One Mans Quest- Chapter 2: Realization
When I was finally able to pull myself up after the vicious attack from Bahamut, everything was hazy. As I slowly walked away from the harbor, towards what remained of the town center I heard people screaming out for their lost loved ones as they gazed around for them. The damage was vast, and what remained of the town was slowly being burnt to the ground, to this day I can still remember the scorching heat of the flames. As I wandered around the devastated streets I was able to overhear the other survivors speaking amidst their cries. I pieced together what had happened, Holy Eidolons, summoning, and Alexander were all foreign to me, then.
I walked for hours, calling out her name, but to no avail. I remember passing the market and seeing a man searching for his wife. "That man suffered, just like me." I thought. I guess that was when I first accepted her death, the fact that I would never see her again. Only because I had failed her, I hadn't protected her, and to this day I hate myself for it.
"HEY!!" A man called out to me as I walked by. "Aren't you Hans, the potion merchant?" I nodded. "Can you help me?" he shouted, as he began to lift a body from the ruins of his home. I ran over to see what condition the person was in. "This is my wife, Jacqueline, can you help her?"
"I'll try." I said, even though I could see from where I was that the woman's injuries were fatal. I went over to her and listened for a heartbeat, there was none. As soon as I stepped away from her the man knew she was gone.
"She was a good woman, she didn't deserve to go like this," the man said slowly. I recognized the mans voice and I looked over to see his face, but the soot hid his features from me.
"Walt is that you?" I asked. Walt was a frequent customer to my store.
"Hans?" he said between sobs.
"Yes."
"Hey, where is- Walt stopped as he realized his error and quickly turned away. "I'm sorry." He said.
"Me too." I replied, "Guess we've both lost our loved ones in this.
"I will avenge you!" shouted a voice from behind us. We turned to see another man, leaning over someone wearing armor. The man ran off, towards the castle. I asked Walt if he knew who he was.
"Reckon he's a Pluto Knight." He said to me. I must have looked puzzled because Walt clarified. "Pluto Knights are Alexandria's only male soldiers, the fight to protect the people here, guess they were too late this time.
"Protect?" I said, Walt looked at me oddly and I realized it was my turn to clarify. "They protect people?" I asked.
"Yep."
Without hesitation I ran after the man, only pausing for a moment to bid farewell to Walter, and to tell him I would return.
"Yeah, uh, okay Hans." He said, as I ran towards the castle.