Chapter 4: Ghost hunt
Serge had finally made it to the top of the cliff. The glimmering object had turned out to be a polished stone. He kneeled and brushed his hand against it to dust it off. An inscription had been carved in the stone:
Rest in peace.
Our beloved Serge, age 7.
No one can ever take anything away from him.
No one can ever give anything to him.
What was given to us by the sea.
Has only returned to it.
Swallowing hard, Serge got up slowly and stared at the tombstone for a moment. The sun was now setting over the sea.
"Hey you there! Your name's Serge, right?"
Karsh was standing there, a cold and bitter expression on his face. Behind him were two dragoons wearing heavy pieces of armour and weapons and white loins. The one on his left was a short tubby soldier with brown hair and blue eyes. He was holding a short, but massive one-handed axe. The other was exactly the opposite: tall and lanky holding a long halberd with both hands. He wore a thin moustache.
Not sure of what to answer, Serge raised his hands defensively.
"I'll take that as a yes. Look, junior, we have orders to bring you in, so wether you come willingly, or this axe o'mine'll have to do the talking.
"Sir Karsh, are you sure this is a ghost? He looks like a perfectly perfect young boy to me." The lanky soldier said.
"I really don't give a damn. I'd bring him even if he looked like an ass with wings."
"So what will it be, kid, you come in one piece, or with limbs separately?" Karsh said in an uncompromising tone.
"Hold yer sea horses!" said a feminine voice.
"The three soldiers turned around and looked up. Serge also raised his eyes. Atop the highest rock stood a girl with a short red skirt and jacket and a white shirt. She also had the blonde tail tied up in a ponytail. A dagger was tightened to her belt.
That's it, I'm just dreaming, and here's the proof…
The girl jumped down and landed square on her feet. She turned to the soldiers.
"Outta my way, missy, you don't wanna get hurt now, do you?"
"Oi, I don't think I'm going anywhere. I'm not letting you blokes gang up on him like that!" she said, staring fiercely at them.
"Well, then, I guess I could take you in as well. I'm sure my men would appreciate your company in their bed."
"I'm gonna teach you how to speak to a lady, you bloody bastard of a deva!"
Deva?... That can't be, the devas disappeared along with the Viper family several years ago… Though he really looks like the Karsh I once saw in Termina…
"Now, that's it! Solt, Peppor, you take on missy, and don't you ruin her body with your axes, the men wouldn't want of a wreck for company! I'll be taking care of baby Serge!"
"Bring it on, chumps!" she said, unsheating her dagger.
Peppor, Solt and the girl had soon formed a triangle. It was a rather defensive fight since none of them was really able to land a blow. The girl was too fast for the heavily-armoured soldiers and she was herself unable to do much damage with her dagger because of these armours.
Sooner or later, one of them'll land a blow, I have to finish this off as fast as possible…
Gripping her dagger tightly, the girl narrowed her eyes and one of the red gems socketed into the weapon lost its glow. A fireball was hurled at the short dragoon and sent him flying to land hard against the ground.
Karsh was advancing fast on Serge. Raising his axes, he spun around for a powerful diagonal slash. Serge just had time to dodge the blow.
"Surprised, kid? I'm not kidding, junior! I'm sure you'll grow to enjoy being limbless!"
Feeling adrenaline surge through him, Serge gripped his swallow tightly and engaged the fight. He had never really fought a trained warrior before, but he had no time to learn. He lunged forward for a diagonal slash that was easily deflected by Karsh's axe.
"That's all you can do? I could have asked my grandmother to do the job for me!"
The deva stepped forward for a strong vertical slash. Serge raised his swallow to protect himself. He was able to parry the blow, but there was now a crack in one of the blades of Serge's swallow.
Damn, my swallow is no match for this steel axe…
"Give it up, kid! Your wooden stick will snap from the next blow!"
Serge then gripped his swallow hard and focused. One of the blue gems encrusted in his swallow lost its glimmer and huge icicle hit Karsh in the chest. The deva took a few step back but he was very well-conditioned and his body showed only minor bruises.
"Well, looks like you can fight a little after all. Now let me show you a real move!"
Karsh then brought his axe close to his body and began spinning around very fast. His first diagonal slash left another deep crack in a blade of Serge's swallow. His second blow landed a deep cut in Serge's left arm. His third and final blow connected full force with the handle of the swallow and ruptured it in two.
Serge was left clutching his arm while Karsh was smiling at him evilly.
"What? Already tired? You should thank me, you know have two weapons! It's just too bad your girly fighting skills don't allow you to use any of them properly."
Serge was injured, but had no intention of surrendering whatsoever. He held both blades vertically and stepped forward slashing with his left arm. Karsh deflected the blow but didn't see the next one coming. Serge's second weapon connected with Karsh's chest and left a clean cut.
The deva took another step back clutching his wound. He then looked at his hand that was dripping with his own blood. He spat on the ground, still gripping his axe firmly and raised his weapon again to strike. Unable to use his swallow to protect himself anymore, Serge barely had the time to sidestep and dodge the vertical swipe. Karsh was now really mad.
No fucking way I'm taking that from a kid in diapers.
The girl was now fighting the tall dragoon one-on-one. Seeing what had happened to his comrade, the soldier was fighting very defensively using his long halberd for quick thrusts only.
"Here, have a taste of your own medicine missy." He said
A fireball was hurled at the girl who took the blow but was left pretty much unscathed.
"Oi, not the bright type, dragoon-arse."
"What the…?"
"You shaking idiot, she's a red innate, don't you shaking attack her with red elements." Yelled Peppor, who had managed to recover.
"Oi, I'm gonna show you blokes how to use those."
This time, two red beads lost their glow. Both soldiers were sent flying and landed hard against the ground. Both soldiers got to their knees gritting their teeth from the pain
"Did you see that Peppor? She used two elements at a time."
"Sir Karsh, these are no ordinary brats we're dealing with. I say we shake it outta here so we can live to fight another day." Peppor said, his voice trembling.
The two dragoons retreated running.
"Come back here, you cowards!... That doesn't matter, I can easily take on the both of you at a time!"
Just then a huge white and pink dog came running on the path. It stopped a few feet away from Karsh and began growling threateningly. Karsh stood there observing as the number of his opponents had now increased to three. He began to slowly walk away.
"I'm not through with you yet, junior! I know how to deal with your pet! He yelled, before disappearing in the shadows of the trees.
The dog stopped growling and slowly approached Serge. He bent down and extended his injury-free arm.
"Poshul? Poshul, is that you?"
The dog sniffed Serge's hand timidly and instantly began barking playfully. It then jumped and placed its front paws on Serge's shoulders.
"Ouf!" Serge yelled out, clutching his injured arm. "Sit, Poshul, sit down."
A whistling sound was heard and the dog quickly trailed away.
"Serves ya right, blokes" the girl yelled.
She then turned to Serge and walked toward him.
"Are you ok, mate? How is your arm?
"I think I'll survive… so, uh, who are you?"
"Oi, the name's Kid, world explorer and famous radical dreamer." She said, extending her arm."
"Serge." He said, shaking her hand. "So… why did you help me exactly?"
"Well, I couldn't let them gang up on you like that. Why were they after you anyway?"
"I'm not sure. They said something about me being a ghost or something."
"Ghost? These dragoon-arses are even crazier than I thought."
"Well, I guess I'd better not stay here. They'll prolly be back with reinforcements." He said walking away from Kid.
"Oi, wait a second! Ya know, if ya went to Viper manor you could get an explanation and…"
Viper manor? Hasn't this place been in shambles for years…?
Serge stopped and turned to face Kid.
"Yeah, and tell you what, I also have business there, so what do you say you and I team up for a while?"
Serge pondered for a moment.
"Well… alright, since you're the only person who doesn't seem crazy around here."
"Great! Now we're really good mates! But don't you try any funny stuff just cuz I'm cute 'n all or I'll kick you arse so hard, you'll kiss the moons.
Serge trailed away with the girl wondering why he hadn't simply decided to stay in bed that day. It would have been a better place to finish this dream.