Chapter 97 – Shame and Resolve

Dall boarded the tiger mounted carriage that the guild has.

It has quite the passengers despite the size of the carriage.

The carriage was packed to the brim with various people.

The other carriages were used to carry the injured.

“Looks like we should be safe from this distance, no way those barbarians would chase us in this route,” Eziel commented.

“I see...”

Eziel looked at the sad looking Dall. His heart ached at the sour mood of hers. He didn’t want to see her like this at all.

“Come on cheer up...”

“Cheer up?” Dall said. “We are letting some die there while we run away Eziel...do you think I can cheer up knowing that Sir Ramiel and Sheriwn who are still there might get captured and humiliated?”

“I am sure that they won’t stay there if they had a plan. He may not look like it but Ramiel can be a bit smart if he puts his mind into it.”

“That isn’t enough Eziel,” said Dall. “Do you think that Ser Ramiel, who was pale, sick-looking and clearly limping can fight alongside Sheriwn at that rate? I am sure you didn’t notice but Ramiel had a look of someone clearly wanting to die. There was no light on his eyes...but even so I didn’t want him to die...after saving me...”

Dall started to cry. Despite possessing a bit of power to defend a city all by herself, she is still a lady who as docile as she is, fragile too. It was clear that she is hurt by the fact that the person who saves her life is left dead now.

“I know it hurts...do you think that I am not hurt by the fact that we left Ser Randal to die along with the other veterans who left to lay down their life? I am not Dall and I am sure that there are still people out there that have lost everything in this raid...” Eziel’s face went sour.

“I know that you are hurt but even so...there might some meaning in their actions! I like to believe that they did not die vainly in protecting us!”

“But...”

“We cannot do anything...we were too weak to do anything for them! And even though you have that power and I have this sword...I still wasn’t able to do anything!”

Eziel clenched the mechanical sword hanging on his waist. It is a sword created by ancients. His father and his ancestors held this sword and protected his homeland. That homeland of his is long gone after the Leviathan cursed it, but even so, this sword should have been able to protect a city like Lugenstan.

Eziel felt like he was too weak to do anything. He knew the heroics of his forefathers yet he who insisted on being a blacksmith, was now shown what his lack of strength can result to.

“Eziel...” Dall saw the helplessness Eziel is in. She held his head and comforted the aching Eziel. She knows that like her he wasn’t able to do anything.

They had the power to even slightly face the barbarians and win the battle but they were too careless. They were too sure about the ‘safety’ of the city that they did not notice the danger. And now here they are in a carriage pulled a tiger, ashamed by being unable to do anything about their situations.

The two sobbed quietly in shame.

“Let’s get stronger Dall...we cannot let something like this happen again...” Eziel said.

“But my power...”

“As long I have control over this ancient sword then you will have no problem about your power going rogue. I may be meager right now, but I promise that this will not happen again. We have grown too careless, but this time...no as long as we settle into the capital...we will train ourselves.”

Dall looked at the resolute eyes Eziel had. She remembered the day she was found by him in a certain mine she was sealed. He promised her on that day that she will be able to live normally. And even though Eziel found out about her ‘Regina’ blood, Eziel accepted her without any problems.

And throughout the years the two worked out to become better. And the home they found, Lugenstan also accepted them. Now that their home is gone, and the reality of powerlessness came to them, the two feels like they holding themselves back and staying the way they are won’t do.

Now with the barbarians on the move, Eziel and Dall felt like they cannot be like this anymore. Sooner or later, the world will be on chaos. Eziel and Dall will have to steel themselves and harness the sleeping power that sleeps inside them.

With the ancient sword that is bound to Eziel. He will be able to soon rise up and became someone that can defend those who he loved. Dall, who was afraid of her power also decided to trust Eziel. She has known him for a quite a while, and if anything, he is able to trust him with these matters.

Eziel extended his hand towards Dall.

Dall accepted Eziel’s hand.

The two stared together in harmony as they make a promise right at the instant.

The pain they felt this day would soon turn into motivation. This motivation would allow them to rise up to the top and become defenders of what they hold dear.

So with a promise and the burning fire raging on their hearts brightly, the two looked forward to the day they would be able to become strong.

Side by side through all the tribulations that will come, Eziel and Dall unconsciously kindled the power in them. The ancient sword and power that sleeps inside Eziel awakened. And Dall, whose power was chaotic as a stormy sea stilled in respond to the unbending volition of will and determination that they pour both on their mind and head.

Weak as they are right now, but sooner or later they will turn into people who will be relied on by the folks around them and they would soon face the crawling chaos that lurks on the deepest abyss of the savage lands, which is the same chaos that Al-Goraz saw as he stared at the chaotic abyss, the chaos that made Al-Goraz take the choice of invading the Hillines.