A cacophony of terrible blasts and crashes rang out through the night as the Tamer road on a spectral horse with Angelica. The tentacles arbitrarily fell around them. They were out of the beast's vision now, but the consequences of that were dire.
The cries and screams of the innocent blew into Angelica’s ears with each strike of the massive shadows.
Angelica gripped onto the cloths of the Tamer, “We have to get away from here! We put the people at risk!”
A tentacle came down on a building, crushing the thing an instant as if it was made of sand.
“The further we are from that thing the safer you are. If we go back now it will surely mean the end of you.”
The Rogue’s voice came from the side of the horse, “About that…”
Angelica almost jumped out of her skin at his entrance. He hung to the side of the horse as they rode, “Don’t scare me like that!”
The Rogue shrugged and the Tamer turned to him, “Go back? Your insane. She’ll die.”
“That just depends on what you do. That thing on the seawall is aiming for her. It won’t stop before her body goes cold.”
Angelica’s face went dead, “You want me to die, don’t you?”
The Rogue shook his head, “Your lack of faith in me is insulting. We have a plan, and that plan involves all the tentacles in one place. The only way to do that is to use you.”
Angelica furrowed her brow at his words, “What is this plan…”
The Rogue disappeared, and Angelica spit at where he was, “bastard.”
She then looked to the Tamer and he looked at her, they both knew what they needed to do, even if they didn’t like it.
The Tamer spurred the horse on, turning him back towards the sea wall, avoiding the giant tentacles falling all around them with great difficulty.
Canadine and Ferian did their best to avoid the tentacles that fended them off. Canadine gritted his teeth in concentration while Ferian seemed rather loose-lipped.
“So just to be clear, I throw the spear at its chest?”
“Yes!”
“That’s gonna take a long time to finish the job.”
“You’ll have it!”
“I would hope so!”
Canadine heard the clopping of hooves and spun to see the man in the dragon mask with Alesria.
Canadine and Ferian jumped back to the edge of the square, ready for the task at hand.
The man in the dragon mask reined the horse to a stop in the middle of the square and faced down the creature that loomed over him like the shadow of death.
Alesria eyes widened, “Tamer…ummm what are you doing?”
“Now Calheil! Now!” The woman in black shrieked.
The beast pulled back all its tentacles at once. Again, it blocked out the light of the moon in stairs. The creature silhouette looked as if it had a massive mane.
All its mane came down with the force of a thousand armies down upon the place the Tamer and Alesria inhabited.
Alesria began to squirm, “Tamer…Tamer!”
Just before the beast’s arms made impact, Canadine gripped his axe and a root slung itself around Alesria. He pulled it and threw her back behind him. She tumbled and rolled to the ground. Just has Alesria was pulled away, the man in the dragon mask disappeared.
The tentacles hit the ground, sending an earthquake of great magnitude through the town. The earth cracked under the blow and tiny fissures spread from it.
Canadine slammed the hilt of his axe into the ground without hesitation. Thousands of roots sprouted from the ground, tying the limbs to the earth.
Ferian readied his spear and threw it at the beast, and it gave a great cry as the stone bit its skin and embedded itself into the creature's chest.
“Easy enough.” Ferian remarked as he focused on the spear.
Canadine was not as enthusiastic. He knew that in a brief moment his whole being would be threatening to rip itself apart. He didn’t have to wait long for it.
The beast gave a terrible scream and pulled its arms up against the root.
His arms felt like they would rip themselves apart. His head felt as if a rat had found itself inside and was trying to scratch its way out.
He began to slip
Angelica looked up from her new found place on the ground. Her white robes, now unrecognizable from their original color. They were now a mixture of red, black, and brown.
She looked to the Rogue, “You could have caught me.”
“Your words earlier had hurt my heart.” he said sardonically.
The two men who had appeared in the village by fate alone now stood before them, holding back the beast that threatened to leave their small town to the ruins of history.
Angelica looked on with panted breath, “Will they hold do you think?”
“Hmmm…maybe…”
“They better!” The Jester appeared next to her still shaking the bells of his cane, “Of course I could easily give us victory if I had a bod…”
The Rogue started scratching the knife at his side, “Just keep jingling those bells fool.”
The Jester choked on his tongue, “That doesn’t mean much coming from the one who let our mistress tumble in the dirt! What if something happened to her!”
“She’s alive.” She’s alive remarked the Rogue.
“And your one lucky bas…”
The three froze as the sounds of footsteps came from all round them. Terrible snarls and scratching on stone soon followed.
Dark shadows of horrible creatures appeared on the brink of the square. Their eyes all honed on the two men at the center. They appeared hesitant, shaking their heads in pawing at the ground, but the air felt as if it was pulled taut and would soon break, and the air spoke true.
The Rogue knife sang as he brought it forth from its sheath, “Ring those bells jester.”
The shadows watched on with apprehension and the spectre’s stared back in anticipation. It would only be moments now…before something broke the air.
…
…
…
SNAP! A broken root.
The shadows cried and charged. Their movements were wild and arbitrary, something too great to control as they flooded into the square.
The Rogue disappeared and reappeared next to the Vindex, rushing to meet the onslaught. The Tamer did the same but besides Canadine.
The Rogue slashed and sliced without reason. All around him in a sea of shadow was a cruel beast, and it was all he could do but not get swept up with them.
The Tamer, summoned God’s spectral beast and they rammed into the horde with devastating effect.
All the while Canadine and Ferian tried to subdue the creature.
Angelica watched on fumbling with her thoughts, “Why aren’t they coming over here?”
The Jester gave a conceited laugh, “You underestimate my abilities my lady.”
Angelica doubted his assessment.
It was shortly made evident that the spectres were being pushed back. Soon the shadows would be upon Canadine and Ferian and it would all be over. Angelica looked to the great beast on the sea wall. It’s just had almost fully been turned to stone, but she reckonrd the rest would be a long time coming.
The rain began to barrage the earth as if to wipe it all away. Lightning struck to ground, sending sparks through the air.
“What the hell! I can barely see the thing!” Ferian exclaimed
The Jester’s bells were almost entirely drowned out by the downpour, “I thought you were loved by God! Why is he trying to drown us!”
Angelica smirked. She felt the waves in the air, they wisped at her face like soft kisses, “That I am, but he is not answering my prayer now!” Angelica turned back towards the town church, a soft light poured from the darkness, “It seems that Leren is taking advantage of that body.”
The Jester groaned, “Let’s hope he doesn’t drown you!”
“Thats…”
Lightning flashed and gave light to something that made Angelica lose her words. A wave. It loomed over the great beast on the sea wall.
“We’ll be going now Jester.”
“Going?! What…oh, yes, I believe that is a wise choice my lady.”
Canadine couldn’t feel his hands. His grip on the hilt of his axe was so tight that he had long since lost feeling, he could only hope they stayed strong. His mind was blank, numbed by the effort. Whenever a thought would sprout, it would be washed away by a wave of static, so much so that he never noticed the very real wave that fell upon him.
It slammed into the creature on the seawall, threatening to send it spilling into the square. The water rushed over the seawall. Some parts of it crumbled and cracked under the weight.
The first sign of the water that reached Canadine’s senses was from Ferian.
“Ahhh, what no….” the waters crashed into him, dragging him along its currents.
The water slapped Canadine. He slipped at the tremendous force and was sent back a few paces.
His eyes widened and he planted his feet into the earth as a firm anchor. They screamed and begged not to be one by the time it was over.
When the water past, Canadine gasped for air. The arms of the foul creature had stopped moving, providing him with reprieve.
He looked around. The spectres were unaffected by the surge of the sea. The shadows at been thrown about and now stumbled, dazed and confused. The spectre’s acted on this, striking down all that were still vulnerable.
“That damned priest has a lot to answer for when we’re done!” Ferian was crouched on the ground, his arm outstretched towards the spear in the creature's chest.
Despite all this Canadine couldn’t help but feel a little hope rise in his chest…
The woman in black was before him. She looked ancient, her skin could have been a worn rag. She lacked teeth, and her eyes were deep into her skull, so that her sockets might as well have been empty.
“Do you think you have won then?” She asked, “Are you satisfied.”
“Plenty.” Canadine let out
“How cruel you must be for killing to satisfy you.”
“I haven’t killed anything this night.”
The woman gave a mornful moan, “You have butchered my children! They die in agony because you selfishly refuse to lie down and accept fate.”
“Your children are shells. You are the selfish one for sending them upon me knowing they perish. Selfish for using them so that you may claim a powerful trophy.”
“Lies!” She spit.
“What are you so afraid of that you need him?”
The woman seemed to pale, “You know nothing.”
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“I know that tonight you will be driven out.”
The woman glared and more shadows started to appear out of the edges of the square, more than there were before, “You underestimate me child.”
Her skin tightened and cleared. Her eyes came forward, and teeth reappeared.
Canadine sent fire at her in rage, but she disappeared before it reached her.
The beast howled over the seawall and Canadine seized his axe in panic. Once again, he was thrown into a world of pain and static as he resisted its great strength.
The outside world disappeared for a moment. It was just him and the arms of the beast. He held on. His body cracked and screamed at his attempts. It would only be a bit longer. They were almost there…
Canadine felt a violent pressure on his neck. It felt as if it would be crushed until a fierce sting overwhelmed him and his neck suddenly felt wet and sticky.
His eyes widened and he looked to the side. A wild shadow hung from him. It had an ape-like shape and clung to him with all four limbs. Its teeth were razor sharp and a red liquid dripped from them.
Canadine bit his lip and the green fire exploded from him. The thing was blasted back, but it hopped back on him with great tenacity. It screamed in agony as the flames licked at its flesh, but still bit at Canadine’s flesh.
Canadine sent another explosion of flame and another. He kept his hands on his axe, but they were loosening and the roots were snapping by the second.
Another mass slammed into him. Then another, then another. They bit and scratched at him. He was sent to his knees by them, but kept hold of his axe. He had to hold on.
He began to slip. His nails began to grow, things began to slow down, the bites and scratching began to hurt less and less. He began to hear the cries of people from across the village. The flames heat grew and grew with the fury of a volcano. The shadows cried and begged as they were turned to ash. Their pleas never reached his ears. A single voice drowned everything else out.
“Mahveki!”
“NO!” Canadine roared from his very soul.
The fire exploded from him and swept the square with the spirit of destruction itself, turning all to ashe
No noise was heard from the shadows in protest to the flame. They had evaporated in an instant.
Canadine’s heart skipped a beat and he spun around.
Ferian was on his knees, vomiting onto the ground. His skin was pale and flaky. He slowly looked at Canadine, “What…what happened?” He turned his head to the side.
A body burnt to a crisp lay there, unrecognizable from the coat of ash and horrible disfiguration.
“Ah hell…that was probably my last one. Good staying back did for me.”
The Rogue withered inpain next to him. His whole right side had been set alight, “AHHHH, GET IT OFF, GET IT OFF.”
Canadine waved his hand and the flames disappeared, with them the Rogue went. He reappeared with his chilly demeanor, but his spine was rigid, “I went back into the void, but those flames…they followed me…” He mumbled.
The man in the dragon mask sat atop a winged beast with a square-like head and curved beak. In front of him, Angelica sat, eyes wide and trembling.
Canadine gave a sigh of relief. He didn’t know what he would have done if the man hadn’e gotten to her in time.
A loud moan came into the air from the beast on the sea wall. The roots that held its limbs had been completely burnt away with them. The creature lifted its knubs into the air. Canadine’s mouth practically dropped when he saw the consequences of his flames.
The woman in black’s voice carried through the wind, “I was so close! The girl was as good as dead! By your hands no less! Calheil…finish this.”
From each of the thousands of nubs came two more tentacles, so that there were so many that it was as if they were the sky itself. The beast's whole chest had now been turned to stone, but it would be long before the tentacles were turned as well.
The beast roared and brought the sky down upon them. No escape would be possible this time.
In those brief seconds before the things arm would make impact Canadine’s mind wandered. He was forced to face the possibility that he would have to let him take control. To save the village and Alesria it would be necessary, but then again, the village and her would be destroyed if he did. It wouldn’t matter for he was incredibly poor at making a decision it seemed for it was too late. The tentacles were only an…
“Huh?”
A tentacle was so close to him that he might be able to touch it, but it didn’t move, it simply trembled.
The beast gave a furious roar but it was in vain. Golden threads wrapped around the tentacles, holding them back.
“Miss me?”
Canadine turned and saw Selari hovering in the sky, her hands ran over what looked like a golden ball.
“More than you know!” Canadine called back.
Selari smirked, “What you get for putting a hole in Ms.Yolen’s clinic. Though it seems that we have a bit of catching up to do based off the fact that…well, you're on fire for starters.”
“In soon time.”
Ferian looked between the two. He was soaked with sweat and had bags under his eyes, “I don’t want to interrupt, but can we please kill this damn thing already.”
The beast roared as it struggled against Selari’s thread. She furrowed her brow in concentration, “I would have to agree, I don’t know how long I can hold it back, those shadows are like poison to the threads.”
As Selari played tug of war with the beast Canadine looked to his axe, remembering Leren’s blessing. He looked to the creature, focusing on its head.
He looked around and caught the gaze of the man with the dragon mask, and pointed up at the creature. The man nodded in response.
He commanded the creature he road to dive towards Canadine.
“Woah, woah, woah! Tamer what are you doing!” Alesria called out
The Tamer reached out a hand as he passed Canadine, and he took it. The Tamer through him up on the spectral creature, much to Alesria’s surprise, “What are you doing!?”
Canadine clutched his axe, “Going for the head.”
“Are you a fool!? It will just regenerate…”
“Not if I don’t let it.”
Alesria looked over him with the least bit of confidence.
Canadine gave a wide smile, “Don’t worry Alesria, by the end of tonight this will all be just a memory.”
Alesria’s brow twitched in annoyance, “Don’t call me that! How do you even know that name!”
“You don’t remember?”
Some golden threads snapped and its captives darted straight for them.
Canadine and Alesria clunged tight to the spectral beast as the Tamer dove, spun and flanked the pursuing limbs.
Selari’s threads would reappear around them soon after they broke, but it was obviously a struggle.
The Tamer broke through the cage of darkness, and rose in the air to meet the moon. Its soft glow was almost nostalgic.
Canadine jumped from the beast, brandishing his axe.
Chetch!
All the threads snapped at once. Thousands of tentacles rushed for Canadine. As Canadine fell it looked as if he was falling into hell from those who looked on.
Canadine reached the head. His axe met flesh. He exhaled.
An eruption of holy light pierced the sky, splitting the beast’s head in two. The tentacles went limp and all went quiet. Canadine took a deep breath and noticed the sinew of the head slowly began to reattach. He gritted his teeth, brought his axe up, and released a destructive rage.
He became a blur, slamming his axe into the creature's head. With each strike, a holy light flashed like lighting and with the thunder of a thousand trumpets.
He stroke and stroke. His axe was a hammer and the creature's head an anvil. His mind went blank. His only thought was killing the monster.
He hefted his axe up, preparing to bring it down with all his strength…
A low mournful sob like that of a baby.
Canadine’s eyes blinked and it was as if he woke up from a dream. He was covered in a black liquid; it dripped from his hair and made his clothes stick to his skin.
The stone had spread up to the creature's neck. The tentacles that had caused so much chaos now were now statues in the air.
Canadine jumped from the beast onto the seawall and looked up at it. Its large empty eyes were filled with tears. Its sobs were methodical and constant as if it was trying to say something.
Canadine stared the beast down with a grim expression, refusing to humor the creature. It sobbed and sobbed until its mouth too was stone and shortly after that the head. The once violent and sorrowful kraken was frozen in time. The end of the Beast of Curiosity and that night of tragedy.
***
The woman in black weakly wept on a rock by the sea, “Are you happy? Are you satisfied? You have sentenced us both to death.”
Canadine stood over her with his axe in one hand. The other hung lifelessly at his side, “Death is better than being your puppet.”
The woman in black looked up at Canadine. Her face was handsome with a few grey hairs. She had the face of a desperate child as tears rolled down her cheeks. Canadine gave a solemn gulp at her appearance.
“You would not be my puppet!” She cried, “We would be a family. We would console each other. There would be no room for lies or betrayal. Doesn’t that sound nice? If only the world could understand…Calheil understood…”
“Calheil was a shell. A pitiful minion that bent to your will. You see were that got it.”
The woman frantically shook her head, “No, no, no! You don’t understand. I saved him! They were trying to butcher him. Sell him for parts. I saved him from that fate!”
‘You damned the beast to an even worse one.”
The woman stumbled up and weakly punched Canadine in the chest, “You’re wrong. You’re wrong! You know nothing! Nothing! You have no idea what you are a part of. No idea at all. You don’t want to be a puppet? Well, you already are one.”
Canadine’s shoulders went rigid, “What are you…”
She went on despite him, “You want to know why? Because he thinks it's funny! Neither of us will be able to escape him after that! No one will!”
Canadine’s once lifeless arm shot forth and seized the woman’s shoulder, “Who are you talking about!” Canadine barked, fearing the answer.
The woman in black started to turn more and more beautiful and grand despite her tears, “You know who I speak of!” She spit, “The man from your memories! The one who massacred this town! The Master of Comedy!”
Canadine’s lip started to quiver and the woman abruptly paused, considering him. The waves crashed onto the rock where they stood, spraying water into the air. The smell of salt clogged up their nostrils.
The sun began to rise, illuminating the woman’s face, “Your scared.” she spoke.
She backed away from him for a moment in hesitation, “What do I look like to you I wonder.”
Canadine glared at her, but made no move.
“You’ve won, but it’s almost like you lost,” she motioned towards him, “He’s grown more powerful. He’s allied himself with a Prince of Hell.”
“A what?” Canadine mouthed.
The woman gave a weary smile. “You’ve met one. Killed your friend.”
Canadine’s eyes bulged, “Impossible…”
“Not even I can move against him, but if you were to give in to me, we could put an end to him…” she cautiously moved forward with her arms outstretched, “You would no longer have to worry about anything. Mahveki would be contained…”
Flames spit from Canadines shoulders and he readied his axe, “Be quiet!”
The woman in black tripped over herself as she tried to get away. She gave a spiteful and sardonic laugh, “So is that it then? Are you going to kill me? Strike me down with the Primordial Flame? Be the monster you really are!?”
Canadine tried to speak but the words were caught in his throat.
“You can try to prove to yourself that you’re still human, but you’re no different from the brother that you just slaughtered. Aren’t I beautiful in your eyes? There is no hope for you to escape your fate. The fate of a monster.”
Canadine clenched his fist, “Go.” he whispered
“We will see each other again. Be you man or be…:
Canadine slashed his axe through the air, but the woman was already gone.
Angelica squirmed out of the Tamer’s arms. She looked down at her dress. It was so filthy that she believed she would have to get rid of it. Her face was covered with blood and filth, and her hair clung to her face in clops.
She looked up at the seawall, “Is it over?”
A stone statue of the beast now towered into the sky where the monster once attempted to end their lives. The sun was coming up now, illuminating its feature. Now that Angelica got a good look at it, she couldn’t help but think of how sad it looked. She almost felt pity.
“Of course, it's over!” Ferian gave a wide grin and stuck out his chest, “Really made us work for it though.”
The Jester slowly began to stop shaking his bells, “On the bright side, we got a statue out of it. I think that’s a suitable reward.”
A piece of the seawall crumpled and fell under the weight of the statue.
“Sure.” Angelica said dryly.
“It could have been worse.” Selari floated down to the ground.
“Witch.” Angelica spat.
“Saint.” Selari gave a pleasant smile and bow.
Angelica tsked. How embarrassing it was. She wondered what Leren would say to her after she was saved by heretics. She looked to Ferian with his wide smile, the chill of a demon leaked from his figure, she practically felt it. Selari had no such feeling, but was empty of any divine aurora. She thought she might fear that more than the alternative. Again, she berated herself in chagrin.
Selari eyes narrowed in concern, “Where has he gone off to?”
Angelica followed her gaze to the seawall. Suddenly a figure flew into the air, and Canadine landed in front of them, sending dust flying through the square.
The three before him were apprehensive of his appearance. He was covered in the gore of the creature, and his eyes seemed to be lost and distant. His hands still clutched firmly around the hilt of his axe.
He stumbled forward, ready to fall, but some invisible force seemed to hold him up and spur him on.
“Niss.” he whispered, “I have to find…”
Angelica put her hand on her hips, “I don’t know what you're saying, but you owe me…”
The witch gently put her hand on the saint's shoulder, causing Angelica to jump a bit. She turned to the Rogue in surprise at his inaction, but he simply sat on the ground and grunted before disappearing back to the void.
“Same house as when you left.” said Selari.
Canadine’s eyes widened then he limped away into town.
Angelica flushed red as she slapped the witch's arm away and followed the man, “Just wait one moment!...”
Selari took a deep breath of air, seemed satisfied with herself, then slowly drifted behind them.
Ferian watched them as they went then looked around him at his surroundings. All of the houses had been turned to rubble, and ash blew through the square. All that was left was the Beast of Curiosity set in stone.
Ferian began to whistle then followed after the others, “Well there’s nothing left for me here.”
The fire was gone now. Canadine couldn’t stand the sight of it after what that witch had. His head felt like lead and his thoughts seemed to disappear before he could get a hold of him. His legs moved him forward through sheer will, but even they seemed to be moving on their own.
The streets were covered with blood and black liquid. Armored men ran from their wounded with urgency and the innocent townspeople stared out from there windows filled with fear. The whole town was crippled with the music of screams and sobs.
This music reached Canadine’s ears, and he had to close his heart to it, moving forward ever so slowly.
He reached a plain looking stone building. Canadine walked up to the red door and slowly reached out, but hesitated. He took a deep breath and knocked.
Canadine waited in silent hesitation,
“What are you doing!?” Alesria exclaimed, “We don’t have time for this! You owe me answers…”
The door opened and an apprehensive man in simple garments answered the door. His attitude was greatly contrasted by his hulking stature. Canadine’s appearance didn’t seem to put him at ease, but Alesria's presence gave him some relief.
“Is everything alright? Is it over?” he asked.
Alesria appeared a bit annoyed by his input, “Yes.” she turned to Canadine, “What are you even doing here?”
Canadine tried to look over the man to inside the house, “Is this your home.”
The man slowly nodded.
Canadine’s expression dipped to one of disappointment, and turned to leave, “Oh, sorry, I was just looking for my sister…”
A clang rang out from the house and the man was pushed out of the way by a squat woman with auburn hair, holding a broken chair leg. She looked him over with judgmental eyes, “It’s been a while.”
Canadine made an attempt to speak, but nothing came out. He could only bring himself to simply nod.
She looked him over once more, “You look like shit.”