In the City - Alphonsus
1243 Words
“We are finally here!” Alphonsus huffed as he let Susan down from his back.
Susan crawled down from his back. “Woooooow, I can’t believe you carried me all the way to Sumar. I’m impressed Al!”
She gave him an innocent look and looked off into the distance, seeing a large city mixed with both destruction and beautiful structures. Her eyes widened as she saw the outside of the city covered in ash and debris.
Alphonsus stretched out his back as he glared at the city. “We must hurry and find the hero of light, Susan. The amount of destruction is growing the more time passes.”
He looked at Susan who was continuing to look at the city with wide eyes, “Do you remember our goal, Susan?”
“Yesss, I do.”
“Repeat it to me then.”
“We are supposed to look for the hero of light while avoiding the monster of destruction. Once we find him, we travel with him and aid him to destroy the monster of destruction.”
“Yes, very good Susan” responded Alphonsus.
They were walking on the path to the inner city amongst the ruins on the outskirts of the city. They passed by several people, including those leaving the city in carts or with their families. They also passed a three strange guys - a short, plain-looking boy, a taller, muscular man with his arms behind his head, and a creepy looking guy with hair as black as night.
Once the pair got into the city, Alphonsus immediately went to a market to buy supplies, while Susan went to find a room at an inn. At the market, he met a beautiful lady with brown hair and deep brown eyes.
“Hello!” she called out, “What can I do for ya today?”
Alphonsus smiled., “I need some bread and dried meat. Also, do you know of anyone who can repair tools or weapons for a decent price?”
She gave a large smile. “My husband does a great job for a really low price. Hey, Risus!” she called from the counter.
“What is it Pulchra?!” Someone shouted from the back room. She gave Alphonsus a joking smile and said, “Just a minute.”
She went into the back room, and Alphonsus caught part of the conversation.
“When I scream for ya don’t just scream back…”
“Who is it?”
“It’s a customer!”
“Do they look friendly?”
“Yes, now go interact with him!”
A guy of average height and a slightly more muscular build came from around the corner. He had blue eyes and brown hair and a friendly smile. “How can I help you today, sir? I am Risus, a blacksmith around here. My shop is in back.”
Alphonsus looked him up and down. “Are you able to fix magical weapons? I can faintly sense some abilities from you.”
Risus had a shocked look on his face. “I can fix your weapons for you, my abilities are nothing special, just some powers of the forge. I can even make some weapons for ya, if you need it.”
Alphonsus shook his head, “I only need this weapon repaired.”
He then pulled out a sword that had a faint blue glow around it. Risus picked it up and studied it. “It looks like the blade is intact still, but the power within has been weakened. What have you been up to, to have damaged the weapon this much?”
Risus gave Alphonsus a curious look and Alphonsus responded., “My business is my own, good sir. I would just appreciate it if you would repair the weapon’s magic power for me.”
Risus gave an understanding smile. “Sure thing sir. It will be about a day, and since this weapon seems to be pretty darn powerful, it will cost ten royals, and another two for the food.”
Alphonsus agreed to the price and paid Risus up front. “I will see you tomorrow then Risus, thank you.”
Risus looked at Alphonsus and responded, “No, thank YOU, sir. I will have this weapon in tip-top shape in no time.”
Risus smiled and went into the back, and Alphonsus heard part of the couple’s conversation again.
Why’d you only charge twelve? Normally you charge twenty for a smaller weapon’s repair.”
“I know, but he seemed like such a nice guy.”
Did you just forget our prices?”
“Maaaaybe.”
“Oh Risus, what am I going to do with you?”
”You can kiss and love me in a bit, Pulchra.”
“Oh, you.”
Alphonsus smiled as walked back outside. Susan was just walking up to him.
“Hey Al!” she called, “I found a cheaper place not too far from here.. Are you finally done getting that pretty weapon all fixed up?”
Alphonsus raised an eyebrow, “Pretty?”
Susan gave him an innocent smile. “Yeah, pretty, with all that lovely blue glow around it.”
Alphonsus looked very tired. “It is a very masculine weapon, Susan.”
Susan shot him a smile. “Okay then! So you say!”
The pair went on their way to the inn.
Ch 9: Practice in the woods - Acacius
Nero stood in front of both Nicolas and Acacius as if he was an instructor in the army.
“Alright then you two,” he stated firmly as he paced back and forth in front of them, “you both need to get stronger before you can even face a finger of the guys ahead of the journey. I am powerful, but I am going to need some strong backers if we are going to take them down.
“So, Nicolas” he paused as he pointed at him, “we are going to need to get you some magical equipment since you have no abilities of your own. For now, just keep practicing with your sword. I don’t want you to stop until your hands are b****y and you are on the ground exhausted!”
Nicolas gave a joking smile “Whatever you say, dude, as long as we get to bash in some bad guy heads later on and rake in the cash!”
He then walked away from them and drew his sword. He started swinging back and forth practicing many different forms, swings, and stances.
Nero pointed at Acacius and said, “You, however, are with me.” He gave him a creepy smile to Acacius. “Don’t worry, this will be quite a painful process.”
Acacius looked at him. “Hey Nero, I don’t think you understand what ‘don’t worry’ means.”
All of a sudden, a giant black whip of darkness smacked Acacius and shot him into a tree. Acacius gasped from the blow and struggled to breathe.
“What the hell Nero?!” he shouted once he caught his breath. Nicolas stopped what he was doing and looked angrily at Nero as well.
Nero was slowly walking towards Acacius with that creepy smile on his face. “In order to unlock your power, you need to experience the power of someone else being used on you. Basically, all I have to do is beat you up until your powers completely unlock. Please don’t die.”
Acacius had a shocked look on his face and managed to say, “What?” before another large whip smacked him across the ground. Acacius stood up and tried to move deeper into the woods.
Nero smiled and a huge shadow grew from his feet. A hundred tentacles grew from the shadows and sliced through all the trees within one hundred meters of Acacius.
“Nice try Acacius, but you need to get beaten up more,” stated Nero.
Acacius looked up at the starry sky and thought, this is going to be a very long night.
- Writer
