An old but familiar scent filled Asura's nose as he lay against a hard, warm surface. The smell of minerals mixed with fresh rain in soil was thick and calmed the ogre's mind. His eyes were closed, and his body was relaxed as he spread his body out against the smooth surface. As he reached out with his arms, they traveled across the surface until they found grass nearby. Its soft texture caused Asura to jolt upright as he took a handful of the soil.
"Grass?"
Asura stared at the green grass and soft moss covering most of the ground around him. The grass and moss were short and well-kept, like a garden maintained by its diligent owner. Sprinkled throughout the grass and moss were flowers that appeared like sunflowers. However, their resemblance ended there. They were near the ground, and their petals were a brilliant blue.
"Ursaose."
He stared at the flower named after the mother of bears. It only bloomed in the caves of the ogre realm. His eyes lingered on the wet flower, and its clear water droplets sparkled in the orange light. It was a nearly forgotten sight that felt foreign after his people's fall.
The orange light caught Asura's attention, and he turned to find crystals sprouting up the sides of the red stone walls. They were clear, but behind their translucent bodies were rivers of magma, pushing up from the earth's center to the surface above. Throughout the realm were channels and tunnels that guided the magma.
"I'm home..."
He gazed at the cave ceiling adorned with stalactites of varying sizes. The room was expansive, and the ceiling hung so far above that it made the cathedral's large rooms look small. Its largest stalactites dwarfed the statues of the angels inside.
A droplet of water fell on Asura's nose, and he couldn't help but smile as he wiped it away. The warm cave with a gentle breeze comforted the ogre as he laid back for a moment. The dangling vines swayed from above methodically as he watched.
From the direction of where his feet lay came a splash that caught Asura off guard. A voice soon followed after. The sound of a monster grunting left him frozen as its voice was gruff and deep. It was clear as the grunts persisted and the thrashing of water continued that a fight was ensuing.
Asura bolted upright, jumping as he readied himself for combat. He threw his arms up and tried to focus but was left stunned as he stared at what stretched before him. His eyes widened, and he mumbled as his shoulders drooped.
A beautiful, clear lake shimmered before him as the orange light danced upon its surface. The water was nearly invisible as fish swam through the vegetation in its depths. He watched in awe as a large yellow fish pushed aside waterweeds. Its vast body stretched so far that most would tire from trying to swim its length.
Although he did not understand how he knew the lake's name and whispered it as if it held a deep meaning in his heart,
"Lake Seleth."
The fighting had ended long before Asura broke free from his captivity. It was not until the voice spoke again that he was able to free himself from the beautiful charm.
"I see you remember, old friend. Or should I say, my brother?"
The gruff and deep voice had a rumble behind every word as it spoke as if it were painful. It was nearly a low growl, and many described it as scary. They often believed the same adjective would describe the owner perfectly after hearing it. However, Asura knew the voice well, and he was only frightening to those he deemed his foes in battle.
Tears rose in Asura's eyes as he looked to his left and toward its origin. There, he found a short but wide white wooden dock with an enormous orc sitting on its surface. The sight was almost comical as the red orc sat with his legs crossed. His large stature made the deck look small, and Asura knew the structure's sturdiness was lacking. However, the orc was careless while holding a fishing pole firmly as he pulled a greenish-blue fish from its hook.
The fish thrashed as he grabbed hold, causing water to splash onto his red skin. Asura asked in disbelief,
"Is it really you?"
The orc's gruff voice answered,
"It has been a long time."
"Ullrac..."
The large orc straightened his back, causing his braided black hair to roll down his back. Ullrac turned to look at his brother, revealing two large lower teeth that sprouted over his front lip. His large green eyes softened and closed slightly as a smile spread across his lips.
"It is great to see you."
The ogre tried to utter a word but was speechless as not even a breath rose in his throat. He could only stare at the orc he had last seen dying in a war. His mind raced, and the memory of his dying moment replayed in his head over again.
The mighty orc fought against seven pure-blooded dragons, all of which wielded an element they had mastered throughout their lives. Collectively, they attacked, thrashing and spewing catastrophic waves of mana from their throats.
However, the orc held his ground and wielded his axe with determination and an unbreaking will. It took six of the seven pure-blooded dragons' lives to take Ullracs. A feat that not many could replicate. One that still leaves fear in the hearts of all dragons. When an orc stands before a dragon, there will always be hesitation. Asura asked as he began to walk towards the ogre without thinking,
"Aren't you dead?..."
Ullrac smiled as Asura approached,
"Yes, I am dead."
His words squeezed Asura's heart as he took his place beside Ullrac. Although he questioned the dock's stability, he trusted Ullrac's decision to sit on it. As Asura sat down and crossed his legs, the orc let out a chuckle that sounded like rolling thunder. Asura furrowed his brow and asked,
"What's so funny?"
"Even after many years, you always return to the same spot."
Asura looked down at the worn white wood below his legs, studying the rough area that had weathered away. A deep sadness washed over the ogre as he tried to recall the memory, and a headache pierced through his skull.
"Ullrac... I don't remember sitting with you. I can't remember anything really."
"Your mind and body seem to remember. You always sit beside me and watch as I catch the greatest fish this lake can provide."
Asura studied Ullrac's bright smile as he recalled the past. The memories appeared to mean the world to him as he cast out the fishing line again. However, the ogre's heart squeezed, and his chest tightened as he looked at his old friend's smile. Asura rubbed his hand as self-hatred and regret rippled through his body.
Although he could not remember the past, broken memories drifted through the veil that clouded his mind. One of which was the reason why Ullrac died that night... It was his decision and command that sealed his brother's fate.
"Ullrac..."
The orc stiffened at Asura's solemn and low voice. Asura could not lift his eyes to meet Ullrac's as he continued,
"Why do you still treat me like your brother?"
He paused and let the silence hang before stating,
"When I am the reason you died."
Ullrac waited for what felt like an eternity for Asura before answering. In that moment of silence, his head drifted downward as if an anvil pressed against the crown of his skull. The heavy weight of his actions weighed down upon his soul.
Asura returned to his conversation with Brontes that was held within Hephestine's forge. The hate-filled eyes stared at him as he shouted with deep rage that boiled for years within his heart. The broken words echoed inside his ears, "I am a murderer because you!"
"Ullrac should feel the same way." Asura thought to himself as he awaited to hear how Ullrac truly felt. He expected the same gaze to be ablaze in the orc's green eyes. However, the orc turned and placed a firm hand on Asura's shoulder,
"Do not blame yourself for my death. It was my decision to make. To fight in that battle."
"You went because I asked."
"I went to save our people."
Asura sighed as Ullrac bluntly stated the matter as if his life meant nothing to him.
"I could have taken your place. I should have taken your place."
The ogre squeezed his right two fists as he pressed his left hand against his forehead. Ullrac responded softly,
"You had your duties, and I had mine. Did you not go to battle somewhere else that day?"
"A meaningless fight. When we arrived, there was nothing."
"You did not know that it would be fruitless. It's not your fault."
Asura gripped his forehead so tightly that his skull began to ache. The ogre's voice hissed out with anger as he spoke,
"I trusted our king's decision, and it cost us so many of our lives! YET I STILL STAND! I'M ALIVE, AND NO ONE ELSE IS!"
"I still trust the king's decision."
Asura's eyes widened in shock, and his mouth fell open in disbelief. The world seemed to spin as he processed Ullrac's words. However, Asura realized Ullrac died before the fall of their king.
"He betrayed us. When you died, it all went to shit. No one's left Ullrac."
"I know. I can see it all."
Asura's eyebrows furrowed as he stared at the orc, who sat confidently.
"You can see it?"
"Yes. Through your memories, I can see it all."
"My memories... Oh... This is a dream."
Asura's shoulders fell, and he buried his face into his hands. The ogre felt the world crumble around him, and depression crept into his heart as the thought of his friend being truly gone returned.
"Just because this is a dream does not mean I am not with you. My words are true, and I am the same as you remember me."
Asura looked up at the orc, who had turned away from the fishing pole and now faced him.
"No... The Ullrac I know would hate me for what I did."
"You lie to yourself. I swore to be your brother even after death. We fought together, we shed blood together. I wear these bones on my waist to carry my ancestors with me."
"I would be honored if you wore mine."
The ogre turned away and watched as the magma crept up behind a crystal. Asura's voice was close to a whisper as he responded,
"Don't lie to me. You have seen my mind and the mistakes I made."
"We all make mistakes, brother. As you've told me, it's what we do afterward that defines us. We must move forward and try not to commit the same mistakes."
Asura choked on his laugh and scoffed at Ullrac's comment.
"That's fucked up using my own words against me. A power move to be honest."
The orc unleashed a thunderous belly laugh that resonated through the caves and trembled the dock below. Although the uncaring orc slapped his legs without worry, Asura gripped the wood tightly as the unstable structure quaked and water splashed.
"Take it easy, ya big oaf! You're going to throw us in the water!"
Suddenly, the ogre ceased his laughter and smiled at his friend. To Asura's surprise, the orc asked a startling question after his roaring laugh,
"Do you know why I went to that battle?"
Asura froze and pondered the question,
"Because you trusted me when I asked you to."
"Well, yes, but do you know why I trust you?"
"Because I was the right hand to the king."
The orc slapped Asura's back, causing him to topple over as he raised his voice slightly,
"I follow and trust you because of your love for our people. I did not follow you because of the king."
"What are you ramblin' about? I-"
Ullrac quickly interrupted Asura before he could continue, knowing full well that what came next would be negative.
"Let me tell you a quick story you might not remember."
"Hm."
"Before our war against the dragon king, there was a time when the ogres walked through the city of Khal. They held their heads up so high as they marched across the streets."
"The orcs, goblins, and cyclops all watched in awe as their royal race walked amongst them. Their eyes filled with wonder as they gazed upon the king's parade."
"The king had selected a few warriors to maintain order during the parade, and I was one of them. We were tasked with keeping the citizens from drawing near to the ogres who marched past."
"Every street corner was crowded with onlookers and their children by their sides. They cheered vigorously as you and your brothers walked past."
Asura shook his head at the words "Your brother." finding the statement to be distasteful.
"Our brothers. We are not different from you."
The orc smiled greatly as Asura corrected him, which surprised Asura as he continued,
"Yes, our brothers. But not many ogres saw it that way. They believed they were so much higher in status than the rest of us. The Cyclops were dirty. The Goblins were unusual looking. And the dumb Orcs were nothing more than warriors for battle."
Asura flinched at the comments, finding them appalling when they spoke about the other races belonging to the ogre kingdom.
"But there was one amongst all of them that held different beliefs. One that challenged these terrible perceptions."
"During the parade, a woman's daughter approached. She was a hobgoblin, and so was her child. Although she is of a higher class than a goblin, the ogres still viewed her as unworthy."
"So, when her daughter jumped from the line and raced up to the ogres, they hissed at her with disapproval."
Ullrac's eyes saddened as he recalled the vile words,
"Their eyes were filled with disgust, and they shouted at her wicked words. The poor child was crippled, missing one leg, and had a scar that disfigured her face."
"She almost fell as they approached her, and the guards tried to grab hold of her frail body. Her mother screamed and pleaded as they drew their weapons."
Ullrac turned to look Asura in the eyes, and a soft smile curved his lips.
"Yet, an ogre pushed past them all and gently grabbed hold of the child. He roared for all to hear. He shouted at those who chastised and bullied the child, 'Who are you to look down on this small child? Is she not created in the same image Judex created us?"
"'The ogre lifted her high, praising the child, "You look down upon others, and yet we were made to protect them. Judex did not give us strength to strike down our people. We were given strength so that we could be the wall that shields them. If anything, are we not lesser than they? We are called to give up our lives for them, not the other way around.'"
"His words left the ogre's speechless. They hated being compared to the lesser races surrounding them. However, his words were true, and they could not be refuted. So they left."
"That ogre spent many years changing the minds of many. He united many tribes scattered throughout the caves. And even after accomplishing so much, he still visited that child to check in on her and her mother."
The two had turned to stare at the vast lake and watch as the calm water rippled from the fish's movement. Ullrac's eyes beamed with pride as he finished the story. Then, the orc rose from his seat and lifted his axe.
"That is why I trust you. I do not regret dying, and I would go even if I knew I was going to die."
Without saying anything further, the orc turned and started to walk away. As Asura's old friend began to walk away, his voice turned desperate.
"What? Where are you going?"
"The dream is ending."
"The dream is..."
Asura looked around as the walls began to fade, and the light provided by the magma darkened. The cave warped and twisted like an illusion cast upon Asura's mind. The physical shape became distorted, and the image was hard to grasp, like a fuzzy memory lingering in the back of the mind.
"Ullrac. Please don't go."
The orc turned and flashed his final smile as the darkness crept over Asura's eyes. Ullrac's voice was filled with happiness as he spoke his final words,
"I will always be with you, my brother. Live in glory!"