Strong, united, working ‘till we fall

«Second meeting? Did we miss the first one?» Vlahar asks.

«No, the first was just a successful one-off.» I reply.

«Uuuuhhh, I don’t want anything to do with this Army for Freedom.» Dakarai grumbles.

«Strange, given your hero complex, you should be interested.» I answer.

«Dog, I see you’ve grown bolder since the last time!» Thyra exclaims, laughing.

«Dog?» everyone wonders, looking at me.

«But excuse me, weren’t you called Søren?» Vlahar asks, pointing at me, confused.

«Yes, indeed,» I answer him. I turn toward her and scratch the back of my neck, closing my eyes. «Sorry, Thyra, I forgot to introduce myself properly. I am Søren Nero. Pleased to meet you all.»

«Pleasure is mine, Søren.» says the leader of the rebels with a smile. «Since we’re in the mood for introductions, I’m Omid, head of the rebellion, while the man in front of me is Vlahar, my lieutenant.»

«Hi!» he adds enthusiastically, waving his hand.

«I’m Thyra, matron of Nebb village.»

«And the one beneath me is—»

«I already know him,» Thyra interrupts. «He often supplies us with useful resources.»

«The same goes for us.» Omid adds. «He has been helping us for years, providing weapons and information.»

Their words surprise me. “So he truly committed to helping people. Akanke would be proud.” «Good. If I have gathered you here today, it is because I need your help… I know you have provided it in abundance in the past, and I could never repay you… But now it is not about me, it is about Spis and the fate of this world.»

«You know we are the first to oppose Goran.» Omid says, adopting a serious tone. «However, I cannot face him head-on…» He turns his gaze briefly to Vlahar. «‘Rebels’ is simply a name I gave us to lift people’s spirits. Even though we train day after day for battle, we are nothing more than displaced people.»

Thyra looks at him sadly for a long moment before focusing on me. «I’m sorry, boy, but he’s right. My people have taken a heavy blow and suffered significant losses.»

«I’m sorry, Søren, but it’s all useless. You can ask whoever you want, the answer will always be the same.» Dakarai adds. «No one has had the strength to face Goran openly for at least a hundred and fifty years. The only thing people worry about now is surviving and moving on.» Seeing everyone’s looks so defeated drains hope from me as well. “What did I think I was doing? I’m sorry, Lili — I filled your head with absurd stories of heroes… I only realize now they are merely people burdened with responsibilities.”

«Damn, there isn’t a soul here who isn’t depressed.» Vlahar says; we all turn sourly toward his smiling face. «Ah, eh, don’t misunderstand me, it’s good to see a solid brotherhood among long faces.»

«You kidding us?» Dakarai asks, irritated.

«No, it’s that you’ve spoken of how fearsome Goran is because he kills, yet you were the first to kill the conversation at the outset. Let Søren finish speaking, then we’ll decide whether he had a good idea or not.»

Omid gives him a slight smile, then turns his gaze back to me. «Alright, go on, boy.»

«Mh… Fine…» I nod. «The kingdom I am in now is technologically advanced; their weapons are formidable and they possess aerial vehicles… I met a strategist with a mind so brilliant that she knew how to use my experience to convince the king to place their great army at our disposal.»

«If she’s that powerful, can’t they invade the lands on their own?» Dakarai asks.

«I believe the king wants certainties, not hypotheses, otherwise he would have already acted.»

«What exactly do you need from us?» Omid asks, folding his arms.

«I need to unite forces. If we fight together, I am more than convinced we can make it.»

«What would the plan be?» Thyra asks, sighing.

«I don’t know. The strategist will take care of that when she has a clearer picture of the situation. All I need now is to know whether you’ll be willing to join us — all the rebels and all the Malylebky tribes.»

«And what have I to do with it?» Dakarai asks.

«I don’t know, but the strategist said that your help would be necessary.» Everyone stares at me doubtfully. «I know it’s all very vague, but I am aware of Spis’s rapid advance — it’s only a matter of time before there is no place left to call home…» I stand up, helping Dakarai to his feet. «What I had to tell you, I have said. I won’t bother you further.» I move toward the fire. «I know it’s short notice, but you will have until midnight tomorrow to decide.» I leave them behind, vanishing among the flames. As soon as I wake, I take the seeds and am spat out of the earth.

I see Kenji arrive. «Nero-san, are you ready to resume training?»

I draw the sword and the dagger, staring him straight in the eyes and furrowing my brows. «Do not hold back this time.»

He gets into position with a faint smile. «Very well, prepare yourself.» he urges with an amused tone.