条顿骑士

Year 3382. - Friendship -1

A bullet ripped rope hanging Will Palantine.  Sound of gun fire made crowds run away. Archibald on auto-horse continued firing his gun to eliminate executors. He held Palantine up to his auto-horse and said,  “Massed up, huh? Are you still alive?”  “Archibald? Is that you?...Why you came here?”  Long period of time being under arrested had weakened Palantine; however, he was able to hang on to back of Archibald tightly.  “Let's talk about it later. We've got to go.”  Archibald ran his auto-horse in confused crowd. He handled his horse skillfully to avoid crowds and obstacles. City guard recovered from confusion, and started to chase after Archibald.  Archibald knew that these city guards would not be able to chase them in wasteland, so he decided to quickly get outside of the city wall. He speeded up his horse even faster.  There were a couple of gate keepers waiting to arrest Archibald and Palantine in front of city gate. Archibald shot them down quickly, then, him and his auto-horse launched out from the gate. Auto-hose, with Archibald and Palantine on it, ran on wasteland. Dispersive sound of gun fire continued, however, it finished after a while. There was no one chasing after them on the wasteland.     Shadow of the night started to reach wasteland. As looking the sunset in west, Archibald ran his auto-horse to the main camp of resistance which formed by Palantine.  Even though Palantine was not the member of [Storm Riders] living in wasteland, he put [Storm Riders] in main position of his revolutionary army. Palantine moved city, to city, under cover of [Storm Riders], for his army preparation. He became under arrest by kingdom force during that time. Fortunately, he was not recognized as the leader of resistance; however, he almost had been executed as member of resistance.     Archibald noticed there is something wrong with Palantine. He slowed down his horse and held him down from horse. Palantine was groaning in pain.  Archibald decided to have camp in wasteland. He knew it is unsecure, however, he did not want to continue running with Palantine in such a condition.  “Will! Can you hear me?” asked Archibald.  Palantine opened his eyes; however, his sight was in faint.  “Archibald? ...Where is this?”  “It's outside of the city. No one is chasing after us.”  “Why you came?” Asked Palatine.  “Because I wanted” Archibald responded quickly.  “You're sent by Sheila aren't you?” Palantine made his guess.  “Well...Yeah.” Archibald took water bottle and let Palantine drink some.  “Are you wounded?” Archibald asked to Palantine.  “No, I'm OK. Just tired...will be fine after a while.”  Now Archibald noticed the shadow of illness on Palantine's face.  “Tell me the truth, Will. Can't stay with you for long time.”  Palatine smiled. After taking deep breath, Palantine spoke the truth.  “...It's my lungs. Seems the air in wasteland didn't suit me well. ....I'm on [Gould].”  Palantine put his hand on his chest. [Gould], as know as deadly sickness in wasteland, caused by polluted air from evil whirlpool [Profound]. It first damages one's lung, and then will start to destroy whole body.  Archibald was shocked for a moment, then told Palantine,  “...Well. Let's take a rest here. Sleep.”  “Thank you...”  Palantine closed his eyes.  Archibald stood up and took his baggage off from his auto-horse.  The light from evil whirlpool [Profound] was shinning in the horizon.     Both Palantine and Archibald had been close friend over 10 years.  Archibald was born in wasteland. He took off from his birthplace when he was young.  He wondered around the wasteland. At some point, he hired as city guard of Imperrodian city [Hyden]. That is where Archibald met Palatine. Palatine was also member of city guard.  At that time, corruption of Imperrodian government was causing a lot of riots in each city of Imperroda. As city guard, the main task was to point gun at citizens. Both Palantine and Archibald hated that task, so they decided to join riot with a couple of other city guard.  A result of that emotional action of two young men came out as bitter experience.  Many of citizens had killed and two young men had defeated by Imperrodian army badly.  After being defeated, they made their way to the wasteland.  A of group of Storm Rider, which Archibald born under, rescued those two.  In that camp of [Storm Rider], Palantine started his life as leader of resistance.  He traveled around cities in Imperroda kingdom to gather up rebellious elements and turned them into revolutionary forces.  It started as a small group first, however, as time goes, it continued to grow bigger and stronger.  However, Archibald was not standing beside of the leader, Palatine.     Archibald was thinking about his past in front of fire.  “...Revolution will be accomplished without me...You didn't have to put your life in danger to rescue me, Archibald.”  Archibald heard the voice of his friend.  “Come on. That's not like you. “Indomitable Fighter“, Palantine.”  Archibald used old nickname of Palantine to encourage him.  “...My wish will come true...It's almost there. I'd have no regret even if I die now.“ Palatine muttered.  “What about Sheila? You are not alone, you know that, right?”  Archibald brought up the name, with bitter memory of himself.  “She knows I can't live longer. Also, I was preparing for it.”  Palatine continued,  “I did my best...for everything. There is nothing I can do more.”  Face of Palantine is covered with peaceful smile.  “I don't think so. I really do not think so. You still have much more to do!”  Archibald said angry but sadly. He still could not to face the fact that his best friend had affected by deadly disease.  “Much more, huh?”  Palantine turned his sight up in the sky, and he fell into sleep again.     After the sunrise, condition of Palantine seemed to settle down.  They departed from camp.  When the sun reached top of the sky, main camp of resistance started to appear. However, as they get closer to, they recognized some abnormal situation in the main camp. Archibald speeded up his auto-horse.     The main camp was annihilated.