As the sounds of horses pass, all you could hear was talking."Our leader is back," a woman or someone with a high-pitched voice said.I look through the tiny window and see the lights on at his house on the hill."Seems like our community hero has come back finally."I laugh at the sarcastic comment I made.
I stand up and walk toward the door. Seeing Robert is still asleep, I do not wake him. He needs to be rested for this fight.I open the door and close it behind me.
I start walking toward the bar as I see the bandits lining up for him."Guess that bartender told the truth."I wipe my mouth and make a steady march to the bar.
As I open the door, I see the booths are empty, so I take a seat in one and wait for Hagen to show up. I think to myself, "I hope Erin and Robin are okay. I really do not know where they went, but I need them safe."
Finally, the horses get louder and chatter is heard outside the bar."Hagen is home.""Hagen is god."I laugh at that remark as the door slams open.
"Where is the brat who did not have the decency to wait until I took a seat?"One of the bandits pointed, and Hagen stared dead at me with his beady eyes.
I stay in my seat as I feel him slam his fist on the table, trying to intimidate me."You have some nerve, boy."I flail my arms. "Sorry, I am the town drunk. I did not mean to upset you, but if you could please let me be on my way."
Hagen points his crossbow at me. "Take your ass home, kid."
I stand up and smile, and as I feel the door close behind me, I pull out a small lighter and light a flare, dropping it in front of the bar.
I then dash to the back of the bar as I see the bartender standing there."Hey, you are the kid who defied Hagen," he says, waving me over.I go over to him and look at him. "Yes I am. Just wait and see."
I look up as I see the red smoke cover the sky."Pretty night out."
The bartender sighs as he lights a cigarette. "Look, kid, you may be able to best Hagen, but you cannot really beat him. I have seen him drop people bigger than him."I smirk and place my hand over a box of crates. "Nah, I tell you, you are underestimating me."The bartender sighs and puts out his cigarette. "Just do not get in the way."
I look at the back of the bar and smile. "Hagen is going to die tonight."
I walk back to the front and kick open the doors. Hagen turns and sees me again."I told you to go home, brat."I smirk. "Indeed you did." I trace a magic circle and teleport in front of him. "You did tell me to go home, but I am going to kill you."
I sucker punch Hagen in the face, making him bleed from his lip. He looks at me as he stands up from the bar and points his crossbow at me."You are going to die."
I summon a fireball in my hand and send it toward Hagen, yet instead of engulfing him in flames, he catches it."I too can use magic, brat. Maybe study your foes before writing yourself a death wish."
I stare at Hagen and give him the middle finger. "Fight me."
Hagen shoots his crossbow. I manage to grab the arrow out of the air."Well, impressive, ain't I?"
Hagen laughs as he disappears before my eyes.
It is then when I feel the force of a brute punching me in the stomach. I get sent out the doors and into a house.I stand up, brush the dirt off, and summon another fireball, sending it toward Hagen. But this time, he takes out a huge black sword and cuts it in half.
He charges at me with the sword. I am dodging his attacks and trying to get in shots of my own, but he is a big dude and swings fast. I feel my back press against a wall.Hagen does not miss a chance and swings his sword at me, cutting my arm up really bad.
I watch as the blood drips to the floor, staining the dirt underneath me. Then Hagen kicks me down and hovers his sword over my chest.I cough up blood. "Not good, internal damage." Just as I felt like my life was over, all I see is Robert shooting Hagen in the back. I manage to stand weakly.
"I summon the power left in me" and stand in the exact spot and say, "Nova Collapse." All you saw were fireballs raining from the sky, hitting the bandits and Hagen. I made sure to keep them condensed so they would not hit innocents.
Erin noticed the fireballs and thought about what was happening. "Hey, Robin, I am going to drop you off at home now." Robin smiled as she and Erin ran through the village to Robert's house.She placed Robin inside and did a magic circle over the house to make sure only we could pass through. She ran over to where the commotion was.
Hagen threw his sword at me to spear me in the chest, and that is when I saw a black flash dart in front of me."Robert" I yelled out his name.
"You bastard, you are going to pay.""Oh yeah, me? I am going to pay? You cannot even stand and you are coughing up blood, so stay there and die."
I look around and stare at Robert's lifeless body.I heard a whisper. "R-Ren."I look down and saw he was trying to speak to me."Aim for his legs, and one last thing as part of this alliance. Take care of my daughter."
I watch as his breathing gets shallow.
"Robert" I yell again. "Hey boss, come on, you did not kill this kid?" Hagen smirked as he took a drink. "I want to test him."
"Robert, get up" I yell as I fall to my knees. "Please get up. I cannot do this without you. I will raise your daughter, but please join me one last time." I punch the ground hard, making my knuckles bleed.
"Hagen, I am going to kill you" as I fall backward. All I hear around me is silence.