The next day, Legend was taking a long walk in an open field away from where the party had camped. He was meditating about the choice he needed to make.
Legend: {If I use the sword, I'll be trapped here. I won't be able to go home... See my family... This would be my life. Forever! Forever is a very long time! I can't just abandon my world! On the other hand... If I chose not to use the sword... Is there a way for me to go back home?... How can I... Get back...?}
While he meditated and kept on walking, he didn't even notice that he had arrived at a settlement filled with very impoverished shacks and people. Most of them were older adults that looked like they were in pretty bad shape. The children there seemed hungry. They probably hadn't had anything to eat in a while. The settlement was filled with improvised houses that were quite sad to look at. It was all a depressing sight.
The settlement was comprised of societal rejects. They were people that lived in other towns or big cities that, for whatever reason, had lost their homes or were on the run from the authorities. The place was completely off the grid. The fact that Legend found the place by accident was quite shocking.
Two people were walking toward him. An old man with a pretty worn-out outfit and a middle-aged man that looked really angry for some reason. They both looked like they were in a hurry for something.
Old man: Greetings, young fellow. It's been a while since we've seen an outsider here, let alone a healthy-looking young man. Perhaps you could help this frail old man...
Man: What's your business here, kid? If you're lost, just know that we don't want you snooping around... You're not welcome here!
Old man: Please, forgive my friend... he is quite weary of strangers. We never get any around here. Do you think you can help us, child?
Legend: Uhmm... yeah... hello... I'm Legend. I kind of just stumbled across your settlement by accident... I was so distracted by my thoughts that I didn't even realize where I was walking. I didn't mean to bother you... But tell me, if there's anything I could help with, I'd be happy to lend a hand. What's the matter?
Old man: I can sense the kindness of your heart! I am now certain that The One himself sent you! Hear me out... It's Mary's granddaughter... She went to play in the barren land north of here and didn't come back last night. We don't have any young and lively people in town anymore... We're afraid something terrible has happened to her! Mary hasn't stopped crying since last night when she realized the child had not returned! We believe the girl may have crossed the bog up north. Beyond that bog is a land ruled by monsters! Adults can't cross it... could you go check and see if you find her?
Legend was heartbroken with the whole story and the depressing view of their settlement.
Legend: Don't worry, sir... ma'am... I'll look into it immediately. If she's anywhere around there, I'll find her! - Legend said while walking north toward the barren lands.
Old man: Thank you! Please, be safe! - As Legend was walking north toward the bog before the barren lands, he turned around and gave the old man a thumbs up.
Legend: You got it!
The way how they all looked, it didn't seem like they would be able to survive much longer. But there really wasn't much anyone could do... most of them were so old that it looked like they were living on borrowed time.
Legend: {He said that The One had sent me... I wonder what he meant by that...}
As Legend kept moving forward, he arrived at the bog in no time. It looked quite nasty and unpleasant. But Legend was committed to finding this missing girl.
Legend: {I can see the other side of the bog up ahead. There's also a path that'll lead me straight to it. Those little footsteps look like tracks to me! No time to waste overthinking... Just move quickly, and it should be fine!}
Legend took the first step and kept moving quickly, only stepping on the more solid parts. He made it across the bog pretty quickly. After he set foot on solid ground with his muddied shoes, while turning back, he caught a glance of a creature's tail quickly moving through the bog behind him. That sight spooked him quite a bit.
Legend: {I really hope that she didn't fall in that bog! Little girl... please be safe! Gotta keep moving forward!}
So Legend went northbound, with his eyes peeled, hoping to find where this child was. He arrived at the barren land after a short moment's walk. He saw something huge moving in the distance. It was seemingly moving in circles. A huge stone-like monster... A Golem of sorts. It almost seemed to have human-like features. Massive arms and hands, kind of like a gorilla. Its torso was wide, with an average-sized head and an enormous mouth. Surprisingly, the creature was carrying a little girl on its shoulder. She was unconscious. Legend ran towards the monster (despite not knowing its kind and having never seen one of those before). He thought he'd just crush it with his One thousand punch barrage. He managed to get close without being noticed and landed a full-impact surprise One thousand punch barrage. But to his surprise, it had no effect on the monster.
This had never happened before. Even if his technique didn't destroy a monster, it would always at least wound it. In most cases, the monster would be too injured to remain a threat. That was the power of the martial arts techniques he learned from his teacher Zarbin (the man known as the greatest martial artist in the entire Arkana).
Legend wasn't going to give up so easily. The monster was two and a half times Legend's size. That really didn't mean much since he was actually the size of an eight-year-old kid (Legend was ten years old, and Jonas was seventeen). By the time the monster was almost about to swat Legend with its massive hand, Legend had tried the Elbow dash, his Tornado kick, and the Secret fist of the dragon. None of his martial arts techniques were affecting the monster. Legend tried to think of a way to grab the girl and escape. But then the monster started uttering a harrowing roar.
Right after that, smaller golems formed from the ground. They were about 15. These ones moved at a way more challenging speed.
The smaller golems (or golemites) were defending the huge one. Then the huge golem grabbed the girl with its hand; it looked like it was getting ready to eat her.
Legend, afraid for the little girl's life, had his heart beating at an accelerated rate. He didn't think twice before holding the hilt of the Sword of Light with both hands, and with one tremendous and determined shout, he charged toward the cluster of rock monsters. He didn't even realize that a blade of pure light had formed itself. Yes, it wasn't just a bladeless hilt anymore. There was now a blade made out of light that had manifested heeding Legend's intent to protect an innocent. The blade, which was made of light, was that of a double-edged sword.
The golemites charged at Legend. All fifteen of them. The huge golem was holding the girl in the air, about to open its mouth wide. It was trying to widen its mouth to be able to fit the entirety of the girl's body in one chomp. Legend, while shouting, was charging head-on toward all of them with only one thought: {Sword of Light... Please... DON'T LET ME FAIL HER!}
Legend swung the sword just once. A huge beam of light was ejected from the sword's light blade, flew at nearly light speed, and obliterated all the monsters that were in front of him. There was nothing left of them, not even a speck. Even the dust particles had disintegrated. And the little girl fell to the ground unharmed.
Legend sighed in relief. He picked up the girl and took her back to the settlement. When the grandmother saw him returning with her in his arms, she cried tears of joy.
Mary: Thank you so much! How can I ever repay you?
Legend: No need for that, ma'am. I was glad to help!
Old man: Young man... What you did today has given us hope. I now believe that despite our situation, better days will come. If not for us old geezers, at least for our young ones. There is a future ahead of them, after all!
Legend smiled and gave them a cheerful thumbs-up.
Man: Hey, kid. Sorry for being rude to you earlier. You did a good thing today. It means a lot to all of us.
Legend: Don't mention it!
Since he was so curious about it, Legend couldn't help but ask the old man about what he had said earlier.
Legend: Excuse me, sir... earlier, you said that I had been sent by The One. Could you tell me what you meant by that?
Old man: Of course, child. The One is the One and Only One. The God that created everything. I believe in him. Things are really hard for us here, but his provision has never forsaken us. And now, thanks to what you did for us today, my faith has gotten even stronger.
Legend: I see...
As Legend walked back in the direction he had come from, he realized that he ended up making his choice already.
Legend: {I guess it's settled, then. I choose the path of a hero. Maybe God does have a plan for me... since I'm not freaking out right now, I guess that means I made the right choice?}
About four hours had passed since he left the camp. When he returned to camp, Meg was there. And so were Richard and Rachel.
Legend: Meg. I've made up my mind. You can count on me!
Meg: Legend!
Meg looked the happiest he had ever looked in a long time.
Rachel: There you are, Legend! We made dinner. Eat with us!
Legend: Thanks, guys, but actually... I'd like to eat with some friends I just met, if you guys don't mind.