Tales of the Lone Swordsman: Bermia - Part I (Solo)

It was an oddly cold morning for a day in the Fortuneteller’s Desert and Galen slowly waked across the dunes of sand, feeling the raging wind blowing over his face and throwing his jacket backwards with its power. It was a very good feeling and he was happy for that, almost to the point of forgetting how hungry and thirsty he actually was; the Lone Swordsman had been walking on the desert for days. Of course he could just fly and get out of it in no time, but he couldn’t do that. He was looking for this sacred Korin’s Holy Grounds and in the map he had bought in the Southern Islands, it indicated that it was really close to the desert he was at. The place where Kami lived wasn’t really well known and even people with amazing capabilities such as Galen still had a terrible time finding it. He had to go by foot, or he might miss something important. Also, the young human saw this pilgrimage as a physical training in order to improve both his stamina and his endurance. It was also a mental training, to polish his willpower and he was happy with that.

Luckily for him, after a few more hours his eyes caught a sight of what seemed like a small village in the horizon. It almost felt like a mirage, but as he kept on approaching it he could confirm for sure it was really there. Galen giggled in excitement and relief and quickened his pace in order to get there as soon as possible. It took him but minutes to finally reach the place. There was a board in the entrance of the Village with the sayings: “Village of Bermia, the jewel of the desert”. It was indeed a jewel; in the middle of the village there was a large oasis and, wasting no time at all, Galen sprinted towards it, leaning up on the source of water and drinking it like there was no tomorrow. The water was slightly brackish, but he didn’t care! It was saving his life and he was glad for such a heavenly gift. The young man really helped himself to the water until he was completely satisfied. When he finished, he wiped the water from his face with the back of his forearm and kneeled back. With the corner of his eyes he noticed that quite a lot of people had gathered around him, curiously stared at the boy. ”Hm? The locals?” he wondered as he slowly got back on his feet and turned around to stare at them.

They didn’t say a word and that was making Galen quite embarrassed. The boy scratched the back of his neck and blushed a bit. – Sorry for bursting into your village like that. I was just thirsty! Hadn’t drink water in over a day! But I can pay for it, if you want! I have some Zeni on me, don’t worry! – he said, chuckling a bit, more out of nervousness than anything else. The villagers found that quite stranger and amusing to some extent and looked at each other, like if they were trying to figure out what to do, until an elder man took a couple steps forward. He was wearing a light-blue desert robe with a turban on his head. He also sported a very long beard and his eyes were so tiny that it even seemed like they were shut, but they were not. – Young man, I’m one of the elders of this village, my name is Burd. You have quite a peculiar attitude. – he said in a gentle tone, but still filled with curiosity. Galen, in response, arched both of his eyebrows and widened his eyes, unsure on what to think. – I… Well… I mean no offense. I know I should have asked first, but I guess you people, living in the desert, understand how much we get anxious with lack of water, so… - but before he could continue, the villagers started smiling, some of them giggling a bit. Even Burd giggled and then shook his head, raising one of his arms like if he was asking Galen to stop speaking for a bit. – We don’t mean that in a bad way. You see… Usually our visitors are bandits and monsters… That’s why when you approached everyone ran into their homes. We are quite surprised a polite young man such as yourself appeared on this village. – he said and, despite the kindness and politeness of his tone, there was some sadness in it too and Galen noticed it. – Drink as much as you want. We don’t have an inn here, but we could probably find a place for you to sleep if you need and share some food. – Burd continued.

– I appreciate it, mister Burd, and I’m willing to pay for it. – he said, with a subtle smile on his face. The elder shook his head. – We are not asking for your money, boy. – he said and Galen nodded signing he understood. – But nonetheless, it’s only fair I pay. See… I’m from a small village myself, the village of Goddodin on the far eastern lands. We didn’t have much there. We lived due to the effort of our rice farmers and we were kind to people, but, still, if we spared our few resources with those who could afford them, the village economy would collapse. So… I’m reiterating… I’m willing to pay for water, food and shelter! I have the Zeni, you don’t have to worry about that, mister Burd. – and the more Galen spoke, the more impressed the villagers and the elder became. He was quite honest, gentle and somehow pure on his ways, something really rare on those parts. Burd smile’s widened. – I see… You are quite educated on economy, I see… - and that made Galen giggle a bit and nod again. – I’m the son of a couple of hardworking rice farmers after all! Hehe. – he said, with pride in his tone.

Galen was completely proud of his humble background and he was absolutely grateful for everything his parents had done for him and his siblings. He was no longer shaken up by the death of his family, as he had chosen to honor their legacy by using all of his power to help other people. It was his oath for the dead, an oath to bring life, happiness and peace to the world.

Anyway… The boy reached his green bag that was held by his shoulder and reached a bag of Zeni, but before he could continue, Burd touched his arm, stopping him from bringing the bag of Zeni out of the larger bag on his shoulder. – Wait, boy. Before you pay or anything I have something to ask of you. – he said and Galen agreed my nodding and letting the bag of Zeni slide back to the deeper part of the bag. – But, first, tell us your name. – Burd said and he blushed again.”Oh boy! So impolite of me!” he reprehended himself inside his mind. – My name is Galen. – he said in a slightly embarrassed tone. Burd nodded and then pointed to the sword on Galen’s back with his head. – That sword, Galen. Do you know how to use it? – the question took the young man by surprise and he stared at the hilt of his own Broad Sword with the corner of his eyes. – Oh… Yeah… I’m mostly self-taught, but so far I’m pretty decent, I would say. Why do you ask, mister Burd? – when he said that, hope filled the eyes of the villagers around him.

They started saying things among themselves, like “He is a warrior!”, “Thanks goodness!”, “Bermia is saved!”, “Those thugs will see!”, and that was enough to make the young man start to understand what might have been going on. ”Thugs… Save the village. Hmm… I believe I’m getting the picture, but let’s wait for mister Burd to speak.” he thought to himself. Burd cleared his throat quickly, with his fist in front of his mouth for a short bit and the put both his arms on his back and spoke. – Galen, my boy. Saddens me to be asking such a kind young man for this kind of favor, but Bermia has been suffering. For the past seven months we had been forced to pay tribute to a bandit group. They live about 20 miles to the northeast in a large cavern near a small water source. – he started explaining and then sighed. – As we don’t have much, we don’t have all that much to pay. So they started taking our food, our clothes and even threatened to take our children and women. We can’t fight them. We have no warriors on this village. The two we had were slain by the bandits when they first came. One of them was my son, Barry. – he said with grief in his tone. His eyes became watered, but he resisted the will to cry. Galen was deeply touched by the story as he remembered the fate of Goddodin, who shared the same weakness: the lack of warriors.

While many fighters of the universe were concerned in protecting the planet as whole from the invasions of the powerful aliens, they failed to look at the small men, the common men, which suffered deeply due to the actions of their peers. Justice couldn’t touch the entire world and Galen knew that, and that was why he traveled around the world; he was looking for Kami, yes, but he also helped every person in need he ever found. That was another reason he traveled by foot. Flying made it easy to not notice villages such as Goddodin and Bermia and many others that existed in this vast world. – Don’t worry, mister Burd. I will defeat those bandits and save Bermia. After all, we don’t want to see the jewel of the desert to lose its glow, don’t we? – he said with a gentle smile on his face. The villagers started celebrating, but Burd was still unease; he feared he was sending the gentle young man to his death.

– I’m still sad to have to ask you such a thing, but we have no choice. But, Galen, be careful. They outnumber you seven to one and their leader, Roxil, is a very strong man. He is skilled with the club and knows no mercy! – he warned the boy. Galen chuckled a bit and pounded his fist on his chest. – Don’t worry about me, mister Burd! I can take care of myself! Just let me eat and rest a bit and I will head to their lair right away! – he said, and then it was settled. Galen was given a generous portion of food, pretty much lamb with some vegetables they managed to cultivate in the village. He was also given coconut water and goat milk. After his meal, he rested under a tent near the oasis, with some straws he used for a bed. The young man was tired and he slept from the late afternoon all the way to the dawn of the new day. When he woke up and left his tent, he saw that there were plenty of villagers there, anxious to see if he would really go fight for them. Knowing he had to leave some proof he wouldn’t just puff, he took off his geen back with all his stuff other than his sword and clothes he was wearing and gave it to Burd.

– Please take care of my bag for me until I return, okay? – and that single action was enough to set some peace in the hearts of the villagers. Burd nodded in agreement and then Galen took a few back steps. He closed his eyes and clenched his fists, flaring a light-blue ki aura around his body that surprised everyone on the village and, in the next second, he was flying into the skies, heading towards the direction of the bandit’s lair. It was about time to save Bermia and bring some justice to the evil-doers.

It wasn’t hard to find the bandit’s lair by flying. Galen quickly spotted the smaller oasis and saw the cavern near it. There was no doubt it was it. They also had two stakes with skulls on top of it, probably the skulls of the two warriors of Bermia, slaying by them. Galen frowned his eyebrows with such a sight. ”So cruel… I can’t let them harm Bermia any longer. I hope I don’t have to kill them. I truly hope they can learn with a beaten alone.” he thought to himself. Galen was idealistic. He would spare his foes as much as he could, but he also knew how costly it could become; Goddodin was destroyed because he spared the zoan bandit that had kidnapped and violated his elder sister, Esther. Still, he liked to believe people could become better and would always give them a chance, no matter how evil they seemed. It was his way to try and bring some justice to this world.