As the figure of I'ch'Thrall looms over the field, I watched in horror. Only a couple of things in this world truly scared me, but looking at that monstrosity made me shiver to the bone. I'ch'Thrall roared once more, making the ground tremble slightly. I tried to regain my balance as the roar slowly faded. I looked over to the Devourer once more to see it burrow back into the ground. As the worm fully burrowed underground, I could hear panicked yelling and movement at the camp. I look over to see all the adventurers running around the camp, confused as to what was going on. The guards of the camp had already ran away from the sight of the worm, and the leaders of every party gathered their members to hopefully calm them down and ready them for whatever's to come. The adventurers seemed to have gotten a grasp of the situations pretty quick as they had already had plans going around to manage the current situation.
I, on the other hand, had frozen in place, still not having a full understanding of the situation. I'ch'Thrall, The Devourer was supposed to be dead a long time ago...
When I spent my time in Rhythian's study, I learned about the monster in an old notebook that had it's cover become bleached from time. The owner of the notebook had written that I'ch'Thrall was a god worshipped by villagers. It was said that this "god" of theirs poisoned the land around it if sacrifices were not made. One day, a hero of light came and fought the god in the hopes of restoring the land to it's healthy state. The hero was successful and had sealed I'ch'Thrall away for eternity, freeing the villages and bringing forth a healthy land.
I then thought of why and how the Devourer had been freed, but that is an issue I'd think about later as I came back into reality, realizing that I should help the other adventurers, especially Emilia, Clark, and Claire as soon as possible. I ran back into camp as fast as I could, reaching my panicked members in a few minutes.
"Mileena! What was that?!" Claire yelled as she was already in her equipment. She seemed collected on the outside but as I looked closer, Claire seemed to be afraid and nervous of what caused the trouble.
I let out a sigh as I grabbed her shoulder. "Where are Emmy and Clark?" I yelled out as I asked.
"Emmy is with the other mages! Clark is-" Claire tried to speak out, but she was interrupted by I'ch'Thrall rising from the ground quite a distance away from us and roaring once more, causing us to cover our ears as the ground trembled from the intensity of the roar. As the roar faded away, Claire looked in that direction with worry.
"C-Clark is with those soldiers! We have to help him!"
"Claire wait!!!"
I yell out in the hopes of stopping her but she had already ran in the direction of I'ch'Thrall. I grunt in anger as to her abrupt decision to save Clark. I look into our tent and went inside to suit up. I quickly wore my equipment and set off to help my friends. As I ran towards the Devourer, I saw that it was being bombarded by projectiles cast by the mages who were set on a hill side. I'ch'Thrall, however, took the blasts like it were rocks and ignored the constant blasts. I'ch'Thrall seemed to have focused on the crowd of archers and warriors set near him, however, their efforts were nothing. Warriors who rushed the giant monstrosity were simply flung away by his attacks and arrows only penetrate the parts where I'ch'Thrall's skin doesn't connect.
As I kept running, the smell of human blood caught my nose as I looked to the side to where the scent lead me. I then saw, in between the tents, was a horde of monsters slaughtering adventurers who weren't dealing with I'ch'Thrall. The monsters killed every adventurer who either ran from the battle or who were too afraid to face off against I'ch'Thrall. Their screams of agony flooded my mind as I ran by them. IT almost brought back some awful memories but I clenched my fists, grit my teeth, and shook my head as I continued to run after the Devourer. I felt bad for leaving the adventurers to die, but if I'ch'Thrall doesn't fall, everything within a couple of lands will.
I looked forward as I passed the crowd of adventurers as I ran quickly towards the massive worm. I then jumped up and ran up the worm as I stretched out a hand and focused my magic into my palm. Mana slowly gathered into the center as I kept my speed up the Devourer. The adventurers saw what I tried to do and went to make I'ch'Thrall focus on them.
I kept running as I grunted, feeling a little drained from using a large portion of mana. I kept my arm out as the mana on my palm had fully formed. I eventually reached the head of the beast as I kicked off it to give myself a huge jump. I then grasped the mana orb on my hand, materializing the object I wanted to form. As the mana tried to materialize, I'ch'Thrall slowlly glowed a faint green. He then looked up at me, opening his mouth, revealing a charged up attack aimed directly at me. I then gasped as I'ch'Thrall shot a massive beam directly at me. Making my vision see only green, then a flash of white.
As I woke up, I was suddenly in a space where there was only white. Am I dead? Is this the afterlife? Those were the questions that I asked as I looked around. I let out a disappointed sigh as I hugged my knees.
"I failed...again...I tried to help...but I died in the end..." I whisper to myself as tears formed in my eyes.
"Rhythian...I wish you were here...Man, if you were, you'd scold me..." I continue as I started tearing up, which lead to crying. I promised myself to not rely much on Rhythian as we trained...
I sat there, crying silently as I heard chirping go by above me. I looked up to see that the white space had now turned into a calming spring season. I was found sitting on a field of grass and flowers as a woman hummed sweetly as she stood underneath a big oak tree. I hesitantly stood up as I wiped my tears away. Her humming somehow called towards me causing me to slowly walk towards her. As I reached her, I stood still behind her. The woman wore a beautiful noble yellow and white as she had a neat oak brown braid bun styled on her hair.
"Quite the predicament you are in huh?" The woman stopped humming as she turned towards me. Her look shocked me but she got my attention again as she shook her head and placed her arms on her hips like an angry mother. She seemed to have a pair of flat shoes on her left hand and a tiara on the other
"Tsk tsk tsk, you are stronger than this young lady...What has that man taught you..." The woman spoke again as she let out a sigh. She then walked closer towards me as she leaned closer. She scanned me before letting out another sigh and turning around, facing into the horizon.
"I told him a thousand times to not leave out the most important part if he teaches people..." She spoke out once more. I started to wonder who this man she was talking about but was interrupted when she turned around.
"Wait, Miss, who are you?" I asked quietly, catching her attention. She giggled quietly as she walked towards my direction. She stopped next to me as she leaned in.
"You will know that someday" She whispered as she started walking again. I turned to see she was walking towards a small hut on a hill. It looked quite peaceful and humble. She turned towards me as she had a warm smile up. She seemed to be wearing the tiara and she had a beautiful blue royal dress on now.
"Anyways where was I..." She tapped her head as she hummed. I then started to wonder. She seemed to have a childish and carefree but responsible and reliable personality but that was what made me wonder because she looked like...Me...
"Ah yes! The lesson I was about to teach you! He never teaches this to his students, even to our own children!" She giggled as she walked closer towards me.
"That is to never give up...No matter the circumstance...Always look forward and put a fist to your chest and rise your fighting spirit! No matter the obstacle in front of you!..." She spoke out quietly but in a serious tone.
"Got that?"
"W-wait, I still don't know your na-"
I was interrupted as I tried to reach out towards the woman, but I was then in front of a door inside a wooden hut and her no where to be seen. My hand was grasping the door handle as I look around in confusion.
"Tee hee, You still gotta wake up...Mileena..." The voice of the woman echoed throughout the space as a mysterious force pushed me through the door, causing a white flash of light hit me. As it did, I felt the runes on my arm glow a deep orange. The glow then soon shined brighter and brighter, soon swallowing my whole body.
I opened my eyes to feel the pain shoot through my body as the beam the Devourer shot was still bombarding me. As the pain continued, the spaces between my scales glowed the same orange glow. The glow eventually reached my eyes and when it did, I felt a sudden surge of power. I pushed forward, causing the beam to disperse, completely nullifying the attack. I'ch'Thrall was knocked back from the blast, causing it to shake it's head and roar at me. The adventurers below were looking at me in surprise and shock.
The pain had already subsided and to replace it, I felt heat...Heat that compares to the wildest of fires. I looked down and saw that I wasn't falling at all. I was...hovering? I had gotten even more confused about the current situation, but one thing's for sure...
My will to fight was as strong as ever...