Chapter 28:

Twenty Eight – Brainstorm

After the Rain

There was no one at the lake.

An isolated spot where I can relax a bit.

I take off all my clothes.

I enter the lake.

I get out of the lake.

I am not going in after all.

The water is freezing.

By all the gods.

I step in very slow until the water reaches my shins.

The cold stings.

I am going to plunge right in.

No, I am not.

Yes, I am.

The icy water will help heal my bruises and wash my wounds.

By the gods, it is sooooo cold.

I do not think I can do it.

No.

I will do it.

I do not overthink it and dive right in.

I try to hold myself together.

I will withstand the cold.

I will get used to it.

I can not get used to it.

I get out.

I go back in.

I have to wash myself.

After a huge effort I manage to get clean.

The water was so cold.

I get dressed, gather some twigs, and light a fire to try to stop shivering.

Even my magic is not keeping me warm right now.

I start to laugh.

I am calmer now.

The memories of this place soothe me.

I can recall the times Du, Roger, and I used to play in this very lake, years ago.

I wonder where Du is now?

If I know her at all, she must be furious about all these people using our old town as a campsite.

I just want this whole war to end.

I think I have reached my limit.

I can not have, can I?

We still have not finished.

Can we really call the battles we have fought so far victories?

Why I do not feel like a winner?

Even with so many defeats, the Council never seems to lose.

They have just announced new weapons.

Stronger and more destructive than ever.

I think all our efforts merely delay the Council's plans but never stop them.

They seem unstoppable.

All their senseless destruction.

This thirst for power.

I can not wrap my head around it.

And...

Karlos is dead.

The eternal rain continues.

In the end, it was Olvad himself who killed Karlos.

What was my purpose in this war, after all?

Olvad is a maniac.

A madman.

I wonder what happened to him?

What does he mean by wanting to fight me?

The last time we fought, he won so easily.

This time too.

If Canny had not saved me, I would have died.

He is a powerful enemy.

Will I have enough strength to stop him in the end?

I wanted news of the battle.

Someone in the camp must have some news.

I wonder how my friends from Fojstar are doing.

Friends?

Once I stopped shivering from the cold, I headed back to the camp.

Now, inside the tent, Canny is not here anymore.

I am wandering arround, trying to find a way to learn about the rest of the operations.

I hear a noises somewhere.

Several people are running and gathering north.

It looks like an invasion.

The Council?

Have they already arrived here?

I run to see it too.

It is coming from the forest.

It did not looks like it is the Council.

The no ones were taking cover wherever they could.

They could not pinpoint the source of the arrow shots coming from the treetops.

There was someone on the ground.

I think they were already dead.

Could I step in and stop this?

I can see where the shots are coming from.

I recognize that fighting technique.

But I do not think it is safe to do anything right now.

Not out here in the open.

If I try to step out of cover and talk, I might end up on the ground before I even get the first word out.

What should I do?

Even though everyone is in hiding, the shots keep being fired.

The strangest part is, they are using arrows to attack.

The arrows strike nearby, shatter, and leave a wet mark around the impact.

They are leaving the area around us wet.

“Fall back! Fall back!” I start shouting. “It is a trap!”

From the treetops, a swift shadow leaps toward the center where everyone was taking shelter.

There is no other way.

I use my magic to launch myself.

I am fast enough to collide with my friend middle air and try to make her stop.

I grab Du, and we both fall to the ground.

She quickly shoves me aside and stands up.

She does not seem to be shaken.

"Stop, Du! We are on the same side! This battle will only bring unnecessary casualties right now. We are fighting on the same side. Retreat!"

“You all have desecrated our city. You invaded and took over a place where lives once existed. You are no different from the Capital. You are not welcome here.”

“I do not understand why they set up camp here either. I do not like it. But right now, the most important thing is not to fight. The Council has new weapons. More devastating than ever. We need every ally we can get. Be smart. do not let your feelings get in the way of your good judgment.”

“That is a very fine speech, but we have already suffered a casualty. If you want a confrontation,woman, we will have that confrontation.”

Those words came from behind me.

I recognize that voice.

Master?

“Master?” I turned around, and there he was.

The man who had taken me in and trained me right after the incident eight years ago.

He had new scars on his face and looked visibly older.

He had aged more than just the eight years that had passed.

Why is he provoking her up now?

"Master, please, let us not fight right now. Let us stay calm…"

He approaches me and knocks me down with a punch.

"Master, please."