Chapter 26 - Rescue - Part One

From the perspective of Razan

I woke up to rattling on my cell door. After my failed prison escape, it seems they made a stronger door in response. No matter how much I tried, I could never break it. On the downside, every so often, a guard would rattle my cell door, just to keep me awake throughout the night.

I was tired, but I looked up regardless, then I saw him. Surrounded by dead guards was Ryu.

“Ryu?” I said after what felt like a moment of tense silence.

“Razan Hamada.” His voice echoed through his dark armor. “You looked like you could use some rest, besides…I need you in fighting shape tomorrow.”

I looked at him. Wondering what he was doing, why he was doing this.

“What do you mean? Need me in fighting shape?” I asked.

“Maxwell Lancelet, he will be arriving tomorrow. I told him you were stronger than me.” He admitted after a while. “So in his own worldview, you’re the one thing stopping him from true perfection and happiness.”

I felt disgusted. All of this was because he wanted to kill me? So many deaths. All of this trouble. “Out of jealousy?”

Ryu nodded. I realized it was a wasted opportunity talking about Maxwell. I had more pressing questions that needed to be answered.

“I had a dream, you know. That we were allies. You weren’t always like this, so what happened?” I asked.

Ryu didn’t say a word. After what felt like an hour, he finally responded. “Isn’t it obvious? We lost that fight. I assume if you remember that, then you must also know of the loop you and Grace are stuck in?”

His words didn’t have the same violent edge as before; they had a softer, gentler tone. I felt this was the real Ryu Nakamura I was speaking to. Not the dark knight, enforcer of the goddess.

“I do, and I’m confused about that too. Why?” I asked. I wondered if in some past attempt at this game, Ryu had explained this to me. Maybe he’s explained this multiple times, but judging from how often he paused. Maybe he wasn’t used to explaining this.

“I’ll put it plain and simple,” Ryu began, “I cannot tell you why. The answer, of course, would serve only to my detriment. But if you really insist, let me just say, I need you. The Goddess brings you here because she knows I need you.”

“Our lives are forever intertwined with fate, as long as that remains the case. We will always be destined to meet again, one way or another.”

I felt even more confused.

“So you sent people to kill me? Like Simon and Maxwell. Isn’t it hard to get to me if I’m dead?” I asked him.

“Yet you are alive, you got stronger and more proficient because of these opponents, and you have friends actively seeking to break you out. You will get past this, one way or another. I don’t just need you, I need you stronger than ever.” Ryu reflected.

“You’ve talked quite a bit,” Ryu chuckled. “I bet you have lots of questions, but let’s save them for another time. You need your rest.”

I didn’t exactly argue with him on that one, but I didn’t trust that he wouldn’t just kill me; the stinging sensation on my cheek didn’t even work anymore with him. I wondered if it was something in me, not seeing him as much of an enemy, but rather an enigma. A puzzle that needed to be solved.

Though my better judgment knew I would have to put a stop to him, that would have to come at a later time. In the meantime, I was too tired to care.

With that, all I could think of was sleep as I passed out.

From the perspective of Grace

Elowyn must have already left when I woke up. The only person in the room now was Tetsuo, who was wide awake at this point, eating a small bowl of soup in the hotel room.

I remembered the plan well.

Flashback to the previous day

“Maxwell Lancelet is coming tomorrow?” I asked, relatively shocked.

“Yes, he has come to kill Razan personally, and the location will be in a makeshift arena outside the Iron City itself,” Tetsuo explained. “He plans to kill him then and there; that arena will be our best bet.”

Elowyn had her doubts, I could tell just by looking at her. Finally, she decided to chime in. “Too risky, we should just break Razan out here and now. Not leave him as bait.”

That was a pretty good point. Maxwell would be visiting tomorrow either way.

“Hmph, fine, how about I show you the prison he’s holed up in?” Tetsuo offered, and with that, he led us down a series of alleyways and the occasional street to show us the large and rather elaborate high-security prison.

“He could be anywhere, and it’s almost all choke points and close quarters; that is something only I can do. Plus, I only barely got out myself with my strength and all.” Tetsuo crossed his arms after saying that and sighed.

“So not only is Elowyn’s magic not gonna work here, but the lack of maneuverability will make it difficult for me.” Elowyn shifted when Tetsuo reminded her of the sheer amount of difficulty it would take to successfully break Razan out of there.

“Maybe I could teleport him and us out.” Elowyn tried to argue, but we all saw how bad of an argument it was.

“Go ahead, if you know where he is.” Tetsuo offered.

He could be anywhere, and only Tetsuo was good at close-quarters combat, and even he almost failed getting out. Plus, with Tetsuo’s plan, not only will we have a good way of getting reasonably close to breaking in. We could also try and kill Maxwell at the same time.

“I got an idea, how about tomorrow morning, before the execution can even begin. I’ll negotiate with the president. Perhaps I could do something, but you two should make your way to the execution grounds regardless.”

“Sounds like a plan then, but Elowyn. Don’t take too long. If it gets bad, we may need you to teleport us out of there.” I warned her. Elowyn seemed to get it because she nodded her head.

At this point, we were all exhausted, and the three of us made a collective agreement to go back to the hotel.

“But first, before we go back.” Elowyn dragged us to a nearby street. “Wait in the alleyway, Tetsuo. You will need a disguise before we go anywhere populated.

We both watched her go into a nearby shop, and a few minutes later, she pulled out a rather realistic-looking mask. “Put this on.” She handed the mask over to Tetsuo. “It should cover your tattoo up, which will make this a bit easier.”

Tetsuo didn’t bother protesting; he put it on, and his face now looked more or less the same, but without the tattoo.

“Good, it works like a charm. Now we can go back to our hotel.”

Present day

“If Elowyn and you are both ready, then so am I.” I felt a surge of willpower go through me. I had to save Razan.

“Good, because I was getting tired of waiting.” I noticed a restless tone of voice from Tetsuo; he shifted every so often. As if on edge, I suppose this mission would be very important for Tetsuo as well. “I was ready for this, for a good bit now.”

At my approval, he immediately shot up and we both eagerly rushed out of the hotel room. We had some money that Elowyn gave us to purchase tickets.

The first step.

We made our way to the very front of the town, the same entrance we came in, today, there was a booth all set up, running it was a sweet-looking dwarf woman. “Hello there, you two, here to watch the butcher's execution? That will be twenty per seat.”

We handed her the money, and she handed us the tickets. We were now finally able to make it into the arena.

It was mostly just a bunch of bleachers surrounding a large open field of snow. The cold air blasted me and Tetsuo. I gave him a look, telling him not to use his ability; otherwise, the plan would be compromised.

We were about half an hour early. So all we could do was wait until Maxwell and Razan were in the arena.

Fifteen minutes to go, and Razan finally appeared in the arena. He was covered head to toe in restraints and chains that made movement difficult.

Ten minutes to go, and Maxwell himself would arrive. I finally had a good look at him. Toda,y he wore an elaborate gold set of armor, a crown that screamed opulence and importance. A smug grin that made me want to punch him.

“Greetings, everyone!” Maxwell shouted to the crowd. “In ten minutes, you will all see one of the most dangerous men in the world finally be put out of his misery!”

All I could do was hope Elowyn could delay things just a bit.

From the perspective of Elowyn

“What do you mean you won’t cancel? Do you intend to make an enemy of the elves?” I shouted, the guards in the room looked uncomfortable, and even Reuben shifted slightly in his seat.

“I don’t want to make an enemy of Astora and all, plus, that Maxwell guy is dangerous. There is no defying him.” Reuben then began to cower in his seat. “He always brags about that spear of his, and I’ve seen it in action, too.”

I was confused now. What was so scary about his spear? But it seemed Reuben had seen my confusion and was now ready to at least give me this much information.

“Y-you see, Lady Elowyn. He can travel faster than the speed of light and can even see into the future. Not to mention all his other chronomancy spells…it’s one of the most powerful divine magic there is, you see…”

“I can’t defy him! I won’t!” Reuben began to shout now, as if remembering some sort of threat.

“I see, so he’s got you with a threat. Wait, faster than light? What is his third ability?”

Reuben shook his head, unaware of what I was talking about.

Oh crap.

If he could move that fast, and had at the very least, precognition.

Grace, Tetsuo, AND Razan were now in danger.

To be continued.