The Price Of A Legacy

Year 812 ...Two years after the end of the Ackerman Persecution Act.

The last words my parents last words still echoed in my mind "Keep running, Jacob, and never look back. But why did I flee? Why was I too weak to save them?" Jacob's voice cracked as he gazed down at the gentle stream beside them, its soft gurgling a stark contrast to the turmoil in his heart.

The warm sunlight filtering through the tree's leaves above cast dappled shadows on the grass, where Rowan's concerned face came into view. "Hey, Jacob, snap out of it! We can't afford to linger. The Military Police might be closing in." Rowan's black hair seemed to blend with the shadows, his greyish eyes gleaming with urgency.

Jacob's eyes fluttered shut, the memories still haunting him. "I... I had a dream, Jason. A dream I can't remember." He shook his head, the leaves rustling above them.

Rowan's hand grasped his shoulder, his voice firm. "No time for dreams, Jacob. We need to keep moving. The king's men won't show mercy if they catch us." The soft breeze carried the distant rumble of horses' hooves, a reminder of the danger lurking beyond their secluded glade.

Jacob's ancestors were prominent leaders in the rebellion against the empire. Although the Ackerman Persecution Act had been repealed, the new king sought vengeance for his father's death by targeting all those involved in the rebellion, including Jacob's family.

As for Rowan, the last surviving rebel besides Jacob, knew the military police would show no mercy to an Ackerman who had fought alongside the king's assassins. Therefore, Rowan had pledged to remain by Jacob's side as his protector, a duty he had sworn to uphold as Jacob friend.

"Wall Maria seems impossible to reach," Rowan said, concern etched on his face. "Crossing Wall Rose and navigating through Trost without a wall pass... it's a risky move. We'll be lucky if we don't get caught by the Garrison Regiment." He sighed, frustration evident in his tone.

Jacob nodded silently, his eyes fixed on the path ahead. The two friends had been on the run for what felt like an eternity, with no food, no home, and no one to turn to. They were just a pair of 15-year-old fugitives, struggling to survive.

After hours of walking, their hunger and thirst finally brought them to a town in the Utopia District, north of Wall Rose. Though they'd reached temporary safety, they couldn't afford to let their guard down. Soldiers might still be lurking, waiting to pounce.

Under the cover of night, the two youngsters sneaked into the town, where revelry filled the air. The streets were alive with music and laughter, as the people celebrated the appointment of Dhalis Zachery, son of a noble family, as the premier of the three regiments. Rowan smirked, carrying two plates piled high with beef and two foaming glasses of beer. "Looks like we're in luck, Jacob!" He handed Jacob a plate and a glass, interrupting his scrutiny of their surroundings.

As they ate and drank, Rowan warned, "Don't get too comfortable, we need to move soon. I packed some food for the road ahead, so eat up and don't hold back. And try not to get too drunk!" Jacob nodded, savoring the flavors he'd missed for so long. "It's been ages since I've had a decent meal," Rowan said, patting his stomach contentedly.

As they finished their meal, Jacob asked, "So, what's our next move? We should make our way to Trost now, right?" Rowan nodded, his expression serious. "Yeah, we need to move fast. The gate might close in an hour or two, and we can't afford to get stuck here." With a deep breath, they set off towards Trost, their senses heightened as they navigated the festive streets.

It was quite easy going through the Wall Rose-Trost Gate, but as they approached the gate linking Trost and Wall Maria, their hearts sank. The gate was swarming with Garrison soldiers and Military Police officers, their eyes scanning the crowd with an air of suspicion. "What are they doing here?" Rowan whispered, his face pale with worry.

Jacob offered a reassuring explanation, "Maybe they're just here to keep the peace until the festival ends." Rowan nodded, though his eyes remained doubtful.

The two friends decided to wait until the celebration died down, hoping to slip through unnoticed. They blended into the crowd, walking along the main street, where the sea of people made it harder for anyone to spot them.

As they neared the gate, they found a secluded spot, shielded by houses, where only the moonlight cast its silvery glow. Jacob's expression turned somber, his eyes clouding with worry. "Rowan, do you think we'll ever live long lives?" he asked, his voice barely audible.

Rowan's hand instinctively went to Jacob's shoulder, offering comfort. "We've made it this far, Jacob. We just need to hold on a bit longer, and we'll get out of this mess."

Just as Rowan's words offered a glimmer of hope, a tall, imposing figure emerged from the shadows, his face scarred and burned. 25 or 30 others flanked him, their jackets gleaming in the moonlight, revealing the dreaded insignia of the Military Police. Swords and daggers at the ready, their eyes locked onto Jacob and Rowan with a sinister intent.

The trap had been set, and the two friends were caught in its deadly snare." Rowan's voice trembled as he asked, "How.... how did you find us ?"

The tall man, Zephyr Vale, captain of the Military Police, sneered, "Well, kiddo, it was only a matter of time before we caught up with you. You're not as clever as you thought."

Zephyr's eyes gleamed with a sinister intensity as he continued, "I'm afraid I have to kill you both. And then, I'll find that Kenny... his death will be a slow and agonizing one. I have a personal score to settle with that asshole."

Paralyzed with fear, Jacob and Rowan stood frozen as Zephyr began to walk towards them, his presence exuding an aura of death.

"Run, Jacob!" Rowan suddenly shouted, snapping them out of their trance.

They sprinted through a narrow alley between two houses, emerging onto the main street, their feet pounding the pavement as they raced towards the gate of Wall Maria. Rowan's speed left Jacob struggling to keep up, his breath labored.

The Military Police had anticipated their escape route, lying in wait for them in Trost. Jacob's mind raced with regret, thinking that if only they had taken a different path, they might have escaped. But Rowan, ever the fighter, had a secret weapon - a poisoned dagger, courtesy of a venomous snake he had caught in the forest the previous night.

With a deep breath, Rowan and Jacob made a desperate dash for the gate, determined to overcome any obstacle in their path. The Military Police and Garrison forces guarding the gate were formidable, but they had no choice but to try. The Trost-Wall Rose gate was already closed, leaving them no option but to push forward.

As they approached the Trost-Wall Maria gate, a group of Military Police officers awaited them, their eyes cold and calculating. "You're not going anywhere," one of them sneered. "You'll die here, one way or another."

The officers intended to capture them first, avoiding a public killing that might spark unrest among the commoners. But Rowan and Jacob knew their fate was all but sealed.

"See, all your efforts are futile you'll die say your prayers, kiddo" Zephyr said with a menacing voice that sent a chill down their spines as they saw the other Military Police officers closing in, trapping them from all sides. The gate loomed before them, a seemingly insurmountable barrier to freedom.

The military police and garrison had cornered Jacob and Rowan, their escape routes blocked by a semicircle of soldiers. The gate, their only hope for freedom, was now guarded by a handful of garrison soldiers , some of whom stumbled and swayed, their drunkenness a testament to the rarity of such intense situations whilethe rest of the military police and some stable garrison soldiers joined the mass with killing intent who initially guarded the Gate.

Meanwhile, the distant sounds of music and laughter from the festival echoed through the night, a stark contrast to the life-or-death struggle unfolding in the shadows.

Suddenly, A military officer, sword in hand, charged towards Rowan with pure confidence and a fierce battle cry. But Rowan's eyes weren't fixed on the officer - they were locked on Jacob, his expression a mix of determination and concern.

Jacob, frozen in shock, thought all was lost, suddenly Rowan's felt his strength skyrocketing as his Ackerman abilities which sprang into action. With lightning-fast reflexes, Rowan deflected the officer's attack, his sword flashing in the moonlight and plunging through the officers skull, killing him instantly."Go, Jacob! Go now!" Rowan yelled, his voice ringing with urgency as he thrust the sword - now slick with the officer's blood - into Jacob's trembling hands.

"What about you?" Jacob asked, his voice trembling with fear.

Rowan's eyes blazed with determination. "It doesn't matter... I don't want to live in this cruel world... But there are some bastards out there like you who want to live in this hell... So go, Jacob, achieve your dream!" he roared, his voice echoing through the night.

With a fierce battle cry, Rowan charged forward, his dagger flashing in the moonlight as he clashed with the closing officers. The sound of steel on steel rang out, a defiant cry of resistance in the face of overwhelming odds.

Meanwhile, Jacob seized the opportunity to make a break for the gate, his heart heavy with gratitude and sorrow. He sprinted towards the drunken garrison soldiers, his heavy sword waving wildly. The soldiers, barely able to stand, stumbled backward in terror as Jacob approached.

With a few swift swings, Jacob injured the soldiers and knocked them to the ground, clearing a path to the gate. He didn't hesitate, dashing through the opening and disappearing into the night, the sword still clutched in his hand.

As Jacob escaped, Rowan continued to fight, his sword slicing through the officers with precision and skill. He knew he couldn't hold out for long, but he was determined to give Jacob the time he needed to escape.

Rowan, who had been trembling with fear just moments before, underwent a transformation, his fear replaced by a fierce determination. With a battle cry that sent shivers down the spines of his enemies, he became a killing machine or for some "A Titan In Human Form", driven by a singular purpose: to protect his friend and ensure his safety. "I won't let you kill anyone you want, you spineless bastards!" he roared, his voice echoing through the night as adrenaline surged through his veins and his Ackerman abilities propelled him forward with unyielding ferocity.

Zephyr Vale charged in blindly, his sword flashing in the moonlight. "You son of a bitch, you've started to get on my nerves!" he snarled. But before he could even react, Rowan had already struck, his dagger sinking deep into Zephyr's heart. The blade was coated with the blood of many, Zephyr's eyes widened in shock as he realized too late the true strength of his opponent.

"Die... die... all of you just die!" Rowan's eyes blazed with fury as he ended Zephyr's life with a swift and merciless stroke. The self-proclaimed strongman crumpled to the ground, his boasts and brags silenced forever.

Rowan's transformation into a force of nature was too formidable to behold. His eyes blazed with a fierce killing intent, his movements a blur of steel and precision. He became unstoppable, cutting down anyone who dared to stand in his way. The soldiers who tried to pursue Jacob were swiftly dispatched, their weapons and armor no match for Rowan's Ackerman-enhanced strength.

In the end, it was not an army that took down Rowan, but his own exhausted body, battered and bruised from the relentless battle taking the lives of over 23 military police officers with just a mere dagger. As he fell to the ground, his vision fading to black, he knew Jacob was safe, and that was all that mattered. His final thought was of his friend, escaping into the night," Live for the both of us, Jacob".