RISE OF LIGHT

Chapter 2

Part 1

Exhausted and body aching from the long run they had done, Daniel and Vertrex took a long rest to regain their lost energy and relaxed as much as they can from the exhaustion that had driven them to the core, leaving them stiff and sore. The uncle's first reaction at seeing the boys at the front door was a surprised one.

"Have you seen the shrine already boys?"

He sounding as if he hadn't expected them to return so quickly but noticing their haggard faces, he quickly let them in and shutting the door behind them as he did so. He started to ask those questions as they made their way towards the couches but Vertrex held his hand up to stem the flow of questions that never seemed to.

"Uncle, can you please ask those questions of yours later but right now" he said as he and Daniel sank onto one of the nearest couches "we need heaps of rest" he finished in a low voice.

So his uncle, getting the notion from their actions, dropped his question intending to voice them out later. After six hours, when both Daniel and Vertrex are relaxed and refreshed, they told him what had taken place in Mitchelldon. As they progressed through, they saw his eyes narrowing and his scowl becoming more pronounced. Then the uncle asked Vertrex what they have done with the dark user, there was an edge to his voice, Vertrex thought as Daniel told him that they had killed the dark user.

For a few seconds there was an intense silence broken by the clatter sound the followed as Daniel laid his spoon on his place eying the old man across the table intently. Next to him Vertrex was also eying his uncle very intently, wondering what was happening in his mind. Then after what it seemed to have been a long time he said cautiously.

"Did anyone." he stopped to drink some water as his mouth was dry. After he placed the glass carefully on the table, he started again.

"Did anyone see you? Were there any witnesses?" he finished cautiously.

Daniel and Vertrex glanced at each other before turning back to face the older man.

"No uncle" Vertrex said he drank some water "There wasn't any signs of life around that place at that time." Then he added as a reminder "As I've just told you, the whole place was still." he finished looking at Daniel for confirmation.

"Yes" Daniel said, picking up his spoon and started to dig into his lamp "The whole place was empty." The he added as an after thought "Even after killing that fiend."

The uncle eyes them for a second or two then he heaved a huge 'sigh' of relief. He was worried for a second that the boys mightn't have realized something else but he remembered Vertrex saying that they were engrossed in the mist for anyone to actually tell them by the face. Then he turned to them and said smoothly.

"You've done well boys. I am proud of you. The way you have approached the problem was splendid, even if it was a dear one."

Vertrex smiled at his uncle for the complement. He always appreciated complements from his uncle. Then he turned to Daniel and said plainly.

"I guess you were right in thinking uncle won't start yelling at us for killing that dark user." He smiled as he finished.

Daniel turned to him and grinned at him as he said happily.

"I just thought James won't yell at us because, you know, I had a funny feeling that we did the right thing by ending that fiend's life there and then."

Vertrex's uncle's name was James but Vertrex always preferred to call his uncle 'Uncle'. In Daniel's case it was different. Brought up as an orphan by Uncle James's care, he looked upon the older man with respect and at James request he started to call him James.

Vertrex grinned back at his friend as he replied cheerfully.

"Well I must praise you for your thinking for once" to which Daniel's grin widened

"Hey, sometimes even I do have a brain in my head Vertrex" he said happily as he placed his spook back onto his empty place and leaned back on his char, relaxed for the first time after six hours.

Unaware by both of them, Uncle James was watching them with a smile on his face. He was proud of them, he thought as he looked at them as they took their empty placed to the sink to wash and rinse them so they can be used again if one of them got hungry again. He was hoping that the boys would grow up into two fine boys as they lead their life. Then he thought it must've been lucky that he met Daniel while he was heading back to his house.

Daniel had been looking for Vertrex when he saw Uncle James walking on the other side of the street, clearly heading for home. He shouted his name and at the same time crossed the street quickly. His uncle hearing the call of his name turned around to see Daniel crossing the road quickly. Then Daniel questioned Uncle James of where Vertrex is. Uncle James explained that Vertrex was on his way to the shrine and without hesitation, Daniel ran down the way uncle James had come.

"They are more like brothers than friends" he thought as he watched Vertrex make a comment to Daniel on how badly he is washing the dishes to which Daniel commented on Vertrex's way of cleaning the dishes dry. "I guess they were born to different mothers but their bond is that of brothers than that of friends" he concluded his thoughts as he got up go and help the two of them with the cleaning of the dishes.

Chapter 2

Part 2

"I'm far more powerful than you Vertrex" Daniel said emphatically glaring at his friend in somewhat annoyance.

It was evening and there were lights lit in Uncle James's house. After all the cleaning was done Vertrex and Daniel sat down on one of the couches and talked endlessly on about their powers. Uncle James sat opposite them, leaning on his char a little as he listened to their endless talk on how they handled that dark user. After a while they started to point at each other, comparing the other's strengths and weaknesses, which amused Uncle James very much as he listened to them quietly.

Vertrex said heatedly "No. We were an even match; remember I had to distract the man for you to land your 'Fist of Fury' on him."

Daniel said grinning "Well you did and I thank you for it but did your mighty 'Light Saviour' penetrate through the 'Dark Shield'?"

"That attack is one of my common attacks, Daniel. Not a might attack" Vertrex said quietly

"Oh" Daniel said shortly. There was silence for a second then he asked Vertrex "Then, why didn't you use your mighty attacks then?"

"If he did, the place would've been a mess." a quiet voice said simply opposite them

They quickly looked towards the char which was filled by the frame of Uncle James. They had completely forgotten about Uncle James watching and listening to them silently. He felt he needed to observer them a little closely to be sure that he doesn't miss a thing they were saying.

Daniel started "But he could've –" Uncle James cut him off in mid sentence with a wave of his hand.

"No he wouldn't have" Uncle James said firmly, cutting across Daniel. He noticed Daniel again open his mouth to ask the obvious question, 'why', but before he could form the question, Uncle James said calmly.

"If he had, the whole place would've been a mess and when I mean 'mess', I mean it. Houses demolished or destroyed and more importantly, that would've left traces of light being used in that place which wouldn't have been good for anyone." He finished

Daniel said nothing for a few minutes. He was going through everything that Uncle James had just told him. Then he said abruptly "I used 'Dragon Fire Cosmo' just when Vertrex used 'Starburst Attack' to which Uncle James turned to face Vertrex, both eye brows raised.

"You actually used 'Starburst Attack', seriously!" He said. He was surprised by the choice of attack that his nephew had chosen.

Vertrex, taking the notion indicated by his uncle replied, smiling "Yes uncle, that's the first thing that came to my mind and after all" he paused turning to look at Daniel "even he used a super powerful attack that was on the same power level as my attack." He finished as he smiling at Daniel, who winked at him.

Uncle James saw the exchange and said gruffly "Well, I'm not going to say that you've done the wrong thing by using the attacks you have chosen, but remember." he said, looking from one to the other of the boys sitting opposite to him "Make sure you don't damage to the environment where you are battling ok. The ruthless war between Light and Darkness ravaged this land of its beauty and richness." Finishing with a note of sadness, leaned back on his chair and relaxed.

Vertrex noted the tone in his uncle's voice and said reassuringly "Don't worry uncle. I and Daniel are not savages like those monsters to go around the place destroying things and causing havoc."

Daniel joined in as he too noted the change of tone in Uncle James's voice. "I agree with Vertrex. James. I may try to use the most powerful of the attacks but I know I need to be careful when I'm using those kinds of attack but" He paused for a second then continued in a questioning tone "what about the actions of the rebellion group that's working around the world James?

To this Uncle James sat up straighter and looked at the boys, anger quite evident in his face.

"What about them!" he said angrily. "They are arrogant fools who think it is necessary to destroy to darkness. I'm not saying what they are doing is wrong but their motto of 'By all means' is what makes me sick to the stomach!" he finished bitterly.

Daniel glanced at his friend as he wondered whether the same thought was going through in his friend's mind. He was relieved when his friend nodded as he now spoke to his uncle.

"Can't you do anything about it uncle?" Vertrex asked, looking at his angry faced uncle intently

Uncle James turned to face his nephew and said sadly "What can I do Vertrex. I'm not as young as I used to be; in fact I'm slowly aging as we speak. If I were in your age, then perhaps I would've showed them a thing or two about respecting the land that we reside on."

There was silence for a few seconds then Daniel said abruptly.

"Can we go and teach them a thing or two that you've just told us James?"

He said it without hesitation. Vertrex whipped around to face his friend in surprise. His friend's face was lit with eagerness as he watched Uncle James intently.

"So, he really wants to do it then." Vertrex thought as he turned back watch his uncle.

Uncle James said nothing at first as he looked from his nephew to Daniel as they watched him intently, waiting for his answer. He was thinking about the offer that Daniel had just suggested to him. He knew that he was too old for this job, but then there were Daniel and Vertrex. They'll face troubles that they've never encountered before but is it worth throwing them into it. As if guessing exactly what he was thinking, Daniel said reassuringly.

"Don't worry about us James. We'll take care of ourselves. I'll feel bad if the one person who taught me and Vertrex to be who we are doesn't have the belief that we can take care of ourselves." To which Uncle James smiled.

Uncle James knew too well what Daniel was talking about .By what the two boys had told him about how they handled the dark user; he knew the time has come for them to look after themselves and fight together he thought as he looked at Daniel.

Silence fell as both Vertrex and Daniel waited for an answer from the older man who was leaning on his chair restfully. Then he said, keeping his eyes away from them but looked towards the kitchen.

"Alright boys, if it is your wish to go out into the world and fend for yourselves. He paused, hesitation for a second about his decision. Now more convinced than before that it was for the best, he continued "I give you permission to go out and teach those rebellious idiots a thing or two ok and if you get caught in it all" he said now turning back to face them again as he looked at them very seriously "then it sup to you to fend them off on your own. He finished. He had laid a heavy emphlysis on the 'on your own'.

Then he said in an imploring tone "You still have time boys. Make your decisions wisely. Just remember, the world out there is a dangerous place. Nothing like what you've faced so far." He finished

It took a few seconds of silence as both Vertrex and Daniel grasped in what Uncle James had just told them. It was Daniel to first break the silence with a big 'Whoop' as he got of his feet and rushed to hug Uncle James, his face full of happiness while Vertrex just sat where he was, unable to believe what he had just heard. Vertrex was half-betting that his uncle wouldn't let them go out into the world on their own but he didn't expected his uncle to give them permission so easily. He too got up and hugged his uncle tightly; the joy was also quite evident in his face. He was just happy that his uncle has obliged to trust in his him and his friend.

"Now all that's left was to decide where to go from here." he thought as he took his seat again

As if the same thought was going through in Daniel's mind, he asked his friend "Where do we go from her Vertrex?"

Vertrex looked at his friend for a second before saying the first place that came to his mind.

"Marcromas" he said simply.

That city had been at the back of Daniel's mind. Now seeing as Vertrex just suggested that particular city just made him a whole lot happier. He grinned at his friend, relieved that his friend is willingly to come along journey that he had taken.

Vertrex saw the grin on his friend's face and grinned back. He knew that Daniel was a little worried that he won't go along with him for the journey. Then he remembered something that Daniel, who was over the mood about, had completely forgotten about.

"What about your girlfriend? Will she be coming too?" Vertrex asked his friend, smirking all in while.

Daniel's girlfriend's name is Kayla, who was an orphan just like himself and Daniel. Her parents, including Vertrex's and Daniel's parents, died during the war. She was being looked after by her mother's sister's family but they don't treat her kindly. They met when they were in grade 11 and it was first sight love.

Vertrex knew Daniel's love for her was far too great to allow him to go on his own; he will either bring her along or won't go at all. To his surprise, Daniel's smile broadened as he looked at his friend.

"She's also coming." He said still grinning. He reminded Vertrex of a small kid who never stopped grinning when he got best present for his birthday.

Now it was Vertrex's turn to look at him, startled by his friend's automatic answer. He recovered slowly and said, looking at his friend questioningly.

"Ok but how did you manage to do that." He paused. Something hit him as he continued to look at his friend's grinning face then realising it he said "Don't tell me you were planning this for a while." To which his friend clapped his hands energetically together for a few seconds.

"Yes. I was planning this for a while. It all started when she wanted to get away from home for a while and hang around us a little more. So since then I've been trying to ask James about it but they didn't seems I never had a chance to ask James for permission but seeing his mood now; I thought I might as well go ahead and tell him about my grand scheme."

"Some scheme." Uncle James snorted but deep down he was amused.

Daniel smiled at Uncle James shortly then turned back to face his friend he said, still grinning "So how was my approach and planning."

"Well for an inexperience person like you, not bad." Vertex said as he grinned back at his friend. He was very impressed; he never thought Daniel would be so patient enough to wait for so long.

Then coming out of his thoughts he asked Daniel "So, when do we get moving?"

There was silence for a few seconds but it was Uncle James who broke the silence first.

"How about next week?" he suggested. Seeing no objection from Vertrex and Daniel but them turning to look at him, he continued "You will have plenty of time to decide on what you will be taking for that long journey."

Daniel and Vertrex looked at each other then looked back at Uncle James. "Funny, they seem to do it all the time" Uncle James thought as he watched their exchange. Then Daniel spoke, bringing him back to the present.

"That's fine by us James." Then feeling as if he had said too short he continued "And anyway, that's plenty of time for Kayla to arrange the things she wants to take with us."

Vertrex smiled as his friend finished what he had to say "He always worries about her more than himself … what a guy." he thought "How lucky is Kayla to find a guy as wonderful as Daniel."

His thoughts were disturbed when Daniel turning to him and asked him what he will be taking for the journey.

Vertrex collected his thoughts and said slowly "I don't know yet and I don't think I will be needing a lot of things." He paused thinking hard for things that he might need, then something clicked in his mind "I might need my staff, my magic ring and a map." He said.

Daniel looked impressed. He wasn't surprised that his friend had brought up such a small list but the items in the list were quite useful if a battle takes place. Then he remembered something about Vertrex that is still a mystery to him. Vertrex uses his staff lesser as he progressed in using his hands to cast attack after attack but he's going to bring the staff along too. He knew the ring is to protect the user and their allies from harm. The map is definitely one thing that they need and he cursed himself for forgetting about that important item. Then his thoughts were interrupted when Vertrex continued.

"Also I'm going to be taking my close-combat knifes plus the swords." Vertrex finished as he looked around the room, their silence caught him by surprise.

Uncle James recovered from the initial surprise at his nephew's list, said to him questioningly "Why are you going to be taking the knifes and the swords." He paused for a second then continued, still looking perplexedly at his nephew "Are you expecting to fight at close combat?" he finished.

"Uncle, you can't be careful enough out there. Who knows what awaits us at every turn." Vertrex said sophisticatedly to which Daniel raised both his eyes brows in surprise.

"But" he said, looking confusedly at his friend "close combat is style of attacking."

Vertrex turned to look at his friend's confused face seriously as he said "Think of it as an extra precaution ok. It's not that I don't trust you or anything. It's just simply to make sure that I'm prepared for the worst possible situation."

Daniel opened his mouth to say something but words failed him as he looked at his friend's serious face. He closed his mouth quickly, realising how foolish he must look with his mouth open.

Vertrex nodded at his friend's action and turning back to his uncle he continued "As I was saying to Daniel, it's simply to make sure that I'm well and truly prepared for the worst possible situation uncle.

There was momentary silence in which Uncle James thought what his nephew had just told said as he looked away from his nephew's eyes. He could understand the logic behind those words and realised, not for once, that his nephew has matured after his battle with the dark user.

"You're thinking, not about your safety, but the safety of your comrades which is the sign of good leadership and comradeship." He thought "You've grown my boy. You've indeed reached a stage where you will fight and struggle against the forces of evil on your own."

Feeling confident about his decision he turned back face his nephew. Vertrex was watching him intently as he opened his mouth to speak.

"Alright then Vertrex, you may take your valuable weapons along for the ride." He said. Then feeling as if he had said short he added "Just make sure you don't damage them ok."

Vertrex smiled at his uncle sadly "That's a promise that I cannot keep uncle. I'm sorry." To which his uncle laughed away his nephew's apology.

"Don't apologise, just make sure you and" he now turned to look at Daniel seriously "Daniel stay safe and also stay out of harms way. That's all I ask of you both." He finished in a pleading tone.

Now Daniel smiled at Uncle James as he said reassuringly "I'm not sure we'll keep the promise about staying out of harms way" he winked at Vertrex, who had also turned to listen to him, and continued "but I'm sure we'll stay safe. That's a promise that we can accomplish."

Uncle James smiled back at Daniel and said quietly "Yes. I'm sure you can stay safe." Then he added as an after thought "I'm counting on you and you Vertrex," to which Vertrex simply nodded.

Uncle James seemed to have realised the uncomfortable feeling that his nephew was feeling. To change the topic he turned to look at the hour glass that hung on the wall beside the closed windows that were covered by curtains. The time surprised him and he spoke in his usual manner, the way he would when telling them to do something.

"Golly gosh, it's already midnight. Come one boys, we have lots of work to do tomorrow and I don't want you to over-sleep like usual." He said, the authority in his voice was quite promising.

Uncle James stood up instantly and started to move back towards his room when he realised that none of them had risen. He turned back towards them and said loudly

"Come on boys. I don't have all night to waste my sleep on you. So hurry up and go to sleep!"

Vertrex and Daniel stood slowly at Uncle James's prompting. They moved slowly over to their respective rooms. They didn't look at each other until they were facing the door that would lead them to their own rooms. They muttered goodnight to each other but as they were about to close their doors, they looked back towards Uncle James and said in unison before closing their door.

"Goodnight"

Uncle James chuckled as he closed his door softly as he turned to face his dark room.

"Sweet dreams boys" he thought to himself and he smiled. A smile that no one could see, not even him.

END OF CHAPTER 2