A/N: In this chapter, the real story begins. This chapter focuses on characters within the city and mixes some old with some new people. As always, please review.
Chapter 2: Three Remain
David rose from his bed looking out at the rising sun. A feeling of nervousness and excitement filled his body. Three days remained. He knew that battle would be hard, but he thought he could win. The alternatives were too horrible for him to even think. He changed his focus from the rising sun to the staff leaning against the wall. The staff was glazed in gold, with several gems going up and down each side, and about a meter in length. He picked it up feeling the fusion of his and the staff's manna. Three days remained.
He set the staff down, looked beside it, and noticed the armor given to him by the elves. Nearly 6 months ago the elves gave hit to him for an 18th birthday present. The armor was mostly red with rubies around the neck and emeralds along the thighs. It was said to be used only by elf leaders in times of crisis. The elves had explained to David that before aionis infusions were common, only those with elven blood could wield magic. It seemed strange to David that humans were forced to use only physical weapons but he disregarded that as something of the past.
David left his house and looked around the city. He knew that it was his job to protect it. While he wouldn't be alone, he knew that he was the leader and they all looked up to him. He knew since the time he was young, that he would be the one to lead the city. His grandfather was Symphonia's founder and his father became the city's leader after his death. Leading the city ran in his family but he didn't think that it would be so soon. His abilities would soon be tested. Three days remained.
He remembered the battle when his father died. It didn't seem like almost a year since it happened.
"Get out of here, before it's too late", David was told.
"I want to stay here with you. I'll be fine", David responded. The battle was tougher then they had expected. The monsters were coming in greater number and power then the previous years. David's father was a skilled swordsman and was dispatching the monsters quickly with help from David's spells. However ,the monster army was growing in number. A large force of beasts and dark fighters arrived overwhelming the city's forces.
"Run! There are too many of them", David was told. He listened and as he ran he saw his father attacked by the numerous monsters. The leader was torn apart by the attack. He knew that his father would die and David ran for nearly an hour, fleeing from not only the monsters, but mostly, the sight of his father's death.
The city's army was able to fend of the attack but not without a great cost. Hundreds of brave men died that day. David knew that his father was a great leader, but wondered if he would be the same. Could he lead the city to safety like his father did for many years?
These thoughts filled his mind as he walked down the streets. He would soon have the answers to his questions. Only three days remained. As he walked upon the town, he saw all the people that lived here. He saw those that counted on his success. The leader knew the cost of defeat was too much to let that be an option. He would win. That was his only choice.
After his walk among the city, he finally returned to his house. He hadn't eaten anything all day but his thoughts were too focused on the coming battle to worry about food. After his journey around the city, the sun had risen higher into the sky. When he went up to his door he noticed some figures in the bushes in front of his house. He thought he could hear a noise coming from the figures. So he went from the door, looked in the bushed, and was horrified by the sight.
When he went to look, he saw four people. They were all lying down and they all had streaks of blood on them. One of them was wearing pink and black clothing and had a sword lying beside him. He had long red hair and appeared to be moving unlike the others. His sword was coved by blood leaving only small spots of shining silver. Beside him was a white haired woman. Her hair was stained with red and her clothing appeared to be orange but the red stains that covered it made it hard to tell. Multiple gashes covered her body and it looked as if her hand was gripping a staff, but the staff was broken in three pieces. Her body was in worse shape then all the others. There was also another white haired person only he appeared to be a child. His face was covered with wounds and the blood flowed down his face and was staining his hair. His clothing looked to be a mix of blue and red with some white. David knew that the red was unnatural. The fourth one was a girl with flowing yellow hair. She had a red gem around her neck and crimson stains flowed out from it. Her body was torn from wounds covering her once beautiful white clothes.
David was aghast at the sites and wanted to be sick to his stomach. He knew though that now was not the time. He had to see if there was anything he could do to help these strangers. First, he went over to check if they were still breathing. He was terrified at touching the mangled bodies. He reached over and discovered that the white haired women was not breathing and had no pulse. David went to the others hoping, but not expecting better results. When he went to the white haired boy, he was relived that he was breathing. His breaths were weak however and there was no guarantee that he would survive. He went over to the blond girl and discovered she too was breathing. She wasn't as badly injured as the boy, but she was nowhere near fine. She would need medical treatment soon or she would die. David thought she could recover though. David then went to check the breathing of the last one and saw that his breaths were more stable then the others. When David went to feel his pulse, the body made a noise. The wounded man opened his eyes and tried to say something. Through a series of groans of pain, it sounded like he said, "help them".
David listened and knew that he had to get them out of this cold. He reached over for the young boy. He wasn't sure if it would do any good to try to save him but he was still alive for now. Getting him into his house might help some. David picked the boy up off the ground. He looked and saw a stain of blood on the ground from where to boy had lain. David wanted to puke but knew that now was not the time. He carried the boy into his house and could feel the crimson liquid flowing down his arms. It disgusted him, but David knew the boy's life was in his hands. He went into his house and gently set the boy onto his bed. The house was warmer so hopefully that would help. He then went out to help the others that he might still be able to save. As he went out to where the others were laying he was amazed to see that the red haired one was up and carrying the blond women. He was clearly in great pain and the woman was unconscious just like the boy had been. The man frequently closed his eyes to try to ease the pain.
"What are you doing?" David asked.
"Helping," the man responded in a very weak voice. David went over and took the girl from his arms. Blood covered her but it wasn't as bad as the boy was. He ordered the man into his house and set the girl on his couch. He pointed the man to a chair. All the wounded were resting but he knew that rest alone wouldn't be enough.
A/N: An interesting chapter I think. Sorry for the gruesomeness of the scene but I tired to make it as clean as possible while still maintaining its effect. Once again, please review and I hope to have more coming soon.
