3.2.10.4. Friends In Despair Part Two

style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">I’m
Zachary McConnaugh, call me Zach. I was born in Wardstone and a citizen of Lore.
I’m here because I was found guilty of espionage. Now it’s your turn. Who are
you and what are you here for?’"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">‘I am
Robert Chandler, also from Lore. I’m here because the Church of Vadis in Valanis
accused me for murdering the Pope.’

style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Zachary’s
eyes widen with awe.

style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">‘So...
you are Robert whom I heard about: The Pope’s murderer, the most wanted man in
Aurelia.’

style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">‘You
know it too?’

style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">‘Oh
yes. Words spread like wildfire and reach even the subterranean regions like
this dungeon here. The inmates talked as though you are a celebrity among
criminals. No one has ever done a crime at this magnitude before.
Congratulations, you’re an idol now: The Lord of the Rogues. Har, har,
har.’

style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Robert
snorts. Zachary’s words mean insult to him instead of compliment.

style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Seeing
Robert’s reaction, Zachary talks on, ‘In spite of all that, answer me one thing.
Did you really kill the Pope?’

style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Robert
looks straight into Zachary’s eyes and says calmly and promptly, ‘No, I didn’t
kill the Pope.’

style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Zachary
stares back at Robert, taking a longer and closer look at him, frowns, and then
smiles.

style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">‘A
prompt, straight answer and the eyes full of determination, showing a man of
unshakable principles,’ he concludes. ‘I believe you, Robert. I can see it
through your eyes, deep within your heart and now I can breathe
easy.’

style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">‘But
words also spread that I most probably am Vordac’s heir. How about
that?’

style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">‘If
you ever took a deep study on the history and legends of Aurelia in the time of
Fireheart, you would understand Vordac’s character. He’s elusive, deceitful, the
self-acclaimed Lord of Liars. All extreme evils, you name it, dwell in him
alone. Even in his fleshy human disguise, no matter how he acted magnificently
to hide his lies, his heart can’t. One drop of cold sweat foiled all his
schemes. So, if you’re to be Vordac’s heir, your character must be at least
similar or compatible to him. I see you’re completely different from him. You’ll
resist Vordac’s soul from entering your body, not embracing him, and Vordac
won’t be able to grow as strong as before again under such resistance. In short,
you are not the heir.’

style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">‘Well,
thank you, Sir Zachary. Your words lifted the burden in my
heart.’

style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">‘Don’t
call me Sir Zachary. Just Zach, ok!?’

style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">‘You
got it, Zach.’

style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Then
suddenly Robert feels the excruciating pain from his wounds and frowns. Zach
notices this and says, ‘Got it from your captors, eh?’

style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">‘No,
I kind of hurt myself, forcing a powerful move when my body was too weak to bear
it.’

style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">‘You
should’ve known better, resorted to ordinary moves and be patient, so you’d be
able to shake them off. But do tell me, who captured you?’

style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">‘Sheena
Mekh’ta and her gang.’

style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">‘Now
that’s one tough captor. No wonder you were so desperate and forced that move.
You cannot shake them off because they surrounded and ambushed you. “To err is
human”. No matter how good you are, you cannot overcome a bandit’s cunning, so
you ended up here, right?  But that
doesn’t mean you’re out of hope. Now lie down and I’ll see what I can do. I know
a healing spell or two, you know.’

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Robert lies down on the floor. Zachary examines his body for wounds and
then casts, style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">‘Vitali!’

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He has to repeat the spell several times on several wounds, because the
Vitali Healing Spell can only heal
one point of the body in one time. The style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Great Heal (Viavitali) Spell can heal
the whole body in one cast and in a quicker healing speed than style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Vitali, but it seems Zach doesn’t master
it.

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Nevertheless, Robert is thankful because Vadis has placed him with a
healer, proving that Vadis still blesses and watches over him. So, when Zach
finishes mending his wounds, Robert thanks him too.

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‘Oh, no need to thank me, Rob. Just say that I’m doing myself a favor. I
haven’t had a good chat like this during my three years in this mudhole, and
this is also a good chance to hone my healing skill before I lose it. So I thank
you for giving me a chance to practice and keeping me sane with a good
conversation. Hahaha!’

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Zach laughs his heart out, but Robert doesn’t do the same.

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‘What’s wrong, my young friend?’ Zach asks. ‘Aren’t you happy to talk
with me? Or was my healing skill too weak for your
wounds?’

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‘Oh, it’s not that. I just rarely smile since I was ten years old. I’m
happy, really, but I’m having trouble expressing it.’

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‘Really? You must’ve experienced something bad for something like that to
develop. May I know what it was?’

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‘Err... It’s kind of personal. I never told any of my friends about it.
Why should I tell you?’

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‘Because I just care, ok?’

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‘But it was kind of bizarre, you won’t believe it.’

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‘Try me.’

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After a long silence, Robert finally tells Zachary about his childhood
tragedy. Robert doesn’t tell him about Walthorn, but Zachary’s expression
changes when he heard the name ‘Arkvale’ mentioned. As Robert finishes, Zach
comments.

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‘So, you’re the sole survivor from the Arkvale Massacre, or so I heard.
Whew, I never expected that the boy who slew a full-grown orc grew up to become
Vadis’ champion, and I meet him here in person! Now I know what Vadis placed me
here for. Maybe he wants me to help you!’

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‘Maybe so, old Zach. Maybe so. But we better keep our heads low for now
until we know what Vadis have in store for us next.’

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‘You’re right, young man. Now I will tell you a bit about
myself...’

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Robert and Zachary are now engaged in a long conversation as if they are
long-lost brothers. They talk on all night and the day after, and after, as if
tomorrow never comes.

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style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Category:
Book32, Hanged Man, Chapter10, 32104, 3.2.10.4.

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Andry Chang
Blog Jockey (BJ Vadis)

 

Vadis Productions - Release Your
Imagination!

 

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