Strong Ones

Libarius and Gracia don’t panic, even as the strange red light fills the room. The ball of light returns to Libarius, who grabs hold of it and snuffs it out.

“Libarius, what do you think this red light is?”

“If I had to wager a guess, I would assume it’s the Council’s men. Or rather, that it announces their arrival.”

“Why do you think they’ve come?”

“I imagine they’ve noticed us skulking around down here.”

“Ah, I see.” Gracia starts shaking Libarius around. “This is why I told you this was stupid!”

“They’re hardly any threat to us. Though I suppose I did underestimate them.”

“Yeah… Maybe if we apologize and explain ourselves they’ll go easy on us…” Libarius slides his thumb over his index finger. “Huh?! Why are you all white now?!” Libarius, his hair and clothes now white instead of black, taps his white cane against the ground.

“I’ve inverted the coloration of our clothes and our hair. I have no intention of killing these soldiers, after all. Can you create masks for us quickly? Even with our appearances like this, there would still be the chance that they identify us from our faces.”

“Libarius, I get this strange feeling that you don’t want us to turn ourselves in.”

“Why should we do that? It’s likely they believe that we work with Black Marsh, and allowing that mistaken belief to take hold in somebody is far too shameful. Besides, we still have Black Marsh to handle. We can’t let ourselves be captured by an even lesser enemy.”

“We really should have just done things properly… At least now they’ll know about Marisk’s base.”

“No they won’t. You’ll seal the hole up before they arrive.”

“Why should I do that!?”

“If they take control of this place, they’ll only be fodder for Black Marsh to feast on.” Gracia puts on a mask and hands another to Libarius.

“So what should we do?”

“It seems to me that they’ve come in a group of eleven, all quite weak. Though their strength leaves something to be desired, this ought to be a wonderful opportunity for you to get used to fighting.”

“How could you know that?”

“I can feel them. Their magic, rather.”

“Your senses are way too strong.”

“Let us be off. I doubt there’s anything left for us to find here anyway.”

The two of them walk out of the room and are bathed in the red light. Gracia quickly pulls the shattered stone wall back together and seals the entrance. Soon after that, as Libarius had said, eleven men in white and teal uniforms enter the room and quickly take positions to encircle Libarius and Gracia. ten of the eleven reach for the sword at their waist, save for the one right in front of Libarius and Gracia and the peak of the arc.

“We are the guardians of Polaris. You are presently trespassing in a restricted area. By order of the Council, we are to remove you from this place and take you in for questioning. I request that you submit yourselves peacefully.” Libarius taps his cane against the ground.

“Tell me, are we further suspected of being dark mages plotting against the capital?”

“Wha— How did you—!” Libarius turns his head to look at Gracia beside him.

“Go ahead. We ought to be off soon.”

Gracia waves a hand in front of her. There’s a popping sound as each of the soldiers gets sent back. The air beneath each of them expands outward, pushing against them. The shockwave travels fast, smashing into the soldiers before they can hear it. All eleven of them are knocked down. In a single blow, all eleven soldiers are defeated. Libarius looks over them with cold eyes, then leans on his cane.

“My, were they perhaps too weak? How regrettable.”

“They’re… all still fine, right?”

Gracia runs over to the soldiers, collapsed in a row, and begins to check them over. She feels their magic still strong and checks their pulses. She does this for the first five, then comes to their leader. As Gracia reaches down to touch his wrist, the man suddenly stirs. His body twitches as he grabs the hilt of his sword. He draws it out even as he lays on the ground.

“Don’t think… That would be enough to stop me!”

Gracia flinches back as the man drives his sword towards her and falls onto the ground. Libarius, watching, slides his thumb over his ring finger. The stones, glowing with red light, twist and mold around the man, enveloping him. He gets sucked in deeper, dragged down beneath the earth, until only his head and sword remain above it.

“Thank you.” Libarius walks over to her and the soldier.

“Do not let your guard down. If given the chance, the mouse could kill even the lion.” The man gasps in pain as the stones and dirt constricts around his chest. “You. Do not lash out at the hand of charity extended to you. Now then, in return for my gift of mercy, you will give up on us and take your compatriots from this place, whelp.”

“Hah! Making a deal with criminals, even if it’s to protect our lives, is the most shameful thing we could do!”

“Will you remain so stalwart even were I to crush your compatriots’ skulls?”

“We all offered up our lives for this kingdom!”

“What a garish man. If you have no intention to cooperate, then at least heed my warning: when you become free, you ought to take your men from here rather than pursue us.”

“Damn you!”

With that, Libarius and Gracia make their exit, their path lit by the red light. They walk in silence for several minutes. Then Libarius lowers the illusion he’s cast over them, and they continue to walk with their appearances returned to normal.

“I’m sorry that you had to save me.”

“Gracia, you don’t need to learn how to fight.”

“Huh? But it’s like you said. If I let my guard down, no matter how good I am with magic, I’ll die.”

“If the lion would aid even the mouse, then one day even a mouse could repay it. A kindness is never wasted. You are far too kind for fighting. I would rather not have you on my battlefields.”

“But isn’t that just naivete? Isn’t it naivete to act kind but be unable to protect the things that matter? People are always helping each other, and always hurting each other, after all. If I’m strong, and if I want to help people, then I should be somebody they can rely on.”

“Rely on me, Gracia.”

“Libarius?”

“Rely on me.” Even after hearing him repeat it, she can hardly tell what Libarius has said. Even though she knows what the words mean, she can’t understand it. Regardless, Gracia cannot help but believe that the thing in his otherwise emotionless voice is warmth.

“I can’t do that. I mean… It’s not like you’re always able to fight. But… your gloves do seem strong.” She isn’t sure she’ll be able to understand Libarius even if he repeats himself a third time. She isn’t sure she wants to hear him a third time. “Why did you suddenly decide to start using them? I thought you didn’t want to.”

“Because I am not weak, Gracia.”

“Is it really just because I was worried about your leg? Don’t be so petty, Libarius.” Libarius takes quick steps and turns to stand facing Gracia.

“Believe in me, Gracia. Believe in my strength. I am the one who’s strong, so rely on me.”