Note: Pinoy Ragna Fic Writers are da most astig, man. w00tle
Note: Oh and, I know Baldlice's abilities are a little... "insane" but he's an assassin right? XP
Another Chance
By Stratikeo (stuh-rah-tee-kay-oh)
Chapter 2: Fyren the Wicked
The memory of my execution, and Beorn's death troubles me more than I can bear. I wanted to die. There was nothing I could live for anymore. That was how I wanted myself to be until this holy man came into my life.
"I don't recall anything. If you would please just let me-"
"Nonsense! Stay here. It's a harsh world out there" the wise priest said as he handed Baldlice a cup of warm tea.
"I cannot accept your hospitality, Father Elazar."
"Honestly! Call me Terence! Baldlice Cuthbert... is that right?"
"Please, I need to get..."
"Revenge? I can see it in your eyes. I can see all the battles you've fought."
"...you mean all the men I've killed?" inquired Baldlice.
"Well, that too." said Terence.
"Look! I don't need your help!" Baldlice shouted as he spilled the tea on the table.
"You're just stressed out." he said calmly.
"I'm twenty-five! I don't need your-"
"You don't need my what? You don't even know what you need in life! Where do you suppose you'll go?"
"Nowhere, I guess..."
"You're lucky I took you in. Any other priest would have left you to those kids who saved you. You know, you should be thankful. I don't normally take care of deranged criminals like you."
"I can easily kill you with my bare hands."
"News of my death will mean that it's back to the death penalty for you, young ward."
"Young ward? I'm not your slave! I'm an assassin! I kill, you praise. Enough is said, I am leaving this musky place."
With a wave of Terence's hand and a chant, the doors and windows of his little hut closed shut. Baldlice tried escaping but to no avail.
"There's a tin bucket there. Fill it up to the brim with water from the port and clean the house."
"I'm not a slave! You're a priest! You should know better!"
"I do know better. Clean my house, and by the end of the day I might consider letting you go."
"Damn it... hooked me up to proper vitals. You're a sinister man, Elazar... a sinister man."
"You'll beg to differ someday, young man. Someday..."
What must I do to gain comfort? Did I only have to clean this old man's house? What else must I do? Should I be his slave for eternity? He was a wise and powerful priest. He could crush me with one wave of his staff!
"Your house is surprisingly clean, Father."
"Then your job was easy, yes?"
"I think..."
"Come over here! Sit down, sit down."
Beorn took the bucket and drained the dirty water out of it. He grabbed a wooden chair from the wall beside the kitchen window and sat down across the table from Terence.
"Tell me, Baldlice. Did your old life satisfy you?"
"That depends if you actually knew my old life."
"Oh, I know. News of the lives you took is all over the kingdom! From Izlude to Lutie... from Prontera to Juno. Everybody knows it all!"
"It's surprising how fast news travels these days. But I already know that."
"What's more is that the people know that you are dead."
"I'm dead? What about those... novices... who took me from the port?"
"They don't know you. They wouldn't care less for a man like you... just like you wouldn't care less for them."
"But I don't care for you either, old man. So let me go my way. I still have some friends left."
"I'll be surprised if you even get to the boat unscathed."
"Surprises come every day. Even a holy man like you should know."
"It's fine with me. You may leave. God be with you."
"He was never with me, and he never will be."
I took my blade with me and set out. It's a good thing I kept my money bag within a safe place in my clothes. I think I still have about five thousand zeny in it. That should last me for a long time. Unlike thieves, my blade needs no brandishing. I am skilled with any kind of arsenal. My scarf was still in good condition. I guess those kids found my other things as well. I wrapped the long cloth around my face, so I won't be recognized. Some babe's blood was smeared under my eyes for more protection.
"Alberta... the port town. It looks a lot livelier than the last time when I invaded it."
"Coming through! Coming through! Out of the way!" said a distant voice which seemed to come closer to where Baldlice was.
"Victory is ours! The man who single-handedly defeated the enemy in the guild siege is with us here in Alberta! Honor the great knight, Fyren Heretoga!"
"FYREN! FYREN! FYREN! FYREN!" the crowd cheered for the tall man in shining armor at the amphitheater.
The name was unfamiliar. If I was correct, that name was from Izlude. That means he was a swordsman and he is a good wielder of sabers and scabbards. Now he is a knight.
He took off his helm I stared upon his scarred face. He wore a wicked smile. Wait! This face was familiar. That suit of armor! I think I'm starting to remember who he really is!
"We suspected him to be a traitor from the very start. The King and leader of the Knighthood are wise indeed, Baldlice Cuthbert. We knew he was your friend all along. When the time was right, we would kill him. That's what happened."
Yes! Fyren Heretoga was that wicked son of a bitch who killed Beorn! This was my chance. I could swoop in and cut his throat. I will spill his tainted blood all over this peaceful town so that the people will know the true colors of the Knighthood!
Within a second, Baldlice leapt into one of the pylons stealthily even though it's broad daylight. Even with dark clothing, he was unseen by the multitude of bystanders.
He unleashed his blade and stationed it right beside his thigh and he was ready to swoop down and strike. The pylon he was standing on was holding the tent that was giving shade to the amphitheater.
"Three... two... one..." whispered the assassin.
First, he kicked off the pylon and it went crashing down onto an innocent bystander, killing him instantly. He then leapt towards the other pylons and kicked off them with all his might. Within seconds, the crowd was in panic and the large cloth they considered a tent incapacitated Fyren for a while because of its weight.
He rebounded off one of the nearby buildings' walls and went for the kill. With one hand behind his back and the other holding the blade which pointed downwards, he swiftly fell like a needle towards the lump which he suspected to be Heretoga.
"Rest in Peace, Fyren... you'll be joining your victim, Beorn in hell."
!CLANK!
His blade shattered and he was knocked back. When the tent cloth tore open, Fyren wasn't there. In his place was his suit of armor. The crowd gave a surprised stare to the one who attempted the assassination. Baldlice was in awe.
"Where's Fyren?" screamed the crier.
"This isn't happening..." briefly whispered.
Baldlice threw the gigantic cloth up in the air as a distraction and he disappeared into thin air.
"...another one of his tricks?" said Fyren's apprentice.
"Yes. That's what he's famous for. They called him the Black Knight not only for the color of his suit." said the other.
"That's astounding, you know that? So where did he go?"
"I don't know."
"Then how will we find him?"
"No... how will he find us?"
With all the strength I could muster, I made the tent collapse. How difficult was it to take that final cut at life? It was like hell! Fyren was a sly person. Someone as big as that barbarian escaped from the vigilant hawk-like eyes of an assassin like me.
Baldlice hopped from building to building. He tried holding himself back from the anger and tried focusing on the assassin instinct. Everything that he learned did not help him at his attempt. Where did he go wrong?
I landed on one of the empty ports. I hid in one of the boats for a while to rest my tired joints. I am agile, but I tire easily when under the sun... in Alberta or anywhere else, it does not make a damn difference.
After resting for a while, Baldlice started to get drowsy. His eyelids were heavy and his joints were numb. His breathing was slowing down and he fell sideways. He fell asleep in the boat.
When I awoke, my eyes were half-shut. I was still dizzy and I felt sick. Wait... the boat! Judging from the sounds coming from the outside, it was already past dinner time.
"Wake up..." said a voice.
"Wake up..."
"Wake up..."
"Wake up..."
"Wake up..."
"Wake up..."
"Wake up... silent slayer..."
CHAPTER 3: COMING SOON
PLEASE R&R