Fireside Company: Part 2

Victor was writing in Babel, while Kegan played on his guitar. The quality of the music, however, was declining as time went on.

This scenario was really well written.

How removed do you want to be from this world?! Anyways, this little side quest was entertaining to spectate~

Who is in charge of writing these original events? I approve. It’s very close to something I would write.

Don’t flatter yourself so much! This world is created around your story, so just be content with that knowledge! And you know any further information is off limits!~ >:(

Victor frowned. Was that an emoticon?

Kegan strummed a peculiarly bad note then sighed in frustration.

“Perhaps you should take a break,” Victor said.

“Apologies. I didn’t mean to disturb your writing.”

Victor looked down at the tome and the glaring emoticon.

“Believe me, it was nothing of importance.”

As he closed the tome, a message appeared.

How mean!~ D:

“Is something bothering you?” Victor asked.

Kegan paused before setting down his guitar. “There is.” He felt at the god’s star that hung around his neck. “Perren. Mayor Windsor.”

“First time killing a man?”

He shook his head. “When I was a banisher, I killed many cultists and demons. But this was the first time I murdered a man.” Kegan looked at Victor. “What about you?”

“I have. Both killed and murdered a man.”

Kegan’s eyebrows rose. He wasn’t repulsed, rather just shocked that he could admitt to it.

“I did it to protect myself from a man who tried to kill me. “He was an assassin my foster brother sent.”

“I wouldn’t call that murder.”

“That wasn’t the murder. That was just the first time I killed a man. However both kills made me feel the same amount of guilt. “Taking a human life is something that a mind with morals can’t help but agonize over.”

“So, you still feel guilty?”

Victor took a moment before nodding.

“Does it ever get better?”

“It does.” Victor said. “Before I met Enderan, I told myself that I could do whatever it takes to survive, and any evil act could be justified by it. I thought I could be ruthless and disattatched. But he made me realize that I was barely keeping myself together. And because of him, I spend my time caring for another person rather than fixating on my guilt. And it reminds me that I’m capable of helping rather than harming.”

Kegan smiled upon hearing that.

“So, I think you should continue to take care of Poppy. And it will do your conscience good. It sounds selfish, but people need one another to live with themselves.”

Victor agreed, and a peaceful serenity touched his smile. “Thanks for that Victor.”

“Just keep that murder business to yourself though. Please.”

“Of course. Still, I want to hear more. Your foster brother tried to have you assassinated?" 

“He did. For the family business and fortune.” He scoffed. “He was disowned. This happened right after our sister was cursed.”

Before he could continue his story, he looked up and noticed two kids approach camp.

“You two sure took your sweet time!” Victor smirked.

“It took a while to find branches!” Enderan blushed.

“It’s late autumn,” Kegan said with a slight grin.

“Well we just happened to get unlucky,” Poppy said.

Victor and Kegan laughed as they got the fire started.

- - 

As night fell, they warmed themselves by the fire.

“We decided that Casterlan will be our next destination.”

“Is that the name of another Lancer?” Poppy asked.

“It is.” Enderan said. “Henry Casterlan.”

“Most of the settlements here are named after Lancers. Because the Pale Crown mountain is in the distance, there were no humans residing anywhere close by.” Victor explained. “These settlements could only be built after Drakan’Thar was killed.”

“That’s right. Galebrook is not even forty years old. Very young for a town.” Kegan said.

“How far away is Casterlan?” Enderan asked.

“About three days’ ride,” Victor said as he started building the fire. “Don’t worry, by the time we get there, you’ll be glad that Poppy is gone.”

“You don’t know that! She’s grea-” He paused, then glanced at Poppy and blushed. They laughed at him being flustered. Poppy also giggled, but a slight blush touched her cheeks.

Victor smiled at seeing Poppy taking interest in Enderan, but then frowned to himself.

Sorry Poppy, but his heart is destined for another. And it wouldn’t be fair to say you have a chance against her.

It wasn’t a love made to last, but Victor enjoyed the sight of young innocent love.

This journey was a huge departure from the source material. Excluding the fact that Enderan was arriving at the mountain several years before schedule.

Victor had to admit though, if he had written it, he would have applauded himself. It made for a good monster-of-the-week obstacle he would have put Enderan through. It was a classic turn around, the people the protagonist was trying to help were responsible for the evil that befell them. However the Mayor being a grooming creep caused Victor to be disgusted to the point he wanted to kill the man.

He had to remember that even these new characters were simply just that. They were characters in this new version of ‘Days of Knights’.

Part of Victor wished he had never helped Kegan and Poppy move out of town. He had to focus on his goal.

However, he completely forgot about this disconnect as he laughed with them. He told stories by the camp fire, and listened to Kegan play his guitar. The stars came out, the fire crackled, and embers took to the sky.

Before turning in, Enderan told them about the guessing game he had with Victor and that he had two guesses left.

“What do you guys think he is?”

“So, he’s human at least.” Kegan held his chin.

“Ask him if he’s an ancient wizard.” Poppy was now playing with Yoki as it sat in her lap. “Though he’s human, some magic can lengthen a human’s lifespan anywhere from a few decades to a few centuries.”

“That might be a waste; he told me he is nineteen.”

“He could have been lying about that. This is your chance to see if he’s honest about his age.”

“I say follow the thought process of your last question. At least ask a question to put a suspicion at rest.” Kegan said.

“All right. Are you a prophet? Can you see the future?”

“That’s more than one question!” Victor said. “But, no I’m not a prophet.”

“Rats!” Enderan clicked his tongue as Kegan gave him an apologetic smile.

Victor sighed. “Though in a way I have seen the future.” Just as they were about to clamor for more answers, he spoke. “And emphasis on the word seen! I can’t tell the future, and that’s all you’re getting from me!”

Victor didn’t mind about planting that seed in Poppy and Kegan’s heads. He had to build up his mystique so he can say cryptic nonsense in the hopes they listen to him. It would make character manipulation easier to use.