The Resistance

"How long are you going to keep this up, Korkinim." Her sound even if weak and pained, was something I treasured.

"As long as I can, Joan." My grip strengthened. I was sure to hold her firmly and comfortably. There was nothing more important, more urgent than her.

"Live for the living Korkinim. I know you don't owe this nation anything. But can you do one thing for me."

"Why do you think I would ever refuse you?"

"I know if you can give something of yours to anything I desire, you'd lose it in a heartbeat. But I want something which is not yours to give." She looked at me dead in the eye, 

"Rest me in a liberated land, Korkinim. I will hold till then." I opened my mouth to argue. But her finger shushed me. "Now let me sleep, Korkinim. I will think about you till I can"

I wanted to say a million words. But her eyes shut me. I couldn't argue with her. Some gazes shut you up. I bid my farewell to her and began walking back.

"Mr, Gyoro!" somebody called out to me at the top of their voice. I turned around and was greeted by the same golden-haired midget. He came running and I could now make out his features more clearly, he had a rather short stature, probably five feet and he wore a single monocle. 

"Pardon me, Mr. Gyoro. I know you are going through something deeply painful, but I think you may be interested in the services of a gentleman." 

"Why?"

"This man has been dabbling very deep in medicine that even by our standards are questionable, and that is truly despicable Mr. Gyoro." The midget straightened himself and introduced himself:

"My name is Jid Kroyan, I am the friend of your acquaintance, the Trunkmaster." 

Korkinim looked up at him and shook his hand. 

"Now would you be kind enough to let me suggest that man about your dear's condition?"

There was nothing more left in my knowledge, I had tried everything I knew, years upon years of experts consulting and giving up made me consider the black market, and what was one step more now. If it meant I could see her for some more time, then that was all. 

"I see, then we can go with it." 

Kroyan was overjoyed. "Oh thank you Mr. Gyoro. My friend was turned down by the temple and the resistance, even in this establishment, he was shunned. I am thankful you gave him a chance."

He quickly pulled out a small book from his coat and scribbled out a couple of lines and tore them. After folding it once he handed it over to me. 

"After Forty hours, please come to the Mariana's gorge. My friend will be waiting." 

With nothing more to say, I saw him off and went back to the open market, my robes were custom made so they had neat little pockets every here and there, helped me hide stuff.

Since I had practically deserted the army a few hours ago 

Out in the marketplace I went to see a play by the resistance. Many times these places provided information that was excellent. After many years, I had gained a somewhat useful skill to seperate the rumours from reality. Many interesting things were said and heard in here. The play was crude, boisterous but that was all the entertainment that this deep black market offered. 

The theatre itself was dingy and bland. The great plays of the Holy Toruin Empire a thing of ridicule here. These theatres felt an unmistakable sense of pride in their work, something they had in common with their oppressors. They were both biased with their sides, believing the other side was to blame for almost all if not most of their problems.

As I went to sit down on the chair that was probably twice as old as me, I could feel that the rows behind me sent a lot of tapping sounds. For the untrained ear this was yet another everyday reality of nuisance, but on a closer hear, it was clear that this was a rebel code. I had learned this particular code very well in my branch training. 

New Face.

No look pagan.

Yes, but still suspicious, has gold line.

Should we finish him.

Let play end, Boss may kill us if not.

Ok

So, it was their plan to kill me because I was new. I couldn't really blame them. The way they were persecuted would rationally amount to this.

I excused myself and took a walk down the dusty underground. All sorts of psychedelics and drugs were sold out in the open here, I took a look back to make sure they were following me, and sure as day, they were. 

I wondered how long they would follow me. In my mind I was weighing two options. Being humane is almost always the wrong choice towards the enemies. I contemplated pulling my dagger, but I will choose the other option now. 

There were a few shops around as I reached the entertainment district. Brothels, bars, and even a few underground fight clubs were a common sight.

I went in a run-down bar and ordered four drinks. I had to get them cleanly one mistake and I could blow them the wrong way up. The men promptly took seats behind me: I took a drink and sent the three back with a note.

As soon as the drinks arrived, a stalker in the group got angry and bolted towards me, however something he didn't know was that the bar was managed by my friend Joru. And he didn't take attackers kindly. Just as the stalker had lifted a dagger and was about to strike me, the server, who a minute ago had politely served the drinks pulled an empty glass from the table to his side and rammed it on his head. The two men, in rapid fashion lunged forward but I had already slammed their noses in.

Disoriented and with streaks of blood flowing down they were at their wits' end. I hit them each once squarely on the chin and they fell to the ground. 

"FINALLY." Joru screamed. His large almost comical eyes were in stark contrast to the rest of his body which was extremely athletic and thin. His grin shot from ear to ear. He was shirtless with a tanktop on. 

"The usual, Kork?" He said in incredibly gruff voice. 

"No." I replied. "Let's take the kinder path."

His large eyes suddenly drooped and his grin turned into a disapproving frown. He went to the side and pulled out two axes and handed one to me. 

I held it and could immediately feel some grime. on the handle. In the empty pub it was much easier to do whatever we wanted Joru held the axe in his mouth and tied together the three guys to the table with their own clothes. 

I took a large jug of water and poured it over their heads. All three immediately woke up groggily and finding their faces in pain they wriggled around. As they struggled and whined in pain and confusion, I raised my axe to make them silent. It worked like a charm.

Then without warning, I brought my axe down and did a clean beheading. The other two shouted but Joru pulled his axe a milimeter to their necks to silence them. Their violent breathing was the only sound that could be heard in the pub now.

"I killed him so that you guys will understand that I don't plan on giving empty bluffs." 

I took a deep breath and asked the questions: "Who are you guys and why did you follow me?"

They were too terrified to answer or maybe they were afraid of someone or something else.

"I will let the one who speak go." 

"W-we a-a-ar-e p-p-art o-of t-the r-re-res-" The man at the end mumbled his friend's lifeless corpse being a starkly disturbing view.

"The Resistance?" I asked. 

"Y-ye-yes" He stammered. 

"What do you terrorists want with me?" 

"It is not a Terrorist organisation," The man in the middle shouted.

Immediately Joru struck the head of the third man. 

"Now you will sing like a bird, leader." I muttered. 

"The Resistance will liberate this nation and every one that is. Our forces will be victorious. You military dogs will die like you fucking deserve."

"I wanted to eliminate every bastard who will lead the oppressive cowards. I know about you Knight Commander Korkinim Gyoro. I will find every member of your squad and kill them." 

"The squad of who?" I questioned.

"The Blackout, Gyoro. You and your cowardly Blackout Squad."

Hearing this made me clearly understand the situation. 

"Do others in resistance know about the Blackout?"

"Everybody knows about it."

"How many know about me and all those deaths? How many deaths do you know about?"

He suddenly seemed cautious. "Everybody knows that you ordered the killing of those dozens of women and men. You can't escape justice Gyoro."

"If that's all you have to say, It's fine."

Joru cut off the head of the Resistance leader. Blood spilled and covered up almost a third of the pub. Combined with the two previous corpses, this was a big mess.

"So, what to eat?" I asked. 

"Let me see if Skoya's in town she makes the best stuff." 

"Let's clean and go." I went to find the mops and sacks. 

"What did you do in the Blackout."

"I don't want to kill you today, Joru. Please don't talk about it."