Washington Crossing the Delaware

Wildfires created black trails well-traveled. They were everywhere, from the burning hall half its original height to the forestry that enveloped the small town. Bits of wood periodically clattered to the muted ground. Just enough to where it was expected, yet guessing when exactly was impossible.

That was the scene that greeted us as we arrived at the first village.

Aila stood, frozen at the blazing flame. “You good?”

“Y-yeah…” She lied, no one shaking that much was fine. “Lets g-go in.”

With a wave, Bellon led us into the town. Water dripped from his hands, seeming to defy gravity as it hovered just above the ground. Each drop felt like it held the energy of a bomb in itself, vibrating, searching for its next target.

“B-Bellon’s a Stream Wielder,” Aila quietly said as we followed behind him, “Someone who can control water with their mind. Though controlling individual droplets is a bit above the average wielder’s pay grade.”

“I guess that’s why he’s in Unit E,” I said, getting ready to summon my blade.

Aila seemed to hide in my shadow, her eyes rapidly looking left and right for potential exits.

I could feel the light, the energy flowing through me like a supernova. It wanted to burst out, explode and fight the flames with its own variety, just enough to snuff the blaze with something much more destructive.

“Any survivors?” I asked.

“It looks like everyone got out in time,” Aila gingerly kicked aside a bit of timber. “I’m not seeing any bodies; they’re typically hard to miss.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” I said, praying that would continue.

We let Bellon take the lead. His armor clattered around like a busy kitchen as streams of water batted the heat away. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was the first true knight I’d seen in this world. He wanted to forge ahead, and I preferred to put as much space between us as possible. “You run into many of these?”

“Not commonly,” Aila pushed open the door to one of the few homes still fire-free.

Inside, the living room was sparse, yet still had a comfortable feeling. A giant pot of stew still filled to the brim sat on the kitchen table. Several bowls half eaten were on the table, a few others knocked to the ground.

“We have to thank whoever was able to get these people to safety.” Aila picked up a teddy bear that had rolled near the door. Ash covered its face, concealing its white button eyes and brown fur.

Now that the fire was out of view, Aila seemed to calm down a bit, though her tail still stuck up like a needle.

“Safety? I wish we could prove that,” I said.

“We have to believe they’re safe! There's no point in coming to save people if no one is around to save.” Aila gently placed the teddy bear on the table. “Come on. Bellon will give us demerits if we fall too far behind.”

We found the man near the edge of the town. Bits of water gathered in his palms, leaving smoke behind as the last remnants of the fire started to smother themselves away. “Next village.”

Without another word, he started off towards the carriage alone. I had a sneaking feeling that, given the opportunity, he would leave us behind without a second thought.

Aila and I ran toward the carriage, both of us wary as we went along. With the burning gone, something felt eerie: the rustling of the trees, the shifting of bushes, and the way the scattered timber seemed to hide its shadows.

As she slowed her pace, I bent down, whispering in her fluffy ear. “We’re being watched.”

“I know,” she whispered back, placing a hand on her sword. “They’ve been watching us since we arrived.”

“Do you think they're our enemy?”

“I’d guess so. Everyday villagers can't hide nearly as well.”

“Sounds good.” With that one bit of knowledge, I let the burning fury in my stomach out.

Light stretched out from my hands, a blade sharper than any this world has ever seen morphed into reality in my hands. “No… this doesn't feel right.” I wasn't a sword master—hell, I hadn’t held one in my life outside of kendo. If I wanted to find Lilly, giving in to the crappy sword my kidnapper gave me wouldn't fly.

“You’re mine,” I muttered, forcing the light back. This wouldn’t be an easy fight.

I needed something familiar, something that represented how I fought, something more physical.

The light began to retreat, sweat beating on my forehead. Every inch I retreated the light into itself, it resisted twice as hard, yet eventually, the light curled itself around my fingers.

Ever since my first fight, the only consistent tool I had was my fists. Swords broke, guns misfired, yet my fists would always be there to assist me.

As the light finished its transformation, both my fists glowed with their brass knuckles. Each one felt harder than diamond, lighter than air, yet still maneuverable enough to hit every target with ease. Tiny daggers with that same vine-like design stuck out from the front, as if in defiance of my order.

“You can stop hiding now!” I called out to the trees. Last time, my light had faded within minutes; if I wanted to contribute, we would have to get this started now.

“Rin?” Bellon turned, his water droplets vibrating in the air. “Stop giving away our position!”

“Giving away?” There's no way he hadn’t noticed. “What are you–”

“It’s a bit late for that,” finally, from the bushes, the cowards spying on us revealed themselves now that the game had begun. “Riverlight has claimed these territories. Flee now, or pray to the gods that your death may be swift.”

“Thieves! Bow before the might of Gallai!” Before we got the chance to respond, Bellon switched into action mode.

His droplets sped through the air like bullets, swarming, honing in on each bandit one by one like mini drones. Sonic booms followed each bullet's trail. It was straight out of the movies, almost awe inspiring. Real fights were dirty, they had none of that movie magic. Instead, they were filled with sticky blood and broken ribs. This wasn’t the kind of fight I saw on Earth.

“How chivalrous!” The main bandit sneered, throwing off his black cloak. “A little moisture isn’t going to deter me!”

I took a step back. The man was massive, and not in the typical sense. He had to have been six and a half feet tall, easily taller than any person I had ever seen in Japan. His muscles bulged like balloons; a handsome face twisted into an unnerving grin.

“Another Brickweller?” Aila groaned. “Can we get a break already?”

“Sorry, kid, better luck next time,” I blinked, and within that time, he proved Aila very, very wrong.

“Dodge!” With a snap, he blasted like a bullet towards us. He weaved through Bellon’s bullets, treating them like mere toys knocked aside with a simple steel blade.

Another sound boom echoed, this one more like an earthquake. “That’s no Brickweller!”

“I know!” Aila screamed, steadying her posture.” “If it’s a game of speed he wants, it’s a game of speed I’ll give him! Stick with Bellon and take care of the small fry. I got this guy.”

“Fine.”

Before I finished, Aila had already burst away, leaving the red grass flattened where her shoes had been seconds ago.

I watched, mesmerized, as shadows of the two riverrunners caused blades of grass to fly. It was an art, a spectacle of flashing blades and scattered sounds that even I could barely keep up with.

They circled around us. Aila clearly had a major edge in speed, but with every opening, his massive frame closed it faster than she could swing.. I could somewhat keep track of the bandit with my eyes. Aila didn’t even leave a trace on the grass she ran through.

“Shit!” An arrow flashed by my ear, opening a minuscule wound. Mistake number one. I couldn’t afford to get distracted, not with all the small fry to take care of.

I turned, letting the burning fires on my hands unleash their built-up rage.

The first of the minions got the bulk of my hit. I swerved, running like my life depended on it toward the cloaked man. His hands shook as he dropped his bow.

BOOM

My fist slammed into the man's chest. I could feel the light squirm, begging to burst into his ribcage, but even without that, he still flew like a ragdoll into the nearest tree.

The next few were equally unlucky. Two more quick punches sent them both out of commission.

Yet this wasn’t enough. I watched as Bellon’s puny water droplets took out bandit after bandit like toys, and Aila fought like a demon against their leader. Simple punches, no matter how powerful, wouldn’t be enough here.

“What the hell are you guys?” I grasped the collar of a nearby bandit. His jaw was bruised, blood staining his lips, yet none of that prevented a grin from spreading across his face. “What is Riverlight?”

“You don’t know?” He laughed, a shrill sound akin to a vulture’s cry. “We’re the saviors of this damned experiment. Who do you think is killing all those kings?”

“Those kings?” I lifted the man in the air. “What the hell did you do to Lilly? How did you get someone to impersonate her!”

“Impersonate?” His laughter only grew, drowned out by the sounds of combat around us.

“What the hell did you guys do to Lilly? Where is she!?”

“Whe–”

“Not so fast!” Their leader flashed by, sending a fist into the man's crumbled face. “If you’re interested in Lilly, join us, Senn bearer. We always keep our doors open to those abducted by the self-proclaimed gods of this world.”

“Stop impersonating Lilly and we can talk,” I growled.

“Sounds like we don’t have a deal,” he shrugged. “Your loss.”

Aila appeared by my side, panting. “I don’t think we can beat him, much as it pains me to say, not without Bellon.”

I glanced to our right, careful to keep our opponent in my view. He was still beating up all the scum without sparing a thought for either of us. Not that I expected any different.

“Let me open up a path,” I faced back toward the man, who wore an amused expression. “Convince Bellon we can't win.”

Not that I expected Aila to succeed. That wasn’t what convinced me of my plan; it was the slight glimmer of curiosity in the man's eye that gave his game away. He wasn’t some run of the mill bandit, nor a merciless murderer. This was a scholar.

He could say some big words, back them up with a few punches, but he didn’t mean to kill us. Just like how he let the villagers go.

At least I hoped.

“Sounds good,” Aila gave me a last nod before disappearing in a sea of scattered grass.

“What’s your actual plan?” I held my ground against the bandit. He seemed hesitant to make the first move. No, not hesitant, he just preferred letting me throw myself to the wolves.

“Plan?” He raised an eyebrow. “Riverlight plans to free you from tyranny, that's all the plan you need to know.”

Bam! —he flashed forward, slamming a fist in my face.

I flipped midair, landing on the ground feet first. My face bled, teeth loose, yet none of that could keep a smile from breaking out from my face. “Fine, if that’s how you want to play it.”

I retaliated, charging in for the kill. He jumped behind me. I dodged, letting his kick fly into the air like a stray arrow.

Energy burst from my palms. They flew like eagles, the miniature spikes launched themselves from my knuckles like rocket ships, aiming for his head as their landing spot.

He ducked down, a fatal mistake.

With his vision temporarily distracted, I let my fist fly me through the air. I charged closer, letting every bit of power inside of my burst in one last hurrah. This was it! If I wanted to beat him I wouldn’t do it with a thousand cuts, but one big finisher.

“Nice try kid,” The man crouched, and my explosion hit nothing but empty air.

I rolled on the ground, misty light leaking from my fists as the last of my power disappeared. Six minutes, the culmination of all my training these last few days was a singular minute of difference.

“Shit,” I slammed my fist against the crimson grass. “One minute! One whole minute, are you kidding me?!”

“Fun fight kid, but your Senn needs a lot of training to keep up with me. Sad you won't have the chance.”

I watched, helpless as he slowly walked over to where I laid on the ground. My legs ached like acid had replaced my muscles. Getting up wasn’t an option, I could only watch.

Was this it? I grimaced as he held his blade effortlessly. I could imagine Lilly’s disappointed face looking at me right now, the disappointment in her eyes enough to make me cry.

I was wrong. This man reveled in destroying things, and I was his next target.

“Troops!” Yet my day was not today.

A horn blared throughout the city, a loud, burrowing noise. “Well well, interesting.”

The bandit put away his blade and grinned. “Looks like you get to live today kid. Make sure you train that Senn of yours.”

“Wha–” The man leaped into the air, disappearing from sight, and the first major battle of my new life came to a sudden end.

Bellon finished the rest of the bandits off a few minutes later, though he seemed to take his sweet time doing it. Fifteen minutes passed before the clearing felt calm. It took the same amount of time for me to get off the cold ground.

“Come,” Bellon grumbled at the two of us, walking back to the carriage. “We did our job. Time to head back.”