Chapter Six: Rei

  “Where am I?” Thought Rei as she looked around the small cottage.

  All she could remember was fighting the ogre before everything went black. Had she been defeated? And what had happened to that woman? Or that man? That idiot. 

  She raised a hand to her head and felt a bandage. Someone had treated her wounds.

  Before Rei could pull herself out of bed and try to figure out where she was a familiar woman with golden hair came strolling into the room carrying a tray with what smelled like reheated vegetable stew.

  “Oh you’re finally awake! I’ll go tell Maximus, he’s been worried all morning.”

  “Maximus? The great hero?”

  The woman didn’t seem to hear her or she was to concerned with letting “Maximus” know that she was awake.

  Now that she thought of it, she could remember the man she had met in the fields outside Dulciena baring a striking resemblance to the great hero Maximus. Then she remembered how the man had called himself Maxwell and had claimed to be a hero from another world.

  “Yeah right” though Rei. “That man was the biggest idiot I’ve ever seen. I’ve met children with more sense than him.”

  The woman returned followed by Maxwell who seemed to have a face of genuine concern.

  “Thank the gods you’re awake. I was just about to travel to Dulciena in search of a doctor for you.”

  “Are you hungry? I’ve brought you some of last nights supper.”

  The woman sat in a chair beside the bed and held a spoon up to Rei’s mouth.

  While Rei could feed herself, it was nice to be taken care of by such a beautiful woman.

  “Thank you, it smells delicious.”

  After Rei had finished eating, the woman who called herself Elizabeth left to finish her daily chores.

  “So “Maximus” or do you prefer Maxwell?”

  “Whichever works for you.”

  Maxwell spoke nonchalantly as if Rei knowing he was a fraud meant nothing.

  “Does Elizabeth know you’re not who you say you are?”

  “She doesn’t and neither will anyone else.”

  “Who does this guy think he is?” Thought Rei. “I’m not just gonna let him parade around as one of the greatest heroes, soiling his good name.”

  “Before I tell her, I just have to know. Was all that talk about being a hero just a lie?”

  “No, in fact that’s why I’m here.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Last night I was visited by a goddess, she told me that I was summoned here to uncover who murdered Maximus.”

  “Maximus is…dead?”

  Rei had heard the rumors of the final battle within the ancient catacombs. Most of The Kingdom of Arksis believed Maximus had died in battle despite never finding his body. 

  That one detail had give Rei hope that she’d have the chance to meet him one day and tell him how much he’d inspired her.

  “How can you expect me to believe you? If what you’re saying is true, why did this goddess choose you?! Why do you look exactly like Maximus?! And why are you pretend to be him?!”

  Maxwell let out a sigh. “If I’m being honest with you, I have no idea why I was chosen for such a daunting task. All I know is that the goddess brought me here because she believed that I was the only one who could solve this mystery.”

  Rei had to admit that he did seem genuine. She was taught how to read one’s true thoughts based on the slightest facial expressions. If he was lying then he was certainly the best liar she had ever come across.

  “Did this goddess have a name?”

  “She spoke through Elizabeth, she called herself Elena.”

  “Elena, goddess of life. She is said to be one of the most caring of all the gods.  Often aiding people in times of great danger or at least that’s what it says in all her stories. Perhaps there is truth to what he’s saying” thought Rei.

  “You still haven’t told me why you’re pretending to be Maximus.”

  “It’s just as you said, I look exactly like him and so when all the kingdoms learn of Maximus’s return, the killer will no doubt reveal themselves in order to finish the job.”

  “A cunning strategy” thought Rei. “But does he have the strength let alone the intellect to an act such a plan?”

  “I would like your help.”

  Rei was surprised. Why would he ask her a complete stranger for help with such an important task?

  “I saw you fight that ogre. Even though he could have killed you, you still defended Elizabeth. That kind of bravery is exactly what I’ll need if I’m going to fulfill my task.”

  “I don’t know. This seems too important. We barely even know each other.”

  “True. But when that ogre was going to attack me you charged in a took the hit for me. You barely knew me then and yet you still protected me. I didn’t now about the goddess or her task then but now I believe it was fate that the two of us met in that field. I believe you and I are supposed to find Maximus’s killer together.”

  He was saying all the right things. While Rei didn’t believe everything he was saying she did believe that the two of them were fated to meet one another. To what end was still unclear.

  “Alright then Maxwell, I’ll play along with whatever this is. I’ll help you in whatever way I can…”

  “Thanks Rei, I really…”

  “I wasn’t finished. I’ll follow your lead for now but just so you know, if you’re lying to me and you turn out to be a threat in anyway. I will kill you.”

  “Alright, fair enough.”

  The two shook hands in agreement.

  “It’s a pleasure to be working with you, let’s rely on one another from now on.”

  It was only for a brief moment but Rei could swear she caught a glimpse of Maxwell smirking. 

  It wasn’t the friendly smirk you’d expect after their new found partnership but a smirk that seemed to hide something much more sinister.