Dawn- An age of Darkness

I spent the next two days gradually gaining my strength and leeching off the crew. I was a burden and I knew it. My condition was improving but at a very slow pace. I could move around but my wounds weren't actually healing all that well. The old man told me I needed special attention once we made port in Jello something city.

But given the fact that I had a hole in my chest only two weeks ago, it wasn't really all that practical that I'd do any fighting anytime soon. Actually, it did make me wonder though. How the hell did the undead's sword miss its mark? And then there was another question. Did it really miss its mark?

Where the hell did that thing get a sword like that in the first place?

During that evening I thought about the future. I had a lot on my plate. The training, the betrayal, and getting strong enough. A lot.

I don't have much time remaining. Should I just ignore the elves and focus on my training instead? Or should I go to their lands and know the reasons behind his betrayal. But come to think of it, the bitch princess….rather Beatrine was controlled… could it be that he was too-

It was plausible and I had to be rational about this. I had a tendency to lash out at times. I knew it but couldn't do anything about it. But this time, I really wanted to change. I had to change. Or else, I'd go through this over and over again.

"Daarc…" Jowy walked up to me.

I answered from the comfort of the hammock. "Oh hey. What's up?"

"The captain told me that, we'll be making port tomorrow. "

I smiled. "That's actually good news." That was a very good news. I was sick of seafood anyway.

"Yeah, but I have a favor to ask," He said.

Jowy was still on my suspicious list-if that was a thing. "That is?"

"I heard you were headed to Alfeim… would you let me accompany you?"

"Why would you want to go there?" I asked. I never trusted Jowy. He was always supporting me and he knew things. Something about him was mysterious and that made me stay on the defensive.

"Personal reasons." He showed me his face. His sharp eyes looked pretty dashing on his toned face: his golden straight and silky hair made me want to pummel him for a second. He also had a resemblance to a certain high elf I knew.

"An elf!"

He was an elf?

I'd already suspected he was one. But even so, I didn't have any proof. So I never really worried about it all that much.

"Yes, I'm an elf. I hid my identity to protect myself and others." He didn't take pride in being an elf, but that didn't make me feel any better.

My mood took a downhill. My attitude became rude. "Why were you on that ship?"

"I was a stranded sailor like you too. They were really nice."

I suppose that's why you didn't speak like those guys.

"Back then… was that?" If I saw correctly he might have used magic on the monster.

"Yes, I used-"

I didn't let him finish. Something was bothering me from the moment I watched him use that technique he used to beat the monster. "Then back then… why didn't you USE THAT FROM THE BEGINING!" halfway through I started screaming. My wounds reminded me not to shout but I didn't care.

So that really was magic! I wasn't hallucinating after all.

I came to that conclusion without letting him finish. I was that confident. In reality, I just didn't want to think about it before this. But if he had used his magic from the beginning then all that might not have happened.

He lowered his eyes. "I couldn't. I'm cursed. Every time I use magic, I run the risk of-" He paused.

My voice softened a little. "You too huh?"

He looked at me with an intense look. "That brings me to my next question… Why do you have her knife? Lianne's knife," he said. It wasn't asking that question as a favor. He was serious.

I could tell that he was more than just curious. But it didn't faze me. "You know her?"

"She's my elder sister."

She did mention that she had a brother, but…I suppose I shouldn't show too much emotion. He's an elf after all…

"She was my friend. She gave it to me. But I think she said something about her late brother, and-"

Instead of answering me, he dumped his questions instead. "Was? Did something happen to her!?"

"That's what I don't know. That bratty prince betrayed me and threw on the ocean. Sorry, but I can't take you because of that. I just can't bring myself to trust you guys, ever again." I know I shouldn't have said that but I couldn't help myself, not anymore.

"I am sorry to hear that. Forgive me for being rude." That was fast. I didn't expect him to change gears this quick or to believe me on spot.

"Tell me, why trust me this much?"

He smiled. "Because that knife only responds to people it deems worthy. The knife chose you and Lianne had to oblige. That's why I trusted you."

I took the knife out (The old man had given it to me). "So this thing has a mind of its own?" It still seemed pretty ordinary to me. The only thing special was that it could harm undead. Maybe that was a very special thing indeed.

He didn't answer my question. "Here, this belongs to you." He gave me the sword that the monster was carrying.

"Why the sword? Didn't you deliver the finishing blow?"

"Even so, you were the one who weakened the monster. Besides, I don't use swords or more like I don't like them." He looked down. Maybe I took it a bit too far. After all, he wasn't the one who betrayed me. But he was still an elf and I don't think I'd be able to trust elves anytime soon.

"You should take it. It's a good sword." The old man said from far.

The old man was lingering everywhere. Was he worried about me or did he just find it amusing?

I took the sword from Jowy's hands.

"This is light!" It wasn't as light as the mystic blade but definitely lighter than my broken sword. I still couldn't lift it properly though. My body was just too busted.

Jowy looked away in the distance. "It's the blade of Asce. That island we were on was once called Asce. It was an ancient civilization that went extinct. I once read about it back in Alfeim. I'm really sorry for what my fellow brethren had done to you. Please forgive us," he said.

Show a little rage. I rejected your proposal. Aren't you mad? Why do you look sad instead!?

I was confused. "Yeah, the angel told me something like that too. And don't worry about it. I'm not holding grudges but forgiveness doesn't come cheap." Although I said that, I was still in rage. I wanted to pummel the prince as soon I saw him but I controlled my rage and tried to be as considerate as possible.

He was a prince and I was a commoner. I had to think this rationally. I couldn't just do whatever I wanted. After all, I spend two months on an island learning how to be patient in the first place. Wouldn't it all go to waste if I just went out of my way and ended up starting a war between men and elves or something? Their relations were already as screwed up as it was, I didn't want to screw it up even more.

"I know you don't trust me but can you tell me one thing? Why could you understand the angel without any artifacts? Who are you?"

I took a deep breath and sighed. "Well, I suppose I'll tell you one thing. I'm just a nobody who's just trying to go home. But to do that I'll need to beat someone who's as strong as a god. That's all. And all of this is just a side effect of that." I was being a little sarcastic but I couldn't help it.

He didn't say anything anymore and left. I couldn't blame him, and he couldn't blame me.. The situation was pretty screwed from the get-go.

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