Rogue Light

by Brian Nyaude

28

  A soft chilly gush of wind blew past my hair, sending it dancing up high. Dashe stood next to me examining the old man on the ground, his sword half drawn. Surprisingly, he looked somewhat like his old usual self, revived and annoying. I smiled faintly knowing that everyone was okay. Upon using the power of the first blast sphere, I had held back a little fearing for my friends, although it all worked out somehow. Strange, Dashe was moving effortlessly and his life inner energy was glowing faintly, unquestionably not my doing.

  “How are you even walking Dashe?” I turned my head towards him. “I am rather surprised by your newfound recovery.”

  Considering what we went through, I deserved to know that much from him. Dashe stretched his arms and massaged his neck in a calm and unsaddled manner. He looked at me for a second and then returned to ignoring me again like I wasn’t there.

  “Spill it out,” I growled at him.

  He then laughed his brains off like a maniac, “I was just faking it before, I just wanted to see how long you could last without my help.”

  Seriously, I truly hoped he didn’t mean that. If this was true then I so wanted to punch him. However, the unchanged expression on his face told me he wasn’t joking. Gritting my teeth from brute anger, I looked at him for a couple of seconds. What was wrong with him?

  “No I am just joking,” he laughed again almost shedding tears. “From the look on your face you bought it. Anyways a little boy helped us, the same kid Susanne told us you left at a bar in Jura.”

  No way, I did not expect him to follow me. What was he doing here? I had told the bartender I would come get him in a week and it hadn’t been more than a week yet. How had he even found us in the first place?

  “He didn’t come alone,” Dashe smiled as he helped me get back on my feet. “He brought reinforcements along with him.”

  Great, it sounded like he was saying more crazy people were going to throw away their lives on our suicide mission. I sighed deeply at thought of it all. This was going to be one battle none of us would easily walk away from. By now, the enemies were aware of what had happened here and were probably on their way here as we speak.

  “Ken taught me one thing,” Dashe spoke looking in the sky with eyes filled with questions. “When opportunity comes along we grab it and never let go. You might be thinking that it’s suicide for people to go up against a monstrous tyrant, but look at it from their perspectives. A strange and yet fearful warrior comes along and walks into enemy territory despite his fear and cowardice. Fighting monsters to help his kidnapped friends, even I would be ashamed if I didn’t accompany him or you to be precise. To make things interesting, you are a Roguean. And none of us have known you brutes to be so ever helpful.”

  In a strange way it made sense. I don’t know why, but it just did. Dashe’s words were starting to influence me which was truly disturbing. Taking advice from an idiot must obviously mean I was one too, not a good thought. But perhaps people could change even if they were the still rude and annoying. I thought hard about my companions, each and every one of them. They had something to lose and it was the reason why they were willing to risk their lives alongside me. So who was I to deny them a chance to fight for their freedom and future?

  “Rid, that attack was something else,” Ogana suddenly appeared behind us, speaking in a sober manner. His eyes were blood shot red and the stench of booze on his breath was less revolting. “You really gave us quite the scare to make even Kaya wet his pants.”

  “I did not,” Kaya cried trying to justify himself. “I was just sweaty that’s all.”

  “Wait!” I gulped, “Masonku and the others are still in danger.”

  There wasn’t much time judging by what the old man had said. I could barely feel their energy meaning they were in some kind of trouble. Walking slowly, I proceeded towards the direction of their energy until I felt Dashe’s hand on my shoulder.

  “Don’t worry about them,” Dashe said with a faint smile. “The old lady has been taken care of and the others are safe.”

  “Seriously by who?” I asked in a surprised manner.

  “Trust in your friends,” Ogana smiled and walked a few steps towards me. “We might not look like it, but we are strong.”

  Phew! It was a relief to hear. Rest assured, the nightmare was still not over. Dawn was approaching as the sky started to become light and slightly cloudy. An ominous fog was approaching from the west and in it I saw about a few hundred huge treasure dogs. I warned the others of the approaching danger, signaling them to follow me. We dashed quickly and rejoined the new group of people who had come to our aid, making our stand together as one

  “This is it guys,” I said clenching my left fist, heart pacing out of control. “Can you all still fight?”

  “You know it,” Kaya said standing behind Ogana.

  “I wouldn’t be here if I couldn’t” Dashe sniffed in leisurely, unsheathing two swords simultaneously.

  “Let’s get this over with while I am still sober,” Ogana grunted moving towards the front.

  Excellent, this was comforting feeling. As long as we were together, no army was too big to conquer. Wait, something was still not right. Someone was missing from our group. I looked right and left and did not see a tiny glimpse of my angel.

  “Has anyone seen or heard from Suzanne?” I asked still trying to stay on my feet.

  It was bad enough a horde of monsters were approaching, but now I had a grudgingly tired body to deal with first. I put my pain aside and focused all my attention on finding Suzanne. “Someone among these people must have seen her when she was heading for Jura or along their way here.”

  No one answered and it clearly bothered me a lot. Had something happened to her and Dien? Could it be that she ran into Katarina Fox? What was going on?

  “She is safe for now,” a feminine voice spoke from behind a mob of people. It was soft and yet gently comforting. “My husband took her and her friend to our house in the outskirts of Jura. For now she will be safe there while we focus on vanquishing our greatest enemy.”

  Hearing her words sent a comforting feeling throughout my body. This had been the best news I had heard in a while. With that in mind, I felt a sense of ease on my shoulders. I looked back at the oncoming beasts ready to pounce on them greatly. Even with this army of thirty people, victory was not guaranteed. I felt great power in some of them, nevertheless it wasn’t going to be enough against a foe like Katarina Fox. The beasts raged on towards us, gaining steady speed on us. Before I could dash towards them, someone stopped me by grabbing my hand.

  “Leave these creatures to us and go on ahead to the castle Riyo,” the little boy I had saved in Jura said. “Your chances of victory are great against her if you fight her before the sun comes up. Time is not on your side my friend.”

  Wait what? Before the sun came up? What was he trying to tell me? I was truly lost by what he said. It was obvious to me that this boy knew something important about her. Something probably related to the other power Ebi didn’t want to tell me. Maybe the trident’s power increased or something. I bent down to one knee and looked at him in the eye.

  “What happens if I can’t defeat her by then?” I asked him curiously.

  His smile vanished as he said, “then your journey will be over. She will become invincible once the sun comes out and you and your friends will suffer.”

  Just hearing that sent shivers down my spine. There was roughly two hours left before the sun came out which wasn’t much. I got back on my feet filled with a bit of clutching anxiety.

  “I believe in you though,” the little boy gave me a thumps up. “I mean I really want to believe in you because you care despite being a Roguean. You saved me from a terrible demise and cared for me like I was a comrade. I want to thank you for freeing me and showing me the path of my errors, I will no longer serve her. And now right here, I will make my stand and fight alongside you. I will free my family by fighting hard for them. Now who is wi
th me?”

  Everyone yelled, “WE ARE” raising their weapons as a symbol of unity.

  My word, I was lost out of language. This child was far much more mature than any of us were especially that idiot Dashe. I mean his short words of wisdom were powerful enough to inspire this horde of rebels deeply. If he survived this battle, he would surely grow up into the next legendary king or general.

  “I suggest you go,” the little boy said with a sudden change in tone. “Time means everything now. I’m putting all my faith into you because I want to see my family when this is all over.”

  “Wait a second,” the woman from before stopped me. She took out something out of her dress pockets and handed it to me. “Take this with you. It will help you ease your pain and fatigue.”

  I took a bottle from her and observed the contents within. Without hesitating, I lowered my head as a sign of gesture, “thank you.”

  She raised my head up with her hand and said, “it is you we are supposed to thank. Not a lot of people would have stood up to fight if it weren’t for your brave actions.”

  They all agreed with her and it made me feel special. Honestly on my part, my actions weren’t that of a brave and daring man, more along the lines of flukes. Everything that had happened recently had been more frightening than exciting. That being said, I felt somewhat different to the person I had been before when I was still in Rogue. There was compassion and love inside my heart, things I had never shown to others before. I was truly changing inside without even realizing it. Quickly, I said farewell to everyone and took off with Dashe and the others. We ran past the inn and entered an alley heading straight for the castle.

  “I’m counting on you,” I yelled to my new companions before vanishing amongst tall strange buildings.