Conqueror

"Ugh..." I woke up in just the middle of a rubble and my whole body is aching. I look to the sky and it seems like that it's afternoon. "How long have I been out?" Just by looking around, I recall all the things that happened. I rushed over to their aid and tried to wake them up. "Hey! Hey! Wake up!"

"Is everyone okay?" Zeta is the first one that woke up.

Everyone then woke up at the same time.

"Yeah it seems so." I replied.

"That old man..."

"And Zieglind..."

"I don't know what's his goal but rescuing Zieglind is impossible."

"I won't accept it!" Rize got angry.

Zeta clicked his tongue, "It's impossible. I tell you. We're not strong enough."

"He was just lucky. We were all out of mana so we couldn't manifest most of our skills." Afal tried to reason.

"As I said, it's just impossible." Zeta continued his persistence on digging that message onto us.

"What's the matter?" I asked.

"Nothing."

"Tell us." Everyone then stared onto him.

"If I tell you it could break us." Zeta was worried about something. But we simply don't know what he's talking about.

Precia got angry and shouted at Zeta, "Do you know the reason we're all at the Crimson Knights and how we're still worrying for him even though he's gone!? We were all once slaves and we can start over a new leaf right now since he's nowhere to be found. But look around Zeta, no one's running. We were all gathered here as a family. And no one gets left behind."

"..." Everyone was just silent.

Zeta was the one that broke the ice. "Then before I tell it, you'll have the chance to run away right now. You can start over a new leaf as Precia said."

We all just stood there with resolve. We gulped down our saliva and waited for Zeta to tell what he discovered.

"Fine... Fine, Fine!" Zeta scratched the back of his head. "No more going back. I used an identify skill on that old man. His name is Herold Nemath. He's... He's level 3457."

"..." Everyone was silent from the sudden revelation.

"This is why I didn't tell you. There's absolutely no chance."

"We're far too weak aren't we?" Afal sighed.

"Just by looking at this kingdom that we acquired just days ago suddenly turned into a rubble in a matter of seconds... Our kingdom's army, the people Zieglind saved and the people of Polk. Just... gone." Precia sat down and just covered her eyes as tears fell out. "It's cruel isn't it? How being weak is a crime."

I shared my thoughts on the matter, "The women and children Zieglind saved, we were just laughing and I was teaching them how to clean and wash the dishes..." I joined Precia on self loathing and cried it all out. "We couldn't protect anyone. The smile on those children and women as Zieglind gave them a new life were..." I couldn't speak anymore since just remembering their smiles made my heart ache.

Rize didn't speak but just gathered everyone in the middle and gave us a big group hug. "We're far too weak right? Then... we should all split up. Right Zeta?"

"..." Zeta looked up to the sky. "Yeah."

"You knew this was the only way." Rize as if she also knew it.

"I'm going back to my hometown. I'll salvage all the things my master left me. I'll be learning all the spells he left me. But by the time I come back, I'll be stronger than ever."

"I'll do the same." Afal intervened. "My father left 5 artifacts in this world and I'm one of them. I know where they're all located. It's time to use them."

"I'll be taking Rize with me." Precia joined in. "She uses ranged weapons and us elves excel in that."

"I... I'm going to the forest to give someone a little taste of their own medicine." Yefa had resolve in whatever she's going to do.

"I'm going back to my hometown." I said to everyone. "I have some things to do."

"Then that's decided?" Zeta asked everyone. We all nodded in agreement. "Then promise me this, in 2 years, we'll all meet at Itz. At this same day. Goodbye everyone. See you again."

Everyone left one by one. We all closed our eyes so that we wouldn't follow any of us. As it was me and Zeta left in the middle of rubble that was once the kingdom of Polk, I knew that this farewell and the promise we made wasn't easy for all of us. "Hey Zeta." I called out to him before he goes away for 2 years.

"What's up?" He asked.

"You'll be back right?"

"No. It's not you. We'll be back."

"That was a silly question."

"Yeah it is. Hey Greta, close your eyes." I did as he said.

A small turmoil of silence was felt. And after a few seconds pass, I opened my eyes and he's gone. I loudly sighed, "Coward. I guess that'll have to wait for 2 years."