Chapter 2: The Start of Something Interesting
While Roy stood (somewhat) inspiringly on top of the pillar, a man entered the stadium where Roy was training. He wore a unique kind of armor without a helmet and had black hair and brown reddish eyes.
"Roy! Are you going to come down anytime soon?" asked the man.
Roy suddenly looked down.
"Sorry dad, I was just having some fresh air heheh." said Roy
Jack sighed. "Just get down here as soon as possible. There's something important I need to tell you. Also, don't fall this time."
Roy grinned. "I won't fall, I promise."
As Jack walked out of the stadium, Roy jumped off the pillar and followed him. I wonder what's so important.
"Say dad. Are you going to finally tell me the role I have in the plan?" asked Roy.
"Hmm, let me think about it. No. I've already explained to you Roy, I'm not the person to tell you that." He answered.
"Oh come on! I've been training for 10 damn years! I deserve to know what this plan is about!" said Roy. It often bothered Roy that although he seemed to be important, no one told him anything, not even his own father.
Jack drew to a stop. Roy stopped as well.
"You will know it in due time, I promise. In the meantime, you have a request from Lord Roelf himself." Jack said
"Greg? Roy asked.
"Yes. He is in ….. quite the trouble"
"What? What happened?!"
"Nothing yet, but he has received several disturbing letters. A group of Elementi bandits threaten to harm to his daughter." said Jack
"But why would they do that?! Lord Roelf's has done nothing wrong!" replied Roy
"From what you just said I suppose you don't read the newspaper. Let me explain it to you. Lord Roelf gave a conference about his take on the war, that we should negotiate peace rather than continue the fighting. But there was a stubborn backlash of people opposing his idea of peace and after the conference they started attacking buildings. Oddly enough, the group of bandits in question were all Earth, Rock, Poison, and Grass Elementi." said Jack.
"I see. But why would a group of people from the two nations that started the war join up in the same group and threaten Lord Roelf's daughter?" asked Roy.
"That's what concerns me the most. My guess is that they want the war to continue, but at this point we don't know. Most importantly, they seem to have connections who are about your age Roy, meaning that they could befriend Lord Roelf's daughter and make an attempt on her life. That's why we need you, you're going to protect her." Jack said.
"So my mission is that I protect his daughter? Seems easy. Maybe this will make Lord Roelf finally include me in your secret war plans!" Roy said with excitement.
"He will tell you in due time. And it won't be that easy Roy, his daughter goes to a school of The Brigade of a New World. You know what that means right?" Jack asked Roy.
"Of course I do! I'll have to use my steel gauntlets and boots and say that they are powered up by Power Gems so that they think I'm a Nitae and not an Elementi! But of course, the gems won't be real. And I'll have to also use my elemental charged sword if I'm not wearing my gauntlets and boots." Roy replied.
"It seems you have it all planned, but you're only half right son. Are you sure you didn't forget something?"
"I'm sure of it … oh wait! I need to tell mom about this right?" Roy asked.
Jack mentally face palmed. How can this kid be such an idiot sometimes.
He sighed. "No, that's not it. Your mother already knows. What you're missing is the fact that you'll need to go to school to protect Lord Roelf's daughter." Jack said.
There was sudden silence. Roy's excited smile vanished.
"S-school? Y-you are kidding right?" Roy asked, suddenly trembling.
"No, I'm not kidding Roy. YOU … WILL … GO … TO SCHOOL!"
Roy fell to his knees. "NOOOOOOOOOO!"
Several minutes later
Roy and his dad were finally home and Linda was already preparing a backpack for Roy. He had been to school before but what with all of his fighting training had been taken out to make time for intense combat practice.
Linda sighed softly. He was still sulking from the fact that he had to go to school. Meanwhile her husband seemed to think it was hilarious how upset his son was.
"Oh come on Roy, it won't be that bad!" Jack said.
"IT WILL BE HORRIBLE DAD! I'm going to fail almost every subject! The only things I know are Math and Physics! As for the other subjects, I'm done for!" Roy replied. He flopped over on the couch, hiding his face in the cushions.
"But that's not the important thing remember?" Jack said.
"I know, but if I fail on all the subjects they could kick me out!"
"If that's what troubles you, then study."
"Dad, you know me well enough to know that I'll never study for any exam." Roy said.
"You'll have to if you want to succeed on your mission. Anyway, it's almost time for you to go so I hope you're ready. Make sure to grab your steel gauntlets and boots." Jack said.
Roy sighed. "I'll go do that." He got up slowly and trudged to his room.
As Roy walked by he saw his mom in the kitchen with his backpack ready. Jack had said that it would be easier for Roy to carry a backpack then suitcase considering all the important items he had to take.
These items included but were not limited to: potions, a sword, fake elemental gems, smoke balls, antidotes, spare clothes, and healing berries. Roy walked back into the living room with boots in hand and wearing his gauntlets, seeming considerably cheerier. Must be his sense of adventure kicking in.
"I'm ready!" Roy said.
Jack nodded and went outside. Roy's mom handed him his backpack and kissed him on the cheek. "Good luck dear, be careful."
"I will mom, I promise." Roy said.
Roy stepped outside to see his dad was waiting for him.
"Now that you're here, I'm going to bring you up to speed on how you're going to get to the Lunar Kingdom. This is very important so you'll have to listen closely."
Roy nodded and Jack continued speaking. "I'm going to take you to the entrance of a secret passage that King Drake has informed me of, it should lead you straight to the border and into Badlands. The exit is near the most deserted section of the Badlands and will bring you out near a small gas station. You'll meet a friend of mine there and he'll get you to the coast of Badlands. Once you get there board the ship that leads to the Lunar Kingdom."
Jack handed Roy a ticket and fake credentials showing him to be a Nitae. "The ship will take a day to get you there, so if possible don't leave your cabin. Once you arrive take a taxi and head to this address, that's where you'll live in the meantime." Jack handed Roy a small slip of paper with the address.
"Once you enter the house go to the living room and activate the communicator. Then you can talk with Lord Roelf and he'll explain the rest." Jack said. Roy nodded in understanding. Then he looked down, worried, clouding his eyes.
Jack placed a firm hand on his shoulder and Roy's anxious red eyes met his.
"It's going to be alright, don't worry. Just be careful and think before you do something okay?" Jack said.
"I will dad. I promise!" Roy responded with a more hopeful voice.
"That's the spirit! Now follow me, there's no time to lose." Jack said.
Roy matched his father's quick pace as his father led him into the fiery and rocky plains of Macabre. They seemed to walk for ages in the constant heat but soon they stopped at a large pile of boulders.
Jack shifted one of the rocks, revealing a hidden passage behind it. Roy looked at his dad, seeming uncertain. He then suddenly embraced his father tightly.
Jack just smiled. "You better come back here and bring those blue skies with you."
Roy nodded. He withdrew from the embrace and walked slowly into the yawning tunnel. As Jack moved to hide the passage Roy suddenly turned and shouted,
"Just wait and see dad! I'm going to make you proud! When I return I'll make sure that the blue skies remain forever!"
Roy waved and ran into the tunnel, disappearing into the darkness.
Jack smiled and finished closing the passage. As he walked back home, for the first time in the last few months Jack felt hope. "You've already made me proud Roy."