Ch6 - Sacrifice

Would you sacrifice your life for another?

A carriage raced along the road.

The wind was harsh, as was the heavy rain.

Inside the carriage was a young woman with light yellow hair, and two young male children.

"Scary rain..." One child whined, the woman gently smiled and pet his head.

The woman spoke, "Don't you worry, auntie is here."

The boy smiled, before the carriage rocked back and forth.

The boys tossed a bit, but remained in their seats.

The woman looked concerned, "The storm is getting worse..."

The carriage hit another bump setting her off balance so she fell forward.

The boys both looked frightened.

She quickly righted herself, "No worries, just a bumpy road."

Just as the words escaped her mouth, they heard the horses cry out.

And suddenly the carriage began tumbling, falling.

They all felt weightless for a moment as the fall seemed to happen in slow motion.

The items inside the carriage flew about, before there was a loud splash.

Before they had time to orientate themselves water began leaking in.

The woman looked about.

She tried to move only to find her leg trapped by a suitcase.
She began to heave at it away, only to hear one of the boys cry out.
She hefted herself up to see a boy was on the other side, pinned by the suitcase.

She felt water began up to her waist, she pulled the suitcase more onto her leg to free the boy.

The other boy was unconscious.

She ordered the conscious boy to open the door.

He did as told, and water began splashing in from the top.

She saw a suitcase floating, as the boy climbed out.

She grabbed the suitcase and used a rope to tie the other boy on top of it.

She pushed the suitcase off her leg, and lifted the boy and case up out of the carriage.

She climbed out as the carriage continued sinking into the lake.

She gave a sigh, they'd survived.

Suddenly a heavy weight pulled her down.

She looked down, while underwater to see her dress caught by the carriage.

In her hurry to save her little nephews, she hadn't noticed.

She yanked and pulled, doing all she could.

After struggling to no avail, she ran out of breath and lost consciousness as the carriage touched bottom.

Lanz came over, and gently released her dress from the carriage.

"No sense dying... even in a nightmare..."

He touched her shoulder, and her eyes opened.

Revealing bright orange eyes in the dark at the bottom of the lake.

He smiled, "You're dreaming."

She looked about, confused.

He looked up, "Your nephews are still up there.

Swim up, and see they are safe."

She looked up, and swam up to safety.

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Lanz lifted his head up, he'd fallen asleep at the table.

It was a long table, in front of many students filling many chairs.

Sitting next to him was Kanzo, who spoke.

"You know... Falling asleep while everyone discusses how crazy your plan is, is rude."

Lanz looked to him, then the students.

These were students, and teachers from his school.

How he'd managed to convince them all to hear him out, he wasn't sure.

Yet, most everyone agreed the lord of the city had gone crazy.

They simply thought he was crazy, because he wanted their help overthrowing him.

Perhaps it was crazy, but something had to be done.

Lanz stood up, his red eyes examining his crowd.

"I'm not going to force anyone to join me.

I'm not even going to ask you to join me.

I just know the something must be done.

The lord is becoming crazier each day.

Houses are raided, and razed, anyone who says a cross word is being executed.

I wish that I believed I was completely to blame for this.

I, sadly, just feel that I simply accelerated his deterioration..."

Lanz was quiet, before he continued.

"But, I'm willing to make it right.

We must take him down, and find someone better to rule."

In the back a female voice spoke, "So, what are you asking us to do?"

Lanz looked, it was the girl with pink eyes.

He gave a smile, "I'm asking you to not reveal my plans."

Lanz then turned and walked away from the table.

Kanzo watched him, before sighing and muttering.

"When did he became so articulate?"

Kanzo stood and spoke to the crowd,

"If anyone wants to join us, or help us in any way...
Please stay. Everyone else is free to go.

We'll be back in ten minutes."

Kanzo hurried out after Lanz.

Kanzo grabbed his shoulder, "Hey, what's gotten into you recently?"

Lanz looked to him, "What do you mean?"

Kanzo sighed, "You just... I don't know...
You were always so pessimistic and kind of creepy before.

Now you seem so confident, it's weirding me out a bit."

Lanz laughed, "I guess, just getting stronger recently has been a great self-esteem boost. I feel like I could do almost anything."

Kanzo siged, "Well, don't let it go to your head."

Lanz looked to him, and smiled. "I'm planning to overthrow the lord, possibly pissing off every local noble, and the royal family in the process. Thus making myself the biggest target in history. I'm fairly sure the confidence already went to my head."

Kanzo shook his head, "Maybe I should ask my parents for advice on the situation."

Lanz laughed, "You really think your parents will approve of this in the slightest?"

Kanzo shrugged, "They were rather rebellious at our age, maybe they'll think it's funny. Or, be able to talk you out of it."

Lanz gave a slight laugh, before walking back to the room.
It hadn't been ten minutes, but he decided to peak inside anyway.

It didn't seem that anyone had left, it was still packed.

Perhaps they were just slow in leaving.

He turned his attention back to Kanzo, "No one's left yet."

Kanzo came over and peeked, "Wha-

Maybe I wasn't clear that they could leave."

Kanzo walked in, and everyone looked to him.

"You guys can leave.

You don't have to stay."

The pink eyed girl stood up and walked towards the stage.

She spoke, "We don't want to leave.

We want to help.

In a society that claims that the strongest are in power, we have proof that our lord is weak.

It is our right to take him down.

If we cannot, then he deserves his throne."

Lanz walked back in, with a smile.

They understood.

Lanz spoke calmly, "Last chance."

No one moved, so he sat down at the table.

"Then let's get to work."

They spoke and worked out plans all day, and the next day.

Everyone had great ideas, and suggestions.

Some were more useful than others, but still.

The main plan of attack, was chaos.

They needed the city in an uproar of chaos.

If they did it right, the guards would be focused on the madness.

In the middle of the madness they could infiltrate the castle.

They had research to do, regarding layout and other information...
But the main idea was in place.

So they set to work to iron out the details.

Lanz's main job was finding a way to incite chaos into a city under the lord's careful watch.

Most citizens were unaware of the hypnotism during the festival...

He wasn't sure how they could manage to have everyone freak out.

He had managed to freak out a couple people, but only one at a time.

Never on such a large scale.

A few days later, he walking down the street.

Rather than before where he'd attempt to suppress the fear he caused people...
He just let people freak out.

Even if it wasn't mass panic, it was a start.

He didn't care much for scaring people, but the fear made him stronger.

He could only imagine how powerful he'd be on the day of mass panic.

Fear, anger, and hysteria were powerful emotions...

It would be a power he'd never experienced.

And as he walked he felt that was his only fear.

That the power would be to much for him, it'd control him.

He sighed and went inside the shop.

Kanzo was sitting at the counter talking to someone.

The person was wearing a hoodie, with the hood up.

Lanz walked passed, figuring the person a customer.

"Lanz, wait." Kanzo said moving to stop Lanz.

Lanz paused and looked to him, "What?"

He then looked to the customer.

It was a male, with purple hair.

Kanzo moved back to them, "Tell him, that he's crazy."

The male went and examined Lanz.

Lanz could see the male also had purple eyes, and a what appeared to be a scar running down the side of his neck that looked like four claw marks.

The male nodded, before smiling, then handed Kanzo a piece of paper, and walked out.

Both of them watched the male leave.

Kanzo grumbled, "He's never any help."

Kanzo opened the note, before the color in his face drained.

He looked up, then the note again.

Lanz leaned trying to see what it said.

However Kanzo sprinted out of the shop, clutching the note.

As soon as he opened the door he looked right and began shouting as he chased after the male.

All Lanz heard Kanzo shout was, "I can't be blamed!" before the door to the shop closed.

Lanz chuckled, and went upstairs.

He had a panic to induce.