Chapter 33: Story

Charon hugged his knees as he sat around the campfire. The flickering flame did its best to keep him warm, but the "night" chill had set in. A brisk wind rolled over the grassy hills, fluttering the blades in a wave. It tickled his arms and legs every time it rolled past. He had debated getting some sleep, but it was impossible with the sun hanging in the sky above them. According to Annie, it never set. Never. "On our scouting missions, we pre-plan the route to include covered areas to rest. Trying to sleep is impossible, otherwise." Charon just gave an exasperated sigh, too tired to protest the realm’s injustice. ’I hope we find shelter tomorrow night.’ He looked over at Liam, shaking his head at the man’s nighttime exercise. "Eighty-six, eighty-seven, eighty-eight, eighty-nine!" Even though his body was pockmarked with cuts, he still insisted on doing at least a hundred pushups, a hundred situps, and a hundred squats. His reasoning? "If I can’t work out, I’m just as weak as those shits lying tits up on the hill!" Charon couldn’t find an ounce of logic in the statement, but what could he do to stop him? Liam was probably the largest man he had ever talked to. ’Strength.’ Charon chuckled under his breath, doing his best to hide it from the others. ’Yes, Warden, he is strong.’ Over the past few hours he had been growing used to his summons’ simple-minded thoughts. Not once had the creature offered more than a single word, and yet the intent was always clear. ’Once I rank up a few more times, we should be able to communicate more effectively. Once that happens, maybe you can help explain this realm.’ ’Hope.’ It was one of the things that was keeping Charon in good spirits that evening, the potential for his summons to grow stronger. Annie sat down next to him, a small wooden plate in her hands. A few strips of roasted meat sizzled on it, filling their noses with a wonderful aroma. Red moved to sit beside her, a similar plate in her hands. "The gift of life is fueled through the promise of death; such a joy it is to consume the efforts of those who have passed." Charon had heard the strange girl say similar phrases all day, and was no closer to deciphering a single one of them, despite his best efforts. ’I doubt there is anyone really knows what she is saying, except for Darius.’ The swordsman seemed to understand her better than anyone. Both Darius and Emerius were on their backs, sleeping soundly on the far side of the fire. Liam was staying close to them, ready to intercept anything that tried to sneak up and attack. In between counts, the brute yelled out at Charon. "Don’t stop the story, I was getting invested!" Shrugging with a smile, Charon launched back into the tale, enjoying the attention of all three listeners. "So when Aralin the Daring encountered the rebellious Neptunians, they tried to capture him with an advanced laser system! However, what they didn’t expect was that his flaming cutlass had a second unique property, the ability to absorb heat!" His eyes danced as he recounted the story he had been told a thousand times. "He stuck it in the path of the lasers and began to greedily absorb the energy powering them, sucking in so much that his cutlass turned a blood red! He then burst through the weakened cage and cut through the guards with one swipe, burning a hole right through their Energized Armor!" Liam laughed boisterously, his push-up stopping halfway as his whole body shook. "The fools! Who would ever trust technology to protect them against a high-tier relic? That’s the kind of mistake a filthy ratling would make!" Annie seemed to share the sentiment, her shoulders rising and falling as she covered her mouth. Even Red had an opinion on the matter. "It is the foolish who seek to circumvent the will of the gods. Only through hubris does sentience become defeated by inanimacy." Charon smiled, happy that other people enjoyed the story as much as he did. Initially, he had only been trying to pass the time by telling a short tale, but then they had asked him for more. Annie, especially, seemed to like them. "You are very creative, Charon! Even the Librarians couldn’t think of such intricate stories as you, and they have read many books!" He scratched the back of his head, unsure how to respond. ’Little do they know, they aren’t my stories. If I had told them where they were from, it would expose the truth.’ Charon had been very purposeful in hiding his origins, unsure how the others would react if they knew. He glanced at Red for just a second. ’Except for her. She has to know the truth, and yet she hasn’t said anything.’ It both confused and worried him, especially with how she never even gave an indication she was listening. But he knew she was. That first night confirmed it; she was able to passively hear the thoughts of those around her. Annie snapped him out of his thoughts "How do you come up with them, anyway?" Charon just shrugged. "I just think of what sounds entertaining. I feel like heroes are truly amazing, people who risk themselves every day for the benefit of others. I’d like to breathe some life into them, even just for a night." She tilted her head, confused. "You really do idolize heroes? Why?" It felt like such an odd question to him. "What do you mean why? It’s obvious, isn’t it? They do their best to save other people, even when it’s impossible. Aralin the Daring is a good example of that, never balking, never running. The world could be collapsing, and he would still try to save just one more life." She shook her head. "But they aren’t real, none of them are. It all sounds good in theory, but heroes are just stories. Sure, some people can do a lot of good, but there is always bad to go with it. Life is never so clear." Charon opened his mouth to refute her, to point out how there are over a thousand well-known heroes, but he stopped himself. ’She doesn’t know that, she can’t remember the empire.’ Instead, he tried another route, his jaw tensing as he spoke. "Maybe most are, but some have to be real. Not everyone has to do bad things, some people are just... good." Annie shrugged. "That’s your opinion, and I wish I could share your optimism, but I just don’t see it." Liam interjected as he sat up, having finished his workout. "Screw that, heroes exist! They probably get themselves killed every other week, but I’d bet my ass they are out there!" Charon and Annie both whirled to look at Liam, both shocked at his words. Red, however, didn’t move, instead continuing to stare into the fire. He looked at them, confused. "What? Am I not allowed to like heroes? Well piss off then!" Charon struggled to find the words for a moment. "No, it’s not that. I just didn’t expect that you would like those kinds of things." Liam scoffed, grabbing his waraxe and moving closer to the fire. He rested it on his lap, patting the blade twice. "Those heroes always do shit no else can. Everyone else runs like a little bitch, but not the heroes. They get in there and get their hands dirty. That’s courage, that’s what the God of Blood stands for." Annie slowly began to nod. "That... makes sense. I haven’t studied the goods too much, but isn’t bravery one of the Blood God’s domains?" Liam smiled widely. "Sure is! As well as war, passion, loyalty, and slaughter." Charon hadn’t anticipated the God of Blood to be so... balanced? ’I had always thought he was an evil, malevolent god, focused on nothing but suffering.’ The Mistress had said as much, her disdain of the God of Blood beaten only by her absolute hatred for the God of the Mind. ’She would be so upset if she knew I was sitting around a fire, talking and laughing with both a blood mage, and a mind mage!’ Annie shook her head and sighed. "Well, if the two of you think heroes are out there, then maybe there is some truth to it. I’ll have to see it to believe it, though. Tell me if you manage to find one at the Fort, I’ll buy you a cake if you do." Liam’s eyes went round. "A whole ass cake? Hell yeah! I’ll make someone a hero if I have to, just to prove ya wrong!" Charon laughed, unable to control himself at how absurd the giant was being. "Is cake that rare?" Liam nodded emphatically. "Gods yes! It’s one of the hardest desserts to get out here! The High Elders themselves only get a few slices every month!" Charon cocked an eyebrow. "In that case, I may try to win the bet too. We can work together on it." Liam chuckled. "I’ll drink to that!"