Sorardia, the Tale of an Outcast, King, and Inventor

Chapter 10: Old Memories (Amos)

          We were approaching Svictoran with a speed I didn't believe was possible for, what I would call,"rogues". The group was kind, forgiving, and very obviously trusting. That could be both a weakness and strength, but I am glad they are as kind as they are with me. I learnt that Cleaver actually was orphaned at a youngish age, at around 14 or so, Ben was born in Svictoran, Fire was actually two races of Sorardia, Imbirian and Watorian, even though you would think the name Fire Storm would be fire and lightning. Fireeze had something called,"Order Signas" used on him, said it teleported him to the Dark Isle, Lostier was originally from Astronomia but was thrown out because he inherited the Pike of the Revival Sun, and Cleaver's adopted daughter was actually from the City of Light, Aluminatoza, in Beautania. She was actually the one most interested in me. Which, she wasn't too old. Seemed to be around twenty years or so, which is funny, I'm only twenty-three years old. We passed the city Kranwetna, which we went to for more supplies. Seems like they've been made known, probably from Svictoran. Once we started off again we walked for around two hours, which basically was us just walking and talking, mainly about the troubles of Sorardia. This bunch really wants to help this place out so much, they were already talking about overthrowing the king and reestablishing the army of Sorardia! Especially the famous 42nd Brigade, nicknamed the Legend's wall because of their strength and skill. For now, though, I'll stick to going to Svictoran before getting wrapped up in any of that. We soon reached a place I remembered all too well. A small village by the name of Huakr...where I met some mercs that I worked with for a time.

          "We'll stop here," Cleaver declared. "Restock on surplus water and food for the Svictorani. Then have some down time." He turned towards me before I could go with the others to help. "We need to talk," his voice stern and untrusting. He turned and walked towards the valley close to here. I walked with him, railgun on my back in case he pulled his sword on me. Or his new bow. We reached the edge of the valley and he pulled his bow out. "How much information do you have on the mercenaries that are trying to kill Ben?" he said, pulling on the string, finding that it automatically generated arrows. Must use the mana in the air.

          "I know only one group," I replied. "But they are more than likely farther away in Imbiria."

          "You shot a little girl after she saved Ben's life." I looked down at the ground. "I understand that wasn't what you were aiming for, but I'm sure you're much smarter than that. Why did you fire when their were people around who weren't your targets?"

          "I didn't care about who got hurt then," I said quickly. Cleaver waited before firing his bow. Upon hitting the other side of the valley, the light around the arrow burst with a purple energy, and I saw jagged, purple lines move down the valley a little bit before disappearing. He stood up.

          "I can tell you just lied to me because of your speed. Give me the truth, or I will not trust you and I will stay around you the entire time you're with us." I sighed.

          "The group I used to work with, key words, USED TO, were there as well. Otherwise I would've gone after him in a more secluded spot, I promise you!" I replied, my voice rising as I spoke. He looked at me.

          "Good. Now tell me of the group." Now that was something I didn't want to do.

          "The leader...is named Isaac Passa," I informed. "He's known for the ability to both use, and make lightning or electricity based weapons, like railguns or electrical blades. I met him in an inn, and worked with him for while. Soon we were known for taking down, instead of good men, abusive men. Our deeds, though done in an unrefined way, we called noble. Then we were asked to assassinate the king." I felt my eyes watering. Heh, guess I still feel horrible about losing a good friend. "He was on the floor, making sure that there was no noticing of me. I was in an air vent, readying my railgun for the shot. Soon the king started a speech. That was our cue. He interrupted the speech and started insulting the king. Then I activated my jetpack, flew out of the air vent, and started firing point blank. However, there was a wizard using a protection spell. I looked down and saw it was actually one of my cousins. His name was John Rillo. Then I looked towards Isaac. He was cutting down enemies like butter, and was soon at the protection spell. He repeatedly sliced on the spell, draining John's energy and causing the shield to weaken. He finally broke the shield and I had a chance to end the king's life. It was, however, a very short chance, and I didn't want to fire point blank since I could hit John. I fled instead. However, Isaac was captured and put in one of the top cells, with a window. I found his cell, shot the lock, then fled, not wanting to know what happened next. Now I saw him at the "Meeting of the Mercs", we call them, and he told me after we walked out,'Don't try anything, Sinca. That kill's mine!' and we parted yet again." Cleaver was still firing his bow when a light click sounded. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. Only one man had something that could make a click like that. "Isaac is here. With at least one of his allies, Eston Arc, one of the finest snipers ever. Has tons of railgun barrel add-ons, like one that fires a horizontal laser and can decapitate victims...which he just clipped on,"

          "Can you dodge it?"

          "I know just which way to dodge...you fire your bow at the wall where they are...if there's even a wall," I heard the sonic boom of the laser before I jumped to the left, while Cleaver fired his bow to the canyon wall, since there was one. I saw a flash of blue light as Isaac thrust his electrified sword into the ground, watching as Eston spasmed before falling off the wall. Cleaver then dropped his bow and pulled out his sword, switched it to a railgun, then fired while slicing, somehow causing a platform to appear. Must be another setting from the blade itself. Good knight! The Changi had everything for railguns! Isaac then jumped down from the cliff face, after looking back towards the rest of the landscape. What was he doing? Better be on lookout for anything suspicious. He ran straight towards us, mainly Cleaver, before I jumped into the air to get a better view for a shot. As I climbed higher, something cut clean through one of my jetpack thrusters. I started falling down and I decided to rip off the broken thruster. I had plenty more packs at my base. I turned a knob on my railgun which caused it to change into a sword. The sword was unique in it's structure, the railgun barrel still visible between the blades on the sides. The blades made two waves, and the hilt was actually the railgun buttstock. I heard a wind that shouldn't have happened behind me, and I turned around fast, slicing as I did so. I heard and felt contact with another blade. Then started a flurry of attacks, soon revealing the enemy to be Sneaky Sam, the most random name for the most deadly assassin. He was also my brother. We started dueling immediately. "Been a while since we've dueled hasn't it, Sam?"

          "Agreed brother, but you know what happens to those who call themselves colleagues of Isaac, and disobeys orders!" He started pushing with even more force. I frantically defended against his monstrous attacks and searched for a way to escape him. As I did so, I saw Cleaver dealing with Isaac quite well.

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Cleaver
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Isaac fought well...for an amateur. His fighting style was unbalanced, favoring too much power over defense. Me? I favor a balance between speed and defense. I easily pushed him back more than a few yards before he did his first true attack. Upon knocking him back, he activated something on his sword that caused it to electrify, then thrust it into the ground. I had a split second to thrust my own sword into the ground and absorb the energy before it reached me.

          "What's your favored fighting style?" I calmly questioned, deflecting another blow.

          "The berserker's!" He yelled vehemently. "Now diiiiieeeee!" He once again sliced at me, this time at my leg. I back flipped twice before lunging, knocking away his sword. He then looked scared. Funny how I don't want to scare those who are totally innocent of anything and yet I'm enjoying the fact that, when defeated, people who are guilty of killing always get scared.

"Well the berserker style seems to have lost its gleam," I sheathed my sword. "So why is it you got so angry at him for running from killing the king?"

"I had told Amos that if things went wrong that he should get out of there...course, I didn't think he would. I was just saying it to be nice!" Well this was intriguing.

"Sometimes being nice will end a friendship. He told me that his cousin was the mage protecting the king. He prioritized family over friends. Which is good, but to those who think friends are more important than family, it isn't. Which is the wrong way of thinking," I said gruffly. "If you were in his position, what would you have done?" He was silent. Then, he sighed.

"I would've fled," he replied sheepishly. Nearly a minute later, I heard the sound of a sword being unsheathed. I turned, sword in my own hand. Amos and someone else, I suppose the man he was fighting, had been thrown on the ground by a man in some interesting armor. Looked like captain's armor to me. He had blue most every where, with certain spots having green outlines. His helmet was quite techy, having small antennae on the sides, with an obvious visor in the middle. The new person pressed a button on his helm. The visor pulled back, revealing a male face with a black soul patch. I knew who he was. From my days of being a Shadeen guard for a chief in Toeecreon, I knew him. It was John Rillo.