One on the Dark Path Finds Light

Chapter 2, The Elf Makes Friends with a Servant

Glenn woke up to Ephraim shaking him. "Glenn! Get up!"

"What?!" Glenn asked, alarmed.

"There's Niopina attacking the town!" Ephraim said. "They're overly vicious! Please. . ."

His shoulders shook with a strained sob.

Glenn cut the rope tying him to the tree away with his knife. "Don't worry, Ephraim! It'll be alright!"

He scrambled down the tree, getting his bow ready.

With the new techniques he had learned from Ephraim, Glenn could keep the situation under control until the guards of Ollkan got there to help out.

The guards of Ollkan usually spent their days playing card games or would-you-rather. But as soon as they were called upon, it was as if a fire had been lit under them.

Glenn shot his first round of arrows quickly with nearly to no trouble. The second round went smoothly as well.

He shouted to Ephraim as he shot, "Go get the guards!"

Ephraim nodded swiftly and dashed off in the direction of the town square.

Glenn continued shooting and shooting until he felt like his arms would fall off. His vision began to go dark, but he persisted through it. He couldn't let the people of Ollkan be hurt by Niopina. He could never let anyone get hurt. . .Hako had said he had to protect everyone. Protect the world. He couldn't let Niopina injure anyone.

But his strength was leaving him fast. He wasn't sure he could hold up much longer. Scared he would pass out, Glenn called out. He didn't know who he was calling to, but he hoped someone would lend him support and strength. If he just heard a voice. . .But still nothing.

He kept on until all he could do was dodge attacks to stay alive. Suddenly, he felt a jolt and he was quickly dragged for a few yards before he was laid down on the earth. He had his eyes closed from the jolt, but when he opened them, he saw Ephraim above him, checking his pulse.

"Do I. . .really look that bad?" Glenn asked. "It doesn't hurt."

Ephraim shushed him. "It really is that bad, so don't move. Your pulse is still strong, though. . .You really are persistent, Glenn. God, it's kind of scary, to be honest."

Now that Glenn thought about it, he did feel tired. But he couldn't stop now. There were too many Niopina attacking. He couldn't stop thinking about the whole town, awash in blood. . .Everyone blaming him for the deaths of so many. . .He'd be a criminal.

"Ephraim, please. I need to get up and help," Glenn said. "I can't leave the guards to do it all. The Niopina are way too strong. . .They'll destroy the guards!"

Ephraim shook his head. "You won't be able to fight in this condition. To be honest, you'll only be in the way and probably get some guards killed. Let me heal you first."

Glenn felt miserable as Ephraim healed him, mostly because he couldn't help out with the fighting. But he felt bad that he couldn't watch Ephraim's back, so Ephraim had to do all the deflecting himself. But nonetheless, Glenn let himself get healed up so that he could go back to helping the guards.

It took Ephraim a while, but eventually he had Glenn all patched up and ready to go again.

"Okay!" Ephraim said, hauling Glenn to his feet. "Formation two!"

Glenn took formation and began to shoot. He'd dodge attacks when needed, and always made sure he was blocking the view of Ephraim to the Niopina, that way they wouldn't go after him.

Ephraim was doing his best to block the Niopina attacking from behind. But he was only one person and couldn't parry every hit.

Glenn was fighting so much to help that he didn't even notice when Ephraim disappeared from behind him. He kept fighting until the last Niopina was slain, which took over three and a half hours.