194 Resolve (2/2)

All his life, he had been a protector of others, a shieldbearer not just in class, but also in life philosophy. He felt a great relief that he was not the one on the ground bearing the brunt of the titan's blows, but at the same time, he felt an immense shame.

”Faye, how are you holding up?” said Launcelot.

”Fine,” came Faye's voice, and that was what Launcelot focused on because the smog was so thick, he could not even see hear despite her being right behind him. Faye's voice became worried. ”And you? This smoke, we can bear, but it is of heroic origin, and I fear it may be hurting you.”

”This much,” said Launcelot as he held down a cough. ”Is nothing. Ava and Celeste are by you still, yes?”

”That's right.”

”How high are we?”

”Honestly, I cannot tell,” said Faye. ”But from how long we've flown, I have to say we should have far passed the dome of black smoke by now.”

”The emergence of that horrible titan has increased the volume of smoke,” noted Launcelot.

”You don't understand, Launce, we should be so high up that we could almost touch the clouds, if we wanted to. The entire sky's gone dark.”

”To think that the corrupted powers of but one hero are capable of this,” said Launcelot, shaking his head in shock. For once in his life, he thought about running.

Of flying with Faye and Ava and Celeste, his dearest of friends, to somewhere else, to safety, because he knew that deep down in his heart, he would contribute nothing to the raging battle below, a battle that belonged in the realm of grand myths when gods shaped entire landscapes.

He felt so insignificant, just like he did when he wanted to investigate those dungeons further, to try and find answers to what happened to his first friend, his first love, when he found her encased in that horrible bag of flesh under the Noonspire but could not do anything when he felt that terrible presence in the dark forcing him away, making him realize how small he was in the grand scheme of things.

”Launce, if I'm being honest, we should just go,” said Faye. Launcelot could feel her grip around his arms growing tighter. ”What is happening down there, that is beyond our grasp. We should do what we can. Escape and call for help. Alert the guild outposts nearby and have every village here evacuate.”

Launcelot knew this was the right thing to do. He nodded, but knowing that Faye could not see his head movements, he started to speak and voice his agreement.

Then, he beheld a great light shining from below. A light so bright that it appeared that the sun that had been blotted out under the choking darkness of smoke above had suddenly alighted upon the earth.

Light that did not belong in this utter, hopeless darkness. Light that meant that there was still one who was fighting.

Launcelot steeled himself. Resolve came to him. He took the strap of his bronze shield and fastened it tightly.

”No,” he said. ”I will not run. Not anymore.”