A fading light

You sit in the diner alone. Daisy pestered you when you arrived, wanting to meet Yura as soon as possible. You laughed with her when she teased you about the size of your family, and she was doubly amused when you told her that Rachel was part of it now.

But none of that was why you were here. In fact, the reason was sitting down across from you as you thought about it.

Trevor looks at you curiously. “So, I’m here. Why?”

“Oh come on, Trevor. You’re not the only one who’s not stupid. You’re planning to attack Halid.”

Trevor pauses, then nods. “In a way. I will invoke the right of the champions challenge. The champion of the former ruler may challenge the king for the throne. Think of it as a rather violent vote of no confidence.”

You chuckle. “I see. And then you will be king?”

“If I should win, then yes. It’s not ideal, but Halid isn’t fit to rule. I never should have left.”

You nod. “I won’t press further other than to ask, why did you leave?”

“I was tired. I am very old, Josh. And I cannot die of old age. I wanted to be free of constant war and suffering. In you, I see a chance to create peace.”

You shake your head. “You know that there will be a lot of conflict first, right?”

Trevor sighs. “I know. But unfortunately, peace is won through blood. Hopefully you can make it the blood of the wicked, rather than the innocent.”

You look at him for a minute. You can see the tiredness in his seemingly ageless eyes. “What are you, Trevor?”

He chuckles. “I figured that was coming. I was human once. An aspiring knight. Then I met her. A being of light. Literally, a light elemental. She and I grew close, fighting against the demon lord, at the beginning of his conquests. Her name is...was Eneree. I would have given everything to settle down with her. It wasn’t to be. She was wounded, a demon blade. Rather than suffer slow corruption, Eneree offered to merge her essence with mine. She lives inside me. I gained great power, but my love was reduced to a distant feeling in my soul.”

He sighs. “I changed that day. For years, I lived for vengeance. I earned many names in that time. I still wear the name Brightwind, but I was most known as The Light of ****. No follower of the demon lord could stand against me. Unfortunately, one man cannot stem the tide. I went seeking alliances. Eventually, I found Halid’s father, King Dalit. I worked with him to forge the Allied Kingdoms. Between them, they stalled the advance of the demon lord.”

Trevor shakes his head. “I am not what I once was. The light within me fades. I haven’t been able to hear Eneree in years. Dalit was a good man, a just king, but years in battle left his son to grow up corrupt. When Dalit died, I would not serve Halid. I left and came here.”

You nod. “And now you want to correct your mistakes.”

Trevor shrugs. “I want to do this because it’s probably my only chance. My power continues to fade, and although I can’t die of old age, I grow weak rapidly. I want to leave a legacy of peace before I no longer have the opportunity.”

You look at him for a long time before responding. “Come to my house in two days. We open the portal after breakfast.”