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To Live Again: Chapter 8

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CHAPTER 8 - Disclosure


The darkness echoed with the hollow, even clacking of my heels. The granite under my feet seemed to resound loudly with each step I made. In my right hand, I clutched a rough and innocent sheepskin satchel. And my face spoke indifference as I silently made my way to the Council Hall.

I had encountered no difficulty in my return to the empty Training Room after witnessing Lief's betrayal that night. And now, I walked the halls to that same room, seemingly ignorant of what my protégé had done. Everything was silent to me, despite the rushing guards who passed me scrambling to the opposite direction, hoping to prevent the traitor's escape. The panicking voices of the Messengers who shouted 'Capture him at all cost' failed to register to me, though clearly heard by my trained ears.

They're making such a fuss.

This was the first time any student had attempted such a coup. I supposed their apprehension was understandable. But one would think that a facility that houses Hell Hounds should at least have some idea of the common techniques the said Hell Hounds applied. Obviously, however, considering the single-flow current of men I had passed in the halls, no one had considered the high probability that the student had never left the room.

I stood before the double-doors of the Council Room, and heaved a sigh as I entered.

I walked calmly to the center of the room, and stood there – as if waiting for something to appear.

"Lief," I called into the deserted darkness. My voice was that of certainty, but not loud. A regular speaking voice was enough as the room's hollowness provided more than enough amplification.

"Lief, I taught you this technique. I do hope you don't believe you can fool me," I continued.

Suddenly, from behind me, I heard a soft thud – as if some small animal had fallen from the ceiling overhead. I turned around and eyed my protégé, his shoulder supporting the body of the emaciated prisoner. He looked at me with eyes that refused to take back what he had done.

"Lief, do you know what you've done?" I asked.

"Yes. I understand perfectly." He replied. "But, teacher…" he paused.

"I will not ask them to forgive me. I have chosen this path." He stood before me with the same resolution he had during all his training. With endurance, swords, projectiles, crushing devices, chain-linked weapons, double-wielded weapons, reaction time, balance, obstruction, decapitation, focus points, close combat techniques… I ran through the whole course of Dispatcher Training which typically took eight years even for a talented individual. The boy in front of me finished it in six.

We faced each other in silence marked by the unconscious prisoner's even breaths. I clutched the satchel in my right hand tightly. Lief saw this as a form of aggression and took up a defensive stance.

The moment had come.

I had always hoped this would happen. Secretly, I had hoped that Lief would rebel and begin the movement to let the Dispatchers fade out into a new era where no one would be forced to eliminate people purely for the interest of others, and without their own reasons. I wished for an era where young talented individuals could continue their lives outside these walls, and live their dreams unobstructed by the greedy nature of those who wanted to use their abilities for selfish objectives. It seemed strange for me to be thinking such thoughts then. I had always restrained myself from thinking about anything at all, since it interfered with my profession. I thought all of my humanity had been drained out of me the night I made a vow in this Council Room, but somehow, at this moment, something inside me breathed with life.

It was a small spark, a thirsty fire that heaved up, searching for nourishment it could not find. It had always remained in me, even after that night – the spark. The spark of hope for something different in the future, was something I had buried inside me, uncovered only in the moments when Lief had shown me that perhaps killing may not be all that was left for the Dispatchers of His Majesty.

I closed my eyes and bowed my head. I attempted to treat this situation rationally, but the spark had grown into a fire that threatened to burn down all my rationality.

I raised my head, and threw the satchel to Lief, lightly but surely. Slightly in shock, Lief caught it in his free hand and looked at me in surprise.

"Go," I said to him. "Before the dimwits realize their mistake."

"T-teacher…" Lief called to me, as he looked at the contents of the bag I gave to him. "Thank you!" he said, looking so grateful, that he almost began to cry.

"Go," I said flatly. Nodding, he stealthily ran out the double-doors, the prisoner in tow.

He would have more than enough time to escape, since the men of the facility were concentrating in the entirely wrong location. I put my hand on my hips in the dim Council Room, as I felt a different presence enter.

"What do you want, Wendell?" I asked the shadow.

"Oh, nothing at all. Just the reasons you have for aiding the traitor," the shadow spoke with sarcasm. Somehow, the outgoing and light Wendell was a different person from Wendell, the Messenger. The one before me now was a cold and serious presence – a spy of His Majesty 'at all cost.'

I spoke confidently: "The same reasons you have for secretly aiding the Estorians."

Wendell had been Head Bradley's most trusted comrade for years now. Known as the 'Chameleon,' he had infiltrated several traitorous families so effortlessly that people barely noticed the 'small incident' with the Glyhallen family – still a threat to this day. Of the group of Messengers sent to gather information on the rebellious Estorians before the Dispatchers were sent, he was the only one to return. About the others, he simply said 'they were not so fortunate.' The Crown had also ignored the surprising existence of the Estorian Knights, wholly unreported by Wendell the Chameleon.

Since long ago my distrust had been growing, fed by all the 'small incidents' regarding Wendell's missions to the rebelling nation.  Finally, after observing for years, I became wholly convinced that the Chameleon, in fact, was a spy of the Estorians. I spoke freely about what I knew was the truth of the matter.

He seemed speechless as I spoke the words, but regained his composure quickly:
"Ah, there's nothing that can be hidden from you, is there, Alice?" he said, confirming my suspicions.

"What have you been doing?" I had turned the tables now. Wendell was unaware of Lief's true skill and now took his time with me, believing it would be easy to capture the child later.

He was wrong.

Lief would be long gone later, despite being weighed down by a prisoner. I smiled quietly to myself.

"Hmm… That's difficult. You could say I've grown tired of King Wiltord's reign of decay, but that would be cruel. I'll just say I want a better future for Narcht," I saw a something strange flash in the eyes of the traitor – something akin to hope. But I shook that notion off.

"So, how is it? Letting your comrades die at the hands of the enemy?" I questioned.

"Oh, you speak of that night in Estoria? It was rather fun," he chuckled as he spoke.

"Fun?" My blood began to boil. My brother had died that night, and this traitor thought that fateful night 'fun'?! But I had been taught enormous self-control as a Dispatcher, and I quelled my anger successfully.

"Yes, fun," he spoke simply. He began to circle me, like the reptile he was.

"Alice, Alice, you know I cannot help you now. If I do, I'd surely be found out," he smiled, still tracing a circle around me. "Oh, and I'm deeply apologetic about that night," he said without remorse.

"…The night you lost your dearest brother. I did not mean for *that* to happen." He said, faking regret.

"You understand, right?" he put his face so close to mine that I could have made a very painful gash on it with the dagger under my coat, had he not retreated so quickly.

He stopped circling, and stood with his back to me. As if talking to the empty wall: "I'm so deeply, truly, honestly sor—" his lengthy apology was cut short as I pounced onto his unready countenance.

I sat on his abdomen as my anger seethed through my teeth. In my hand was the dagger I always had with me, ready to cut his throat at a moment's notice. He grinned up at me:
"If you kill me now, you'd probably be at your end yourself. You have no proof that I am a traitor."

"Who needs the proof?" I said, letting Alice take full control of my body. My grip on his neck tightened.

Revenge. Would I take the opportunity?

"My brother… Why did you do it… Wendell?" I spoke gravely, evenly.

"Why did you let him die?!" My voice was suddenly filled with anguish, cracking even.

I knew that someone would hear me in the deep silence of this chamber, but I cared little.

Wendell's face was expressionless now. I breathed in deeply, and raised my dagger for the final cut.

As the point of the dagger quickly descended to its target, Wendell spoke. Filled with confusion, I let the dagger fall to the ground. I sat motionless, unable to understand what had just been said. Unable even to see clearly, I felt warmth suddenly envelope my body as someone held me close.




What?
Here it is... Chapter eight.


--What's in the bag, you ask? You decide. xD
-- And, no, we won't be following Lief *yet*. :]
-- What compelling thing did Wendell say? Not 'I love you,' that's for sure...

--Also, please feel free to comment/criticize constructively. :D

[link] -> NEXT CHAPTER
© 2011 - 2024 selhiamafuchi
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WowAxle's avatar
Wait... no more yet?! O-o Ahhhh!! :D I thought that I had a few more chapters to go! Keep writing! Amazing! BUT u can't rush genius, so... well, u kno!! lol