--- [Leo’s perspective]
“You did it!!! Congrats!” – Lexa
“You’ve mentioned ‘hellfire’ before, but I’ve never seen it in person. I wouldn’t wanna be on the other end of that…” – Victor
“It certainly does the job, but good god does it tire me out…” – Leo
Even standing up straight is a hard…
There has never been a foe that hasn’t been defeated by hellfire, but after using it, it’s hard for me to continue fighting.
I only use it to finish off bosses and such.
“Maybe I need to learn a special attack like that too… Hmm…” – Lexa
“Same. But… What could I even do? Just more echoes?” – Victor
“I don’t know, that’s your problem. You figure it out.” – Lexa
“Hmm…” – Victor
They seem inspired, that’s good.
“Good job guys. We made it to The END… of the dungeon.” – Seth
“Yeah!” – Lexa
Wait…
What did he just say?
Am I just imagining things?
I look over at Seth to confirm my suspicion.
…
He’s staring right into my eyes with a dead-serious look on his face.
“…” – Leo
“Anyways, should we head out?” – Victor
“Victor, come over here for a second.” – Leo
“’Victor’? You never call me that.” – Victor
“Just do it.” – Leo
“What’s this about?” – Victor
Vic walks over to me.
While he walks over, I continue to maintain constant eye contact with Seth.
I whisper something into his ear.
--- [Victor’s perspective]
“What?” – Victor
“Just do it, okay? Promise me.” – Leo
If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.
“But-!” – Victor
“PROMISE ME!” – Leo
Leo never shouts like this…
He’s serious…
“Okay…” – Victor
“Now go.” – Leo
I walk over to Lexa and grab her arm.
“Let’s go.” – Victor
“Huh? What happened? What’s going on?” – Lexa
“We’re leaving. Now!” – Victor
“Okay…? But could you at least explain what’s going on?” – Lexa
“Now!” – Victor
“…” – Lexa
--- [Leo’s perspective]
“So, you know what this is about then…” – Seth
“I knew my past would catch up to me eventually, but… I didn’t expect it to be you. I thought we were friends.” – Leo
“We are! We are friends!” – Seth
“You’ve been lying to us all this time about who you really are!” – Leo
“To be fair, so have you…” – Seth
“…” – Leo
“You know what’s going on here. Let’s just cut to the chase… All I’m asking is for you to join us.” – Seth
“… So that’s why you didn’t use it. You have your own finishing move, just like my hellfire…” – Leo
“It’s just insurance, I don’t intend to use it.” – Seth
“I can’t believe this…” – Leo
“Leo! I don’t want anything to happen between us! We’ve been friends for years now.” – Seth
“A friend would never do this…” – Leo
“I already told you I don’t want anything to happen here. I-” – Seth
“Then why did you not use your special attack?!” – Leo
“It’s just… insurance…” – Seth
“Right, ‘insurance’…” – Leo
“Leo, I just need you to join us; join The END. That’s it. Nothing needs to happen here.” – Seth
“I don’t want to join your crazy club of revolutionaries; I just want to live my life!” – Leo
Seth starts nervously laughing.
“Leo…! We’re not just a ‘crazy club’, we’re fighting for the future! For the greater good of the world…” – Seth
“I don’t want to fight, Seth. You know that.” – Leo
“Sometimes you have to.” – Seth
“It seems I do…” – Leo
“…” – Seth
Seth is starting to look frustrated.
“I’m serious, I don’t want this to escalate.” – Seth
“Then let me go.” – Leo
“Leo… You know I can’t do that…” – Seth
“Of course you can’t…” – Leo
“Leo… Just-” – Seth
“Look. I just want to be a farmer. A fucking farmer! I want to spend the rest of my life with my family. I don’t want any of this. I only do it because I have no other choice…” – Leo
“Then that’s even more reason for you to join us! We don’t want anyone to ever feel that they need to put their lives at risk just to be able to live.” – Seth
“Listen to yourself… Do you not see how hypocritical you’re being? You’re asking me to do exactly that!” – Leo
“Come on… You know that’s not what I meant…” – Seth
“Then what did you mean?!” – Leo
“I just…” – Seth
“You don’t get it, huh…” – Leo
Seth takes a moment to collect his thoughts.
“Are you sure this is the road you want to go down?” – Seth
“I am.” – Leo
Seth sighs out of frustration.
“Leo, you’re special. You know why I can’t just let you go… You’re the-” – Seth
I interrupt him before he gets to finish his sentence.
“I know.” – Leo
“…” – Seth
Seth takes another deep breath.
“Well then, it seems I have no other choice…” – Seth
“So it seems…” – Leo
“As your friend, I wish you good luck. As your enemy…” – Seth
He closes his eyes…
“… I also wish you good luck.” – Seth
As he says that, he opens his eyes again.
Electricity is shooting out in every direction from his eyes.
“Thundergod’s wrath!” – Seth
--- [Victor’s perspective] Back at the guild hall
Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!
I start nervously biting my nails and shivering.
“VIC! What the hell is going on?!!!” – Lexa
“It’s Seth…” – Victor
“What about him?!!” – Lexa
“He’s not who we thought he was… Him and Leo are fighting…” – Victor
“Fighting?! Why?!!” – Lexa
“Because Leo isn’t who we thought he was either…” – Victor
“What does that even mean? Can you just explain?!” – Lexa
“I-” – Victor
I cut myself off.
“I can’t… It’s sensitive information. I don’t have the right to tell anyone. Only Leo and his little brother has that right…” – Victor
“Alex? What does he have to do with anything?” – Lexa
“…” – Victor
“Well, is there anything you can tell me?” – Lexa
“I don’t have all the information, but from what I gathered, Seth is part of some terrorist organization that is currently hunting Leo.” – Victor
“Do you know why they’re hunting him?” – Lexa
“Yes…” – Victor
“… But you can’t tell me why they’re hunting him?” – Lexa
“I can’t… I’m sorry.” – Victor
Lexa takes a deep breath, and sighs loudly.
“Fine… But I hope there’s a damn good reason for that…” – Lexa