Dear reader, a lot of people think they know Africa, but if you're not from Africa or learned to live in Africa then you don't know Africa take it from me I oughta know, I'm not talking modern Africa with it's fancy cars and progressively tall buildings or that soapy stuff they put in a video package to make you spend your money.
I mean the bit about Africa no one really talks about unless they're seated around a fire
with their grandmother in the rural areas or when the family meets and they're bored of the television. I'm talking about the magic, magial creatures and other shit we don't let you see on a tourist run. And one last word dear reader with regards to this narrative you will forgive my use of, shall we say hard language.
My name is Ava, short for Avalon and for a mental picture dear reader, keep in mind a dark caramel skinned lad with short dreads, a bit of a goatie and a scraggly beard on his cheeks.
Now to start this narration. I was a junior member in M.W.A or Magic. Watch. Association (Yea name wasn't exactly my first choice either) South Africa division.
It was my first week and I had been tasked to investigate increased Albino disappearances in the Limpopo province.
See magic users, or as they are known "abathakathi" or "baloyi" in the native tongue, believe albino parts to be really good dark magic conductors.
I had tracked the perp down and got whacked from behind, because you see the one thing better than a magic conductor is a regular goody two shoes magic user and well you can probably guess where I fall.
As I came to I happened to be tied down on a cow skin covered table in a murky dark hut lit up by a low burning fire, with a man who's face was painted black and that combined with the little light in the room and how wide his eyes seemed to be opened, I must say he looked like the angel of death. The angel of death who was about to cut out my heart amongst other things, out of me. Yeah fucked up way to start a story right?
Keep in mind some of this is in the native tongue, however I won't risk your tongue ending up a knotted mess on my account. I will however indicate the language being spoken at certain point. The following is in Sepedi, the dominant local dialect in Limpopo.
"Hang on a second, you don't want to do this man, the M.W.A will come for you man." I was panicking and spewing rubbish.
"If they can find me." He said in response as he stood over my body, he closed his eyes and called on dark forces (I think, like I said first week).
"Dude, I found you and I'm a junior!" I said as tried to wiggle free of the bonds tied against my wrist, but the bastard had me.
He snorted a laugh, "It shows, you got caught like an amateur."
I couldn't reach my grimoire which was laid down on the floor, anti magic bonds I assume. I was in trouble, I was seriously fucked and I hadn't the foggiest idea how to get free.
"Right, let's get started shall we?" He said smiling and revealing a row of teeth which did not soften his angel of death look.
I found myself bracing to be stabbed through the chest and readied myself to see my own beating heart and meer my maker. When a portal spell circle opened up on the far wall and through it bathed in a blue light stepped through Bheki, my assigned senior agent. As he stepped through he cast a paralysis spell before the angel of death guy could react. Then Bheki stood over me and stared down with a look of disapproval on his face.
(English being spoken)
"So are you gonna untie me anytime soon?" I asked nervously
"I'm tempted to leave you here with him for a few days see how long it takes you to free yourself Avalon." He said as he cast a spell to free me.
"Thanks." I said hoping off the bed and scooping up my grimoire putting it in its leather bag and slinging it over my shoulder.
"Well come on then, we have an emergency in Cape Town." Said Bheki as he opened a portal spell circle and tossed the angel of death guy through and opened a separate one and waited for me.
I've always hated portal spells, I avoided them whenever I could and yes dear reader it may sound quite odd, you're thinking you have power to go anywhere in seconds why not use it? Because they always left me sick and if I could help it I drove anywhere or flew anywhere even though I would take much longer than necessary.
But I was given no choice as a portal spell opened beneath me.
I fell at rapid speed through a white space occasionally getting a flash image of a place such as a valley or a highway or a small town and just when I was adjusted the portal opened on the other end and grass approached fast, all the while I had a scream trapped behind my Adam's apple.
I landed hard like a sack of potatoes and as I groaned as I slowly forced myself to my feet. I suddenly felt annoyed as Bheki swaggered through a portal next to me.
"So what's this-----" Before I finished my sentence a primal roar tore through the night sky. I felt my blood turn cold as a part of me realised what it was.
I turned around to see a Griendel rampaging it's way through what was a surburb which I sincerely hoped was empty. The massive black scaled beast was being faced by two other agents who kept high up in the sky, in retaliation it chucked pieces of houses as though they were made of paper and coughed up fireballs to add spice. I wondered why it wasn't flying until I realised it had a broken wing, no doubt the work of Bheki. Around the Griendel was utter chaos, everything was ablaze, plenty of destruction but contained destruction.
"Nine agents have died in the last three hours, twenty five civilians before we evacuated and cleared their memories and the illusion spell isn't holding for much longer, we already had to send the firefighters back twice because someone saw the fires. I'm afraid we might not be able to hold it for much longer." Said Bheki
"We only have 13 agents in the country." I said slowly
"Yes, we're the last." Said Bheki opening his grimoire and lifting into the air.
With one hand extended he gathered dark clouds above the beast's head and let loose a thunderbolt, it crashed into the Griendel and the beast howled and stilled for a moment lowering its head seemingly close to defeat. One of the two agents lowered himself toward it for what reason I could not tell.
I had only ever read of Griendels and seen their pictures, heard of their destructive power and their cunning, so I knew what the agent was doing was a mistake.
"No," I said whispering at first, my feet began running blindly toward the carnage, "NO! THAT'S A MISTAKE." I screamed desperately.
But I was too late, once the agent was in range the Griendel moved in a flash as it jumped up and closed it's massive jaws around the agent swallowing him in one gulp and breathing fire to make sure the agent was well done. I immediately came to a stop in horror, naturally.
I believe the other agent had the same reaction as I had because he didn't react fast enough to it's second jump and swing of the tail that sent him cascading toward the ground, he crashed into a house on the way down. The Griendel looked up into the sky and took it's time to roar loud and long in victory or challenge, I was unsure.
I could only stare frozen in fear as the illusion spell shattered all around meaning whoever was driving past would a massive beast illuminated by carnage. Bheki flew past me, him now projected as much larger, a sword in his massive projected hands.
It was not to be caught off guard however, it bowed its head and did what all Griendels do, the beast reconjured up the lightning spell Bheki had fired before and shoot it at the charging Bheki. The bolt caught Bheki's projected body square through the chest, instantly shattering it. Once again I could only watch in frozen fear as Bheki tumbled from the sky.
Human being scare easily, that is what I learned. I could have tried to be a hero but heroes die and I wasn't ready to die, as if on instinct my grimoire flew from the bag and opened to the portal spell page and I cast it, thinking of Johannesburg as a destination.
My legs had a difference of opinion about the hero thing, so did my hands and my lips because I found myself charging the Griendel readying spells Instead of walking through the portal.
I screamed conjuring a column of fire and it bumped harmlessly against the Griendel. It turned, a low growl rippled around me as I looked into the fiery yet cold reptilian eyes of the beast. It then decided I wasn't worth the trouble and jumped into the sky in an attempt to fly only to crash back to the ground, it rose and ave low angry growl as though it was cursing itself for forgetting the no flight situation.
"HEY!" I shouted as I fired another fire spell, this time bopping the it on the head and seemed to anger him.
For the life of me I couldn't tell you what was keeping me going dear reader, I guess the saying about fear being an excellent motivator was being proven right to me in that time. I had no plan or no earthly idea how to stop this beast, the books never did explain how. I had done one thing right in a way. I had it's attention.
"You're not done, yet." I shouted
If Griendels can smirk then I am pretty sure I saw it, if it was only for a moment. The Griendel moved suddenly and swiftly charging toward me. Dear reader beasts, even magical ones are predictable to some extent.
I waited until the very last moment and conjured the strongest chain constriction spells I could, the chains protruded rapidly through the grass, tarmac, pavement and rubble weaving around the Griendel and holding it in place. I could feel the effort of the spell draining my mana rapidly, I knew I would not be able to hold him for long. Once again reader I was fucked.
One of the chains snapped and my heart skipped a beat in response, I was close enough to see the malice in the Griendel's eyes as it focused on me using me for motivation to breaks chains as though I was the treat at the end of a good trick.
I felt a hand on my shoulder, normally that would at least startle me, but in this case I calmly turned to see a bloodied Bheki looking back at me.
"Hold him," he said in a weak whisper.
I nodded and watched as Bheki staggered toward the beast leaving a zigzag map of blood on the ground.
He fell to his knees in front of the beast as two more chains snapped and it inched forward
slightly.
Bheki raised a hand and waved it slightly.
"This isn't exactly the time for the 'give me a second' hand gesture." I said. To which he turned his head and smiled weakly.
He staggered back to his feet and conjured his grimoire. Again he cast a body projection spell, he rose into the air and settled in his projected body's chest. A large blade in hand.
My mana was dangerously low dear reader and the chains were now breaking much easier.
"NOW WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD TIME!!" I shouted as Bheki, in his projected body, raised the blade and drove it through the beast.
The beast howled. And my mana ran out, I could not do no more spells until it replenished and that normally took a little while. It now moved slowly, it's breathing shallow.
"You have to do it again!" I shouted
No response, Bheki remained with the blade thrust through the Griendel.
"Bheki!"
No response
"BHE--" His projected body began to fade and he lowered slowly to the ground. At this point the Griendel wasn't moving. I rushed to Bheki's side and cradled his head.
I had never actually seen a person draw their last breath dear reader, sure I had seen plenty of corpses I mean maybe you have too perhaps, but seeing a person drawing their last breath is something else entirely.
Bheki's breaths were irregular, he was gasping for air and with every breath his chest heaved violently.
Then he just stopped, as he released his last breath I watched his soul leave his body through his eyes. I confess dear reader I had not known him long and yet a sadness tore through me.
As though Bheki's death were a cue the Griendel snorted a rancid breath before standing, spilling black blood on the ground from its wound.
My sadness turned to anger, as I stood and walked toward the Griendel eyes locked with the beast.
"Still standing then." I said
I had barely had enough mana to use magic on the beast and I believe lt could sense this, it did not attack.
My bag was not just for my Grimoire dear reader, it also carried my spiral shaped throwing knives.
I pulled one out and threw it at the Griendel, I hit my target but as expected the knife bounced of and hit the ground harmlessly. That seemed to mildly annoying the beast, it grave a low growl.
"Come on you dick, do something." I said
I threw another knive, only this time I threw it at the Griendel's eyes. It cocked its head slightly ensuring I missed my mark. That was enough to convince the beast.
The Griendel turned and whipped it's tail at me with great speed ànd velocity.
Perhaps you're expecting a counter dear reader. Sorry to disappoint you.
The blow knocked the breath out of my body and broke almost all the ribs on my right side, I flew through the air and landed hard on rubble.
I coughed up blood and the vision from left eye was blurred. Regardless of this I pushed myself to my feet despite the pain shooting through my body.
You must be wondering why dear reader, bear with me all be explained.
I conjured my grimoire and used the mana I had left to begin smashing small bits of rubble into the Griendel, it roared in anger and fired a stream of fire my way, I was barely able to place a large chunk of rubble to block it in time.
My mana was gone at this point, I had begun chewing through my own life force to cast magic.
The Griendel came crashing through before I could recover and swipped its massive claw at me. Fortunately I was able to lessen the damage by attempting to dodge, keyword attempting. I still felt it's sharp claws tear through me.
Dear reader, I found myself on my back again. Only this time I was bleeding, bleeding a lot and I knew I wasn't getting up and strangely in a way the pain I felt was numbing as I tried not to choke on my blood.
Feeling its job done the Griendel began to walk away, but it didn't get far as it's body finally failed it from all the blood lost through its wound and given all the blood pumping from our little scuffle it had lost a lot more.
The Griendel tried to stand again, breathing deeply but failed crashing back down. It tried a few more times before giving up and laying down, it did however cock it's head and look at me with eyes that said 'you bastard, damn you".
I began laughing, ignoring the pain from my broken ribs, with every breath I could feel them scrape against my lungs.
"We're gonna die together, no one's ever gonna know but technically I probably just saved Africa. At least the Sub Saharan bit," I said pausing to cough up more blood, "bummer I can't gloat about it to people. You think I could do that in the after life, if there is one or maybe like Valhala?" I asked turning my head to look at the Griendel who grunted seemingly in disapproval.
"Yeah you're probably right, they'll probably have like a parade waiting." I said, laughing again but this time giving in to the pain and stopping my laugh midway.
And so dear reader, I could feel myself dying. Not that I could quite describe how it feels, its one of those you have to experience it to know things but I doubt many people will experience death by Griendel.
Any way that's the narrative of what happened, if you're a normal human then you could believe me or not but the body of a large magical beast as evidence is undeniable. If you are M.W.A then you have a lot of work to do. Either way it ain't my problem, I'm dead.
And please take care of the former Griemoire in your hands, even though now its just a story book diary thing. It makes for a good keep.