“Are you alright? That fall you had back there looked painful,” Rowe asked.
“Oh, that? Bah, I’ve fallen worse than that,” Thalys said, trying to act tough.
“Looks like your nose is bleeding to me,” Faux said with a smirk.
“What?” Thalys ask, feeling his nose. Seeing blood on his glove, he quickly applied both hands to his face. “Oh that’s no good!”
“Here, let me see your nose,” Kara said, taking off one of her gloves.
“No no, that’s quite alright. I’ll do it myself,” Thalys mumbled. A small light started to glow in his hands, and when he moved them away his nose was fine.
“Y-you are a light adept?” Kara gasped.
“Who, me? Well, I am sort of a light adept,” Thalys said.
“What do you mean, ‘sort of’?” Ezekiel asked.
“I’m an omni adept. I can use all sorts of magic,” Thalys explained, beaming with pride.
“An omni adept?! Amazing…I have only seen one in all my life other than yourself,” Ezekiel gasped.
“Wait, you know this man?” Garis finally interrupted, growing confused.
“Well, sort of. We saved him from near death back in Gale-Town and ever since he’s been ‘following’ us in search of the Adept’s Stone,” Kara clarified.
“Indeed. I got permission from Alak Valmore to join you all,” Thalys said.
“You have permission from the Prime Minister to assist us in the battle? Very well then. I am Captain Garis Cord, leading this strike on Tier Bastion,” Garis said, saluting.
“Aye, and I am Lieutenant Rowe Halzezem, assisting the captain here,” Rowe said, also saluting.
Thalys looked at the two for a moment before giving an uneasy salute himself. “Thanks?”
“Hmm, yes quite. You may continue now,” Garis said, slightly embarrassed.
“So, this guy from Maeltryst is an omni adept? That’s unique. I thought the people of Maeltryst were famous for their earth adepts,” Faux said.
“That is true. Earth adepts generally come from the south east. Just like water adepts mostly come from the north east, and so on with the other elements,” Ezekiel added.
“Yes well…I’m a fluke?” Thalys said, not sure how to respond.
“It doesn’t matter. What does, however, is that we’re finally together in one large group, and together we can accomplish great things,” Kara said.
“Do you really put so much faith in me? I mean…you hardly know me, and I’m not that good,” Thalys said, surprised by Kara’s fervor.
“It’s just…” Kara started to say.
“It’s ok Kara. It isn’t something stranger than we are,” Faux said to her comfortably.
“Thank you Faux. You see, I have visions sometimes. One of them include a figure coming from a far off land with six orbs floating around him, each representing the six elements. I think it represents Thalys here,” Kara explained.
“What made you think it was me before you knew I was an omni adept?” Thalys asked.
“He carried two swords in his hands and his eyes burned a sullen amber,” Kara said quietly, indicating Thalys’ sabers and the color of his eyes.
“And the fact that he’s an omni adept just adds to the fact, I see now,” Faux said, nodding. “You always confused me with your visions, but I understand how you get this from Thalys.”
“So…I have some importance to you?” Thalys asked, startled.
“Not me, but my quest,” Kara clarified.
“Which is to retrieve the Adept’s Stone,” Ezekiel put in.
“Really now? Great! I always wanted to be important with something!” Thalys said with a grin.
“And that brings up an important matter I wish to add,” Garis said suddenly.
“Yes? What is it?” Kara asked.
“What role shall our unexpected friend from the south in the battle?” Garis asked.
“It would be good to have his power assisting us in the main force. Numbers won’t win the day, after all,” Rowe said matter-of-factly.
“Then why don’t you just have us all help the main force?” Ezekiel asked.
“No. With the less troops, the second group must have a harder punch coming into the battle. The three of you stay with them. It is vital,” Garis said.
“So Thalys is coming with me in the main fight?” Rowe asked.
“Yes, but once things are under control the four of you can all leave to search for the Adept’s Stone,” Garis said, bringing a smile to Kara.
“Very well. Looks like you’re staying with us as the rest of them leave soon,” Rowe said to Thalys, offering a hand to shake.
“Um…I have no problem with your plans, but I feel I should ask, when did you decide that I was one of your troops to order around?” Thalys asked with a smirk.
“When the Prime Minister didn’t lock you up in jail for suspicious intentions back in Sol City,” Garis said, matching the nobleman’s smirk as he stood up and began to walk away. “Kara, Ezekiel, and Faux Fo, I’ll send a soldier to come get you once we’re ready to leave. I suggest you try to rest while you wait.”
“What do you think I’ve been trying to do?” Faux mumbled as he curled back up in his bedroll.
“I shall also be going,” Rowe said, “Thalys, it is kind of hard to miss the larger force’s movement, so I hope I don’t have to inform you about it.”
“Yes, of course,” Thalys said with a laugh. With that, the lieutenant was off. Thalys took a seat and looked at the three adventurers who’s quest somehow got intertwined with his own.
“So…finally we get the chance to speak to each other and we’re already separated again,” Kara said.
“Fate would have it so, I guess,” Thalys said with a shrug.
“It is good that we finally get to meet, but I’d take the captain’s words and get some rest. We’ve got a battle to be written in history tomorrow, after all,” Ezekiel said.
“True true. Not only that, but I ran always way here without rest…needless to say, I’m tired,” Thalys said with a chuckle.
“Good point. I say we all call it a day,” Kara said, reaching over to her pack and getting her bedroll.
**********