Canadine stood in a fog of shadows. Sweat dripped from his brown as his skin had gone pale and he clenched his fist tight.
“Don’t show me anymore. I don’t know what you’ll show me, but please no more. Please. I beg you.” He pleaded.
A soothing voice came from above, “Oh but you know what you’ll see next.”
Canadine’s eyes widened, “Please anything, but that!”
“Your greatest failure and biggest betrayal. Tell me do their faces still haunt you at night?”
“You know they do. Now please let me out of this hell.”
“I’m afraid not, this is the final scene you must confront, but after its over I will be there to comfort you with open arms.”
Canadine started to sink into the shadow, “Please! Please! No not again!”
He flailed his arms against the onslaught of shadow that dragged him down. It covered his mouth so that he could no longer scream, but he continued in vain regardless. He pulled at his arms for a chance to escape its clutches, but in the end, it consumed him whole.
***
The sun was at its zenith above them and the clouds were noticeably absent from the sky. By all rationale it should have been a hot summer day with the sun scorching the back of one's neck. An idyllic scene of bright yellows, blues, and greens. However, on this day black smoke corrupted those colors.
A line of people walked from the town with wagons packed with their belongings and family. Some seemed to have their whole house on the wagon, while others walked with nothing but their clothes on their backs. The ladder was more likely the case.
The left side of the road was full of these refugees retreating from the place they once called home. On the right a sole group of young adults made haste towards the city.
“Umm sorry to interrupt you all’s deep concentration on our destination, but are you sure that one man is able to do that?”
Pillim shuffled in his skin at the thought. The pouches on his person dangled and clanked with treasure from this place and that. His hair was a bright blonde and short cut. His eys were a misty gray, and they easily betrayed his feelings. Now they took on a cautious skepticism.
Canadine eyes remained fixated on the village ahead, “Yes, without a doubt yes.”
Pillim gave a gulp, but an audible scoff came from another member of the group, “Explain to me why again we are hunting him down again? Is there a price on his head that I wasn’t aware of.”
Enlan shaded his eyes with his hand to get a better look at the village on the horizon. His dark hair was wrapped up in a bun. At his side were two shining sabers. He wore leather armor and rings on each of his eleven fingers.
Dari looked back over his shoulder with an annoyed grin, “Well Enlan, we’ve explained it to you a thousand times by now. Remember? Man, who destroyed our homes and all that?”
Dari had grown a lot since they had first left their village. He was now tall, taller than any of the other men and he had grown a striking mustache that he was rather proud of.
Enlan rolled his eyes at the response, “Yes, yes, yes, yes, but tell me again what’s in it for me? You know killing a man I’ve never seen before in my life?
“He is no man.” Rima said, clutching her bow close to her chest.
She wore a dark cloak, and her once long blonde hair was now cut short. Since she was a child, certain fungi and worm-like structures started to protrude from her nostrils and ears. At first glance one could miss them, and she liked it that way.
Enlan waved his hand, “No matter, I just don’t see why I should help you all with this.”
Selari looked back from atop the mount her and Gralt road on. It was a massive white ball of fur with great muscles and hooves. In its mouth were two giant hooves that made anyone, but gralt apprehensive of coming close.
with a dry smile, “No one’s stopping you from hopping on one of those wagons and heading as far from here as you possibly can.”
Enlan’s face turned bitter, “Funny.”
Gralt turned with a frown at Selari’s words, “Don’t be like that, it’s understandable why he wouldn’t be has motivated to throw himself into death hands as those of us that have a personal vendetta.”
Gralt’s red hair glew like fire in the sun. He had often joked that he wondered what his mother would think of it after she had shaved his head for so long.
Selari crossed her arms and gave a mocking pout, “I have no such thing, but I’m not complaining. I’ll help you all regardless of the what it is.”
Gralt shook his head with a smile, “You know what I mean,” He gestured back to Enlan, “Just stick this out until it's over. Then we can go on whatever job you want.”
Enlan let out an obnoxious laugh, “You think that guy will let that happen?” He pointed to Canadine.
“Whatever it takes for you to stop complaining, but you don’t see Bardial complaining.” Canadine called back.
Enlan’s mouth fell open and he threw his hand towards the member of the group that was clad in steel armor from head to foot without a single piece of skin showing. He was squat and bulky, carrying a warhammer on his back, “That oaf doesn’t say a word half the time! Much less against something you say!”
Bardial kept his eye on Canadine’s back, “There is nothing to be said. We move towards the village, why waste time in doubting our steps?”
Enlan bit his lip, “Oh, stop acting like you won’t follow him off a cliff! Really, I just don’t understand this…” he caught Gralt’s pleading glance, “Is it really that important…” he let out.
Gralt gave another frown, and Selari held his hand tight, “What we will find in that village is the reason why we have lived for these last nine years.” He said.
After a moment of thought Enlan gave a shrug, “Then it can’t be helped.”
Pillim reluctantly raised his hand, “That’s well and all, but how likely are we going to die from going into this town.”
After a moment no one responded and Pillim’s eye bulged, “God. Really?”
A grave silence befell the group until Enlan groaned from a stretch, “It can’t be that bad, if you all are still alive.”
The survivors kept their eyes pn the smoke coming up from the town. In response Pillim turned to the woman next to him, “Sylain, your a great doctor aren’t you?”
Sylain rolled her eyes, “I have told you a million times before, I am not a doctor. I am an alchemist. An alch-e-mist!”
Pillim kept staring at her with a questioning gaze, prompting a deep sigh from her, “With Selari’s help I’ll make sure you make it out of this without a scratch.”
“Am I going to have to help your little concoctions along like always then?”
Sylain waved her words away, “At least I don’t have to rely on an angel for everything.”
Selari rested her head on her hand with a smirk, “Oh and how I love it for that. Helps me with whatever I want without complaint or hesitation. Hasn’t failed me before, and I trust it won’t fail me in the future. Unlike…whatever it is that alchemist do.”
Sylain gritted her teeth, “Why you…”
Gralt interrupted her, “I’m sure we’re all safe in your two’s hands. Really who else…”
The white mount suddenly came to a stop with a whimper. Gralt furrowed his brow in confusion and looked down at hs pet with concern, ‘What’s wrong Lanthren.”
Rima’s head popped up, letting her hood fall away from her face, “I smell blood.”
The last of the wagons of the refugees had passed them at that point. The only thing on the horizon was the smoking man, and a single man on the road. He walked towards them with an extreme stance and walked as if he hovered over the earth below him. He was fashioned in an ornate red coat with golden lace. His skin was made bronze from the sun and he had a mane of hair on his shoulders. It was just him on the road. No one else.
As he got near the group he came to a halt, “Remove yourself from the road so I may pass.”
The group also came to a halt and exchanged confused glances with each other over the oddity that was in front of them.
Dari cracked his neck and sauntered on over with his spear on his shoulder, “Pardon me my good sir, but to my eyes the road is big enough for both of us to pass.”
The man in red didn’t bother to look at Dari, “This road isn’t even big enough for me, much less people like you.”
Enlan scoffed and marched forward, “Why are we even putting up with this? It's just a nobleman thinking he’s more than he’s worth.”
As Enlan arrived next to the man he gave him a playful glance, “Isn’t that, right?”
Suddenly the air was seemingly cut in two, and Enlan was sent flying from the road.
Dari blinked a couple of times then looked towards where Enlan landed, “Huh. Well, I say we will be more than glad to get off of the road for you sir. Isn’t that right Canadine?”
Canadine consider the man for a moment then gave a cautious nod. Sylain ran for a pack hanging from Gralt’s white beast, retrieving a few bottles of elixir, and then ran to where Enlan rested.
Everyone moved off of the road, and the man in red waited until each and every person was well off the road before continuing.
As he walked by them, he caught a glance of Rima and a look of disgust possessed his face, “To think you thought I could share a road with that…thing.” He spat.
Rima’s eyes went wide as she seized her hood to cover her face. Dari bit his tongue as he held her close to him.
However, Canadine didn’t exercise as much self-control, “Hey!”
He started to follow the man in red, and called out continuously, but his words fell on deaf ears. Only when Canadine step out in front of the man did he receive a response.
“What do you think you're doing?”
Canadine glared at the man, “You owe my friend an apology.”
“I don’t owe anyone anything.”
“Yes, you do. My friend that you called a thing just then. You owe her an apology.” Canadine’s anger leaked through his words.
The man in reds face went through many emotions, from annoyed to angry to confused then finally an amused grin rested on his face, “Did you really just call it your friend.”
Canadine simply glared back.
“Oh, my you actually think it's a person, don’t you?”
“What else would she be?” Canadine said through gritted teeth.
“An infestation.” The man spoke as if he was educating a small child.
A nerve started to bulge out of Canadines neck, “Apologize.” It sounded more like a threat than a request.
The man in red mocked his tone, “Get off my road.”
Canadine’s vision started to go red, but before he could do anything he felt a hand on his chest, “Calm down Can.”
Canadine came face to face with Gralt’s desperate gaze, “It’s not worth it.”
“How could you say that?”
Gralt nodded towards the village, “We have to remember why we’re here.”
Canadine hesitated, but Gralt continued, “Don’t you remember the night we left the town? Why we did? Well, this is our chance to see things right. For that I’m willing to overlook the rudeness of a stranger. Please Canadine. I know how you feel, we all feel the same. Dari and Rima especially, but they are able to control themselves.”
Canadine looked to the side then smiled, “When did you become the mature one.”
“Nine years is plenty of time to grow up.”
Selari called out from the group, “We should go you two!”
The two men nodded at each other, and then Gralt turned to face the man in red. He regarded them as irritations and stared at them expectantly.
Gralt gave a smile, “I’m very sorry for the trouble we have caused you, may you have luck in wherever your path takes you,” Gralt patted the strangers shoulder warmly.
The man’s eyes burst open in fury as he glared at the two men now with pure rage.
Canadine and Gralt motioned to go back to the group as the others began to get back on the road. However, a booming voice stopped them in their tracks.
“One!” The stranger held up a finger, “The man who stole my purse will return it with the hand he used to take it.”
Pillim gave a nervous laugh and hid behind the white beast.
“Two!” The stranger held up a second finger, “No one shall have to have the misfortune of looking upon that things face ever again.”
Rima pulled her hood over her face.
“Three!” The stranger held up a third finger, “The man with the axe with apologize to ME!”
Canadine’s glare deepened as his hand reached towards the axe on his back, everyone else followed suit.
“Four!” The stranger looked over his shoulder with blood shot eyes, holding up a fourth finger, “The man who touched me will die for contaminating my person with the fingers of a peasant!”
***
The road was covered in blood as deep as the red of the stranger's jacket. The smoke from the town had long since covered the sky, blocking out the sun as ash rained down on all those below.
The group lay bruised and bloodied. All over the road. Pillim let out a pitiful cry as he held onto the end of his arm. At its base was only scorched flesh, a hand was nowhere to be seen.
Dari held Rima’s hand as they lay next to each other. Rima painfully mumbled words through the pain of what was done to her face. She no longer even looked like a person. Dari held on despite that.
“I don’t understand…I’m sorry. Please hold out for a bit longer.” He begged through the tears.
Canadine used his axe has a support in an effort to stand, but his injuries were too severe and he would collapse from the effort.
Selari lay on her stomach close to the road. Her legs were bent in unnatural ways and she spoke cantations but to no avail.
Bardial lay on his back holding onto his side, breathing painful breaths.
Sylain tended to Enlan’s wounds far from the road, and all she could do was look on in sheer horror.
The man who had caused it all had not moved an inch after his declaration. The only thing that had changed was that he now held Gralt by the throat.
“To think you all would have the temerity to resist.” He spoke inquisitively
Canadine once again attempted to stand, “LET HIM GO!” He roared.
The man in red smirked, “Is that a command? In your state?”
“You bastard!”
The man’s face soured and he turned back to Gralt, “I declared it to be so it will be. You should have thought twice before laying your dirty hands on me.”
The man waited for a response, but Gralt simply smiled.
“Do you have anything to say? Any threat or promise?”
Gralt shook his head calmly.
The man tilted his head in a conceited confusion like what he was holding was completely alien to himself, “No?”
Gralt struggled to gently nod his head
“Why not?”
Gralt spoke through heavy breath, “I have seen a man like you. Like a force of nature that throws everything they pass into chaos. He killed people I loved and laughed while he did it. When it comes to monsters like you there is no point in resisting.”
The man’s eyes widened, “A man like me?”
Gralt nodded, “We…we’re going to try and kill him.” He nodded towards the village.
The man’s face relaxed in understanding, but twisted into confusion, “Are you suicidal.”
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Gralt gave a weak laugh, “Maybe…maybe. I knew from the beginning it would end like this, but I came anyway.”
The man furrowed his brow, “You make no sense.”
“Does that bother you.”
The man gritted his teeth and raced his hand, “Are you sure you will not cower in the face of death. Will you not get on your knees and beg to be spared.”
Gralt looked around him at the rest of the group, “It would have been good to spend more time with them all…” Gralt looked down for a moment then gave a weak smile, “But my father is waiting for me and I hope Lantheren will be there too,” The white beast laid by itself; its white fur now a deep red.
“Then this is goodbye little peasant.”
A roar came from the side of the road and Bardial came stomping towards the road with just his fist. He limped and stumbled and each step he took sounded like his last but he continued on despite the pain.
The man in red simply looked on in irritation, “How annoying.” He flicked his finger and a loud crack boomed throughout the area.
Bardial screamed, clasping onto his back and collapsing onto the ground.
“LANTHRA QUINTA LEREVA OMALDA TELENU…” Selari began to scream incantations through a deluge of tears.
The man in red glared, “Your angel is useless in my domain. Your words won’t reach it and its power won’t reach you.”
“I’M SORRY!” Canadine shouted.
The man in red simply rolled his eyes and readied his hand.
Gralt looked to all them with a grin, “It's really been fun.”
“GRALT.”
“NO”
“BASTARD”
“PLEASE”
The man’s hand shot through Gralt’s just, sending a rain of blood onto the road, “With that my declarations have been met.”
He threw Gralt’s body onto the road like filth and continued on his way nonchalantly.
Canadine called out to the man with unfathomable rage. He tried to pursue him, but ultimately stumbled over himself and collapsed, slamming his fist into the ground.
“GRALT! GRALT! GRALT!” Selari slowly and desperately dragged her limp body onto the road
Dari cried into Rima’s hands, “I’m so sorry…I’m sorry…please forgive me.” He mouthed.
After a moment, Sylain came running over with Enlan limping far behind her.
She slid next to Canadine uncorking a bottle, but Canadine shoved her aside, “Gralt! Save Gralt!”
Sylain bit her lip in hesitation, but made her way over quickly. She croached down over his body ready to give him the elixir but she stopped.
She let the elixir fall to her side as she looked upon Gralt solemnly. Her boots were died in the pool that was Gralt’s blood. He looked up lifelessly with the last smile he had given all of them.
“SYLAIN WHAT ARE YOU DOING! SAVE HIM!” Selari shouted
Sylain gave a grave nod in response.
Sekari’s eyes widened, “No…No! Get out of my way you useless alchemist.”
She got to Gralt and began to cradle his head, whispering incantations while choking on her sobs.
Sylain walked over to Canadine and offered him the elixir. Canadine looked up at her expectantly but she diverted his gaze.
He let out a guttural scream that would have pierced the heavens itself and slammed his fist onto the ground so hard that even the spirits felt his pain.
Enlan came up behind her, “Where did he go!”
“Shut up you fool!” She spit.
“But we need to…”
She got up and shoved an elixir into his chest, “Get this Dari, we are too vulnerable right now.”
“Of course, we’re vulnerable, that man is still…”
She slapped him across the cheek, “Gralt is dead Enlan! That man is the least of my concern.”
Selari gave out a loud groan from where she held Gralt. Enlan looked at the scene and his face went blank, “But…”
Sylain interrupted him by shoving him away with the bottle of elixir. He stumbled away in Dari’s direction, tripping over himself.
Sylain went back to Canadine, offering him the bottle once more.
Canadine looked at the bottle spitefully, “I’m fine,” he said through gritted teeth.
She gazed at him skeptically, “Putting aside if I believe that or not, this doesn’t heal you. It just gives you a second wind.”
After a moment, Canadine reached out to take the bottle, but winced in pain at the movement.
Sylain looked around at her environment, her stalwart expression starting to crack at the realization of what had just occurred, “I know you warned us about him, but this is just…I can’t believe we were chasing after someone like that.”
Canadine gave a grunt, “That wasn’t him…”
Suddenly a playful tune could be heard from further down the road.
Canadine’s eyes shot open and he seized the elixir drinking it all in one swig. He then instinctively made eye contact with Dari as the two men began to get up.
As the silhouette of the figure down the road got closer his characteristics could be discerned. He had a broad brimmed hat with shoulder length hair. He wore simple light clothes with no jewelry once so ever. If no one had the context of who he was, it would appear that he was a simple farmer.
Canadine and Dari stumbled towards the road, and placed themselves in front of Gralt’s body and Selari.
Enlan made his way towards them, “What has possessed you two…” His words were halted when he caught the deep glares on both Canadine and Dari’s faces.
As the farmer drew closer and closer his posture never changed, nor did the playful tune on his lips. Even when the mutilated group came into view, his attitude never changed. Even when he was a few steps from them it didn’t change. It was as if they were invisible to them.
So ignorant was the farmer as to what was in front of him that he walked into the blows from Dari and Canadine.
Canadine brought his axe down with all his remaining strength onto the man and Dari lodged his glaive into the side of the man’s neck with the little strength he had.
The farmers eyes popped open in surprise at the attacks as he clutched the side of his neck as it spewed blood, and he was brought to his knees from the blow from Canadine.
The farmer’s body went limp, and he fell onto the ground face first
Canadine and Dari grasped for air as the beat of their hearts rang in their ears.
Enlan stepped back in shock, “Holy Hell! What have you done! That wasn’t murder…you just slaughtered that man.”
Canadine used his axe on the ground, “We just got justice.”
Dari wiped blood from his cheek, “It’s been a long time coming for the bastard,” Dari spit on the corpse, “That was for Gralt.”
Suddenly a small laugh could be heard. Then it suddenly grew and grew until it seemed to reverberate the air itself. It was otherworldly and deeply uncomfortable to all those who heard it.
The farmer slowly began to get up, “Oh that was really something! You really caught me off guard there.”
Dari, and Enlan stepped back in shock, but Canadine held onto his axe tighter.
The farmer wiped a finger on his blood-soaked neck and licked it, “Oh what a great raspberry jam. Sometimes it not that good, but this time I’ve really have outdone myself.”
The noticed his silent onlookers and held out his finger, “Want some?”
Canadine rushed at the man and Dari followed.
Canadine side swung his axe threatening the to slice the man in half, but he simply gave a laugh, holding onto his hat. He crouched down, dodging the swing and elbowed Canadines side, sending a crack into the air and Canadine to his knees.
Dari came in with an upward slash of his glaive, but the man simply sneered and jumped back, and when Dari finished his swing, he groaned in pain and fell to the ground.
The man covered his mouth, “I’m sorry I just couldn’t help, but think how funny it would be if you pulled a muscle doing that.”
Enlan watched on slowly unsheathing his sabers, “Who are you?”
The man looked back and put his finger to his chin in an inquisitive expression, “Guess!” he said excitedly.
Enlan shook off the remark and charged at the man. However, the man simply stood there with a smile, “Would be such a pity if your sword broke,” he chuckled.
Enlan’s eyes widened as he slashed one of his sabers in a downward motion. Before he knew it the blade came flying off its hilt, and the man watched on in glee.
Enlan furrowed his brow as he threw the hilt down in the same motion and used his momentum to headbutt the man in front of him. As the man recoiled, Enlan brought his other saber around to catch the man in his side. The man was sent to the ground and Enlan brought his saber down in a smooth motion to pin him down.
“Laugh at that!” Enlan said with a satisfied grin.
This didn’t last for long as Enlan’s eyes widened in fear as a deep and joyous laughter came from the man’s mouth, sending chills through reality itself.
He grabbed onto the saber inside him by the blade and pulled it out, kicking Enlan back at the same time.
The man stood up with a big stretch, “No why would you try to kill someone with a toy sword? How dumb can you be?” The man chuckled and threw the sword to the ground with a thud. The sound lacked any sign of a metallic clang.
He took his finger to where he was impaled then licked it, but his face soured, “My! This is not as good as the last batch.”
Enlan glared at the man as he rushed in with his fist. The man didn’t move, but instead gave a giggle. Enlan suddenly groaned in pain and collasped to the ground, clutching his side.
“What an inconvenient time for your appendix to burst.” He gave another laugh.
The farmer looked around and noticed Selari still holding Gralt’s body he walked over. Suddelnly he started to sink into the road, receiving a deep glare from Selari.
The farmer simply shook his head with a grin and gave a single laugh, and he stopped sinking.
Selari’s eyes went wide at the scene, prompting an even deeper laugh from the farmer, “Ah! That face is priceless! You magus’ really are helpless without your little friends. How does it feel? I can imagine that your little tricks didn’t work on the serious bloke that came down here before me.”
Selari grinded her teeth and the farmer threw back his head with laughter.
“I’ll kill you!” Canadine shouted at him.
The farmer turned with a perplexed expression, “But why though? I was only minding my business, enjoying the nice weather, and then…BOOM.” The man slid his finger across his neck, “You know?”
“We’ve been looking for you…for ten years!” Canadine stumbled onto his feet.
The farmer scratched his chin, “Well I’m sorry, but I wasn’t trying to make myself hard to find, but why were you looking for me?” He took a moment to think then clapped his hands together, “Did you find my lucky coin!”
Canadine motioned towards him with a murderous glare, “You…you massacred my village!”
The farmer blinked a few times, “Which one.”
“RENDE!”
“Can you like give me a description or…”
Canadine’s eyes widened, “You don’t care, do you? You didn’t have a reason for what you did…for the last ten years I’ve been hunting a madman who walks into towns and kills everyone in sight…For no reason. MY FAMILY WAS KILLED FOR NO REASON!”
The farmer pouted, “I’m sure it was for a reason.”
“Then why!?”
“Because it was funny.” The man simply said.
Canadine fell to his knees in disbelief, “Because it was funny…”
“Yep, most likely.”
Canadine slowly looked up to meet the farmers gaze, “You walked into Karline’s wedding, and…slaughtered countless people because it was…funny.”
The farmer hit his forehead, “Ohhhh a wedding. Was it one with that man in the funny looking wolf mask?”
Canadine simply stared at the man as he remembered.
“Ahhh…what a night that was. How fun too, not the best time I’ve ever had, but it was fine,” A smile crept onto his face, “Oh but that was so long ago, and you're still hunting me? And just look at you now, I mean just…wow,” The smile grew deeper, “It would be hilarious if…”
“TEREVANA OFLENGUNTA GHALIFLIKA AR VAR HARIMIN CELFEIR FALOR GUNTAR.”
The farmer’s words were interrupted by a deep and mystical voice, coming from Rima’s lips. Her body began to contort and crack. Spores grew from her once bloodied face.
Dari reached out his hands towards her shifting body, “RIMA! NO DON’T DO IT!”
“My oh my, will you just look at that.” The farmer let out.
Rima fell to the ground, and her body was motionless for a moment.
Suddenly she gave a sharp exhale and began to get up, “You have called upon me my child, now point me to what hunts you…” Rima caught sight of the farmer, “Oh great.” she said dryly.
The farmer clapped his hands together joyfully, “Oh Velheim your alive!”
Velheim picked up Rima’s bow and held it in a readied position, “Did you think otherwise?”
“Oh, I just didn’t know if you survived Vandar’s purge!”
“I’m called the mistress of survival for a reason, but where have you been the past hundreds of years.”
“Where have I been? Where have you been! And how are you here now!”
Velheim tested the bowstring, “I am coming to the aid of one of my children who called upon me.”
The farmer flew his hands around frantically, “But I’ve killed so many of those, and I haven’t seen you once!”
Her voice turned bitter, “I’m a busy person, but why have you done such a thing. It doesn’t seem like you.”
The farmer’s face soured, “What’s that supposed to mean.”
“I thought blood made you queasy.”
“It did.”
“Then what…”
“That bastard Vandar did this to me!”
Velheim tightened the quiver over her chest, “He made you like killing?”
“No, he didn’t.”
“Then what did he do to you? Personally, if I were him, I would have taken your vocal cords.”
Rage overtook the farmers face, “Because of what that magus did to me I hadn’t laughed in hundreds of years before I learned to like killing.”
“You’re twisted.”
The farmer held his hands out wide, “He made me this way.”
“Be that as it may, you should leave this place at once.”
His hands fell to the ground, “But why?”
Velheim looked down at her hand, “Because this girl called me to protect her and I intend to ensure that I do, and with your new…hobby I can’t afford for you to be anywhere close to her.”
The farmer gave a grin, “What are you going to do if I don’t”
Velheim threw her head back in laughter, “You, A clown, challenge me! Ahh... you really have changed.”
The farmer’s face remained unchanging, “Like I have said, my sense of humor has greatly changed since you last saw me.”
After a moment Velheim let her bow arm fall to her side, “Then what do you want?”
“Well, to start, where you are currently? Because we both know that you aren’t just left with weak host to hop around to.”
“I’m afraid I will not tell you that.”
The two staired at each other until the farmer threw up his hands, “Fine, then why don’t you tell me where Silana is.”
“Dead I’m afraid.”
The farmer shook his finger with a tsk, “I have heard of a certain legend about a maiden in a garden, and the similarities are…uncanny.”
Velheim shook her head and pointed eastward, “I may be wrong but it should be towards the east.”
The farmer adjusted his coat and the cap on his head, “Welp then I’ll be off.” And he started down the road southward.
“You’re going the wrong way.” Selhein called.
The farmer simply waved back, “I know, I know. There’s just this one man going this way that act just like Lucifer and he can do the same stuff too, so I’m going to go play with him a little longing. Don’t worry though I’ll make sure to stop by and drag you out of whatever hole you’re hiding in. Until then!”
Velhein looked around at the people who had fell at the hands of those more powerful, “Where is your healer.”
Sylain, notably the one without a scratch, raised her hand.
Velhein nodded to her and gestured to her body, “This one won’t need any medical attention. My gift will do its work, so do not interfere.” With that Rima’s body fell to the ground.
Sylain grasped for air as she looked around her. Dari stumbled to where Rima was. Canadine punched the stone road as he watched the Farmers figure disappear into the horizon. Selari cried into Gralt’s lifeless body.
Enlan had since gotten up and had gone to check on Pillim who still clutched onto the nub of his arm in tears, “I just wanted to get back at him for treating us like that…I didn’t think this would happen, oh God.”
Bardial lay unconscious after what the man in red had done to him, showing no sign of moving any time soon.
As Sylain witnessed all of this she couldn’t help but face a hurricane of emotion: grief, fear, hopelessness, shock, anger, but the one that prevailed above those howling winds was awe.
***
“Please no more. Stop showing me this. I don’t want to see anymore. I beg of you.”
“Oh, but that was not you biggest regret little one.”
“You don’t mean…”
“Yes, for your own good you must see it. To fully understand the hopelessness of it all in this pattern you have found yourself in.”
“No…please just let me out.”
“It’s just one more, hold out for just a little longer.”
“NO!”
***
Canadine looked upon the road where the tragedy had taken place. The group had retreated into the nearby forest for cover in the night, but Canadine couldn’t take his eye off of the road.
“I couldn’t save him…I was…useless,” Selari sat with her back to a tree. She had healed her legs, but they were still weak.
Dari examined his spear in his hands, “We were all useless.”
Selari put her face in her hands, “But I could have done something. If only the angel…”
“Don’t worry about it. It was beyond your control.”
Canadine kept his eyes on the road, “You should take his body back home Dari.”
Dari girp tightened on his spear, “I can’t do that to mom. Leave without saying a word and then return with a corpse.”
Canadine looked to protest, but bit his tongue, “Do whatever you want.”
Selari took a deep breath, “We’re in a tight spot right now. Bardial has awakened, but is unresponsive. Pillim’s hand is gone, so he’ll have a hard time stealing. Enlan hasn’t said a word sense it all happened. Sylain actually seems to be the most useful one of us now, but she’s obviously shaken. Rima made her oa…”
“SHUT UP!” Dari yelled.
Selari stared at him apathetically, and Dari pointed his glaive at her, “How can you even say it like that? Do you not care at all about what just happened? Tight spot? Oh, it's so much worse than that. Rima just did the one thing she never wanted to do. She’s told me that she would rather die than do what she just did. She practically just gave up her life and freedom for us, and you don’t sound like you care at all! How can you even think about sounding like that? Gralt is dead! Did you even love him at all?”
“What did you say?” she said coolly.
“You heard me.”
“Say something like that ever again and I’ll take your tongue.” She said with muted fury
Dari gave a rage filled smile, “With what? Your angel? We all saw how useful that was today.”
Selari’s eyes suddenly widened and she quickly hid her face. Dari’s face filled with regret, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”
A mournful silence filled the air until Canadine spoke up, “You all can do whatever you want.”
“What do you mean.” They said in unison.
“I’m leaving.”
“What?” Selari said in shock, but Dari said it as if he tasted sand.
“This whole quest had been in vain. We will never be strong enough to carry it out. We met with that man and all he did was laugh at us and continue on his way like we were some minor amusements.”
“But you can’t just leave the group,” Selari said.
Bitterness filled Canadine’s voice, “What group? Just like you said. Pillim lost his hand. A thief without a hand. Bardial is essentially unresponsive, Enlan’s pride is so wounded that he won’t even look anyone in the eye. Rima just lost her freedom. And Gralt is dead!”
His words were received by silence, but he continued, “We’re crippled and I just can’t do this anymore after what’s happened.” Canadine dropped his axe to the ground.
Dari clenched his fist, “Where will you go? Home?”
“Like you said, I can’t go back like this.”
“The bandit camp?”
Canadine shook his head.
“Then where!?”
Canadine shook his head once more, “I don’t know, but you can’t follow me.”
“You’re a coward.” Dari spit then left back towards the camp.
“Please don’t go now,” Selari whispered, “You can’t leave us like this. If you leave it will all fall apart.”
Canadine shook his head, “If you can keep it together after this, then it surely won’t”
“You promised! You said you would never leave us! You said you would keep it all together! Remember! Please don’t go!” She begged.
Canadine gazed upon her with pitiful eyes and she started to tremble, “Just go then! If you’re going to be like that! Go! And never come back! I never want to see you again, you hear!”
Canadine hung his head low as he headed back to camp with his back turned to her. As he left, he heard a quiet sob.
He walked into the camp without a word, and packed up his things. Sylain was tending to Bardial. Enlan watched him from the shadows and gave a smile, “So that’s how it's gonna be then.” Canadine stared back wordlessly and moved on.
He went to the tent where Gralt’s body had been wrapped with linen and stored. Canadine’s fingers grazed the fold, but he recoiled as if it burned to touch. After a quiet prayer he moved on.
“Please Rima let me in.” Dari begged.
“No, you can’t see me like this!”
“I don’t care how you look, please, I want to help you.”
“I’m a monster.”
Canadine walked by and Dari simply glared at him as he passed.
Canadine made his way out of the forest the long way to avoid Selari. He quietly came upon the road once more and considered the bloodstains that coated it and the grass. He observed a quiet vigil then tightened the bag on his back.
“So, you’re leaving.”
Canadine turned and saw Pillim standing on the grass. The end of his arm was wrapped in bandages.
Canadine nodded.
“To where?”
Canadine stared wordlessly at him.
“You’re going eastward, aren’t you?”
Canadine’s eyes widened in surprise.
Pillim smirked, “I lost my hand not my ears. Does Dari know?”
“No, he doesn’t and I would like to keep it that way.”
Pillim glanced at the blood stains of the road, “I’m not surprised he was a little distracted during their conversation,” he held up his arm, “Well, I was too, just not as much. You’re going to hunt that thing alone then. The one that masacred your town I mean?”
“I’m not hunting him anymore.”
“That mythical garden then?”
Canadine smiled in chagrin, “I can’t kill him, but I can at least be a pain in his side for the rest of my days.”
“But you don’t want us to come with you?”
Canadine waved his hand around them at the blood-stained road, “I don’t want anything like this to happen again. You and Enlan even voiced your protest before. I’m sorry I pulled you two and Bardial and Sylain into it.”
“What about the people with stake in your mission, hmm?”
Canadine looked towards the ground once more, “Gralt is dead. I don’t want to see that happen to any of them.”
Pillim scratched his head a little, “Well, I hope you accomplish what you want to. I on the other hand, I am probably gonna leave, too.”
“Where will you go? Since you already know where I’m heading.”
“I’ll go back to my home island,” he held up his arm once more, “I’m sure they have something that will get rid of this little problem.”
Canadine smiled and nodded at him, “Goodbye, Pillim.”
Pillim dropped his arm, and an endearing smile took shape on his face, “Goodbye, Canadine.”
Canadine turned his back on him, and started eastward as shadows consumed the scene.