Part 1, Chapter 1
"Alm, take a rest. We're done for the day," said Mycen. Alm, doubled over on the ground, gasped for air; that last blow he'd taken had knocked the wind out of him. Once again, he'd been far outclassed in his sword training. "Practice that downward strike later; it still needs a bit of work."
"Right… got it…," choked Alm. Smiling, Mycen crouched down beside him and offered his hand. Alm grinned back and grasped the hand, and Mycen pulled him up.
"Good job today," added Mycen.
Alm nodded in thanks, and, finally catching his breath, he walked into the back room of their house to take off his equipment. Removing his sword, he looked at the many dents and scratches covering it. The edge which had once been clean and straight was now notched and dull from the many blocks and parries Alm had performed with it. Disappointed in his less-than-battle-worthy wooden sword, he returned it to its leather sheath.
Alm peered through the doorway to see if Mycen was looking. He wasn't. Alm dashed over to Mycen's equipment and took out his grandfather's sword. The scabbard was covered with dyed red leather and inlaid with an ornate silver pattern matching the hilt. Alm wrapped his hand around the grip tightly and drew the sword, feeling how heavy it was compared to his own wooden sword. It was clearly well made, as it was almost natural to swing, and the pommel nicely counterbalanced the weight of the blade.
"I could get used to using this," he muttered to himself. "This must've seen tons of battles back when Grandfather was a general." He thought back to all the stories he'd heard growing up about how Mycen was once known as the "Hero of the People," loved by the citizens of Zofia for his heroism and bravery in defending against marauding pirates and brigands on the coast—but that was before he'd been branded a traitor. Now, Mycen was almost universally hated among the Zofian population for killing the royal family, an act which facilitated Dozar's rise to power. Only a small number of people, like those who lived in Rahm and had heard the truth from Mycen himself, still held faith in him.
Alm put the sword back in its scabbard and returned it to its stand, lest Mycen catch him. He walked back to his equipment shelf and removed his leather training armor, revealing the X-shaped mark upon his right shoulder, which caught his attention. I suppose that thing's not ever going away, is it? Alm mused. The mark had been there since birth, but he'd never been too fond of it. He covered it up again with his shirt.
Having finished changing, he walked outside, where he ran into Mycen.
"Grey and Robin stopped by while you were changing," said Mycen. "They said to tell you there's someone visiting the village, and he wants to meet you."
"Someone wants to meet me?" asked Alm. No one ever came to the village to see Alm or Mycen; no one on the outside was supposed to know they were even there. "Did they tell him about me, or did he already know that we were here in Rahm?"
"Knowing Grey and Robin, they probably told him about you. Those idiots…"
A cold chill ran down Alm's spine. Had they been discovered? Did Grey and Robin's let their secret slip? Was it a mistake? Could Dozar's men be waiting in town square, ready to capture him? Could he and Mycen hope to defend against them?
"They assured me, however," continued Mycen, interrupting Alm's thoughts, "that the person was someone trustworthy."
Alm breathed a sigh of relief. I bet it's a prank. That's just the kind of thing those two would do…
"Something still doesn't seem right, though," said Mycen. "Do you want me to come along, just to be safe?"
"N-no, it's fine," Alm replied. If they're going to embarrass me, I don't want Grandfather to be there, too, he thought. "I'm sure it's nothing too important."
"Hmph. If you say so. Still, be on your guard, understand? And try to knock some sense into those friends of yours. We'd be putting the whole village in danger if we're ever discovered," warned Mycen.
"Got it."
Carrying on his person a knife for self-protection—should it be needed—Alm strode to the village proper, where he was relieved to be greeted by familiar, loud shouting.
"Oi! Alm!" yelled Grey, waving him over. Smiling, Alm jogged up to him and Robin, who was standing nearby talking to a man Alm had never seen before. "Your old man told you, eh? This guy's Luka, and, well—"
"Hey, you're here!" interrupted Robin. "Excellent. Luka over here wants to talk to you, and he—"
Grey interjected, "Yeah, I was just going to tell him about that—"
"Well, the person he really wants to meet is your grandpa."
"He says it's extremely urgent—"
"But we told him—"
"I told him."
"Grey told him it'd be better if gave you the message—"
"And then you can tell Mycen—"
"But it is kind of a touchy subject—"
"I doubt he'll be too happy to hear it."
"But you're naturally the one who knows your grandpa best—"
"So we thought you'd be the best choice—"
"Both of you, shut it," growled Alm. Grey and Robin blinked in bewilderment. "O.K., could just one of you please explain what's going on?"
Luka, who looked quite frustrated himself, stepped forward between Grey and Robin and extended his hand toward Alm.
"Heh… nice to meet you. I'm Luka," he said, shaking Alm's hand. "As your... talkative friends mentioned, I have a message for General Mycen."
"For Grandfather? What sort of message?" said Alm.
"Well, it's like this: King Dozar has neglected his duties to Zofia. The country is starting to fail, and every day more and more people suffer because of his negligence. All this you know, am I correct?"
"Yeah," agreed Alm. In fact, I understand it way more than you know.
"Well, I'm a member of an organization that wants to change that."
"You're with the Lib—"
"Yes," Luka interrupted, whispering. Grey and Robin were making hand gestures behind Luka signaling Alm Don't say "Liberation Army!" Alm went up close to the two of them and whispered,
"Are you sure this guy's the real deal?"
"Positive," Robin whispered back.
"How do you know?"
"He brought along a letter with their seal on it. It was signed and everything, too."
"And how exactly would you recognize that it's their seal?"
"Well, it's not like Luka's the first rebel soldier we've ever met…"
"Really? You've met others?"
"Oh, sure! They come to town every once and a while, looking for new recru—"
"Hey Alm," Grey interrupted, "Luka's still here."
Alm looked back; Luka was standing rather impatiently, waiting for Alm to finish his private conversation. Alm quickly turned back to Luka.
"Sorry—erm... please continue."
"Well, since we're fighting against Dozar, we believe that having General Mycen, the Hero of the People—and more importantly, Dozar's worst nightmare—on our side would be a great advantage."
"You want Grandfather… to join you? Even though he's been named a traitor?" asked Alm.
"We have... suspicions, you might say, that that is simply another of Dozar's lies to his people."
"Well, kudos to you for figuring it out. How did you know?"
"I'm afraid that information stays with my superiors. I'm simply here to ask for his aid."
Well, it's good to know the Liberation Army has reliable sources, thought Alm. "So you want me to ask my grandfather to join you, yes?"
"Not just join, actually—lead," Luka said firmly.
Alm was taken aback. "You want Grandfather to... lead the rebellion?"
Luka lowered his voice. "Yes, I plead you; I beg of you, please. He must help us." He bowed, lowered his voice further, and said, "We are losing the war. Dozar's troops outnumber us by the thousands. What's more, the Rigelians have secretly begun supplying the military with additional resources. If your grandfather does not join us, if we do not have stronger leadership... then there will be little hope left for us."
Alm was at a loss for words. This man was begging him to ask for Grandfather's help. Robin and Grey had to snap Alm out of his amazement.
"C'mon, Alm."
"Answer the man."
"Y-yeah… I'll ask him," Alm stammered. It wasn't like Robin or Grey to be so serious. Luka stood up and took Alm's hand with both hands.
"Thank you very much, Alm. You're doing your country a great service."
"I can't make any promises, though," Alm remarked.
Luka paused. "Yes, o-of course. I apologize. We will respect whatever decision he makes," he said.
Running home as fast as his legs could take him, Alm nearly crashed into Mycen when he approached the door.
"Grandfather!" he gasped. "The man... you... lead... the Army..."
"Alm, I'm surprised you haven't fainted today, considering how many times you've had to stop and catch your breath," said Mycen in his usual sarcastic tone.
Alm rested for a few seconds, then continued, "The man I met in the village... he wanted me to ask you to… to lead the Liberation Army!"
Mycen's expression changed from surprised to cross.
"Absolutely not," he asserted. "War is a horrendous thing, and I shall take no more part in it." Alm didn't expect Mycen to have such a quick response, nor that it would be refusal.
"B-but Grandfather!" Alm implored. "You were Zofia's greatest general—the 'Hero of the People!' You even fought against Dozar to defend the royal family!"
Something seemed to hit a nerve in Mycen. He slammed his fist against the wall and roared, "And I failed to protect them! And in case you've forgotten, I'm still wanted for murdering them! I even had to send Cellica away to protect her from Dozar's insane schemes!"
I remember all to well, thought Alm. Mycen, too, had now hit a nerve. I'm still angry with you for doing that to her. But now's not the time for that...
"The Liberation Army will be annihilated if you do not help!" continued Alm. Now he was getting angry. How could Mycen not see that the rebels were doing the right thing?
"And I told you I will take no part in it," Mycen repeated slowly. "I've already lost enough because of Dozar and his warmongering."
Livid at Mycen's stubbornness, Alm yelled, "Then... I will join the Liberation Army in your place!"
The words even surprised Alm.
Mycen's face fell.
"It will only bring you sorrow," he said quietly. "In the end, all you will have is pain."
"You're…not going to stop me? You're not forbidding me to go?" Alm wasn't yelling anymore either.
Mycen sighed. "No, I will not stop you. I think… I think you're old enough to decide for yourself what path to take in life. I believe that's what my son would want me to tell you."
"Father…" whispered Alm. Mycen had told Alm long ago that his father, Mycen's son, was killed for harboring Mycen while he was fleeing from Zofia, and it was for that reason that Mycen had taken up the responsibility of raising Alm.
"As much as I'd like to stop you, whatever you choose to do, it is your decision," Mycen said.
Alm gathered all the courage he had and declared,
"Then I am joining the Liberation Army in your place."
Mycen walked up to Alm and slapped him.
"You idiot…" he said. Alm looked away. Mycen wrapped his arms around Alm and embraced him, and he added, "I wish I could keep you here, where you would be safe. But it's time that you made your own decisions. Don't die out there, you understand me?" He let go of Alm and looked him in the eyes. Alm looked back and gave his grandfather a confident smile.
"I promise you, I will return home alive. And victorious."
"Hah, You'd better. Now go pack your things and get going."
"Yes, sir."
Alm gathered his belongings and walked out the door, leaving Mycen alone in the house.
"Well, Alm, it seems that despite my best intentions, you've turned out just as foolhardy and stubborn as your father," he said to himself. He laughed and shook his head.
Alm returned to the village square where Grey, Robin, and Luka were waiting. When Alm approached them, Grey asked,
"What's with the sack, Alm?"
"Going somewhere?" added Robin.
"Yes," he replied. "Luka!"
"Ah, Alm! I trust you spoke with your grandfather?" asked Luka.
"I have."
"And? What did he say?"
"He refused, however—"
Luka sighed, his face falling.
"However," Alm continued. "I have decided to join in Grandfather's place."
Luka looked skeptical. "You? I'd be glad to have you as a recruit, but for someone as young as you to be leading the resistance... Are you sure you're qualified enough? And even if you are, are you willing to put in the effort?"
"I don't know if I am qualified to be a leader, but Grandfather has taught me in strategy and combat. And while I'm not nearly as qualified as he is... you've only got me, not him. I know that in all likelihood, this will be the hardest thing I've ever done, but still, I feel like I need to do this. As my grandfather's successor, you might say."
"Well...," said Luka. He thought to himself quietly for a bit. "All right, I'll let you join. I'll be observing you to see the extent of your skills, and I'll let HQ decide whether to accept your status as leader." He reached out to shake Alm's hand again. "Who knows, maybe you'll turn out to be an even better leader than your grandfather."
"All right!" said Robin excitedly. "Sign us up as new recruits, too! Alm, you've always been the ringleader of our little group, so we're not going to just let you go alone. We'll take back Zofia together! Isn't that right, Grey?"
"Right! My little sisters aren't safe in this village with that Dozar on the throne, so it's my responsibility to go kick him off of it! And hey, Luka, while you're at it,"—Grey raised his voice to a yell—"sign Cliff up, too!" Cliff, who had just been passing by, stammered,
"W-what? What am I signing up for?"
"You're not busy, are you? We're joining the Libera—ow!" Grey started, being cut off mid-sentence by Robin, who'd punched him hard in the gut. "Oh, right." Grey winced and lowered his voice. "We're joining the Liberation Army."
"I-I… but… what…?" stuttered Cliff. "W-why exactly am I joining, too?"
"Because Alm here has just been promoted to leader!" said Robin.
"Not officially," said Luka. "We need to get back to headquarters and consult with General Clerve."
"Whaddya say, Cliff? Coming or not?" asked Grey.
"Well…" Cliff thought for a moment. "O.K. Count me in." Robin and Grey cheered. Cliff turned to Alm and Luka and whispered, "But if I get in big danger, you've got to help me out. And though they'd never admit it, those two need help, too. We're not well-trained in fighting like you two are."
Alm and Luka nodded. Alm could overhear Robin and Grey talking excitedly about what sort of adventures they'd get into. I wonder if those two are really ready to be soldiers, he thought. Heck, I don't know if I'm ready to be a soldier myself. I guess all four of us new recruits have quite a bit of learning to do, don't we?
"All right, we set off at dusk!" announced Luka. "Ready your things and meet me here this evening."
