The Nameless Knight

I never thought I’d see the day, but here I am face to face with this nameless knight grunt. I don’t mean to sound like the main character of some story, but this situation just screams a good ol’ nemesis appearance. For the annoying do gooders it’s the villains, and for us badass low-lives it’s do gooder knights like this twat. Here I am saving our raid and this guy foils my plans, he just has to be him! MY RIVAL! THE VILLAIN OF MY STORY!

“You got some balls walking up to me with a sling tough guy.”

“...”

Look at that, looks like we got ourselves the strong silent type. We let’s see how he deals with a little confrontation, I start pulling out my knife. Upon seeing it drawn the little prick takes a slight step back, oh a cautious one aren’t ya’! He starts reaching for his sword, his hand fidgets for a bit but he manages to pull it out successfully. No way, was that guy struggling to pull his sword out? I understand now, this guy must be a first timer too! Then as his first fight, I’ll make sure he gets the experience he deserves. Steve is gonna start losing gas soon, and the others probably won’t hold out for long. Not to mention, Rich is getting his ass handed to him as we speak. I can hear his screams from over here, hang in there Sub-boss! Before I can save anyone, I have to deal with this guy!

“I hope you’re ready, partner! Let’s dance!”

“...”

****

I’ve lost track of how long it’s been, I’ve been caving as many skulls in as I possibly can. Thanks to Thief I don’t have to worry about being shot at least, but still the situation is bad. The guys are still getting culled, Thief’s intervention slightly boosted our chances, what’s worse is I’m starting to run out of steam. I guess I should’ve used my fist instead of, wait where did I get this tree from? I really do see red when i get pissed off! Well I might as well have some fun one last time, as I think that I feel the force of a bison knock into me. For the first time in this battle I get knocked to the ground, I start standing up only to see the burly son of a bitch that sounded the emergency horn.

“Sorry, I wanted to join in myself.”

“Heh! Asshole…”

While I started to stand, I couldn’t help but spot Thief. What’s my bud up to...Uh Oh! Looks like Thief is about to fight. I sparred with him a couple times, well maybe that’s not the right word. More like I acted as a punching bag and let his weak blows massage me, figures since Thief is weak when it comes to fighting.

****

Across from me is my silent nemesis, KNIGHT! I hope you’ve prepared yourself, because I’m about to cave your skull in!

“Here I come, YYAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!”

“...!”

My war cry threw him off time to go for a thrust! Is what I thought, but the moment I got close he stepped out of the way and I ate the dirt. Just beginner's luck, I go for the same routine again. I scream and stab, and I eat dirt again. The luck on this guy had a second wind, but now the dance of death shall claim him. I jump up and start spinning at him, that right time to break out the big guns! THIEF’S ORIGINAL SPIN STRIKER!!!!!!! Right before the knife in my right hand could stab into his head, he blocks my wrist with his armored left hand.

“What!...GOOFF!!!!”

Right after my special move got parried, the guy bitch slapped me with his right hand. I drop my knife and start holding my face, DON’T JUDGE ME! THAT S*** HURT! All the while, this guy sat their staring at me like I was some kind of meal for him. This silent destroyer, he truly is my rival! Hand picked by the gods to push me to my limits and help me ascend into badassery! Very well then, if it’s a fight you want then its a fight you’ll get!

****

The battle on Lenore plains is fierce, both the bandits and knights are giving it their all to survive. However, a knight stops for a moment noticing a spectacle in the distance.

“Hahahahaha, What the F*** is that idiot doing!”

Immediately all the combatants stop, and look over to see the commotion. The knights start laughing, and the bandits immediately cringe. It was Thief, getting his as- his rear handed to him. He kept pointlessly declaring his attacks, attempting flamboyant moves, and even attempting the whirlwind punch that kids do. The nameless knight he fought saw through it all, and countered him at every turn. At one point, when Thief tried to rush nameless, he tripped Thief and watched him squirm on the ground. Nameless then walked up to him and offered him a hand, only for Thief to get up and attempt to cut his throat out. Leading to nameless to twist around him and Thief to meet the ground for the 30th time. How Thief has no concussion or missing teeth is beyond me, but he has spirit I give him that. Doesn’t change the fact that his comrades are all face palming, sighing, and kicking rocks right now. Bandit morale has reached an all time low. Goltas heard the laughing and looked over, only to start giggling himself.

“Hey lard ass, time for a break.”

“What?”

There stands Rich holding his chest, breathing heavily after barely surviving up till this point. Goltas puts his finger to his mouth to silence him, and then points to the show that’s started. Rich turns his head only to see Thief get made a fool of, he couldn’t help but start berating his “Techique”.

“WHAT THE F***! Come on man, pull it together. You’re making us look like idiots out here!”

“HA!”

Goltas couldn’t help but laugh hearing Rich’s response. Rich wasn’t the only one voicing his opinion. Bandit A cheered Thief on, he said the person who saved him can’t lose. Steve looked down and told himself this is worse than he thought. Bandit G, who is covered in injuries, turned to his attackers and asked them to kill him. The female squire closed her eyes and took a deep sigh.

“So the man who destroyed our valuable equipment is just a clown. What’s worse is that my liege has to deal with this, why did I have to ruin things.”

She opens her eyes and draws her short sword, prepared to enter ground combat. Meanwhile Goltas finishes laughing and stares at Rich with a blank expression.

“Break time’s over!”

“Wait, what do you- GAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!”

Goltas continued his onslaught on the poor Sub-boss, making sure to purposely avoid lethal injuries. He was toying with him at this point, and he enjoyed every second of it. Meanwhile, Steve took advantage of the knights taking their laugh break and regained his focus. He muttered thanks to his friend under his breath and looked to each of his comrades. They knew what he meant, Thief gave them an opportunity to recharge by making an ass of himself, now was their time to counter attack!

“YOU THINK THAT S*** IS FUNNY!!!!”

Steve began to lift his dead tree once again, and clobbered all the knights in the vicinity. The burly one included, Steve was now ready to finish the fight. That was the plan until he felt a chill running down his spine, immediately the squire lunged at him for a stab. The situation just became worse, Steve may have regained his breath, but now he has to deal with the muscle of the opposing side and the female squire who is clearly their fastest.

****

Now I know what you’re thinking, Thief, why are you making an ass of yourself? It’s true that I’m getting beaten silly, but I’m not weak. The reason behind why I’m struggling is-

“Come on you little bastard, the armor has gaps! Aim for them! The chainmail is on the weaker side, his ribs can be yours! Why didn’t you aim for his eyes, the helmet has an opening for those!”

He came back, after Steve’s pep talk the jackass came back. Sure he’s giving good advice, but I don’t want to listen. If I do, it means I validate him. I hate this, every time I try to fight, he always tries to backseat me. Did he die or something? Why does this f***er haunt me! This s*** makes me wanna scream, but I gotta beat this bozo first!

“SNEAK ATTACK!”

“...”

This nameless twat, looking like he’s sighing under that helmet, side-steps me again.

“*huff huff* I’m running low on breath...But don’t think you’ve won!”

I haven’t given up yet, I can still win! I don’t need this guys advice either, I’m gonna kick this guy's ass! Just as I thought that, I hear a clear voice speak to me.

“...Why?”

“Huh?”

No way, the silent bastard, did he just speak to me?

“I just don’t get it, your actions betray you so why. Why is it that you fight, why are you here?”

“Why am I here, well that’s easy I’m here to-”

Before I could finish, I could hear screaming in the plains. I turned to look only to see it, a majority of our forces wiped out. Bandits holding their friends in their arms, Rich being beaten, and even Steve fighting for his life. Everyone’s giving their all, and yet here I am holding myself back. I killed them, by refusing to do what I should’ve, I got my friends killed.

“You see how pointless this all is, you can’t win. Your numbers are dropping, your bodies are breaking, and your group no longer has the will to continue. Why is it that you people fight, more importantly why is it that you steal? Why rob your fellow countrymen? What’s in it for you? Why do you people kill people? Why did you give up on living on the righteous path? Why do you wear such beaten clothes? Why do you live a life that shames your parents?”

In one mere moment, I stopped functioning. Why is it that this random guy, with a voice so clear and soft, managed to tear my soul into pieces. Look at what my path got me, a bunch of dead friends and the end of the road. What’s the point in trying, what’s the point of fighting, what’s the point of any of this?

“You can start again.”

“What?”

“It might be tough, but I’ll talk to Captain Goltas and stop this assault. You can turn yourselves in and be tried in the court of law. You’ll most likely find yourselves in the dungeon, but if you work with the law and confess anything you know, your prison time might be shortened. After that, you can finally walk a good path, you can have the equal opportunity to be in the sun. It’s not over for you, there’s still hope for you! All you need to do is take it!”

This guy, is he serious? Can we go back to normal functioning lives? As I ponder what he said, I look at the guys. I look at the trouble we’re in, this inescapable situation, and notice something. There they are: Bleeding, dying, struggling, and fighting. All the while, doing these things, none of them have lost their spark. In their eyes, is a flame, none of them have given up yet. None of them have considered dropping out of this, I understand now this is what I’ve been lacking. I was stuck being a child, I still thought this was a game. No, this is real, and if I want my friends to survive I have to have resolve.

“Hehehehehe-HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!”

“What’s so funny?”

You really must’ve been sent by the gods to test me, you almost had me their guy. Thanks to that I’m back in the game, and I remembered something important. Rule #50 of being a thief, a real thief never gives up on their prize!

“Tell me, what are you gonna do?”

“What?”

“Let me say it again, what are you gonna do? You’re just some weak knight grunt, what control do you have over your leader’s mind?”

“Uh-”

“Scratch that, let me ask you a more pressing question! Why do you think we’re here?”

The moment I said that, the guy goes completely still, I guess it’s his turn for a culture shock.

“What, do you think we’re doing this because we’re poor? Because we got nothing and no hope to live on, you think we steal because we have no choice?”

“Well I-”

“If we didn’t have money then we could easily be beggars plain and simple, I bet you’d jump at the chance to give us bread and a silver coin right?”

“I mean-”

“Think of it this way, sure some people become thieves because they don’t have anything. So tell me, why are people like us thieves when we do have food, money, and shelter?”

“...!”

“Easy, because we want to! Listen up recruit, we true low-lives don’t steal because we have nothing and feel sorry for ourselves. We’re the real deal, we’re scum of the earth that kill, pillage, and steal because we want to! Because a real thief is in it for the love of the game!”

The guy tries to form a response, but he can’t. Now’s my chance to get even.

“And you know what else-”

“Wha-”

Rule #45 of being a thief, a thief should always fight dirty! While the armored nutcase was thinking up a response, I fling some pocket sand at him. I will no longer shy away, my body and skills are mine alone. Like that I began rushing at him while he was dazed.

“Wha-WHAT IS THIS!”

He fans the sand out of his face but it’s too late, I use a back heel kick to knock his sword away. His guard is broken, and he’s still dazed. I prepare the knife in my right hand to take his life, thanks nameless knight. My rival! However, before I could go for the kill.

“MY LORD!”

It was like a whirlwind, right before I could stab my knife through his throat, I saw fluttering dark brown hair and Olive green eyes. It was that squire chick, and she was pissed! Just before I could finish comprehending the situation, I saw streaks of red gushing out. I looked at where it red came from, to see my right wrist sliced.

“S***!”

I had no choice, but to fall back. My crossbow cushioned the blow, but my wrist still got cut pretty bad. What’s worse is that I’m out of breath, and clearly this bitch wants to gut me.

“You bastard, HOW DARE YOU ASSAULT MY MASTER!”

Master? What is she talking about? Is this guy actually important? At that moment I looked over to see if Steve was alright, after all she was facing off with him before.

“Where do you think your-…!!!!!”

She must’ve been shocked too, the moment she left her friend's side, Steve overpowered him and impaled him with the same tree he was clobbering people with. Steve sounded a victory cry, the gang rejoiced and the knights looked visibly panicked.

“What are you idiots doing!”

Everyone froze, it was Captain Goltas and needless to say he was angry. Rich is barely standing, his armor torn to shreds and his wounds leaking blood. The situation is still bad: Steve lost his weapon, our side is on the losing end, and Goltas is about to join his men in battle. The girl readied her blade, the air became hoarse. Like a thread was tightening around my neck. Is this it for me?

Just then, I heard the air whistle. I moved my eyes only to see a familiar throwing knife fly past my head.

“What!?!”

The girl deflected the knife, meanwhile I took time to fall back. That’s when I heard a familiar voice with a mocking tone.

“Hey metal heads, you smell like S***!”

I turned my head to see Rat on a scrap made ballista, and I fired a large volley into the crowd. The ballista broke after one time use, and the volley hit the ground. Immediately smoke and strange fumes entered the battle field. The knights couldn’t help but panic.

“What the hell is that smell, it smells like S***!”

No way, the stink bombs he was working on. Rat was preparing for this moment! I was soon surprised to see Jasmine next to me treating my wrist. The guys knew what time it was, out of the smoke came the ten surviving combatants. Funnily enough, Steve got Rich and was dragging him across the ground.

“BREVE BREESE POP! BY RUUNS PAR DONNA BIT BURSE!(STEVE PLEASE STOP! MY WOUNDS ARE GONNA GET WORSE!)”

That didn’t stop Steve, he kept running with Rich dragging bloodily against the ground and with a smile on his face. We made it out at the right time too, because a horn bellowed from the hills. It was enemy reinforcements, damn we wasted too much time. Tired and haggard as we were, we found our second wind and ran. Meanwhile, I could hear Goltas furious at the loss.

“Someone go get those bastards, and bring me their heads!”

“We’re on it sir! Men to me!”

We were able to pull away, however we noticed a small group of knights following us from the back. At the head was a knight with Orange hair, looks like this isn’t over just yet. Hopefully, we can lose them in the forest!