Casting Shadows

[Mini_Bert]

Sorry for the double post, but Chapter 5 goes hand in hand with Chapter 4, and it was too long for one post.
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Chapter 5 - Tears Of a Knight
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The man stood still atop the hill, as he watched his parents' bodies being taken out of the house in bags limply. He started down the hill slowly, stopping after every step, shaking his head slowly. He fought the tears, but the pain was unbearable, his greatest lost, right after his greatest triumph? He couldn't bear the pain any longer, he let the tears pour through, streaming down his face sliently, he lost the will to stand up and fell over, rolling down the remainder of the hill. As he hit the bottom, he lay outstretch on the ground, tears still rolling down his face, he shook his head violently.

Gaia turned as he heard the man hit the ground. He saw the man crying silently to himself, he greatly resembled Merithin, was this his son? Gaia knew all to well the pain of losing a loved one. He walked over to the sad man.

"Were you the son of Merithin?" Gaia asked softly, leaning over the man. He sobbed as he opened his mouth.

"I....I am Idris Karasagi....son of Merit *sob*" Idris didn't finish his sentence and let his tears roll out, Gaia looked down at his feet.

"I understand your pain Idris.....but you are only doing harm by crying for them...." Gaia said slowly, Idris looked at him suprised.

"Harm? What harm could come for weeping for my family!" Idris yelled at Gaia, he looked away.

"You are only hurting yourself....the longer you cry, the more you're going to miss them, and the more you miss them, the less you become aware of reality...." Gaia explained, "I lost my father and mother as well, and I cried, but I realised that I couldn't bring them back....But you can fill the hole in your life, with something, or someone else....." Gaia trailed off, Idris wiped the tears from his face with his sleeve and stood up. He walked over to the nearly dispursed crowd now, kneeling next his parents bodies. A few people began to talk, weep, and pity Idris. He sat kneeling next to them, he brushed their foreheads through the bag with the back of his hand.

"Who....who did this...." Idris asked quietly. More of the crowd began to leave, the nervous tax man sweat a little bit and made some hand signals, moveing his mouth with no sound.

"Does anyone know!?!" Idris yelled at the crowd as he looked over his shoulder. The tax man kept repeating his actions, avoiding eye contact with Idris. Veron noticed the pudgy man sweating bullets, walking over to him, placeing his hand on his shoulder. The pudgy man jumped and let out a little squeal.

"What are you so worried about?" Veron asked playfully, the pudgy tax man looked at him, sweating, looked at Idris, then looked back at Veron, "I...I..." the man said nervously. Idris got up with anger in his face, he ran over to the tax man and grabbed him by the collar.

"What do you know!?" Idris yelled at the pudgy tax man, he whined and squealed a bit, Idris drew the impressive sword form his side, holding it to the man's throat. "TELL ME YOU BOTTOM FEEDING RAT!"

"Ok, ok, ok...." The man whined in a high pitched voice, he let a gasp for air, "a man by the name of Nirnyandin DarkFire came into town and got a visitor's slip so he could stay in the town." The man wiped his forehead.

"WHAT DID HE LOOK LIKE?!" Idris pressed the sword closer to him, the man let out a squeal.

"He was tall, pretty skinny, purple eyes and hair....he wears a purple mask to hide his face....wears black and purple clothes....please don't kill me!" The tax man whined.

"Where is he now?" Idris seemed calmer, he let the sword drop back a bit. The tax man wiped his forehead again.

"Last I heard he was heading over to Hasrin on the Legoria continent, he said he had....something to take care of, or something....please let me go!" The tax man whined as he explained, Idris dropped the pathetic man. The tax man hit the ground hard, got up, wobbling, and began to run off.

"Well then, I'm going to Hasrin. I'm going to find this DarkFire, and I'm going to take his life, without mercy, just as he took my parents." Idris began to walk off out into the forest, Gaia ran quickly and caught him by the shoulder.

"Wait, do you know how long it will take you to catch him by boat and foot? He could be back here by the time you get to Legoria....let alone Hasrin." Gaia explained, Idris looked at him oddly, "Come with Veron and I, we're heading to Legoria, Zent, the pilot, is taking us in his aircraft. You'll be able to cut DarkFire off and confront him then." Gaia explained, Idris' eyes widened, and he nodded.

"Thank you....I don't even know your name...." Idris said, embarassed, Gaia smiled.

"It's Gaia. Now come on Veron, Idris, lets get some sleep." Gaia began to walk back towards Pey. Veron yawned and followed, Idris followed closely behind.

Idris stopped for a moment and turned around to look at the log cabin. Once was his home, filled with happiness. Now it is a grave, unfit for anything living. Idris let the tears come once more, and layed the flat of his sword over his heart. The tears of a knight rolled down his cheeks, weeping for those unrightly taken.