An Old Friend

The next day, I go through the forest and manage to find a town. The town itself wasn't anything grand, just a nice small town. I go into a local bar with my hood down and sit down.

How am I going to find this murderer?

"Hey are you going to order something?" says the bartender.

"Just a cup of water please," I responded.

He hands me a cup of water and proceeds to say, "So have you heard of the dark army now invading us."

"You don't say?"

"Well, ever since they took over that one kingdom a few years ago, they have slowly gained more power and are slowly taking land from the neighboring kingdoms, and get this, the three remaining kingdoms are too scared to fight back. Even with artifacts."

"Even with artifacts?"

The bartender nods and gets close to me, whispering, "Have you heard of the old legend?"

"Which one?"

"Apparently, there's this old legend that says that a specific someone of royal blood would be able to use a legendary wand that could defeat the forces of the undead."

"Oh really?"

"Every single royal has tried to use it but couldn't. Weird isn't it?"

"Why?"

"I don't know."

"Do you happen to know where the wand is now?"

"It seems that the wand is currently here in Comid at the capital. Why?"

"Just curious." I flip him a coin, "Thanks for the water and information." I turn to leave.

"Wait…" I thought. "If every royal has tried to use the wand and no one has been able to use it then that would mean…"

I look down at my hands, "I haven't tried yet!" I grip my hands, "I'm the chosen one! I can use the wand to kill the murderer!"

Just as I'm about to go outside someone says from behind, "With a hood like that, everyone is going to say that you look a tad suspicious."

My eyes light up at the familiar voice. I turn to see Ralf smiling. I stare at him in shock.

"What?" he says. "It's been 3 years and you look at me like that? Or is it my joke? I mean it was pretty good."

I hugged him tightly, "I thought you died back in the village."

He hugs me back as his face glooms saying, "I managed to escape because I was collecting wood for the shop. I heard a large explosion and turned to see that the village was being attacked." His eyes start to fill with tears, "I couldn't do anything but stand there and watch. Instead, I ran and managed to get here and work in the bar." He stands there crying for a bit until he finally stops and says, "Enough about me, let's go outside to talk about how you escaped."

Outside, I explain to him the events in the village, my uncle sacrificing himself, meeting Dane in the forest, and her training.

"Explains how you got those muscles," he says with a smirk. "What are you going to do now?"

"From what I heard, there's a legendary wand that is currently in this kingdom."

"Why do you want this wand?"

I look at him grimly, "I'm going to use it to kill the one that attacked our village."

His eyes widen, "Woah Foster."

"What?"

"It's just that you feel I don't know, different? What happened to that happy and smiling part of you? Come on, give me a smile!"

I don't smile.

"I'm sorry Ralf. Things... have changed."

"Oh… Ok then."

"Well, I'm heading out. What are you going to do? Stay and work here?"

"Are you kidding?! I'm going with you!"

I look at him up and down, "it seems you've gotten a bit stronger, are you sure?"

"Oh please, you think I've been here working and twiddling my thumbs? Of course not, I have also done my fair share of training with my magic." He forms a force field around us. Unlike in the past when he couldn't manage to bring one up, he was doing it effortlessly. "Look, I don't want to kill anyone. But I want to bring whoever is responsible to justice for killing the one who took care of me back in the lumber store."

He extends his hand for a shake. I accept it and we head to the capital together.