Road To Ragnarok – Chapter 2
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"This is all my fault… I shouldn't have told her about it… now… she's gone…" Rachel sobbed.
"It's not your fault!" retorted the Knight. "Believe in her. She won't die."
"Well," Rachel stopped crying. "I guess so…"
"Just hope that's she'll return to you. That's the only thing you can do – nothing else."
"Thanks, Sir…"
"Oh yes, I haven't introduced myself. My name is Sir Jeffery. You can call me Jeffery." The Knight said.
"Ok. Why did u help me earlier?"
"Well…" The Knight replied. "I wanted to leave Prontera too. Actually I had the chance when I was on duty. But then I didn't expect an Assassin to appear."
"Same as me!" Rachel replied. "I've always wanted to leave Prontera."
"I guess our goal is the same. Now…" Jeffery looked at her. "We need some changes."
"Huh?" Rachel said.
"There," Jeffery said. "Now the Knights won't know that we're from Prontera." He and Nina were wearing ragged and old clothes.
"We look like beggars more than anything else." Rachel said while Jeffery roared with laughter. "Where shall we go?"
"I don't know. Have you practiced your Acolyte's skills yet?"
"Oh yes, I didn't," Rachel took out Basic Acolyte Skills. "I'd better do it now… hem hem…"
Welcome to Basic Acolyte Skills. This book is mainly given to very special Acolytes that are born with magical powers. In this book, you will learn 3 very basic spells. The spells are Heal, Increase Agility, and Ruwach.
Rachel quickly flipped the next page.
How to use Heal:
Stand near to a person who is injured. Then, start to think of a happy memory. Once you have thought of your happy memory, release all your happiness towards the injured person. The injured person will be healed. If you are born with a lot of magic power, your Heal will be stronger. If you have a very very happy memory, your Heal will be stronger. But if you happen to think of a very terrible past, beware…
"Looks like you're gonna have a tough time…" Jeffery said.
"Heal!" Rachel said while facing Jeffery's hurt arm. A green glow emerged from her hand.
No effect.
"This isn't good," sighed Rachel. "I tried 5 times and still can't get it right…"
"Don't worry. Keep trying. You can do it," said Jeffery.
"Ok…" Rachel prepared herself. Come on, thought Rachel. I can do this! She closed her eyes.
Inside her thoughts she saw herself on the day when she became an Acolyte. The Priest gave her weapon, which is a Club. When she accepted the club, the club suddenly turned into a hand. Rachel screamed and ran out of the church. Before she could do that, she felt a grip on her legs. There, she saw Nina covered in blood.
"You caused my death…" Nina hissed at Rachel. "You shall pay…" She dragged Rachel into the darkness.
"No! I didn't do it! I'm sorry!" cried Rachel as she struggled to free herself. "It's not me! I didn't want you to die…" everywhere became darker and darker. Rachel heard a scream.
It's Nina! Rachel thought. I made her die. I couldn't save her. It's my fault. She was my best and most trusted friend. I'm sorry… I don't want to live anymore… everywhere was darkness… she couldn't get out of the darkness… no more…
"Oi, get up!" someone croaked.
Who's that? Who's calling me?
"It's not working… " Said a voice.
"Acolytes… ha!" said another voice. "I've seen so many of them and most of them ended up killing themselves!"
"Prontera is such a strict country. The citizens are like chickens being kept in a cage."
"Shhh! What happened is the girl hears us?"
"This one is very exceptional… she's very gifted. Born with very strong powers."
"Is she… dead yet?"
"Nope. Very stubborn. Wake up!" Rachel felt someone slapping her face.
"Wha?" Rachel woke up. She was inside a small but cozy room. There she saw 2 people. One was a short and beautiful woman with blond hair; the other one was a blacked haired guy.
"Ah," said the woman. "You're awake. I thought you wanted to sleep forever."
"Actually… yes," replied Rachel.
"Because of your friend?" asked the woman.
"How… how did you know?" asked Rachel.
"Well, you were mumbling in your sleep. You were saying like 'don't go', 'I didn't kill you', 'my best friend', and… who's Nina?"
"My best friend… I am responsible for her dea-" the blacked haired guy clapped her hand to her mouth.
"Don't say things like that," said the guy, who hasn't released his hand from her. "You are so un-confident. Believe in your friend. Whether she lives or not, you can do nothing about it." He finally took his hand away.
"You sound like… where's Jeffery?" Rachel started looking around.
"Oh, you mean that Knight?" the guy asked. "We found him… or rather… he found us. Was tearing like nobody's business. Said that if he couldn't save you, someone will punish him. He's sleeping next door. I suggest you let him rest."
"You blacked out for 3 days. That Knight… he really cares about you. You better rest here. If any of the Mages found out, we'll be in big trouble."
"Mages? Wait… who are you?" asked Rachel suspiciously.
"Oh yes, dear. We forgot to introduce ourselves. My name is Luna, and this is my brother, Daniel. We're both Magicians." Said the woman.
"So… where is this place?" Rachel asked. She couldn't believe she was meeting with people from other towns.
"Geffen. Magic City. So, what's life in Prontera?" asked Daniel who found Rachel just as interesting as she found him and Luna.
"Luna," Rachel turned to her. "Why is it that you said that you've seen so many Acolytes and they ended up killing themselves?" (Daniel is completely ignored)
"Most of them had to suffer when they were young. They had to go through a very hard training. I'm sure you have been through it too." Said Luna. Rachel nodded. They made us stay at the Prontera church. They put me into a lot of stress. How can I be happy there? I wish Nina were here… she thought.
"That's why the Acolytes wanted to kill themselves. The Church put them into so much pressure. They have to leave their families behind, the Acolytes actually suffered more than Swordsmen. Girls being forced into becoming Acolytes, whoever rejected it must be killed. It is very terrible…" Luna explained.
"Dear, I know you've been through so much," Luna continued. "But if I were you, I wouldn't even think of killing myself. Each person has only one life, and that life is precious. God created us, and we should appreciate that we have a life. We are all gifted, no matter who that person is. Bad or good; pretty or ugly; smart or stupid, we are all special. Many know that, including the Priests in Prontera."
"How did you know?" Rachel stammered.
"My mum was a citizen of Prontera. But she was killed because she didn't want to become an Acolyte. My dad is a Wizard. After my mother's death, my dad brought us here."
"Oh, I'm so sorry," Rachel said.
"Don't worry dear," replied Luna with a smile. "I can see you are very gifted. Not many people in this world are born with powers. Believe me, people who are born with powers are very rare in this world, and you should try to live on. Oh dear, we've run out of carrots, I'm going to buy now." Rachel grabbed Luna's hand.
"Thanks," she muttered. "For everything…" Luna just smiled and went off.
"I heard from that Knight that you needed to practice your-"
"Acolyte skills," someone said. Rachel turned around. Right at the door, there stood Jeffery.
"Jeffery! How are you?" cried Rachel.
"I'm fine," he replied. "We better get on with your training."
"I'll help," said Daniel. "Just in case something gets wrong."
"Thanks," smiled Rachel.
Tzusuki: Yay! Next chapter coming up soon! Please R&R!