Disclaimers apply. I didn't create all the characters I used in this story, and I deserve no recognition whatsoever over them. Suikoden belongs to Konami.

Also, a SPOILER WARNING for those who haven't played Suikoden 2 to the end!

Luca's Redemption – Chapter Two

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A New Beginning

Location: Unknown Mountain

The Moon shimmering in the sky brought light into the trees surrounding them. It almost gave the trees life, as the moonlight seemed to create movement among the trees. A cold breeze drifted through the air. Luca awoke with a chill. Nearby was a fire, and Luca had a blanket over him. On the other side he saw Maroux, laying down on a log that somehow had been made into a sofa-type chair. He seemed to be staring at the sky, but then he turned to Luca. "You are awake? You must be hungry."

"…………"

"No need to be shy. There's food near the fire." Maroux motioned toward the fire, where Luca saw some chicken on a stick. It was far enough not to be burned, but close enough to stay warm. Luca got up and went to get the chicken. He sat near the fire, trying to swallow all that had happened in the last—

"Hey, you. How long have I been asleep?"

"Exactly three days."

Trying to swallow all that happened to Luca in the last few days. His night raid being foiled, fighting against Riou's army almost single-handedly, losing to Riou.

"Why are you doing this?"
"Ah, you are willing to listen now. I was 'notified' by Fate, to come and rescue you. If I had left you in that forest, you would have died. But Fate has decided to give you a second chance. A chance to atone for your sins."

"You say I can atone for my sins?! Listen here, PIG!! I've killed thousands of people; I've taken all of their lives!!! I've even killed my own father!! Not only that! All the people I killed were terrified!! I drained their bloods!! I tortured hundreds!! I burnt villages to the ground!! I am a ruthless manifestation of Evil in its purest form!! HOW COULD I EVER ATONE?!?!?!?!?!"

"I will not stand before you and tell you that your sins will be easily erased, that nobody will remember the horror that was Luca Blight, that everyone will forget it was you who had caused so much pain among humankind. I will not. Those are all lies."

"Then what ARE you saying?!"

"……Is it that you can't atone or you won't?"

"PICK ONE!!!"

Silence settled in the forest. No one spoke. All that could be heard was the wind blowing through the tall trees, the crickets that are so loud they must be nearby, but are not.

"…Right now, the second chance you have been granted seems to be in vain. Let me tell you something; I did not come here to waste my time, I did not come here to let you go and kill again! I did not come here just because Fate told me to! I came here to do only one thing! To make sure that no member of the Blight Family who holds within him, the blood of Blight will be a coward who can see no other way of living than killing!"

Luca remained quiet. Not long afterwards he turned and went back to sleep. Maroux paused for a few minutes. Then, he laid back down and continued to stare at the sky. The strange thing is; it never really occurred to Luca why it seemed Maroux cared so much about the Blight bloodline. Perhaps on some level, Luca knew…

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Hmm… The plot thickens. Will Luca take the path to forgiveness? What will become of the treacherous beast, Luca Blight? Chapter 3 is next!