Charlie

Charlie closed his eyes as the wind shot past his face. His body jolted forward as King Scalea landed on the next rooftop. He allowed himself a moment of quiet peace before surveying the surrounding damage. For just a moment, he wanted to enjoy the fresh air on his skin. He’d been cooped up in a dungeon for days now. It was nice to be outside.

But a moment was all he could afford. Charlie opened his eyes and looked around at the city.

Sange was a town on fire. Red and green flames burned throughout the town’s landscape. Some people were trapped by debris, others were wounded from fighting. Whatever battle had happened in the streets of Sange was over. But the aftermath was not. The people of Sange needed help, and Charlie intended to offer his assistance.

He patted King Scalea on the head. “Okay, give the order,” he said.

King Scalea nodded his head slightly. He lifted it up and opened its mouth. “Arca!” The cry bellowed throughout the city, echoing through the streets.

The Scalers scurried to work. They followed the people that were going to get water to put out fires. Not a moment later, Charlie heard people protesting as Scalers ran off with buckets filled with water. But the citizens of Sange quickly caught on to the fact that the Scalers were helping. They delivered the buckets to the people splashing fires. The Scaler’s speed would help the town’s people put out the flames much sooner.

Having earned the people’s trust, some Scalers started barking at men to follow them. Eventually, a few did. The Scalers led them to trapped survivors and people with wounds that needed to be tended to. It made Charlie think about what the Nae Glera had told him.

In the past, humans and dungeon cores hadn’t been enemies. Maybe this was how it looked, beasts helping humans under the guidance of a dungeon. Maybe that dream wasn’t so impossible.

He turned back and saw Bonehead and the other two Scalers guiding Sophia down the street. He’d entrusted her safety to them. Though he wasn’t going far. He just needed a better view to find…

“Arh!” his Scaler companion called out. Charlie looked in the same direction as King Scalea. There, he could see something on the large stone building not too far from them.

Charlie nodded. “Okay, let’s go!” he said. He looked back and pointed in the new direction. Bonehead nodded his confirmation.

Charlie thought back to the last interaction he’d had with Luc before the other children had left the dungeon.

“I understand why you spared him. I understand what you want me to do,” Luc had said, speaking to him via their mental connection.

Charlie hadn’t responded. He’d allowed Luc to take the mayor for a reason.

He’d convinced Sophia to spare the mayor for a reason.

If the Mayor died, the knowledge of the corrupt nobles would die with him. Some of them had gotten away with their extended lifespans. The children whose youth they’d stolen were no longer around. So, it was up to the two of them to learn their identities and make them pay.

Charlie had business in Arcadeya. He needed to learn about his powers, and he had questions he thought this researcher would be able to answer. He couldn’t focus on the nobles quite yet. But one day, he would find them, and he would punish them for their part in this. In the meantime, he trusted Luc to root them out. To find their identities. Even if he had to beat it out of the mayor. Those evil nobles would not get away with it.

Charlie tightened a fist. He would never forget all the people who had been hurt because of their actions. But they had saved everyone they could for now. That fight would come in the future. For now, he focused on finding his friends.

King Scalea slowed, lowering himself against the rooftop to mask their presence. They crept toward the rooftop’s edge and peered over at the men gathered below.

There he was. Merlin stood in the center of all the other men. His purple cloak was tattered, and he was missing a shoe, but other than that, Merlin seemed okay. Charlie smiled.

Merlin was alive.

He wanted to jump down and join his friend but decided to wait. He wasn’t sure if the men around him were friends or enemies. Charlie turned his ear toward them and listened.

“We need to move to the dungeon now. With Varroc defeated, the children are our priority,” a muscular blonde man said. A chorus of agreements rose from the crowds.

Merlin nodded. “I agree as well. We’ll leave a few people here too—” He paused, raising his head to peer into the distance.

Others were approaching on horseback.

“It’s Sullivan!” someone called out. “He’s back from the gates!”

The crowd parted and Sullivan’s horse came to a halt. The man dismounted and hurried over. A few other horse-riders hurried to catch up with him. They waited just outside the crowd, remaining on their horses.

Merlin grinned at the man. “Do you have news?” he asked, clasping Sullivan’s hand.

So, they were friends. That was good.

Sullivan nodded. “We’ve secured the gates, as well as the armory. We’re rooting the remnants of Varroc’s men out from hiding and a group of adventurers are overseeing the evacuation of the dungeons. They broke into town during the rebellion. They’ve already secured a number of the children. I’ve loaned them a portion of our men as well, to assist in getting all the children out. Rescue efforts are going well throughout the city.”

The men around them cheered. A heavyset, brown-skinned man stepped forward. “Godo is glad to hear this. Tell me, have you seen my—”

Sullivan held a hand out. He turned to signal one of the horsemen. The man dismounted and pulled a little girl off the back of his horse. She didn’t wait; she ran toward Godo.

“Godo has never been as rich as today.” He fell to the ground and opened his arms.

“Papa!” the little girl ran forward and jumped into his arms.

“My sweet Godette!” he said, hugging her tight. His eyes teared up.

She giggled and leaned away from him. “No papa! My name is Josephine! Not Godette!”

Godo sighed. “Godo could never out bargain your mother. It is Godo’s greatest shame.” He smiled. “I’ve missed you, my treasure, my Josephine!”

Charlie’s eyes shot open. This was Josephine’s dad? So, this Sullivan guy had already run into the others. Charlie grinned. He was glad she’d been reunited with her father.

Merlin looked at the other horsemen. He seemed disappointed. The blonde man next to him noticed. He reached over and put a hand on Merlin’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, friend. We’ll find him. I know we will.”

Merlin offered a halfhearted nod. “Yeah, thanks Crussus.”

Charlie smiled. It was time for a reunion of his own. “Jump!” he said, and King Scalea obliged him.

They leapt off the building and plunged toward the earth as gravity swept them up. They landed squarely in the center of the crowd. All the men and women of the resistance gathered there jumped back at the sudden arrival of the beast.

“Careful, Merlin!” Crussus drew his sword and pointed it towards the Scaler, but he froze when he saw Charlie sitting atop it.

“Merlin!” Charlie said.

Merlin shook his head. “Charlie? You’re okay.” He didn’t react for a moment. It was like he was stunned by Charlie’s sudden arrival.

“I’m going to hug you now,” Charlie informed him.

“But how did—”

Charlie didn’t give Merlin any more time to deal with his shock. He clapped his hands. King Scalea’s tail shot forward and flicked Charlie into the air, straight toward his wizard companion.

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That jolted Merlin out of his shocked state. He hurried forward and caught Charlie.

The impact sent Merlin reeling. He fell backwards and landed on his butt with Charlie held tightly against his shoulder.

Charlie looked up at him. “You’re okay!” he said, grinning.

Merlin smiled. “That’s my line. I was really worried about you, Charlie. Don’t go running off anymore, okay?”

Charlie nodded. “Okay! Who are all your friends?” he asked.

Merlin laughed. His head fell back, and he closed his eyes and he laughed so hard everyone looked at him like he was a madman.

Sullivan sent the other horsemen to relay orders throughout the city. Most of the other resistance soldiers were also tasked with spreading throughout Sange to assist in rescue efforts and hunt down stray soldiers. The battle was over, but the work to rebuild Sange had just begun.

Merlin’s friends stayed behind. To discuss the next steps. Sophia, Bonehead and the other two Scalers joined them as well, having finally caught up.

As Charlie learned the names of the other resistance leaders, he felt a strange sensation. Merlin seemed like he fit in really well here. The people liked him. A lot. They seemed to look up to him. Charlie couldn’t help but wonder if maybe Merlin wouldn’t want to leave this place.

That worried him.

He snapped back to attention. He’d missed out on what all the adults had been saying. Merlin had sat him on a nearby barrel at Charlie’s request. He didn’t think Merlin’s new friends would take him seriously if he just sat in Merlin’s arms. Sophia and the Scalers stood beside him. Sophia was too shy to talk, and the Scalers were curled up in themselves, taking naps. They’d been through a lot over the last few days as well.

“Godo will remain here for a while. Sange needs trade. Godo will assist in this. Godo was separated from his assistants upon entering Sange but will find them and send message. They will go and find Godo’s business partner and tell his family he and little Godette are okay!”

“It’s Josephine!”

“Godo thinks we can pay a small fee to change her name legally if Godette wishes.”

“Godette does not!” Josephine said.

Godo smiled really big and pointed a finger at her. “Ah!”

“I mean, Josephine!” she corrected.

Godo threw his hands up in defeat. “Godo thinks we will bargain more in the future.” He smiled playfully at her.

Sullivan nodded. “We appreciate you staying. Your expertise will make rebuilding that much easier. We’ve been disconnected from the rest of Aysela for a long time. Your connections will help us, and the neighboring towns expand our trade again.”

“So, in the end, Godo’s goal of developing trade with Sange was a success. Congratulations,” Merlin said.

Godo patted a hand to his chest and lifted his head high. “Godo is great businessman!”

Torq chuckled. “And what about you, Merlin? The people of Sange respect you now. With the mayor gone, we could use a strong leader like you.”

Charlie swallowed. This was what he was afraid of.

Sullivan looked surprised as well. His head spun toward Torq as soon as he said it. Then he looked up at Merlin, his lips apart, waiting to see how Charlie’s friend would answer.

Merlin paused. He sighed. “I almost made the mistake of letting a friend leave me behind once. I won’t do that again.” He turned to look at Charlie.

Charlie’s face lit up. He grinned really big. The others noticed his reaction. Charlie looked away, his cheeks feeling flushed.

“Hah! Tis a shame! But after hearing how you talked about the boy I can’t say I blame you. Just know you’ll always have a home in Sange!” Torq said.

That surprised Charlie. Merlin had talked about him? He looked up at the one-armed blacksmith. He liked Torq, and not just because his one arm reminded him of Richard. Torq seemed like a good person. He was glad Merlin had made a friend like this in Charlie’s absence.

Sullivan seemed relieved. Charlie had the feeling he was hoping to take charge of Sange himself. Merlin had said Sullivan used to be a part of the town’s government before. Maybe he wanted his old position back or something. As long as he was nice to the people of Sange, Charlie didn’t really care who took over now. He just didn’t want to have to come back here to beat anybody else up.

That would be annoying.

“I suppose that means you wouldn’t have taken me up on an offer to travel to Tantaloo either,” Crussus said, chuckling. “But know you have an ally among the knights of the Holy Kingdom if you ever should need one.”

“So, you’re going back home? To be a knight again?” Merlin asked.

Crussus nodded. “I’ve been away from my queen for too long. If she’ll have me, I’ll happily return to fulfilling my duties. I also need to report to the families of Ren and the others. They need to know what happened to their loved ones, and I need to report that our mission for revenge was successful. Her father will want to know.”

Merlin nodded. “Well, just know that you have made an ally among the traveling salesmen of Aysela.”

“Yes! Godo considers all of you friends!”

“No! I meant me!” Merlin said.

“Godo thinks Merlin should be more realistic with his strengths.”

“What?” Merlin protested.

Everyone laughed. Even Charlie caught himself giggling.

After a moment, Merlin posed a question. “Has anyone seen Achai? I noticed him running off before we stormed the castle.”

The men all looked around, but no one claimed to have seen him. Even Sullivan, who had traveled throughout the city to regroup with them.

Josephine tapped Godo the side. He turned to look at her and then leaned in. She whispered something in his ear. He raised a brow, and then turned and whispered something back.

She nodded.

Godo looked up at the others. “Little Godette says that Achai ran into them earlier.”

Merlin perked up. “What? Really?”

Josephine poked Godo in the side. “Ow!” He nodded toward Merlin. “She says that Achai got his son and left. Godo is not sure why he would do such a thing…” He paused and looked at Crussus. “Oh, Godo sees now.”

Crussus cursed under his breath. “I’d hoped to make it right with him after this was all over. I spoke recklessly before. It was wrong of me to threaten him in anger. I just hope he doesn’t do anything rash.”

Merlin patted Crussus on the shoulder. “Achai is smart. He’ll be alright.”

Charlie’s eyes lit up. “Oh no,” he said.

Merlin turned to look at him. “Is everything okay?” he asked.

King Scalea lifted his head and looked up at Charlie.

“I kind of forgot…I left a dungeon core with Kyo,” Charlie said.

Merlin froze. “What? Orb?”

Charlie shook his head. “No. The one from Troa. That we found again after I got the Vault Transfer ability.”

Merlin leaned in so the others couldn’t hear. “What does that mean? What if eats it like you did and becomes Dungeon Core Baby Jr. or something?!”

Charlie frowned. “Maybe we can track them down and get it back?”

Merlin squeezed his eyes shut. “Well, technically, your situation is pretty unique. I doubt even if he swallowed it, he would get powers like you did. But carrying around a dungeon core isn’t exactly the safest thing to do in general.”

“Well, it was dormant, I guess. Maybe that means it won’t be an issue?” Charlie said.

Merlin shrugged. “I hope not. Luckily, Achai is smart enough that he’ll ditch it if he finds it. So as long as it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands, it should be okay. Hopefully.”

Merlin stared past Charlie. He grimaced. Charlie turned to look at Sophia. She was staring up in the air, toward the top of the building.

Charlie looked up.

“Charlie, wait!” Merlin cried out.

But it was too late. Charlie saw what Sophia had noticed. He’d seen it from a distance but hadn’t realized what it was. The body hanging from the top of the fortified stone building. It was one he recognized.

It was Varroc.

It was weird to see that scary man who had jumped off the wall of Sange and terrorized the town hanging with a rope around his neck. His body was on display for anyone who passed by. It was a proof that no matter how strong you are, things can go wrong.

Charlie looked at Merlin. “Did you do that?” he asked.

Merlin looked down. “I did. Not with my own hands. But the responsibility lies with me. I started this rebellion. I have to own up to everything that came about as a result. If I had wanted to, I could’ve stopped it. But I didn’t. I wanted Varroc to die too.” Merlin paused. “Are you upset with me?” he asked.

Charlie shook his head. “No. I understand. You promised you were going to kill him. So, you just kept your promise.” Charlie thought about the mayor. He thought about what he would’ve done if there weren’t others who needed to pay for their crimes, too. If the mayor didn’t know their names and identities. “Some people don’t deserve a chance to change.”

Merlin’s eyes widened at that. He didn’t say anything.

Charlie turned to look at him, but he wished he hadn’t. For a moment, he saw a familiar look on Merlin’s face. A look he hadn’t ever wanted to see coming from Merlin.

It was the same way Talmot had looked at him when he’d been called an abomination.

Charlie looked down. “Did I say something bad?” he asked.

Merlin collected himself. “No. I just…” Merlin sighed. “I wish the world hadn’t forced you to grow up so fast.”

“But I’m still a baby,” Charlie said, tilting his head.

“I know. There are other forms of growing up, though.”

Crussus called out to Merlin. “Merlin, it’s time. We should give the final signal,” he said.

Merlin nodded. He smiled at Charlie and patted him on the head. He turned and looked up at the sky. The sun was on the verge of rising now. The battle for Sange had lasted overnight. Now, the sun would rise on the first day of freedom for the people of Sange.

Merlin paused for a moment. “I think I’ll go with a water hex,” he said.

Crussus looked over at him. “Water? Your abilities are truly versatile. Why water this time?”

Charlie realized Merlin hadn’t revealed the truth about his powers.

“Emerald Hex Elemental!” A large emerald hex formed in the sky of Sange, an illusionary waterfall fell from it. “Because Varroc forced Sange’s people to mine kierstone, a flammable rock. And because the snatchers used green flames to intimidate them and take their children. So, I’ll use water, because today the people put out the flames of oppression.”