Life as a Side Character

Chapter 13

"I, Zeqihr Grandflare am very pleased to meet you," Zeqihr said with his usual enthusiasm.

"And you are?"

"Exius Sagelight, someone unimportant. Now first things first, captain, what exactly is the situation at Acrania?" I asked, trying not to sound too impatient.

She flinched at the words. Yup, I just blew my first impression and came out rude. I just get too nervous when I'm around attractive people.

"It's complicated." She said and started to fiddle with her armor's shoulder pads.

"It usually is, but we don't have time to sort it out, we are being attacked!" A tall soldier came running up to her.

"By what? We just repelled the deathraiders who were trying to gain entry through the mountain!"

"Yes, and that was a large group." He says exasperatedly, "But while I was climbing up the mountain, I saw something even more alarming."

"Go on."

"I climbed up to the very top of the mountain, where it looked as if an explosion occurred, leaving a large hole in the ground."

"That would be a high-level magic from one of the undead army," the soldier said simply. "My name is Fazar by the way, nice to meet you" He finished.

"Tell me what else you saw," Zeqihr asked.

"Well, at first I thought there were several groups, but I realized there was only one. After getting over my surprise, I saw that it was a small group which included some large undead horrors."

"and it's heading this way" he finished just as a large explosion took place nearby, "that would be the catapult."

"Let's go," Zeqihr said as he marches off, I could feel the air around him crackling with energy as Nari followed with her men.

I need to act fast, the undead is large and powerful in comparison to the Human troops, a single skeleton is more than a match for several soldiers.

"Why am I even here?" I asked myself as I march after the soldiers. "Can I protect Zeqihr?"

"I guess I'll just aid those who'll get hurt," I thought through the forest, careful not to make the same mistake as last time and getting lost.

As we move I notice the undead horde easily sweeping aside the soldiers attempting to stop them.

I stayed behind Zeqihr as Nari and her men clashes with the skeletons and wraiths. I felt a small pang of guilt for just standing there, but their enthusiasm to fight was infectious.

Zeqihr casually bombards explosions here and there while I carefully fend off any incoming skeletons with a sword I got from the camp but my arms were too weak to land a fatal blow. Damn it!

"If I ever survive, you're going to have to help me train this guy." I hear a voice say. I turn around to see Fazar.

"Hey!" I spat back.

He continued and didn't mind me.

"Are you ignoring me?! I am Exius, the hero's apprentice mind you"

"Huh. Didn't know that"

"What? It's true!"

"Well sorry about that, but I thought you would be more use unconscious for this battle!"

I sneered at Fazar and just focused on assisting Zeqihr.

I hear another explosion and look up. Zeqihr is fighting alongside a team of dwarves including Captain Field.

"It's about time you arrive!" I yelled.

"Bah! My conscience tells me to help you, but at least I arrive with the reinforcements. With your mind here, we can turn this battle around!"

"We won't turn it around so easily, Captain," Nari said "But please do what you can."

Captain Field nods at the comment and orders his men to advance.

Slowly, the undead was defeated and us, advancing.

"I'll go fetch some potions for the wounded so we can support the frontliners," I say to Zeqihr.

"Great idea," he replies.

"Well well well if it's isn't Fazar" I said slyly at Fazar bleeding from the head and lying on the ground.

"Exius mend me please"

"Hmm, I can't seem to hear you with all the explosion"

"Hand me that potion! Now!"

"Say what?"

"Mend me!"

"Well I'm not exactly a healer"

"You're the hero's companion! Surely you can do it!"

"But I'm just a useless tailor. You said so yourself" I said while casually wiping my glasses.

"Stop joking around, heal me!"

At this point, Fazar is about to cry, but he's so desperate for me to heal him that he's not going to drop the subject.

"Fine"

I gave him the magic potion as he chugs it down.

"We can continue our journey now," Fazar said as I rushed to the others.

After mending everyone, I came back to the ranks only to find them celebrating. We've won the battle but not the war itself. Moments after we readied ourselves for a journey to inform the king. Captain Field and his men decided to help guard the city.

"Ah, it feels good to be free of that place." Captain Nari says as she leans against her horse with a smile.

"Where exactly is King Hart at the moment?" Zeqihr asked.

"He's in a city called Volgst. I think we should try to take it."

"I see, I need to tell him about Plailon's current king Roldam. He is the Necromancer Lord who's been causing all this" Zeqihr added.

Nari had a clouded expression on her face and halted.

"The last time he got news like that from me, he nearly died saving everyone. I can't risk him doing it again."

"You won't help us?" I asked.

"I'm sorry, but I can't. If fighting the undead means the deaths of the living, well I can't be the one to help."

"You're going against your nature," Zeqihr commented.

"Yes, I know. Nevertheless..."

"So be it," Zeqihr says and spurs his horse forward.

Nari lets out a sigh.

I understand how Nari feels and that she's just worried for the king's life, but she's also going against her nature by which is serving the throne. I on the other hand am serving someone far more important than the throne; namely myself.