Only one guard remained, but he wouldn’t last long. The spike had already begun to scrape against his pelvic bone. Sweat dripped from his face despite the cooling night air, and the luster of hope had long since faded from his eyes. I was unsure whether he was still sane enough to speak, but I had one more question.

“Where can I find Styrmir?”

The man hadn’t stopped groaning and moaning for the last twenty minutes, but he went silent at the mention of the elemental’s name. I took that as a sign that his mind must still be in tact. Grabbing him by the chin, I forced him to make eye contact with me; at the same time, I increased the flow of mana to the spike just enough that it pressed hard against his bone.

“No…no, don’t!” he begged. “Please!”

Baring my teeth I ground out, “Answer the question.” As threateningly as I could.

Desperately, the man whined, “I don’t know, I swear to you! Please spare me…please, I have a baby.”

As I gripped his face tighter a pair of dainty arms wrapped around my neck from behind. It must’ve been Melinda. With one hand she pushed my cheek so that I was looking at her. Our faces were so close that I thought she was going to kiss me, instead she looked me in the eye and said, “That’s enough, Silv. Let him go, you don’t need to kill him.”

My grip on the man's jaw relaxed slowly as my anger melted away. Conflicting thoughts chased each other around in my head. I wanted to finish what I started, watch as his mind broke and fell into despair. But Melinda seemed right and somehow her presence soothed me.

"Let him live," Melinda repeated softly. Her blue eyes shimmered in the moonlight while her plump lips curved upward into a small grin.

Everything else seemed to fade away. I let go of the magic holding the man in place.

“Thank you…thank yo…” the guard’s voice trailed off as he slumped forward, landing on the ground with a heavy thump.

Releasing me, Melinda frowned. She looked at the man with pity, she said, “Maybe it would have been better to just end his suffering.”

I shook my head, “Thank you, Mel.”

The other three men still sat on the bench, held up by spikes that reached into their ribs or protruded out from the shoulder in one case. Their eyes were glazed over and lifeless, blood ran down their chins. In the ruins of the central fountain, a body rested without a head. There was surprisingly little blood in the area, but steam was still rising from the stump that remained of his neck. The fifth guard no longer stood, but knelt, having slid further down on the spike that impaled him only a few feet away.

I felt a fading sense of pleasure and pride as I surveyed the scene—lingering emotions from whatever darkness possessed my mind. These men were definitely not good men and they deserved to suffer, but that wasn’t why I did it. It started as retaliation and a desire to defend Melinda, but it quickly turned into something else, something more sinister. A wave of remorse washed over me and I couldn’t help but feel as though I was no better than them.

“I might’ve lost myself completely if you hadn’t stopped me.”

Melinda smiled warmly. "It doesn't matter." She stepped closer to me and pulled me into a tight hug. My arms reflexively tightened around her, pulling her closer until I could feel her heartbeat against mine. I was grateful that I had her and Lumia to keep me grounded, but I worried it might not be enough. Then she whispered in my ear. "Let’s go back to Zidg. We have enough information, we can wait for Lumia and make a plan."

I preferred to finish things quickly and not rely on Lumia. I wanted her to have a chance to rest, or at least a day without having to fight. Also there was a part of me that still wanted to prove I could take care of myself, that I wasn’t just an unnecessary burden to Lumia. Despite all that, I recognized the wisdom in Melinda’s words. Pulling away from her, I nodded and said, “let’s go.”

A streak of black passed behind Melinda, taking her head with it and leaving a crimson trail. It felt like time slowed, almost stopping completely, as her head came free of her shoulders. Her body took a step forward then fell over. The streak was gone, along with Melinda’s head. I tried to find it, to expand my senses through mana, but all I could see was her lifeless form lying in a pool of blood.

“Melinda…” I sobbed slowly, doubt and disbelief consuming me completely. “…get up Melinda, you’re not really dead, right?”

She didn’t answer and her body didn’t move. My vision blurred, returned, then blurred again.

“Good boy…” A woman’s voice said. It was familiar, but I couldn’t place where I’d heard it before. “You tried your hardest, so I’ll take it from here.”

I felt disconnected from reality, like I was tumbling through empty space in a boundless void.

‘This must be a dream,’ I thought. ‘I need to wake up… Melinda is…’

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

I tumbled head over heels, but it was a slow fall. I was like a rock sinking in water, only I wasn’t really sure if I could be said to be falling or sinking. I was definitely flipping though. After five rotations I let go of rationality, logic, and reason. Reality was hard, but this was easy. I didn’t have to think or feel, I could just exist.

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Styrmir’s POV

“You disappoint me Gerald.” My fingers twitched with nervous excitement as I waited for the boy to arrive. It would be soon now, but first… I turned my head abruptly to look the brute in his eyes. “I offered you and your group protection in exchange for one thing. What is that one thing, Gerald?”

Hanging his head, he began weekly, “the return of yo—”

“The return of my sword!” I said sharply, letting my power swell so that lightning leapt from my shoulders and back, striking the walls forcefully. “In ten years, you’ve only managed to learn its location, but you’re powerless to retrieve it.”

Gerald fell to his knees, letting his shoulders slump forward. He needed me perhaps more than I needed him. If not for my protection this criminal safe haven would never have existed. The others believed this base to be untouchable, but that was only because of my power. Their illusion wouldn’t be able to contain an army all at once and no matter how well built the walls were, the location was terrible. A conventional army would sack this place in half a day if I were to abandon it.

“I can’t get your sword, but we will find someone who can, give us more time and I swear to you—”

“Empty promises do me no good; besides, I’ve already found someone who can retrieve Raiden.”

Gerald’s eyes widened. “You found someone who can take on Anahita?”

“The boy that sent you scrambling back here. He took my lightning and survived. He’s obviously stronger than you.”

“That boy lacks awareness and skill. He could never beat her!” The Beast roared defiantly. “Send him if you want, but he will never return to you.”

“And yet he beat you…” I narrowed my eyes on him, wondering if he understood what he’d just said. “Doesn’t that mean you’re no longer useful to me?”

Realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. He dropped his gaze toward the floor. Clicking his tongue, he got back to his feet. Glaring fiercely at me he roared, “that boy isn’t normal. Light and darkness, he uses both! No one can do that… but that doesn’t mean he’s unbeatable. If I face him again, I won’t lose!”

Whether it was bravery or desperation that compelled him I wasn’t sure, but I didn’t care. Excuses were all I’d gotten from him and I was tired of being the shadow behind him and his men. “You—” I intended to dismiss him, but stopped short seeing that his body was crumbling into dust.

After a few seconds, all that remained of Gerald was an empty mana core. A silver eyed denori strode into the room, picked up the core and looked through it at me. He looked different, but I recognized him immediately. Golden hair flowed from his head, his skin was purple-gray in color and covered in black scales. His stance was a bit odd—one hand on his hip and the other dropped down by his side. Avary crushed Gerald’s core as his eyes met mine. “It’s good to see you, Styrmir. Although I remember you being more…powerful.”

“And I remember you being more confined,” I replied curtly. “Stuck on the dark half of Lumosa with the rest of your kind.”

Avary chuckled as his form shifted and distorted then stabilized again. Now he appeared as a she, an elf, lithe and graceful. Almost everything about his appearance changed; she was no longer covered in scales. Her silver eyes glimmered within deep sockets, giving them a natural shadow and making them appear brighter. The shape of her body became curvy and round, her feminine features now rivaled the appearance of Auriella—although her body was not golden or bright.

“Avary has long been a part of me, but it’s true I can only access a portion of his power… at least for now.” Mirin said, a grin forming on her face as she stepped forward.

Seeing her true face I understood the stance and mannerisms. They were distinctly Mirin.

“I think you know why I’ve come,” she said as she reached me.

Mirin was like a harbinger of calamity. Wherever she went bad things followed. Kingdoms fell to ruin, populations disappeared, and those with power were left powerless and broken. She didn’t leave behind bodies, only empty cores. I could guess why she came, but I didn’t know for certain.

I shook my head. “Not at all, I didn’t even know you still lived until a moment ago.”

Feigning offense she made an exaggerated gesture and gasped. “Surely you didn’t truly think me gone?”

“I did,” I said with a shrug. “Preferred it that way too.”

Mirin shrugged as well. Holding out a hand she said, “I’ve come for Raiden.” An expectant smile appeared on her face as she curled and uncurled her fingers.

A surge of emotion overcame me. Wild and uncontrolled, lightning surged along every inch of my flesh, then blasted out in all directions. In an instant I obliterated the entire building. Stone rained down around us, but neither I nor Mirin moved a step. I wouldn’t be hurt by stones, any that came near were blasted to dust. Mirin was protected by an invisible dome.

“There’s no need for this tantrum, Styrmir. Just hand it over and I’ll be gone.”

“You brazen fool!” I roared, an electric crackle popping in my voice. “Among men you may inspire fear, but I am not a man!”

“King, spirit, or god, it makes no difference to me, when someone has something I want, I take it.” Mirin smiled wickedly. “I guess we’ll add elemental to that list.”

It wasn’t just “something” she asked for. Raiden was a physical embodiment of my power, but it was currently not in my possession or anywhere I could reach. Even if I did have the sword I would never give it away, I wouldn’t even loan it.

With all the might of thunder, I let my voice boom. “Get out of my sight, and pray I never find you again!”

Completely unfazed, Mirin giggled and summoned a blade of light. “I think you’re underestimating me a little.”

“It’s you who underestimates me! I am a force of nature, you can not hurt me,” I said as my physical body melted away in several blasts of powerful lightning. What was left of the room, a large part of the building, crumbled under constant strikes of my anger.

The sky darkened with black clouds and bolts of blue energy cascaded down across the forest. My true form could neither be contained nor defined, yet this mortal thought to challenge me… “I will enjoy destroying you.”