Chapter 4: Chapter 3: A Warrior's Determination
Sarudei
[Meanwhile- in Soleon: The Realm of Warriors]
I looked at the trees and thick brush around me for any signs of Titanos soldiers. It irked me that I had to jump around like a coward. Unfortunately, I had little other choice… I-I was no match against those monsters from beyond the sky. Were they even of this universe?
My eyes fell back to the fruit basket in my hands. Regardless of where those monsters originated from, I had to get this food to the others. We couldn't overthrow them if we didn't get food in our bellies.
I sprinted as silently as I could as I rushed toward the cavern. The entrance soon came into view, but that only made my adrenaline pump faster. Those soldiers could pop up from behind or maybe they'd killed the others.
Sighing, I kept pressing on. It was unlike me to worry about such things. Making it through today was all that mattered. No one is promised tomorrow.
"Day is back!" a boy said, grinning as he ran over to me. He had his blue armor on, sword at the ready. The kid had taken up the duty of guarding the cave while I was gone.
I smiled and ruffled my little brother's fluffy black hair, causing him to giggle.
"You did good, Night," I said.
He grinned. "You flatter me, Sis!"
"Sarudei, you're back!" an elderly woman from my town said. Her snow white hair bounced as she made her way over to us, using the cane she had fashioned from a branch.
I nodded as I handed off the basket to my brother who ran deeper into the cave to give the other refugees their food.
Elder Shinora snickered. "Little Night reminds me of your father when he was little."
I laughed. It was hard to imagine Father like that. I only knew him as a stern warrior. Not that he was a stiff. He could show his kind side from time to time.
"Well, let's go in. Once we're done eating, I'd like to impart a little bit more knowledge to you." She took a deep breath. "Who knows how much longer we'll be able to avoid those goons from beyond the stars."
I nodded and followed after her, but not before looking over my shoulder for any signs of said goons. The coast was clear, but one couldn't be too cautious around them. They had technology far more advanced than anything we had. Like giant metal ships that could move through the sky by spitting out fire.
We finally came to a stop at a circular part of the cavern. Night had distributed the food to the eleven other kids and two of the three grand elders.
"Sis, I saved you a bonpear!" Night said, pointing at the now almost empty basket. It had a prickly green fruit and a blue gourd-like fruit.
I picked up the latter and bit into it, causing blue juice to roll down my chin.
Night chuckled and held out his handkerchief. "Sis, you got a little something."
I swiped it and wiped my chin fast, blushing.
Elder Alos laughed. "You must've been starving, missy."
I cleared my throat. "Only slightly…"
Elder Shinora sighed. "Al, don't tease the young missy."
"Grandpa can be a bit of a bully sometimes," the girl seated next to Night said, shaking her head at him.
Al frowned. "I was just teasing…"
I laughed. "Don't worry about it. If I thought it was a problem, I would've challenged you to a bout."
"Can Gramps even fight?" another of the kids asked, snickering.
Elder Alos crossed his arms. "How rude! I was once one of the three strongest in our town!"
The kid snickered. "When was that? A thousand years ago?"
"No! I'm not that old!"
Indeed. To my knowledge, no one had lived past two-hundred. And very few got to live past one-hundred. The invasion made that even more difficult. A lot of people had lost their lives in battle, including Elder Machiko's husband.
"Millos, don't be so rude," Elder Machiko said, sighing as she looked at her grandson.
Millos shrugged, looking sheepish. "Sorry, Grandmama."
Elder Alos chuckled. "No hard feelings, Millos. But remember, respect your elders."
The atmosphere in the cavern was a mix of tension and camaraderie. We were all united in our struggle against the Titanos soldiers, but the threat of their advanced technology loomed over us like a dark cloud.
As we finished our meal, Elder Shinora cleared her throat, drawing our attention. "It's time we discussed our next course of action. The Titanos soldiers have been encroaching closer to our hiding spot, and we need to be prepared for any eventuality."
Elder Alos nodded solemnly. "We must bolster our defenses and ensure that we are ready to face any threat that comes our way. Our survival depends on our unity and strength."
I felt a surge of determination coursing through me. Being the only one of age who isn't an elder, the responsibility weighed heavily on my shoulders. The children were too young to fight, and the elders were past their primes. It was up to me to protect them all.
"We have faced challenges before, and we have overcome them together," I spoke up, my voice filled with conviction. "We will not cower in fear of the Titanos soldiers. We will stand tall and fight for our right to live in peace."
The others nodded in agreement, their eyes reflecting a mixture of fear and resolve. Despite our small number, our spirits burned bright with defiance and courage.
As the discussion continued, I found myself at the forefront, laying out plans to fortify our defenses and prepare for the inevitable confrontation with the Titanos soldiers. Each member of our community had a role to play, and we were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
The cavern echoed with the sound of our voices, united in purpose and determination. Together, we would stand against the forces that sought to oppress us, drawing strength from each other and the bonds that held us together.
Once done, Elder Shinora motioned at me.
I left the others and followed after her to a different part of the cavern. In it was a large ring that the elders had built for our training.
"Time for me to show you another sword skill," the elder said, raising her cane at me. "This one will be important for defeating Titanos."
My heart pounded in anticipation. Elder Shinora's lessons were always more than a simple show and tell. They were rigorous and demanding, pushing me to my limits. But they were also the reason I had survived this long.
I nodded and drew my sword, ready to begin. Elder Shinora regarded me for a moment, her eyes glinting with a fierce determination that belied her age.
"Hold your sword out and try to channel your ki nto it."
I nodded, even though I wasn't very good at using it.
"Remember to let your inner energy flow and tug on the energy of our surroundings."
I nodded, thankful for her reminder. Once I finally got that part down, she showed me the rest of her technique, using her cane as her weapon.
She turned toward a large rock and performed a series of swift, precise strikes boosted by ki.
According to her, this technique was meant to target specific weak points in the Titanos mechanical armor as well as those who had natural defenses like scales. The movements were intricate and required perfect timing and precision. Yet, as complex as it was, there was a rhythm to it.
For hours, under Elder Shinora's watchful gaze, I practiced the technique repeatedly, each time striving for the level of precision and speed she demanded. Sweat trickled down my brow, my muscles screamed in protest, but I didn't stop. I couldn't. Too much was riding on this.
Finally, after countless attempts, I managed to execute the technique flawlessly. The elder nodded approvingly, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"Well done, Sarudei," she said, her voice gruff with pride. "You've learned it well. But remember, this is just the beginning. Your skills can still use more polish."
I nodded, returning her smile with a tired but determined one of my own. "I'm ready, Elder. Whatever it takes to reclaim our home, I'll do it."
She nodded. "Although, remember not to carry the weight by yourself. While it is true that you are our biggest hope, the three of us are also here to help you. Should it come to it, we will fight to the end, like how Elder Ceykla did."
I frowned. I didn't want to see others give up their lives for me.
"I'll keep training to make sure it doesn't come down to that," I said, taking a deep breath.
She nodded. "Now, go rest. The hot springs will aid your tired muscles."
I nodded and took another path. Deeper in this cavern were hot springs, which was fortunate for us. It meant we didn't have to go out to cleanse ourselves.
The soft glow of bioluminescent mushrooms that dotted the cave walls lit my path. Warm, sulfur-scented air greeted me as I neared the springs.
I shed my armor and the clothes I wore underneath and eased myself into the steaming water, letting out a sigh of relief as the heat worked its magic on my aching muscles.
I leaned back, letting the warmth seep into my tired body. As I closed my eyes, my mind began to wander back to the day's training. Elder Shinora's words echoed in my head.
While it was true that I was the only one of age who could fight, I wasn't alone in this struggle. Elder Alos, Elder Machiko, and her were with me, ready to fight to their last breath, if need be.
I clenched my fists under the water. The thought of them getting hurt, or worse, was still unbearable. I had to get stronger, better. I had to protect them and the children, whatever the cost.
I stayed in the hot springs until the heat started to become too much for me, lost in my thoughts. By the time I got out, my body felt rejuvenated, but my mind was still a whirl of thoughts and worries.
As I made my way back to the main cavern, I found Night waiting for me.
"What's wrong, Night?" I asked. "Shouldn't you be asleep by now?"
He frowned. "I had a nightmare. Of when those weird ships descended from the sky."
I pulled him into a hug. Seeing the fear in my little brother's eyes brought a lump to my throat. Holding him close, I stroked his hair gently.
"I know, Night," I murmured, "I know. It was scary for all of us. But remember, we're safe here."
"But what if they find us?" His voice was muffled against my chest, his words sending a pang of worry through my heart.
"Even if they do find us, I won't let them hurt," I reassured him, pulling back to look into his eyes. "I won't let them. That, I promise."
His eyes searched mine for a moment before he gave a small nod, seemingly comforted by my words.
"Come on," I said, extending my hand, "Let's get some sleep."
We walked over to our shared sleeping area, a small alcove in the cavern wall filled with soft moss and warm furs. Lying down, I wrapped my arm around him, pulling him close. His body relaxed against mine, his breathing slowly evening out as he drifted off to sleep.
As I lay there, listening to his soft snores, I felt a fierce determination well up within me. I would protect my brother, protect them all. No matter what it took, I would keep them safe from the so-called soldiers of Titanos. Even if it cost me my life.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
sun_imperial
sun_imperial Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thoughts on Sarudei?
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone