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Standing in the doorway was the silhouette of a man, as he stepped forward I was able to make out the face of Chris’ brother Brad. “Can I help you?” his voice expressed the tone of someone who has just been rudely awakened. Brad stood in the doorway wearing nothing but a pair of flannel pants. His attempt to condition himself for a job on the police force was quite evident and he had adopted the stereotypical crew cut as well.
“Is Chris home?” I asked. Brad shook his head, “No he just left with Amanda. Why do you need the see him?” “Yes” “Did he do something?” “What?” I said questioningly. Pushing the screen door open Brad stepped out, now standing in the light I could see that he looked exactly as I remembered. The past fifteen years had treated him far better than me.
Brad stood with me face to face, semi flexing his arms as he crossed them over his chest. In a low tone as if trying to frighten me he spoke, “If you have a problem with my brother, pal, you can take it up with me.” I took a step forward, getting closer, until he could feel my breath. As a child I would have backed away or tried to diffuse the situation with some comedy, but fifteen years in Nosis had changed me. I could stand bullies no longer. Years have passed since I have ever backed down from anyone or anything.
For Brad he was simply facing a normal man. He was completely unaware of the power I could wield, my strength alone more than ten times his. If only he knew the battles I have fought, the wars I have waged, and the victories I have claimed. If he knew he would be the one to back down.
Before I went to Nosis I used to look up to Brad. He was strong and a skilled warrior. I knew of on one who would confront him when he was face to face with them. He was everything I wanted to be back then, but now I felt that he was beneath me.
Staring deep into his eyes I roared, “Look, pal, I’m not here to start a fight, but be sure I have no qualms about ending one. All I want is to find your little brother. I’m an old friend.” Brad still keeping his defense up replied, “My kid brother doesn’t befriend older people. Now as for you finding him you can forget about it.” I shook my head as I spoke, “Why must everyone get in my way. All I need is to talk to Chris and you get defensive.”
Brad had obviously heard enough as he moved to strike me. Keeping my calm this time I leaned back avoiding the punch. Missing the first hit Brad followed with an attempt to tackle me. Moving aside I pushed him enough to avoid contact. I figured Brad wouldn’t stop until he got me to the ground so I had to stop him before he got too out of control. As he turned he brought his fist around. Drawing Shetiga I moved gracefully bringing it to his neck while my other hand blocked his punch.
A moment of complete change occurred as Brad knew that he was only alive by my will. Attempting to keep up an obvious facade he aggressively huffed. I lowered my left arm while still holding Shetiga inches from his throat. The battle was over and Brad knew it, now he would be more cooperative.
“All I want is to find Chris.” I said impatiently. He looked to me then to Shetiga with wonder in his eyes. Lowering Shetiga, Brad followed as it turned in my hand before I stabbed it deep into the porch. Brad looking up speaks in a faint voice, “He just left to get some coffee. He should be back in a few minutes.” Stepping carefully back he goes into the house and slams the door behind him.
“What is coffee?” Reia asks as I step off the porch then sit on it. Reia takes a seat beside me as I reply, “It is a drink.” Reia waited a moment then spoke, “Well I’ve been looking forward to trying some of the food here. You always spoke highly of it.” Reia giggles and I ask, “What’s so funny?” “You remember. Bishop would work so hard on a great meal and then you’d always compare it to something you used to eat and tell him it was better at home.” Reia looked to me and it must have been obvious to her what I was thinking. She lowered her head apologetically for mentioning Bishops name. Taking her chin in my hand I raised her head, looking into her eyes I said, “Don’t be sorry. Bishop and Lilith deserve to be remembered every now and then.”
Bishop and Lilith. I hadn’t thought about them in months. In Nosis they were my brother and sister. Of course we weren’t actually related but for all intents and purposes we should have been.
Bishop was the first person I met in Nosis. He was the one who found me in the forest on that fateful day I arrived. When he happened upon me I was unconscious after the portal had tossed me into a tree. What a way to arrive. He woke me and it was then that I started my new life.
Bishop was a large well built guy. His arms were as big as my waist back then. His skin was dark either naturally or from the excessive exposure to the sun. He was a power house and it showed as it seemed like his muscles had muscles. Deep under his tough exterior he was a big teddy bear. He loved a good joke and enjoyed a thoughtful conversation. His look was a result of the constant battles he was in. Before we joined the quest he and I were in the war. Bishop taught me to fight and prepared me for the war. When I first started to battle against the Saekoo, Bishop managed to get me into his clan. It was there that I first met Lord Maxite.
Lord Maxite was the leader of the Crimson Dagger Clan, the lead clan in the war. Every time the Saekoo attacked it was Lord Maxite and the Crimson Dagger who headed the fight against them. The Crimson Dagger Clan was only for the elite, the ones who had proven themselves in battle. To even be considered for such a position was an honor, but actually be accepted was unheard of. I was an unknown to everyone in the running and I was a novice warrior. It wasn’t till later that I found out that Bishop and Lilith had used every string and connection they had to get me in. Lilith…
Lilith was an amazing woman. She and Bishop were as close as two people could be without a relationship. I learned that it was their childhood that made them so close. Lilith was Bishops perfect counterpart, he was the brute force and she was the spell caster. I always remember her wearing her black trench coat and matching skirt, her long black hair braided and laying over her shoulder down her pale skinned voluptuous chest. She was well aware of her femininity but more often than not she did nothing to ‘doll’ herself up. Even in battle when her face was covered in dirt and sweat her natural beauty shined through. She was just as interesting to watch in battle. Many accusing glares would be thrown her way. Most were likely from men unaccustomed to a woman on the battlefield. Usually the accusing stares turned to astonishment as soon as she began to fight. Her control over her shards was unequaled.
Until Lilith began fighting in the war it was rare for a spell caster to be on the battlefield. After her first campaign in the badlands it became obvious that spell casters were invaluable in the war. For Earth, the shards and their power was an untapped resource, one that could turn the tide in any war. Here people rely on technology to wage war. The country with the most nukes determines who has the power. In Nosis it is the opposite, the larger army is the decider. Technology is abundant in Nosis but the pursuit to create weapons of mass destruction is non existent. The problem is the sheer number of Saekoo, as every battle claims more of our warriors the Saekoo seem to multiply.
“What should we do?” Reia asks, still looking into my eyes. I looked at Shetiga still standing in the porch and replied, “We’ll just have to wait. Chris will be back soon.” Reia takes my hand in hers and lays her head on my shoulder.
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