70 Reasons to Kill (2/2)

”Looks like neither of us will get to back out now, huh, Dean,” Jimmy raised his glaive to his side with both hands like a batter readying to swat at an incoming baseball. ”I want you to know, your death won't be in vain.”

In response to Jimmy's new battle stance, I held my falchion in both hands and extended the tip of the shadowblade forward as if intending to thrust at him. ”How do you figure that?”

”Because I'll use the momentum of defeating such a capable young officer as fuel for defeating Roger Thors. After which, the renown I earn from this battle and the backing of a victorious Magesong clan will provide me with enough clout to enact policies that will prove favorable to our city, he explained.

”What kind of policies?” I pressed.

Jimmy's eyes scrutinized me for a few seconds before he responded. ”The kind that can help kids like you from winding up in a place like the Fayne…”

His words struck home. I hadn't forgotten the months of anguish my family underwent after Luca's disappearance. I hadn't forgotten my frustrations at the local police force, at the system itself for failing us in our time of need. If he had a plan to make that scenario less likely to happen then wasn't it my obligation as once of Starlight's citizens to help him?

I shook my head repeatedly.

No. That line of thinking suggested my own path was a mistake. But I couldn't believe the sacrifices we'd made so far were all in vain.

”Is that really how it works? You do a lot of bad so you can do a little good?” I asked, my voice lowering to almost a whisper.

Jimmy sighed. ”It shouldn't be… but you've seen how much fairies influence human lives… It is only with their cooperation can we achieve more for ourselves and others.”

”What if the opposite were true?” I raised my eyes to his. ”What if humans could influence fairies enough to stop them from taking advantage of Mudgard?”

Jimmy's brow furrowed. ”That's impossible. Humans are a resource to the Fay. They wouldn't give us up unless—”

”—unless someone with a high enough authority made it so,” I reasoned.

I saw the light appear in the back of Jimmy's eyes, and I could swear a lightbulb had turned on inside his head. After an agonizing moment of contemplation, Jimmy laughed.

”So, you want to play kingmaker?” he clarified.

I nodded. ”It's the only real way to save humans from the abuses of the Fayne.”

In my mind, I wondered how long it's been since I thought of saving more than just Luca. Although he was still the priority, my many interactions with the many humans like Ashley Johnson and Connor McCord have led me to think that I wanted to help them too.

”It's a good dream… Sadly, that's all it is.” Jimmy shook his head. ”How many people do you think have attempted it? Hell, how many hundreds of years have passed since there was a monarch on the empty throne? No… it is impossible.”

”It's not. Not if we get the right fairy on the throne,” I insisted.

”That's just it. There isn't anyone right for the throne,” Jimmy countered. ”there aren't any good fairies, Dean. Don't be fooled. They're all selfish creatures who are just taking advantage of us. Why shouldn't we do the same?”

I glanced toward Aura who was at the front of the encirclement on my left. The encouraging smile she sent back at me and the promise that bound us together was all I needed to disprove Jimmy's words. Not all fairies were evil.

Jimmy saw the exchange between me and Aura, and he knew I disagreed with him.

”You fool,” he whispered. Then his voice turned grave. ”Very well. Defeat me and earn enough glory in this battle to start you on your path to kingmaking... or I kill you and earn political points to create a better life for the citizens of Starlight.”

Jimmy's eyes narrowed. His muscles tensed. He gripped tighter on the polearm of his glaive. It was obvious that he was about to strike.

”I wonder, which of us has the right of it. Even more, I wonder which of us will have the chance to continue on our chosen path,” he said with a tone that suggested the conversation was over. Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.

However, being the rebellious kid that I was, I insisted on having the final word, ”Let's find out.”

I mustered my resolve. Then I gripped tightly on my falchion.

In the next instant, we both charged. We both knew it was time to draw the curtains on this duel.