"Trust is a hell of a thing.
Some people think they can earn it. Others think they can buy it.
But that's the thing about trust: It's not real.
You can't hold it, squeeze it, or put it in your pocket. It's intangible.
You have to believe in it.
I don't know about you, but I don't care much for fairy tales."
—A rogue Lightbearer
3. The Deal
She felt cold.
She felt it everywhere. Unable to move a muscle.
She saw a face.
She couldn't recognise them. No, not them... her.
She saw her silver-like hair, and a pair of dark horns protruding from them.
She saw her silver-like eyes. They were glistening.
She felt a drop of warmth on her cheek. It was a tear.
She could see her mouth moving. She couldn't hear the words.
She felt her eyelids become heavier. Her face, whoever it is, became blurry.
She saw everything fading to black.
--
Knock Knock
"-Rise up, chestnut!"
Her eyelids rose up.
Of course, the first thing to greet her eardrums was the mad shouting of her informal acquaintance.
What a weird dream, she thought. Was it even a dream? Some of it felt familiar, like something that once belonged to her.
Memories? But Guardians don't remember their past mortal lives. Or at least, not all of it.
Maybe if she had kept sleeping, more of it would come back. She wasn't sure of it, but it's hope she was willing to hold on to.
But whatever implications may come from trying to rediscover her past, wouldn't matter for now.
"How long was I asleep?" She asked her Ghost, who promptly materialized right next to her head.
"Just for half an hour. Don't worry, you didn't miss anything." The Ghost whispered.
It was a wonder how she managed to fall asleep in the first place, considering the cramped space of her seat inside this bulky and loud vehicle belonging to the Drifter, which he proudly calls "a reliable piece of junk".
The best way she could describe it is a large, dark green rectangular mass of metals with glass windows only at the front and no wheels whatsoever. The interior walls are covered with strange lights and mechanisms, and nearly half of the available space is littered with various contraptions and cylinders containing stuff she didn't dare ask regarding their origins.
She wanted to question how this unusual vehicle functions or even moves, but found herself stunned when the Drifter made the vehicle eventually start with a revving noise, and the whole thing began to fly above the ground. She finally figured out they never needed any wheels.
It was nothing short of astonishing seeing how a vehicle of this type could exist, and yet perplexing how this bearded stranger simply called it "junk".
She turned towards the Drifter whom had turned off the various lights around him. The vehicle, which previously produced a cascade of hums and rattles, have gone dead silent. He had covered his mouth with the same metallic mask he wore earlier. Another addition onto the growing list of things she sought not to ask about.
"Where are we?" She asked. Her Ghost immediately vanished from sight as the Drifter turned to her direction.
"Civilization. Or somethin' close enough." He spoke through the mask with a slightly muffled voice.
Alina went towards the front seat, the "cockpit" as it was called. She noticed Andrei sitting nearby, his eyes focused on the view outside the windows. Her eyes followed.
The view of a bright yellow horizon bathing the entire landscape with its radiance was the first thing that struck her eyes. The night was not far ahead.
They've landed somewhere along a cliff side, overlooking a valley of flat snow. From seemingly a mile away, she could see a lodge that towers over a bunch of smaller cabins, resembling a small town. She could see lights in every single one, and small figures of what seemed like... people.
"Why did we land here?" She asked, wondering why they were atop a cliff instead of near the town.
The Drifter began strapping up metal cylinders onto his waist belt as he responded. "You don't want people here to see this hunk of junk. Raises some eyebrows."
He didn't elaborate any further. She realized why.
"You don't know if that town is safe or not."
The Drifter briefly glanced at her before looking away. "Well, we're gonna find out."
She queried him further. "What exactly do you plan on doing here?"
"If you're gonna keep throwin' questions all the time, then maybe you should start there." The Drifter called out, as he pointed outside.
He was getting tired of Alina's presence, and she knew it. Perhaps she should just be thankful that he was still willing to put up with her thus far.
She turned towards Andrei, staring at the outside view without wavering.
The boy didn't say much throughout their stay inside the Drifter's flying vehicle, instead only sitting still and keeping his gaze outside the cockpit, watching with awe as hundreds of feet below them, dozens of miles of land flew by.
Now that they've finally touched the ground again, his gaze hasn't moved away an inch. He didn't look like he was still enjoying the scenery.
"Oh and, before I forget..." The Drifter began rummaging through a pile inside one of the many crates stacked across what little space they had inside the vehicle.
He eventually pulled out a rather large metal object in his hand, with a similar design to the strange weapon on his waist, but with vastly different proportions to its parts. A black rectangular bulk with blue paint along its upper and lower edges and the cylinder in its middle. Overall, it looked quite heavy.
Before she could question it, he casually handed the weapon to her.
"It's a 'Renegade Fifty-five'. Just in case." He said to her, as if she would know the meaning behind the name.
"Is that... supposed to be a weapon?"
The Drifter gave Alina an odd look, something she has gotten used to by now.
"Don't know what a gun is?" He guessed.
Of course, her answer was quick and decisive. "Not really."
He let out a sigh. It was annoying her as well. It wasn't her fault for not knowing any of this. Her memories were less than a day old.
"I'm... sorry I'm new to this whole thing?"
"Well, you're not the sorriest thing I've seen..." He muttered, before proceeding to give her a basic rundown of how to use a "gun", as it's now called.
"You see this little thing? That's a trigger. You pull it, and a bullet comes out this side of the barrel. And when you do that, point the barrel at somethin' or someone you don't like, and they won't bother you much anymore. You got 7 rounds in there, use 'em wisely. And if you run out of rounds... well, try not to."
As she finally accepted the gun and held it tightly in her almost fitting grip, knowing she was right about its weight, a doubt began to surface.
"Do I really need this?"
"Unless you're fine with bein' target practice, which is fine by me. You're the one with a Ghost." The Drifter declared.
She eyed the gun in her grips. Her clothes weren't designed with any deep pockets that could conceal something of this size.
"I can't hide this anywhere."
"Then don't." He brought to her a black belt, which looked completely worn. "Keep it somewhere you can reach quick."
She understood that she would need a weapon for self-defence, but simply strapping a gun on the side of her hip may just attract concerning looks from others.
The Drifter clarified. "I'll need to know you can watch your own back and mine. That one's for free. Consider it a favor."
"I don't like this guy, but, he's right about this. You'll need a way to defend yourself, with or without the Light." Her Ghost, still invisible, whispered in her ear.
"Fine." She promptly snatched the belt out of his hand.
Finally wearing the slightly fraying belt as comfortably as she could, with the Renegade buckled to the side, Alina made her way to Andrei. He hasn't moved or even made eye contact with her.
"Hey... are you feeling alright?"
He turned to finally meet her gaze, and nodded. His eyes were dull. Almost absent of light.
"We'll get you a new home, okay?" She tried to comfort him, yet he still said nothing.
"Do you want to come with us?" She asked him, trying to get at least something out of him. Even a single word.
He finally muttered some sort of response . "... Don't know."
Her short yet tragic encounter with some of the inhabitants of this world only reminded her that the boy's condition might bring them more harm in the future were they to meet the wrong kinds of people.
She took a closer look at the boy's face. His skin seemed a bit pale. He might not have consumed anything in a long time.
"Are you hungry? Thirsty?" He subtly nodded in response.
She went ahead to grab a bottle and unlabeled can to give it to Andrei. The can contained grey minced meat, its stench and texture less than appealing to the senses. These were the only supplies she could gather out of the vehicles left behind by the crossbowmen whom have met their ill fates earlier.
"It's not much, but... I hope it's enough."
The boy said nothing and went to have a taste of his meal. The meat was cold and bland, but he didn't complain.
"Sure you wanna stick with that? Could probably get you and the boy a decent meal in that town far ahead." The Drifter remarked.
Alina gave him a look which speaks 'I don't have any money, obviously'. The Drifter saw and replied. "Oh, you'll pay me back later."
The vagueness of his words ticked her off. One could only imagine, for a second, what sinister thoughts may lie behind those eyes. But she held her tongue and looked back at Andrei. Another request came to mind.
"This vehicle is safe, right? Is it fine if I let him stay here?"
The Drifter once again stopped to look at her, and then at the boy. There was clear hesitation in his eyes this time, and she could see it.
"I don't want to bring him to a place neither of us know is safe. I don't want... something like before to happen again."
He kept exchanging looks between the two of them. Even if it was just a child, he couldn't bring himself to fully trust leaving someone alone in his vehicle.
But bringing the boy along wouldn't be an easier effort. He had to make a call.
"Just tell him not to touch anything."
This town has more life in it than she expected.
Alina took note of how every cabin seemed well-lit inside and out, and full of regular people interacting with one another, simply living out their lives. Regular lives, something that she may never have again.
But as she promptly ignored her own sudden pessimism, perhaps the most striking thing to her about the people, were their looks.
She didn't think to question it when she first woke up, nor when she first met Andrei, but upon finally seeing other people for the first time who weren't trying to kill her, it became impossible to ignore.
Most of the townspeople have an extra pair of ears on top of their heads, instead of something resembling horns. Most of them rounded, some more pointed and angled, and some with feathered protrusions instead. Some of them even had tails. All physical traits which she would associate with non-human beasts. A trait that she herself possessed as well.
And that begs the question of why the Drifter, has none of those traits.
"Something on your mind?" Her Ghost chimed.
She glanced at the eccentric man walking in front of her, just far enough ahead for him to possibly be out of hearing range. She wouldn't want him to hear their private conversation.
"The Drifter... who is he exactly?"
The Ghost took a moment to respond. He wasn't prepared for her particular question.
But when he did finally answer, Alina herself wasn't prepared to hear it.
"I've only heard rumors about the name before. But the stories are always the same. A man who's always looking out only for himself. Willing to work with anyone, only to stab them in the back when he could.
I can't tell you his exact motives, but I know this: He's using you."
Alina figured as much that he was someone with his own agenda. But she didn't expect him to have such an ill reputation. Was she really making the right call to associate herself with him?
But their interactions so far hasn't given her anything to truly be wary of. And there was still more to his nature that she sought to know about. And even if he did have ulterior motives, as of now, he's the best help she could get.
"Well, he's helped us this far, hasn't he?"
It shouldn't be wrong for her to have a little bit more faith. Even if only for a while.
"I'm just saying, he's not our friend. And he probably doesn't think of us as his."
"-Somethin' on your mind, chestnut?"
The man whom had been the topic of her private discussion finally spoke up. She really hoped he didn't hear their conversation.
"It's nothing." It was a terrible lie.
"Good. Thought you might start gettin' a little cold feet there."
Surprisingly, he couldn't tell. Or if he did, he didn't care enough to say it.
They continued walking until a large building of wood and glass nearly three stories high stood before them. The Drifter, without a care in the world, outstretched his arms and opened the front doors loudly, welcoming the change of scenery inside. She followed, albeit more modestly.
The numbing cold covering her feet began to melt away as she finally stepped out of the snow. But the intense stares have not settled down.
The lodge seemed bigger as she went inside. There are tables and chairs full of people minding their own business, whilst also glaring at the new pair of strangers. The room was brightly-lit, and well-decorated with all manners of furnishings and wall paintings. At the end of the room is a bar, where a middle-aged man was busy filling up new drinks.
A nice atmosphere, she thought. In fact, this whole town has given her more comfort than anything she had felt for the past half a day or so.
The Drifter took a sit in front of the bar. Alina followed and sat beside him.
"Haven't I met you before?" Asked the man on the other side of the bar. The owner and bartender of this place, she assumed.
She then realized that the question wasn't actually directed towards her, and glanced towards the Drifter instead.
"Already forgot about me, Josef?" The Drifter called out the bartender by his name.
"Right, sorry... Todd."
She nearly fell out of her chair as she heard the Drifter's answer, though no one seemed to notice. Was that his real name?
The bartender asked further. "So, Todd. Can I get you something? And for the young lady with the big iron on her hip?"
Alina put her previous thought on hold to respond to the bartender's sudden question.
"I-it's for self-defense. And my name's-"
"-Ivy." 'Todd' answered in quick response as he cut her off. He began to place his order, ignoring the bewildered stare coming from the girl beside him. "I'll have the usual around here, and she'll have a glass of cranberry juice."
Before the bartender could turn around, Alina raised her hand slightly, just enough for him to notice.
"Do you have any food?"
The Drifter rolled his eyes and silently waited, while she finished with her order of two pieces of wrapped steak, for herself and Andrei.
The bartender soon left the both of them to themselves. Alina immediately turned towards the man whose name she had now heard.
"Todd?"
"Don't question it. And don't call me that."
Disregarding the issue of whether or not "Todd" was even his real name, she was now curious about why the Drifter, or Todd, cut her off before.
"Do you have a problem with me using my real name?"
"The less people know who you are, the better. And don't you have somethin' to do? Now would be the right time."
She realized what he meant as the bartender, Josef returned, now bringing their drinks.
"For you, Mr. Todd. And... Mrs. Ivy."
Alina didn't bother to correct Josef for using the "wrong" name as she accepted the glass of cranberry juice. Her mind was in a different place.
When she walked into the town, she noticed none of the townsfolk had black rocks anywhere on their skin. No signs of Infected, she assumed.
Perhaps it is a good sign, but it was still too early to judge. She has yet to figure out its true nature. Of how widespread it may be, or whether it is even curable. And she wanted to know, so much.
She turned to Josef again. "Excuse me... are there any Infected around here?"
The man in turn, looked at her with with a raised eyebrow. Even the people sitting nearby were caught unaware by the sudden question coming from the stranger who has never set foot in their town before.
"What, are you afraid of seeing them?" He surmised.
She paused. "No, that's not what I-"
"-It's fine, you won't find any around here. Doubt you'd be able to find more anywhere else." He continued.
Now she was intrigued by the extent of his answer. "Why is that?"
"What, you haven't heard?" He explained before she could answer. "There's been a lot more patrols being carried out lately, even all the way to the barren countryside. Any Infected they come across, well... you never hear from them again. Been that way for months now. Don't really know why..."
Patrols? Sent to the countryside for the sole purpose of finding Infected, and judging by the bartender's tone, eradicate them?
"Who would carry this out?" She dug deeper.
The bartender now stared at her with the most baffled expression. "Ursus. You've been under a rock lately? How would you not know the very nation you're in?"
If this is how they treat their own people falling ill to this enigmatic disease, then she feared to know about the rest.
"I'm... not from around here. We're just passing through." She didn't bother to check with herself whether it was a good excuse or not.
"Really? Lucky you, I guess. This nation's never treated Infected as people. If you're one yourself? Better stay as far away as possible. It's a sad state of affairs, but it's how it is." He mused.
She knew nothing about the nation of Ursus before all this, but having first-hand experience from someone of their own, and now hearing it herself from someone whom had lived here for a long time, it made her feel like nowhere is truly safe.
She continued to query him further. "So you don't know any places the Infected would be living in?"
Josef replied with a scoff. "Haven't gone ten miles outside of this town for as long as I remember, kid. If there are, I wouldn't know. It's not like they'd be safe here anyway."
Because of the patrols, she concluded. The hooded men who attacked her before, who tried to kill Andrei... from everything she'd heard, it was unmistakable.
"These patrols, do they come here often?" She asked, though her tone had gone sour.
"Only seen one of them pass by here a month ago. Why are you asking?"
"Just... curious."
"I guess... this isn't the right place." The Ghost whispered. Though she remained silent, her invisible companion already knew what she would've said.
"I don't know if anywhere is."
"No one here's curious about Infected. That's why you don't see them here." Said a voice behind her.
She briefly turned to see a tall man with a scarf around his face, and a pair of curved horns projected on the sides of his head. At first glance, it was obvious he didn't belong here, as did she. His pitch black clothes didn't hide the various belts and pouches worn over them. And the massive sword sheathed on his waist only showed it more clearly.
The stranger, who gave off the impression of a warrior swordsman of some kind, took a seat next to Alina. Whom in turn, remained petrified.
She didn't see him before. Not during their trek from the cliffside, nor when they first went inside the lodge. Has he been following them from afar?
The swordsman held up a hand to refuse the bartender before he had the chance to say anything. The latter kept a wary look even as he left them to their own.
"Well, look who we have here." Drifter spoke up, his eyes remaining fixated on his glass of alcoholic beverage.
"You got nerve coming back here, Todd." Said the stranger.
A brief exchange between the two men shuddered Alina as she realised that she was now sandwiched between two armed men who may have shared an unpleasant history. But uncomfortable as she was, she still remained in place, unsure of when to move.
"Could say the same, brother." The Drifter responded.
"I'm not your brother." The swordsman became more stern.
Beginning to sense the rising tension, Alina subtly moved her seat an inch back, before eventually leaving it and moving to another seat, next to the Drifter.
The swordsman stared at her as she left, but paid no more attention to it. The two men were now glancing at one another.
"Let's cool down a little here. I did you a favor didn't I, Viktor?" The Drifter addressed the swordsman.
"As far as I know, we're even."
"Well, I got somethin' you might like. Doesn't cost much. Care to take a look?"
As he finished his sentence, the Drifter took something from his coat and put it on the table. It was a silver coin with pointed engravings and a glowing blue core.
The swordsman now known as Viktor hastily took the coin. He took note of the beauty of its design, and assumed its value.
"Where'd you get something this fancy?"
"That'll cost you extra."
Viktor grumbled at the Drifter's snarky reply. "What do you want, Todd?"
"All I need is information, Vik."
"Depends what kind. And don't call me Vik."
The Drifter took a long sip from his drink. "Well... ever seen anything strange lately? Maybe like, a bunch of bandits up to no good, with toys that bandits normally wouldn't have?"
The swordsman remained silent, as he stuffed the silver coin into one of his pouches. Perhaps he didn't know what to say, or that he did and was keen on keeping it to himself.
Not taking silence for an answer, the Drifter pressed further. "Come on, your people have run around these parts before. You must've seen or heard somethin' like it if it's happened before."
Another moment of silence followed, before he finally got an appropriate answer.
"Yeah... I've got something. One of the other crews we've met with told me, said three days ago, they got ambushed by a bunch of raiders with strange guns they've never seen before. Shoots 'lightning' they said. Can you believe it?"
Alina, whom had been quietly finishing her cranberry juice but also keeping an ear open, was now more than mildly intrigued.
The Drifter held his drink down before he could take another sip. He finally had a lead worth following. But he was eager to know more.
"They ever said anything about where they got raided?"
"Thirty miles south of Rusalka. Why are you asking?"
"Just curious." Said the Drifter, lightly smirking.
"So is that all?" Viktor asked.
"Yeah, now we're even. No strings attached." The Drifter casually replied.
"Hmph... right."
There was a sudden shift in his tone, Alina noticed. Viktor's glare became exceedingly more intense, but contrary to what she was expecting to happen, he stood up and promptly left the other two alone.
After patiently waiting for the swordsman to leave the lodge, she immediately turned to face the Drifter.
"What does that man have to do with you? Os he a soldier? A mercenary?"
"Former business acquaintance. Don't worry about it."
Her instincts told her "former business acquaintance" didn't quite mean what it sounded like. It might've sounded like the Drifter and the man known as Viktor were simply former co-workers in legal professions. But she knew that would be too good to be true.
Her concerns soon proved true as only a minute later, she saw the swordsman return from outside... along with a few others sharing his appearance. They have slightly varying horns, and the same well-built physique. And eyes with the intent to kill.
"I'm starting to think I should." She whispered.
The Drifter glanced at her, immediately noticing her anxiety. "Did he bring along his friends?"
"Yeah... five of them." Six in total, she counted. And from all the silhouettes she saw outside some of the open windows, there may be more waiting outside.
The Drifter savored the last of his drink, finishing it in one gulp. "Alright, keep your cool. We need to leave."
Alina continued to watch the group of armed men with swords and crossbows as they slowly walk closer to them. "They're coming here."
"Just let me handle this." The Drifter reassured her. His words didn't make her feel better.
The nearly synchronized rhythm of footsteps caused by six new outsiders inside the lodge caught everyone's eyes. But the men paid no mind to all but two of the current inhabitants.
They stopped right behind Alina and the Drifter. One of them went forward, the same one from before.
"Here's the thing, Todd... we're not even yet." Viktor declared, anger present in his voice.
The Drifter turned around to face a new crowd with ill intents towards him.
"I thought I made it clear that we were."
All he got in return was a scoff.
"You'd wish... think I didn't know what you did? You lying rat." Viktor was itching to draw out his blade, and the Drifter knew.
"Hey now, we're civilized people here, aren't we? So why not practice some manners? Wouldn't want to break anything in this lovely place." He tried to defuse the escalation with his hands up. But the swordsman wasn't convinced.
"Quit playing around. I've been going along with your mind games, but I think I've had enough. I know you stole a little something off of that shipment you sent for me. Think I'm too blind and stupid to tell a real one from a fake?"
A shudder ran through Alina, stunned as she heard what the swordsman said. The Drifter stole from them? She couldn't decide which one bothered her more, that she wasn't even too surprised to learn her acquaintance is a thief, or that he would willingly steal from an armed group of either soldiers or mercenaries who greatly outnumbered himself.
"Well, these are wild accusations, don't you think? I don't know how things work around here, but I think you know if you're pointin' fingers at someone, you're gonna need somethin' a little more solid, Vik." The Drifter continued to try talking his way out of his current predicament.
With a swift move, Viktor pulled his sword from its scabbard, much to the shock of nearly everyone within the room.
"Maybe this is a little more convincing." Came a venomous threat from the swordsman.
The Drifter glanced at the blade, and sighed. It seemed like he already knew how this was going to end.
"That's how it is, huh? And you have to bring your pals along just for this? Gotta say, not a confident look on you, brother."
"I told you I'm not your brother. No one crosses Sarkaz like us and lives. You should know that, Todd."
Before another word could be spoken between the two, a cocking sound was heard. They turned to look at the source, and was met with a long, hollow barrel.
"You mercenaries aren't welcome here. No one's threatening anyone in my place." Josef, with a long weapon resembling a large gun in his hands, warned out loud.
Said group of mercenaries responded by drawing their swords and crossbows as well.
Viktor eyed the weapon in its entirety, and mocked the bartender's daring response. "Laterano firearm. Very intimidating. Guess you've got a lot more in your pockets than I thought, old man."
The 'old man' however, wasn't simply tolerating it. He gripped the wooden stock of the gun tighter. "You know what it is. You know hard it hits. Don't make me test this on you."
"Relax. We just want our friend here to pay us his due."
"I'm not saying it twice. You want to do business, do it outside. Or you turn back and get out. Before the rest of the town comes knocking."
The swordsman was unfazed, refusing to back down from the threat. If anything, he was now more tempted to stain his blade. Both sides were leaning closer towards a messy confrontation.
"You think you and the town's men can deal with us? Even with that fancy weapon of yours? Think again."
Josef didn't blink once. Neither did Viktor. Both of them were waiting for the other to make the first move.
"Wait, stop!"
Alina shouted, stepping between the two's line of sight.
"None of us want anyone to get hurt here! Alright? Can we please talk this out?" She pleaded.
All eyes were now on her. They clearly didn't expect her to suddenly intervene.
"Step aside, Ms. Ivy. You don't want to get yourself hurt." The bartender warned her out of concern.
The swordsman also raised an eyebrow. "What the hell is your deal, Elafia?"
Ignoring the unfamiliar title, she continued to reason with him. "Look... Mr. Todd is my... acquaintance. Whatever business you have with him, we can resolve this without senseless violence. You want him to pay you back something you've lost, right? I'm sure we can work this out and give you something better in return. No one needs to die here."
A period of silence followed, before the expression on Viktor's face contorted into a more irritated look.
"You're threatening me to play nice?"
Alina was baffled to her core. Why would he come to that conclusion?
"I'm not. We both just want to leave this place alone. Please, there has to be a way to resolve this peacefully."
A few seconds passed. She couldn't predict what would happen next.
"You know what? You're really starting to annoy me. Maybe you should join him."
She only had time to blink before a blade barely touched her throat.
Bang
A loud explosion set off to her right. Viktor stumbled away, blood on his left shoulder. His blade was no longer pointed at her.
Bang
Another sound to her left. One of the mercenaries stumbled back, dropping his crossbow.
"Alina!"
As her Ghost screamed into her ear, she immediately came back to her senses. The first thing her instincts told her was to seek cover.
She saw the Drifter as he jumped across the bar and ducked underneath. She did the same without question.
It took no time for a hail of bolts to come flying through the air.
A multitude of cracking sounds came from the other side as crossbows began to slowly tear the bar apart. Bottles and glasses shattered above them.
"Kill them! Just kill them all!"
She heard the now injured swordsman ordering his own.
It's happened again. Another bloodshed she never intended to happen.
Alina saw Josef to her side, loading a new bullet into the chamber of his gun. "Knew this was gonna happen someday with these bastards. You shouldn't have stepped in, lady."
"I was just trying to-"
"Forget it. Just make sure they don't blow up this place."
She appreciated his concern but knew that it mattered little, knowing her true nature. But she had no time to explain herself now.
"What are you waitin' for?" Asked the Drifter loudly, grabbing her attention.
"What!?"
"Use the gun!"
"I don't know how!"
"Just taught you didn't I?"
She only knew the gist of using a gun, but had not actually practiced using it. She didn't want to have to use it.
'Just in case.' The Drifter said to her half an hour ago. It almost seemed like he knew this was going to happen. Was she wrong?
'Why did it have to be this way!?'
But she could ponder no more on her acquaintance's questionable behaviour, as the hard wood was beginning to lose its strength. A stray bolt pierced through the cover, enough to graze and wound her left earlobe.
Knowing no other option, she blindly fired her gun towards the direction of the mercenaries.
Seven shots, she counted. The gun made a clicking sound after seven shots, no more bullets left in the cylinder. She took to cover again.
"I'm out of bullets!"
The Drifter took a quick peek above the ruined bar and counted.
"Missed every single one, huh?"
"It's my first time!"
A short pause occured, as the mercenaries began reloading their crossbows. The Drifter took the chance and fired.
Bang Bang Bang
"Shit!" Shouted one of the mercenaries, as three of them dropped to the floor.
"Four down, eight to go."
Josef swiftly peeked above the cover to fire another shot, before loading another bullet and repeating. The Drifter continued to suppress the mercenaries with another barrage from his gun.
Alina took the opportunity to sweep the other side, noticing one of the hooded mercenaries with a staff performing a motion, before a ball of fire was conjured out of thin air.
'Is that Arts?' She asked to no one. She wasted no more time pondering about it, as she focused her own power of Light into a radiant orb in her grasp.
The fireball launched itself rapidly towards the bar, and the Drifter immediately shouted.
"Move!"
A fiery explosion ensued.
A significant portion of the bar was gone, reduced to ashes. The mercenaries remained alert. They haven't seen any corpses yet.
The mercenary chanted to direct another fireball, but before she could finish, another flaming orb was thrown at her, landing right on the floor.
A weak misdirected fire Arts spell, she thought, but she didn't expect the orb to violently explode soon after.
Boom
A ball of celestial fire vaporized the Arts caster completely, along with the table she was taking cover behind. Nothing remained, except for pieces of the staff.
The rest of the mercenaries responded by opening fire relentlessly once more.
The trio managed to dash just barely outside the engulfing flame, but now they realized they were quickly running out of things to hide behind.
Alina turned to the Drifter for a new plan, but an unfamiliar sight greeted her. Two metallic canisters landed right in front of her.
Thunk
The Drifter, noticing the canisters, immediately closed his eyes and turned around. She wasn't able to do the same in time.
Flash
Her eyes was struck by a bright light. Her ears went ringing.
She covered her eyes with her arm, waiting for the stinging pain from both her senses to subside.
The blindness and deafness lasted only seconds, yet they felt like hours.
Eventually, she opened her eyelids, beginning to see color again.
Right in front of her, was the visage of the Drifter, delivering three shots upon a cloaked figure descending on top of him.
Before another armored figure dashed right into her view. His sword gleaming under the light.
Her thoughts cease for a second, as she extended her palm.
A burst of Light surged out, knocking the mercenary a few feet away. His thin armor plate shattered from the force of her strike.
As her senses began to return to normal, she took note of what had transpired. Was she always this strong? Or did the Light have something to do with it?
The mercenary quickly regained his footing to charge at her again. A vain effort, as a stray bullet pierced through his skull.
Alina promptly turned to the one responsible, Josef, as he pulled the bolt on his weapon back to place another round.
But in the midst of the action, he failed to notice another presence behind him. And she realized too late.
She never found the chance to warn him.
Stab
"NO!"
Red began to pour out of the Josef's chest. He lost his grip on his gun.
Viktor pulled the sword out of his back, and let the old man drop to the ground. He quickly turned his attention to the remaining two.
The Drifter aimed for the mercenary's head, but only a click greeted him.
The latter took the opportunity, and lunged directly at Alina, bloodied blade in hand.
She stared at Josef's laying body on the floor. Her grip began to tighten.
She could've done something.
She wasn't fast enough.
Her own doubts held her back.
Something grew from within.
Her hands shook. Not out of fear, but a different feeling that's almost unrestrained.
Rage.
Almost as fast as lightning, she aimed her empty gun at the charging swordsman.
Her Light rumbled, like a faint kindle growing into wildfire.
The glow burned brighter, as it traced along her arms and traveled through her fingertips. And etched itself onto the piece of metal in her grasp.
Before she realized it, her gun was glowing. More than that, it was burning.
A shower of sparks formed around the gun, now lost its black and blue, and instead covered in a golden shine.
The crackling, raging celestial fire running across her the barrel, and through her fingers, didn't bother her one bit.
Bang
She fired off a single bullet.
A bullet of pure Light.
A Light that burned like the sun.
Chapter 0: Lost Light
0-3
A/N: So this update took way longer than I expected. Sorry for that. To compensate, this chapter is a little longer than what I usually write.
Nothing much to say here, except that I've really struggled for a while to think of what to give Alina as her first Super. She seemed like a very fitting Warlock, but having her pull off a Gunslinger just sounded cool in my head that I couldn't help it.
Thanks for reading.