The Paladin

Genesis - Chapter Seven

The rebel group moved down the sewers for a while then they stopped. Colin had to get his breath back. Matt looked around. He didn't remember this place, but then again he couldn't remember every detail of the game locals. Then he heard a gun click next to his head. Turning he saw Colin pointing a pistol at him. "All right who are you?" Colin had a military haircut, but more of an elegant look to him. Not a rough kind of person that would come with his heritage. He was protective of Sam, it was plain to all that he loved her, but his past kept him in line.

"I am Matthew, the Paladin."

Everyone stopped and looked at each other. He was used to the chatter and the looks. Sam looked at him with a nod and a smile. Colin however was not believing it. "Try again bub."

Colin kept pressing until Sam stopped him. "Your hand please."

Matt gave it to her. She removed the cloth showing the Crystal Rose, now glowing again. "There is your proof Colin. This is the real Paladin. He is the Hero of The Nine." She turned to the others. "This is the man who you will follow to victory against the Empire and Solas."

"Well, there is no pressure when you put it that way your Highness." Matt laughed. He removed the shemagh and googles. "Thank you for putting so much faith in a person you don't even know."

They started to walk again. "I don't, but Tiffany Luna has faith in you."

Matt froze, then he ran up to her. "Tiff is alive, where?" Sam smiled and he was forced to follow her.

The trip was long and uneventful. The group were walked in the day, each night the made a fire, but Matt still camped away from them. The faith that Sam had in him was from Tiff, but she had to be dead. He did not wish that she was, but it had been five hundred years. She was probably dust now. His thoughts now were on her. How he left her, he felt so bad. A note, how could he only leave a damn note? His heart belonged to her. Could the same be said the other way around?

On the forth night Colin sat next to him. "So, you are the real Paladin then? I guess I owe you an apology." He leaned on a tree. "So how much do you really know about our struggle?"

"I know everything about it. That and so much more." Matt sighed. "I also know who really are High-Ring." Colin froze. "You ran away when you were sixteen when you saw your brother, Zelous, kill your girlfriend and vowed revenge and restore honor."

"How do you know this? I have never told anyone, not even Sam."

He told Colin his story. "So I know who you are and how you fell about Sam."

Colin nodded "Crazy story, but it would explain so much. So what next?"

"No idea. Real life is like water, always moving. But I will not tell anyone who you are. However you may want to soon if you want to have them live in the final battle between you and Zel." Colin nodded, vowing he would.

The next night Colin told everyone his past, and they understood including Sam. After that Sam went to see Matt. "Thank you for giving him the courage to finally tell us."

"You knew?"

"Yes, Lara told me before Zel killed her."

He nodded. "I know that there were more in your group, six. What happened?"

"Solas and Zel. John and Tara joined but, got ripped apart when Solas

reappeared with Genesis. Lara, Kelly and Geoff faced Zel alone. He slaughtered them with the Dark Arts." She shuddered. "I can't forget it."

"Yeah, that is his strength." Looking up. "I can only think how bad it was in the game, but to know it was real. I don't know."

"If you could go home, would you?" Matt looked at her. "If the choice of going to your world was given to you, would you take it and have your old life back?"