I sat with my arms crossed in frustration and anxiousness as I reminisced on the event that erased my emotions completely and left me in a dark emptiness that I couldn't explain,we'd been trapped within the city of Loridea with mana beasts of all kinds that wreaked havoc across the city like a swarm of locusts during the farming season, Erebore and I played a massive role in subjecting and taking out dozens of mana beasts but the swarm was endless and only brought stronger mana beasts with the more that died.
Soldiers from our side dropped like flies to the point where not even the help of Erebore and I was helpful except for her that women...Lady Yelaine, she was a force of nature no a freak of nature but her presence brought a calm feeling of safety and hope as she cut down hundreds of mana beasts with ease and shouted words that spiralled bravery into us to keep fighting,we weren't being suicidal however death was no longer a fear for some of the soldiers.
The battle turned to our favor with the seemingly endless number of mana beasts dwindling and being pushed back victory was in our grasp.....until that man appeared along with 4 other white robed figures those damned devils of that cult of robed lunatics who had brought the army of mana beasts to Loridea.
My anger and rage were at a boiling point that I was barely myself noticing this Yelaine held out her hand and turned back at me.
"you can leave this all to me if anything I'm ending all of this today"
"t-thats insane just one of those lunatics is hard enough fo-"
Yelaine stared at me with the helm that covered her face from ever knowing it although I couldn't see it I could've sworn she was smiling at me.
"you're forgetting my title Curtis,mind shouting it for me it might help me out over here"
gritting my teeth but letting out a scoff I gripped my axe tightly and shouted at the top of my lungs.
"God's sword,you happy now idiot!!"
"I can already feel the impending victory, now cover me I can't be facing mana beasts at the same time while fighting these demons!!"
nodding I did exactly that hacking down every mana beast that made it's way towards Yelaine ignoring the exhaustion that slowly crept up my body, I couldn't falter now no how was I going to going to catch up with her?
Bangs and flashes of light flickered behind me as I looked back with my mouth slightly opened at the monstrous scene in front of me, Yelaine took on the 4 robed figures who's magical abilities were easily able to take care of whole armies like it was nothing their attacks only slowling her down but evidently not harming her, it dawned on me just how accurate the title we'd given her was she grabbed the head of one of the robed figures and drove her sword straight through their neck while turning around to meet the blast of the 3rd figure that caused a massive explosion that threw me at least 10 meters from the fight and caused a crater the size of a large house.
Yelaine revealed herself from the cloud of dust nearly unscathed and sent a flurry of lightning bolts that struck the figure along with the other 2 completely Incapacitating them before ending it with a swift motion of her sword, decapitating them all in 1 go shaking off the blood on her sword she pointed to the last robed figure who stood menacingly still with his bright yellow eyes glaring down at us.
"are you going to face me or not!!?"
shouted yelaine causing a loud laugh from the figure in the sky who turned his back towards us and gave one last glance that was directed at Yelaine.
"how about I face you somewhere more spacious where you don't have to worry about casualties like your fight with my companions"
the man left causing Yelaine to curse under her breath before giving me a nod that I clearly understood, a shockwave of wind occured as she ran off.
"Curtis were here"
The sound of Erebore's voice snapped me back into reality as I looked out the window to find a sea of rocks and a landscape turned black in colour from a devastating blast of magical power,frowning I exited the carriage fixing the red cape attached to my silver armour with a black Phoenix tattoo on the chest plate it was Yelaine's favorite mana beast which she used to distinguish me and Erebore from the rest of the soldiers like a special force of hers.
'what was our name again,the crimson trinity right? god Yelaine was bad at naming'
I chuckled a bit and stared at the red haired Erebore who stroked the Phoenix tattoo on his chest plate that had faded on one of the wings but he never ordered for it to be repainted,although he didn't want to admit it but the reason he'd never fixed it was because Yelaine had painted the tattoos for us on her own pfft to him fixing it would be destroying the closest connection we had with her other than her presence.
The mana circulating in the area was strong and slightly suffocating but it felt familiar and embracing despite its intimidating pressure,soldiers wearing clad black armour with helmets that had no visors or any openings rushed off the horses they were riding on and hurried towards random parts of Yelaine's battle scene,they stroked the broken trees or picked up the shattered rocks and summoned crimson flaming dogs who sniffed and barked at fragments given to them to inspect.
"their an inspection group of mine best of the best to say the least if there's anyone who can discern what happened here it's definitely them"
said a silver haired elf woman in polished grey lean armour that covered her vitals with leather and chainmail to avoid it being revealing, she stood between Erebore and I giving a fiery gaze with her blood red eyes towards the team she'd brought to the battle site.
"I only hope the news is pleasing to the ears someone like her couldn't have died like this"
Erebore said surprisingly clenching his hands into tight fists ignoring trying to hide the feelings he'd been suppressing up until now.
"she was really that special huh?"
"special would be an understatement Leia, if anything she was.....something more"
".....i see however could someone truly survive this?"
I felt a burning rage within me at the words Leia had blurted out accidentally but my rage wasn't directed towards her but the lunatics of those robed devils who would've been responsible if Leia's words came to fruition.
"I-I-Im sorry I spoke out as a commander and not a friend"
said Leia dropping her head nearly to her feet causing a light laugh from me and Erebore for the first time ever since we set off on the grim trip towards Lady Yelaine's possible death scene, in actuality we'd been avoiding to make the trip for days waiting for Yelaine to reveal herself as some how alive however after that never happened we decided it right to check the site ourselves along with Leia who was an elf Erebore had become fond of.
She was a descendant of the proud elven king of Geldrith however due to her mother's lineage and the fact the king of Geldrith had countless other children with far better backgrounds Leia's authority only spanned to that of a commander of small battalions.
"Ahem if my intrusion may be allowed.....in terms of the mana traces there seems to be 2 sources, 1 of which is unknown and only makes up 5% of the mana surrounding the area however the second source is that of the figure called Yelaine"
none of us uttered a word as we listened to the report of the soldier.
"fragments of scorched armour plates were found in some places of the area however.....sadly a body was not found"
my face must've been expressing a clear definition of anger as the soldier bent down a bit stuttering as he apologized and continued on.
"h-however we found the handle of a sword matching the description you gave us...i-if you'd want to take a look"
the soldier knelt down and gestured to a random soldier who brought a clad black sword handle although scorched it was recognisable, it was truly the handle of Yelaine's sword.
"I REFUSE, I REFUSE DAMNIT!!"
I shouted abruptly my eyes sparking with hatred and deathly intent,I couldn't help it, I couldn't contain it anymore the ground beneath my feet gave in to my anger and shattered as my rage only rose higher.
'Why, why, why did she have to die what sick god would bestow such a grim destiny for someone as bright as her,she was a beacon that everyone was drawn towards and embraced by, she lit a light in even the most darkest of times yet she deserved to die a pitiful lonesome death such as this?'
the two soldiers in front of us were thrown back by the mana I was now exerting unable to suppress the hatred and anger exploding within me,I couldn't, I wouldn't believe her dea-
"Curtis if you'd calm down for a second"
said Erebore his hand now placed upon my shoulder as Leia stayed back respectfully giving us space.
"Leia, my friend and I would like to be excused"
"o-ofcourse take your time I know how hard this can be"
Erebore nodded solemnly and gestured for me to follow him down Yelaine's supposed final resting place, anger still sizzling within me I blurted out and cursed at the kicking it as I itched for something to crush something to vent off my anger on.
"YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY OKAY WITH THIS RIGHT!!?, YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT RIGHT!!?"
"Curtis..."
"THAT WAS YELAINE, SHE COULDN'T HAVE DIED NOT LIKE THAT!!"
"CURTIS DAMNIT CALM DOWN!!"
shouted Erebore for the first time as he sighed and took a seat on a large smooth rock placing his hands together under his chin silencing me as I took my own seat across him,we sat silently glaring at each other although the hatred painted in our eyes wasn't directed to the either of us.
"I don't want to believe it but..."
Erebore voice trailed off his face was content yet his eyes were blazing with fury.
"you're not actually believing this, Yelaine dead!!?"
"Curtis.....she was human just like the both of us, you heard didn't you...fragments of her armour and her broken sword what more evidence do we need?"
"tch I refuse to believe it ,not her"
"God damnit Curtis what are you gonna do chase after her, do you even have an idea where she is if she were alive ,how you'll find her, sitting here and doubting clear evidence isn't what Yelaine would've done if she heard we'd died HELL it isn't what anyone would do if they heard a person they looked up to or a comrade they cared for had passed but you know what is?
I stayed silent with sizzling frustration to Erebore's words but listened anyway.
"the piece between the non human and human races,the protection and safety of the weak, the guide to those in need of it that's what Yelaine did and it can't end with her while we're here"
"you think we can do or even be a quarter of what she was huh?"
Erebore frowned and pointed at the black Phoenix tattoo on his chest plate.
"then what was the point of this?"