Chapter 7-Temple of Light
Lloyd stepped back, body shaking with adrenaline. The Serpentine slithered closer and closer raising the sharp spear menacingly towards Lloyd's throat. His legs tensed up, begging Lloyd to run and find safety within the darkness of the night. But the stars were shining brightly, and the crescent moon smiled down at Lloyd, mocking him with the white light that shone down throughout the streets. Hiding was out of the question.
Two options presented themselves before Lloyd's fearful eyes. Fight...or die.
"You might want to hurry this up," The Emperor stood beside Lloyd, carefully watching the Serpentine, searching for any sign of weakness, determined on keeping the young man safe. "More Serpentine approach. He is just trying to stall you long enough for them to arrive."
Hurry this up? Lloyd thought, keeping his eyes glued upon the Serpentine's spear I can't run, not without running into other Serpentine. And I can't fight.
"Get down!" The ghost shouted, his tone commanding. Lloyd dropped his body to the floor, chest hitting the concrete just as the Serpentine lunged its spear forward. "Roll to the side, use a back kick while he's distracted."
Lloyd rolled to the side, stumbling slightly as he tried to get up. Not exactly knowing how to perform a back kick, Lloyd swung his right leg against the Serpentine's back. His enemy fell forward dropping the spear. The young man almost smiled in triumph, but the force of the kick had thrown him off balance. He fell, landing hard against his side.
The Emperor sighed, shaking his head. "That had to be the worst kick I've ever witnessed..."
Lloyd stood, trotting backwards while keeping an eye on his enemy. When the pitiful snake failed to stand, the young man turned running out of the city as fast as his legs would carry him. "I've never kicked anyone before! Besides he didn't get up. Give me a little credit here."
Running past the last buildings of the city, Lloyd felt a burst of adrenaline spread through his body. He was free. No longer would he be forced to answer to a crazy, overweight aristocrat. No longer would he have to spend his nights laying against the dirt, trembling with cold. No longer would he have to tolarate senseless beatings for petty mistakes. And maybe, maybe he would no longer be alone.
The brief rush of freedom didn't last too long. Lloyd's body was weak and underfed, and his muscles hadn't exactly been developed throughout the years. His thighs and calves burned with each step he took, while the breath from his lungs burned against his throat and chest. Gravity seduced him, tempting Lloyd to fall against the dry earth, pulling him down harder and harder as fatigue began to take over.
He began to slow down, certain that the Serpentine were far enough. But The Emperor had other ideas.
"You've got to keep moving. You can rest when we reach the next village. If you stop now, the news of your escape will have reached the whole kingdom by the time we reach the traveler's port." He commanded, urging Lloyd forward.
The young man shook his head, sweat dripping down from his blonde hair. "I don't...think I can run for much longer."
"The village isn't so far. Just keep on going." Lloyd nodded at the ghost's words, opening his mouth to reply. The Emperor cut him off, raising his hand to stop the words. "And no more talking. It will only waste your breath."
And so Lloyd ran. Sometimes slowing, sometimes gaining speed. After a long while, his breathing settled, reluctantly getting used the pace at which Lloyd was moving. His muscles felt sore, but the pain had faded into the background. Keeping his eyes focused ahead, he spotted the dim lights of a village. A light breeze sent the salty smell of seafood up Lloyd's nose, giving the young man the lasts bits of energy he needed to reach the village.
"Do...Do I get credit for making it all the way here?" Lloyd smirked, turning his run into a slow walk. His breathing was a bit loud, and it took a few seconds for it to accommodate to a normal walking pace once more.
The Emperor looked down at Lloyd, his eyes softening. He smiled, nodding his head. "I must say, I did not expect you to make it all the way out here."
"Well...I did." Lloyd looked around, spotting a few guards standing around the village's small plaza. He kept his distance, finally allowing himself to crumple to the ground as he reached a dark alley. "Now...What am I supposed to do?"
The ghost pointed towards the seashore, where a few ships rested along the coastline. "We steal one of those."
Lloyd opened his mouth, then closed it. He looked up at the ghost, trying to figure out how crazy the old Emperor was. "A ship? I don't even know how to sail. Now you want me to steal one right from under the Serpentine's noses? Then sail it all the way to an island I've never heard of before?"
"A ship? Oh no. Not that."
The young man looked towards the shore once more, spotting a few wooden boats floating besides the larger ship's shadows. "Steal a boat and row it all the way to an island that might, or might not exist. Why did I listen to you...?"
"Do you want to go back to the world of pain you've lived of your whole life? Be my guest." The Emperor looked down at Lloyd, the usual hardened look returning to his eyes. "But if you want to take a chance, to make something out of yourself, then you will do as I say."
Lloyd sighed, nodding slowly. "Ok steal the boat, row to an imaginary island and talk to a legendary man, anything else you'd like to add?"
"It would be nice if you could stop having such a rude attitude," The Emperor pointed out, following Lloyd as he stood and began to sneak towards the beach.
"Well I'm sorry," Lloyd hissed, "But you almost got me killed today."
"Get you killed?" The ghost and the boy moved forward. "I saved your life. Without me you'd still be trapped within the chains of your master. Now close your mouth before you manage to get another Serpentine to spot us."
Lloyd rolled his eyes, biting his lips in order to hold back a grumpy response. The ghost did have a point though. If it hadn't been for him, Lloyd would have been forever trapped under the thumb of his master, telling himself that it would all end one day, but never attempting to do anything about it.
He reached the docks and climbed inside a boat grabbing the wooden oars. They were far heavier than he had imagined. "If I start rowing the guards will hear me, they're far too close."
The Emperor nodded, looking back at the few Fangpyre soldiers that were lazily leaning down against the fountain. "I'll take care of them. Get as far away as you can while they're distracted."
Lloyd nodded and the ghost vanished into nothingness before his eyes. He waited a few seconds, then a loud sound erupted for the eastern side of the village. Startled, the guards sat up and began running towards the source of the sound, their weapons raised. Ignoring the newfound soreness in his arms, Lloyd pushed the heavy oars into place and began to guide the boat away from the shore.
The ghost of the Emperor reappeared by his side, floating just beside the boat. "Now...Just keep rowing, we're bound to run into the Temple of Light."
"Wait, so you don't know how to get there?" Lloyd groaned.
"Not exactly, no." The ghost shook his head.
Oh that's just great.