Despite all the obstacles which had appeared in front of Dreiki thus far, they had been manageable. Within the span of a morning into the afternoon, they had turned a losing battle into a competitive war. Their ambush had gone off without a hitch, leaving Luna and the other Tibur captains to keep Kaara and Vilka busy with their army of elementals. On the other end, Rixam, Gornax, and Tulos got what they wanted: A proper match with Deka and the Xirxus brothers.
Dreiki left them in the retreat. He could not summon elementals, nor would his magic be useful for covering their retreat. He rode atop Ezo, branching off from the rest of the group to meet up with Tadios and fill him in on the details. Tadios should have known to come to the clearing regardless, but a lot had changed in the plans since they last spoke.
The sun was starting to set, leaving a pinkish red hue in the snow. They still had a few hours before midnight, but the outcome of this war would be decided long before that. Dreiki could tell Ezo was starting to get tired from how much he had been running around today. He would remember to give Ezo something nice after tonight.
Dreiki was halfway to the medical tent before he felt an all too familiar chill run down his back. His attention snapped back to what was in front of him as Ezo let out a snarling growl. He willed the bat drake to stop, sliding in the snow as a slender grinning figure stood before them. It was the Osazi.
He could feel Ezo’s fur standing up, ears folded down as it gnashed its teeth at the creature. Its grin spread wider, cheeks splitting open to reveal its numerous yellow teeth. It raised its finger, as if revelling in making him watch.
It felt like the Osazi was gripping his heart with that mangled hand. Like it had sank its filthy black nails into his soul. It willed him to keep looking. To watch every last bit of its self harm. Dreiki couldn’t look away, but he could still move. Panic, rage, and fear filled him as he did the only thing he could think of. He thrust his palm out, engulfing the monster in as much fire as he could summon. He felt a horrid jab of pain in his arm, his flames extinguished in a single moment. The muscles in his forearm seized, that pain spreading like venom. He fell off of Ezo, letting out a strangled scream. His heart was being squeezed, his face was pale, contorted in a pain-filled grin. Was this what happened when one tried to harm an Osazi?
Dreiki was compelled to look up and watch again. He watched as it took its finger and punctured the smooth skin where its eyes should have been. It carved an eye socket for itself, black blood gushed from its new wound, painting its sickly pale skin. It dripped, sizzling in the snow like water on a hot stove.
The pure white snow which had turned red as blood by the sunset. No, by the Osazi itself.
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It dug its finger around inside its own head, hooking its lengthy digit inside its skull and bulging the skin of its other eye out. It stretched and stretched until it burst like a cooked sausage. Dreiki wanted to vomit. He wanted to shout for help. He wanted his mother.
The Osazi finished its horrid display, a new pair of hollow eyes now staring him down. Ezo stood over him protectively, letting out a rattling hiss from its throat, but not daring to attack it. Ezo was frightened too.
The Osazi laughed, its vile voice echoing inside Dreiki’s head. It vanished like a mirage right along with the seizing pain it had brought him.
Dreiki shot to his feet, mounting Ezo. He had to go back. Luna, Rixam, Gornax, and everyone else he cared about was in grave danger. Ezo knew it too, charging through the pitch black forest.
By the time he arrived, though, it was already too late. Tulos and Gornax were passed out on the ground with their horns severed, and Anitus was standing over Rixam, his sword drawn.
Smokescreen
He channeled his magic, but nothing came.
Smokescreen
Nothing. Why wasn’t it working? He heard Rixam cry out in pain, looking up to see Anitus had severed his wing from his body.
Smokescreen! Smokescreen! Smokescreen!
His soul wasn’t damaged. He tried to utilize his Ux to bolster the spell, but time and time again, nothing came out. He felt that cold grip around his heart again. The shifting trees of the night seemed to contort their bark into grins around him. He broke out into a cold sweat, his ears ringing. His panicked breathing and racing heart were the only things he could hear now. Violently thrashing inside his body in a desperate attempt to escape the cold oppressive grip of the Osazi.
It had taken his magic from him! He was powerless. They were torturing Rixam. He was powerless!
Dreiki wheezed, falling from Ezo’s back as the horrid visage of the Osazi filled his head.
Powerless!
He couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t get enough air into his lungs!
Powerless!
Image after image raced past his mind. He heard Rixam screaming. He was being torn apart by those nobles. They were going to kill him and he couldn’t do anything to stop it. Not without his magic.
Powerless…
Dreiki dug his hands into his face, he wanted to dig down to his brain. He wanted to claw his eyes out to make it stop. A low metallic hum sounded off in his ears. Like a wind chime on a calm spring morning. He noticed a gentle warmth on his shoulder looking up from his hands to see Ezo resting his jaw there. The drake had curled its body around him. Dreiki felt its mane, its soft fur, its warmth. He hugged Ezo as tight as he could and cried. He couldn’t remember the last time he had cried this way. Tears shed over frustration, sadness, and pain were one thing, but it had been so long since he had been so relieved he could cry. Knowing that Ezo was here with him. Knowing that there was still time. The grip on his heart vanished, and his mind cleared.
“Thank you, Ezo.” He said, wiping his tears away as he rose to his feet. He could still save Rixam and Gornax, magic or not.