Uninvited Guest

  “I just knew it! Only the great hero Maximus Luminose could have slayed such a powerful ogre. I am forever in your debt.”

  Maxwell had barely heard the woman as he was too busy examining what he now knew to be an ogre.

  It certainly looked like the fantasy creature he had seen and read about in novels and films.

  If he were in his world he would have brought the ogre back to his laboratory for further study in order to unlock the secret of its remarkable healing factor.

  Unfortunately he would have to leave it for now. Hopefully he’d be able to retrieve the corpse at a later date.

  In the mean time it would be best for him to play his new role as the great hero Maximus Luminose.

  “There is no need to speak of debt, for it is a hero’s duty to defend the innocent.”

  The woman was relatively beautiful with long golden hair and emerald eyes. if not for the rags she wore as clothing one could mistake her for nobility.

  “I must apologize for not introducing myself earlier, my name is Elizabeth.”

  “She certainly seems grateful but she’s also the only one who witnessed me killing the ogre” thought Maxwell. “If she were to tell anyone about how I commanded the ogre to take its own life I would have a serious problem trying to convince people I was Maximus.”

  “Elizabeth, it’s important that you tell me everything you can remember from when the ogre attacked you.”

  “Of course Maximus but I’m afraid I don’t remember much. I was just heading home after gathering herbs when I saw the ogre. After your friend stopped it from attacking me I must have fainted.”

  “Good” thought Maxwell. “If she had seen anything, I’m afraid the “ogre” would have claimed another victim before I was able to slay it.”

  “That’s quite alright, it seems this ogre was a loner and luckily I was here just in time to save you.”

  Elizabeth smiled as she grasped Maxwell’s hands.

  “Thank the gods you arrived when you did but what about your friend? Will she be alright?”

  Maxwell had almost forgotten about Rei. He looked over to where she lay unmoving. He could see her chest rising and falling so she must still be alive.

  While she had been nothing more than a distraction, a rather poor one at that, she still managed to earn an ounce of his respect. And who knows? Maybe she’d serve some purpose later down the road.

  “She’ll be fine, a good nights rest should do her some good. If it isn’t too much to ask, would you happen to have a place for us to stay while she recovers?”

  Elizabeth’s face glowed up as she gripped Maxwell’s hands tightly. “Of course! You two are in luck, my home is just a little ways from here. And once the two of you are back to full strength I’ll accompany you to Dulciena.”

  “Lead the way.”

  Elizabeth’s home was a relatively cozy little cottage. At any moment you’d think Snow White herself would come prancing through the door.

  “It isn’t much but please make yourself at home. You can lay your friend down in the spare bed to rest while I fetch you both something to eat and drink.”

  “You’re too kind, thank you.”

    After laying Rei down, Elizabeth returned carrying a pitcher of water and a basket of muffins.

  “It’ll take me a moment to get the fire going for supper but In the meantime I baked these this morning.”

  The urge to snatch the baked goods was strong after countless nights of starvation. Maxwell ate the muffins as civilly as possible while downing glasses of water.

  As night fell Rei reminded unconscious as Elizabeth served some kind of vegetable stew with a slice of bread for supper.

  Elizabeth said a prayer of thanks to the goddess Elena before eating.

  “I guess even other words have religion” thought Maxwell.

  Having satiated his hunger with the muffins Maxwell was able to eat calmly and savor the meal.

  “This is quite good, thank you for all that you’ve done for us.”

  “The pleasure is all mine, it’s the least I could do for the heroes who saved my life.”

  The two continued to eat in silence but Maxwell could tell there was something Elizabeth wished to say.

  “Is there something on your mind?”

  Elizabeth looked surprised.

  “Is it that obvious?”

  “Kind of.”

  Elizabeth took a deep breath.

  “I was just wondering how you survived your battle under the capital? And what were you fighting anyway?”

  “Damn it” thought Maxwell. He had hoped she wouldn’t have asked about Maximus till the morning. Then he’d at least have enough time to come up with a proper story.

  “I actually don’t remember much about the battle. I think I might have blacked out. When I woke up I was in a field.”

  Elizabeth seemed a little disappointed with his answer.

  “I do remember it being dark before I blacked out. It was cold, dark and…lonely.”

  “Lonely?”

  Maxwell knew the best lies had a hint of truth.

  “You see, I was always prepared to die protecting those I cared about but even so, I never imagined it would feel so lonely.”

  “That must have been hard. Thinking you were going to die alone I mean.”

  “It was but it was even harder knowing all the people I would hurt if I were to die.”

  “That’s right! You have a mother and sister right?”

  Maxwell was taken aback.

  “Mother and sister?”

  “Your mother and sister. They live in The Kingdom of Arksis.”

  For once in his life Maxwell was at a loss for words. He hadn’t known that Maximus had a mother and sister. 

  “Yes, my mother and sister. I’ve missed them deeply.”

  It had to be a coincidence. Everyone has a family but he couldn’t deny that the similarities between himself and Maximus were becoming more apparent.

  “Hopefully when you’re finished with your business in Dulciena you can return to Arksis and reunite with them.”

  The two made small talk for a while, however Maxwell found himself distracted. The earlier revelation was eating away at his thoughts.

  Memories from Maxwell past began to reemerge after years of being buried deep within his consciousness.

  It wasn’t until Elizabeth went to bed that Maxwell was able to be alone with his thoughts.

  He had assumed this was just another world separate from his own but it was undeniable that he and Maximus shared some type of connection.

 Could this world be something more than even he could imagine?

  He was begging to put the pieces together when he looked up to see Elizabeth standing over him.

  He was startled at first and then he noticed that her eyes were still shut.

  “Elizabeth?”

  In an instant Elizabeth’s eyes flew open to reveal two flaming orbs where her eyes should be. Tears of flame poured down her cheeks.

  “No.”

  The voice coming from Elizabeth’s mouth was not her own but something else entirely.

  “What have you done with Elizabeth?”

  “Do not concern yourself with her, for she is safe. When we are finished she will awake having no recollection of what we have discussed.”

  Maxwell wasn’t entirely convinced but whatever this thing was it was beyond his current understanding.

  “What do you want?”

  The possessed Elizabeth took a seat across from Maxwell.

  “I wish to apologize. I would have greeted you when you first arrived but I needed to make sure you were capable of carrying out your purpose.”

  “My purpose? Wait…you’re the one who brought me here and the ogre, that was your doing?”

  “Correct. It was a test and you passed.”

  “Lucky me” thought Maxwell.

  “I have come to introduce myself. I am Kalilo, goddess of destruction.”

  “So now a so called goddess is visiting me” thought Maxwell.

  “You still haven’t told me what you want.”

  Kalilo stood up and walked over to the fire place. With a wave of her hand flames exploded to life, devouring the air as if she’d poured gasoline.

  “I want to see this world turned to ash. I want to hear the cries of a billion souls. And when they all turn to the sky and beg for salvation, I will answer with only damnation.”