The Tragedy of a Hero
Chapter 4
An Offer that Can't be Refused.
"Who are you, really?" Leona told the man as he cautiously grabbed his Blade of Light,
"Just call me..." the man chuckled as he balanced on his cane, "The Benefactor." he said, "Yes... I like that..."
"Look, I don't know what you want, or who you are..." Leona stood up, "But you better stand back."
"I see you have the Blade of Light." The Benefactor chuckled as he looked at the shiny sword, "Say... You also have the blessing of the Divine Dragons too!" he said in awe when he saw the symbols of the deities on the blade, "You're closer than I expected!"
"Closer to what?" Leona asked,
"To being the Next Hero of the Runes!" The Benefactor answered,
"But my father is the Hero." Leona mumbled, "I..."
"The man who left the world to die twice?" the Benefactor told him, "That is not a Hero! That is no Hero at all! That is a coward! You yourself said he was a fraud!"
"I didn't." Leona murmured, "I didn't mean it..."
"Nonsense." the Benefactor smirked, "You are speaking the truth, lad! What kind of hero uses a blade blessed by the very Creator god himself to cut the grass of the field!?"
"A bad one.. I suppose." Leona responded,
"Now you're talking!" the Benefactor brought him in close, "Now consider this." he whispered into his ear, "You are strong... You are handsome... You are at the pinnacle of your life... Would you not make a better Hero than that old man who's a Coward, Fraud, and Traitor?"
"I guess..." Leona mumbled,
"Don't guess!" the Benefactor shook him, "People who guess are left behind by those that actually do something! You are better than him! You deserve to be the Hero!"
Leona looked down at his half of the sword, "I do..." he peeped, "I do deserve to be hero..."
"You've trained your entire life for this." the Benefactor continued, "It was you who made the effort all those years... It was you who woke up at daybreak, in the stormy downpour... Not that old man, all you."
"Yes..." Leona grinned deviously, "It was me... All me... Not him."
"It was through your effort that you managed to wield this sword." The Benefactor said, "All you... That you now wield the Blade of the Gods..."
"I... should be the Hero." Leona looked up to the man, "I should be the Hero!"
"That's more like it!" The Benefactor smiled and snapped his fingers, "You will be Hero! With my help, you will be the most powerful mortal in the world!" he clapped,
"I am going to be the Hero!" Leona laughed, "But how?" he asked the man,
"You are going have to take down the Hero himself." The Benefactor said, shocking Leona,
"Usurp my father!?" Leona gasped,
"That's the only way." The Benefactor twirled his cane, "Right now your father is at his weakest... He is old and he split his only weapon with you! If you manage to overpower him and take hold of the First Half of the Blade of Light, you will be the Hero, and it will be your father obeying the orders!"
"But... This is not..." Leona gulped, "You know what?!" he grinned, "I'm going to do it! I'm tired of watching my father make this sword waste away in vain! I want this sword to help people, not prune trees or bushes!"
"That's the spirit!" The Benefactor laughed, "Now!" he told the youth, "You can no longer go back to your father until you have gained the allegiance of the Divine Dragons!"
"That's a piece of cake!" Leona scoffed, "They already hate my father! This will be easy!"
"Don't be so cocky now!" The Benefactor warned, "The Dragons will demand proof that your are capable!"
"Oh..." Leona muttered, "Right... I still got it, though!" he raised his sword, "Don't worry, I won't let you down!"
"Oh no!" The Benefactor said, "It's not for me! It's for the world! You'll be the one protecting it soon!"
"Oh, right!" Leona chuckled, "I shall go to the Divine Dragons!" he chanted and ran off.
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"Our powers are taking a long time to return..." Fiersome groaned as he spread his wings, "This is a disaster."
"We're stuck in here until we're fully pumped." Aquaticus sighed as he stretched, "That's bogus."
"Unless..." Terrable muttered, "No... We can't call upon them." he growled, "I won't resist the urge to crush her between my jaws!"
"Who, the Traitor's wife!?" Fiersome started to get riled up, "Yes! I want to watch her slowly burn like rotisserie cluckadoodle!" he grinned evilly, "I want to watch her suffer as I slowly suffocate the life out of her with my strong and heavy foot..."
"Woah." Ventuswill muttered, "That's not psychopathic at all... Sheesh... So much anger... It was the Traitor that caused this, not his wife!"
"How do you know the wife did not convince him to leave!?" Aquaticus growled, "She is capable of swaying his opinion! You know none of the previous Heroes were married!"
"That's a lie." Ventuswill scoffed, "You know nearly all of them had a special someone! Even the First Hero was married to a young maiden!"
"Shut up, Ventuswill." Terrable yelled, "You with your stupid reason... Why can't you be angry like the rest of us!?"
"Yeah- Why can-" Fiersome paused,
"Ha.. Ha..." a voice panted, it was Leona, who had finished his trek and was now storming in the temple.
"Well, if it isn't Leona." Ventuswill said as he walked up to them,
"Did you talk to your father!?" Terrable asked him, "What did he say?!"
''He said..." Leona muttered, then looked at The Benefactor, who was twirling his cane and whistling,
"What are you looking at?" Aquaticus asked, noticing the human look to his left,
"Nothing." Leona mumbled when he saw The Benefactor nod, "My father... He says this."
All the Dragons leaned in attention,
"This is his message to you." Leona cleared his throat, "and I quote: You are nothing but a brood of lying vipers... Insane newts that want to do nothing but insult my name." he blatantly lied.
"Why.. that..." Fiersome growled, "GOOD FOR NOTHING MORTAL!" he roared in rage, shaking the entirety of the Golden Mountain and making some columns collapse,
"I WILL HAVE HIS HEAD!" Terrable exploded and started to to stomp around,
"Why would the Hero do that to us!?" Ventuswill added and started to steam up,
"THAT IS NOT COOL, DUDE!" Aquaticus bellowed, "THAT NO GOOD JAKE!"
"Yes! Yes!" The Benefactor laughed, "Let the rage flow through you!"
"He he..." Leona chuckled, "I guess I did it." he told the man, then turned to the Divine Dragons, "You hate my father, right?" he asked them,
"WHAT KIND OF STUPID QUESTION IS THAT!?" Terrable responded, "OF COURSE WE DO!"
"Well..." Leona said with a devious smile, "I am technically a Hero of the Runes... Let's say... we managed to oust... my father.."
The dragons went silent,
"Why.. Why would you say that?" Ventuswill asked, "Leona..."
"Just listen to me!" Leona said, "My father is no longer apt for his position, and he knows that!" he continued to lie, "That's why he gave me the second half of the Blade." he showed it to them,
"Hmm..." Fiersome grumbled in interest,
"What is your plan, then?" Aquaticus asked the youth,
"Well... I plan to fulfill the full duties of the Hero." Leona answered, "My father believes the Hero is just a traditional role with orthodox duties... He even uses the Blade of the Gods to cut vegetation! Is this a man you want as the Hero?!"
"We didn't want him as the Hero after that second abandonment!" Terrable roared, "Leaving us to die while he went on vacation!"
"Right!" Leona snapped his fingers, "So I say we take him out! Oust him with me, and I will make sure the world will always be safe! You will never fear the thought of me leaving you! I will fight to the end!"
"Yes, but how strong are you?" Ventuswill asked, being persuaded by his words,
"He trained me for my entire life." Leona responded, "And I hold the Blade of Light... Or at least half of it. He showed it to them oncemore, "Restore your blessing to this half, and I will be stronger than he."
"Hm..." the dragons said amongst themselves,
"This kid seems extremely promising." Terrable told them, "His power is incredible..."
"Just because he holds the Blade doesn't mean he knows how to use it..." Aquaticus said,
"But he trained under him." Ventuswill avoided Raguna's name, "That must mean everything the father knows, the son does too."
"This is very good." Fiersome grinned, "Maybe if we-" he paused and whiffed the air,
"What's wrong?" Leona asked the Divine Dragons, who were starting to get riled up,
"He's here." Terreble grumbled, and surely enough, walking up the steps, was Raguna.