"Father!" Freya screamed as she struggled to crawl over to her father who still gazed at me with joyful eyes.
Augusta enjoyed the dim light held in her eyes to the point he couldn't hold back his laughter any longer as he proceeded to grab her by the arm and drag before me so that I could watch her die as well. The blade gently caressed her left cheek only to be followed by a faint line of crimson that ran between the fingers binding her head to face me with frightened eyes. He whispered something in her ear before nuzzling her cheek making her body shiver to his disapproval and the applied pressure to the blade. I clawed the air trying to reach out to Freya who continued to gaze at her father's corpse with trails of tears running freely despite every attempt to stop them from flowing. Her head was pulled back giving a clear view of her throat as she swallowed her screams to the disappointment of Augusta.
Everything froze just as the blade began its travel and the world seemed to dim in defiance to the radiating sun looking down. A calm unfeeling voice whispered, "The Gods have failed you once more, Lord of Shadows."
"They intervene long enough to groom you into a fine puppet," the voice continued as a silhouette of a woman with bright crimson eyes knelt beside my Uncle, "while those you hold so dear die before your very eyes just as they wished."
Watching the blade just piercing Freya's throat, "Shut up…"
The figure appeared beside Augusta and poked his cheek like some child unsure what he was or if he was still alive. It turned its eyes to me, "You know deep down that I'm right. I mean, think about it. Why would the Gods do something without asking for anything in return? Why would not one but three primordial deities take interest in you if not to develop your abilities for their desires?"
Shadowy whisps began to cloud my vision as I continued to plead with the figure to stop bringing up past thoughts long withheld and traversed in secret. "You," it continued, "are nothing more than a puppet to them just like the rest of us."
It appeared with its back against me making it seem we were mere children resting from play, "You can't run from the truth. You of all people know that understanding the reasonings behind their actions is near impossible."
I tried to purge the figure from my thoughts as I asked, "Who or what are you?" How do you know such things?"
"I am," its breath was like the coldest breeze, "the thing that clings to your shoulder and whispers in your ear when you dream. I am the very darkness you wield given life millennia ago when the first shadowmancer walked the world."
The figure towered in front of me with its head placed against mine so I could not look away as the rippling shadows began to fade. My eyes widened as the bright dazzling rubies I've longed to see once more and the soft painted blue lips plastered on purplish grey skin that once pressed against my forehead to keep nightmares away glared at me. Cascading silvery black hair was held in a high ponytail by a wide golden ring adorned with bright rubies just as it usually did long ago. The face of my mother grinned at me like it usually did everytime when looking at Veronica and I as her mind was lost in thought almost as if reassuring herself that she made the right decisions in her time. Past memories flooded my mind as I wanted to reach out and wrap my arms around her neck giving into the longing sadness but the feeling passed in a second as an uncontrolled rage burned out finally free.
A burst of energy erupted from me sending crimson black aura rippling through the air that shattered the rubble pinning me into pieces and threw Augusta backwards before a wall of tower shields stepped in to take the full brunt. Kneeling over Uncle's corpse, I gazed into his happy unblinking eyes filled with no regrets unlike in life before cupping my hand over his eyes and closed them while silently praying for a safe journey. Creeping shadows slowly rose from underneath his body to entomb him in a temporary death shroud so no debris would sullen his rest. Freya's trembling hands rested on his chest as bright blue runes etched themselves to life while her fear ridden eyes reflected the glowing glowing orbs shrouded in darkness back at me. I didn't say anything as I stood and turned my blade to Augusta only to be intercepted by the woman Elesar wanted to bring down.
I watched as a knight dressed in a more exquisite set of armor helped Augusta into the saddle of a brown mare and spoke hushed words before smacking the stead's ass making jolt to life toward the southeast where Windstall Port rested. My blade shattered bone and cut through flesh of the ghouls who's eyes begged for reprieve from their torment while others continued to fight despite the apparent agony. Like a fog, I moved through three of the ghouls before clashing blades with the woman once more as she smiled in ecstasy at the fountains of blood spewing from collapsing bodies. Her eyes were filled with overjoyment just as her body twitched in excitement just like I've been told. She was truly an unnatural opponent to face me even though many of her type had fallen before me.
Pain erupted in my gut despite the crimson armor protecting me as a dazzling light surrounded the woman's closed fist. "Just as I thought," she licked the blood from her hand, "holy magic works well against you, whatever you are."
I ignored the burning sensation beginning to spread throughout my side as faint cracks began to heal and dilute the golden light coming from within. Holy magic was best used against undead as it counteracted the dark magic that was usually used to create such monstrosities in the first place and purify the trapped soul so it could slumber in peace once more. It was somewhat reassuring to find out that holy magic hurts like hell because it gave me a sense of whether or not I was still alive though I feel that my condition is a little more complicated. This form was clearly undead based on appearance alone so it made sense that such a weakness also affected me but I wasn't sure if my natural body would suffer the same effect. Putting such issues aside, I focused on trying to avoid the almost endless array of golden arrows fired from three circles of light hovering above the woman while cutting down more of the ghouls trying to stop my progression.
[(At least I'm somewhat in control of this form than last time.)]
I vanished before being pierced by another volley of gilded arrows and reappeared behind the sorry lout who tried to use a tower shield to knock me backwards while two spearmen rushed forward on either side. Three misericordes formed between the billowy shadows forming the fingers of my left arm by mere thought before being thrown toward the woman who easily deflected them to the side with her dual sided polearm. The physical bodies of the blades were pushed to the side but the woman was not unscathed as the blades' shadows punctured through her defense. Barbed spikes grew from her wounds where each shadow struck, catching her off guard momentarily to receive a bolt of fire in the right shoulder. I followed up by appearing in front of her and bringing Poena downward across her chest before disappearing once more.
I continued using such tactics to avoid being struck completely by one of the magical arrows sending pebbles and dirt into the sky to a symphony of the woman's laughter as she nonchalantly dipped her fingertips into the wound before licking them clean. Her eyes seemed to glow with an aura of enjoyment at receiving even more wounds among the many fresh scars painted on her flesh. I sensed an unsettling amount of energy erupting from her as a golden aura began to make itself known while an unseen airflow began to lift the tails of her coat and her pink hair. My feet were swept underneath me just as the afterimage standing in her stead began to fade away when a golden blade was driven into my chest. Her coat fluttered around her while her darkened face glared with ravenous delight.
I had a feeling the woman was just toying with me from the beginning, especially since she was able to fend off both Tartarus and Elesar who I sensed were quickly approaching our location. "I dreamed of this day," the woman pushed her blade deeper in my chest hoping to hear a sign of pain, "to not only meet the fearful Jackal that the adventurers tell tales about and claim his seed."
"Sorry," the two voices boomed from my throat as a black orb began to form in my left hand, "I've already got a Queen and a wife. Gonna have to sew your field somewhere else."
Amusement filled the woman's eyes as she knelt closer and placed her lips where mine would be before standing once more. I watched as she lifted her right hand to the sky where a column of light started to shine upon us making the golden aura spiraling around her even more evident and more intoxicating to watch. A figure began to form as it danced in the light like a flowing river before staring down upon me with dazzling eyes filled with overwhelming strength while golden fluttering wings held it hostage midair. A golden phoenix made of divine light called out demanding for the nearby battles to stop and observe its majestic beauty that most do not see often. Like a bolt of thunder, the phoenix dived beak first toward me as the woman shouted the incantation to deaf ears.
Tartarus' voice shouted in my head just moments from being skewered, "Make the power you were given your own and bring darkness to this world, O' Shrouded King!"
Closing my eyes, I sensed the spell's mana flowing like wildfire and felt the accompanied heat radiate from its coiling wings as an unnatural hunger made my mouth water at so much magical energy. I turned my eyes to the blade holding me and examined the flowing mana entombing it until the weakest point was found toward the middle of the blade where a ball of golden energy fluctuated. It seemed that my eerily calm expression caught the woman's attention as her eyes moved to where I was staring instead of watching the golden bolt of lightning collide with the conjured shadows amassed without her knowledge. I gripped the blade with my free hand while forcing the spell back little by little with the shadowy limb ignoring the burning sensation erupting from it. With all my strength, I began to break the blade in two as the golden light was becoming dim by the devouring shadows until it finally gave way allowing me to become one with the shadows once more.
I watched from Penumbra as the high tier spell struck the ground creating a massive crater while a shockwave launched gilded flames high into the air and several feet from its vocal point. I followed the flaming trail only to find that it was heading for Freya who managed to claw her way over to Uncle. She held him in her arms with her head buried in his chest accepting the flames' oncoming deathly embrace. I towered over Freya as the tattered remains of the black cloak fluttered behind me from the rampaging blaze and saw her saddened eyes wide in shock at seeing the colliding magics burst upward. A wall of pulsating shadows formed before me and acted as a shield against such a force that would break most barriers within seconds of contact.
The wall seemed to hold except for several cracks beginning to form throughout its obsidian surface allowing blazing light to pierce the veil. My muscles screamed in pain while my mind tried to fight off the exhaustion quickly trying to claim land as large sections of shadow were burned away. Soon only a small chunk remained that too gave way little by little making things even more dire than before yet I still continued to hold the shadows together despite their nagging screams. A second impact accompanied the first as the spell was casted again allowing the phoenix to hover over head once again before stray feathers lunged forward adding onto the already powerful flames. I felt my feet scoot against the charred dirt despite my will which made me look back to Freya who starred on with tearful eyes glittering.
"Give into me," the imposter's voice rung in my mind as her image knelt next to Freya, "and I'll willingly give you the strength to overcome this ordeal."
[(Shut up…)]
The voice continued, "Your shadow in exchange for the power to overwhelm your enemies standing before you now and those in the future."
[(Shut up…)]
My arms screamed in pain as I struggled to keep what was left of the wall manifested and spaced in front of me. The left side of my skull was pressed against the obsidian surface while the sound of scraping dirt sounded from below with each attempt to push forward and make enough room to breathe. I felt Freya's back against my legs as more cracks began to grow wider allowing a stream of flame graze my forearm before melting the earth behind us like freshly made butter spread on toast. The woman's voice did not help improve the matter at hand and made it more difficult keeping a steady stream of mana flowing into the crumbling wall for as long as it possibly held. That being said, trading my shadow for the power to defeat any foe was quite tempting even to my ears yet I knew that if such an offer was accepted then my entire being would be owned by the spectre.
Thinking about such things fueled my anger even more as possible futures played out before my eyes that were unacceptable. I struggled to take a step forward and succeeded on the second try as I watched the woman's lustful eyes analyzing my inevitable demise for later reference when alone. Suddenly, several roots erupted from the ground beneath her feet causing her attention to be placed elsewhere and giving a brief reprieve from the onslaught of clashing spells as she dodged out of the way. I felt my body stumble forward from exhaustion only to be held steady by Tartarus who had a more serpentine appearance than his usual ensombol. His slitted pupils turned to where Elesar stood towering over the entirety of our battlefield controlling a swarm of roots chasing the woman.
Tartarus smiled before slithering toward the congregating remnants of the Vaniel army made up of mostly living ghouls who limped, clawed, or latched onto another like some parasite to join the woman. His form became slender like the white serpent seen towering behind him in that dream some time ago as thunderous purplish aura began to take shape into seven more heads. Blasts of crimson white energy flowed from each mouth destroying everything it came into contact with including several of the ghouls. Arrows bounced off the impenetrable scales leaving not even a mark while the sound of a surviving cannon boomed to life off in the distance though it too left Tartarus unharmed. He freely shifted between the two forms as he tore through any who approached him.
A loud sound resembling that of breaking branches captured my attention in time to step aside when Elesar came crashing before me with his lower half drenched in green blood and scorched moss smoking. I quickly rushed to stand between him and the woman who looked barely scathed except for a few cuts as she walked forward with bloodlust in her eyes more so than when we fought. Magic ran rampant around the woman affecting the world around her by sending dust into the air and casting unnatural light around us snuffing out any possible shadows to venture into. The majestic phoenix appeared once again flapping its powerful wings that sounded like thunder with each movement no matter how small. A stray bolt of lightning grazed my side and struck the solid ground behind me with enough strength that I didn't need to look back to see the damage.
The woman smiled at my blank expression and stopped several feet away before placing a hand upward like some deity calling down lightning to strike down unwanted observers which the phoenix was all too willing to oblige. Even more bolts of lightning grazed my body from all sides leaving no way of escape in the process as if trying to frighten me to the point I'd crumble in hysteria. I did feel something when gazing at the woman and the mana she wielded but it wasn't something as trivial like fear nor amazement at such a spectacle. No, it wasn't fear that burned in my chest but an insatiable urge to consume all that power and greedily make it mine alone. The urge was so strong that I felt my tongue lick the jagged fangs that came with this alternate form.
Tartarus' voice boomed in my head, "I was once called the Great Devourer in my time. I often fed upon the mana forming my adversary's spells to replenish my own or to drain it from those who betrayed me. That power resides in you now so use it like you did to destroy that barrier. Become what you're meant to be."
Just as the final word left his lips, a beam of light tore through my left arm dispelling the conjured shadows flowing from the armored sleeve then through my right knee causing me to knell like some fool waiting to be knighted. I stood even though the burning sensation began to spread and began to walk forward. Another bolt struck me in the chest yet I still continued my stride leaving a trail of growing shadows behind that snuffed out the light and brought darkness to the world. For the first time since facing her, fear betrayed the woman's composure as bluish obsidian dust spiraled around me before finding a focal point in the palm of my newly reformed limb. I stopped as the shadows continued to grow around me until a valley of flowing shadows enveloped the woman and the bright light casted from the phoenix.
[(Without light there can be no shadows and without shadows there can be no light.)]
I extended my shadowy limb forward though it looked more like a coiling serpent based upon the translucent white scales clouded by darkness. Two fluttering wings cover in cold crimson eyes delicately rested on the apparition's back adding onto the almost continuing size of the serpent until its body fully hugged my arm twice over. No weight hindered my movements nor did my arm become numb from the tightened grip as the serpent's forked tongue licked the air. Its wings surrounded me when the woman sent forth volley after volley of sanctified magic hoping to pierce the dark. It was at this time that I realized the shining sun glistening just beyond the flowing wisps of unkept shadow making it apparent that only the woman and I were the only ones.
Looking at the woman who formed a barrier around her, "First Verse: Cries of the Fallen"
The serpent screeched an awful scream before flapping its massive wings sending gusts of wind blowing past the woman who shielded her eyes despite the ward around her. Nothing happened at first but then I noticed the faint lines forming around us that were somehow darker than the walls of shadow. Faint whispers soon followed in a low hum making it hard to distinguish what was being said only to grow louder until a cacophony of anguished screams pleading for mercy and wails of sorrow nestled deep within our ears. Faces of no distinct features pushed just below the layer of shadow though somehow a few of them looked familiar and it was apparent that the woman thought the same. Gilded spears flew from her hands while golden feathers soared from the phoenix's wings into the surrounding darkness trying to disrupt the faces only to have new ones to take place.
The woman clasped her ears and screamed for the voices to stop only for them to continue without mercy. More spears were throw all over trying to silence the constant screams that seemed to grow louder with each burst of light as I stood watching not the maniacal woman but the hundreds of crimson eyes dotting the walls. Each gazed calmly at the woman from every direction possible adding onto the breakage of what sanity she had left. I watched her claw at her ears until fresh blood trailed down the sides of her neck hoping to finally silence the inharmonious wailing. Sensing a spike in mana flow, I focused on the barrier and surrounding area of the woman to find that the mana around her was most definitely fragmenting.
I felt Poena's smooth hilt even through the iron mail protecting my hand and disappeared before being struck with one of those gilded spears. I continued the incantation with every flash step, "Second Encore: Umbra Devorantis!"
I ran toward the woman in a circular motion trying to keep ahead of endless feathers that curved for me when near. The sound of them striking the ground at my heel kept me moving ever so furiously while stray spears and followed explosions made it difficult to stay on a set path while slight heat stung either side. Another spear grazed my forehead when sliding underneath it with an unceremonious grinding of metal before once again running forward at full speed with a flash step depending on the number of spells being casted at me. While running, I noticed that five massive eyes swallowed the undefined faces toward the center of each wall and above the woman. I felt an underlying urge to jump into the massive black pupil of the nearest eye deep within my gut as if guided to do so.
In all the commotion, I didn't notice however that the shadows were silently gathering in the darkness of my sleeve and began to reshape my missing limb. I cut a feather of light in two and was captivated by how tiny strands of shadow stretched for its counterpart trying to overwhelm it in the process. I understood what Tartarus meant about using that power as my own and thought back at that time standing with my hand placed against the barrier. So much mana was used to create such a masterpiece that even the strongest mage would have trouble getting past only for it to crumble like glass. The process was no different from devouring a person's shadow and making their knowledge known.
Another feather was cleaved in two but was followed by a volley of spears as the woman became aware of my approach and started targeting me once more though things would be different than last. Focusing, I imagined a spiraling vortex with an insatiable appetite stretching from my sleeve and began devouring the holy magic in one gulp. Such an image would prove useless to most novice mage but a shadowmancer knows best just as a black wispy vortex quickly came to life and pulled each attack into its abyss. I still felt the effects of the sacred magic but it was a more barrable pain than before allowing the ability to keep pushing forward until my goal was near. Taking a breath, I leapt into the massive ires while the voices continued to screech ever louder than before as three feathers found a home in my back.
Cold scales twisted around my body making an ear piercing grinding sound against the crimson armor as a slight pain erupted throughout my back. My vision was blurry in places but I managed to make out four glowing eyes transfixed upon me with worry and what I assumed relief upon seeing movement. I gently closed my hand around the smooth scales allowing them to freely wiggle through my grasp as forked tongues brushed my cheek like some concerned parent taking care of a sick child. Pressure surged through my spine as each feather was pulled free and devoured by the surrounding darkness. It was at this moment that peace calmed my beating heart as I turned and found prey wasting strength trying to escape below without realizing where the threat truly was.
I imagined all the surrounding darkness moving in unison with my blade and falling upon the woman devouring every last ounce of mana she had left like a silent serpent swallowing a plump rat. The tip of my blade fluttered through the silken shadows in a downward arch commanding loose strands to tighten and follow with a thunderous wing beat. A loud screechy roar reverberated from the innermost gut announcing the serpent's motion downward to the surprise of the woman. She placed both hands together above her head as a response to the monstrosity diving toward her and slowly began to spread them apart allowing a bright orb of golden energy resembling the sun's rays to shimmer. Strands of magic twirled around fingertips stretching each far from its center before being released like a common bow sending forth thousands of tiny arrows.
Explosions of light boomed along the serpent's body scattering translucent scales that dissolved into the surrounding void. Like the waves of a calm ocean, the serpent continued its spiraling descent taking unnatural turns dodging thunderbolts and sacred arrows alike as it roared loudly with its mouth fully extended. Its body circled the woman and phoenix several times before latching onto the majestic bird's throat sending sparks of energy throughout the shadowed domain as the woman continued a fruitless campaign. Taloned feet dug deep into the serpent's belly scattering even more scales while golden flames raged free across its back. Eyes torn free with a sharp beak while elongated body began its death grip plunging the two downard in a mass of clashing opposites.
Protective wards began to shatter, unable to resist such an influx of power despite the desperate attempts of the caster who gritted her teeth and began to push back even furthering the inevitable. Blood began to trail down eyes and nose from quickly converging life into steadily decreasing mana hoping to outlast the struggle of mana beasts. Wings twisted in a jumbled mess fluttered trying to catch the massive body only to be bitten off and crushed under muscle leaving behind a painful screech. Both bird and snake lay in their diminishing struggle upon the golden barrier adding on to the woman's softening strength. Gilded light erupted between coils as the phoenix disappeared from the final strike against its heart allowing the serpent full capability to do as needed.
Its body disappeared in an eruption of smoke colliding with the ground as the woman continued to fight at the center. Her sacred magic dimmed with each segment passing by only to quicken when the serpent bursted through another massive eye continuing its feast, finally shattering the wards placed. Muffled screams went silent as a faint outline stretched from the woman embodying the network of magic flowing throughout her being. Such an outline started to unwind into tiny threads until empty space was left in its wake and the woman frozen in awe unable to move. My blade cut through her body with ease as a shockwave erupted around my landing snuffing out the world of shadow as the remaining strands faded into nothingness just like the rest.
I dug the tip of Poena deep into the soft charred dirt steadying my wobbly body before it could completely crumble and watched blood pour gently down my arm signifying that I was once again in my natural form. A painful grin stretched the corners of my lips while tears ran down my cheek at seeing myself elven once again even though the pain remained from what I considered a tough battle. Spitting blood, I turned and slowly limped my way over to the woman who laid at the center of lightly colored dirt untouched from what transpired. Her pink hair was a shade lighter than before while the natural tint of tan was now an almost sickly shade resembling a husk of what was. Her eyes looked at me with unbridled fury yet the body didn't follow such anger making it easier to place Poena just above her heart and end her suffering or that was the plan.
Air was purged from my lungs as a sharp pain expanded in my gut and was followed by the world turning sideways. Heat licked my skin while jagged rocks made themselves known across my back making the already persistent pain flare up even more than before. My head felt lighter than a feather but it didn't stop me from trying to get to my feet only to crumble like a sack of rocks. I was too exhausted to keep the balance needed to walk so crawling was the better option only to be kicked hard into the gut and have the sun filled sky as my view before managing to rest on my shoulder despite pain. I found two figures where the woman lay unmoving yet conscious.
The taller one wore a full set of robed armor and spikes lining the knuckles of his gauntlets while a thin leather sash held a morningstar to his hip. His body was massive for an average man making his appearance match the descriptions of a berserker from one of the stories father had once told me. A bear's head rested on his right shoulder while the rest of its pelt was intertwined with the threads forming the majestic violet robe tucked between iron and mail. His height would possibly reach just an inch above Fang's head making him a further intimidating force to be reckoned with. His eyes smiled from underneath the bear skull crafted onto his helm while he easily lifted the woman with one arm and put her on his shoulder.
Pain burned in my cheek when the second one slapped it, gaining the full attention he desired from the beginning. Unlike his companion, the man stuck with the garbs that most noble mages would stroll around in on a cool afternoon allowing peddlers to see the difference in status closer than any other day. He wore a white buttoned shirt with a bent collar that was best worn during times of prayer while a silver pendant with rosary carved into the metal hung delicately over the heart. Fine cotton pants dyed a shade of black covered his lower half and were tucked into a pair of exquisitely fashioned boots that had a somewhat curve to the toes reminding me of the shoes gestures usually wear with attached bells. He wore a violet robe that looked to be made of extravagant silk over everything while a leather pauldron with beaded ropes covered his left shoulder.
He spat on the ground beside my head before standing and returned to his companion. "Tsk, tsk," he clicked his tongue, "The Grandmaster told you not to come here Hildra but you didn't listen like usual."
He lifted Hildra's face so her burning eyes looked into his, "You not only disobeyed His orders but disregarded the words of His Majesty. It's funny to see how such events led to your first defeat–one given by a halfling I might add. Oh well, time to go back home and face judgment. If I were you, I'd be ready to beg pitifully for forgiveness and offer an eye or limb as compensation."
The man released his grip and turned toward me as a portal began to take shape. "If you can hear me," he chuckled, "you'll find the young prince in an abandoned Inn about a two hour ride to the south just nestled near an old mine. Do as you see fit with him as instructed by his father Emperor Vodrem Glitsk Jørgensen!"
I watched as the big fella made his way through the portal first while the second kept his smug eyes on me. He bowed an ignorant bow, "Pray that our paths do not cross again or you will face the full might of The Sword Saints."
Things went dark for a few moments only to be taken away with hands shaking me and a muffled voice yelling something that sounded like my name. Weight became apparent on my chest making pain to further scream out in refusal upon carrying it any longer while blood nestled between teeth. I had to blink my eyes a few times before the image of Isho and Orion staring with worry came into focus followed by the return of my hearing as their pleas finally became recognized. Veronica's face hovered over me as her tears drenched my face, making me realize that sharp rocks no longer irritated me. She smiled when noticing me gazing into her eyes and leaned forwards to kiss my cheek.
"Tell me," I whispered, "how is Freya? How many did we lose?"
Veronica moved a strand of hair behind my left ear, "We lost quite a few brave warriors. So many families will shed tears on this day but they will know that each one died fighting for their unruled future. You lost some of yours as well brother, but be proud that they also died to save many here now."
I was about to ask if their bodies were gathered when Veronica placed a hand on my lips, "Their bodies are being gathered with the rest while those wounded are immediately being tended to based on severity."
I sighed in relief and painfully made an attempt to sit upright so that the damage could fully be viewed for myself. The once flat green ground was now a wasteland deprived of its previous beauty as mounds of churned soil fluttered in the calm yet relaxing breeze while flames burned in the remains of land ships smoldering in the gentle rain. Bodies lined the ground just like the image within the Grotto leaving survivors to weep away in solace until no tears would escape their ducts. Goblin, dire wolf, and many more monsters knelt silently weeping among Beastmen as their family laid peacefully with remnants of a smile. The scene morbidly brought faith in my chest that such feelings would prove coexistence was possible but those ideals had to wait when the sight of Freya cradling her father came into view.
She rocked his shrouded limp corpse like a newborn babe being calmed to sleep in its mother's nurturing teet. A pool of vomit sat next to her while spittle stained the shadowy fabric that I had bound Uncle in and her eyes were sickly red from the constant tears staining her pale cheeks until nothing was left. Her chest moved in a slow rhythm as she hummed a familiar tune in his ear while Veronica knelt beside her and wrapped an arm around Freya before pulling her close. Freya wailed so loud that the birds nesting in the nearby trees fluttered to the sky startled by her loud screams while small shadows scurried around the desolate field around us. She cried for what felt like hours but only a few minutes had passed before allowing Ogga and several of the remaining Breura knights to lift his corpse for transport.
Thirteen aided Veronica lift Freya to her feet before taking a position on the opposite side and began to follow Uncle. "I," I whispered when they were in front of me, "I am sorry Freya. I-"
"It's your fault he's dead," Freya interrupted as her voice grew into a shaky yell, "it's all your fault that Father died. You withheld that power and willingly watched him die!"
I tried to calm her, "Freya, Uncle–"
She roared, "You got what you wanted in the end. The person that caused you so much harm has died! And for what?!"
I didn't say anything as Veronica quickly led Freya away leaving Thirteen and I behind in the calm rain. "Gather the dead," I turned to Thirteen, "and take them back to Breura. Their families deserve a final goodbye."
Thirteen placed a hand on my aching shoulder, "She did not mean it Twenty-one. Allow her to grieve in her own way then she'll be alright."
"No," I made my way over to Orion who was in his dire wolf form with Thirteen at my side, "she is right. If I had killed the bastard and looked into the woman's shadow, then I could've saved him. Everything could have been different if I had the strength to kill her sooner when I had the chance."
I mounted Orion's back as Thirteen continued, "You of all people should know that death always accompanies the battlefield."
I nodded before urging Orion in the direction the supposed Inn was. "Where are you going?" Thirteen asked, "the battle's over."
I shook my head, "For you it is but for me it won't be over till Augusta gets what's owed to him for his part. I put my people's safety in your hands, King Udreth."
I found the rundown Inn the man so gratefully mentioned covered in overgrown moss with ropes of twisting vines taking over most of its side. It was apparent that part of the roof had caved in from years of disrepair by the massive whole towards the center of the third floor where rustling wings and full calls could be heard upon approach. Windows were either boarded up to keep unwanted weather from entering or shards of jagged edges glimmering in the coming storm like diamonds. Overgrown grass crept up the walls on the backs of each tangling vine hiding the remains of the once elegant balcony that hung over the entrance which now was barely visible except the tattered red canopy. Doubled doors of faded oak hung in rusted hinges holding on just by the bottom while rust covered nails were pelted with rain.
The only signs of life was the white mare tied to the broken railing oblivious to our approach as it munched on the green grass. I climbed off Orion's back who turned into his human form and followed close behind me as he adjusted the black vest before rotating a glove to better fit his hand. Placing my hand on the horse's side, I ran my fingers across its soft muscled skin with each step toward the rundown porch filled with holes before gently patting its neck calming the startled snorts. Its big brown eyes gazed at me with wonder and fear at seeing such a cold gaze making it a little rambunctious. I smiled and whispered in its fluttering ear pulling an apple from Penumbra for it to feed on.
The horse began to feed from my palm bringing memories with it. "Such a good girl," I nuzzled its cheek, "think I'll take you with me."
A loud clatter came from the doorway causing the horse to be spooked and rear upward thrashing around her two mighty front hooves that could kill a man in an instant. Her head thrashed about straining against the rotten wood that bound her trying to flee from danger only to calm by my touch. I continued to stroke its mane as I turned toward the doorway where the image of Augusta stood trembling with the crumbled left door laying flat on the ground after finally succumbing to the years spent unattended. His eyes grew wide at my smile before slowly stepping backwards into the darkened interior hoping to hide from the promise I made when we first met in Thirteen's conference hall. His rushed footsteps hurriedly boomed throughout the old building as I took my time walking toward the stairs and listened to each echo trying to determine his location.
"Stay here," I ordered Orion and stepped across the threshold.
The interior was by far more worse than the outside as the central hallway of the second floor had long since decayed to a point of collapsing on itself. Piles of rumble sat against the rotted floor that was only prevented from completely falling through by a stained bug infested shag carpeting. A corridor of different doorways branched in either direction behind the decaying front desk while several walls were missing allowing one the ability to peer into a large kitchen and what used to be a nice room at the same time. An awful smell infiltrated my nose that reminded me of a year's worth of collected waste mixed with the recent stagnant smell of fresh piss. Rain fell on my shoulders through large holes where the roof and parts of the second floor were missing as I made my way to the torn cloth snagged on a jagged piece of wood.
I pulled free the cloth and said His name in a rhythmic tone, "Augusta! Augusta! Come out, come out wherever you are!"
A loud rustling sound emitted from the floorboards above as a mass of weight shifted and was followed by footsteps rushing deeper into the Inn trying to find a better hiding place, or attempt to. Playing cat and mouse was one of the games that I was best at from many times stalking my prey through darkened areas where they usually hid until deciding to pounce upon me from behind. Of course it was childish to think such an involuntary act was a game but it made for a quick learning curve that showed me to always be aware of what lay behind when I first started out as an adventurer. Sighing, I knelt down and placed my hand into the accumulated shadows disregarding a chill running down my spine from a rain droplet before allowing said shadows to consume my hand. The floor gave way to nothingness as an unnatural chill clunge to each finger like the vines Elesar controls only to be followed by a mass of billowy cloth that seemed to slip out of my grasp.
[( The fool truly believes he can hide from a Shadowmancer.)]
I closed my eyes and instantly saw a replica of the hallway dyed in obsidian fog that flowed toward the doorway while a light cloth branched throughout the building as strands of knotted thread showing recent disturbances. Touching such a strand, a faint ethereal fox scurried around a nearby corner following the line before reappearing at its starting point and proceeded to repeat it's chosen course. An ethereal bear dragging a fresh kill behind it trailed off into a nearby room where the half eaten carcass of a large elk sat undisturbed next to a large hole that its predator must have used to escape. I continued to grab each strand discovering each accessible pathway possible and hiding places used by others hoping to keep bundles of loose gold tucked away for later retrieval. Such luck often comes to those who examine everything possible including their desired target as the outline of Augusta's path had became apparent upon touching the sixth jumbled strand.
I followed it and watched as he clawed his way over stacked boxes in what was probably a storage area gaining access to a decrepit room above. Fear emulated on the outline's barely visible face scurrying about for any possible alternatives before disappearing from sight once inside the room. I climbed the same boxes and found myself in a small room filled with the bare necessities needed to function such as a broken bed still made up in moldy blankets to a bookshelf of titles I've been looking for. Such books would have to wait as the figure darted out the room and rushed further into the hall checking doors along the way before jolting into the last room on the left. Just as expected, the room was in disarray like the rest of the building with broken furniture scattered around and piles of bone litter spaces between day old shit while pungent odors battled for supremacy.
[(Smells worse than the pits ever did.)]
"Come now Augusta," I muttered entering the room fully, "I thought a man of your social standing would have a bit more elegance than to hide in a waste basket."
Charging footsteps caused me to swivel on my feet as Augusta plowed his shoulder into my gut and continued to push forward with arms around me despite my efforts to break his grasp. My feet left the ground causing us to fall over each other with a loud crash followed by an even louder boom when the weakened floor gave way. Pain shot through my spine but it was short lived when the blurry image of Augusta plunging his sword toward my heart towered over me. I moved to the side at the last second and brought my fist dead center of his cheek, knocking him off balance enough to regain my feet. He continued his assault with a flurry of strikes that grazed my body with every twist.
Augusta was like a man possessed the way he continually shifted between attacks which reminded me of the duels Father had often competed in against those looking to test their capabilities. I continued to move around the room to the best of my ability turning fatal thrusts into shallow cuts or outright jumping backwards from receiving a ferocious strike. There were a few times where I had to use the environment to keep a good distance between us hoping to find an opening. My body was still exhausted from the battle with Hildra so it was more of a task to stay on my feet than before yet it felt as if the mana I had devoured was starting to rejuvenize my tired body. I never allowed my eyes to leave Augusta's bewildered eyes nor did the sight of Uncle being repeatedly stabbed with a hidden blade depart my mind becoming fuel to an ever growing anger.
I stopped moving as a zealous smile began to form on his face tasting the sweet victory to come and the trophy reserved for his father. The blade cut through air with a high pitched whistle that signaled my impromptu defeat as an ugly grin continued to spread, almost breaking Augusta's skull in half. Black flames bursted from gaps situated between each digit that cradled the sharp blade and the cold steel used to forge it long ago startling Augusta who received a boot to the groin. When he doubled over, I brought my right knee across his face with a loud crunching sound as bone shattered from the sheer force making him release his only means of protecting himself. He clasped his bleeding nose and began to crawl away from me as I tossed the ablaze blade to the side where it melted through the floorboards.
"Get up," I spoke in a calm manner.
Augusta did as I said and pulled out the same blade he used to kill Uncle with not long ago. He roared as he thrust the blade toward my heart, "DIE!"
I grabbed his wrist and began to twist it until bones could be heard breaking from the strain against them yet Augusta continued to fight on and brought his free hand upward hoping to shatter my chin. Without focusing on it, the shadowy arm that appears when in that form shot from my sleeve and easily caught his fist before twisting it to the side with an all too familiar crunch. He let out a horrid scream that people of his station wouldn't dare allow their ever gazing peers to see or risk having such a station taken away for appearing weak against an enemy of any kind. The blade clattered on the floor along with his body as my fist struck the bottom of his chin hard. He groaned on the floor like some novice fighter thinking they had what it takes to face a more experienced fighter.
"Get up," I muttered once more.
Surprisingly, Augusta again got to his feet and raised his broken hands in front of him. "I am," he lost his balance and fell to the floor, "the son of Emperor Vodrem Glitsk Jørgensen. The proud prince of Vaniel known throughout its lands as the Baron of War."
He got to his feet, "Countless have fallen to my blade whether it be from battle or mere boredom. I will not be beaten by a halfling ass nor will I give up until your head is freed from your body!"
He charged forward with arms stretched out to ensnare my waist in a tight death grip like before but I was ready this time around. I dug my feet into the floor not allowing him to easily topple me over and proceeded to strike at his exposed ribs with every rushed step taken until the rotting wall was felt. Fighting the pain, he balled his fist and tried to strike my chin only to make a hole in the wall where it was seconds ago. I brought my elbow across his chin then quickly wrapped myself around him and began applying pressure just underneath his jaw cutting the flow of oxygen. He struggled in my arms like a wild animal and began slamming my back into anything possible to rid himself of the slowly consuming darkness.
A sharp pain caused me to release my grip and gave Augusta an opening to strike the center of my nose. Darkness filled the corners of my vision as dizziness began to overwhelm the remaining senses molding my legs into putty straining against the weight applied to them while the world shifted. More pain came in burning sensations with each punch aimed toward my chin while others targeted the upper body when unable to find a way through the barrier of arms shielding my head. I felt bones crunching underneath the force of several punches while blood slowly pooled between teeth only to find a way out when opening my mouth to breath in air hoping to relieve pained lungs. I smiled watching Augusta waste what remaining strength he had to thrash my doppelganger into a pile of mush and continued after flailing limbs went limp just to make sure that I was truly dead.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," shaking my head, "seems Vaniel nobility truly don't carry a brain with them or a sense when an opponent had switched places with a double."
Blood curdling screams roared from Augusta's throat when the figure below him began to fall apart like pieces of gathered ash swept in an unseen wind collapsing under his mere weight with a loud muffled thud. His lower body and left arm were entombed in the black dust when it began to shift in a tight vise breaking bone with one audible snap that was only usurped by his horrid whimpers. A crunching sound sounded with each movement he made to free himself as faces frozen in despair began to undulate among the coiling obsidian causing more hysteria. A figure made of the black dust slowly rose to stare into Augusta's eyes with a blank featureless head announcing the arrival of inaudible voices. Intrigued, I continued to watch the figure slowly gain the face of an elegant woman with sunken eyes and pencil thin lips that moved with each syllable.
[(A taste of what's to come, I guess)]
Augusta turned to look at me with wild pleading eyes as he tried to cover an ear with his free hand. "Please," he roared, "spare me and I promise to serve you until death!?"
I covered a yawn with my left hand that left a trail of black wisps behind. "You can be their hero," he continued as the woman's face began to coil his neck, "take my sword as proof of my death and spare me. Please, I don't want to die!"
Anger burned in my chest seeing that a coward hid underneath a set of armor which joyfully said it killed out of mere boredom. Urging the shadows to return to their world, "Crawl to me and kiss my boots if you truly wish to serve."
My eyes moved between the twisted mangled limbs of Augusta that were a vibrant shade of purple while shards of bone scraped across the floor with each tearful motion. His arm was rotated to a severe degree along the elbow then rotated to the right way once more just above his wrist. Both legs were beyond repair as they drug across the floor with feeble attempts to aid the body along while his good arm strained and wobbled from the dead weight. Eyes winced in pain yet still held a certain determination to continue living despite such disfigurement and humiliation. I made my way over to him when he completely gave in to the pain and knelt near his outstretched hand with a sympathetic look even though his fate was sealed when he had the balls to take Nyxis away.
I gently grasped Augusta's head like a caring parent would their child trying to comfort him so no snot would stain my clothes. "I am not the hero they want," I whispered before my symphony of voices boomed, "but the monster they need!"