User blog:Pollux83/Beyond Light and Darkness, Chapter 4 (reworked)

Chapter Overview

Here is the reworked version of Chapter 4 with minor changes.

4 Descisions



When I woke up the next day it was almost midday. I was so done, I had actually overslept the breakfast. The commander had given us a day off before the return should begin. After another 5 minutes in bed I stretched and made myself ready, perhaps still something from the breakfast was left.



Downstairs I was already greeted. "That's our hero!" "You have a really good night's sleep." The soldiers laughed. "Come on, we've saved you a bit of the breakfast. You must be hungry." I was. I sat down with them. Mareus: "Thank you." "No problem, that was the least. You really saved our ass out there." "Indeed, the newcomer is really good. No wonder they sent him with us." "I told you, but you did not believe me." Mareus: "Don't exaggerate so much. Without you I could not have done it." "And he's also modest." He laughed out loud.



The 3 had actually managed that I could forget my worries for a moment. Although we knew each other only recently, the 3 were very friendly to me. It was as if I had always been part of the squad and not a newcomer. While I breakfasted, the 3 soldiers were talking with me and told the wildest stories. The 3 had already experienced a lot, even if most of it had to do with alcohol. 

... "Do you remember when he was so drunk that he has actually tried to flirt with a lantern?" "Oh yes, you were so drunk. How ended the story between you and the lantern at the time? Do you still meet her or does she broke up." "Ha ha, today you two are very funny once again." ...



And this continued the whole time. The 3 were real comedians and best friends to boot. In the way they processed the stress of the previous day. I would have liked to stay with them a bit longer, but I had something to discuss with the commander. Mareus: "Say, do any of you know where the commander is?" Soldier 1: "What do you want from him? Please stay here and enjoy your day off." Mareus: "Unfortunately, I cannot. I have to talk about something important with him." Soldat 2: "Well, if that is so. He's probably at the local barracks. Just walk down the street and at the 3rd crossroad right." Mareus: "Thanks for the information. Well then, I wish you a lot of fun." Soldier 1: "We will have!" The 3 soldiers laughed loudly and continued drinking their beer.



I walked through the village. A nice little place. Now that the danger of the Arachne had been banned, peace had returned. At the barracks I met the commander. Mareus: "Commander." Radik: "Ah, it's you. You did an excellent job yesterday. Thanks again for my rescue." Mareus: "Eh, of course." I just nodded. Radik: "But something still depresses you. I'm right?" "Yes," I said, slightly depressed. Radik: "It is because of the Arachne, isn't it?" Mareus: "Yes sir. And about what you have told me after the fight." Radik: "Well, let's go for a walk."



We left the barracks and went out. Radik: You still blame yourself for it." Mareus: "Yes, no, it is ... I do not know." Radik: "I can understand you. You're not sure if you did the right thing." Mareus: "Yes ... somehow. But how do you know that? "

Radik: "For me it was quite similar at that time. I was only a simple soldier and just become 16 when we marched out. A group of bandits should be arrested, who made trouble in the West. Once there, we expected a horrible sight. The bandits had attacked a village. Many houses burned and the dead villagers were lying in the streets. Women, men and children, they did not care. They had killed everybody who could not flee fast enough. It was horrible. Because the bandits were already gone, our commander ordered us to help the survivors and extinguish the fires. I will never forget the faces of the villagers. You could see the terror in their eyes, which they had experienced.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">The next day there was a briefing and we moved out in the direction of the bandit camp. We reached a forest and spread out. In the forest they were waiting for us. The ambush of the robbers was good, but the strategy of our commander was better. He used the ambush to lure the bandits into a trap. Nevertheless, it was a hard fight man to man. In the heat of the battle, I was separated from the troops and suddenly faced one of the bandits.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">Bandit: "Well, who do we have here? Do you not know that children should not play with swords. Come on, put it away. I will not harm you." Unable to answer, I raised my sword. The sword tip trembled visibly, so much fear I had. Bandit: "Well, if you want it that way." He rushed toward me. With difficulty I managed to parry his sword blows. He was strong, but his technique was bad. Nevertheless, he managed to knock me down. He prepared for the kill and wanted to pierce. At this moment I threw dirt at him. Bandit: "Ah, my eyes. You son of a bitch! Just wait, for this I'll slit you and watch how you die a wretched death." These were his last words. I had managed to reach my sword and thrust it deep into his belly. With my sword in his body, he fell to the ground. I could see in his eyes how life left his body. It was the first time that I had killed a man and I felt then as bad as you now.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">Mareus: "I see. But how did you manage to keep fighting?" Radik: "It was not easy. I finally did it to protect those who could not. The sight of the destroyed village. This is something I never wanted to see again. That is why I became a soldier. That is why I fight. But what about you, why did you become a soldier?" Mareus: "I do not really know. After my talent was recognized, I was trained in the art of magic. It was fun to learn new skills and the proud look of my parents. They are just ordinary workers. Having such a talented child made them overjoyed. I just could not disappoint them."

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">Radik: "This sounds like you're not sure what you really want. You should decide whether to use your forces as a soldier or not. No one can make this decision for you. This decision only you can make." Mareus: "I know that and I want to help people. But to use my fire to burn someone ..." The memories of the accident in the Academy came back. Radik: "I understand. But as a soldier, you are sometimes forced to do things you do not want to do to protect others." He looked at me and saw my lowered head. Then he stopped and put his right hand on my left shoulder.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">Radik: "The Mamono, which we must kill. We don't do this because they are evil bloodthirsty monsters, as the propaganda of the Order zealously spreads. We do this because they would otherwise destroy the public order. We cannot allow that they just kidnap a man. The really sad thing is that in their twisted view of the world they really believe to do something good. I have nothing against them and it always makes me sad when we have to kill one of them. But we have no other choice, because if we did not do it, the whole kingdom would slowly turn into a demon realm."

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">"I know," I said with a depressed voice. I took a deep breath. "And I don't want this to happen. I know the stories and know what happens when one is corrupted by their demonic energy. So free and happy the person may look thereafter, the truth is that of the former human is little left. Everyone who is corrupted becomes a prisoner of pleasure." Radik: "I see you are already well informed for your age. That's good, you could become a great person." My mood rose visibly. Mareus: "Well, I had a lot of time to read the books in the library." Radik: "This sounds terribly boring." I had to start laughing. Mareus: "You have no idea." He laughed too.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">We talked for a while. Commander Radik had already experienced a lot in his time as a soldier and liked to tell me a few of his stories. When we were back at the barracks, I said goodbye. The next day we went back. The conversation with the commander had helped me make a decision. It was not an easy decision but I had decided. Even if it would be difficult, I would continue fighting alongside my comrades to preserve peace in Niskara.