Rufus increased his stride, seeing the beast has started to move to the center of the town which worries him the most since that’s where the academy is closest to. Suddenly he halted due to having a bad feeling in his gut, as if he knows he’s being watched. He tightens his grip on his sword, closes his eyes and breathes in and out slowly to focus his surroundings.

When suddenly, out from the shadows comes Glenn with his ceremonial dagger seeking Rufus’ back! Only to be blocked by Rufus’ claymore! Before Rufus could throw Glenn off and swing with all his might, Glenn already jumped five feet back and another five feet.

“Well well, what do we have here…? Someone dressed up differently and possibly important, but with skill? I suppose I have time to play around with you. Luckily for you, I’m fighting you off with a handicap, since releasing that ancient one over yonder stressed my body and mind out after all.” Glenn chuckles.

“You… A goblin that brought fourth that giant beast? Are you perhaps working with ex general Karr?” Rufus asked with a stern look on his face.

“Ex General Karr? You actually know that big oaf? Ha ha… Please do tell, how you know of him. If you can give me some light on that mysterious giant, I may just make your death quick and painless heh heh.” Glenn smirked, while flaunting his ceremonial dagger around.

Rufus stood, unmoved by the taunts already thinking, ‘He knows of Karr, but is asking for information but didn’t deny that he is working with him. Perhaps there’s some discord between these two?’ Rufus steps lightly and slowly just a few feet towards Glenn.

“So you want to do this the hard way then… Very well, I suppose I can make you squeal!” Glenn started with a frown, and then he pulled his other dagger out with his left hand and charged towards Rufus.

Rufus anticipated Glenn’s movements, so he swung lightly and quickly from his right to a downward left strike. Glenn reacted by sliding underneath the swing and tried to stab Rufus’ knee with his ceremonial dagger, but Rufus kicked Glenn’s grip to the side with his right foot. Glenn attempted to stab the back of Rufus’ lower right leg but scraped the boot instead, leaving an open slit through it. Rufus kicked with enough force to send Glenn rolling, but Glenn braced himself for the force and barrel rolled to get away from Rufus. After Glenn rolled a good twelve feet away from Rufus, he jumped up from his side for a recovery and then started to clap his hands with both daggers still gripped.

“Well done, I suppose I have to congratulate you for your battle prowess.” He stopped clapping.

“Probably because you must’ve been quite chummy with Karr back then when he was your superior. Tell you what, share with me all of your epic war stories with Karr and I will let you live… After all, you living will be a good deal for not just you, but for this country. So you can have a chance to stop Karr from his ‘Evil deeds’ heh heh. What say you?” Glenn said, pointing his ceremonial dagger towards Rufus while grinning.

Rufus thought about it for a moment, while he noticed his lower back leg started to bleed. He thought about making a compromise by exchanging information on Karr that the other side wouldn’t know. But, he held onto the good memories he had with Karr, the memories and his last meeting with Karr to show, that he still has some light in him. Just barely, deep down somewhere, Rufus knows that Karr still has a good heart, or not. Maybe the thought that Karr has fallen into the wrong path, and just needs help to be guided to the right path once again.

The thought of finding Karr and maybe saving him, kept Rufus determined. Determined to save this country from whatever ill future lays before it. He knows Karr is not evil, not as evil as this manipulative goblin.

This goblin who is just as twisted as his knife.

That’s right! Maybe this goblin might’ve manipulated Karr somehow; Karr must be stuck in a scenario that he can’t get out of. This thought of Rufus’ made him to never sway to this goblin’s treachery. Rufus released his guard for a moment, that moment to make Glenn feel like he won Rufus over. But Rufus stood tall and pointed his claymore towards Glenn.

“I swore to save my country and….. My comrades, no matter how low they have fallen!” Then he immediately went back into his defensive stance, while lightly focusing his energy to heal his wound in his leg with self-recovery magic that he adopted years ago.

Glenn gave Rufus a disgusted stare.

“You’re one of those guys… Guys like you do take some time… To Break! Fortunately for you, I don’t have the time nor luxury to break you. So be it.” Glenn said as he felt the presence of two goblins looming from behind him.

“I really don’t want to spend my time and energy to kill you with all I got. So I’ll allow these fellows to play with you!” Glenn wickedly grins.

“If you haven’t already guessed by now, I never fight fair.” His grin grows bigger as he senses two more joining the rear. Rufus lets out a sigh, as Glenn opens his arms wide and laughs hysterically while the first two goblins pass by Glenn, one on each side. The clouds start to rumble, a storm is brewing.