"How long did it take us?"
"More than a month and over seven battles."
"Not a single one of us died. We' ve all done a good job."
" Heh, that was the easy part. The real monstrous task is ahead of us."
In the distance, they saw the city enveloped entirely in green. All around them was a green veil that acted as a barrier. The city itself looked unusually quiet considering that it was the biggest in the kingdom. Everyone had a strange feeling not knowing what to expect. Eventually they advanced close to the barrier. The huge walls that rose in front of them appeared to be completely empty. Not a sound could be heard and not a single figure could be seen. It only made them all the more nervous in their plan to defeat the elf ruler. Since their reinforcements had still not shown up, the only thing they could do this night was this brief scouting. All of them were careful not to draw attention to themselves. This wasn't particularly difficult since they seemed to be the only people around.
"An unmanned wall? There' s nothing that screams like a trap better than that."
"Even if it is, we won't be able to get around it. You' ve seen the veil, most likely it's a kind of radar to detect enemies. Either we somehow clear the veil or we have to proceed right through this trap. I think we gathered enough information, let's withdraw and set up camp. I want at least half a day's march away from this place. In addition, we need to keep an eye on the main trail for reinforcements. Now, if they' re smart, they' ll know how to proceed. Although I don't really enjoy it, we need to work together. Hear me, once you spot them let go of your prejudices and your own personal feelings, this is about much more than our differences. Hopefully the same is clear to them, but if not...we shall make it clear to them very soon. The reality should look quite different to them for some time now."
After the announcement, they retreated as ordered. A while later they had discovered a fairly secure spot where they set up camp. Pitching their tents, it was time to sleep. A part of the army separated into guard units to detect possible enemies.
"What do you think about this? Looking at you, you've been unusually quiet for the situation we're in."
"I have been lost in thought, that's all. All of this looks like a trap but I wonder if it's shrouded or serves as a greeting. I have no idea how he will act, his brother was reluctant to give me any details. He has the veil yet the walls behind it are completely empty. Has he got his units standing by or is he trying to confuse and deceive us? I don't know anything about his war leadership qualities but I do know that he loves psychological interference. What he wants is to play with our minds and he has all the means to do so."
"As long as we maintain our determination and dedication we should be able to ruin at least part of his game. He's fooled me before, it will never happen that way again."
"That's exactly the problem. You have been deceived, but the others don't have such experiences. I am not saying that they are weak, but that their mentality is vulnerable. Who knows what he is capable of: To evoke their fears or to manipulate them to see us as the enemy? It must be completely evident to everyone exactly who we are fighting and exactly what to watch out for. Tsk, everything would be much easier if Maris weren't a shadow of his former self..."
"He is a coward and a bastard for what he has withheld from me. However, not all of his nature was cleansed with that, he still harbored grief after that. I remember it with my own father after he learned of his wife's death. There is something else, much bigger, weighing on him which makes him unable to act freely. This superior being suffers the same sorrows as a mere ordinary one of his people."
"Hm, he has already said that something is wrong with him, but he did not know exactly. Either Maris presents himself as incapable of acting or he has other reasons not to act against his brother. That's probably why he ignored him at the time."
"Who exactly are you talking about?"
"Oh, about someone who...who set me free...to give me a chance..."
"More secrets huh? Anyway, we should keep an eye on Maris and try to unravel his condition as soon as possible."
During that night, Leo suddenly got a big headache. Then, suddenly, for a second, he saw a blood-red picture full of corpses in front of him. After that he returned to normal vision, however, this image was supposed to be an omen which had just come true.
Out of the north they heard loud screams coming from their men. The patrol consisted of 10 soldiers who had received the best training. Vega commanded everyone to get up and prepare for battle. Soon they deployed their defenses and awaited the enemy. Something came flying at them out of the darkness. As they looked closely, they saw the severed heads of their comrades. No eyes were left, but their faces looked completely horrified.
"So this is the extent of your powers...or is it?"
A shadow emerged from the distance.
("How could he discover us so quickly? Why does he leave his city vulnerable? Something is fishy here.")
Leo immediately anticipated Yrasil yet a different figure stepped into the light. It was a tall elf with a scarred face and body, a blindfold and two claws who looked at them with curiosity. All the units as well as Vega startled at the sight. There was more significance to this person than Leo thought.
"Hmm, your numbers are impressive but your strength.... rather average. They had the right approach but their execution...full of mistakes. I mean, I could almost smell their fear and anxiety. Oh how I missed that stench. My thanks to you, great ruler."
("Who exactly is he? Why is everyone so startled? I've never read or heard of such a being.")
Before Leo had time to think of any more questions, he already got the first answers.
"Oh, that's a shame. It's true that I was never mentioned in books probably because of my appearance. Ha, in the end I deprived myself of my fame hahaha. Had it not been for my ruler, I would never have existed and done the works I did. As for word...why don't you tell him who exactly I am in your eyes, young lady?"
"He is one of the three "corrupted" of Yrasil known as Furcht, the Blood Claw."
Leo had never seen Vega in such a state of agitation and nervousness.
"Hoho, even my given nickname is still familiar, how marvelous. It' s true that my ruler has chosen me to serve him and to do his deed. So many faults have been made in our ranks, but together with my associates, we shall clear up the mess immediately. Such a shame that our Lord had left this world, yet our loyalty lasts up to his essence. And now he is back and so is his original masterpiece. Alas, we have to start all over again...or are allowed to start all over again hehehe.
Suddenly he burned with rage, turned around and stared one of the soldiers in the eye. The next moment he disappeared on the spot and reappeared in the middle of the soldiers. One of them lost his head, which was then crushed by Furcht.
"Men, whatever you do, do not attack him! You hear me?!"
All of them wished to assault him, yet his demonstration in power caused fear to spread within them. Furcht took the head and ripped out the eyes. After that he put them in his mouth and gulped them down.
"I will not allow even one person to think so ill of my master. An insolence for such a low creature to entertain such thoughts. I can feel contempt in you, too, though not as strong as this one has felt."
He then disappeared from the crowd in a flash and suddenly appeared right in front of Leo. His face was only a few inches away from his. It smelled like death and rot to Leo, his blindfold was stained with blood and his teeth were razor sharp. He grabbed Leo's head and examined it more closely.
"Hmm, really nothing special about this specimen. Nevertheless, I dare not question my master, your value to him is high enough to keep you and these beings alive...for now. Tonight I just wanted to introduce myself, as our next encounter...well...will not end so friedly. With all my heart, I wish you every success: make my master's heart throb."
He headed back in the direction from which he came while scratching his head.
"I wonder what Sorge is doing right now. Better hope he will leave them alone or we'll all be in trouble. Man, I'm gonna get a headache. Hey, what do you guys think? Can you check on him for me? I believe he went that way. Not sure what he'll do to your allies if you don't check."
He then disappeared in a flash into the darkness. It was hard for the army to gather itself. That being spread fear in their ranks though Vega shook them awake again.
"Don't even think of giving up now! For what have we come here? We have just been shown the power of the enemy, however, this does not mean that we are without a chance. Many times we were outnumbered, in a hopeless situation in the eyes of others, staring death in the face. This time, he has stared back and struck but that will not be our downfall. We were not prepared for such a thing, no one could have expected it. Today it is not a shame that we lost, it is a warning for what lies ahead. Furcht is not invulnerable, a lot of you know exactly what I'm talking about, he has his weak points as well and we will use them. Collect your wits and pay your respects to your dead comrades, before long we will avenge their deaths. Never let yourselves be ruled by doubt and panic. It is the last thing they would have wanted. You have heard his words, we are not the only targets of these individuals, our reinforcements are nearby and it is our duty to support them!"
Leo was still utterly confused by this situation. Yrasil had never mentioned these characters and the immense powers they held. Yet it seemed that many elves knew exactly who it was they were dealing with. As they headed to support the dark elves, Vega clarified the situation for him.
"During his reign, Yrasil chose or rather designed three special ones who were to act as his hands of power. He himself was more than powerful enough, however, it would have taken a long time for his work to be completed. Thus he ordered these three to do his work. There was no one who didn't know their names in the past. Furcht, the blood claw, Sorge, the parasite and Schmerz, the tormentor. Everywhere they were legends, spreading death following the lessons of their master. According to the rumors, they represent creations made from a mass of elven souls tampered with by Yrasil. Furcht is actually blind, he has no eyes and yet he wears the blindfold. I don't recall exactly, but the reason he seeks out the eyes of his victims is that once he has devoured enough, he gets his own vision. As you' ve experienced, he is incredibly fast and can sense the thoughts of his victims."
Leo found it hard to believe what Vega was saying to him and yet it all happened in front of his own eyes.
"And what about the other two? I assume they are just as strong or not?"
"They are, however, in different kinds of ways. Sorge feasts on the emotions of his victims, he can sense everything: Anxiety, panic, fear, love, joy and sadness. As soon as they are visible to him, he virtually sucks them dry, as the legends say. He drains their blood like a parasite until they are nothing but a shell. Once someone is under his influence, his death is only a matter of time. Finally there is Schmerz, probably the worst of them all. Unlike the others, he doesn't kill his victims, he makes them kill themselves as well as each other. Schmerz can cause the suffering of a being though not only the physical kind. Schmerz can evoke the pain throughout the lives of his victims manipulating them severely enough that they end up not being able to endure this fabricated pain anymore and kill themselves. Those lives are puppets for him with whose being and soul he can do what he wants. Almost no one has the willpower to escape his power. In addition, none of them can be harmed by simply magic. And the chances of getting close enough to injure them are minuscule.
"Tsk, his three nearly invincible heroes who work for him. Well fucking fantastic!"
"No, they are defeatable. I wasn't lying when I said they have weak points. The origin of their abilities lies within Yrasil himself, giving them a part of his powers. This also means that if he were to be in danger or his power was too small, he would recover his powers out of them. In that case they are just ordinary elves with no powers. As long as Yrasil is in danger or distress there' s a chance."
"That is unlikely to be the case if they attack us together. Our defenses are not strong enough to stop them."
"It is true that we are in a difficult situation, yet there is a solution, because they won't attack us together. If they do, then they will most likely lose. Despite the fact that their powers seem to function together as a perfect system, they will only weaken each other. The devotion to their master is endless. Each one wants to satisfy him as much as possible in his own way with his own abilities. These three are created from the souls of other elves, which means that they carry a part of them within themselves. Should they battle together, they will quickly develop greed, envy or restlessness much like children that always want to be the best. As a result, they are unable to use their powers as much and are vulnerable to magic."
"How do you know all this so exactly if they''ve been around since his reign?"
" I learned it from one of my father's books. His library is immemorial and the books are even more ancient. One of the books contains all this kind of information on each of these people. The last page described how the author was to have killed all three. That' s hard to believe given the abilities they possess and how they operate."
"Maybe this elf or dark elf was an archmage or grandmaster, a person who negates magic or nullifies it? I mean if he gathered that much information about them then he must have been capable of such things."
" Precisely because of this, it is even more unimaginable to me. The book is not in our language or that of the dark elves, it is completely written in the human language. For me it is completely unthinkable, no human being could defeat such forces. Not even the greatest legends among their ranks would have the powers to compete with these three. This human must have written it for the true victor alone, or their conqueror must have learned their language."
"Or maybe there really was a human or a human-like being that could eliminate such powers. You know that in this world nothing is impossible, Vega."
"...In this case, though, I'm really not sure at all..."
Before long, they spotted the lights of a large camp. Suddenly a loud voice rang out, it came from Lynia. Moving closer, they caught sight of an elf in a white robe wrapped in thorns. His body appeared to be almost completely white.
"What exactly do you want from us? That we surrender? That we give ourselves up to you? Come on, speak up!"
"Restrain your hatred, young being. It's not time to put it to use yet, do not squander it for no reason at these moments. This place is filled with unrest, fear, anger and panic, everything is intermingled and hardly distinguishable. Such disorder...I hate such disorder...he hates such disorder! I must relieve it, I must soothe it."
He raised his arm and pointed at Nadal who was full of rage. The latter's breath stopped as a thread of blood suddenly flowed from his body in the direction of Sorge.
"Purified shall be your being that it may serve well. Anon it will be over, anon thou wilt be filled with purity."
"Your purity is nothing but the death. There is no place for you in this realm, begone from here!"
Maris emerged from the center and halted Sorge.
The flow of blood was interrupted and the thread was snapped. All of a sudden, blood started leaking from Sorge's eyes. He began to cry loudly and scream.
"AAARGH, THIS FEELING, I CAN'T RECOGNIZE IT. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? I FAILED MY MASTER WAAAH! YOU...YOU WILL REGRET THIS!!!"
He stopped crying and sobbed while looking at Maris. Then, his figure disintegrated and he fled from that place.
("Tsk, of course my brother had to intervene again. Count yourselves lucky, this was only the beginning. Soon much more will await you, there will be nothing you can do to prepare. You may still have Maris to help you, but this will soon be over. Regardless of what you do, in the end you will fail!")
(" Someone told me these words once before...and he was right. I wonder what he would think of this situation... this time...I think I have a chance. You stay on your throne as long as you can, everything around you will soon fall apart.")