A Night of Deceit(Closed)

[Andy Jammer]

Andy watched with success as his attack met, for a moment it seemed that maybe he had turned the tide for the fight. Until he was met with the hard rock ball, he fell to his knees after being hit in the chest with that thing. He lifted his head and saw Seigmand running to him. He saw his staff swing down and he quickly lifted his own, using two ends to block his attack and hold them in a staff lock.

"Gahhhh.... damnit..." Andy muttered.

[Seigmand Dezmar]

Seigmand's eyes stared into the boy's own. His eyes were alight with an intense fire that only combat could ignite. But something was off. He saw something... lacking behind them. And it wasn't just the eyes, but the presence that Andy gave as he struggled against the pressure of his attack. It felt weak somehow. Relaxing his muscles Seigmand let Andy force his arms out and with his staff knock Seigmand back a few feet, leaving the man back on his feet with his weapon at his side.

"Good enough Andy. And I don't just mean your prowess in combat. I'm going to tell you something that I believe I can entrust to you; I need your help. Or rather we need each other."

Seigmand paced slowly, his eyes never leaving the boy in case he got up and decided to strike again. "The Sumata are powerful, and right now they outnumber the Heroes by a considerable number. You can't win as you are Andy, nor can your companions. But there is hope for your cause, and like it our not I am that hope. Are you willing to trust me? Speak honestly because I won't go a word further until I know exactly how you feel."

[Andy Jammer]

"Why should I trust you!" Andy spat, the darkness hid the fact that there was some blood in his mouth. Seigmand's attack may have damaged something. "You lied who you are, and you are in league with the Sumata. That's enough reason not to trust you."

However through all his shouting he also realized something else, "But... you haven't tried to kill me or Jasmine. Even now during a fight...I don't know."

His head snapped up and looked at him, "What do you want from me anyway?"

[Seigmand Dezmar]

Seigmand could only smile as Andy tried to sort out the conflicting actions and words of his subtle play. The very fact that he was conflicted by Seigmand's actions at all meant the boy was smart. Well, at least not as hormonal and stubborn as he'd feared from a lad his age.

"You're catching on Andy. Let me ask you, do you know what it means to be a king? I mean, what it really means to be the ruler of an entire kingdom? Sure the power, the wealth, the women that are at your beck and call are nice perks, but they're just that; perks. No, to be a king means to guide your kingdom to prosperity. You must put your people before your own goals. And I. Am. A king Andy." His tone was curt, deeply emphasizing his last sentence.

"You claim to fight for a future where people can live in prosperity, and in this lies our common goal. I did not kill either of you because you are more useful to me alive than dead. Both of you are, and in order to keep these worlds safe I need your brute power and you need the knowledge I possess. Do you still doubt my conviction?"

[Andy Jammer]

"I don't trust you...but I trust your ideal." Andy said, his form reverting back to normal. The storms slowly tapered off, but were not fully gone yet. He gripped his sword and pushed himself upward.

"Alright fine then, what do you want from me exactly?"

[Seigmand Dezmar]

"Merely having you with me is enough for now Andy. The time will come soon when I will have need of your strength. Trucido is plotting something, though what it is I don't know yet. There are only a few simple rules I ask you to follow."

"First, whatever you do do not fight Trucido again unless it is unavoidable. The same goes to the rest of the Heroes. That man is far more powerful than he lets on and the fact he let you live despite your battles puzzles me. The last thing we need is you carelessly throwing your lives away."

"Second, I'm glad you don't trust me Andy. In fact I want you to hate me. I need you to remember that I'm still your enemy, at least out in the open. Anything I will ask of you or tell you will be done through indirect means. So if you see me, then fight me. If I appear to be completing a task, try to foil me. You must act as though I am as much an enemy to you as the rest of the Sumata if the illusion of my loyalty is to remain."

"Lastly, there may come a time when my advice or orders may seem cruel or merciless. I might ask you to follow through on an act that may seem deplorable. But there is a huge difference between doing what is good, and what is right. I need you to remember that above all else Andy. In order to truly save the world, someone needs to get their hands dirty." Seigmand's expression turned solemn and he averted his eyes from Andy as he spoke.

"Other than that, I ask nothing else of you now. Is this acceptable for you?" He could negotiate with the boy on most of the orders. In reality, all he needed was to have the boy willing to help later on. He somewhat suspected that he wouldn't stop himself or anyone else from fighting Trucido, and he unsure if the boy could truly follow through on a dirty deed. He did not have the eyes of a killer, and it was that for which Seigmand feared for him.

[Andy Jammer]

Andy blinked at what he was telling him, he was going to betray Trucido? And he was asking him to help him, but why did he even join the Sumata in the first place is what interested him. But that took a second interest to what was really bugging him.

"What do you mean by ' acts that will seem cruel and deplorable'?" Andy's tone was border-lining curiosity and anger.

[Seigmand Dezmar]

No surprise with this one.

"What I mean Andy, is that you may need to take the life of another outside of the field of honorable combat. There may come a time when in order to save millions you will have to end the life of one or two people, regardless of who they are or what their title is. In short, when you are faced with an opponent of yours who is weak and vulnerable you may be asked to take the right path of destroying them before they can threaten another life, instead of the good path by letting them live."

"I'm not saying that you'll be asked to do this all the time. Truth be told, I might even ask you to do the opposite under the right circumstances. What matters is that you can do what is right when the time comes. Do you understand?" Seigmand's tone was calm, hoping a soft tone would help Andy see the point he was trying to explain.

[Andy Jammer]

Andy listened to his words, his eyes widened and his heart beat faster. He wanted him to do things that Andy couldn't...wouldn't... he was tempted...it would be easy. Kill in the name of what's right. But if he did, he thought of Jasmine and of Hala. And of Yeligar, and even of Profeta...and somehow he kept hearing Trucido's laugh and voice urging him to go on with it. He covered his ears, the voice seemed so real.

"Never!" He screamed to the rainy sky, caused by his own power. "Never!"

He looked at Seigmand and gripped his sword tighter. "If I did all those things...just knocking down anyone for the 'greater cause'. Then I won't be any better than Trucidio or any other Sumata! I'd be even worse! Never, I won't ever do that!"

[Seigmand Dezmar]

Seigmand watched passively at Andy's temper flair with the howling winds and rain. Just as he thought, the boy was young, weak, and lacked the conviction he would need. Still, an ally was an ally, and Andy was by no means weak as a fighter. He decided to compromise to save what he'd worked towards.

Seigmand walked calmly towards Andy, realizing that even if the boy did decide to lash out it would not be fatal, till he stood right in front of him. He extended an open hand, a small smile, and spoke softly.

"I need allies more than I need assassins Andy. If you cannot kill, then I will not force you. I can see your beliefs are set in stone that even I cannot manipulate. If I make this compromise with you, can I trust you in the future to aid my cause?"

[Andy Jammer]

Andy stared at the hand, pushing himself up by the hilt of his blade. He was too prideful to accept the helping hand. "I'm...going to fight the Sumata, for my own dreams and cause. But since we share the same cause...I guess we're on the same path, but me as your ally helping you directly...no, I cannot trust you like that."

[Seigmand Dezmar]

Seigmand brought back his hand and sighed in annoyance.

"That's sad to hear Andy. You are filled with blind hate, and thus it makes you blind. Fair enough, should you not wish to help me, then at least do your best to stay alive. As I said before Andy, a title is just a title. You answered why you were a Hero, but think about this; what have I done to be worthy of being called a Sumata? Soon enough you'll see that this matter isn't so black and white. When that happens Andy, we'll talk again."

With that Seigmand turned away and began to take a few steps away from the clearing and into the dense forest. "My apologies for dragging you out this far for this Andy. This should be enough to cover the inn." He tossed a small pouch of coins near Andy's feet. "Good night young hero; think well on this night."

Seigmand disappeared slowly behind the thick brush, leaving only the soft sound of rustling leaves in the distance and the chaotic remnants of the battle he'd had.