13: I Thought We Are Safe

Ryo shakes his head in disbelief. “Kiera, why are we even asking that Swordmaster Gideon for help? The Swordmasters will not comply with your request for a favor. We have enough refugees to outnumber them. If we fight them, we can win.”

I say, “Yes, we could fight and win. But that would inflict more casualties on the refugees’ side.”

Ryo says, “I can use my Time power to defeat the Swordmasters.”

I raise my palm and interrupt Ryo’s suggestion. “Don’t act abruptly, Ryo. Remember how Maleek countered your Time power in your last fight.”

Ryo says, “Maleek is too wounded to fight at his full strength. I can easily take him out.”

I say, “I won’t put Nisa’s life at risk. Maleek is a typical ruthless Swordmaster who wouldn’t hesitate to kill a Marked One. On the other hand, I hope I have earned Gideon’s trust enough that he will help us.

Ryo laughs at the ridiculousness of the whole situation. “Look at how Gideon moves around his squad members. He’s making plans, but I doubt it’s in our favor. I don’t see how it will benefit him if he lets us go free.”

I say, “I don’t know, Ryo. I’m appealing to the little spark of courage that is in him that he will stand up and do the right thing.”

Ryo says, “What if he decides to attack us instead? Give me the cue so that I can have the first strike. I can use my Time powers to slow them down and beat them to the ground within seconds. They will not see it coming. Once Maleek realizes that he’s without help, he will return Nisa back to us.”

I say, “After Gideon defeated the Wraith, I knocked him out unconscious because I didn’t trust him enough that he would be on our side. I won’t repeat the same mistake twice with my impulsive judgment. If I need him to help us, I need to convey a more trusting gesture towards him. How long more till the portal opens?”

Ryo says, “Ten minutes.”

I say, “Gideon said they have reinforcements reaching soon. I don’t think he was bluffing.”

I look at all the refugees behind us. About over fifty of them. They look nervous over the whole situation, especially Nisa’s father. I raise my hand and nod to subtly signal to them everything is going to be alright.

The time has arrived.

Ryo points to the wall where a door-shaped blue light begins forming out of nothingness. “Kiera, New Haven has activated their side of the portal. They are earlier than expected. And we are still in a deadlock. The portal will only hold for one minute for us until you insert the Portal Stone from our side. It’s now or never. I say, we’ll fight the Swordmasters.”

I remember Ganeson’s advice. If the portal is at risk of being breached by the enemies, I must not activate the portal from our side. If necessary, I must destroy the Portal Stone to prevent it from falling into the enemies’ hands. If the Swordmasters gain access to the portal, they will bring their entire army into New Haven. A war between the Swordmasters and New Haven will be inevitable.

I see Gideon mobilizing his squad. I need to know what he is attempting to do. He sends five of his squad members to form a line a few steps in front of me. Then he walks over to Maleek and whispers something to him.

Ryo whispers to me, “Kiera, we’re running out of time. Gideon is preparing his squad in a formation to attack us. Apparently, your negotiation with the enemy has failed.”

Maleek points at the door-shaped blue light. “Masked Assassin, open the portal now. Do it, and I will release Nisa. If you refuse, I will kill Nisa.”

I say, “If you kill Nisa, you have not seen what my wrath is capable of. I will destroy you.”

Maleek presses the blade of his sword against Nisa’s thigh causing it to bleed slightly. Nisa screams in pain.

If I open the portal in the presence of the Swordmasters, then my action will expose New Haven to the Swordmasters’ attacks. But if I don’t, what if Maleek lives up to his threat and kills Nisa? What shall I do?

“I’ll do it.” I insert the Portal Stone into the door-shaped blue light. Now, the portal is fully activated.

Nisa throws a sucker punch at Maleek’s face and frees herself from her captor’s grip.

That’s the unexpected cue I’ve been waiting for. With Nisa freed, we can now fight the Swordmasters and escape into the portal. “Run straight for the portal, Nisa.”

What’s about to happen next… happens too fast for anybody to see it coming.

In a quick reflex, Maleek grabs his sword and throws it towards Nisa.

Ryo casts his Time power to slow the Swordmasters who are blocking us. He bypasses them and runs towards Nisa to help her. But even he’s too far away to reach Nisa in time before Maleek’s throwing sword reaches her.

The sword is about to pierce Nisa’s skull. Has my action doomed the little girl? I should have obediently surrendered ourselves after opening the portal. Now, Nisa is going to pay with her life... except it doesn’t happen that way.

In a quick reflex, Gideon uses his own sword to hit Maleek’s flying sword away.

Maleek runs towards Nisa with his second sword. “Gideon, stop that little girl from running into the portal.”

Gideon swings his sword and hits Maleek to the ground instead.

Maleek shouts to Gideon, “You traitor! Once I report this to Jackal, I will make sure your head ends up on the execution ground.”

Ryo throws a punch on Maleek’s face so hard that he is instantly knocked out cold.

I signal the refugees to walk through the portal. The rest of Gideon’s squad members look to him if they should engage us in a fight, but Gideon asks them to stand down.

Gideon says to me, “When Maleek attempted to kill Nisa, I don’t think it was right for him to murder an innocent little girl. So I attacked my Commander’s right-hand man. If words get out to my superiors about this action, it would be a death sentence for me.”

I say, “Gideon, I almost thought you would turn your back on us. But you did live up to your promise.”

Ryo says, “Gideon, I suggest to avoid future trouble, you should finish Maleek off.”

Gideon says, “Maleek is a man who carries out his superior’s orders. I won’t end the life of a fellow comrade. Let him go back and report whatever he wants to our superior. I’m ready to take the fall.”

I say, “Not this time. I will not allow another Itoshi incident to happen. You are a man of honor and integrity. Unfortunately, your Swordmaster authority will never reward such values. We will help you take care of Maleek. We will take him as a prisoner in New Haven. One day, when the time is right, we will eventually release him. I promise you, no harm will befall your comrade.”

Gideon is heavy-hearted about the decision. “Perhaps that will be the best decision for now.”

I say, “What will happen to you after this is over?”

Gideon says, “I don’t know, Kiera. The future looks bleak. My squad will be evaluated for our failure in this mission. But let me worry about that.”

I say, “Thank you, Gideon. You have no idea how much this means to us. You will be remembered among the people of New Haven for helping us out. The heroic deeds you did today will never go unpaid, I assure you.”

Gideon shakes his head with a worried face. “Please keep this a secret. I can’t have anybody on my side of the world finds out about this story.”

One of Gideon’s squad members whispers something to him. Then Gideon says, “Kiera, the Swordmaster reinforcements have arrived at the mansion—about a hundred of them. Get inside the portal now and shut it down.”

Ryo enters the portal first, carrying the unconscious Maleek on his shoulder, followed by the rest of the refugees. Once all the refugees have passed, I am the last to cross over.

* * *

I am expecting the mission to be over once I step into the portal. All the remaining refugees have been safely transported to New Haven. We are safe from the Swordmasters’ pursuit.

However, that is not the case. Why does this have to happen during our mission?

As I pull out the Portal Stone from New Haven’s side, the portal is supposed to close... except that it doesn’t.

A malfunction perhaps? Too many things have gone wrong today, it continues to haunt me even after we stepped through the portal. It’s as if destiny wants us to fail this mission. Why?

Ryo asks the portal keeper to inform the Leadership of New Haven that the Swordmasters are going to breach the portal. The portal keeper quickly leaves his post.

Ryo says, “This is going to be the first time the Swordmasters succeed in setting foot in New Haven. I hope our militias are prepared to fight them off.”

I say, “We must not let them come in. A hundred over Swordmasters is enough to tear down the years of effort invested into building New Haven as a safe refuge for the Marked Ones. New Haven is not ready for this premature war.”

Ryo says, “Leadership will send the militias to defend against the Swordmasters. Come on, Kiera, this is no longer just our fight. There’s nothing else we could do.”

Is it true that there’s nothing we could do? Kiera, you know you have one more last trick to save New Haven. But it also requires someone to sacrifice herself.

I say, “I will return to the mansion, unplug the Portal Stone from the other side, thus effectively shutting off the portal.”

Ryo grabs my arm. “Are you suicidal? If you do that, you won’t be able to return to New Haven. Then you’re going to be captured and interrogated by the Swordmasters. Kiera, for many New Haven operatives who got captured by the Swordmasters, they usually ended up on the execution ground. Please don’t do this to yourself.”

I sigh. “As opposed to letting the Swordmasters destroy New Haven?”

Ryo says, “Then let the Swordmasters come through. Our New Haven has enough manpower to fight them until we figure how to shut off the malfunctioning portal.”

I say, “No, Ryo. I know New Haven can put up a valiant fight because that’s what we’ve been training for—but at what costs to both sides? The Swordmasters are one of the strongest military forces in the land. They will not stop until they fully destroy New Haven. How many lives will be lost on both sides? Remember our true enemy—Hezekiah’s Undead. We cannot afford to fight this war because Hezekiah will seize this opportunity to attack our City at its most weakened state. It’s premature to enter into a war with the Swordmasters right now.”

Ryo says, “Then we’ll get Gideon to destroy the Portal Stone from his side.” He crosses into the portal to have a quick look. He returns in a few seconds, shaking his head, which means Gideon is no longer around to help us.

I say, “It’s too late. Gideon’s squad has already left to join up with his Commander’s reinforcements. Nobody else can help us. I must do it myself.”

Ryo says, “I’ll fight with you. I can use my Time power to help you.”

I say, “Even with your ability to slow them down, you’re no match against a hundred Swordmasters. Besides, you’re the only Time Monk left. You’re too important to be captured by the Swordmasters. You are the only one who has the right power to defeat the Immortal Lord. You need to stay alive until that day arrives.”

Ryo says, “I have failed my Time Monks once when I couldn’t stop their destruction at Hezekiah’s hands. I don’t care about saving the world if I can’t even save a good friend from getting captured. I will follow you and fight to the death with you.”

I say, “I wish I don’t have to sacrifice myself this way. But then I realize that I don’t carry any significant responsibility in New Haven. I’m just a counselor helping the Marked Ones to settle into their new lives. Without my presence, life in New Haven will still go on as usual. But if my action alone can prevent a full-scale war from destroying this City and save many more lives, then it’s all worth it. Ryo, I’m asking you to think about the bigger picture. As my good friend, please stay and let me do this.”

Ryo stands in silence as he contemplates my words. “Kiera, you’re not insignificant. You mean a lot to me. You helped me through my darkest moments when I was battling my depression. You mean a lot to Nisa. You gave her hope for a better future. You mean a lot to all the Marked Ones you rescued and helped to settle down in New Haven. You’re significant to us.”

Yes, I know. And it breaks my heart to walk away from everybody. “So are the sacrifices of other operatives who have laid down their lives to give everyone in New Haven a better future. I’m sorry, Ryo. Please tell Nisa that I’m sorry I don’t have the chance to spend more time with her.”

Ryo stares helplessly at me knowing that the decision has to be made. “Sometimes I wish there’s a better way to solve this than you coming up with suicidal strategies.”

I walk back through the blue light of the portal back to the mansion, knowing that the fate awaiting me on the other side is certainly not going to be a happy ending.

Oh, how I wish there is another way to do this...

Next: 14: Jackal’s Problem with Me →