Thornblade Chronicles - Volume 1

Chapter 21

Eli's request stunned Albert. Standing in silence, all he could do was stutter for a moment. Baffled, he could only ask, "What?"

Sarah, who had just reached the group, worriedly asked, "Can you please repeat that request? It almost sounded like you wanted Albert to fight Ilkama with you," she nervously laughed at the end.

Eli, unamused, replied, "I did make that request. I want Albert to fight by my side against Ilkama."

"Have you lost your mind?" Sarah tapped the side of her head. "I will not allow him to go anywhere near that demon of a ruler!"

"And why would you want that? Surely, I would only get in your way," Albert asked.

"On the contrary, Albert, I may be the one in your way," Eli shook his head. "Your tactical genius allowed you to learn Mienard glyphs effortlessly. Despite your lack of experience using my kingdom's glyphs, you bested me in battle. I held nothing back. I would argue your strategies are on the same level as Ilkama's."

"You held back Bursor," Albert snapped his fingers. "It is as you said, I would likely be unable to keep up with you if you were to use it."

Eli scratched his chin, wondering, "I am not so sure about that." After explaining Bursor's limitation against other Mienard gear, Eli reasoned Albert's gauntlets could now be considered Mienard. "If my theory is correct, you would be much safer against Ilkama than you think. You could be the hero in this war."

Albert stood in silence, wondering what might happen if he were to join. Eli's word, hero, rang in his ears. He smiled, enjoying the sound of that title. He then pictured the Dark Lord's evil grin, laughing at Albert while calling him "a brute who refuses to use a weapon." The martial artist gritted his teeth and clenched his fists as he pictured himself repeatedly punching Ilkama.

"I would love to punch that stupid grin off his face," Albert spat.

"Albert!" Sarah whined, placing her hand against his as their fingers slowly intertwined. "You cannot be serious. You will be against a Mienard with years of experience! Eli has been using these glyphs for only a few weeks. To compare their skills is absurd!" she insisted. Eli slumped over, his heart sinking.

"I am able to hold my own against Ilkama," Eli muttered, despising her comment.

"No, you are not. As you said: You got lucky escaping the castle last time. Training does not count; he had not been trying to kill you," Sarah's voice filled with even more worry.

"So you are fine with Eli dying, but not me?" Albert asked.

"You already know the answer to that!" Sarah yelled. The group stared at the alchemist while Eli's heart sank further. She looked around, realizing what she had said. "Albert..."

"At least, if I were to join him, we would have a better chance at survival. I will join him in battle. This decision is final," Albert explained, ripping his hand away from hers and walking past his friends.

"Albert, listen to me!" Sarah screamed, her eyes filling with tears. Albert stopped, hearing the pain in her voice. He turned around to face her, crossing his arms. Sarah rushed over to him and hugged him. "I am so sorry. You know how much I care about you. I just do not want you to get hurt."

"I understand," Albert replied, returning the embrace. "But we knew what we signed up for when we began our crusade. If it means saving the hundreds of people in the kingdom, joining him is worth it. My life may be in jeopardy, but it is worth it."

Sarah sighed, pulling away from her partner, insisting, "Then at least take these." She unlatched red potions from her waist and buckled them to Albert's. "Promise me that you will flee and drink these if the fight gets too dire."