“Elfred, get yourself together. I know a way we can beat them, but you’re gonna have to stop being a coward.” I ducked under another attack from the spirit that had challenged me. I thought about trying to attack in retaliation, possibly freeing some space between me and my opponent, but I knew my attacks were ineffective. Best to let my [SP] build back up and when I’m ready go all out. As I considered my new plan, I realized I was too hasty in activating my [War Cry] ability. Another mistake that I was going to have to learn from and learn from quickly.

“Meren,” I called out making my way closer to Elfred. “We have to use fire. If you can hear me. Use fire. Elfred, get up.” I reached down and grabbed the man by the collar of his hood and pulled him to his feet as the spirit that was attacking him took another swing. Luckily it had missed and given us enough time for me to get the poor sap back on his feet and into the broken-down camp.

“Elfred, I need you to enchant my weapon. Can you do that? Elfred, are you listening?” I put my warhammer on the ground letting it rest on the heavy head. I pulled Elfred’s attention, so he was looking me right in the eyes. “Elfred, I need your help. Please.”

Something in the way I spoke must have gotten through to him. He wiped a tear from the corner of his eyes and nodded. “What do you need?”

“Can you enchant my weapon? With fire.”

“Yeah. Yeah, sure I can do that.” Elfred lifted his talisman before me and indicated for me to present my warhammer. I lifted it and watched as he placed the talisman on the handle of my weapon. I expected the thing to suddenly burst in flame but nothing so majestic happened. “Done. It should be enchanted.”

I didn’t have time to question him or to inspect my weapon as two spirits fell upon us. The one with the scythe and another with a shield and short spear. They let out a synced wailing as they attacked. Without hesitation I swung with my warhammer right into the shield of the first spirit. In a crash of fire and ethereal wood, the spirits shield splintered in the air as its health was cut in two. It had lost its defense and had tumbled backward. My hit had made contact, unlike before. The fire not only increased my damage but also made any of my hits make actual contact.

The scythe wielding spirit swung at me, and I was barely able to bring my hammer around and counter it with the hilt. My [SP] was staggered again dropping me to zero. I dropped my warhammer on the ground as my body became too exhausted to hold it up. I was wide open for a counterattack. I waited for a cut that would inevitably be excruciating but before the spirit could swing its weapon around Elfred and jumped in front of me and stabbed it right in the gut. He withdrew his weapon and stabbed again and again. Three attacks in a row and the spirit faded in a shattering of light and echoing screams.

“Elfred?” I asked. “Yeah Elfred! Way to go.”

I lifted my warhammer and took a short breather. My [SP] was still on the low end but I no longer had to worry about the guy. “Can you get the blessing to Meren?”

“I can’t. I’m out of [MP]. I only had enough for the two of us.” Elfred swung his spear out in front of him making the advancing spirits to take a step back.

“I’m all good.” Meren came bounding out of the trees. She had a wild smile on her face and two blades covered in green flames. She cut at the spirit whose shield I broke. When it disappeared, she cut at the next one. Elfred and I looked at each other and with a smile followed in her footsteps. The next few minutes were actually really fun. The three of us easily dispatching the remaining spirits. When all was done the only thing remaining on the path were the three of us, each almost out of breath, and dots of glowing energy. They were small, almost like the wick of a candle.

I stepped up to the nearest one and in a rush of excitement all of the energy converged and flew into my chest. I received an updated notification.

[25 Ichor Received]

[25 Ichor Received]

[25 Ichor Received]

[25 Ichor Received]

Looking at my character information I was now sitting at a total of 250 Ichor, but I still needed 150 more before I could level up again. I searched the area, thirsty for more action. If there were more spirits for me to grind away, I could get my next level in no time.

“Thank you.” Elfred walked up to me, hand close to his chest.

“Yeah, no problem. Once I figured that fire could hurt them it was no problem.” I turned to look at Meren who flicked her blades in the air dispersing the fire that had consumed them. “How did you do that?”

“The fire? Oh, that was nothing. Once I heard you yell out that the fire was key, I realized that all these lanterns weren’t just for decoration. I dipped my blade in the lanterns oil and — fire blades.” She raised her eyebrows at me, a long smile on her face. Both Elfred and I stared at her dumbfounded. “What? I play a lot of video games. Let’s keep moving before more of those things come back.”

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As Meren started to walk away she motioned at the lantern hanging behind us. The green fire had died out. I nodded to Elfred and we both rushed to catch up to the flaming haired Brigand.

“That was impressive.” I said walking up to Meren’s side.

“Yeah… I’m glad you guys came along,” Elfred commented. “There is no way I would have figured out that fire thing. So again… thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. Besides I gained a level.” She winked at the two of us.

“How—” I was cut off before I could finish asking how she managed to get another level before me when something rushed from a nearby tree and threw us all to the ground. I didn’t see what it was, but I had a feeling. The boss fighting was about to begin.

“It’s her,” Elfred exclaimed. “It’s Elumbra.” The balding man curled up next to an old stone wall no higher than my waist. He had his hands wrapped around his head as if to avoid being hit. I stayed low to the ground as did Meren.

“What should we do?” I asked.

“If I know games, and I think I do. She’s got the same weakness as the spirits we fought. Hey, Elfred, you got any more of those enchantments?” She waved her hand to get his attention. “Hey Elfred come on. Can you bless our weapons?”

Elfred snapped out of his crying for a second to say he was still out of [MP] but he did have his [Golden Carnation] if we wanted him to use it.

“No keep it until we have no other choice,” I responded back. I turned to look for another lantern or even another source of fire. I caught side of something green glowing farther down the path, but it was a good distance away. “Up ahead. There is another lantern. If we can get to it we can use that against her. When our [SP] is full and when the coast is clear let’s make a run for it. Everyone understand?”

Meren nodded her head and after she kicked Elfred in the foot, he also gave me a thumbs up. We waited a few more seconds as we could hear the Goddess encircling where we were hiding, like shark circling its prey.

“On three we run. One… two… three!” I sprinted and was immediately reminded that speed and heavy armor don’t mix. Elfred and Meren cut in front of me and got far ahead as they run for the lantern. Every step I took I fell further behind as I watched them leave me.

I heard Elumbra before I saw her. She came whistling behind me, a cold dead wind rushing with her as I was launched forward. I felt my knee hit the ground first, then caught myself on top of my warhammer.

[HP]: 20/22

Great, I was back on the ground and a boss was about to cut me apart. I rolled over to my back and was met with a ghastly, bone-dry face of a woman. Her eyes were a cold blue, her lips black as midnight, and she had fingernails as long as blades. She let out a low murmur like a cat relishing in her prey.

“So handsome. So young. So… delicious.” She brought her face close to mine and let her breath brush against my ear. I felt a rush of freezing energy curl around me and trace up my spine as she spoke, then there was the pain. She had pressed her fingernails under my chainmail near my stomach. I let out a loud cry as my flesh slowly fell away from her touch.

[HP]: 16/22

“Oh, how sweet the vision of your tears. Let them fall in the light of dusk and let night take you.” She continued to whisper in my ear, her fingernails cutting my gut. My vision started to fade away as I laid there, this Goddess draining the life from me.

[HP]: 14/22

[HP]: 12/22

[HP]: 10/22

I tried to get my warhammer out from under me, but I was pinned down and in no position to attack. I let go of my weapon and reached for my dual blades.

“What is my little rose doing?” Elumbra spoke, voice as soft as silk drapes. “Does he wish to resist me. To leave me? No… I will take you. I will have you.”

“Think again you ugly bitch.” Meren cried out as she cut across Elumbra’s face, blades coated in green flames. Elumbra hollered and shifted away from me. I felt her fingernails slide from my stomach. A sensation I would always remember. “You alright?”

“I… I don’t know. My stomach. Ah it hurts.” I put my hand to my stomach and felt the warm flow of my blood.

“You’re not dead yet. Get up.” Meren urged me as she stepped between Elumbra and I.

I put my elbow underneath my weight and rolled into a seated position. I watched as Elumbra came flying toward Meren but was cut off as a lantern came crashing down in front of her. Green flames spreading all around. Elfred kneeled next to me, wrapping his arms under mine. “Let’s get up. Come on Zerik. It’s my turn to help you.”

“I thought you guys left me.” I said coming to my feet.

“Well… I almost did. But Meren kind of made me come back.” Elfred gave me a sheepish grin.

“You two done talking? It’s time to fight.” Meren said.

“Right. Let’s do this.” I placed my warhammer on my back and took out my dual blades. I then stepped up next to Meren, green flames licking at our feet, and let my blades sink into the fire. I held them up and watched as the oil from the lantern spread across the iron blades, alive and ready for consume.

Elumbra rushed from one side, phased around the fires, and came for my throat. I activated my dual blade’s ability [Fury] spending 3[SP] in the processes and let out a series of attacks each one dealing significant damage to the Goddess. Meren didn’t let up her attacks either and came around to behind the Goddess and cut into her back with a series of slashes.

Elumbra was stuck between the two of us, but my [SP] was slowly depleting and I could feel my own body give way to the pain of her previous attack. Elfred, after an awkward pause, came to my side and jabbed at Elumbra with his spear, but he was slow on his attack, and she grabbed his weapon pulling him to the ground. She let flung her hand towards me face and caught me across the jaw.

[HP]: 6/22

Crap that hurt!

Elumbra’s presence jumped to my side and as she was about to finish me off, Meren sunk both daggers into the Goddess neck. The blue-glowing eyes faded to gray. The black lips hung low, and her entire ghostly body started to slump to the side. As she fell, she faded to nothing. Golden energy floating in the air and encircled the three of us.

[GOD FELLED]

[800 Ichor Received]