The Crimson Champion

Chapter 8: A Mounted Battle

I walk through the streets of Lazarus, aiming for the shady district, but I hear a familiar voice. "Where have you been, Crescent? I started to think you abandoned us."

I sigh and turn to look at the captain of the guards. "Graham, I had something to take care of. I can't be here all the time. Besides, you and your guards are good enough to protect the people, aren't you?"

I smirk at the annoyed look on his face and swiftly walk away before he can say something, then I continue to go through the town, quickly waving hello to Kruz and Abel as I see them patrolling.

I enter the shady district and I go to my regular meeting spot with Shana. She immediately runs out of an alley over to me. "Brutus, you're back! Where's Lorelei?"

I sigh. "Shana, I have bad news. She wouldn't leave Yuri's service. I...I had to knock her unconscious because she...wanted me to kill her."

Shana looks at the ground sadly. "Damn, I...I really hoped she would come back to us. Are you still going to try and bring her back?"

I nod. "Of course I will. You'll let me know if you get information about where she is, right?" Shana grins. "Hell yeah! I actually have some information for you, although it's not about her."

She sighs. "It's...about my father. He's currently training in the plains around Kantiron. If you're fast enough, you should be able to get there before he leaves."

I think. "I know how I'll get there. Spiritus!" I summon Spiritus and he grows much larger, then I climb onto him. "Shana, I can't promise anything, but I'll do my best to talk some sense into him."

Shana smiles. "Thank you." I ride through the streets, avoiding the confused people along my way, only stopping to get supplies as I leave Lazarus to the north.

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I ride across the plains and it starts to get dark as I see Kantiron in the distance, then I look around and see a makeshift encampment nearby. The tents are all arranged in a circle, with a large campfire in the middle. I ride over and approach the fire, where I see Grelnar practicing attacks by himself.

"Grelnar! What are you doing outside this town?" Grelnar turns and looks at me. "Ha! It's The Blazing Scourge himself! Why should I tell the emperor's biggest enemy why I'm here?"

I summon my katana and point it at him. "Because if you do tell me, I might let you live." Grelnar chuckles. "Oh, really?" He cracks his knuckles. "I'd like to see you try. Let's take this out of the camp, though. I'd like to win this myself."

I ride Spiritus a decent way away from the camp, and turn to watch where Grelnar will come from. He eventually rides over on a massive gray behemoth that's even bigger than Spiritus is.

I give Grelnar a serious look. "Why must you serve Yuri, Grelnar? He has done nothing but harm the world." Grelnar glares at me. "Yuri's trying to unite the world under the Solaris Empire. Once all of Norzelrin's villages and towns are captured, there'll finally be peace! How is that harming the world?!"

I shake my head. "Are you even listening to yourself?! How is capturing good? Think about Shana. What do you think she thinks about this?!"

Grelnar hesitates. "I..." He growls and his eyes...flicker. For one split second, the purple in his eyes disappears, but then it immediately comes back, so I think to myself: Hmm...maybe that purple in his eyes is why he's like this. If I can get through to him, he might turn against Yuri! But before that, I might have to knock some sense into him...

Before I think of my first move, Grelnar roars and charges, his behemoth growling ferociously as he does. I quickly ride Spiritus past him and I duck as he pulls his axe off of his back and swings at me.