A Friend In Need
A young man walked briskly along the dimly lit street. If it were not for the brightly shining lanterns that lined the nearby buildings, it would be quite hard to see. Though they were sparse and were spread thinly, they were quite bright. Most townspeople around were used to little no light and thus grew to be quite accustomed to the few sources of light around them.
Though there were no people around this late at night due to a curfew set years ago to protect travelers from pickpockets and other unsavory individuals waiting in secret to prey on them.
So in this street, it was silent excluding the young man's shoes hitting the pavement. Most individuals would be inside their homes by this hour. So a lone man walking along the streets would be peculiar. They would be right if they were to think so.
The young man seemed to have speed up his pace as he quickly glanced behind him. A small figure seemed to have been following him. The figure seemed to have been growing larger as it followed the young man.
Sweat started to pour from the young man's pores as he started to run. It seemed he was also holding something in his jacket's inner pocket.
He began to turn at an upcoming corner as soon as he saw an end to the street. Breathing heavily as he backed into a wall. The sound of his breathing is the only sound one would hear if they were nearby.
He found it strange there were no patrolling officers nearby or even townspeople. How could no one at least hear him? He wanted to at least scream for help but decided against it for fear of his pursuer finding him.
He took a deep breath and looked around the corner of the wall he was backed against. No one was there. He had lost them. Or at least he had hoped.
For now, he needed to find a good place to hide and recover his stamina. He looked around at the buildings around him. He knew that there was a weapon shop near this area but he didn't know which building it was. All the surrounding buildings looked so nondescript.
If only there were a sign or something. Though he thought that, there was no point thinking about it now. For now, he had to escape and make it to the capital before he was captured.
He walked towards the furthest building. It was very large and looked as it could house a whole bunch of weapons. Hopefully, he was right about that.
He pushed at the door but soon discovered it was locked. As if that could stop me. As he thought this, he was hit with an uneasy feeling. He turned around.
Nothing. He wasn't nearly optimistic enough to believe that. He rammed into the door shoulder first with all his might. It didn't budge. He slammed his body against the door once again. Still, the door held shut again against his wishes.
Again and again, the sounds of himself banging against the door could be heard ringing out.
With one final push, the door finally caved in and flew open sending the young man onto the floor.
"What the heck was with that door! Whoever built that should just drop dead!"
After saying so, the young man picked himself up from the floor. He began to rub his hands upon his now sore shoulders. He knew he was weak but did not think of himself so weak that a door could defeat him so thoroughly.
He found himself mumbling curses at the building's owner to himself as he walked around. Though the inside of the building was dark, he always carried a torch on his person at all times. He goes into his jacket and pulls out a small torch and with his other arm pulls out some flint.
He hits the top of the torch with his flint and lights it. Adjusting his eyes to the room the young man looks around.
"No...no way."
Books. Shelves and shelves of books as far as his eyes could see. Even on the tables and floors, there were piles of books. No weapons around just books. Nothing to protect oneself from an ever re as ching threat.
"This can't be. How could I choose wrong? I have to leave quickly or…!"
The hope he had left started to drain from his eyes. It was too late. The figure that was following him moments before was now a mere few meters away.
"Or what? I would find you? That I would take back what is mine? Or...that I would kill you?"
Those words carried a low, but playful tone. It seemed the figure was enjoying the display in front of it.
Someone who once had hoped was now on the verge of despair. A little mouse who wanted a lion's share of the dishes left out in front of him, only to have that hope dashed away by a nearby housecat.
This display brought joy to this mystery figure slowly walking towards the young man.
Noticing this he tried to run. As he ran away, he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. Thinking it is just from the door earlier he paid it no mind and focused on running away. Even though he knew he was inside and only knew of one exit, he still ran ahead knowing that he didn't know his way around the building. He found a hall with two doors at the end.
He couldn't decide which door to go through and the clock was ticking. He picked the first door to go through and as he grabbed the handle he heard a loud sound and felt a piercing pain in his hand.
"Ahhhh! Wha-"
He started to scream but was cut off as another pain hit him followed by a burning sensation in his left leg. The man fell to the ground and grabbed his thigh. He felt something wet in his hand. It was also very warm and it was all over his hand and dripping down his leg.
He was bleeding profusely.
"Grrk! What...but, how? I didn't...even see the attack! What did you do?!"
The figure walked closer ever so slowly. He raised one finger and waved it in front of himself.
"Tsk, tsk. Taking you out from a distance is a breeze with this baby."
The figure had a weapon in his hand. It was a small metal object with what looked like a small lever on it.
What is that? The man couldn't explain what he was looking at but knew at first glance that it was dangerous. For some reason, the metal object had an indescribable aura around it. It freaked him out but he couldn't look away.
" It looks pretty cool, huh? Out of this world? That's because it is. It's a new weapon of my own design. I call it a gun!"
A...gun. The man never heard of a weapon like that. Besides the weird name and that unexplainable aura it carries, its creator is even weirder. How could anyone catch up to him this fast? He was sure he was being careful since leaving that port town. He even took care of some passersby who got too curious. No one should have known who he was or where he was heading. Unless… no way!
"So you've finally discovered it, huh? Took you long enough, you fool."
This guy has been following me since I left. But that would mean someone told him about my mission. But who would--wait, I don't have time for this. I have tough!
"I wouldn't be so eager to see the Gods, friend. No, I need you alive for just a bit longer, 'kay! Now tell me, who's out for my little buddy's life, huh? Is it the Resurgence? Or, is it that assassin group again? Getting a bit tired of them, but I digress."
"Ha, as if I'd tell a nobody like you? My purpose shall never slip from these lips!"
'This fool! He'll never get the answer he's looking for. My Master ���'s purpose wouldn't be easily ascertained by some no-name like him. So, what if he's a little strong with that gun or whatever it is. No matter how many guesses you make, you'd just be grasping at straws! Hahaha. If you kill me, then any secrets I hold will die with me. Not even I, my Master's greatest henchman, would even dare to know the extent of my Master's plan.'
"Or what if, you have more than one target?"
'Hahaha--wait, w-what did he just say? H-how did he know? How much does he know?'
The man began to sweat profusely. His brown hair began to stick to his forehead.
He started to breathe a bit more haggardly than before. His palms began to sweat much like the rest of him. The smile that grew on his face but moments ago seemed to be a thing in the past as it now began to fade from his face.
"Heh. It seems I hit the nail right on its head with that, huh? I'm quite smart you know~ Well, that does put a damper on things. Going after more than one target, huh? I'll assume that guy is on your list but who could the other target be. Ohh, is it me? No, most people think I died a long time ago. So that just leaves that person, right?"
'Unbelievable! He got the Master's plan just from what little information he had. And now he's just talking to himself while acting like I'm not in the room anymore. You bastard. I'll show him. I'm not out of tricks yet you fool!'
It was at that moment he had reached into his left breast pocket and reached for a dagger. But, this was no ordinary dagger. It was covered in a clear viscous liquid. The man slowly rose to his feet. Putting most of his weight on his right leg, he charged at the mysterious figure.
"Die, you--!"
"Not so fast! I'm not done monologuing yet."
The man was grabbed by the forearm and tossed over the armed figure's shoulder onto the floor.
"Hey, nice knife! I know a guy who plays with these. Hmm. Is this poison I wonder? It's good stuff, too. Only high-grade assassins can get their hands on stuff like this. But you're weak, so maybe your daddy bought you some of this?"
He laughed. Though it was more a cackle than a laugh.
'He's toying with me, I can feel it. And he even insulted Master. He will surely pay for this transgression!'
The beaten man could feel the evil aura oozing out of the foe standing before. The horrid aura growing with each laugh. This was no mere hero coming to stop the evil-doer.
No, this was an opponent that he could not hope to overcome. An opponent who relished in delight when crushing his foes utterly.
And he enjoyed every second of it.
That's the sense he got from just a whiff of that aura. Like standing before Death itself!
Who is this guy?
That was the only thing he could think up in this situation.
Not how to escape? Or how could this happen? Just, how could someone like this exist?
'I can't let my master face him! I have to...warn everyone!'
"Oh man, this was very enlightening. Very enlightening indeed! I'll have to make a mental note of this for later. Now, how should I take care of you, huh? Maybe you'd like to try this poison out yourself. I heard one taste of this causes excruciating pain up until you croak. Or maybe you'd be the much-needed test subject of this little beauty."
He motioned to a weapon strapped to his hip. He had a wicked smile on his face all the while.
Something that looked a bit like the weapon he showed me earlier. I froze up. The pain left in my left leg from his first attack already has me wary of another. Anything but that again. Please. I'll do anything!
"Please, sir! I beg of you, let me live and I'll tell you all I know! Honest!"
The man looking down at him had grinned. It seems he was pleased with that answer.
"Alright then, tell me everything you know so I can go. I have many things to do before that kid gets here. Oh, how much fun we will have. Don't bore me. I hate boring things."
The man was happily divulging all the information he knew of. As long as he came back with his life, his Master would surely forgive him, right? As long as he kept this powerful evil happy, he could leave with his life.
"There you have it, all the information you could ever want, right? N-now could I go...please?"
He looked up at the man. The man had a deadpan look on his face as if he was thinking. He also noticed that he didn't look tired nor was there any sign of him sweating at all. It seemed like beating me was easy for him. Just another reason why he was glad he stopped fighting him and feigned servitude.
He also felt a bit of familiarity with the man in front of him. Almost as if he's seen him before.
No, that's impossible.
He would have remembered meeting someone as strong as him before.
"Leave? Oh, right! Right~ Yeah, you can go. Go on then, no need to be shy. Home to your adoring master, right? Shouldn't even be too far from here. The mountains are beautiful this time of year!"
With one hand, he helped the beaten man on the ground to his feet and patted him on the back with a charming grin on his face.
'Weird. But that doesn't matter now. I must make it to Master no matter the cost. Since it's almost time, he should be a few days away. Near that village. The one in the mountains.'
Halfway to the door, he slowed to a stop. That's when asked himself.
"W-wait, I didn't mention any mountains--"
Something flew through his skull at an inhuman speed causing him to collapse to the ground.
Blood began to pool around his body stemming from his head.
He was dead.
The armed man began to walk over the man. He kicked the body once. And again. Then, once more.
The man suddenly stopped.
It seemed he was finally satisfied.
"One should always be wary of how much one's opponent knows. One's knowledge is the only thing one can be sure of these days. Sure, a strong weapon or one's family couldn't hurt, but I can always be sure of what I do and do not know."
A wicked smile grew upon the man's face once again.
"What I am saying is: knowledge is power, and I am quite powerful. Now I have to go and greet the man of honor. Oh, I just can't wait to see the look on his face!"
A large grin could be seen on his face. He pushed his glasses up onto his face before fixing his clothes one last time before setting out.
A burst of horrid laughter soon followed--echoing through the empty streets.
The Great Continent.
Known for its vast swaths of fertile land and large amounts of natural resources. It is also thought to be one of the oldest human settlements in the whole world.
It has long since been regarded as the [Land Blessed by the Gods].
It was here where the beings referred to as Gods walked amongst mankind.
The first of humankind settled here after the Great War, the name of the battle between humans and demons. From there they prospered into the apex beings that they are today.
The first of mankind began to build settlements around these powerful beings.
From small settlements, cities were formed. From those cities, whole countries led by those closest to the Gods were born.
The largest and most ancient of those countries was the Holy Empire of Hendrik.
Named so for the Hero Hendrik, who led the battle against the Dark God Phineas and his demon army.
First, a small clan of warriors later became chosen protectors of the land and the Gods alike.
Blessed with the power to control and manipulate the elements just as the Gods themselves do, they went on to rule the Great Continent in the Gods' stead.
For many centuries, they remained in power by both the love and trust of the Gods and their people.
Until recently, that is.
After the recent destruction of the Empire's Capital and the disappearance of all the royal family members, the Great Continent was left in turmoil.
Many people sought to take control of the world themselves, completely in disregard of the people's feelings.
One such group has slowly been gaining both power and land through the use of science and forbidden arts.
Going by the name Arbiters of the Old Dawn. Most people refer to them as the Resurgence.
They are often known to steal forbidden texts and use lost arts to that end.
No one really knows their reasoning for these actions but many people against them have been silenced or even made to disappear altogether.
Many even say the surviving members of the now-defunct Assassins Guild have thrown in with that lot for reasons unknown.
Though they are only but one such foe in the way of restoring the Great Continent to what it once was, they are a strong one.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter brought to you by Eronta En!! I wonder if these chapters are too long? Well, if you enjoyed it please feel free to rate it and give it a review too.
