Chapter Eight: Brightwall Light
Pushing open the gates into Brightwall Village Logan saw people on the ground being attended to by guards and villagers who had escaped the Corruption.
"Good thing the village didn't get hit like the Dwellers did, hopefully, we can convince them to open their doors to the Dwellers," Logan spoke looking to the Brightwall Academy.
Stepping to the center of town the village-appointed representative Samuel stepped onto a crate, "Everyone please gather! Please listen! I know most of you are confused and scared, all of these are very rational reactions to what has transpired, but I assure you, I will send word to the Queen so we can prevent attacks like what plagued our noble village again!"
"No need!" Saker spoke getting the villager's attention most reacting fearfully at the recognizable mercenary.
"Logan?" Samuel spoke recognizing the former king who approached.
"Boo! Get lost!" a villager yelled followed by more yells and cries of anger to the former King of Albion who all went silent when Logan pulled out a pistol firing a single shot in the air.
"You will have time to voice your anger with me later but now is not the time! What happened to your village the darkness that had trapped some of you has spread across Albion and right now has taken over Samarkand where your beloved King is being held hostage," Logan spoke approaching the center of town.
"Lucky for all you sorry sods Logan here just saved you all, defeating the agent who had plagued this town, with my help, I will take my reward in gold," Saker grinned getting a slap on the arm from Tali who approached.
"Listen, I know most of you are scared, some lost hope in heroes but listen to me now, that hero has carried this kingdom on his shoulders on his own for so long and now he needs our help! Would the Great Hero King Sparrow turn away from helping a person in need? No! Hear me now great people of Albion, we will purge this darkness from your land! Rebuild the Albion army then march to Samarkand and recuse the hero king! Now who will fight with me?" Tali yelled getting cheers from the villagers.
"Shall we see if Logan is worthy of the title of Hero great people of Brightwall? Shall we see if Logan has what it takes to rise to the occasion like his brother before him?" Samuel spoke getting cheers.
"What kind of test?" Logan asked following Samuel to the Academy.
"When your father built this academy he also built a vault below it, a trial for heroes to prove their worth, your brother already came through and claim its treasure however your father the brilliant man he was, knew there would be a need for another hero," Samuel explained leading the way.
"What sort of trial did the Great Hero King leave behind?" Tali asked entering the doors with the others looking around noticing makeshift beds that had been made when the villagers took refuge in this academy.
"When he built this academy, he knew one of his sons would come for the trail of hero but didn't know which one at the time, he suspected a late bloomer scenario if you will," Samuel explained leading to the upper floor where he approached a bookshelf against a wall, "now which one way it?"
Searching the bookshelf Samuel located a switch that opened into a hidden door leading into a tower, entering the three peered up the stairs leading to the top of a tower.
"What's up there?" Logan asked turning to Samuel who shrugged.
"I am not sure, your father was very secretive about the construction of this academy only leaving vivid instruction for the caretakers of this academy," Samuel explained leading them to the top of the tower where they found a Cullis Gate that activated and made the guild seal in Logan pocket shake.
"Where do you suppose it leads?" Tali asked turning to Logan and Saker.
"Riches! I'll bet it riches!" Saker grinned getting an eye roll from Tali.
"Knowing my father it must lead to a tomb, most likely very dangerous," Logan spoke approaching the gate stepping on it, and teleporting to an unknown location.
Before Tali and Saker could join the gate shut off, "What the?! What gives? Why did it shut off?" Saker growled grabbing Samuel.
"It's part of the trial!" Samuel spoke holding up his hand.
"Unhand him you brute!" Tali growled freeing Samuel, "What gonna happen to him?"
"Not sure, the hero King only said that he would test the new hero's skills personally which makes no sense since he died so long ago," Samuel explained.
"Oi geezer! Where was he taken?" Saker demanded of Gabriel getting an audible sigh.
"I am tracking Logan's location and he's...huh in the mountains past Mourningwood? Hmm guess we wait and see if Logan can pass the trial then," Gabriel spoke watching Logan's card floating over the mountains.
Being teleported Logan appeared in a large circular room with crystals coating the walls, floating in the air were many small gems upon closer inspection Logan saw moving memories.
One such crystal showed the hero Rook using his crossbow to take out Redcaps, another gem had Sterling stylishly throwing a knife at an enemy before posing with a sword thrust.
Touching another gem Logan saw the Hero of Oakvale Zane battling the dragon Jack of Blades, then he saw an image of his father during his confrontation with Lucien.
Logan then noticed he was alone turning he saw the Cullis Gate had shut off and gems grew and blocked his path, all the gems then began to glow and collective voices all began to speak in unison.
"Welcome Logan of Bowerstone," the voices spoke, "we welcome you to the Chamber of Memories."
"Chamber of Memories? I don't remember my father mentioning such a place before," Logan spoke stepping into the center of the room where gems began to float around him.
"The Great Hero King had deemed this place necessary for the trial of hero for the son who is most worthy of it, you wish to redeem yourself for past mistakes, to be a champion the people need, to light the way once more," the voices spoke as Logan felt the room shake and at the end of the room gems shrank and opened up into a room where Logan entered to see at the end of the room sat a throne where a crystal figure began to shift and mold into a crystal version of his own father.
"Draw your sword, Logan," Sparrow spoke from the crystal sentinel that pulled a gem sword from its side the sword becoming the hero's sword.
"Father? I don't understand," he spoke but quickly reacted when the figure used Time Control to appear in front of him swinging its sword.
Logan just barely dodged drawing his sword to block another swing of the sword but didn't have time to react to the other hand that was in his face, "Force Push!"
With a grunt, Logan was sent flying back smashing into gem covered wall and hitting the ground with a thud his sword clanking against the ground, "ngh! Father what is this?!"
Sparrow then approaches pointing its sword, "Fight or die, the world will not give you a chance to react if you are slow to defend yourself!" Sparrow spoke swinging his sword again this time Logan rolled to dodge grabbed his sword and spat some blood.
"I never did get a chance to fight you seriously you passed away before we could have a real spar," Logan spoke getting into a fighter stance and watching the gem version of his father do the same, "very well, I won't hold back father!"
Sparrow then charged again using Time Control to fake out Logan appear at the side swinging his sword, Logan then held up his gauntlet in a defense stance a shield spell then deflected the sword attack making the gem warrior stumble back.
"Counter? Hm, that will come in handy," Logan remarked charging at the gem warrior swinging his sword several times each swing colliding with the gem warrior's sword the two moved to the center of the room where the locked blades.
Gem Sparrow held out his hand again to hit Logan with another spell only for him to throw the gem warrior's weight making it stumble to the side where he slammed the hilt of his sword down on the gem warrior's head and swing his right hand in a fist colliding the punch to the gem Sparrow face.
"Force Push!" he yelled sending the gem flying back where a green spell-like whip formed, Logan then wrapped the whip around the gem warrior's foot swinging it over his head and slamming the figure against the ground.
Logan then noticed the gem warrior glowing an aura of a fully charged will spell about to be cast, no time to react Logan held up his arm for the counter spell watching as Sparrow unleashed the Inferno spell the flames shattering the counter spell and sending Logan flying back.
"Ngh!" Logan grunted in pain noticing the burns on his arms and legs looking up the see Sparrow approaching again, growling Logan stood up gripping his sword tighter.
Running the two collided blades again this time Sparrow began to push back against Logan his footing slowly skidding on the ground trying to hold back the gem warrior blade.
Breathing heavily Logan locked eyes with the gem warrior eyes seeing his father's memories and hearing Sparrow's voice, "a Hero never gives up, even when it looks like he is outmatched a hero always finds a way to protect those who need protecting, never forget this Logan, you will do great things for Albion, I am sure of it."
"I won't give up father!" Logan growled his eyes turning from brown to blue, the faint will markings on his body now glowing brighter with a growl Logan began to push the gem warrior back making Gem Sparrow skid back then with a powerful thrust Logan shattered the gem warrior sword than with a spin he sliced his sword through the gem warrior.
All then went quiet only noise that could be heard was Logan panting as he stood watching the gem warrior his sword still drawn ready to counter any attack, then the gem warrior dropped the shattered sword hilt, the gem shattering against the ground.
Watching Logan watch a light form from the cracks that began to form on the gem warrior who looked to Logan and nodded with approval before shattering leaving behind a light, the gems on the ground then floated up all glowing and circling around Logan.
Looking at his arm Logan watch his arm begin to heal and listened to the collective voices, "he is worthy, let it be known that Logan Lionheart of Bowerstone is as of this day given the title, Hero of Brightwood, may his name be known!"
The light in the center of the room then floated to Logan who held out his hand where the light placed a brilliant purple gem in his hand, "This is the Archon's Dream, gather all three, then imbue these gems with your Light and burn away the Corruption that plagues these lands."
"I understand," Logan spoke closing his hand around the gem and closing his eyes a bit when the glow of the gems in the room began to turn into a blinding white light shielding his eyes Logan was teleported back to the tower.
"Bloody hell!" Saker yelled jumping back when Logan suddenly appeared.
"It was strange, moments ago we all heard voices many of them speaking declaring you as the Hero of Brightwood, what happened? Where were you taken?" Tali asked watching Logan blink a few times and then open his hand to look at the gem.
"My word! Come with me!" Samuel spoke taking Logan outside where the villagers had gathered outside the doors.
Opening the doors Samuel held up Logan's hand where the gem glistened in the light, "Behold! We have a new hero! Not only was he given the blessing of ancient heroes of the past he was given one of the Divinity Gems that will save our beloved king!"
"What exactly is that gem?" Tali asked stepping next to Samuel and watching the people cheer for Logan.
"This gem my dear is an Archon's Dream, it is said to be a very powerful artifact, there is a total of three, the Diamond of Sorrow and the Stone of Myr'Bregothil are the other two, when brought together it is said they can burn away the shadows that plague the land," Samuel explained.
"I say we pawn it eh Logan?" Saker smirked expecting a remark from Logan but heard nothing, "Logan?"
While they were talking Logan was mostly in shock, he was getting cheers, and the villagers who had hated him for his past mistakes were looking to him as their savior now, the guilt that weighed his heart was lifting, looking ahead he saw his father Sparrow by the doors into the village.
Sparrow then smiled nodding, Logan could see it in his father's eyes and smiled how proud his father was of him, "go get them Logan, show Albion that you are ready, find the last two gems at the castle, bring them to Samarkand they will turn the tide of war in your favor."
"I will," Logan spoke watching his father vanish when his view was blocked momentarily by a person walking by.
"You will what sire?" Samuel asked confused about what Logan meant.
"I will keep my promise to the Dwellers! People of Brightwall, our friends in the mountains need your aid, they also were plagued by the darkness that took your village, and they need protection behind these walls, I ask you, please give them sanctuary so they can regain their strength so that we can all march to the war in Samarkand, defeat the Empress and save the King, will you help?" Logan spoke hearing cheers from the villagers.
"Let it be known that the Dwellers will be given sanctuary and protection, and let it go down in history that a new hero rose to stop the darkness that tried to hurt the good people of Albion," Samuel spoke.
Hours later around the statue in the center of the town caravans of the Dwellers were parked, around medical aid was given to those who were hurt during the Corruption, with the last of the Dwellers stepping into the village Sabine turned to Logan.
"I thought I was going looney when I heard voices declaring a scoundrel like you a hero but low and behold, I wasn't kookie yet! Now even more shocking my people are getting the aid they need so we can rebuild our strength to march back across the seas into glorious battle! I don't know how you did it but I am a true believer now, you're a hero, I shall not forgive you for the lives taken by your actions however I will fight by your side to rescue our king! Say the word and the Dwellers will fight at your side!"
"Thank you, Sabine," Logan spoke smiling shyly when Sabine held out his hand with a grin, chuckling Logan shook the man's hand a light froze time around them.
Logan, Saker, and Tali then turned to see Gabriel step out of a portal, "you've done well, your title is quickly spreading across the land, even those sleeping in the darkness of the Corruption have heard your call and have broken free, however, they are in danger and need you to defeat the agents that remain in the lands."
"Where to next? Where is the next agent, Gabriel?" Logan asked turning to Tali who turned her head away giving him the cold shoulder.
"Return to the Sanctuary when you can, I'll show you where you will be needed most," Gabriel explained vanishing and time around them resuming.
It was at this moment they heard a woman gasp in horror, turning Logan and Tali gave Saker an annoyed look when they saw he had used the frozen time to attempt to peek up a woman's skirt promptly getting a loud slap.
"Moron," Logan sighed looking to Tali and letting out a sigh again, "I don't suppose saying I'm sorry will make things change?"
"You can be on your hands and knees begging for forgiveness and it won't change a thing, but regardless of what I think, I will continue to lend my aid, my kingdom needs help and I'll work with whoever I must to achieve that," Tali spoke walking away towards a stall.
Rubbing his cheek Saker looked to Tali then Logan, "So what exactly are we going to do about her royal bitchyness?"
"Leave her be Saker, I can't imagine what she must have been through for the last ten years in Samarkand, watching her family get picked off one by one and see her people suffer at the hands of the Empress," Logan spoke thinking about his brother who was also in a similar situation when he was the tyrant.
"Hmph," Saker grunted lighting another cigar.