Demonic Forces Arc

Chapter 7: Nunda and Reyla

Gwilln went with Nunda to hone their weapon skills. Red Dragon Knight didn't join them and went to go do his own things as well as Aaravit. Nunda drew his glaive and pointed it at Gwilln.

"Spar me Gwilln," he said.

"Alright," Gwilln replied.

Gwilln drew his sword. They stared each other down and then with a swift swing Nunda caught Gwilln off guard. Gwilln barley blocked it and was staggered from the hit. Gwilln quickly recovered and stepped back. Nunda came at him again but this time he was prepared. He swept Nunda's blade to the side with his sword and then elbowed Nunda in the gut. Nunda saw an opportunity and brought Gwilln down to the ground with his shoulder. Nunda pointed his glaive at him.

"Seems I win," he said.

Gwilln swatted his weapon away.

"Yeah, yeah," Gwilln said.

"I'm not like Aaravit so I won't rub it in," he replied.

After they had done some more sparring, they went to the Ranger's Rest for a drink. They sat in a booth where they could talk privately. Gwilln took a sip and asked,

"So Nunda, how do you know Reyla so well?"

"We met about two years ago," he said.

"So how did you two end up becoming Rangers?"

"Me, I wanted to be a Ranger when I was child. So did Reyla. We both wanted to join so we joined together. Let me tell you how though."

The scene shifts to a desert during a sandstorm.

Reyla crawled on the ground. She was weakened from the sand storm. She thought to herself,

'Can't breathe. Can't see.'

She then fell unconscious.

When she opened her eyes, it was a clear starry night. She looked next to her and saw a young man with a hood over his head sitting on a rock with and had a fire burning. He saw she had woken up.

"Good you're awake. I'm glad to see you survived. The storms in this region can be quite dangerous and powerful." he said.

"You saved me?" Reyla asked.

He nodded.

"All your things are right there."

He pointed at her belongings. Reyla checked to see if she still had everything.

"So, you mind telling me what you're doing in this desert?"

"Training," she replied.

"Training? For what?" he asked.

"Training to become a Ranger," she replied.

"Interesting. Seems you and I have a common goal."

"You seek to join them too?"

"Yes. I'm on my way to the Sky City to join."

"Well then, maybe we can go together? I pretty much finished my planned training."

"I wouldn't mind some company. My name is Nunda."

"Alright Nunda. My name is Reyla. Nice to meet you."

The two traveled together for a while and found a city in the desert that had a tram system. They asked about the next train but it seems the train wouldn't arrive for two more days. The two walked through the city streets. The population was a mix of mostly Humans and Desert Elves as well as the occasional Dwarf. All the citizens had looks of despair and misery on their faces. Reyla saw two guards bullying a Desert Elven girl. Reyla scowled. Nunda touched her shoulder.

"Don't involve yourself. We don't want to deal with any trouble," he whispered.

Reyla overheard the guards.

"Hey girly, your pretty cute. Why don't you come with me and I'll show you a nice time," he said with a smirk on his face.

"No. Please leave me alone," the Desert Elf girl replied.

"Well your coming with me anyways!"

The guard grabbed her wrist and started to drag her off. She screamed but no one came to help her. Reyla growled and screamed.

"I can't take it anymore!"

"Reyla! Wait!" Nunda called.

She drew her sword and ran to the guard dragging the girl away. She severed his hand and the guard screamed falling to the ground. The other guard drew his weapon.

"You bitch! You'll pay for that!"

Before he could move, Nunda quickly placed a sword in the guard's neck. The girl backed away from the two guards. She got up.

"Thank you for saving me," she said.

"You ok?" Reyla asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Good. Now run home."

The girl nodded and ran off. Reyla looked down at the guard with the missing hand. She spat on him and kicked him. Nunda looked at Reyla. She had hatred in her eyes. She drew her then slit the wounded guard's throat killing him. Nunda was a little surprised.

"I don't think this city will approve of us killing two of their guards," he said.

"Well let's go then before they find out," she replied.

The two ran off to a nearby inn and checked in. They went to their room, put down their stuff, wet down to the bar but kept their weapons. Nunda kept his hood up. When the two sat in a booth at the bar. The bar was deathly quiet. The only noises that could be heard were the occasional sips of drinks and people ordering drinks.

"Everyone looks miserable," Reyla whispered.

"Here, I'll find out for you," Nunda whispered back.

Nunda got out of the booth and went over to the bar tender. Nunda put down money and ordered two drinks. He also engaged in a quiet conversation with the bartender.

"Everyone here seems miserable. Why is that?" Nunda asked.

"It's cause those two damned Barons who rule over our city. There are three, a Dwarf, an Elf, and a Human. The Dwarf cares about the people and the city while other two only care about money and power and don't care what the guards do. Two guards tried to have their way with my daughter till she was saved by two travelers," said the bartender

Nunda knew they were the two travelers the man was mentioning.

"The city would prosper under the Dwarf's rule. What I wouldn't due to have those two removed from power," he continued.

"Alright sir. Thank you," Nunda said.

Nunda took the two drinks back to the booth where Reyla sat. He gave her a drink.

"So apparently everyone is miserable cause of two Barons who rule the city. There's a Dwarf who would be a good leader but is overshadowed by the Elf and Human Barons," Nunda said.

Reyla took a drink.

"So that's why," she said.

Suddenly, several guards broke into the bar with the same girl from earlier and threw her onto the floor as well what seemed to be her mother. The bartender stopped what he was doing.

"You bastards!" he shouted he ran at them but was quickly apprehended by the captain of the squad.

The captain looked at the crowd.

"A witness told us the travelers who killed two of our men checked into this inn! If you come forward, this man and his family shall be spared a terrible fate!" called the captain.

"They'll just kill them anyways," Reyla whispered.

The captain knelt down to the bartender's daughter and smirked as he grabbed her chin.

"She is pretty cute," he said.

"No leave her alone!" called both her parents.

Reyla grew angry. She picked up a knife from the table and ran at the captain. The captain turned and just as he did, there was a knife stabbed deep in his head reaching his brain killing the captain. Reyla drew her sword and cut down the guards one by one without mercy. Nunda freed the captives.

"You saved me again," said the girl.

"Thank you so much travelers!" said the bartender.

"You should probably hide for a little bit of time. The guards probably know who you are now," Nunda said.

"I understand. How can we repay you?"

"You don't need to," said Reyla, "Cause when you wake up tomorrow, things will be different."