The sun was high in the sky, but its light was obscured by the thick smoke rising from the burning houses. The sky was dark and gloomy, and the air was thick with the smell of burning wood. The sound of crackling flames could be heard in the distance, and the heat was intense. The armies stood ready, their naked swords reflecting fire.
In a split second, our companions, who were no more than 20 in number, swiftly lined up and took on a military posture with footwork. They surrounded me and Adaman, their swords drawn and ready for the inevitable clash. The air was thick with tension as we stood there, waiting for the moment when the first sword would strike.
The wind was rising from hell itself as our eyes were fixed on the army of monstrous creatures approaching on all fours out of the dust. Sweat was drying on my forehead as we watched them come closer and closer. I didn't want to fight them, but I knew that I had no choice. My heart was pounding in my chest like a drumbeat in the night.
Yes, the trap was set, and Prince Adaman was the prey. Every step they took brought us closer to our doom. The commander of the army before us was watching us with eyes that glinted like those of a wolf at night.
Suddenly, the deep stare was broken by the sound of shattering glass that came from the temple-like building behind us.
A monster-looking creature was thrown out of the window as Neldur followed it outside. With a relatively short but thick sword in his hand, Neldur struck the creature's head. The headless corpse fell with a thud as its blood stained the ground beneath it.
"The prophecy has come true, and nothing but death awaits you in this land of elves, where the magic of the moonlight delves." Said Neldur while placing his sword, from which blood was dripping, on his shoulder and continued, "Give them a taste of your blades, like the moon giving a taste of its light into the heart of night, onward!"
With a thunderous shout from Neldur, his soldiers burst through the doors and windows of the building, charging forward to attack the enemy. Following closely behind them, Adaman's men advanced into the heart of the dust that was waving in the air amidst the dance of swords.
"I shall make the corpses of your companions stand up in a state of mourning and lamentation. Death shall not overcome itself, O thou who art facing death, Kalvalia!" banshee let out a blood-curdling scream while her piercing, coal-black eyes that had no point of whiteness were fixed on mine.
The ground shook as the two sides collided. The horses were so startled by the deafening noise that they came to a sudden halt. I hopped off and started moving in the opposite direction. It seemed best for me to just sit in a corner while they finished their business.
"I reached the edge of the temple wall and looked behind me. My heart raced as I saw a corpse crawling towards me out of the battle ground. I panicked and took a few steps back, my eyes darting around for something to defend myself with. That's when I saw it—a wooden shield leaning against the wall next to me. Without thinking, I grabbed it and held it up in front of me. It was heavy and sturdy, but I knew it was my only chance of survival.
I tried to take the shield in the direction of the creature, but it was difficult to hold it steady. My hands were shaking with fear, and sweat made them slippery. I could feel my breaths coming in short gasps as I struggled to keep the shield up.
It was at that moment that I saw a flash of light out of the corner of my eye as it landed on the creature. I turned my head and saw Adaman standing next to me with his sword stuck in the monster's back.
"Arise and do battle! Thou art mightier than thou knowest," said Adaman.
"Are you out of your mind?" I shouted while sitting and trying to hold the shield in front of me.
"Arise! Only thou…" Adaman was in the middle of his words when one of the elf soldiers struck him on the shoulder, sending him crashing to the ground.
Blood gushed out of his arm like a river, and he clutched the wound with one hand, squeezing it tightly. Meanwhile, the soldier sat on his chest and tightened his grip around his neck like a python.
Black smoke billowed out of the elf's mouth like a raging inferno, and it surged straight into Adaman's eyes and mouth, choking him with its acrid stench. While the soldier was mumbling, "You are not a..."
Rage boiled inside me like a volcano as I screamed, 'Get the f*ck..." and smashed the shield right into the soldier's face. To my surprise, he was thrown away like a rag doll, flying several meters away as if he were being struck by a powerful force.
I felt the same way I felt last night after what happened to the face-covered man on the stone road. But this time, a voice was not whispering in my ears, and I wasn't feeling my feet limp. Instead, I just felt okay. It's better to mention that I was paralyzed.
I wondered while mumbling to myself, "How is this possible? Do I have super powers?" When my eyes fell on Adaman.
He was lying on the ground, contorted in pain, clutching his shoulder. His face was twisted in agony, and he was breathing heavily. The sword wound on his shoulder was bleeding profusely, while his clothes were stained in red. The ground around him was wet with blood, and he was barely conscious. I rushed to his side and tried to help him as best I could.
My eyes darted around frantically, searching for any sign of safety in the midst of the blood-soaked field. But with Adaman towering over me at nearly 6.4 feet tall, I knew that finding a place to hide would be nearly impossible. I felt small and vulnerable as I looked up at him, my eyes barely reaching his broad shoulders.
we continued creeping towards the corner of one of the walls which was burnt into ash. Simultaneously, Banshee's voice reverberated through the battlefield. Her blood-curdling scream sent shivers down my spine as she emerged from the smoke and dust of the battle field. Her eyes were locked on us as she was bent over with her hand on her side; her eyes were like daggers, piercing through our souls. standing, wounded, and bleeding.
"Kalavine, I see thou hast consumed the power of the first page of Zorath from the depths of the underworld. But know this: you are wasting your time confronting me. I am still more powerful than thee!" said the elf soldier, as if Banshee was speaking through him while his eyes and mouth were exuding black smoke.
"My sword…" Adaman mumbled to me underneath his breath, his voice barely audible over the sound of thundering hooves and the deafening roar of battle cries. He pointed towards his sword, which he was dragging next to him. It was a work of art, its blade reflecting the smoky sky like a dark mirror. The hilt was wrapped in black leather, and the pommel was adorned with a ruby that sparkled like fire.
I knew he meant that I had to fight Banshee; even allowing the notion to enter my mind would do nothing but remind me that plummeting from a building with five floors is less excruciating. But how—I am hopeless even from unsheathing a sword. My hands tremble at the thought of holding it. How can I grasp it and swing it in the air?
However, I should admit that after all of those blood-spilling occurrences in front of my eyes, I can feel deep in my heart a sense of bravery that is propelling me forward. My hands were shaking, but I clenched them into fists to hide my fear. The smell of blood filled my nostrils, and I could feel the sweat on my forehead. Despite all of this, my heart was pounding in my chest, and I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins.
My grandfather died of cancer. I have no knowledge about my parents, who vanished right after getting divorced, whether they are breathing or not. If I am going to perish in the hands of a bunch of undiscovered, eerie-looking creatures in an undiscovered area of this side of the mountain, at least it's worth the thrill. So, I'll name it: confronting death or smiling into the face of death can be good as well.
Adaman, who was losing his consciousness, grasped his sword slowly in front of me. I faltered for a moment, but some kind of emotion was swirling in me as if it were propelling me forward. I extended my arm and grasped the handle firmly in my hand. The sword felt heavy and frigid against my skin. When Adaman moved his hand aside, the heft of the blade was manageable. It felt like it belonged in my hand.
"Nah!" I gasped. The blade moved nimbly in my hand, as if it were swaying with the motions of my wrists.
I raised the gleaming sword over my head, whispering menacingly, "Let's end this," and brought it down with all my might. I swung the sword through the air, the wind whistling past my ears like a thousand banshees screaming in agony. The banshee's sword was cleaved in two by the edge of the blade as it cut through the wind and fell on it before she could respond.
Her eyes were fixated on the tip of the sword as the second blow smacked her leg without delay, throwing her into the soiled sludge with a loud splash like a shattered chair.
Without saying a word, she just gazed at me, as if the sprinkling and those bizarre lights had vanished from her eyes like a candle blown out by the wind.
"You are a mortal; an elf cannot wield this kind of power." Despite her voice quivering, Banshee spoke, her eyes wide with fear and her breaths coming in short gasps.
A voice was urging me to bring the sword down directly on the witch's skull, but it wasn't me. As Banshee stared at me, motionless and stuck in one place, my fingers twitched uncontrollably in the air. The voice was so loud and insistent that it felt like it was coming from inside my head. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I struggled to resist its commands. The sword felt heavy in my hand, and I could feel the cold air biting into my skin. The witch's eyes were wide with fear as she stared up at me, her mouth open in a silent scream.
"GO TO HELL!" I screamed as I pushed the blade down with all of my strength. The sword sliced through the air with a sharp hiss, and I could feel the heat of my anger radiating through my body. My eyes were squeezed shut so tightly that I could see stars dancing behind my eyelids.