Alexandrus

They found Ben and Seth soon after. Ben just smiled at their rescuer as if everything went exactly as he expected. The talisman wasn’t fully destroyed, but Ola’s strike was strong enough to stop its control over Alexandrus. When they returned to the surface, the talisman was still there, but Vinia was gone. They looked everywhere, but couldn’t find her; the only tracks they found were heavy dragging steps towards the trees. The tracks stopped there, as if she disappeared right when she reached the forest.

They took the talisman back to the village, where Ben finally had a chance to inspect it. He discovered that the talisman's main purpose wasn’t controlling the ghosts, but gathering their energy. It was a terrible item, it started by stopping the ghosts from moving on and slowly dragged them closer and closer to the talisman until they were cursed to the endless slavery.

Ben was able to destroy the talisman and ghosts trapped inside could finally leave and travel on. The ghosts still in the village were slowly disappearing too, many of them floated over and thanked Ben and the villagers. In the end, all, but one moved on.

“It is not the time for a warrior to leave yet!” Alexandrus roared. “There are still battles to be had!” He said and then turned away and floated on the tavern’s roof, disappearing from sight.

“Let me talk with him,” Ola sighed and gave Ben and Seth a smile.

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She found him right away, Alexandrus was sulking behind the tavern’s chimney. He didn’t look up, but nodded, acknowledging her arrival. Ola sat next to him and hugged her knees close to her body.

They sat in silence for a while, each deep in their own thoughts, not paying much attention to the world.

Eventually Ola stretched her arms and looked up at Alexandrus. “Can I tell you a story?”

Alexandrus face was still sulky, but he nodded, his eyes still staring ahead.

Ola smiled to herself and looked the same way he was. She slowly started speaking, her voice low and slow, carefully picking every word of the story she never told to anyone before.

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“I have a sister. She is a warrior, like you, like- like I am trying to be. But, she wasn’t always one.” Ola hugged her knees tighter. “One day, we were still young, living on a farm, far from the village, right next to the sea. We lived just with my parents. We were happy then, working on the farm and enjoying our time. My sister is a few years older than me, so she took care of everything and I could just enjoy my life, you know?” Ola’s voice was quivering as she spoke.

“Then, one day, they came to the farm. They must have been bandits. They demanded all the food we had, but my dad knew if we gave it to them we would starve in the winter. He- He stood up and refused to give it to them. They shouted and raised their swords. My mum took us away, forced as to hide and then-”

Ola took a deep breath steadying herself. “Then she ran out to distract the bandits. To help dad.”

Ola stayed quiet for a long time before speaking again. “They, the bandits, they eventually left. We left the place we were hiding at and found our parents.”

“I don’t remember much from then, we walked through the forest for a long time. I was crying, I think, but it may have been my sister, or maybe both, I don’t know. She held my hand.”

“We found our grandparents' house in the village and my sister must have told them, because they never asked me.”

“We lived with them for a while, but my sister soon left for the city. She promised to return, but I don’t remember it. I- I wasn’t myself. I don’t remember much from a long time after that. My grandparents took care of me. It was like being in a trap, I was trapped in my own body. I didn’t want to do anything, but I also wanted to get better so much.”

“Eventually my sister returned; she told me it was a year she was gone, but I don’t remember if it really was that long. She was working in the city the whole time, so she could save up money and join the royal academy.” Ola looked up at Alexandrus and smiled at him. “She did in the end, and she has graduated now and became a royal knight. That night, she gave me this.” Ola pulled up the royal night insignia.

“I was so proud. She never gave up. Through everything we had been through, she never stopped and sank in her own pity, she just kept going and worked on protecting others. Something she couldn’t do when our parents were killed.” Ola took a deep breath and stood up. “She moved on, and dedicated herself to something... I am hoping to do the same, you know.”

“I am adventuring now, so I get stronger and I can join the academy after her. Sometimes… sometimes moving on is better, Alex.”

For the first time he looked at her.

“Do you think they need a warrior… there… in the next place?” Alexandrus asked, clouds reflecting in his eyes.

Ola nodded and smiled at him, “everyone could use a warrior like you.”

He smiled back as he slowly disappeared.