"Our greed is what twists and corrupts our hearts... opening our most vulnerable defense to the darkness..."
~Tasmiya Shaik
Reinhardt Villa
Tuesday
2:08 a.m
Araun's heart throbbed vigorously with an unbearable burn, and the four-clawed mark deeply engraved onto his wielder's abdomen did not ameliorate the situation. The Narrak creature would soon trace the scent of his blood.
~Araun, give me control.~ Isarcrius demanded.
'If I switch with you now, the pain will be excruciating once you have feelings of your body again.'
~I will temporarily deal with the wound. Conserve your energy; we will need it.~
'Very well.' Araun obliged.
Araun established a connection with the Asharren warrior and transferred his spirit into the magical orb of energy that served as a retainer for his spirit. He granted Isarcrius the reign of his heart and soul once more. The golden yellow of his eyes returned to its emerald colour; however, he maintained the fused form of the Warcan beast.
He clenched his fists and felt a surge of the Warcan's power run its course within him. An emerald aura of energy enshrouded his body and reinforced his stamina.
'I did not think you still wielded this amount of power, Araun,' Isarcrius examined the aura that weaved around his arms.
~This power is not mine and nor yours...she senses your physical pain Isarcrius and has granted you a fraction of her power.~
'I have drawn too much power from her...she will be exhausted Araun...'
~It is of her own will... believe in the heart of the Warcan tribes Isarcrius...~
Isarcrius reluctantly complied however, he was not one to demean the capabilities of the ones he served.
'Irselias arvenlind,' Isarcrius murmured the words of a spell that ignited his Warcan claw with fire. He cauterized the wound on his abdomen, searing the flesh with a grimace of agony on his expression. He retained his composure and reduced his groans of pain to a minimum so as not as to reveal his location.
Isarcrius' battle with the Narrak murderer forced him into a corner. Araun had distracted the beast with an illusion spell and utilized the opportunity to regain his energy deep within the confines of the forest; however, a Narrak creature was not to be underestimated.
Isarcrius ripped off the remnants of his sweater and disposed of the tattered garment. The gelid air embraced his bare skin; however, it was of no concern and bother to him. An Asharren warrior's first cycle of training revolved around unbreakable endurance; furthermore, the strong weariness he felt from Soran and brewing rage from Lahn had manifested an intensifying heat.
'Lahn's rage burns...'
~Then it is not the rage of Lahn, Isarcrius...~
'A matter of concern that should be investigated upon my immediate return.'
~Indeed.~
The unearthly roars of the Narrak creature reverberated across the night sky, signifying it as the supreme dominant of both man and creature alike. The might of the creature would far be embedded within his memory. Had he engaged the creature in a duel of honour and fair standards, he would have commended him and displayed his utmost respect for his skills.
The creature came into view through the little spaces of the tree branches above. A slender neck ran down from its head and into a long body. It's body covered in dark reptilian skin, and a row of crystal-like spikes spanned the length of its serpentine form. Thin bat-like wings, elevated its mass into the air. The wings were curved and grew out from the sides of its lithe arms with claws that were seemingly made from onyx were visible at the top edges.
Restless azure eyes sat wickedly within the creature's horned, hard skull, which exuded a savage persona. Three horns sat atop its head, just above it's warped ears. It had two nostrils that flared on the front of its longular face. Large fangs protruded from the sides of its mouth.
'Araun, is this the wyvern bastard you once faced in battle? I do not imagine you would have fallen in defeat before him?' Isarcrius questioned with contempt.
~Do not take Scalivarg lightly, Isarcrius. He has not exercised the full might of his abilities and strength. Wyverns of the Narrak clan are most lethal and formidable; however, he is considerably weakened in a realm like Ethuaria where magic flows scarcely.~
Scalivarg circled above the forest, the scent of blood travelled on the night breeze, and he could almost feel the metallic taste on the tip of his tongue.
Isarcrius stealthily moved under the accommodation of the shadows created by the trees and trailed the movements of the creature above.
~Isarcrius, what are you doing? You are moving towards the Villa's backfield; he will find you!~
'He will discover my location regardless of where I go, Araun. You have entrusted me with your spirit for seven hundred cycles, do not let that trust waver now. If he is weakened as you suggest, then my strategy should fall into place.~
The Warcan beast quietened at the words of his wielder and retreated its protests.
~Do not get us killed, Isarcrius.~
The Narrak creature pursued Isarcrius into the clearing of the backfield and the Asharren warrior sprinted across, utilizing the superior speed of the Warcan beast.
'Petty Warcan retainer, do you believe you can defeat the greatest might of Archalia's skies by running in circles?!' Scalivarg retorted.
The Narrak creature beat it's wings and created a powerful force of wind that was directed towards Isarcrius. The Asharren warrior halted and confronted the force by crossing his arms infront of himself to form a shield of emerald energy that negated the effects of Scalivarg's attack. The impact however managed to repulse the Asharren warrior a few feet back.
The Narrak creature roared and and beat it's wings a second time and created several crescent blades of air that rapidly approached Isarcrius. 'You cannot defeat a wyvern's aerokinesis, Araun!'
The Asharren warrior evaded the first three blades but was assaulted by two larger blades that cut into the muscled flesh of his left arm and leg that reverted to it's original form. The lacerations burned upon contact with the icicle air and Isarcrius was forced to kneel.
'Do you see, Warcan retainer? The difference in our strength?!' Scalivarg roared.
The Asharren warrior smirked and positioned both his hands on the grass. Blood trickled from the laceration along his bicep and flowed onto the ground. 'Now then, I believe it is about time I have gotten serious.'
The blood triggered a rune crafted sphere that was visibly distinguished with a gold glow. 'Do you think I was aimlessly running in circles, Scalivarg?' The rune sphere ranged across the entire area of the backfield and rotated in a circular motion beneath the Narrak creature.
'Araun, you bastard!' It was far too beyond Scalivarg's capabilities to counterattack.
Rays of golden light emerged from the rune sphere and struck the colossal monstrosity that terrorized the skies. The rays threaded around the creature and restrained it's magical abilities. It casted the creature onto the rune sphere and morphed into impregnable massive, metal chains that intricately bounded Scalivarg's limbs and wings in captivity. The rune markings in the outer ring of the sphere kindled the hard scales of the Narrak creature. Scalivarg roared at the pain of the sizzling soft flesh of his underbelly.
Isarcrius approached the creature and crafted a Nihonjin style talisman with his blood and a few blades of grass from the ground. A rectangular piece of paper emerged from the palm of his hand and bore the inscriptions of the Asharra language. He placed the talisman on the creature's head with a sharp force and placed his palm over it.
'Mort sen zastriel, arkwen morvius,' Isarcrius chanted in the rune language of the Faélon humes his kind descended from and the Narrak beast was rendered paralyzed.
'Do you see, Scalivarg?' You faced not a Warcan and nor an Asharren warrior alone, but an Aldari. The beast and warrior are one,' Isarcrius folded his arms across his chest.
'Your wretched kind will burn with the return of our war chief,' Scalivarg communicated telepathically.
'Your war chief? Was he not defeated several thousands of years ago?'
'Not defeated...he lives...he sleeps within...he awaits the moment to awaken and reign fire and death on all those who defy our rule...'
The words of the Narrak creature assailed Isarcrius' thoughts. Were he to trust a monstrosity of darkness? A creature that once laid waste to the Warcan tribes? He would conduct investigations on the matter at a later date, for now there was an even more vital issue that demanded his attention.
'Where is Soran?' Isarcrius' gaze narrowed.
Scalivarg's eyes sealed itself briefly and opened to reveal a dark black shade that reverted to it's original light green colour and Isarcrius acknowledged the change.
'We were once dragon folk... immersed in Gaia's darkness, rather our greed for the gems drove us to the darkness..' Scalivarg grimaced, the scorching effect of the metallic chains burned into his hard scales. 'Engmaar ruins...' The creature muttered as it's body began to dissipate into miniature spheres of white light.
'Scalivarg you...' Isarcrius trailed off into silence.
'To think the Faélon exorcism arts would eradicate a fraction of the darkness...' Scalivarg's remaining words went unspoken as the last remnants of his body faded into specks of light spheres.
Isarcrius' attention was drawn to the eerie howling of a wolvish hound in the distance. 'Transformed for a woman...' He smirked. 'You have grown, Archid.' The strength and power that flowed within him began to evanesce and weakness infiltrated his defenses, causing him to slump to the ground.
~Isarcrius, we must return to Alvgard to heal your wounds.~
'I must first seek out Archid...he will lose control...'