When Hopes Fail

Chapter 2

The Stranger

"Camus!" Edward said in surprise as his son and Raguna busted in, "What brings you around here?"

"Father, there is a strange man in the tavern, he is seriously wounded!" Camus responded,

"Oh my! I better get over there!" Edward said, "Raguna, pass me my medkit from the wardrobe!"

"Here it is!" Raguna said as he grabbed the said item and turn it in.

The three rushed over to the Spring Rabbit Tavern, and when they stepped in, they saw Emmett putting pressure on the stranger's wounds, Lukas close by with a new towel in hand.

"Ah, Edward!" Emmett said, "I could use some medical assistance!"

"Yes!" Edward said as he dashed over and took over, opening his medkit. "Oh... This is very bad indeed! He seems to have lost a lot of blood! Dear sir, what is your name and were do you come from?"

"I... I am... Sir Fredrick... of Trampoli..." the man said, "My village... was attacked by... The Sechs... My people... captured..."

"Trampoli!?" Camus said, "That's 70 miles away! Did you walk 70 miles with a wound like that!?"

"Yes..." Fredrick said, "I was... alone... too..."

"What is your diagnosis?" Emmett asked Edward, who only answered with a grim face.

"Fredrick.." Edward said and sighed, "I'm afraid it's too late for me to do anything, you have lost too much blood."

"Heh.." Fredrick surprisingly laughed, "I would've guessed... Now... I have some news..."

"What is it?" Edward asked,

"The Sechs... are marching... down... here..." Fredrick said, "They plan... to take this city... take... Terra... KA KA!" he coughed viciously, blood splattering on his lips, "I-I... eh..." he said and breathed his last.

"What a shame.." Emmett said and took off his hat in reverence, "But what was it he said?"

"The-the... Sechs are on their way..." Edward said in a frightened tone,

"What!?" they all said in shock,

"We have to telll Godwin!" Lukas said, "They can't be far behind!"

"What's that?" Raguna said as he pointed at a scroll in the knight's chestplate,

"Let's see.." Edward said as he pulled out the object, which luckily was only a little stained with blood.

Edward read the scroll carefully, Emmett also tried to get a quick glance, and at the end, the two were both surprised.

"This man... was a spy." Emmett said, "Those are battle strategies from the Sechs!"

"Indeed... But I can't make out any of this military jargon!" Edward said, "We have to meet Russel!"

"But let us get the mayor first!" Emmett said as he started to leave.

"Hey! Father!" Camus said, "can I come!?"

"No Camus, this is an adult matter." Edward said, "Plus... I have a better task for you and your friends."

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"Why couldn't we go with them?" Camus growled as he shoveled some dirt, "I don't understand my father!"

"I don't know... Maybe that's a sensitive issue." Lukas said as he picked some flowers,

"Well... There.." Raguna said as he place a stone in front of a pile of dirt, "Sir Fredrick can rest in peace now... In a stranger lands."

"I guess.." Camus grumbled, "But I still wanted to go..."

"Have some respect Camus." Lukas said as he placed the flowers in front of the tombstone,

"Well... That's it.." Raguna said, "How about we go see if Edward and them are done?"

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"Yes..." Godwin said in concern as he stroked his beard, "This is a matter of dire concern..."

"It says here that the plan calls for a total invasion by the 13th of Winter." Russel said as he looked at the plans, "We have less than a week.."

"My worry is that we don't have any defense.." Godwin said, "And that a plea to Norad will take a week for revision..."

"We have to surrender..." Edward said, "Even if it means we have to give up the the lair..."

"No!" Camus yelled as he stormed in, "We can't surrender!"

"Camus!?" Edward said in shock, "What are you doing here!? I sent you to bury the poor knight!"

"We finished." Raguna said, "And Camus begged to come here... Also, I do agree with him, we can't just surrender our fine town!"

"You don't understand young men." Godwin told them, "I'm only concerned for the citizens. We must admit that the Sechs are truly militarized and ruthless... We stand no chance by the plans we have here."

"What does it say?" Lukas said as he walked up to the table of meeting.

"This is an adult matter!" Edward yelled, "You all are too young!"

"Calm down." Russel said, "If you all are curious enough... Very well... The plans call for a small force to capture the city on the 13th..."

"A small force?" Camus said, "We can fight that! We can take on a small for-"

"A force of 50 cavalry, 300 infantry, and 7 tanks." Russel interrupted with a blank face.

"Oh..." Lukas mumbled,

"We can still take them!" Camus said with a fiery temper, "We know the terrain better than them!"

"Camus! Calm down!" Edward yelled, " This is not your decision!"

"No no... Let me hear your plan." Godwin said, "Your son may have some contribution."

"Look, all I'm trying to say is that if we train, we can take these guys!" Camus yelled, "We have the people for it!"

"Hm..." Godwin mumbled and pondered, "I don't think... Who are you thinking of?"

"Well.." Raguna started, "We have Russel... he was a soldier... Edward... Jasper.. Neumann... Um... Us..."

"6 people against a highly professional army!?" Edward yelled, "That's absurd! Godwin, please listen to your sense of self and ignore these ignorant youths!"

"I'm afraid that plan won't cut it..." Godwin said, "There is no chance in heaven we can succeed with it..."

"We can't just surrender!" Camus yelled, "This our home! I won't let some foreign scum take it away!"

"I thought you wanted to run off into the city!" Edward spat, "Why would you care about this place?!"

"Shut up!" Camus yelled, "Isn't this your home?! Don't you care!?"

"Hey hey!" Raguna intervened, "Calm down! I'm sure we can find out something!"

"Raguna!" Godwin said, "Do you have a plan, young lad?"

"Well..." Raguna mumbled, "No... I was kind of hoping Camus' plan would appease you... But I do have one idea."

"Then go ahead." Godwin said with all ears,

"If one small force can reach the Sechs forces before they arrive... seeing the plans here.." Raguna said as he pointed at the scroll, "The tanks are at the rear... So if that force can take out their tanks and sabotage the infantry and cavalry, the entire plan will go haywire! But this would be most effective whilst they're camping... so we can sneak up at the dead of night."

"But who will go?" Russel asked, "All of us are of too much advanced age to travel such a distance!"

"The only ones capable..." Godwin mumbled and looked at the three youths with them, "Raguna, Lukas, and Camus... Will you be able to do this?"

"Only three!?" Edward said, "Godwin! You cannot possibly be serious!"

"There is Zavier..." Lukas added, "He can help.."

"It's worth a shot!" Camus yelled, "For Kardia!"

"This plan is very good..." Godwin mumbled, "But you all are inexperienced.. except for Raguna and Camus... but all you fight are monsters, not people!"

"I can teach them!" Russel said, "I'll show them everything I've learned from my service in Norad!"

"Hm..." Godwin mumbled, "If you all are confident... then you have my blessing... You have five days!"

"Alright!" Camus yelled, "Raguna.. are you ready, man?"

"Hold up.. we still have to ask Zavier." Raguna told him.

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"What!?" Zavier yelled so loud that it shook some stalactites in Carmite cave,

"Woah! Calm down!" Lukas said,

"That's suicide!" Zavier continued, "There's no way I will do that! Go against the Sechs!? I can hardly fight an orc!"

"Come on man!" Camus scolded, "Here's your chance to hit it big... and impress Mist!"

"What good will impressing her be if I'm dead!?" Zavier grumbled,

"Well." Raguna sighed, "Come on guys, we clearly asked the wrong person! Everyone will know Zavier as the coward after this."

"What!?" Zavier said in shock,

"Oh yeah." Lukas said, "While our names are sung in taverns for centuries, yours will be the identification of a coward!"

"N-no!" Zavier said, "I'm not a coward!"

"Oh yeah, and that's what Mist will remember too!" Camus added to the flame, which made Zavier burn.

"FINE!" Zavier yelled at the top of his lungs, "I'll help you! I'LL SHOW YOU I'M NOT A COWARD!"

"Good work, guys." Raguna whispered,

"Team effort." Lukas responded, and all four went off.

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"Camus!" a feminine voice called the strapping youth, it was Melody, who intercepted them on their way to Raguna's farm,

"Melody!" Camus responded and ran to her,

"What's this I hear about you joining an army?!" Melody said, "I thought we were going to get married!"

"We are!" Camus said, "But I want to protect you and this town!"

"Yeah!" Zavier intervened, "We are going to save Kardia!"

"Why?" Melody asked, "Camus... I want to get married before you go off! I don't want the risk of losing you to ruin my dream!"

"Very well..." Camus mumbled, "Go see Wesley... I'm sure he will arrange something for us! But now, I have to go train... Russel is waiting for us."

"Alright..." Melody said in a soft voice, "I'll see Wesley..."

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