The anti-bandit army camp - evening

Beaten and battered, we returned home after a relaxing day in the springs. The bruises I received from Marie healed up. Honestly, her punches feel like a gorilla hit me. Not only did she pound me, but Richard as well. She can’t blame me, she has to blame herself for putting herself for timing looking at us guys poorly. Speaking of Richard, he’s sitting next to me, his face hot-red.

“Proxy, I’ll never forgive you,” he whispers to me.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t think that would happen, and why are you getting so gloomy?”

“What if Nunnalé thinks I’m some weird pervert from now on?”

“Well. . .Maybe she doesn’t know what that is.”

“Hopefully, I’m just glad teacher will never know.”

“Master, may I take a moment of your time?”

Nunnalé approaches us from behind. Her expression and demeanor are the same as usual.

“O-oh! Nunnalé, what do you need?” Richard stumbles as he speaks up.

“I wish to ask something of you.”

“That would be?”

“If I may be so bold to ask of you: may I speak to you about yourself?”

“Hm, what do you mean?”

“I wish to engage in conversation about your homeworld,”

“This is sudden. Why do you want to know?”

“Well. . .”

Nunnalé is struggling to come up with a proper answer to his question. God, I can’t stand to see this go on. Fortunately, I know what to do.

“Gee, it sure is a good time to go for a walk. I think I’ll do just that.”

“Why are you talking like that?”

“Huh, I have no idea what you mean? I just wish to go out for a walk, is all.”

“See, you’re doing it again.”

“Hahaha, I’m going for a walk now, so you two just have a grand ol’ time.”

I laugh as I walk away from the two of them, despite Richard calling me.

…

Proxy walks off to wherever he’s going while laughing. Honestly, he’s such a weirdo at times.

“That was highly suspicious behavior,” Nunnalé says what I was thinking.

“You said it. I wonder what he’s planning?”

He doesn’t really seem like he’s going out for a walk, so what is he doing? Wait, did he try to excuse himself from this conversation? Judging from how he was acting, it would be logical to assume that’s what he wanted.

“Master, about my request, if you are uncomfortable with answering you do not have to.”

“No, it’s fine, but I was just curious why you wanted to know.”

“To tell the truth, I was told to start a conversation with you, as to ‘open up’ to you. However, I have not concluded how to do so on my own.”

“I see, quite the dilemma. Tell you what, how about you tell me how your day was first.”

“You’d like a report of all our activities?”

“No, just how you felt today.”

“Hmm, I do not think I have any particular feelings on today.” Seems like we’re still not ready to speak about her feelings. Oh well, I’ll have to be patient with her until then. “. . .Though, I do know that I would not mind going back there again; so perhaps I enjoyed myself?”

She remembered that? Maybe it won’t be that difficult after all. Well, for the most part.

“Glad you enjoyed yourself. Maybe you can go back with the girls some other time?”

“I wouldn’t mind as long as you come with us.”

“Yeah, I think they wouldn’t allow it.”

…

Man, I said I was gonna go for a walk but I didn’t actually think I would. I aimlessly walkout from the camp into the open areas. A cool breeze pushes against the clean grass and the tall trees obscuring our hideout. Somebody is lying on the ground, with no weapon next to them whatsoever; he’s letting his guard down entirely. Walking up to him, their blonde hair makes it clear who it is.

“Yo, Alex,” I casually greet.

He bends his head backward towards me.

“Oh, hello, Proxy. What brings you out here?”

“Nothing, I just wanted to be. You?”

“I guess I can say the same thing.”

“Heh, birds of a feather, you and I.”

“What does that mean?”

“Means we’re kind of the same.”

“I see, I have taken a liking to that phrase.”

“Then keep it.”

I sit next to him. The breeze is hitting me much harder now that I’m sitting, however; it feels good.

“The springs were truly fun, were they not?”

“Yeah, it was fun. That was until Marie kicked my ass.”

“I am sorry for that.”

“Nah, it’s cool. I’m kind of used to her by now, and I can’t bring myself to let it bother me.”

“I am glad you think that way. I am glad you two are becoming good mates. For the longest time, she never once spoke of having any friends.”

Spoke of?

“What do you mean by ‘spoke of’?”

Alex expresses shock as he realizes he slipped up.

“Ah. . .what I meant to say was. . .” He pauses for a moment. He then turns away from me. A few seconds pass. He sits up as he turns towards me. “Me and Marie were not always with one another.”

“What does that mean? You mean when you were in prison?”

“No, farther back in our lives. You see, our lives were. . .complicated.”

“How so?”

“During our childhood, we were kept apart from one another for personal reasons. I was raised by my father and she was raised by her mother. However, one day, I decided to go and find her.”

“How were you going to do that?”

“With my guts and determination!” Damn, just riding it out on your own gut instincts. Pretty badass. “My father spoke of her, he told me enough to help me find her.”

“How’d it go?”

“Well. . .I got myself into several life or death situations with thugs and muggers.” he ends with a carefree smile that kills the tone of his story.

“Why the hell are you smiling!?”

“I can’t help it, I just smile when I remember that time.”

“Wasn’t it scary?”

“Of course, I was scared. I wanted to run. But if I did, then I would never have gotten to see my sister. So, I didn’t back down from those fights. Even if I was beaten to a bloody pulp, I still fought, and I moved forward. In the end, my efforts paid off.”

She must’ve been surprised to see a weird kid who’s been beaten to hell and back. Hell, I know I would.

“What happened when she saw you?”

“She freaked out at first, but I was able to explain to her who I was. Soon after, we played for the entire day. The details of what we played and said to each other are a haze to me, but I know I felt pure bliss as I spent the day with. When the day grew dark, I told her I would come back to see her again, no matter what the circumstances were. Returning home, my father scolded me for my exploit in the kingdom. However, he didn’t appear to be angered, so I suppose in his own way, he accepted my actions.”

“Damn, I wish Birch was this understanding. But wait, didn’t she have friends back then?”

“No, her life was much too strict for such a thing.”

“Hm, I see. Wait, why didn’t you live with her?”

“As I said, the details are complicated.”

“It’s okay. I won’t force you to answer. But how did Marie join the bandits in the first place? I need to know that much.”

He holds his tongue despite me asking. Another complicated matter?

“It has been 4 years now since she quit being a bandit. I found her a year before she left. During that time, I was their prisoner.”

“Wait, you weren’t with her?”

“No, I was tasked to find her; it took me 2 years to do so. My father died, so I was on my own in this endeavor.”

“Did she remember you?”

“Yes, but it had been a while since we spoke, so she didn’t trust me at first. However, trust was built with the time we spent talking to one another. In time, she even confided in me about her regrets and sorrows, so I pushed for her to run away with me. One night, Marie released me from my prison, we then set fire to the camp and escaped into the night. It was difficult at first, but we eventually became proper brother and sister.”

“I’m glad there is a happy ending.”

“I am as well. I never want for her to suffer or feel alone ever again. I made a vow: I would protect her no matter what. Even if I have to fight hundreds of bandits, I don’t care. I shall protect her and make her happy!”

I can see the fire in his eyes, and it’s only growing more intense as he clenches his fist. You know, I kind of didn’t think too much of Alex before, but now. I can see just how badass he is.

“You know what, you’re pretty badass, Alex.”

“I am?”

“You kidding me, half the shit you did in your stories was nothing but badass. It makes me respect you even more!” I jump onto my feet. “Let’s do it, let’s take down the bandits, so no one has to suffer by their hands. And let’s look badass while doing it.”

I pump my fist into the air as my voice echoes through the wind.

“Yes, let us do so. But may I ask why you want to fight?”

“Why is that important?”

“I wish to learn my comrade’s convictions before entering battle.”

“In that case: I’m fighting because you told me to, but I also want to meet that guy who took my goggles. But it’s not just that. I know I put you guys through a lot of trouble, so I need to make up for all that. So you can count me in until this is all over.”

Alex stands on his feet. The wind pushes against his bright, smooth blonde hair.

“Your conviction rings true. In that light, I shall trust my life to you, as well as your life with me. I hope this is fair?”

“Of course, I got your back, and you got mine.”

“Excellent, then let us shake hands.”

He extends his hand

towards me. Nah, I don’t feel as if a handshake is gonna make the moment feel right. Nah, this calls for something a bit more modern.

“Nah man, not like that.”

“Hm, you don’t wish to shake my hand?”

“Exactly, cause we’re doing something different.”

“Such as?”

“Okay, check it. . .”

I explain to Alex what I want for him to do. Honestly, it took a bit for him to catch on to the idea, but I managed to get it across to him.

“Are you ready?” I ask him.

“I am,” he affirms with a determined pressure wrapping the area.

“Okay, go!”

Our hands' zone in for one another. My hand smacks against his, and his against mine.

“All right, now we’re good.”

“I am glad to hear that, but that really hurt.”

“Don’t worry, that’s how you do a hi-five.”

“It feels strange, but it also feels quite amazing.”

“I know, feels awesome!”

I grab him by the arm and drag him over in the direction of the training area.

“Where are we going?”

“To train, I want to polish my skills as soon as possible.”

“Can we not rest first?”

“Come on, you’re starting to sound like me. Besides, I’m feeling great, so I don’t wanna waste this opportunity.”

“Can we at least do it later tomorrow?”

“Nope.”

9/8 - Anti-bandit army camp - morning

“. . .Wake. . .”

I can hear someone’s voice penetrate my unconsciousness. They’re shaking me like some kid trying to wake up their parents. Man, can’t a guy get some sleep around here?

“WAKE UP!”

I jump up to my feet to get away from the eardrum-breaking shout.

“Wha-What the hell!? who. . .?”

“Good, you’re finally up.”

Marie, Richard, and Nunnalé are the ones who were standing beside me.

“What the hell was that for, Marie!?”

“Ask later, we need you!”

“For what?” It’s then that I noticed that everyone in the camp seems to be in a rush, they even seem panicked. “What’s going on?”

“The short of it is this: we’re about to have some company,” Marie states, her expression alarmed and tense.

“Company? Hang, do you mean. . .?”

“Yes, the Fire Wraiths found us.”