I don’t know why that word resonated so heavily.

  Bullshit.

  Just one word. That’s all it was. Yet it resonated in my skull like an echo in a cave.

  I still didn’t turn to her. “What do you mean, ‘bullshit’?”

  The floor croaked with every step she took toward me. “I will not accept that you’re a fraction of the man you were before.”

  I turned to her. “What do you know about me?”

  She sighed, and laughed. “Mr. Grimmholt, what could I not know about you? You’re blindfolded and just slaughtered all these soldiers, twice. Yet I remain intrigued, not scared.”

  She was right. Aside from Jerek most people basically shit their pants when they see my abilities without eyes.

  I sighed. “Whatever, I don’t wish to cause any more trouble. Jerek and I will leave town before anyone notices.”

  Before I even finished speaking the ground caved ever so slightly with the planting of one of her knees.

  It was reminiscent of Jerek all those months ago.

  “No sir, that doesn’t work for me.” She started. “I unfortunately need you to stay.”

  My eyebrow raised. “Stand. Why am I needed?”

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  She remained knelt. “We need someone to fight the empire for us. We can’t do it alone.”

  I grabbed her head and forced her back to an upright stance. “I said stand, and no I won’t be a part of another system. Jerek and myself will live town to town until the rumors die down. We’ll live a peaceful life away from anything—”

  “No.” She said as she grabbed my arm. “You have the power to shift the course of all of our fates. I don’t know how you can fight without eyes but I don’t care. I just know that you can. And that’s good enough for me. Let me lay down my life for this. Please Cade.”

  My expression looked at her the same way I would if I had eyes. With doubt. “You want me to lead a rebellion?”

  Her head was the anchor to her hair that shook left to right, wrestling against the ambient mana. “No. Just a resistance to give power to those who need hope.”

  I couldn’t give her an answer yet. I felt a body near the door. It was Jerek.

  The door opened and I walked through.

  “Hey.” Jerek said, back leaned against a wall. “Let’s do it.”

  My head slumped. “Why?”

  He bounced off the wall and walked closer. “For Mariel.”

  My hand instinctively shot to his throat.

  There wasn’t an ounce of fear in his body. His heartbeat didn’t waver. His mana didn’t pool.

  He wasn’t lying, had no intent on guilt-tripping me, and wasn’t even planning on defending himself.

  I released my grip. Knowing Rona could see all of this, my voice traveled to her without me shifting my body. “That the kind of leader you want?’

  She walked closer and her voice grew stern. “You idiot, this isn’t about giving you all of the burdens of this job, you just showed why you need Jerek by your side. And in time I’ll prove my worth by being by both of your guys' sides.”

  That made way more sense than I wanted it to.

  “Fine.” I released my grip and walked back towards the heart of town to clean up the mess I made. “We’re going to need an army first.”

  I felt a lot of dense mana pool behind me.

  “Wait.” Rona said. “I think I can give us a good start.”

  Her mana was warm and heavy, just like it was years ago.

  The magma trait.

  She shot a large quantity into the air and it exploded.

  “What was that for?” I said as I walked closer.

  “I’ve been trailing you for a few weeks from a distance, some of the people you saved want to do what I’m doing. I guess they didn’t have the balls that I have to walk up to you. But they’re still willing to fight for you.”

  Cool, not bad I suppose.

  That would bring me in a few people. But I needed more.

  It was time to get Fenrick, my parents, and anyone who was a part of the last rebellion.

  We were going to need a lot of help.