Splash!
"Rise in the name of Oden, the Lord of Light, you fucking piece of shit!"
Splash!
"Ahh! Oh... Where am I... Eldlasa?" said Deimos, "Why am I we...why have you soaked me with water, elf!" Said Deimos, arms up, bracing for future assaults.
"You have been sleeping for two days, lazy, unwashed brachen. I've run low on food while waiting for you to return to the land of the living, so a pail of water was necessary."
Deimos sat himself up in a strange bed, in a strange room beside the elf who stared at him expectantly. Her brows were furrowed and her face was held tight in annoyance but soon her expression softened as he looked into her eyes. Was it worry? Yes. Three days she said, so sick with worry no doubt. But not worried enough to avoid insulting his people yet again. She wore no armour, only a fine, cloth garb and bandages. Poorly wrapped bandages. A child could bandage wounds better than she did. Her armour, as well as his, sat at the foot of the bed. She appears to have stripped him and attempted to bandage him as well. Likely a miracle he woke up at all if that was the case.
It was a cabin, a lodge. Whatever it was, it was certainty made of old logs. The musk of rotten wood and aged living threatened to choke Deimos. Cobwebs decorated all the furniture and fixtures. Dust decorated everything else. Cold air rushed through the cracks between the logs that made the walls. Poor craftsmanship. What was that in the corner to the left? Deer antlers and other assortments of animal horns and bones were displayed proudly by whomever lives-- or lived here. To the right were old hunting gear items, rotten arrows, unstringed bows, broken snares and other items lacking any sign of care.
This place was old. Likely as old as the elf and as poorly maintained. He and the Eldlasa were both sat on an old rickety bed covered in old animal furs and torn fabrics likely used for bandages. A smell of piss faintly came from the furs, a bit of decay did as well. Now Deimos had some idea of what happened to the original owner of this fine establishment. They died In this shitty bed in this shitty cabin.
"Why am I here, elf?"
"After your grand display of magic you fainted. I had to carry your heavy arse here," said Eldlasa rolling her eyes with a hand upon her cheek and a soft smile as she relaxed her shoulders. "I didn't think you'd wake up, I bandaged your wounds but you felt so cold afterwards. I had half a mind to just leave you here once I recovered."
"Your bandaging is awful, it's a miracle you saved me and didn't kill me faster instead," Deimos said, as he inspected his poorly mended body. A sigh with each wrap he looked at. Eldlasa's soft smile faded, replaced by a much harsher frown. He placed his feet off the bed and onto a wooden floor that groaned in agony as they became acquainted with his soles.
"I've only used healing magic since before you were a tickle in your father's bollucks! I never had any need to learn this school of mending. Lord knows I hadn't the patience either."
"And this cabin... I almost can't smell the old piss stained furs we're sitting on," Deimos said, continuing his protest as he shifted his weight between legs to further harass the floor below as they spoke.
Squeak
Squeak
"I brought you here, mended your wounds and waited three long days for you to-"
"What is three days to an elf that lives a thousand years..."
Upon hearing Deimos speak, Eldlasa groaned and slid across the old, fur covered bed till she sat right next to him. With a plain look upon her face she said, "Three days is three fucking days you dim witted, ungrateful...How would living longer change anything." She balled her damaged hands into fists by her sides.
"I see... Forgive me, elf. You have my thanks for aiding me."
"Whatever, soldier," Eldlasa said, calm once more, "we need to talk about that magic you used."
"Then I did that in your presence. I wasn't thinking, clearly..."
"Your skin became grey, like stone, and you were covered in sigils of light. Hard not to notice."
"We needn't share everything with each other," said Deimos hanging his head low with a solemn look on his face as he unraveled the mess of bandages, glancing up towards old windows every time he heard the leaves of trees rustling.
"I have never seen or heard of such a power. Are you not human?
"I too am cursed."
"More like a blessing of sorts if it can quell the damned abyss!"
"All that shines isn't silver, elf," said Deimos, pausing to look her in the eyes carefully as he spoke. "Tell no one of this."
"Soldier."
"Speak, elf."
"Why did you travel to the realm of Dawn. You were exiled yes but why choose to come this far north?"
A long pause accompanied the stale air of the cabin as Deimos sat in contemplation. He seemed to open his mouth to speak several times but opt to say nothing and continue his rumination. Eldlasa sat awaiting his words, pulling bits of fur off the old bed. She couldn't remember a time she had ever waited this long for a human to say words. They were quite good at never shutting up.
"To be as far away from Vedinne as possible. As far away as possible from the entire Verdant continent. To begin anew... Make up for mistakes not soon forgotten," Deimos said, breaking his silence and leaving the bed to reapply bandages whilst observing a squirrel scurry by swiftly.
"This power you have, it's light magic and this is the Continent of Light. You are here for a reason."
"I wouldn't know where to start. I wasn't visited in a dream by omens and never spoke to any God."
"The Light Celestials of the Light moon, Isium."
"The celestials of that infernal second sun?" Deimos said before he paused his mending to close the old window as a chilly breeze began to blow. The small door of the window fell outside as he closed it. Leaving an even larger open space and letting in even more cold air. Fucking poor craftsmanship.
"Yes! If you are given an audience with them they will surely tell you what God has in store for you! I am certain of it!" Eldlasa said, shouting the words, unable to contain her excitement. The bright spark in her golden eyes wasn't unlike fire and the smile she wore was infectious. Upon seeing her, Deimos turned his head away and smiled briefly himself.
All the excitement ended after she started to cough. Three coughs as rough as any mountain trail left her lungs making Deimos snap his head around to her. Eldlasa coughed with a hand covering her face but couldn't hide the resulting horror. She slowly pulled her hand from her mouth down to see dark red blood had painted her palm.
"How long do you think you have, Eldlasa?" said Deimos as he looked into her palm as well. "What can we do to aid you?"
"Don't act surprised, I told you I was dying. Not fast enough clearly, haha," Eldlasa said before she chortled nervously while looking away. "I enlisted you to help me accomplish my goals, soldier. Not still my heart. Tomorrow I receive my orders and we will--"
Deimos wore a pained expression as he turned to face her and walked closer, "Eldlasa... We should discuss this--"
"Just focus on the task, we aren't friends," said the elf, sharply. She shifted away from Deimos, looking now to the cracks in the roof above and the light they let inside the cabin.
"Hmm," said Deimos, nodding before the look of worry he sported faded away, "what are our orders, paladin."
Eldlasa rose from the bed and she slid her injured feet across the floor boards as she pulled her body to a table on the other side of the room. Each step was followed by the obnoxious creaking of wood in disrepair. She then fell into an old rocking chair and began eating dried meat she left on the table earlier, stolen from Deimos' pack."Deal with the wolves killing game in this forest and then report to Grand Paladin Crucxiea for locations."
"More abyssal wolves?"
"I'm a High Paladin, soldier. The second highest rank of paladin. There will be no more wolves."
"I find it odd the second highest rank of warrior here would be as weak as you are," said Deimos as he walked over to Eldlasa and grabbed some of his dried meat from her before heading to inspect the old hunting gear in the corner.
"Fuck you, oaf. Are all brachens as intolerable as you?," Eldlasa said as she folded her arms and browsed the cobwebs that ran along the ceiling, "As if this quest wasn't enough of a struggle."
"What are these locations you seek? If we are to hunt more wild beasts I best equip us with bows."
"Luteas Paladins are to locate and kill the Viscount of Faaran, Ahlam Teolore and his three former compatriots. All betrayers of the crown. Just need to know which one I am assigned"
All sound seemed to drain from the world as Deimos dropped an old bow he held. Madness left the elf's mouth. This was no ordinary quest. It was suicide.
The Viscount and his compatriots were once heroes to the realms. Now they were infamous. Everyone knew who they were. Many a warrior tested his mettle against these monsters. Many a warrior met their end.
They were born with unnatural resistance to the spread of the abyss and so were given a duty to protect us from it. they chose to betray the world instead. The fiends are dishonourable. Dishonourable but incredibly powerful.
"Eldlasa this is madness! Two warriors could never-"
"They are separated. Now is the time to strike! They have no armies and no allies."
Deimos felt a sharp pain in his chest. The foolish elf's words alone might've killed him right then and there had he less constitution. He searched her face for any sign of a joke but all he found was her eyes searching his in return. Eldlasa was on her own and clearly in serious need of a capable warrior to fight alongside her in her weakened state. "How long have you been attempting to assassinate the traitors?"
"I'm no assassin! This is justice, soldier. This is justice..." Eldlasa said, with a weariness to her voice as her eyes began to water, "feel free to leave, you wouldn't be the first."
"I want an audience with the celestials of light on that moon, elf. I will swear allegiance to you once more if you promise to grant me that one request."
"You will have to be granted that request by the Queen herself. Should we bring justice to at least one of these monsters I have no doubt in my mind that she will grant you what you desire."
"Then I kill for the crown," said Deimos as he knelt before Eldlasa, "Not for you."
"You've come to see reason rather quickly, for a human," she said. She reached down to ruffle his matted hair with a dry smile.
"Whatever, elf. I've sorted the mess you wrapped onto my body, come, I will sort your bandages too," Deimos said before grasping one of Eldlasa's legs. Eldlasa gasped sharply and swatted his hand.
"One of the most reasonable humans i know and yet still fucking unreasonable enough to think I'd let you touch me after what you did to me!"
"I hope you will forgive me one day. I shouldn't have let my anger control me."
"I doubt you'll fucking live long enough to see that day, we elves have long memories."
Deimos sat in silence inspecting the rough work Eldlasa had done on her body. It was worse than what she did to him. He was almost embarrassed for her. Her eyes met his as he inspected her body making her let out a long sigh. The bandages were loose and bundled oddly.
"Fine fix them but if your bloody hand strays or lingers I'll cut your knob off, brachen."
"I don't even know what a knob is."
"Of course you don't..."
***
Boom!
The deafening sound of the beast blitzing through the skies above could be heard. People ran. People screamed.
"The dragon comes! Ready your Hoarfrost Javelins my Sagitarii!" the leader shouted, "rip its wings asunder!" Many soldiers, enveloped in a white mist, glistened in the moonlight as they shouted and created these javelins from thin air. They were the Legions archers. Using Javelins instead of arrows.
The leader was a tower of a man and his large muscles rippled with every command he shouted. His voice shook the ground as he ordered his men to take up arms. Was this the voice of a true hero? A man of the people? A champion of the realms?
Boom! The beast shot by above the men as they hurled dozens of javelins at it. "Hold your fire men, wait for my mark!" the leader shouted and the men stood at the ready.
"Hoplites I leave the safety of the survivors in your hands!" said the leader, prompting a small number of men to dash through the raging fires. They were the Legions main force of soldiers.
"Sentries! On me!"
The last of the men stood at attention and prepared their metal spears and shields, roused by their leaders call. They tightly arranged themselves into formation, shields up and spears forward. These men were the true offense of the Legion. The strongest.
Boom! The dragon redirected itself in a split second, diving towards the sentries and their leader. Its white scales began to reflect the moonlight as it soared towards the men.
They stood deathly still as the beast came closer and closer. Lorelei watched in horror. The men would surely die if they just stood there. She couldn't watch more people die. She needed to aid them. Any means necessary.
The dragon was now clearly in view and it spread its wings to aid its glide towards the soldiers. Its mouth opened wide and rows of white teeth shined as a blue glow welled behind them. Lorelei rose to her feet and took off towards the sentries who stood at the ready. She ran the fastest she had ever in her entire life, nearly tripping over the debris of carriages and wagons below.
She dug deep within herself as she ran, pulling power from within and bringing forth droplets of water in the air around her. It wasn't enough so she dug deeper and deeper, pulling not from within but from the air around her. Her pale blue eyes began to glow brightly as she collected the magic she needed in a split second, enveloping her right hand in much of the water that surrounded her and planted her feet apart to stabilize herself, ready to strike when the dragon came near.
The leader of the legionnaires noticed her but stopped short of warning her to stay back once he saw her magic present itself. He smiled. His attention shot back to the dragon, "hoooold," he said with one arm back and above his head as he prepared to order his Sagitarii. The men held their javelins of ice at the ready.
"Loose!" the leader said at the top of his lungs and the javelins rained at impossible speeds from behind him and the sentries as he whipped his arm forward towards the diving creature. The icy weapons bombarded the dragon as it began flailing about in the air trying to avoid the onslaught.
Many of the javelins tore through its body and wings making it lose control and tumble towards the men. "Brace!" said the leader again as loud as he could muster and the sentries planted their spears and shields into the earth before a wall of thick ice magic was erected to protect them.
Lorelei, upon seeing the dragon tumbling towards the men decided now was her chance to aid them.
With a shrill but purposeful shout she closed her eyes and swung her arm outwards from her hip with the magical waters towards the tumbling dragon. The motion produced a thin and long arching blade of glowing water magic that grew quickly as it hurtled towards the incoming creature.
It saw the incoming magic and swerved to the left trying to avoid it but its sundered wings offered no aid as the great blade of water sliced directly into the great beast.
The dragon recoiled from the blow and lost all control, crashing into the burning earth below and began rolling towards Lorelei. She tried to move upon noticing the danger but her feet grew heavy and stiff. Her vision grew blurry as the beast tumbled closer.
Lorelei saw some of the sentries racing towards her trying to build another magical wall of ice as the beast drew closer and closer. Now panicking, She turned her attention back to the dragon.
All went black.
***
"Eeeeeek!" Lorelei shrieked as she opened her eyes, drenched in cold sweat. She sat up on a mat and realised she no longer saw the sea of fire or the bright night sky it lit up. Just a tent. A tent filled with the wailing of injured people all around her as Black Legionnaires tended their wounds.
Many wore bandages around their heads, and their arms, and their legs even. Some didn't have legs any longer. There was the pungent odour of rotting flesh and sickness all around her and she tasted the sourness of it in the back of her throat, making her retch. Each person lay atop thin fabrics that barely cushioned their backs from the hard, rocky ground below.
She got up and ran out of the tent, fell to her knees and continued dry-heaving as little more than air left her dry and cracked lips. The world spun around her as she lost her balance, heart racing and her breathing laboured. Lorelei collapsed into the dirt and began sobbing.
"Dalrith...where are you!" she cried as she lay outside the tent. She could see rows upon rows of tents, and large plateaus in the distance. Columns of smoke rose near every other tent with soldiers sitting before them, drinking and merrymaking. But there was no sign of her viceroy. No sign of her protector, no sign of the man she--
"Good, you're finally awake," said a man, drawing Lorelei's attention to him as she strained to move her head towards the sound of his voice.
There the man towered above her on the ground in his black Vedinnian armour, beautifully plumed and embroidered helmet under his arm. A smile peaked from behind a full beard. His hair was a deep brown and low cut, much like soldiers seemed to enjoy. His face was clearly defined even with his large beard, such was his powerful jaw and pronounced cheekbones. His light brown eyes appeared yellow within the light of the sun and they dug into Lorelei's soul as she gazed upon him. He was the leader of the men that night, standing proudly in his armour. His robust frame and matching muscles all but confirmed it to her, "you saved a lot of men with that magic of yours girl."
"M-my viceroy...did you save him?" said Lorelei, choking on the words in between sobs, tears streamed down her cheeks from worried eyes staring up at the obelisk of a man, "Dalrith...where is Dalrith?"
"I haven't heard of any with such a name amongst the Injured. Haven't heard of any fucking nobles either haha. You one of them nobles, girl?" the man asked as he stretched an arm out towards her, "I'm impressed such magics can come from a girl your size. Genuine magic is so rare a site now. You've seen what, fifteen winters? Who are you?"
"L-lor-lorelei Delia A-Anissa Tyrannis. I'll be nineteen winters soon," she said, now loudly crying and breathing so shallowly and quickly that her head grew light, "I need to find him...help me...please!"
The man crouched down next to Lorelei and began stroking her hair, "worry not Lorelei, if this viceroy survived he'll come looking for you here at our camp. Some water and perhaps food while you wait? How does that sound, my fair lady?"
"T-that would be wonderful..." Lorelei said in a dower tone as she wiped her tears away but still sat with a grimace plastered on her face.
"I am the great general, Decimus Angelou Mandrapilias, I command this band of warriors. Have faith in your viceroy, my lady, and have faith in us. Let him see you standing strong as the hero you are when you both are reunited."
Lorelei nodded, held onto Decimus and rose to her feet before she realised what she was doing. His voice was deep and smooth, so smooth it washed the worry away. It vibrated within her chest with each word as she relaxed her shoulders and her heart went to rest. He was kind and strong like heroic men in the books she read. She would be safe with such a hero, protected by such a hero, she's finally met a true hero! Lorelei smiled weakly to herself, hiding her face from Decimus.
"I'm a hero? W-was I brave?"
"Yes! And we should celebrate your bravery, Lorelei," said Decimus as he rubbed his fully bearded chin and chuckled to himself. They now began walking by the other tents as other soldiers raised hands to salute their esteemed leader. Others could be seen tirelessly training together far off in the back, almost naked under the hot sun in the plain of deep green grass.
"W-we should celebrate?"
"Of course! Your selfless actions are deserving of a little praise don't you agree!"
"Yes! I think I do deserve it, maybe," she said, struggling to keep up with each of Decimus' long strides.
"Brilliant! Now keep walking with me, beautiful. We will have ale and whispers with our celebration!" Decimus' face lit up as he cheered Lorelei on, throwing his fist into the air, being loud and jovial.
Lorelei slapped her cheeks, surely she was dreaming, not only did she meet a gallant hero, she saved a gallant hero, and would now feast with a gallant hero, ale and whispers with a gallant hero. But she wasn't fond of ale and what would they be whispering she pondered, hand to her chin and brows furrowed.
"I haven't a taste for ale, sir Decimus, it upsets my belly and what will we be whispering?"
Decimus broke out into hysterical laughter, chortling loud enough to cause Lorelei to wince as his voice rattled throughout her skull.
"Fear not, lady Lorelei, we have wine as well for a lady such as yourself! Have you never tasted the wonders of whisper wolf grass?"
"They smoke that! It isn't ladylike to smoke!" Lorelei said as she stopped in her tracks, eyes wide and covering her mouth held agape in shock.
"Hahaha! You have much to learn about the life of adventurers. Enough talk, let us continue to my tent."
"I want to learn but-"
"Then it is settled! Imagine the stories you'll have to tell after your time spent with us."
"...Understood. I'm ready!"