by Samuel Small
“Dante,” Jake whispered as they climbed the red-carpeted steps in the foyer, which was the only place they could go with guards lining each side. “Did you and Sara talk at the meeting at all?”
“Not really. At least not until everyone left. Why?”
“It’s like they were expecting you or something. This might sound a bit weird, but do you know King Aquinas?”
“Of course not,” Dante whispered back while grasping the handle of a door. He directed toward it with his head. “Well? You ready?”
Jake nodded, so Dante pushed open the door. The air inside seemed to press against Jake’s skin, and all of his senses paused. His head faced the ground and for some reason he didn’t want to raise it. He thought it was just nerves, he was going to be one of only a few people there and the only one without a good reason to attend but then he caught Dante out of the corner of his eye who likewise stood dead still. This feeling, Jake knew it but… no, that was insane.
After a few seconds Jake got more used to the pressure in the room and continued inside. There was a table in the center, where a man Jake didn’t recognize sat, which would probably pin him as King Aquinas. Like Führer Bellator he wore a cape, although his was blue with white tufts at the end and a luxurious ermine collar. He wore it over his combat uniform, sporting armored pauldrons on his shoulders. When he saw Jake Aquinas smiled like he recognized him, but not in a good way. It was the smile of a bully whose victim had just entered the lunchroom, or an abuser at court leering at his victim on the stand.
It was terrifying, the way the man’s eyes followed Jake and Dante across the room as they made their way to the table. He didn’t say anything, even after they sat down, just staring with that shit-eating grin.
“You’re as bold as ever, aren’t you?” he said, his eyes resting on Dante who glared back at him. Before Jake could ask Dante what the hell that meant, the door behind him opened.
Sara walked into the room like she was extremely nervous, her plump father and Aquinas’ advisor bringing up her rear. The advisor sat next to his king and Sara and her father took seats next to Jake. Führer Bellator entered after them without a word and grabbed a chair next to Sara, dragging it to one end of the table and sitting down. The way it was set up, it had the four of them opposing the Magnum Undo leaders with Führer Bellator sitting annoyed on the side.
“Heath,” the advisor said to Sara’s father. “You look… sober.”
“You bet your ass I am,” Sara’s father replied. There was an uncanny standoff between the two men, so much so that Jake tensed his muscles and prepared to jump back if someone launched an attack, but Sara’s voice rang out and settled the atmosphere.
“I would like to know why an attack is being launched. If I am told a reason, we can try to negotiate.”
“A reason?” Aquinas said with a grin. “Does the reason really matter?” The king folded his legs and sat back, waving his hand at Sara dismissively. “We humans slaughter each other by the thousands over the slightest offense. Political differences, bloodlines, a few square miles of barren land. Take your pick, I don’t really care which.”
The table shot forward in that instant, but Aquinas and his staff didn’t react at all and neither did Führer Bellator at the far end. Sara’s father, King Heath Niflheim, had forced it back when his belly brushed against it after leaping to his feet in anger. From his standing position he glared down at the amused figures of Aquinas and his advisor.
“It won’t go like last time,” he said, staring straight into Aquinas’ empty eyes. “I won’t allow you to harm a single Niflheim citizen.”
King Aquinas flashed a demonic smile that sent a shiver down Jake’s spine. It had an even more noticeable effect on King Niflheim, however, as he promptly fell back into his seat, running his hands through his silver hair.
“That’s what you said last time too, as I recall,” the advisor said with a grin. “And what happened? You couldn’t even protect your wife, could you? Isn’t that right, my lord?”
“Is that so?” Aquinas replied.
Sara shot out of her seat at Jake’s side. Her fingernails dug into the table, and he thought at any moment they might shatter from the sheer force. The presentable way she had looked for the meeting was now all gone, her hair in disarray and hanging in her face, her arms trembling with rage. Despite her obvious pain and anger, the two Magnum Undo representatives only stared on in sick amusement.
“Do you not recall, Aquinas,” Sara whispered in a shaky voice, “that you were the one who killed her!”
The king only inspected his nails. “Nope, can’t say that I do.”
Those words defeated Sara and she promptly sat back down, mouth agape. She was in complete shock, her eyes showing no flicker of emotion whatsoever. It was enough to light a fire in Jake’s heart, and he promptly turned his narrowed eyes at the lot of them and stood up. It was then he noticed he was not alone, as Dante had done the same at his side. They both pressed their clenched fists against the table, with no other outlet for their rage.
“Is that all this shit means to you?” Dante said. “Death, murder, it don’t mean nothin’. You don’t even bother to remember the faces of the people you’ve killed…”
“The two of you,” Jake added, “are irrational tyrants, hell-bent on death just for the fun of it. You’re no better than the Mad King and his insane campaign of genocide!” That’s right, Jake thought as he clenched his teeth harder, the same genocide that made me an orphan. They both stared at Jake and Dante’s furious rage, smiling as if they enjoyed it, like they fed off of it. Jake was able to keep his cool and resist the urge to pull out his sword, but Dante was clearly at the end of his tether and he began gathering energy in his open palm. Despite the fact that Dante was an extremely powerful Sol user, which they had to know based on his presence at the meeting alone, neither leader flinched. “You name the time and fucking place,” Dante yelled, “and I’ll be there!”
For the first time in the meeting Führer Bellator showed the slightest hint of emotion. At Dante’s statement his eyes widened slightly. It was only enough to dissolve his cool stare but Jake could tell Dante’s words troubled him as he stood up. “Mr. Dante, I’d recommend against that. This is a petty squabble between bickering nations. There’s no need to get involved.”
“No need to get involved?” Dante said. “Does that mean you’re not—”
“The Republic will not assist Niflheim in a war they started.”
“Th-they started…?” Jake muttered in shock. Knowing his words would have an effect on her, he looked to Sara. Her head was downcast and she dug her nails into her dress, scrunching it up.
“Did you really come here and not know?” the advisor laughed. “Should you tell them or will I, my lord?” Aquinas shrugged, prompting his advisor to continue. “We used to be one nation but that girl’s ancestors wanted to keep their bloodline pure. So they attacked us, persecuted us, and forced us to secede. But they didn’t leave it at that, they continued to attack us right up to the current generation. As I recall, as a young and hot-headed King Heath over here attacked us over a 6% tariff. Isn’t that right?”
Sara’s father mirrored her stance at her side. His eyes radiated regret, but the only action he could manage was a small shake of the head.
“Now you know. The Republic will not engage,” Führer Bellator said and stormed out of the meeting.
“Wait!” Sara’s voice filled the room, prompting the Führer to stop, although he didn’t turn around. “Our alliance, I put years of hard work into nurturing it. I attended your academy, I neglected my duties as a princess, went without seeing my family, all to maintain the peace. Führer, please—” but she stopped there, tears flowing from her eyes, as Führer Bellator continued forward, not even bothering to hear the rest.
“If he won’t then I will,” Dante said.
The footsteps stopped and Führer Bellator looked over his shoulder at the boy. Jake could tell Dante was dead serious
and the look he exchanged with the Führer was not one that he expected from the loudmouth and impulsive orange-haired boy. It was one of two military leaders sizing up each other’s abilities. Führer Bellator turned around slowly, looking at Dante with that same apathetic gaze that had been on his face throughout the meeting. “If that is the case then I’m willing to send a very small battalion of troops to assist you. Unlike Niflheim, the Republic wants to make up for the mistakes of the past.”
“Save it, fucko,” Dante said as he placed a hand on Jake’s shoulder. “Your scatter-brained, useless bedhead wonder here will be more than enough. You can take your symbolic gesture and shove it right up your ass.” He turned away from the Führer, who dipped his head at Dante’s statement before finally leaving the room. Dante turned to the thoroughly entertained Magnum Undo leaders.
“You hear that you bastards? We’re coming for you.”
With Dante’s challenge, Jake knew that the time for words was over and they should take their leave. Sara and King Niflheim stood up as one, and Jake was overwhelmed by the feeling of solidarity that they all shared. People’s lives, this war – it was no game, no matter what these bloodthirsty tyrants thought. And the four people here were going to stop them. Jake turned and walked out of the room, his comrades striding confidently on either side of him. They descended the stairs where the guards stared at them and just about keeping their composure, but Jake could still see a curiosity in their faces. When they saw the determined look on Jake and his companion’s faces, however, their shoulders slumped slightly. They sensed that their lunatic leaders would be dragging them into a senseless war.
Without a word the four walked through the streets of Magnum Undo and crossed the bridge that led back to Niflheim. The steel construction clanged under their feet and the howling wind was so strong that it threatened to snatch Jake right over the edge and into the canyon below, but he didn’t fear it. In that moment he felt solid. He wasn’t sure a tornado could move him, let alone this breeze.
It had to have taken them some time to cross Niflheim but with everything running through Jake’s head they were at the gates of the country in no time. Once they reached it, Sara fell to her knees, her legs sliding against the frozen ground. She ran her fingers through her hair, letting out a freezing mist of breath from her mouth. Jake waited for her to get her bearings back and after a minute the girl raised herself to her feet, a smile Jake thought he might never see again on her lips.
“Thank you, Dante, Jake. Back there… the sheer evil of that man. I just froze.”
“No worries,” Dante said. “That guy’s a bastard. I’d of loved to clock him one right there, but he’s offering for me to do it in front of a whole army of witnesses.”
“I’ll be the one to clock him,” Heath said with a smirk. “I owe him a kicking or five.”
Despite the gravity of the situation, the four burst into laughter. The way Dante and Heath talked, it was like they were going to have a classroom brawl with the guy instead of an all-out war. It was enough to calm Jake’s nerves just a little, and anything that stilled his beating heart was appreciated. Once their laughter was over Dante nudged Jake’s shoulder.
“Still, I didn’t expect such a passive guy to get so fired up. You actually looked kinda badass for a second there bedhead, but it musta just been a trick of the light.”
This caught Jake off guard, as he doubted anyone had noticed what he did, but apparently that was the case as Sara and King Niflheim looked on in appreciation. He rubbed the back of his head bashfully while saying it was no big deal in comparison to what Dante was doing.
“That’s right,” Sara said. “Dante, are you serious about gathering troops?”
“Yeah that’s right,” he said, before his eyes trailed off to something in the distance. The metallic sleigh Führer Bellator rode in was approaching. Many of the elite guards walked on either side of it and, as the humming engine moved through the center of the group, Major Miles broke out of formation. He waited with them until the carriage was out of earshot then turned to King Niflheim.
“I’ll see what I can do on the home front, although I doubt it’ll amount to much.”
“Me neither,” Sara said, seemingly hypnotized by Führer Bellator’s carriage, as her eyes never left it.
“It’s appreciated Major, as well as all you’ve done for my daughter.”
“Right,” he said then turned to Dante and Jake. His eyes scanned both of them, and Jake saw regret somewhere within their depths. “Hopefully that training pays off. I don’t think you lot take war lightly but I want you to be careful regardless. Come back alive, all of you,” he finished. He nodded to the group then turned and followed the Führer’s convoy.
“Speaking of which,” Sara said, “Dante, when are you planning on gathering these troops?”
“Eh?” he said then folded his arms behind his head and looked to the sky. It was hardly the posture of someone who was intent on going to war but after the meeting Jake knew not to take the boy lightly. “Immediately, I guess.”
“Okay. And Jake, what are you going to do?” Sara asked.
What was he going to do? Jake didn’t exactly know how to answer the question. Everyone else was the leader of a world power but Jake, he wasn’t even a normal guard yet. He looked to the ground in shame and prepared to stay like that, when a warm hand rested on his shoulder.
“I was thinkin’ he could come with me. The people in my village they’re… kinda assholes. I tend not to go into the thick of it alone but…” Dante looked away and trailed off, focused on the fresh snow on the ground. “The position’s open,” he mumbled.
“All right, works for me,” Sara said. “Father and I will ready as many troops as we can for the upcoming battle. I hope to see you soon.”
“We should be back in a little over two weeks,” Dante said then headed forward. Jake had to quicken his pace to keep up, walking over the duel lines created by the Führer’s convey to avoid sinking into the snow. They had become no more than a dot on the horizon now, and as Jake chased after the silhouette he wondered if they’d ever reach it.
A sudden wind assaulted them, prompting Jake to shield his face, but Dante didn’t flinch at all. His features, which were tense and commanding, seemed to be considering the return to his village with more hostility than the prospect of war. Jake could only imagine how horrible the place must be for the ‘solo artist’ Dante to ask for backup. There was a moment briefly when he thought of asking but then decided against it. Instead he looked back. Sara and King Niflheim hadn’t moved from their spot and stared at the two as they walked away. The wind blew Sara’s hair, but she made no effort to move it out of her face. She gave them one final sad smile and turned around. They all had their objectives now and needed to reach them before it was too late.
Chapter 15
The orange-haired boy poured so many noodles into his face that his cheeks puffed out like a hamster. He swallowed them in one big lump but didn’t let up for a second, continuing to stuff the food into his mouth. It was disgusting, the eating habits of some prehistoric barbarian instead of a so-called human. Dante glanced up and caught Jake’s look of disgust and stared at him as if expecting an explanation.
“It’s, uh, nothing,” Jake said but when Dante’s inquisitive gaze narrowed in anger he decided to just make something up to avoid getting decked. “It’s just that I never thought you’d be the leader of the Purists is all. You’ve been hiding in plain sight this whole time.”
As soon as Jake finished his sentence Dante swallowed the lump of ramen, his face drained of color. Okay, that’s weird, Jake thought as the boy attempted to ignore his question and get back to his food.
“Dante, you are the leader of the Purists, aren’t you?”
The slurping stopped and Dante allowed the slimy noodles to slide out of his mouth and back into the bowl. He looked up and then away, moving his chopsticks uncomfortably in his hands. “Technicallyyyyyyyyyy, no. But it’ll be ea
sy for me to do it, just gotta do this weird ritual thingy.”
The boy went back to his ramen before Jake could respond, not that he had anything to say. He could only stare on in a strange mix of fear and awe. One thought echoed in his mind: He crashed an All World meeting.
The rest of their journey brought them through the snow-glazed region that Sara called home and back into a region that resembled the last fading embers of fall. No trees still bore their leaves and their gray skeletal arms poked into the sky, but the ground was still colorful beneath Jake’s feet. He took off his winter jacket when he found the extra layer was too much and stuffed it into his bag. Dante had already removed his winter coat at the earliest opportunity and trudged onward in his familiar green jacket.
It took a few days but eventually they reached the Purist village. There wasn’t a gate at all, just two intersecting arches at the entrance, which was strange because the rest of the place was walled off. You’d figure that after the genocide they’d have upped security a bit, but with this setup it looked like people were free to come and go as they pleased. Jake was done appreciating the architecture and took a step forward but stopped when he realized Dante didn’t follow. The boy had his eyes closed and breathed out as much air as possible, then his eyes shot up, burning with resolve. He stepped into the village.
There were vendors selling things like fruit and clothing at either end of the street, dressed in lightweight garb that the Purists were known for. They all chatted happily, but a few eyes turned to watch the newcomers walking down the street, then narrowed. There were some nudges, followed by angry whispers. In no less than a few seconds people on both ends of the street glared at Jake and Dante. He could feel their eyes on him, feel them taking special note of his uniform, and knew there was bloodlust filling their hearts. But Jake wasn’t getting the worst of it, as most of those eyes weren’t focused on him. They were locked on Dante, their faces animated with barely contained rage. Unlike Jake, Dante only kept his head forward and strode up to a three-story building in the distance that had to be important.
