Heroes of Darkness

VII

HECTOR

All was quiet in the small house in the corner of Errion City, the capital of Odara. The only sound to be heard was the soft breathing in the other room of the old woman. In this moment, Hector felt lost in the eyes of Alicia.

It was that time of year again, when Brandon Brightflame would spend countless nights at the castle, where Emperor Adrian lived. It's been seventeen years, Hector thought. Ever since he had met Alicia, he had given up on the crazy dream.

"Brandon's been out longer than usual," Hector finally said as he looked out of the window. He could see the harbor, countless ships were docked or sailing away into the night. Hector had to think back to when he was a younger man to remember what peace looked like.

Alicia sighed and laid her head on his shoulder. "The Emperor will never budge," she said. "How long has he been at it? Nine years? He should accept his life, and embrace it anew."

Hector had already accepted it. He knew in his heart that the Emperor of Odara would never consent to sending an army far away from home, to invade a land that was rumored to be controlled by an immortal Demoness. The stories are worse than what they say, he knew. Life was better a thousand miles across the sea in Odara.

"If it were up to me, then he would have stopped trying to change Adrian's mind," Hector replied softly. "But he won't.

"I've heard the whispers behind Brandon's back," she said quietly to him. The Paladins, the royal council, all of them. They laugh at him. They pity him."

Hector had learned to let it all go. He had to. He had seen his friends die in front of him. He had seen his King killed by his own Pokémon... and he had seen the horror that the Empress of Sootopolis had unleashed upon his home region. "Brandon Brightflame still thinks he has something to live for. His spirit burns brighter than any man I have ever known."

Alicia sat up and looked at him again. She was beautiful. She had deep blue eyes, and silvery-blonde hair that felt like silk in his fingers. He lifted his left hand and stroked her cheek. In the light of the moon, the twisted scars on his left arm were enough to make any normal woman cringe in shock, but not Alicia. She loved him, and he loved her. "After tonight, try and end this dream of his, of reclaiming his birthright," she kissed him. "I want to begin to plan our lives together, plan a marriage... a family of our own."

For five years, their love had been a secret one. For it to be seen that the Emperor's own Philosopher to be in love with the stranger from across the sea-the one with the mangled arm, and friend to the crazed Exile King, no less, would be scandal in the highest degree.

Hector opened his mouth to reassure her, to say yes, to tell her he loved her, when the door opened and sound returned to the quiet home. There was a flight of white light, and Gallade had appeared at the door, as well as the soft footfalls of the Marshtomp that emerged from the old woman's room.

Brandon Brightflame stood in the doorway. His eyes were bloodshot as he entered, followed by his tall Blaziken. Both human and Pokémon stood tall, even in defeat radiating the same Kingly regality.

Hector stood up and went to his friend. It had been the same every year. Brandon would go to the castle, to request an army, and would come home dejected and miserable. Sometimes he came back with a temper.

"I'm sorry," was all Hector could ever say.

Brandon Brightflame just laughed. This is it, Hector knew. His longtime friend had finally realized it was folly. It was time to give up the chase, and to settle down in Odara for good.