Fifteen Journey - Chapter 20

Rick was calmly walking in the little village’s roads. He was just burning time since he couldn’t go to the motel. He sat in a bench to rest. He hadn’t slept since the night after Mike’s defeat. He just wanted to close his eyes… slowly… No, he couldn’t sleep now. He decided to see his beautiful sword, Thynia. He and Thynia had spent too many adventures together and she was the most precious belonging Rick had. He had received it in his thirteen birthday and had kept her with him since then.
He unfolded Thynia to see his best friend. However, surprise caught him. Thynia was completely destructed due to the battle against Cassey’s transmission. He couldn’t battle with Thynia that way!
He stood up and walked desesperately in order to find an ironsmith who could fix Thynia. He eventually saw the sheet-anchor where it was written blacksmith. Without hesitating, he entered in the small building. Rick went down the stairs where a yellow and shining light was emerging. When he reached the lighted room, he had to close his eyes due to the blinding light there was. Rick managed to see someone using a blowtorch in some kind of machine. Without noticing, Rick tripped in a set of tools, making that person noticing Rick due to the noise. More bruises…
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah, thanks…”
Rick quickly stood up and looked embarrassed. The person removed the protective mask revealing to be an nineteen-year-old guy.
“So…” he started “With which purpose are you here?”
Rick showed Thynia to the stranger.
“You’ve got a real problem here… You see, I’m not the village’s ironsmith but I can give you a hand if you don’t mind.”
“Really? Thanks!”
The stranger smiled and started examining Thynia.
“So, who is the owner of such beautiful sword?” the stranger asked Rick.
“Rick Flaim. You?”
“Fred Wink”
They were stunned. They had recognised each other.

They were both sat in the floor with their back against the machine Fred had been fixing. There was only silence and none of them wanted to break it. What to say?
“Have you seen any Tourch player?”
Rick was surprised.
“What do you me-”
“You know very well what I mean!” Fred said almost shouting. “Sorry, but this wasn’t exactly the way I imagined of facing my enemy. I don’t even know if I am already ready to battle…”
“Well, to be honest, I have already defeated two Tourch players…”
‘TWO?!!!’
“Rick Flaim, I challenge you for a Tourch dispute!!!”
Rick stared perplexed at Fred.

The sun was almost arriving.
Rick and Fred were facing each other. Rick was embarrassed with Thynia still folded in his hands. Fred, that was inside the machine adapted to his body, was with a determined look staring at Rick waiting for any movement. The village’s population were watching far away from the battle field, like if this battle would determine their destiny.
Eventually, Fred advanced to Rick doing the first attack, which Rick easily avoided. Then, he saw a wire in the floor.
‘What is this?’
Rick approached the wire slowly. Fred was still turning due to the machine’s height and suddenly he couldn’t move. Rick had cut the wire and was now approaching Fred.
“Do you know what you just did? I’m out of energy now!”
The population had burst in laughs.
“The battle is over, dude. Surrender now.” Rick said raising Thynia to Fred’s face.
Fred now had a smile in his face.
“I will never surrender…”
And, somehow, the machine started making noise again. Rick was pulled to a building near.
“I have a recharge for my beautiful engine. The battle has just begun, amateur…”
Rick cleaned the slippery blood coming from his mouth. He felt too tired from not sleeping and from previous battles. Maybe that was the end; at least he wouldn’t have to worry so much. But worst of all…
“Can we get this over with?” Fred asked.
…Thynia was destroyed.

Next Chapter:
Continuing like this, Rick will die. Forgiving is the key.

Author’s Note:
There you’ve got, Fred. Twenty is a good number.
Folks, I won’t be able to update as fast for now on. Don’t expect more chapters this week. Till updating time, enjoy life and comment!