Legacy

Chapter 40

Legacy

“Goddamn boy got heart!”

Fio the gent was getting into the exchange of fists. One after another Ki and his opponent pummeled each other. A heavy right, followed by a nimble left. For one-hundred and ninety-two minutes neither man wavered, nor stepped out their box. Each punch vibrating violently through its recipient.

“How much longer are they going to go.”

Another associate shouted in excitement, full of energy he slammed more pinions on the table. Spilling beers and igniting Passions. Lorenzo was no different playing into the illusion, pretending he didn’t know the outcome. Knowing and holding Locke’s words close to the chest, he let the cards play out. Never once showing a hint of worry to the prying eyes of Organization members. He wouldn’t admit it, but he was genuinely entertained by the spectacle. Ki was performing his role flawlessly; it would be a shame to have it end. Lorenzo snubbed out what must have been his sixth cigarette and made his way around the fighting circle. He wanted a better angle, one where Ki could see him and the “signal”. He edged his way to the perimeter of the circle, standing just behind the organization fighter and in front of Ki. He grabbed the lobe of his left ear and pulled it. Ki absorbed one last thunderous punch to his face. Looking behind his opponent, he saw the signal and slowly regained his fighting posture. Ki looked at his opponent and cracked a grin wiping away the blood on his busted lip.

“it’s been fun.”

Ki contorted his frame, tightening his fist and delivered a devastating punch to his opponent’s chin. The collision echoed throughout the confines of the warehouse and the roar of the crowd followed. Everyone in attendance watched the Organization champion drop his arms and start to wobble. Losing his balance the behemoth of a man fell to the ground unconscious. Ki dropped his guard and lowered his hands. All around him the Snake organization howled and groaned at the outcome of the fight. Lorenzo casually walked to the center of the arena and greeted his fighter, raising Ki’s arm in victory. Hancho too, joined Lorenzo stepping over the unconscious fighter, snapping his fingers at several of the grunts to pick him up.

“You cease to amaze me, Lorenzo; here are the coordinates for the ship. It will be anchored there for three more days. How you and your fighters get there is on you. As promised, you’re allowed to have six additional guests, but that’s it. This is only you being allowed to accompany us along for the feast. You are not operating under the Snake Organization at full capacity yet. A gift from the chairman, seems that painting of yours did a number on him.”

“Understood Hancho, I still have a lot of preparations to attended to, so I’ll see you aboard the ship.”

Hancho said nothing, choosing to remain silent and walked away. One by one the organization members left the warehouse. Going about their business, enjoying the rest of their night. Lorenzo and Ki weren’t too far behind the rest deciding to make their way back to the Orphanage.

***

“Seventy-million credits!? Dang Auttie, how do you have a higher bounty then me. I wasn’t badass enough.”

Keyon cracked a smile leaning his back against the pillar of the mess hall; one arm crossed underneath the other. He bit into the juicy apple he had in his possession. At a nearby table Sebastian and the others discussed the next move going forwards. He watched Autumn gauging her reaction to the bounty reveal.

“You see Auttie, even if we wanted to go back home we couldn’t. It is too dangerous for the village.”

“Going home has been out of the question for a longtime Atif, you don’t need to butter me up. I’m going with you guys.”

Autumn watched Atif light up with excitement, the adventure continued and new challenges awaited on the horizon. Autumn was reserved, still weighing the gravity of the situation in its entirety. The bounty, the name New Aurora had her classified under “Viyah”. The same name Shima called her in her final moments, was this her real name? She didn’t’ know, it didn’t spark anything within her, she had no connection to it. But it seemed to have some connection to her, yet she remained willfully ignorant of that fact. Afraid what that revelation could bring along with it.

“Wait a minute, are you telling me THIS GUY, is the son of Kezonto the great. That can’t be possible, him.”

Haiden was perplexed by the fact that Keyon was Actually the son of the Elder Kezonto. Locke had explained this truth to her back in Busaya, but she didn’t believe him. How could that be possible? The elder Kezonto’s family died in the invasion fifteen years ago.

“Sorry to disappoint you kid. You should know better than to read into things too much.”

Keyon laughed, taking another bite of his apple, still leaning against the pillar. He watched the reaction of the table. Locke paid his blatant ignorance no mind, knowing Keyon better than most. Locke in turn continued to eat his plate of food, purposely staying out of the conversation. He was in the know, long before the rest and this was something he predicted would happen. The bounties were just an inescapable outcome of the fallout.

“You see what I mean, the stories I’ve heard of Kezonto the Great, and you expect me to really believe this is the legacy that he left behind.”

She slammed her hands on the table out of frustration, catching the attention of the others. Locke looked up from his plate, Atif and Autumn did the same.

“How can you stand there and act like this, after everything your father sacrificed.”

Keyon hardly flinched, taking another bite of his apple, he didn’t let Haiden’s jabs get to him. She was just a mere child in the grander scheme of things and was still ignorant of the truth. Eden, the superiors, the real events behind his father being labeled the heretic.

“The only legacy that my father left behind is one I never asked for, I didn’t want this role. I appreciate your belief in my father kid, truly I do. But you don’t know the weight that comes with being my that man’s son.”

He took a last bite of his apple, tossing the core into the nearby trash can. He stood up right and walked toward the table to join the others. Taking a seat and joining the party, he took a deep breath and spoke up.

“Whether we like it or not, we all in this together. That part is on me; I never wanted any of you guys to get tangled up in my actions. Haiden, Atif, Autumn thank you guys for helping my brothers get to me. Sorry about everything that came with it.”

He apologized, looking directly at each one of them, he turned to face Sebastian, who sat there eating his plate of food. Keyon was curious why he hadn’t mentioned the superiors, the greater threat at large. Manipulating the information, determining what was important for the others to know, he was acting like New Aurora.

“So, Sebastian are we not going to tell them about the Superiors? Or are we going keep them in the dark?”

He didn’t hesitate to call out the rebel leader questioning his motives out loud.

“I was wondering the same.”

Locke snuck into the conversation

“Superiors!?, what is this nonsense.”

Lorenzo abruptly interrupted the group’s dinner time conversation. Strolling through the mess hall with his champion by his side. Keyon and the others turned their attention to Lorenzo and Ki.

“Have a seat Ki, ill fix you a plate.”

He offered his fighter, taking off his jacket and claiming his seat at the table. Grabbing a plate for both, Lorenzo went to work loading them with everything that was there to offer.

“So, is someone going to explain to me this whole superior thing.”

“They are irrelevant to our current plight, so I didn’t bring them up to the group at large. My apologies Ladies, Lorenzo, forgive me for the secrecy. But for now, it’s more important we focus on what’s in front of us and not what is out of reach.”

Sebastian explained, watching Lorenzo take his seat at the table. Placing a plate and utensils in front of Ki. Autumn and Atif looked at one another confused and feeling a little out of place with all the information being exchanged. Haiden had long settled down and now with Sebastian speaking she was silent and less rebellious. Lorenzo didn’t like this, being kept out of the loop when he was actively involved in the situation. Though he knew he had no one to blame but himself and his ambitions.

“So, this plan of yours to get us to the outer continent, explain?”

Lorenzo took a bite of his food, taking his time chewing and enjoying the mess hall grub. Sebastian wasn’t about to act all high and mighty guarding information. That was his move, and he refused to have it deployed on him. He put his fork down, wiping his mouth and taking a sip of his drink.

“I’ve entered three of you into a tournament at Leena’s fortune. The third fighter has yet to be determined, I’ll leave that up to you guys. Excluding Keyon here, anyone is free game. The tournament will be held on an island off the coast of the outer continent. I’ve obtained passes for everyone here; in return I need something from you guys. I want to win the tournament pot, as well I have a personal stake in the events about to unfold on that island. I’m not going to sit here and lie to you, your abilities give me the edge to make this endeavor a sure thing.”

Lorenzo played out of character for the first time in a long time and it was warranted. He couldn’t lie to these people and keep them in the dark. Honesty was going to be his best weapon in this situation, separating himself from Sebastian’s methodology.

“I’ll be the third fighter!”

Atif interrupted Lorenzo’s breakdown of the operation, inserting herself into the plan alongside Locke and Ki. Lorenzo looked in Atif’s direction, taking a good look at the tamer. She was still recovering from her wounds, and this worried him. He took another bite of his food, Autmn and Haiden cautioned against it. The two brothers didn’t contest Atif entering the tournament. Knowing her temperament it was better to have her involved rather than deal with her bickering otherwise. Keyon kept to himself, though he was amused by Atif.

“So, its decided then the fighters for the tournament will be Locke, Ki and Atif. Young lady, Haiden, was it? How do you feel about being our team’s medical expert?”

Haiden lowered her eyes, staring at her plate. She used her utensil to shift around her meat and potatoes. She was still in a funk herself. Still beating herself up over her treatment of Shima’s injuries and her inability to revive her. Haiden was silent for a moment. The sound of her utensils scraping against her plate could be heard.

“Yes, I’ll gladly be the team’s doctors”

She knew she couldn’t run from her failures or doubts any longer. They were something she needed to face head on. Lorenzo took a sip of his glass, fascinated by the group of people gathered at his table. He smiled to himself, while in the back of his mind he compared the atmosphere to that of his own surrogate family. Leaning back in his chair Keyon occasionally snuck glances of Autumn between conversating with Ki detailing the events of the underground fight. Diverting his Attention just in time not to be caught by her own curious gaze.

He thought he was being smooth, but he wasn’t, she could feel his eyes on her. His burgundy eyes burning a hole into her very being. The gathering of misfits continued to converse with one another for hours into the early morning.

***

Three days later

Lorenzo stood on the dock, taking long draws of his cigarette. Watching Angelo and Antonio prep their boat for the voyage to the cargo ship. One by one everyone arrived with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. Excluding Keyon who carried the two katanas he acquired in Busaya.

“Keyon”

He stopped, watching Locke, ki, and Atif walk pass. He turned to face Autumn, who called from behind. Sudden flashes of a younger Keyon sparked in Autumn’s mind as he did so. A skipped beat of the heart went unnoticed. He was beginning to look more like the boy from the vision.

“What? Just going to keep staring at me?”

For a minute she forgot what she wanted to say and looked at Keyon dumbfounded.

“You’re a airhead huh?”

Keyon raised an eyebrow, watching Haiden finally walk past. She laughed out loud, catching what Keyon had said. She turned around and started walking backwards

“Like you wouldn’t believe Keyon.”

Autumn leered at Haiden, watching her parade off to join the others. She looked back at Keyon, remembering why she called him out in the first place.

“It’s going to be a long boat ride. Maybe we can go over some more things about Essence corruption?”

While Autumn and Keyon conversed, the others assisted with loading the boat. The two of them didn’t lag for too long, catching up with the others and preparing for the journey ahead.

“Before I forget, here Haiden I grabbed this for you.”

Locke handed over the book he stole from the library in Busaya. Haiden was speechless, she never imagined that she’d ever get her hands on such a important book. She held is carefully in her hands, clutching it close to her chest ever so delicately. She took a deep breath, summoning up the words she was going to say. Her gratitude was beyond measure; Locke probably had no idea what he had done. Who he had just become in the eyes of her people.

“What is that book anyways?”

Locke and Haiden boarded the vessel right after Ki and Lorenzo.

“This book is the Tears of Bahamut, it’s the original text of my grandmother’s people and might be the only copy ever found. How New Aurora got their hands on it is beyond me. More importantly, Locke to my people you are the golden one. The one that would retrieve the text and deliver it to my people.”

“I’m not doing all that.”

“Too late, you already did, you delivered the book to me golden one.”

“Shut it down.”

Haiden laughed as she poked fun at the monk, she was serious though. Myths and Lore spoke of a golden one delivering the ancient text back to her people. Even if she knew this wasn’t the fashion the elders imagined.