Chapter 12: Grant’s Past

Grant simply stood there with his back towards Ben, his face looked at the overshadows of the tree. Blood dripped down from his body and gently fell onto the red blood stained grass. The golden kobold laid there with its head split open, crooked to the side.The turtles nearby had a gigantic sword mark on its shell. Within the shell a puddle of blood sluggishly leaked out.

Ben stood there and waited for Grant to move or speak. Yet, nothing happened as the wind slowly blew Ben’s hair. He felt the sweat on his body grow cold as time passed by. The red aura that surrounded Grant slowly withered away from his body. As if it were his foundation, Grant fell down onto the ground on his knees. Ben quickly walked towards him trying to hold onto his body, as Grant slowly slouched down. Ben felt Grant's muscles relax, his back gave way as if the very bones within him had disintergrated.

(He’s …)

Ben laid Grant down on the ground, cutting the arrow sheaths off of him. Leaving the arrowheads inside of him for now. Ben grabbed his backpack, opened some medical salves and some cloth to cover Grant’s wounds. Seeing the red auras slipping out from Grant's wounds. Ben managed to pinpoint the heavy wounds, however the number of injuries and the loss of blood was apparent in Ben's eyes. Far too numerous for simple medical care, this required healing magic.

Abbs walked up the hill that overlooked the short plains. Seeing Ben kneeling next to Grant providing medical care. Abbs simply walked over to Ben and placed his hands on his shoulder. Ben looked back at Abbs.

Abbs:“.... he’s on the road… to a desired place.” Abb's reply meant that Grant's condition was too severe.

Ben simply closed his eyes….

(I don’t know him… yet why am I sad…)

Ben looked at Grant’s eyes, they were opened with determination. However, the light from his eyes had already dimmed.

(He died… while fighting… standing…)

Ben lifted his hands and covered Grant’s eyes. Closing them. As his hands felt the fleeting warmth of Grant. An image, a powerful scenery passed into Ben’s mind as if it was a wave of water crashing into Ben.

Ten humanoid figures stood before him as they waved good-bye. The sunset was too bright to see the figures. However, in Grant’s eyes he simply kept his eyes on the woman in front of him. The woman kept her's on his, a special feeling was bursting from within Grant's body. All the while, calmly listening to the ten figure’s farewells in the background.

“Good luck…”

“Indeed…”

“Enjoy your life.”

“A great warrior you are…”

“May you prosper in your life.”

“Protect the ones you love.”

“We’ll meet again.”

The scene switched over to a young boy that looked similar to Grant. Two large hands lifted the boy up into the skies while he watched a woman smiling tenderly at him next to the woodcutter’s shack.

(I’m… in his mind?)

The scene switched over to a wave of monsters invading the shack while Grant rushed forward from the village gates. Flames burned on the shack and Grant could only continue to rush through with his greatsword in his hands, throwing himself into the fray. The aura within his greatsword covered his vision with a bright red light.

The scene turned to day as there were two newly erect tombstones near the lake within the forest. Grant laid a bright blue flower onto the tombstones and simply looked at his rough callused hands. Grant’s voice echoed into Ben’s mind.

“.... I wasn’t there to protect my family……” Grant's fist balled up with hatred, yet in the end only tears came out from his silent face.

Eventually the scene where Ben chopped wood came into his mind, a gleam of dark aura could be seen from the space above Ben’s head.

“.... I see… fate has indeed brought him here…. that would mean…” Grant looked at his hand, as if there was something telling him to do something about this.

Ben was shocked out of Grant’s memory, a massive headache bothered him for a few moments and eventually faded. Slowly regaining his consciousness, Ben then looked at Abbs next to Grant’s body.

Ben: “Abbs can you help me carry Grant’s body… to the lake near here.”

Abbs simply nodded and helped carry the body to the two tombstones near the lake. Ben grabbed a shovel that was leaning against the tree. He slowly dug up a hole for Grant next to the two tombstones. Abbs simply watched in silence.

*****

Another tombstone was erected next to the other two. The flowers on the two were still fresh.

Abbs: “Seems like Grant visited here a couple days ago…”

Ben: “.... can you tell me about Grant’s past?”

Abbs simply looked at Ben.

Abbs: “Alrighty… if you want to know that much… you can, I’m sure Grant wouldn’t mind me talking in front of him once more…

Grant was a slum child with a small brother, they trusted each other throughout their years within the slums, one day Grant was able to obtain a greatsword from a retired adventurer. Protecting his brother and eventually they went on some journey together. After years of traveling with his brother, Grant eventually understood that his brother doesn’t need his protection anymore….

Afterwards, he met his wife and started a family here… then till now…”

Abbs looked at Grant’s tombstone and knelt down.

“... be happy… Grant..” Abbs grabbed a rock turning it into sand. He threw the sand off over Grant’s grave and the other two tombstones.

“Sorry it wasn’t much of a story… but Grant was never a storyteller or a person who boasted much about himself.” Abbs sighed.

Ben: “.... I’m sure you’ll need as much help as possible… I’ll take over Grant’s job for now and chop wood for the town.”

Abbs: “.... whatever you feel like doing… remember you’re an adventurer… don’t get stuck here just because of some deaths. you’re still young.”

Ben: “I’d like to train what Grant taught me... “

Abbs:“Come meet me at the receptionist desk when we cleared up this place by tomorrow night.”

“Sure…”

**********************

“Reports of monster sightings have increased over this year alone.”

A messenger was kneeling on the ground before the gruff looking general , General Clis, the leader of the White Wings brigade for the Kingdom of Lanners. His armor was white with red outlines on the shoulder blades. His sword clamped upon his waist contained an aura that chilled the people near him.

“I see… how’s General Ardap doing with the battle at the frontlines with Vincol?” his voice was calm.

“Currently, General Ardap managed to push the enemies off of their border and reports are saying that the enemies are thinking about reinforcing their defenses at the mountain’s passage…”

A smirk on General Clis’ face appeared… as expected…

Clis: “Order General Seen the order of the Forest Runners and have General Onser’s Thunder troops under General Seen’s orders.”

“As you say sir.”

The messenger quickly back out from the office. A lavish office with assortments of books on the shelves and a desk in the middle completes the idea of an informed person. General Clis sat there against his chair… his smirk grew slowly.