Year: 3045 AGD
Month: New Life
Fourth Eighthday
Tranquility Mist
The trip back through the mountains had been invigorating for Shawnrik and Pedrial. So much that each of them had been carrying around for years had been taken out, examined, and then discarded or reevaluated on their journey through the northern reaches of the Blade’s Edge Mountains. They had made it back to Tranquility Mist shortly after nightfall of the Fourth Seventhday of New Life, giving them time to get a good night’s rest and have breakfast together before Shawnrik headed back to the Institute.
“I still have so many questions,” Shawnrik lamented, as he tapped a sausage link on his plate with his fork. “And I’m sure I’ll think of a dozen more when I get back onto school grounds.”
“Write them down,” Pedrial said. “You can ask me on the next break, or at the end of the year.” He set his cup on the table. “Besides, we spent most of yesterday in silence, so you must not have that many pressing questions.”
Shawnrik let out a breath. “There was just so much to think about.” Picking up his last piece of bread, he dipped it into what remained of his eggs. “And it seemed like a great place to let it all process.”
“The mountains do indeed have that effect on people.” Pedrial stood and brought his plate to the sink, using the water they had brought in from the well earlier that morning to clean it off. “Finish up; you don’t want to miss the portal and get stuck with your grandfather for the summer.”
“Having spent a summer with you, I know it’s not that bad.” Shawnrik popped his last sausage into his mouth as he stood to bring his plate over.
“Yeah, well most people wouldn’t agree, but they don’t seem to have your work ethic.”
“I don’t know about a work ethic, but I like to stay active.” Shawnrik cleaned his plate and then his hands and face, before drying them off with the towel that Pedrial handed him.
“Keep as active as you’ve been, and no one will ever call you a slouch.” Pedrial grinned. “Grab your bag, let’s get moving.”
The walk to the town center was fairly quiet, except for Pedrial occasionally making sure that Shawnrik had remembered everything. As they approached the obelisk, they noticed that most of the people milling about the area were already beginning to disperse.
“What’s going on?” Pedrial asked.
“Portal opened early.” The baker answered with a shrug. “Damnedest thing, never heard of the like before. Closed just a moment ago.”
“Huh.” Pedrial replied, stopping in his tracks.
“What?” Shawnrik looked from the baker to his grandfather. “Have you ever heard of this happening?”
“No.” Pedrial frowned. “I…”
Whatever he was about to say was cut off by the portal re-opening in the obelisk.
“They must have realized they messed up.” Shawnrik nodded to his grandfather. “I’ll see you before fall, or at the end of the year.” Picking up his bag, he jogged over to the portal.
“Be safe.”
Shawnrik heard Pedrial’s voice behind him a moment before he crossed the threshold of the portal. It took him several moments to register that the room he had emerged into was not the room he had been expecting, nor was it like any of the other rooms he had seen on campus. The walls, floor, and ceiling were all made of a polished metal. Nothing else was in the room with him, and when he turned around, the portal was gone.
“Alright.” Shawnrik was just about to reach into his bag for one of his weapons when the wall in front of him split in two, revealing a doorway.
“Proceed through the doorway,” a voice said, seemingly coming from everywhere and nowhere.
“What’s going on?” Shawnrik asked, as he stepped towards the open doors. “Where am I?”
“Emergency protocols have been activated for the facility,” the voice responded. “Hostile threat has been detected on ground level. There is no acting warden for the facility, and all security personnel have already been engaged or detained by invading force.”
The room Shawnrik entered was unlike any he had seen before. There were flashing lights on every surface, and a large screen that took up most of the wall on the opposite end of the room. Stepping forward, Shawnrik realized that each blinking light denoted a monitor, and each monitor was displaying something different. His mind flashed back to the glimpse of the security room that he and Verrian had seen on his way to the Headmistress’s office, and he wondered if this room fulfilled the same purpose.
“You are currently on the third sub level of the Imperial detainment facility Zeta Iota One. Or as the previous warden referred to it, the zoo.”
“Detainment facility?” Shawnrik approached the large monitor and noticed that the desk in front of the screen had the only piece of technology in the room that he recognized. Unfortunately, as he stepped up to the keyboard he realized that the letters were of a language he didn’t understand. “Not like I’d know what to type anyway,” he muttered.
“Interface with this terminal can be done manually, or with verbal commands. There is also a neural uplink available, but I don’t believe that anyone currently within the facility has the proper hardware for that interface method,” the voice said. “Would you like me to display current activity on the surface?”
“Yes please.” Shawnrik almost sat down at the desk before he realized he would rather stand. “And who are you?”
A dozen different images appeared on the screen in a grid. Shawnrik realized a moment later that each image was moving, he assumed it was a live feed of what was happening on the surface. He saw hundreds of kids being herded, carried, and pushed towards the large outdoor amphitheater where school assemblies were held.
The ones doing the herding, carrying, and pushing were large hulking figures that he recognized immediately, because they were the same race as the Headmistress.
“Trolls,” Shawnrik growled.
“That is the local appellation I believe.”
“Apple what?”
“Appellation: A name, title, or designation.”
“Oh, right.” Shawnrik filed the word away. “What do you call them? And you haven’t told me who you are yet.”
“Klastonians. They are a race of hearty humanoids that have an advanced metabolic system that…”
“Right, they heal fast right? Need to eat a lot. Have growths on their bodies.” Placing his bag on the seat in front of him Shawnrik began to pull out his weapons.
“Incomplete, but Correct.”
Shawnrik couldn’t be sure, but it almost sounded like the voice was annoyed by his interruption. “So, Trolls then.” He looked at the screen. “Now, tell me how to get out of this place so I can go help.”
“There are approximately thirty-two enemy combatants. Many of the cameras that I used to be uplinked with have become nonfunctional, so my coverage is not complete. Security forces have been neutralized, and the majority of the civilian population on campus has been detained. Escalating the situation with violence is not advised at this time.”
“Where did thirty-two Trolls come from?” Shawnrik set the greatsword he had pulled out on top of his bag.
“I am 99.95% confident that there are thirty-one Trolls and one Human male. They used several portals to infiltrate the facility. No alarm was raised until more than twenty Kastonians were present, and security quickly became overwhelmed.”
“One Human?” Shawnrik asked.
As the words left his lips the screen filled with a familiar image.
“Walkins.”
“You have intel on this individual?”
“Yeah, but I’m not going to share that until I know who I’m talking to. Show yourself.” Shawnrik crossed his arms and stared at the screen.
“I’m afraid that is impossible at my current operational level, though I could display a facsimile of the form I was issued.”
“Sure, do that then.”
A face appeared on the screen. Shawnrik couldn’t tell if it was male or female, it seemed to be both and neither at the same time.
“My designation is the Apprehension and Enforcement Galactic Integration System, or A.E.G.I.S.” The words appeared on the screen as the voice spoke.
“Aegis?” Shawnrik re-read the words on the screen several times, trying to make sense of the name. “Are you saying you are some sort of program?”
“In the simplest of terms, that is correct. I was installed in this facility eight thousand four hundred and seventy-six galactic years ago, or twelve thousand two hundred and ninety of this planet’s years.”
“You’ve been down here for over twelve thousand years?” Shawnrik looked around the room again at the clean metallic surfaces that looked freshly installed. “What galactic year is it?”
“I would be happy to assist with any further inquiries that you might have, however I believe that I have detected your roommate trying to sneak into the perimeter.”
“Verrian? Where?” Shawnrik watched as several images of the fence that separated the village of Serenity Valley from the Institute appeared on the screen. He saw two hulking figures sitting in the guardhouse near the currently closed front gate. Another image showed a small figure moving quietly along the perimeter looking for a point of ingress. “What is he thinking?”
“Based on behavioral data that I have accumulated on our students, I believe his actions mirror the actions that you yourself would be taking given the circumstances.”
Even though Shawnrik was slightly uncomfortable with the idea that Aegis was gathering information about all of them, he couldn’t deny the fact that it was right. “Yeah, but…”
“But you feel that it is acceptable to put your own life on the line, because you see yourself as more expendable than those around you.”
Shawnrik held his breath for a moment. “Okay, that’s enough for now. You can analyze me later and tell me where I’m lacking to your heart’s content. For now, just tell me how to get to Verrian before someone catches him.”
A soft hum of noise came from the wall to his right a moment before a panel opened, revealing a shelf that held two items.
“Resources are limited, and unless they are replenished in some way, we will not be able to manufacture anything substantial. However, I believe I should be able to help you maneuver through the facility and to your friend safely using these devices.” Images appeared on the screen. The first showed a person picking up the smaller of the two items and placing it in their ear.
Shawnrik gave a mental shrug, picked up the little black stone, and placed it gently in his ear. He jumped a moment later as the thing expanded in his ear canal.
“Do not be alarmed, the device is simply conforming to your physiology.”
Aegis’s voice was clear in his mind. The only experience that Shawnrik had to compare to this sensation was the fever dreams that he had when undergoing his first growth spurt. Victor had appeared to him then and somehow communicated with him mind-to-mind. Shawnrik resisted the urge to pull the device out and looked at the other diagram.
“These devices are simple and easy to use. I can handle most of the functionality on my end until you become more comfortable in their operation. I have also uploaded a linguistics program that I developed from the various languages spoken by the current occupants of this facility. The default language is set to the common language spoken at this time, but it can be adjusted to a variety of languages and dialects spoken by the inhabitants of this world.”
Shawnrik picked up the small pad and pulled it apart as the diagram described, revealing a thin flexible screen that went through several images before settling on a map with a small blue dot.
“The blue marker is displaying your relative position in the facility. Red marks will display potentially hostile targets, and green will be currently neutralized non-hostile targets. I have assigned Mr. Smith with a yellow marker.” A small yellow arrow appeared on the edge of the screen. “All colors are customizable in the options menu, or you can simply ask, and I will adjust the settings.”
Shawnrik wrapped the flexible screen around his wrist like the person in the image on the large screen had done and marveled as the two edges of the device seamlessly melded together and then adjusted to his forearm. He noticed that the image on the screen adjusted so that no matter where his wrist was he could view the display unhindered.
A thin white dotted line sprang from the blue dot on the screen and continued off the currently displayed portion of the map.
“I have uploaded the quickest route onto your device,” Aegis said, a moment before Shawnrik’s living stone bracers seemed to envelop the device on his wrist. Shawnrik and Aegis both paused for a few moments before the map reappeared on the silvery surface of his forearm. “Curious,” Aegis intoned before continuing with what it had already been about to say. “Alternate routes will appear in translucent grey.”
Several dotted lines that were barely visible appeared on the screen going down separate corridors.
“Alright Aegis, thanks.” Shawnrik noticed that as he turned to head in the direction the dotted line went that the perspective on the map changed with him so that the way he was facing was always at the top of the screen.
“Of course, sir.” Aegis replied. “I would, however, recommend that you not go out unarmed. I would normally issue you a set of standard equipment, even though you are not trained nor licensed to handle said gear, dispensing of provisions is within my purview during emergency situations. Considering the time restraints and the current resource limitations however, your current gear will have to suffice.”
“Right.” Shawnrik took a step back and grabbed the sword he had set down earlier. “My first priority is Verrian, but if there are any other people in the facility that I might be able to assist, please mark them with a purple icon.” As he finished his sentence, several dozen purple arrows appeared, lining each edge of the small screen.
“I have marked all students and personnel that are currently in a safe position within active sensor range. Updates to this data will be sent automatically to your device.”
Shawnrik nodded and walked towards the wall, which opened up at his approach. A small image appeared in the corner of his screen of Verrian climbing the fence and dropping down onto the grass of the Institute.
“Don’t do anything stupid, buddy; I’m on my way,” Shawnrik said as he moved down the corridor.
Verrian was looking forward to seeing his friend and roommate again, but as he stepped off the train at the stop for the Institute, his mind immediately noticed that something was off. First of all, there were no students milling about the station, which was a beautiful park that was perfect for reading or just hanging out with friends. It wasn’t completely unheard of for the station to be empty, but he had never seen it so devoid of life on an Eighthday afternoon.
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
The next thing he noticed was the closed gates. As far as he knew, the Institute had never closed their gates for as long as he had been alive. In fact, before that moment, he hadn’t even known that the gates could close at all. He assumed they were either just for show or had been open so long that they were stuck there.
Seeing the gates closed changed the entire atmosphere of the place. What had always felt like an inviting place of education suddenly became a foreboding facility behind a tall metal fence. He was glad that the change had made him stop in his tracks, because he noticed a massive figure moving around in the guardhouse behind the gate.
Something was definitely wrong at the Institute.
Some instinctual part of his mind told him to hide a moment before the door to the other guardhouse opened. A bulbous head poked out from the open doorway and yelled something towards the figure in the first guardhouse. Verrian had only seen a head like that one place before, and the person speaking from the guardhouse was definitely not the Headmistress of the Institute.
Trolls guarding the gate to the Institute? Something was definitely wrong.
He moved cautiously backward towards the station, making sure he wasn’t in view of the gate as he keyed his father’s ID into the communications terminal. His father was rarely available, so it didn’t surprise him at all when he had to leave a message. Verrian said something was wrong and described what he had seen. What he didn’t know was what his father or anyone who lived in Serenity Valley could do to help if the Institute was indeed in trouble.
The people who lived in Serenity Valley were not warriors, and what little security they had was woefully underfunded and undertrained for this kind of threat. Verrian felt like if there was any hope for the students and faculty inside the Institute, it would be from a few select members, one of which just happened to be his roommate.
If any of them are in any position to help or are even here.
After the call, he moved back towards the perimeter of the school and made his way along the wall, looking for a place that he could climb over without being observed. That was as far ahead as he could logically plan without knowing what was going on inside the facility.
“Only one way to find out,” he muttered before climbing the metal fence. If he would have attempted such a feat around Year’s End he would have more than likely failed miserably, a lot of things had changed since then however.
Verrian couldn’t help the thrill of excitement that ran through him as he fairly easily surmounted the obstacle that was the fence.
“Calm down Verrian, that was the easy part,” he whispered. A part of him realized that he was talking to himself, but that part also realized that it was better than facing up to the reality that he was afraid.
Not only was he afraid that he was heading into a situation that he couldn’t do anything about, but he was also afraid to find out that it was too late to do anything at all.
The chaos was finally beginning to subside, and in its place was a familiar dread. Olivia swore the last time she had been captured and imprisoned that it wouldn’t happen again, but here she was once again, a prisoner. This time it wasn’t just her kompanias that was held captive, but hundreds of students and faculty.
Every few minutes, more people were brought into the amphitheater by the roaming squads of Trolls. Most of the people arrived in decent condition, but occasionally the Trolls would throw someone in who had dared to resist them. Only one person had died so far, that she knew of, but there were a few of the security team that were in rough shape.
So far as Olivia could tell, only one person had managed to even do any damage to the Trolls, Headmistress Blackbriar. Torva Blackbriar had come into the amphitheater limping and accompanied by a half dozen of her brethren. She had been nursing a hand that was slowly regenerating, but her captors were missing whole limbs. The Headmistress had been doing well at putting up a confident air while trying to calm the students and faculty, but her tattered attire and blood-stained teeth and nails diminished her outwardly calm demeanor.
Olivia sat near Rebecca and Sara, who had both been captured by the Trolls as soon as they stepped through the portal. Rebecca’s happy façade was not holding up between bouts of hysteria. Olivia couldn’t blame the normally cheerful blonde for her tears, light knows that she cried enough herself during her first captivity.
Where Rebecca was an emotional wreck, Sara was simply pissed off. Not only was she mad at herself for being captured so easily, but she was upset with her brother for getting himself hurt so badly that he wasn’t waking up. Rigael’s head was resting in his sister’s lap, her black hair draping over his still form as she whispered under her breath. At first, it sounded like she was berating him, but after listening to her friend for the last half hour, Olivia knew that most of the scolding Sara was giving was aimed at herself.
The rest of their circle of friends hadn’t yet appeared. Olivia hoped that Vivianne had decided to stay home for the summer, but she didn’t hold out the same hope for Shawnrik or Syranna. Shawnrik was too excited to learn what he could from the Institute to stay home. No matter how much catching up he had to do with his Grandfather, it wouldn’t overcome his need to learn everything he could so that he could go help his childhood friend.
Syranna was studying under Dean Swiftfoot, so the chances that she wasn’t on the grounds or the surrounding lands when the attack happened were low. So far there was no sign of her, or Harolinde Swiftfoot. She hoped that was good news.
Cypheria knows there is little enough of that at the moment.
The fact that Shawnrik hadn’t been brought in with the rest of the Giant folk had given Olivia a small glimmer of hope, and it was that hope that was allowing her to keep her calm at the moment. She didn’t think that there would be a mysterious young boy and two squads of the Protectorate’s best troops to come and save them this time. If there was any chance of them getting free, it would have to come from inside Serenity Valley.
As more students were brought into the amphitheater, Olivia realized that even if Shawnrik and a few others had escaped the Troll patrols, it would be some time before they would be in a position to help. The only other option was waiting for the portals to open for the harvest break, and then people might realize that something was wrong and send help when the portals opened again an eightday later.
That didn’t mean that she wouldn’t do everything she could to prepare the people being held here for that moment. There was a lot to do, and she didn’t know how long she had to do it.
One way or another, it was going to be a long summer.
Shawnrik couldn’t believe how many rooms and tunnels there were below the Institute. He had walked for five minutes before reaching some sort of lift that brought him to the surface. When he emerged, it was under a set of stairs. As the lift closed behind him, he was amazed to find that there was no indication that the wall was anything other than just a wall.
As he moved quietly up the stairwell, he realized that he knew what building he was in, even though he had only been here once before. It also helped that there was a conveniently labeled “Administration building” on the screen around his wrist.
“There is no need for stealth at present; this building and its surrounding area are currently clear of hostiles,” Aegis supplied.
“Forgive me if I’m cautious when the school I’m going to is currently occupied by a gang of trolls.” Shawnrik looked at his wrist. “Can this thing show me more of the campus?”
“I believe the term is clump.”
“What?” Shawnrik asked a moment before the building on his map became smaller as a larger portion of the Institute filled the screen. “Thanks.”
“A group of Trolls is attributed as a clump in my database.”
“Oh, good to know, I guess.”
Looking at his map, Shawnrik saw several red dots searching one of the buildings nearby. In that same cluster of buildings, there were several purple dots, and heading towards that very same cluster of buildings was Verrian’s yellow dot.
“Of course you are,” Shawnrik muttered as he began to move forward.
“Based on your current course, I calculate a 78% chance of hostile engagement. 84% if Mr. Smith maintains his present course. This rises to 98% should you attempt to assist the non-hostiles in the area, based on the current search pattern of the hostiles,” Aegis reported.
“Any odds on if I’ll win?” Shawnrik joked.
“With the limited data I have on your capabilities and without knowing the full extent of the Klastonians, it would be impossible to calculate odds of survival.”
“It wasn’t a serious question, Aegis,” Shawnrik whispered. “Here is one though. I don’t know a whole lot about trolls besides that they regenerate fast and taking off their heads is the easiest way to kill them. Any other weaknesses?”
“Any process that erodes or cauterizes the tissue will impede the regeneration process.”
“So, fire, acid, that sort of thing?”
“Correct,” Aegis replied. “Klastonians’ ability to speed up their bodies’ healing processes requires a great metabolic cost. If enough damage is sustained, the stores that the Klastonians have built up will be depleted, and their bodies will begin to digest themselves. The more damage that is done, the faster this process becomes. There is a note here from a Commander Trideux who says that this method of dispatchment is not recommended, as the amount of damage needed to deplete their stores is substantial.”
“Noted.” Shawnrik didn’t even want to think about how long of a fight that might be. “Thanks. Are there any acids around, or do I have to light the building on fire to burn them to death?”
“I do not have a full record of the facility’s current supplies, but I have witnessed several Instructors using acids in their experiments. Unfortunately, that building is out of range, should you wish to provide support before the Klastonians reach the civilians.”
“Figures,” Shawnrik muttered. “So fire?”
“While I cannot legally recommend that you commit arson, fire seems to be the most likely alternative for dispatching your foes. Also, there is the possibility that we can make it look accidental, decreasing the odds of reprisal to 6.4%.”
“I like those odds.” Shawnrik smiled. “What do you have in mind?”
It was eerie to move through campus no one around, especially in the middle of the day. Usually the Institute was lively during all daylight hours, and even at night it wasn't uncommon to see an older student or a staff member walking the grounds. Verrian had been stealthily working his way across campus towards the administration building, hoping that he would find someone there who could tell him what was going on. Having seen no other living soul for the last ten minutes, he was beginning to feel a little silly skulking from building to building. On he trudged through the campus though, making sure that each step was silent and that even his own shadow couldn't give him away.
He was glad that he had listened to that scared part of his mind that kept insisting he was in danger as a large greenish-brown head popped into view through a window in the building next to where he was hiding. Freezing in place, Verrian hoped that the Troll’s attention would remain inside the room it was currently searching and that it would not look outside at the small half-Elf who was standing in the middle of the path.
As the head disappeared, he breathed a sigh of relief a moment before a large hand grabbed him from behind and pulled him backwards.
“Mmmffrrr!” he screamed as another hand wrapped around his head muffling his voice.
“Stop trying to hit me.”
It took Verrian’s fear-addled mind a moment to realize that he recognized the voice of his captor. The wave of relief that hit him in that moment brought moisture to his eyes.
“Shawnrik. Thank all that is good and holy!” Verrian whispered. “What is going on?”
“Not a lot of time to explain right now, but the Institute has been attacked and the Trolls are rounding people up,” Shawnrik said.
Verrian realized that Shawnrik had been holding him up in the air as he felt his feet touch the ground when his roommate set him down. “Great, what’s the plan?”
Shawnrik grinned, explaining the plan they moved towards the building. “We save whoever we can who isn’t already captured, and we begin mounting a resistance.”
Verrian couldn’t stop the smile that slowly grew on his face as Shawnrik spoke. It was a dangerous and gruesome plan, but he was no longer alone.
Shawnrik was waiting outside the door to the classroom as the first Troll finished looking around the room. Shawnrik saw the Troll’s nose twitch a moment before its eyes went wide in alarm as it stepped out the doorway, but it was already too late. Shawnrik’s sword passed soundlessly through its neck. As the freshly-detached head tumbled to the ground, Shawnrik kicked it down the hallway towards Verrian, who was awaiting the projectile with a large piece of fabric that had been acting as a curtain in one of the adjoining rooms.
“Good,” Aegis said. “Soon the body will begin to quickly diffuse as it tries to provide nutrients to the detached control point. There is enough nutrient storage remaining on the head that it will shortly begin to attempt to replace the body. The lack of resources will limit this process greatly, but we only have a few minutes…”
As Aegis once again reminded Shawnrik for the necessity of haste, the other Troll noticed that its companion had crumpled in the doorway, and it let out a shout of challenge.
“…before it becomes mobile,” Aegis then added. “It appears the game is afoot.”
“Thanks for that obvious assessment,” Shawnrik said as he jumped over the crumpled form of the first Troll. He made sure the Troll left standing had a good view of his confident grin as he passed the doorway. Glancing at the map on his wrist, he saw the red dot begin to follow but pause briefly at the doorway before giving chase. “This one is cautious.”
“So it would seem.”
Shawnrik was beginning to realize that Aegis’s monotone speaking style had some slight variations if you listened closely, and he thought that his new colleague sounded confident.
“There is still an 85% chance that my plan will work, assuming you can perform your part adequately, of course.”
Definitely confident.
“Alright.” Shawnrik reached a hand out and grabbed onto the edge of a doorway, using his strength to help himself maneuver through the corner faster. He was proud of how well he had maintained his body, but according to the heavy breathing he heard behind him, and the blinking red dot on his map, the Troll was catching up.
As he rounded the corner, he saw Verrian toss the head into the room on the right at the end of the hall before disappearing into the opposite doorway. Shawnrik wasn’t sure he would outrun the Troll the rest of the way, so as it barreled around the corner, Shawnrik planted his right foot and kicked out with his left, aiming for the center of the Troll’s chest.
Shawnrik was surprised by the Troll’s speed and strength as it almost managed to stop its body before his boot made contact. Even though it was a stunning display of power and control, it wasn’t quite enough. Shawnrik’s foot connected mid-torso, launching the large form of the Troll backwards down the hallway. After seeing how quickly the Troll responded to his attack, Shawnrik wondered if he was going to be able to pull off his end of the plan.
Putting aside his doubts, he ran full speed for the end of the hallway and entered the room where Verrian had tossed the Troll’s companion’s head only a moment before the Troll came barreling through the doorway after him.
“Visuals indicate that he is upset,” Aegis supplied unhelpfully.
“Yeah.” Shawnrik rolled his eyes as he turned to meet the charging Troll.
“This is good for the plan,” Aegis continued.
“Yeah,” Shawnrik grunted as he swung at the hulking figure rushing towards him.
The Troll deflected the sword with its forearm, severing the appendage but causing Shawnrik’s swing to veer wide enough to leave him open for the charge. It felt like all of the air in his body left him at once as the Troll’s shoulder impacted with his abdomen. A moment later, he heard and felt the stonework groan as he was carried into the back wall.
Shawnrik was surprised to see his arms slamming down into the Troll’s shoulders forcing it to take a few steps backwards as it howled in pain. There had been a slight cracking sound as Shawnrik’s wrists had impacted, but that wasn’t what had the Troll screeching. In fact, the wounds that were bleeding profusely surprised even Shawnrik, before he looked down at his forearms.
His bracers, which had always been a smooth lustrous white, had grown two large curved spikes that were now covered in the Troll’s blood. Fascinated, but knowing he didn’t have a lot of time to react before the Troll regained its senses, Shawnrik decided this new development could wait until later for further examination.
Somehow, he had managed to retain his grip on his sword through the two solid impacts, and he was grateful for that as he rushed forward into his opponent. Shawnrik’s mind registered that the Troll’s severed wrist had already stopped bleeding as he brought his sword in for a low sweep of the being’s legs. He caught movement out of the corner of his eye, and he realized it was the wrapped head a moment too late. The distraction gave his opponent just enough leeway to avoid his strike and get one of its own in.
The wounds in the Troll’s shoulders were obviously affecting its strength; otherwise Shawnrik wasn’t sure he would have lived through having the sharp end of the man’s severed wrist thrust into his chest. As it was, the stump penetrated deep enough to be worrisome, but the shock on the Troll’s face told the story that he had expected it to go deeper.
“Sorry,” Shawnrik said as he slammed his head into the Troll’s face, eliciting a crunching sound. A moment later, he felt only a small amount of resistance as he slid his sword into the Troll’s side. He pushed the Troll backwards, and the severed wrist made a sickening wet sound as it was removed from his chest. Wasting no time, Shawnrik used a swift kick to increase the Troll’s backward momentum causing it to tumble.
Shawnrik felt a moment of pity for the Troll as he realized what he had to do next, but the oozing blood from the wound on his chest reminded him that the Troll would not feel the same were it in Shawnrik’s position. Bringing a large boot down, Shawnrik stomped on one of the Troll’s legs, feeling the bones shatter as his foot nearly touched the ground. He was having trouble seeing as he repeated the process on the other leg, moisture running down his cheeks. A moment later, his mind registered a scream of rage and regret, and another moment passed before he realized that it was coming from his own mouth. Under the tutelage of Ashur and Dunnagan he had become good at killing, but he still couldn’t seem to come to terms with the fact of ending someone’s life.
“Shawnrik,” Verrian said from the doorway.
Looking up, Shawnrik saw his roommate looking truly frightened for the first time. Verrian’s face was a pale white, but his voice remained strong.
“We need to finish this.”
Shawnrik wiped his eyes as he booted the struggling Troll in the head. He hoped it had been hard enough for the man to stay unconscious through what was to come. He saw a tiny hand pop out of the impromptu cloth bag and realized that the head had already begun to sprout a body.
“Alright,” Shawnrik sighed as he left the room. He was tempted to throw his sword back into the room, but the pragmatic side of his mind reminded him that he might need it in the days to come, while ignoring the other part of his mind that was wailing about the acts that he was committing and about to commit.
Verrian gave him a weak smile tinged with regret a moment before the half-Elf tossed a bottle of alcohol, that Aegis had directed them to from one of the Instructor’s desks, into the room with the Trolls.
Taking out a match, Shawnrik struck it on the doorframe. He watched the light dance on the tip a moment before tossing it into the room. The conflagration burned hot and fast, and the muffled screaming was blissfully short.
“Activating safety protocols and initiating riot control measures for Sector 12-u and Sector 12-b,” Aegis said. “Suppressing fire detection and alert systems for the rest of the facility.”
Behind them, the boys heard large metal plates slamming into place in the windows and doors of the room they had just exited.
“The first body has almost fully broken down. I have locked down that sector and sent in the cleaning bots. I have logged the response in the system as a reaction to an unidentified conflagration. Unfortunately, someone must have activated something in the security system when the attack occurred, as all camera data and files are now corrupt.”
“Handy that,” Shawnrik muttered.
“What?” Verrian asked.
Shawnrik remembered his roommate couldn’t hear Aegis. “Responding to that voice in my head I was telling you about when I explained the plan.”
“Aegis, right?”
“Yeah, I’ll tell you about it when we have time, though you’ll meet soon enough.” Shawnrik started to jog as they moved through the hallway. “Let’s see who we can save in the meantime.”