Born Anew

Born Anew V

Ever felt betrayed? Ever felt like you trusted the wrong folks? Have you ever experienced the desire to kill someone you cared deeply about? That was how I felt sitting in that damned cell. We were all betrayed and I was the most affected by it.

We sat in a cell next to a mysterious pink demon who didn't seem to mind our presence. I was really upset. Marinette set us a trap. "That woman! I confessed my love to her and the next thing I remember after her kiss are those guards! She set us all! I thought she loved me!" I yelled in desperation.

I kept punching at the wall. We were unarmed. Fortunately we were not injured. Kraid kept reciting his mantra while we sat there. After those guards defeated us he lost all his will to fight.

"She loves you." Lowry said letting out a sigh.

"And she lands him in jail out of love? That's sickening." My demonic friend replied.

"I guess it's time we tell you the truth." The green skinned man stated. "We must be here."

"What? You knew?"

"It was Belanova's idea."

"What?" Both Kraid and I yelled in anger.

"Hold on. I had to do it. Look, we are here on a rescue mission. This is important to all of us, and something Marinette had to do."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Kraid asked.

"We had to make sure it seemed believable since we were not supposed to resist when we were getting arrested. And we knew you would mess it up, worse than Hammerfist did by killing that guard."

"In my defense, he called me 'swamp man'. That is more insulting to my ilk than calling Polnareff a 'fur' is for her." He cracked his knuckles. "I am justified by honor."

The pink man laughed while twirling his blonde hair. "So you were the ones my wife sent? And she asked Marinette Polnareff, the infamous Marinette of all people to help her?"

"Your wife? What's going on here?" I inquired. I began to calm down once I realized what was going on.

"My wife, poor Akroma. She recently found out of my predicament. Turns out seducing the duke's granddaughter led to unlawful arrest."

"So we were sent to jail to help with a prison break?" My horned friend asked.

"Yes. And in exchange we will obtain help to find the Red City." The ogre explained.

"Sitri is an important Azoth researcher. He must know something." Lowri spoke with a smile.

"Sitri? Master Sitri?" Kraid was shocked by the surprise.

"In flesh! I know what you will ask next. No. I can not leave on my own. Physically I could, I could leave through the front door. But I was ordered not to. Something about business issues in Azoth." He explained.

"And Marinette sent us? Why?" I was still confused, but felt less anger toward her. My love for her was stronger than any rage I could feel now that I knew the truth.

"Akroma and Marinette are friends. Well, my wife sees Marinette as a friend. She trusted her to help. But I wonder why she decided to help. After all Marinette refused to open up to her in all these years."

"Bacause she has friends now. I assume she decided to open her heart to the ones who trusted her." Lowri explained.

"I see. So, any details on the plan? I mean, all I knew was I had to be 'kidnapped' by infamous rascals. But all I got was..."

Rhuk interrupted. "A group of travelers who were framed for most of Polnareff's crimes to get in jail. This will get ugly once she gets things ready. For now we wait."

We waited for hours expecting her call. During that time Sitri and Lowri kept the mood light. It was rather awkward and for some reason I felt thankful there were no soap bars nearby, lest someone dropped one. Just when I began to fall asleep I heard a loud yell, then what sounded like a horse stampede. Whatever was going on, Lowri and Rhuk attacked the wardens, knowing that was the sign.

While we killed everything in our path to the best of our unarmed abilities, something caused a commotion outside of our prison. Since I was the only one who needed a weapon which could not be improvised, I was in charge of Sitri's pretend kidnapping. He of course did not resist when I lifted him up my shoulder, and just joked about how he became a damsel in distress. His remarks were for some reason awkward and flirtatious enough to make me blush.

Sitri's charisma annoyed me for a while, but once we reached the rendezvous location, after ending the life of enough guards to reduce Rhuk's quota a bit, we found Marinette and an albino wyfrat riding on a horse.

"My dear! You are safe!" The small albino girl was ecstatic. Her love for Sitri was strong enough to match the man's charm.

"Time to unpack!" Marinette yelled as she dropped a bag with our weapons in it. All but Rhuk's were there.

"I suppose you couldn't carry mine." The ogre stated.

"Sorry. They probably left it behind upon arresting you. It is too big to be carried by a single man."

"No need for apologies. I can always craft a new one. Maybe even carry a log as weapon like back when I was in my early years. Brings me memories!" Rhuk claimed with a myrthful laugh.

"Now on to the ugly part. I got my lover in jail, and my friends too. That won't come cheap." Marinette looked at Akroma with a cold stare.

"I know. I know." The girl seemed calm, but slightly scared. Yet still her appearance was more threatening than that of Marinette. "Here. He will travel with you." Akroma pointed at a robot clad in priestly cassock. Whatever that thing was, it was clearly a technological feat with no precedent. "Ever Faithful will help you on your journey while he continues his path to preach Saint Meera's teachings."

"An artificial Meeran priest? I assume that is the project Azoth paid me to help with." Kraid spoke with amusement. "I expect with my knowledge on Meeran teachings he will be the best priest ever seen."

"It will be an honor to travel with you. May Meera's grace fall upon you." The metallic man spoke in a polite tone. I could see gears spinning under his brass plates. A clockwork man. Calling it a robot would be unfitting.

"The construct is fine and all. But you can't pay The Polnareff for sending her lover to jail with just a tin can." She made emphasis in her name as if it carried some prestige.

"Of course. The most infamous wyfcat rogue needs something else for such a painful deed." Sitri replied with polite sincerity. "My part is as follows. I do not know the path to Algadha, but I know the path to someone who will help you. Look for the Azoth library to the south. It deviates from the path you took, but there you will meet Orobas, and probably Stolas. Orobas never lies, and Stolas could help you if you ever need the opposite to my work as apothecary. They could help you with your search."

"That is a proper pay. Now, if you forgive me for my rudeness." Marinette placed my hand on her hip and kissed me. Despite her size, she displayed a strong passion. "I am so sorry, my dear. What I did was awful"

"Next time just tell me." I held her hand. "I'm not that bad at following plans."

"Should I officiate a wedding? I am licensed and certified for that." Ever Faithful stated with pride.

"Too soon, tin can. We find Algadha first. Then we start discussing vows."

Sitri and his wife took separate ways with us, and so he was a free man again and we were a team, with a new companion and reinforced trust in old ones. Kraid however still distrusted Marinette, but someday we would all be comrades in arms.