were dark bags under her eyes like bruises, her skin sallow. He noticed a little face peer out from behind her skirts and the woman quickly pushed them out of sight. He tried to make himself as friendly as possible and loosened his shoulders to make his posture more inviting. At least these people didn't know about his hooligan status! Hopefully…

"Yes, sir?" 

"I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm Lloyd Frontera. I'm the one who gathered the orders for the ondols. The heated floors?" 

"O-oh, yes… I remember hearing about those."

"Is it really powered by magic?" A new voice piped up and he glanced down to see the face from before popped out from behind the woman. A little girl looked up at him with wide eyes, her hair bouncing in pigtails. 

"Lilian! Remember what we spoke of when interrupting adults?"

"It's alright," he soothed. He crouched down and offered a warm smile. "It's not magic, it's a lot of complicated stuff with digging and building." The girl pouted, crossing her arms with a soft huff.

"That sounds boring…" Lloyd laughed and stood, patting her head gently. 

"It is boring, but at least it keeps you warm!" He couldn't help but glance in Javier's direction with a smirk. The knight definitely knew how boring it could be when he was having to recite his textbook every night for him to sleep. Javier met his gaze with a raised brow which only made his smirk grow. Maybe in this place his knowledge was a little like magic. He wiped the expression off his face as he turned to face the woman again, her features more relaxed. "I sent some men a few weeks ago to begin working on the orders, but I never heard back from them. Did you happen to see them?"

The tension was back with a vengeance, her posture rigid and eyes wide. 

"Sir, those men…" She trailed off and licked her lips nervously. "They were– "

"They're back!" A voice shrieked and he spun around towards it. Javier's hand fell on his sword as a man tore through the streets. His eyes were bloodshot and Lloyd could have sworn he was foaming at the mouth. "The demons are back! Hide! Run! They've returned!" The village exploded into action, the people darting off in every direction to disappear into any building close to them, doors rattling in their frames as they were slammed shut. 

"The hell?"

"Hurry! We must hide!" The woman grasped his arm in an iron grip, her knuckles white. Her gaze was wild with terror and all the color had drained from her face. "Explanations will come later! For now, follow me!" Lloyd wasn't about to argue with that and quickly followed after her. Her hand soon left his arm to instead grasp Lilian's, nearly dragging the child with her. There was a sudden screech that pierced the air and he instinctively brought his hands up to cover his ears. It was different from the Queen Ant’s, but not any less powerful. It was more chilling than booming, the tone ringing in his ears and settling on his skin like ice. He craned his head back and stumbled at the sight that greeted him. 

Creatures like ragged dolls had suddenly manifested out of thin air. Their heads were free of hair save the few thin strands that sprouted from wrinkled skin. Their limbs were crooked and bony, the skin so tight he could see every knob in the joints. Their clothes were ripped and torn, hanging loosely off their frames. Their eyes were hollow and their mouths were gaping, jaws unnaturally hanging as if they were broken. The teeth lining their gums were jagged and gaped without a tongue between them. They had no feet and instead floated, surging towards them with a frightful scream. 

"What the hell are those things?!" There wasn't anything in the book like this! Sure the ants weren't in there either, but he wasn't expecting something like this! How many other things in this world were excluded from the book? 

"Master Lloyd!" Javier grabbed his arm and prevented him from tripping over his own feet, his grip solid and firm. "Focus!" He gave a jerky nod and hurried to keep up with the knight. The creatures were on all sides of the village, appearing out of nothing with only a frenzied shriek to announce their arrival. The air was crisp, a sudden cold surrounding the area. 

"I'm trying!" He meant to be biting but it came out high pitched and he was grateful for Javier's hold on him. It helped to ground him and bring his focus back to the task at hand. These things reminded him of ghosts or ghouls and he tried to start pulling together everything he knew about them.

They were supposed to be dead first and foremost!

"Quickly, in here!" The woman ripped open the door of a home a second before one of the creatures burst from the alley shadows, claws lunging forward with a scream. He was moving before he registered it, shoving the woman and her daughter into the building and out of danger. The creature's arm swiped across his torso, elongated claws cutting through him. Yet rather than slice through flesh it passed through him as if he were made of air. Pain blazed through him like fire, making him gasp and double over in agony. It was like someone had plunged a burning sword into his chest and gutted him with it. It might have not torn flesh but maybe it would have hurt less if it had. He registered a voice screaming and vaguely realized it was his own.

"Lloyd!" There was an agonized screech and suddenly there was weight around his shoulders, leading him into the house. "Ma'am, do you have a fireplace?"

"Yes, bring him over here!" The door slammed shut and he stumbled after Javier, whimpering at the pain burning through his muscles.

"Sit here," Javier instructed. He faltered in his steps and crumbled, kept from falling by Javier's strong grip. A red box flashed in his vision and he blinked blearily at it. 

Health Alert!

A wraith has stolen part of your life force! Body temperature has dropped to a critical low!

"Am I gonna die…?" He asked the messenger aloud, words slurring.

"No, you won't," Javier promised. He leaned him against the wall and hurriedly began to put logs in the fire, taking the flint given to him by the woman. A weight settled against his legs and he glanced up to see Lilian tugging a blanket over him.

"D-don't worry, mister! We'll take care of you!" He tried to give her a smile yet it came out as a grimace when a fresh wave of pain swept over him. 

"T-the men?" 

"They were outside the village and the creatures seem to be staying inside so they should be safe." Javier came back into his field of vision and draped his jacket over him, quickly pulling it around him. The burning pain was swiftly being replaced with bitter cold, his body shaking with tremors. His teeth were chattering, gooseflesh rippling across his skin. It felt as if his bones had been coated in ice, the blood freezing within his veins. He couldn't feel his hands or feet. Fear bubbled up within him, churning in his gut.

What would happen if he died here…? 

"What have I told you about putting yourself in danger?" Javier whispered harshly, hands moving up and down his arms in an attempt to warm him. His voice broke through his terrified thoughts and he forced himself to focus on the knight’s question. A number of responses came to mind. The first being, They can't buy from me if they're dead! The second was more along the lines of I couldn't let them suffer anymore . However all that came out was a garbled mess of stuttered sounds. Javier settled against his side, wrapping his arms around him and bringing them closer together. He pressed their temples together and he buried himself against Javier, desperate for the heat he emitted. The air around them began to warm and slowly the fabric surrounding him heated. Warmth seeped into him and he sighed with bliss, sagging against the knight. A ding sounded and he forced his eyes open to read the notification.

Health Alert!

Your body temperature is slowly rising. Your life force will be returned to you after the wraiths leave.

He narrowed his eyes at that. Would it be returned because Javier did something to the wraith so it didn't steal all of it? Or did that happen to all the victims that only had a portion of it stolen? He had a sinking feeling his men were not as lucky as him and he guessed he wouldn't find them alive. Though with this level of pain maybe he shouldn't count himself lucky … The heat around him continued to increase and another blue box popped up. 

Skill Upgraded!

Javier's Loyalty Skill has been upgraded to Devotion. He has learned from your example and put your mana techniques to use. While he has devoted himself to the Frontera family, he renews his vow to you. When fighting in proximity to you, his defense and attack receive an additional boost. 

Learned from his technique…? Was that talking about what he did with the ice? Javier must have been doing the opposite with the air and fabric around him. 

He really was a quick learner… No wonder he became a renowned swordsman…

"Master Lloyd, how are you feeling?"

"W-warmer… th-thanks," he stuttered. 

"Of course. It's the least I can do." 

"Excuse me…" Lloyd raised his head weakly to meet the woman's gaze. She was wringing her hands and biting her lip. "Thank you, for what you did for my daughter and I. I will tell you all you need to know about those monsters and your workers. Whatever you need I will try to supply." He nodded slowly before settling back against Javier, his eyelids feeling like weights. His knight pulled the blanket closer around him and tucked it around his shoulders.

"Rest for now and I will go and check on the others later. I will protect you this time, that I promise you." He gave another small nod and allowed his eyes to finally close, confident that Javier would keep his word.

Chapter Text

The battle against the wraiths had taken precious time out of his schedule he hadn’t planned for when it came to repaying the debt against his family. However, it gained him the confidence of the town who would continue to spread his deeds across the land. With that popularity, he would be able to bring in even more orders from farther out. Plus, unlocking the achievement of freeing the village had scored him a ton of RP! He was about to go on a spending spree when he got home! 

Hello new and upgraded skills! He thought with a triumphant grin. 

He would admit he’d be glad to finally get home to the manor. The attack from the first wraith had shaken him and though he wouldn’t admit it aloud, he had nightmares of their screams for days afterwards. Javier had kept his word though and not another wraith had laid a hand on him, or any of the soldiers that accompanied them. They had to find some abandoned shack that had been the home of some lady that decided to curse the village for some stupid reason. The woman they found had explained it, but honestly he tuned her out about halfway through. As much as they thought their reasons were valid, they were all the same. 

Murderers. 

They could cry him a river about their sob stories but it wouldn’t erase the blood on their hands and he’d make sure they paid for it accordingly. The punishment should fit the crime after all.

“Lloyd!” He was broken out of his musings at the sound of the Baroness’s voice, the woman rushing out to meet him. He was shocked when she threw her arms around him to pull him into a tight embrace, her face buried against his neck. “We were so worried when you didn’t return after so long!”

“Ah, I’m sorry, I didn’t think the problem would take so much time to resolve…” She pulled away from him and hastily wiped her eyes before giving him a smile. Pain twisted in his heart like a knife and he quickly pushed the emotion away. This was not his mother, just like he was not her son. 

“We received your letter,” the Baron’s voice spoke up and came out behind his wife. “We alerted the families of the lost men. Were you able to retrieve their bodies…?” He grit his teeth at the question, once again reminded of the woman in the cave. She had been using the wraiths to drain the people of their life force to extend her own. On the hunt for something or another, he couldn’t remember now. As he stated, he had really zoned her out. 

But the people who suffered the full extent of the wraith’s power were completely sucked dry and had–according to the townspeople–crumbled into ash like a dried husk. There had been nothing left to bring back except the few things the men had that the townspeople had graciously held in case their relatives came looking for them.

“No, unfortunately there were no remains after the creatures attacked, my Lord,” Javier supplied for him. He motioned to the cart loaned by the people laden with the belongings of the lost men. “This is all they had left. We can distribute it among the families once we identify who they belong to.” The Baron waved his hand. 

“Don’t worry about that. Bayern and I will take care of this. You and the others need to go and rest. You’ve had an eventful few weeks it sounds like.” Lloyd gave a short bow and tried to smother his relief. He had been fine with taking these things, but he really didn’t want to have to deal with sad families any longer. 

“Thank you, my Lord. We will take our leave.” The soldiers breezed past with Javier following them and Lloyd bringing up the rear. He was stopped by a hand on his shoulder and he blinked up at the Baron. “Sir?” His father–no, the Baron –squeezed his shoulder and gave him a small smile. 

“I’m proud of you, Lloyd. You’re taking responsibility for not only our land, but surrounding villages as well. You didn’t have to help those people, but you chose to, and for that I am proud.” He struggled for a response to his words and merely felt his throat grow tight. No, no, no! This was not his family.  

And nothing he did here would fix what went wrong in his world. 

He would learn from those mistakes committed as Suho Kim and make sure that as Lloyd Frontera they were never repeated. He finally gave a tight smile and a nod in return.

“Thank you, my Lord.” There was a brief expression of sorrow across the Baron’s face before he gave his shoulder a final squeeze and released him. The Baroness looked equally sad and he hurried to leave their presence. 

Javier was waiting for him once he entered through the gates of their manor and he tilted his head at him questioningly. 

“I wanted to make sure you got to your room safely.” He felt an acidic reply bubble up his throat, but he merely swallowed it down and brushed past the knight. He was too tired to exchange barbs with the man today and honestly, after having Javier with him so long, it felt wrong to not have the man follow him like a shadow. 

It would be strange whenever he left to go on his journey. 

Lloyd paused at the thought and frowned. Javier only left the Barony because it fell to ruins at the suicides of his parents and the death of their heir. Would he… still leave? What about all those things he was supposed to accomplish in the book? Would he stay here and not do any of them? He hadn’t really thought about what Javier would do when he had been so determined to rewrite his own future. Which he was doing with his own two hands thank you very much! No choking on blood and dying for him in this story!

“Master Lloyd?” He started at Javier’s voice and glanced over at the knight. “Are you alright? You just… stopped.”

“Oh… I was just thinking of some stuff… Lot to think about after all that, you know?”

“Right…” He scurried back towards his room before Javier could pry any further. He shed his coat and flopped onto the bed with a groan. 

A bed has never felt so good before!  

The door clicked closed and he heard Javier make his way around the room. Probably going to start a fire, then secure the windows and doors, and do whatever other routines he had. Lloyd reached down and tugged his boots off, tossing them to the floor then stretched across the mattress. 

“Hey, Javier…”

“Yes, Master Lloyd?” He sat up in bed and leaned on his knees, peering up at the knight. 

“Would you ever leave the Barony?” Javier’s eyes narrowed and he quickly spoke further to prevent offending him. “I’m asking just because you’re a really strong swordsman! Maybe you’d want to… I don’t know… go and train somewhere?” Javier’s lips twisted in a deep frown. 

“Why are you asking me such a thing?”

“I don’t know. I guess I’m just thinking maybe you’ll get tired of all my weird ideas and the building stuff. That you’ll want to be a real knight somewhere…?”

“Am I not a real knight to you now?”

“Well yeah, you are! But like… protecting damsels or killing bad guys? I don’t know! Whatever knights do!”

“Do you want me to leave?” Lloyd went silent at that question, his brow furrowing. Obviously he didn’t want Javier to leave! The man was like his very own dynamite! He could work three times as hard as any other man, and with his sword skills he was even more useful. Especially since there were all these damn problems popping up to block his way to the life of luxury! Javier was like his secret weapon!

Plus he liked the man. He was kind like the Baron, but far more firm. He’d be a good leader one day. Shouldn’t he want him to leave… so that he could pursue that life given to him in the book? The renown and the power? All the people he helped because of that? He should try to convince him to leave… right?

“Of course I don’t want you to go!” He said instead. This was his wish wasn’t it? He needed Javier to accomplish that and once he got the sweet life of a noble secured, he’d bid Javier a fond farewell and good luck on his future endeavors! But until then…

He’d use this knight any way he could!

“Alright. Then I won’t. I am happy being here under the Baron. However…” 

“However?” Javier frowned thoughtfully and his hand fiddled with the sheathe at his hip. Lloyd tilted his head and eyed him. Was the man… nervous? Woah, that had to be a first… It kinda made him anxious to see the unflappable knight uneasy. 

“I’d like to devote myself to you.”

“What?” Of all the things he thought he was going to say, it was definitely not that! “You already swore loyalty to my father.”

“I did, but I would like to extend that vow to you.”

“I… to me?” Javier’s eyes flicked to the side, his face growing more thoughtful.

“When I first devoted myself to the Baron, I didn’t think much of you. I actually couldn’t believe a son like you had come from the Baron and Baroness.” 

Wow, harsh, he thought with a glare.

“I only took care of you under the order of the Baron. I knew if something happened to you, it would greatly upset the two of them and while I was fine with allowing you to your fate, I wouldn’t make them sad intentionally.”

“Do you have a point here or are you just gonna keep insulting me?” He snapped. Javier smirked at him briefly before shaking his head. 

“I am surprised at the man you have become from the one I have just described. The Baron and Baroness are both pleased with what you have done and I myself feel as if you are a completely new person.” Lloyd chuckled nervously at that and glanced away briefly. If only he knew how right he was… “Having said that, I have come to see what a reliable and responsible man you are. You are a man of your word who, despite seeming to have an obsession with money, care for those around you. Though you attempt to hide it behind the guise of collecting said money.”

“Hey! That’s not a disguise! I am wholly committed to getting whatever money I can from the people around me!”

“Which you can’t if they’re dead.”

“Exactly! See? Black hearted fiend right here!”

“Saving that woman and her daughter didn’t earn you a single coin.” His mouth snapped shut at that and he shifted silently on the bed.

“I guess. What of it?”

“So… that is a man I would like to align myself with. I understand that my vow is to your father, but I would like to extend one to you.” A smirk snaked across his features. “You already use me as your own personal knight, why not make it official?”

“Are you sure about this?” He blurted out. “You don’t have to do this; having a vow to my father, to the Baron, that’s enough! Also, you never minded being used when it was helping people so don’t be complaining now!” Javier laughed and he froze. Had he heard him laugh before…?

“I’m not complaining, I’m merely stating a fact. Have I not done everything you’ve asked even if I didn’t understand the reasoning? Even when I truly was suspicious of you and what you suggested, I always followed through. So, Lloyd Frontera, will you accept my vow as a knight?” 

“I…” What was he supposed to say to that? He wasn’t wrong . He certainly already used him however he saw fit as long as it promoted his business. So what was the harm in this? “Yes, I accept your vow, Javier Asrahan.” The knight nodded then proceeded to unsheathe his sword. He dropped to one knee and put the tip of the sword into the wooden flooring gently, holding it before him. 

“I devote myself to you, Lloyd Frontera. I pledge my life and my sword to you. As long as there is breath in my lungs and blood in my veins, I will safeguard you from any and all enemies who come against you. Until my final day, I devote myself to you and your kin.” Lloyd stared down at him, an unknown feeling crawling up his throat. What was this feeling…? It certainly explained why the Baron had been so betrayed when his senior knight was found guilty of conspiring against him. This was a vow that was spoken with the intention of never being broken.

Every word Javier spoke was genuine. There was not a single hint of deception in his tone. Was that what this feeling was? The weight of another man’s life being placed like a shield to protect your own? A quiet ding alerted him to a notification and he glanced over at it. 

Skill Upgrade!

Devotion has been upgraded to True Devotion. This knight has devoted his heart, body, and sword to you. He will put his life on the line to defend you. When defending you, he gains 5 minutes of immunity against all enemy attacks.  

He couldn’t feel excitement over the new skill when he could suddenly imagine all the horrible ways this could end. But Javier was the protagonist of this book he’d found himself in! He’d never lost and it ended happily for him didn’t it? Yeah, of course it did, so it’d be alright! Even if he had discovered some stuff that wasn’t in the book and maybe he was changing a lot of the plot by doing all this… it’d be fine!

Javier would be fine and he’d get his life of luxury come hell or high water. What could go wrong with a hero like Javier on his side?

“I accept your vow and pledge to be worthy of it,” he swore. This he meant just as fiercely as Javier meant his own words. He would prove to be worthy of this vow and he’d ensure that Javier’s trust in him wouldn’t be misplaced. The knight nodded and stood, sheathing his sword smoothly. Another blue box popped up as Javier turned to begin stoking the fire and Lloyd grimaced at the message. 

Don’t mess this up, kid. He’s got a lot of trust in you.

I won’t! He thought angrily, swatting the little box away. I won’t let this True Devotion skill go to waste!