"I'm scared mama," he says looking up at the woman beside him still not comprehending what was going on."Don't worry baby, they are here to help," she says holding his hand protectively in hers.
The men around them started moving towards them slowly, their faces were hidden behind huge black cloaks which made them look scarier. He subconsciously moved and hid behind the woman. He closed his eyes waiting for the worst but it never came, he slowly entangle himself from her and looked forward, the cloaked men were standing still.
"What do you want Diana? You know you aren't welcomed here," a man says emerging from the shadows.
"I need your help Eliphas," the woman says looking at him, ignoring the aura he was emitting.
"And why should I help you?" he asks, "You and your sister betrayed us after all."
"I know you are mad-
A dark chuckle that made every one shudder cuts through the air.
"Mad? No no saying I am mad is an understatement. I am furious. Your little game caused the death of many of our own,"
"Please just listen you can do whatever you want with me I don't care but I need you to protect him," the woman says pulling the boy from behind her. The boy looks up and meet with Eliphas' gaze.
"An andari. Interesting, I haven't seen one in a long time. Who's is it?" he asks kneeling beside the boy.
"Idril," the woman says with a low voice looking down, "She slept with a demon."
"So she got a child and now she wants to leave her responsibilities with others? Again."
"No she got a child and raised him, then she got killed in the process,"
"What are you saying?" Eliphas asked his voice still lacking emotion. But upon closer look one could see emotion pass through his face.
"Some people, probably her enemies, broke into the house and caught her unprepared they killed her, I got their before they managed to hurt him," she says pointing at the boy.
"So what do you want us to do exactly," Eliphas asks standing up, his black void like eyes looking at them..
"Mama?" the boy calls in fear.
"Its okay honey he wants to help,"
"I want you to keep him here and protect him," she says making the boy's eyes widen.
"You know nothing comes for free, especially to a traitor," Eliphas says.
"I know. Take this," She says giving him a small black bag. Eliphas looks inside it and smiles.
"Your core. You know you won't survive a day without it," he says
"I just want the child safe till he is ready to fight," she says. Eliphas snaps his fingers and one of the men with black cloaks steps forward and grabs the boy by his shoulder. The woman looks at him tears in her eyes.
"What's going on mama?" the boy asks scared. Was his mama was leaving him. He's always been good, he never talks too much, he never disturbs anybody, but his mum left pushing him under the bed and now his mama wants to leave him.
"Don't worry baby it's for the best,"
"I don't understand mama what is for the best?" he asks and she doesn't answer. She smiles sadly at him and starts walking away.
"Mama?" he calls again but she doesn't answer, he tries to break free from the person's iron grip but to no avail
"Mama?"
His voice was wavering.
"I don't want to do this anymore mama," he says still trying to get free. Hoping it was a joke and his mama would turn back the next minute with a smile on her face and hug him. It didn't happen.
Eliphas stands in front of the boy and looks down at him.
"Don't worry child, you'll get used to it. The pain of abandonment," He says in a tone so different than the one he used on his mama he sounded nice…it made him feel sleepy.
"I want my mama back," the boy says drowsily making him chuckle.
"I know you do," he says running his finger down his face, wiping off his tears. The action was made him sleepier.
"Can you take me to her?" he asks in high hopes.
"Only if you behave. Will you do that for me?" Eliphas asks and he nods his head feeling tired, he slowly leans on the person behind him darkness suddenly enveloping his vision.
"Then, Sleep tight child."
----------------------------------------------
It was cold. Erians' life was coming to an end. Each breath he took felt like a load. His blood trickled down his armor onto Eliphas's nape. The air had gone quiet. The only sound that remained was of the labored breathing of the soldiers trying to survive.
Eliphas laid close to a woman's feet, he knew it was a companion. His legs were broken and his left hand trapped under a huge rock. His shoulder was bleeding, the blade in the woman's armor had dug into it. Every pant was blood-scented. He was in so much pain, he couldn't even cry. He slowly turned and started looking at the bodies around him occasionaly he could see a friend who died with a look of pain on his face.
"Erian," he tried to speak, but blood came out of his mouth "I- I'm sorry….. I tried to survive,"
Erian took in a labored breath. He touched Eliphas's head lightly and kept repeating "You tried your best… you couldn't have known."
Eliphas saw huge black fingers in a distance their appearance brought along song in the wind. Cramias coming to feed on death.
["As our words command]
[Wither, rot, decay,]
[let your crimson flow,]
[And quench the reaper's thirst." ]
"Erian,"he whispered this time "I a'm scared…"
Erian struggled to open his closing eyes, "I will protect you."
"Why are you speaking like that, are you wounded?"
"No." Erian's voice was weaker, "…It's me the greatest warrior how can they wound me."
Eliphas lifted his other hand whose fingers were broken and touched the other's face. "You better be fine, I'm sure Circe will ma… make delicious food commemorating our return again you don't want me to have your share."
Erian lightly chuckled. "…well… we can't… have that can we?."
Eliphas nodded.
Snow covered them both. Erian was so drowsy, he wanted to sleep. He didn't have the strength to even open his eyes. The song the cramias sang was a slow soothing song.
They had tried their best and gave their lives.
Eliphas spoke again, "I'll… I'll buy you the sword you have always wanted."
"Erian?"
"…"
"Erian."
it was silent.
It reminded him of when they would talk at night and Erian would grow tired of his none stop talking and eventually sleep.
But this time he wasn't sure they would meet the next morning.
"This is not good,"
Someone was speaking. He tried to turn his head but he felt too sluggish.
"...What has the ability to raze a whole army,"
The voice was fading.
"….Are their no survivors…"
Was he dead ?