บท 13: The Quarrel Between Alaric and Zanuba
That night, after the incident with the bandits in the village, the atmosphere seemed calmer. The villagers had expressed their gratitude countless times to Alaric and Zanuba, although most of the thanks were directed toward the golem, which, despite its clumsiness, had managed to help subdue the bandits.
Alaric and Zanuba were given a small room in the village chief's house to spend the night.
The house was simple, with wooden walls that creaked whenever the strong night winds blew. In the middle of the room, there were two beds separated by a small table with a candle burning brightly.
Zanuba sat on her bed, silent, staring at the floor. Her face showed something she had long held back, but this time, she could no longer ignore it.
Alaric, who had just finished adjusting his pillow with exaggerated movements, noticed the sudden silence. "You look like you have something on your mind, Zanuba," he said as he lay down but kept his eyes on the girl. "Did I do something foolish again? Don't worry, it's a regular occurrence."
Zanuba didn't laugh, and that made Alaric a bit uneasy. He wasn't used to seeing Zanuba without her usual cold expression, especially not this quiet.
"I want to talk seriously, Alaric," Zanuba finally said, her voice low but firm. "About the future."
Alaric, who had been about to close his eyes, immediately sat up more seriously on his bed. "Alright, I'm listening. Serious? This is a first for you, Zanuba."
Zanuba took a deep breath before continuing. "I… need your help, Alaric. I have to reclaim my throne and save my kingdom. My brother, Reeve, has sent assassins to find me. The Kingdom of Gama is under great threat, and I'm the only one who can stop it. But I can't do it alone. I need your help."
Alaric fell silent for a moment. His usually relaxed face grew slightly serious, though he still didn't seem too comfortable. "Zanuba… I understand you have a big problem. But I'm not someone interested in politics or throne battles. It's too complicated and filled with… annoying responsibilities."
"How can you say that?" Zanuba's voice rose, now filled with frustration. "You're strong! You could help me, save the kingdom, stop my brother's cruelty! But you'd rather go on carefree adventures and play around?!"
Alaric chuckled softly. "Yes, exactly. Life is too short—or, in my case, too long—to get caught up in royal politics. I've seen enough power struggles, and they all end in sadness and betrayal. I just want to live free, adventuring, without getting involved in kingdom affairs."
"This isn't just about the kingdom!" Zanuba shouted, her eyes welling up with tears. "This is about my family, about the people I care about. My mother and father… they're all dead. I'm the only one who can stop my brother, and I need your help. You're the only one I have left now."
The tension in the room suddenly thickened. Alaric felt guilty, but on the other hand, he remained steadfast in his desire to avoid getting involved. "Zanuba, I… don't want to be trapped in this. I've suffered enough with my past affairs. We can enjoy this adventure together without facing such heavy responsibilities."
Zanuba stood up, furious, and stormed toward the door. "You're selfish, Alaric. I thought you were different. I thought you'd understand. But I was wrong."
With that, Zanuba slammed the door and left the room, leaving Alaric sitting there in silence. He knew there was truth in her words, but he also knew that his dark past with power struggles had left deep scars on him. He didn't want to get involved in something like that again.
The night grew deeper, and Alaric lay in bed with his eyes wide open, thinking about Zanuba's words. His feelings were uneasy. He knew the girl was hurt, but what could he do? Royal and political matters weren't something he wanted to face again.
After a while, he finally decided to sleep. "She'll come back later," he muttered. "She just needs time to calm down."
However, when he woke up a few hours later, the room was still silent. The candle on the table had nearly burned out, and there was no sign of Zanuba. He frowned and got up from the bed, grabbing his cloak and heading out to search for the girl.
The village was quiet. Only the occasional sounds of nocturnal animals could be heard, and the night sky was filled with stars. Alaric walked through the village streets quickly, his heart starting to race. He knew Zanuba was angry, but he didn't expect her to go too far.
When he reached the edge of the village, near a small forest, he heard a faint noise in the distance—the sound of hurried footsteps and the clash of metal. Alaric immediately ran toward the sound, and when he arrived, he saw a scene that made his blood boil.
Zanuba was surrounded by five men dressed in black, clearly hired assassins. They held swords and daggers, pointing their weapons at the girl. Zanuba's face looked scared, though she tried hard to remain calm.
"You think you can escape me, little princess?" one of the assassins spoke coldly. "Your brother paid a hefty price for your head. Now, prepare to die."
Zanuba gripped a small dagger in her hand, but she knew she couldn't fight them alone. She could only hope Alaric would come, though deep down, she doubted it. "If this is the end, I won't go down without a fight," she said firmly.
Suddenly, the night air felt different. The atmosphere around them grew heavier, as if something intimidating was approaching. One of the assassins noticed it first. "Someone's coming!"
In an instant, Alaric appeared from the shadows, his usually relaxed face now turned serious. However, despite his serious expression, he couldn't resist making a joke. "Sorry, am I interrupting? I usually show up at the end of the party."
The assassins looked at him suspiciously. "Who are you?"
Alaric smiled slightly. "Me? Just an old wizard passing by. And, unfortunately for you, I don't like it when little kids are bullied."
Without warning, Alaric moved his hands quickly, and suddenly, the ground around them began to shake. A massive golem rose from the earth, this time much larger and more intimidating than the usual playful golems he summoned.
The golem let out a rumbling sound that shook the ground, and with slow yet deadly movements, it struck one of the assassins, sending him flying through the air. The remaining assassins panicked and tried to fight back, but Alaric's magic was too powerful for them. Within minutes, all the assassins had been defeated.
Alaric approached Zanuba, who was still stunned by the fight. She knew very well that Alaric hadn't used his full power, but this time she saw a more serious side of the old elf.
"I told you, I don't like seeing little kids get bullied," Alaric said with a soft smile.
Zanuba, who had been trying to stay strong, finally gave in to her emotions. Tears began to flow down her face. She ran toward Alaric and hugged him tightly. "I thought you'd leave me... I thought you didn't care…"
Alaric, though a little surprised by the hug, gently patted Zanuba's head. "Hey, I never said I didn't care. I just needed time to think. You know I like to think while I sleep."
Zanuba looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. "So… you'll help me?"
Alaric smiled. "I'll help you, but… after we finish my business in Direwitch. Deal?"
Zanuba nodded with a smile, though her tears still flowed. She felt relieved, finally knowing that she wasn't alone in facing her brother and the fate of her kingdom.
And that night, their bond grew stronger, not just as adventuring partners, but as friends who trusted each other.
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