No More Waiting

"Knights are approaching!"

I stop moving the hands preparing to pull me into a familiar wooden wagon. Morning has only just arrived and there appears to be much activity around this tiny mountain village. Bailey and Peo join me in staring towards the source of this commotion.

"Lord Bermar is present! Make way!"

The villager making the announcement dashes from his spot near the edge of town. Startled whispers turn into rushed movements as everybody attempts to clear all children and animals out of the main path. Part of me wishes to dive between buildings, but hiding will only cause more problems if I'm discovered.

A young man with shining silver armour and a bejeweled sword marches into the town's center with an army at his back.

"Citizens of Cadell! The time has come for us to be rid of the Titan breathing down our necks!"

Bermar demands the entire attention of the village with his presence. Even without the green crystal embedded in his blade, he has the strength to lead a nation.

"Tomorrow, the abomination will fall by my hands! To ensure your safety during our battle, these men will be present to defend you from the Titan's minions."

Spears and swords are lined up in perfect rows and raise their weapons with absolute unity. Cheers erupt from the peasants and the Blessed Knight sweeps his gaze across these overjoyed citizens. During that motion, he notices me standing beside a brown mule.

"My! If it isn't Sir Clement!?"

"It's a pleasure to have met with you once more."

My hand is placed on my chest as the knight approaches.

"What brings you to this settlement? Where are your knights?"

"Fate simply led me here with only myself and my personal burden."

Peo doesn't say a word behind me. However, the same cannot be said about a certain troublesome farm girl.

"M-Mr. Clark!? You are acquainted with Lord Bermar!?"

Bailey cannot stop her eyes from moving between myself and her nation's hero. She is so astonished that she failed to notice the way he refers to me.

"Lord Bermar, let us walk."

I turn my back to the excited girl and lead the Blessed Knight away from her curious eyes. Dealing with Bailey right now would only cause trouble.

Now behind his army of some hundred men, I press Bermar with my curiosities.

"I'm quite surprised at your arrival. I was moments away from marching to Norwin myself."

"It was a necessary precaution."

Brown hair waves as he turns to look over the homely village.

"This village is the closest to the Titan's influence, so I divided my army to protect the people. We may be stretched thin, but we will make it sufficient."

"You are quite thoughtful."

"I'm simply doing the right thing."

He bears the face of a hero that his people can look up to. It would have been simple to allow one tiny population to perish, yet he chooses greed. Instead of choosing a more certain victory, he plays a hand against fate to determine if the knights on hand will be enough.

"I will say, this does make matters quite simple."

Bermar waves a hand towards his knights. None except for a single man breaks from formation. He appears aged in battle and wears a cape signifying his status.

"Ponce is Norwin's greatest general. We will be under his care for this operation."

"It is a pleasure, Blessed Knight of Melior. I hope your journey was without difficulty."

His demeanour offers me grace and respect. However, those things are not what I feel that I'm receiving. Something about his words, something about that stone cold glare tells me that I'm less than welcome.

"I encountered some bandits on the road, along with a ruined village. Fortunately, they were of no threat."

"That is quite unfortunate. I will personally ensure that the remainder of your time within our lands proceeds smoothly."

He doesn't so much as bat an eye, maintaining a face prepared for a long game of poker. It's a game that I can play for as long as he wishes.

"I wish to make a request, if you would offer an ear."

Bermar interrupts this silent battle that his general has begun. While challenging the one obviously responsible for my troubles would make life easier, I cannot do so with prying eyes.

"Let us fell the Titan today."

"Surely you jest, Milord."

Ponce tries to brush aside the ridiculous idea, but Bermar does not appear to be joking.

"You have witnessed it, the anticipation amongst our knights. I fear we may lose morale should another night of waiting pass. All parties are present, so let us be done with it!"

"What of our armies waiting at our capital? They are your support."

"We can send our swiftest horse to deliver orders. Whilst we scale the mountain from the east, they will be our aid from the north."

The general thinks about the proposition, but has little room to deny the request of his Blessed Knight. If sighing were professional, he would have done so multiple times.

"If that is what you wish. Our knights are more than prepared physically, and waiting will not prepare them mentally. I will arrange it."

"You are a wonderful man, Ponce! Sir Clement, make whatever preparations you must and we will depart immediately!"

It isn't just his men that are anxious. Be it a desire for glory or a fear of failure, Bermar wishes to waste no time saving his nation.

I leave the Blessed Knight and his trusted general to retrieve my goods still within a wooden wagon. Bailey has not moved even a single step from where I left her. Her blue eyes are no longer filled with interest, but with concern.

"The knights are stirring. What is to happen?"

"Either a Titan falls, or we perish. The time has come."

I grab my satchel and Peo's backpack without making eye contact with the farm girl. With her role finished, I had intended to complete my mission and be on my way. However, she will not allow it.

"Will you return?"

She could have watched me leave, but she chooses to stand in my way. Her blue eyes stare into my very being whilst her ginger braid blows in the wind.

"I cannot be certain. However, you can consider this our final meeting."

"No! I absolutely refuse!"

Bailey steps forward and brings her face only centimetres from mine. Passion from a source unknown sets her heart ablaze.

"You must return! I will not forgive it if you were to leave once the Titan is defeated! And I most certainly will not permit you to die!"

Not only is she demanding that I succeed in killing a monstrosity, she requires that I come back to this town instead of returning home. She is unreasonable, but part of me doesn't wish to refuse. Becoming attached to someone as frail as Bailey is only asking for trouble down the line. I know that it will be troublesome, but I don't hate the idea. As an agent, however, I must make a logical decision first.

"I cannot guarantee much. But should your village still stand, it will be my final destination before returning to Melior."

"You must hold true to your word!"

With that, Bailey finally smiles with hands folded in front of her. She may be in more danger than me, but she chooses to only see the future where we succeed. Lying to such a pure soul may as well be a crime, one that I intend to commit.

"I shall be off."

"Take care, Mr. Clark!"

I can feel her gaze on my back as I depart Cadell. This may very well be our last meeting, but I did not hate the time we spent together.