Chapter 16 - Midnas, 11

Overnight, the cultists did something. Something that blocked out the Sun. Stepping outside the Nobleman's mansion, My senses were overwhelmed with the stink of rot. The Snow had stopped falling and this bubble we found ourselves trapped in was getting hotter and hotter by the second, with no cold wind or snowfall, this Town would be a deathtrap to all Snowlanders inside. "Good Gods, what is that smell?" asked a friendly voice over my shoulder, I turned to see Callum, raising his hand over his nose, "Gods, I can even taste it!" he began to gag, "If you are going to vomit, do it away from me, the stench is bad enough as is without your guts making themselves known." It may have been a cold unfeeling statement, but I needed some way to forget the smell, even for a moment. "If only we had a Null..." I mumbled, A Null, for those unattuned with Magic or unknowing about it, is a person, creature or device that has an absence of Magic, this absence creates an odd phenomenon where the Null is immune to the effects of Magic and can even undo protective seals with a touch, the only problem is if we had one, our powers would be somewhat reduced in strength. Seeing the sky without snow falling from it was odd, to say the least, but the sight brought back a strong memory I would rather do without. I shut my eyes, trying my best not to hear the screams, the smell of ash on my nose as the memory resurfaced, the feeling of my skin catching fire, and the taste of blood in the air. Without thinking I touched the scar that the fire had left, the left side of my Trapezius muscle, an accidental friendly fire, The Elves barely fought back. Thousands of us against hundreds of them, most of them were young, barely in their thirties, A child in the standards and customs of Elvenkind and we slaughtered them and their families. I looked down and I swore I could see the blood again, all over my hands, all over my armour, the blood of Elven children. For all of that slaughter, what did I get? A pouch of silver... For those dead Elves on my hands, that nursery they had us destroy... All because of that damn archaic Blood Contract

"Sir Endyarr?" Callum broke me from the memories, "yes?" I asked, my voice quiet, barely audible, I didn't want him to see that my eyes were flowing with tears, just in case my voice breaks I needed to keep it short and quiet. "Do you see that?" he asked, I snapped around, looking in the same direction he was. The silent Town was nearly pitch black, only the faint light of the Sun could be seen, focusing, I was only able to make out the nearby buildings. "See what?" I questioned, seeing nothing in the dark, he pointed, "The lights. Those lights are moving." he was distressed, well of course he was, and that meant people were heading this way. I still can't see them, must be his Scorcher eyes, an idea hit me, 「Rune Sight」Focusing, I was able to see with enhanced vision, it was as if the Sun was still in the sky, and I was able to see clearly. A group of about twenty people, two in green garb, five in white, the rest in black, all scrambling in the dark, none of them able to see far enough in front of themselves. A devious grin struck my lips, I knew exactly what I should do. "I'll be right back." I said, starting to walk towards the group, "Get ready, they'll be on us soon, prepare the others." I finished, "where are you going?" asked Callum, he looked concerned, "I'm going to whittle them down a bit" The grin had formed into a smile as I began running and hopping around, Grappling around a post, I was able to raise myself to the height of one of the roofs of the houses. It's quite the leap. My hearts began to beat harder and faster. I leap, and I almost miss, but grasp the roof and pull myself up. My smile got wider and wider by the second, and soon it would devolve into laughter, in the near distance was the group of twenty. Closing in, I could make out the group even better, twenty-three people, two Vice-Archons, five Seers, and sixteen initiates. What worried me was that one of those conglomerates followed the group closely behind. The thought of the beast being the suffering souls of people made into one beast hurt. But the plan was not going to stop.