Chapter 6: Acceptance

Chapter 6:

Hours had passed since the boys were taken by the rogues. They were trapped in a small, foul-smelling carrier with no means of escape. The windows and openings were sealed shut, leaving them stuck in this wooden prison.

Derek stood up and shouted, "You fucking bastards! I can't breathe in there! Let me go!"

Fredie approached his brother and said, "Hey, stay quiet."

"I can't breathe in there, Fredie! Tell them I can't breathe," Derek pleaded.

Fredie didn't understand what was wrong, but he knew he had to take action. He started punching the walls to get the attention of the drivers.

"Hey! My brother can't breathe! Stop, please stop!" Fredie shouted.

Jonas, Billy, and Wynn also got up and joined in, punching and shouting.

After a few minutes, the carrier came to a stop, and a rogue came to the back.

"Hey, what the hell is happening?" asked the rogue.

"My brother can't breathe. Please take him to the front. I think he needs air," Fredie explained.

The rogues conferred with each other briefly, and then the door opened.

"Alright, which one of you can't breathe?" asked the rogue.

Derek, amidst his coughing, said, "I can't."

The rogue took Derek and sealed the door again. After a minute, the carrier started moving once more.

"Will he be alright, Fredie?" asked Billy.

"Yeah, don't worry, brother. He's tougher than I am," Fredie reassured him.

"I hope you're right, Fredie," said Billy.

Fredie thought to himself that he should do something to cheer his brothers up, so he asked, "So, guys, how do you think this Knight will defeat the rogues?"

Wynn took the bait and started talking, "Oh, he will definitely eat them."

"Eww, he doesn't eat people, Wynn. He's a Knight. He'll cut them in half," Jonas corrected.

"What do you think, Billy?" asked Fredie.

Billy seemed uninterested and simply said, "I don't know."

While Jonas and Wynn continued discussing the Dragon-Knight, Billy remained silent, not joining in with his brothers

As hours passed, the boys grew hungry, but it was the least of their worries. Jonas and Wynn stopped talking about the Dragon-Knight hours ago, and since then, only the carrier creaked in silence.

"Nighttime?" asked Billy.

"Not sure, brother. Hard to tell," replied Fredie.

Wynn rubbed his belly. "Hope there's food there."

"Not a vacation, Wynn. Stop acting like a child," snapped Billy.

Fredie stepped in, staying calm but firm. "Don't talk to your brother like that. We're all in this together. No time to fight."

Billy slumped his shoulders. "Yeah, you're right."

Fredie wanted to restore peace. "Say sorry, Billy."

Billy reluctantly muttered, "Fine, sorry."

Silence settled upon the carrier after their small argument, and nobody felt inclined to speak because there was only one thing worth discussing.

Fredie took a deep breath and said, "Hey guys, when we leave, let's not mention Dragon-Knight. Whether he shows up or not, we shouldn't let anyone know we talked to him. Okay?"

Jonas, Wynn, and Billy all chimed in, "Okay."

"Good. Now let's get some sleep. I don't think we'll arrive until morning," Fredie suggested.

While the boys were traveling across Hara, Swordswoman Someone and Vigilante Dragon-Knight dealt with a family member named Slicky Jim.

"Oh, I will kill them, Daniel! I will kill them!" shouted Slicky Jim in pursuit of Dragon-Knight and Someone.

Daniel slapped Slicky Jim's face and firmly said, "You won't do anything like that, Jimmy. You'll let them go, understand?"

"They disrespected the family, Daniel, and you're doing the same," Slicky Jim angrily retorted.

Daniel sighed and responded, "Listen, you fucking idiot. They're going to end a threat to the family. If you go to your new father and tell him you stopped those two, he'll find a new husband for his newly widowed daughter. So shut up, you pitiful man."

Slicky Jim had no words in response, so he angrily shouted, "Get out! Get the hell out of my casino!"

Daniel smirked and said, "I will, don't worry. And don't forget to inform your brother-in-law about our earlier conversation."

While Slicky Jim and Daniel argued, Dragon-Knight and Someone walked away from the casino. Suddenly, Dragon-Knight dropped to the ground, breathing heavily.

"Hey, what's wrong? Are you injured?" asked Someone.

Dragon-Knight held her arm and replied, "Take me to the carrier and find some bandages for me."

"Oh, what the hell is happening?" exclaimed Someone, leading him to the carrier.

Someone hurried to a shop, bought some bandages, and brought them back to Dragon-Knight.

"Stay out!" Dragon-Knight shouted.

"Alright, alright. I brought the bandages," said Someone.

Dragon-Knight yelled, "Toss them inside, don't come in!"

Understanding that he wanted privacy, Someone closed her eyes and tossed the bandages into the carrier.

After five minutes, Dragon-Knight got out of the carrier, still breathing heavily.

"Can you tie that knot?" Dragon-Knight asked.

Someone tied the knot and asked, "Hey, are you feeling better?"

"Yeah, I hope it doesn't happen again," Dragon-Knight replied.

"I don't want to overstep, but I have to ask. What should I do if something worse happens?" someone asked.

Dragon-Knight didn't answer right away, but after a few minutes, he responded, "I think you should leave me alone."

"Hey, don't talk like that. I'll never abandon you," Someone reassured.

"Never?" Dragon-Knight joked.

"Oh, come on. Get inside the carrier, grumpy," Someone replied, laughing.

Dragon-Knight entered the Carrier, and Someone took the driver's seat.

"Remove my helmet and put fresh bandages to my face if things worsen," Dragon-Knight answered regarding her previous question.

Someone didn't know what to say and simply asked, "Are you sure?"

"Well, I still think you should leave me behind," Dragon-Knight replied.

"Alright, alright, I'll let you die," Someone joked.

"I know you wouldn't, or would you?" Dragon-Knight teased.

Someone chuckled and said, "Don't worry, you can always count on me. By the way, I wonder who that guy in the black suit was. Are you also after him?"

"Actually, I don't know who he is. Thanks to him, that bastard came to his senses, but I felt something strange when I was talking to him," Dragon-Knight answered.

"How so?" asked Someone simply.

Dragon-Knight hesitated for a moment, but then he said, "I don't know how, but he felt familiar to me."

"You have to go after him, right?" asked Someone.

"I think so," Dragon-Knight replied.

After a minute of silence, Dragon-Knight asked, "Hey, that man was a swordsman, right?"

"He used to be," Someone answered seriously.

"What will you do to Neal?" Dragon-Knight inquired.

"I'll do the same. Anyway, tell me where to go, and let's get some rest, Grumpy," Someone said.

A Swordswoman named Someone and a Vigilante known as Dragon-Knight embarked on their arduous journey North to find and rescue the innocent boys taken away by the rogues.

As Dragon-Knight and Someone tried to catch up with the rogues, Those boys have finaly reached to the hideout of the rogues.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" the boys were awakened by the commotion.

"Why the fuck did you bring him out? Are you that stupid, huh?" the man shouted angrily.

"Take them to the cave or I'll end you," the man threatened.

With creaky sounds, the sealed door opened, and the man who had taken Derek to the front spoke, "Fucking bastards, I should've let you die."

"Simon, get him out!" the man shouted.

"Yes, sir," a man named Simon replied with a shout.

Simon tied their hands one by one and led them out, taking them to the cave.

"Wait, wait, you fucking dumbass," the leader of the rogues, Neal, intervened.

Neal lowered himself to their level, gazing into their eyes.

"From now on, you belong to the rogues. Tomorrow, we will sail to the sea, and each one of you will receive a bottle to wear as a necklace. If by any chance you are caught and fail to protect that bottle, know this: you will die sooner or later. If you happen to get lost and someone asks who you are, you are a servant of Lord Colins who has lost his way. Mention my name to Lord Colins' men, and they will bring you to me. Alright, boys, from now until the day after tomorrow, you are rogues. Now, Simon, get them to the cave," Neal declared.

The boys were taken to a cave filled with kids like them, all bound and appearing desperate. Some still seemed relatively well, while others were too weak to even stand.

"Fredie," said Billy, looking at his brother Fredie.

Simon slapped Billy and shouted, "No talking!"

"Don't you dare touch them, asshole," Fredie said and kicked Simon.

Simon grew increasingly frustrated and punched Fredie to the ground.

"Don't stir up trouble, boys. We're not as soft as those whores," Simon yelled.

"Okay, okay, we'll be quiet. Just leave him alone," Billy pleaded with him.

Simon ceased taking out his anger on the boys and tied them up next to the other children.

The kids waited there for a long time, remaining silent and barely moving due to their overwhelming fear.

Fredie wasn't good at all after the punch so Derek decided to take the leader role.

He glanced at a girl next to them and quietly asked, "Hey, I'm Derek. How long have you been here?"

The girl whispered, "We shouldn't talk."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Derek replied.

Minutes later, the girl spoke again, saying, "I think it's been my fifth week."

"Have they given any food?" Derek inquired.

"Sometimes they did," the girl whispered back.

A man suddenly shouted, drawing near. "Hey, what did we say? Don't talk, don't move, don't do anything!"

"Sorry, sir," Derek answered.

"Don't talk back, child!" the man shouted.

Derek didn't say anything further.

Boys didn't tried to speak again and they didn't need to speak to each other cause they all knew what they should do, wait until he cames.

"There are two options: either they'll keep them on the ship or in the cave," someone said as they rode through the forest, unsure of which path to take.

"If they're kept on the ship, we should steal it," suggested the Dragon-Knight.

"It depends on the number of kids. If there's enough room in the carrier, we could escape with them," someone proposed.

"I believe they're keeping a large number of kids. This operation seems too big," the Dragon-Knight replied.

"Yeah, I think you're right. So, if they're in the cave, what should we do?" asked someone.

"We can't take the carrier and I doubt we can steal the ship and bring the kids on board at the same time," said the Dragon-Knight.

"I think the forest is our only chance," someone said.

"You might be right. You should take them and run while I buy us some time," the Dragon-Knight suggested.

"Don't think that I'll let you die, alright?" someone asked.

The Dragon-Knight hushed someone and whispered, "We're close now. Let's continue on foot."

Sun was about to set, but the night was at it's darkest, a rogue patrolled near the hideout, but his life abruptly ended as the Dragon-Knight swiftly snapped his neck.

"It's clear," the Dragon-Knight whispered.

"Hey, look over there," someone said, pointing towards the ship.

"They're loading the kids onto the ship," the Dragon-Knight said quietly.

"Should we wait?" asked someone.

"I don't know. We shouldn't wait too long or attack too soon," said the Dragon-Knight.

"There are lots of kids on the ship. Maybe I should go and check the cave," suggested someone.

"Alright, go and check the cave, but return safely," said the Dragon-Knight.

"And you stay here, alright?" asked someone.

The Dragon-Knight nodded and said, "Good luck."

Someone quietly but swiftly ran towards the cave. It had a large entrance, but she noticed another opening above and decided to climb up to it. Despite the hole being small, she managed to fit through and followed it to the end. Once inside the cave, she discovered a small group of kids still tied to the wall.

Someone wanted to get out and survey the area, but she heard a guard nearby. She knew she would be caught off guard, so she decided to wait until he left.

Suddenly, she heard a shout, "Intruder!"

Someone muttered to herself, "What the hell are you doing?"

The guard who was near someone left his position, giving her the opportunity she needed. She quickly got out and ran towards the kids.

"Kids, listen to me. I'm here to save you. Get into that hole and climb to the end. I'll be waiting outside for you," someone said as she cut their ropes.

"Who are you? Are you with him?" asked a little boy, recognizing someone as the companion of the Dragon-Knight.

"I'm with him, don't worry," answered someone.

She showed the way out to the kids but she used the main entrance, to start her first mission: bringing justice to those who betrayed shier.

Using the element of surprise, someone easily took out the unsuspecting rogues. While some noticed her presence, they were no match for her. She swiftly dealt with them.

After eliminating a significant number of rogues, she emerged from the cave with the children and began running towards the ship.

She expected to encounter numerous guards protecting the ship, but to her surprise, it was the opposite. The rogues she encountered earlier were now going towards the forest.

As Someone walked towards the ship, she saw a familiar face standing in front of her.

"Dice," she said angrily.

"I don't use that name anymore. I am free now," replied Neal.

"You're a traitor," said Someone.

"I didn't betray them; they betrayed me. How dare you question me? This is your first mission, you don't know what we did. We were working for a wrong cause, not for justice. We were doing it for the forger and father," explained Neal.

"All you have are lies, Dice. I will stop you. You will not harm anyone anymore," shouted Someone.

"Casualties of war, that's what they are. We need to rebuild what we had. Join me, it's not too late. Together, we can start our society," said Neal, trying to convince Someone.

"All you have are lies, Dice. You're not avenging anything; you're selfish," said Someone, a tear falling from her eye.

"Selfish!" screamed Neal. "Am I selfish because I embraced who I am? I am no one's slave. The world is mine, as it is everyone's. I am free, and my allegiance is to myself," shouted Neal.

"All you have are lies!" shouted Someone as she drew her sword and leaped at Neal.

Neal swiftly unsheathed his black sword and deflected Someone's attack.

"You are weak. They sent you to die in my hands," said Neal, swinging his sword.

Someone dodged the attack and hit Neal's stomach with the handle of her sword. "I will make you suffer."

Neal chuckled and said, "Mercy is a swordsman's weapon."

"Today, I am not a swordswoman," shouted Someone as she stepped on his leg, making him kneel.

Neal smirked as she stepped on his leg and then swiftly lifted her over his shoulders and threw her out of the ship.

Someone landed hard on the ground, struggling to get up, but Neal kicked her in the stomach.

"Show mercy to see mercy," said Neal, laughing. "Are you seeing any mercy right now, huh? How is the real world? Answer me," he taunted.

Someone slowly got up and said, "I will protect the ones who can't."

"That's new. Father must have told you some other lies, I guess," said Neal.

"I learned that in the real world, Neal. You will die today, not because you betrayed me, but because you harm the weak," said Someone as she got back on her feet.

Neal laughed and said, "Allow me to help you," as he took out a pale white sword.

"You forged it for me. Take it and kill me with it if you can," said Neal, tossing the sword to Someone.

Someone picked up the pale white sword and took a stance, but she knew she was too weak, even at her best, to defeat him.

Suddenly, the dragging sound of a sword being drawn started to echo through the woods. They realized that the woods had been unusually quiet for a while.

Neal didn't wait for whatever was making the sound to approach; he attacked Someone with everything he had.

Someone tried to deflect his attacks, but he was too fast for her.

The dragging sound came to a stop, and Dragon-Knight appeared with his bloody sword.

"Neal!" he screamed.

Neal laughed and said, "Oh, finally a worthy opponent."

Dragon-Knight breathed heavily as he looked at Someone and said, "Get to the ship and sail." Someone nodded and quickly made her way onto the ship.

"It doesn't matter; you can't stop me," Neal retorted confidently.

Dragon-Knight took a deep breath and charged towards Neal. Neal attempted to deflect the attack, but Dragon-Knight's power was too overwhelming. Their swords clashed, and they engaged in a fierce struggle, pushing against each other's strength.

"You can't defeat me. My cause is sacred. I am fighting for something greater, something you wouldn't understand," Neal taunted. He swiftly dodged Dragon-Knight's strike and cut his left leg from behind.

Dragon-Knight, undeterred, took another deep breath and declared, "I'll do it alone."

Neal laughed mockingly and responded, "You're nothing more than a deranged beast. You are no knight, no man, devoid of any honor. You don't deserve a name."

Unfazed by Neal's taunts, Dragon-Knight charged towards him. With a swift move, Dragon-Knight deflected Neal's attack and cut his right leg as well. Seizing the opportunity, Dragon-Knight gripped Neal by the neck and forcefully slammed him into a nearby rock.

"I'll do it alone!" Dragon-Knight screamed as he pinned Neal to the ground.

Neal laughed once more and said, "You're mad. I will put an end to your suffering."

From his belt, Neal retrieved a thin, long tube. Its bottom was blackened, and its contents were a dark blue liquid. Neal consumed the liquid, causing him to fall to the ground, writhing in agony. Neal let out a piercing scream, "Ah! It burns!"

"What have you done?" shouted the Dragon-Knight in alarm.

Neal rose to his feet, a wicked smirk on his face. "Just a little power-up," he said.

In an instant, Neal moved with unnatural speed and viciously slashed into the Dragon-Knight's chest.

"Yeah, yeah!" Neal laughed hysterically as he pulled his sword from the Dragon-Knight's chest.

"You will die," the Dragon-Knight uttered quietly.

"Don't you see? I cannot be killed!" Neal shouted defiantly.

The Dragon-Knight regained his footing and stated, "You are human. You can't contain it, Neal. You will die."

Frustrated, Neal stabbed him once again.

The Dragon-Knight let out a scream, "Let me die."

"Oh, I will kill you, don't worry," Neal replied, his smirk still in place.

Suddenly, a commanding voice reverberated throughout the surroundings, "Rise, Envoy."

He cried out, "Let me die!"

"Accept it, Envoy," the voice came again, even more powerful this time.

He screamed, but it was not like any other scream; it was a roar.

"Find who crafted it, Envoy," the voice echoed once more.

"What's happening?" Neal asked, but no one answered him.

He began to pound the ground with his fists, shattering the earth beneath him. Neal attempted to flee, but he collapsed to the ground due to the overwhelming trembling.

With a thunderous roar, he declared, "I won't accept it!"

"Change, accept, do not resist, do it, let it go," the commanding voice ordered.

The Dragon-Knight removed his helmet, revealing his face covered in bandages.

He roared, "Someone, save me!"

Someone attempted to rise and come to his aid, but the commanding voice once again shook the surroundings.

"Enough! Long have I waited. Find who crafted that," the voice commanded.

He let out a roar, "No!" as he rebelled. His voice took on a form, causing the ground to turn to dust. Shockwaves emanated from his mouth, and his hand grew larger with claws bursting out from his leather gloves. His armor began to shatter as his body grew in size. The bandages on his face unraveled, revealing scales and spikes. His jaw elongated and widened, and his roar transformed into a fiery inferno, consuming everything in its path.

"Let go, Envoy, give it your all!" the voice called out to him.

Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Someone's.

"It doesn't matter," she said.

He couldn't stop.

"It doesn't matter who you are, what you call yourself. What matters is what you do!" Someone shouted.

A tear trickled down his lizard-like eyes, and his flames transformed into a mighty roar.

"What will you do?" asked Someone.

The roar ceased, and he took a deep breath.

"I will save them," he answered.

His voice was completely different from before, but she knew who he was.

"You protect those who can't," said Someone as she held his face and embraced him.

Uncertain of what to do, he repeated the words, "I protect the ones who can't."

"Then do it," said Someone.

He rose to his feet and began walking towards Neal.

Neal shouted, "What are you?" and charged at him with incredible speed, but the sword couldn't cut him.

He punched Neal to the ground and continued his stride.

"Who are you?" screamed Neal.

He took his helment from ground and look at it , then looked at the ship filled with frightened children. He said, "I am the one who protects those who can't. I am the Beacon in the Night." He unsheathed his sword, its blade glowed like hot steel. Placing the helmet upon his face, he said, "I am the Dragon-Knight." Then he drove the scorching blade into Neal's heart.

Neal gave his life there, and the Dragon-Knight withdrew his sword from Neal's lifeless body. Someone approached him and held his hand.

"Thank you for choosing to be the Dragon-Knight. We all need you," said Someone with tears in her eyes.

The Dragon-Knight attempted to wipe away the tears, but his claws prevented him from doing so.

"I always knew this day would come. I had hoped to die today, but now I want to live, not for myself, but for the man I used to be. Arthur was a hero, loved by everyone because he did good. For him, I will continue his work. Perhaps one day, I can be Arthur again," said the Dragon-Knight, his voice filled with sorrow.

Someone hugged him once more and said, "I love you, Dragon-Knight, because you have done good."

The Dragon-Knight let his tears flow freely and replied, "Thank you."

Together, the Dragon-Knight and Someone boarded the ship. Just as they did, they heard a voice.

"Dragon-Knight!" Billy shouted.

The Dragon-Knight turned, and Billy jumped into his arms, embracing him tightly.

"You saved us," Billy said, tears streaming down his face.

The Dragon-Knight knelt down and said, "You are free now, child. Live your life."

Freddie approached and expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you for everything you did. I didn't believe in you, but now you are my hero too."

Billy added, "I'm returning your knife, Dragon-Knight."

The Dragon-Knight smiled and took his knife, now cleaned of blood.

Jonas, Wynn, and all the other children gathered around, expressing their thanks.

Afterward, they sailed together to the city where they had first met, to decide what to do with all the children.

The Dragon-Knight had become the monster he had feared, but he had also found happiness. He had decided who he wanted to be. The Dragon-Knight would be someone both feared and loved.

Hours passed, and the hideout of the rogues became infested with flies. The only remnants left were the corpses, except for one item.

A man in a black suit approached Neal's lifeless body.

"Finally, you used it, Neal. I was afraid you wouldn't," said the man, who had one brown eye and one yellow eye.

"Yes, I know you are confused. You should be dead, but you aren't," he continued, picking up Neal's black sword from the ground.

He added, "Ah, I knew there was something about your weapons. I can feel the flow right now."

The man in the black suit retrieved a cobalt coin and placed it into the cavity in Neal's chest.

"You see, Neal, magic is still coursing through your veins from that high-craft that you drank. This coin will regulate and redistribute it, bringing you to our side. We could have kept you alive, but your cells are crushed and beyond repair. Now, your limitations are gone. My master will transform you into something magnificent."

The mysterious man took Neal's body and began to walk away. After a few steps, he vanished like the wind.

The End.