We'll Be Okay

The Information

Lila

     Rage walked through the streets of the village he co-ruled over with his best friend Hollow. The village, named Lila, was small - everyone knew each other by name. He walked with his head hanging slightly, not really looking at the ground, not really looking ahead. His red-bladed longsword was sheathed on his back. He meekly waved at a few of the townspeople.

     "Hey, Lord Rage! You seem to be in a rush today." Mineos, an elite shadow magic user, called out to him and started walking with him.

     "Morning Mineos." was all Rage said as he looked forward. He was in a rush, back to his and Hollow's house. Their spy reported back to him from Grun this morning, and he wasn't too fond of the news.

     "My my, we're a bit touchy today, eh?" Mineos laughed slightly.

     "Uh huh." Rage, not wanting anything to do with his games, quickened his pace, leaving Mineos behind. "Does this mean they're prepping for war?" Rage thought to himself, pushing his glasses further up his nose and running a hand nervously through his black hair. He was going to meet the spy at his house to tell Hollow.

     He took the stairs to his front door two at a time, only to find Hannah, the spy, already standing there leaning against the wall, which took him aback. "Stop doing that!"

     "Hey, I'm your spy for a reason, aren't I?" she pushed her dark purple hair out of her face as she stood upright and walked in front of the door, her knee-high black boots tapping on the wooden deck. Rage exasperatedly followed her into the house.

     "Hollow!" her voice echoed through the house. There were footsteps from the stairs, but instead of Hollow the pair saw the head guard, Pyro.

     "Welcome home Lord Rage." Pyro stood in front of Rage with his back straight, his broadsword strapped to his hip.

     "Pyro, hello. Where's Hollow at?" Rage's impatience and anxiety grew the longer he stood there.

     "Heh, nice to see you, too. I'll go get him." Pyro's hand naturally rested on the hilt of his sword as he ran back up the stairs. A few long seconds later, Hollow appeared at the top of the stairs.

     "Hey Rage, Hannah. What's the report?" Hollow asked as he started down the stairs.

     "Well--" Rage was interrupted by Hannah's hand suddenly being raised.

     "Pyro." she called over the guard. Pyro walked over to the spy with a confused look on his face.

     "Yes...?" she pulled him down to be the same height as her and whispered in the guard's ear. Rage saw Pyro's brow furrow as he walked to the front door and yanked it open. "Uh, he's not there..."

     "He was though. My sixth sense never lies."

     "I'll stand out here just in case."

     "Uhh..." Hollow looked puzzled at the exchange. Hannah simply waved it off. "Ok then Rage, you were saying?"

     "Right. Hannah overheard a conversation between Fluke and Jamie. They're upgrading all of the guard's equipment. Everything; from the armor to the guard towers."

     "You don't think that...?" Hollow's words trailed off.

     "They're prepping for war? Yes, I do. I think all of us here do." the room fell silent after that, no one knowing what to say. Hollow put his hand to his chin, Rage crossed his arms, and Hannah bit her lip. Hollow began pacing.

     "So... now what? Do we let the people know about this?" Rage was the first to speak.

     "From what I heard Fluke, Evanz, and the guards are doing this in secret. It was busy last night, though. It is possible that I missed something." Hannah explained.

     "Okay, so here's what we'll do - this stays between us and the guards. Not a single word of the possibility of a war to anyone. The only thing that'll do is cause highly unnecessary panic." everyone nodded in agreement to Hollow's plan. "Rage, go gather all the members of the Guard and tell them our plan."

     "On it." Rage turned and opened the door behind him, Pyro stepping out of the way and then following Rage when he makes a hand gesture.

     "And you," Hollow turned from the door to the spy, "go get some sleep so you could be over there again tonight. We're going to need all the details we can get."

     "Yes sir." Hannah felt a wave of fatigue sweep over her as she absent-mindedly walked out of the house, leaving Hollow alone.

     "So... if it's a war you want, it's a war you'll get." he said to himself once the front door clicked shut. He turned on his heel and walked to the back of the house.