Search for the Hero of Light - Alphonsus
716 Words
“ALPHOOOONSUS!” whined Susan as she and Alphonsus trekked through the woods.
“Whaaaat?” replied Alphonsus in a weary tone.
“Well! We’ve been walking in the woods all day! Can’t we stop at an inn or someplace and rest?”
Alphonsus looked at her She did look ragged from her day in the woods. Her blond hair was all over the place, and her light skin reflected every bit of sun that touched her, but her large blue eyes were sympathetic and gentle.
He was tired too, but he needed to fit the appearance of the noble and gallant knight that he supposedly was. However, Susan was no regular lady, as she was his partner for now. So, he held his head high and exclaimed, “Susan, we need to keep searching for the hero of light. According to the Prophecy: ‘One at the age of 17 shall become light, that which is good, so that he may stand against the darkness that is the monster, the destroyer of the world. Light and dark their hearts are together but stay separate, and one is hurt, while the other desperate. This journey begins in Fortuna.’ I was told it when I was the Knight of Faton, by the best diviner that I know. Don’t you want to find him?”
Susan rolled her eyes. “Yeah, but resting for a few hours at an inn won’t hurt that search at all, oh brave and magnificent one!”
Alphonsus caught the sarcasm, but he knew that any response would just agitate her more. So he held his tongue.
“C’mon! Just a couple of hours to get a meal, Al. Pleeeeeeaase?” Susan looked up at him pleadingly.
“You’re the one who wanted to go on the search with me, so don’t complain.”
“Yeah, but my only other option was to stay and work as a laundry washer in Burtose.”
Alphonsus raised an eyebrow, “So you have no interest in saving the people? But I guess this would still be much better than staying back as a laundry washer.”
Susan’s face bloomed red at this statement, and she managed to stammer, “No, I want to help people too you know… in fact, I think I will be great at it.”
Alphonsus looked at her sympathetically. He knew her heart was in the right place, but she could be a little vain at times.
“I know you mean well Susan but remember that this quest is a completely selfless one. It is not to get out of work or receive praise and special privilege, but to help others without getting anything in return.”
“I know, I may not have truly been in a life or death situation, since I have you watching out for me, but I am prepared for one, and I have been prepared since leaving that place”.
Alphonsus nodded gently and gave Susan a sweet look, but was on the alert an instant later. “Who’s there?” he shouted into the woods.
Fifteen men slowly encircled the pair of travelers. “Well look what we have here boys!” said the apparent ringleader. He held a dull but jagged looking dagger. “We have our first catch of the day!”
Susan looked around frantically at the fifteen men as they drew closer, but Alphonsus’s eyes grew dark..
Without responding to the bandits, he whispered to Susan, “Cover your ears.” She threw her hands over her ears and dropped to the ground. At that same moment, Alphonsus let loose a blood-curdling roar that caused the ears of all fifteen men to bleed. They dropped to the ground writhing in pain and then laid still, and Alphonsus dropped to one knee, breathing hard.
Susan slowly stood up. “Al? Are you okay?”
Alphonsus stood up and took a moment to gather his bearings, looking at the c*****e he caused with his scream. “Sorry Susan, that always takes a lot out of me. Are you alright?”
Susan looked fine, but he always felt better asking.
“Weeeell, I think I tweaked my ankle when I got down to cover my ears. I don’t think I can walk the rest of the way, so you’ll have to carry me.” She grinned.
Alphonsus let out a sigh and said, “Alright, climb up!”
Susan giggled and climbed onto his back, and the pair were on their way to Fortuna.
- Writer
