Carus Village

Lilia’s Father POV

Something ridiculous is happening. Right inside my very home.

There’s a skeleton sitting across from me in the mainroom. My daughter serving it tea as if it were an honored guest.

“Mhmm, so, Lilia, who is this?” I ask after clearing my throat.

“Ah, this is the skeleton who was with the man.” She replies while gesturing towards the black haired youth.

“I thought that was you?”

“Well, I wasn’t the first. I didn’t know if he was dangerous before, but now I’m sure of it. You tried to save this man, didn’t you?” She asks the skeleton.

It nods its skull energetically in response.

“Ah, that’s right. Do you happen to know who this is?” Lilia asks.

“There’s no way that-” I start saying, but stop myself as the skeleton nods its skull again.

“Would you tell us?” Lilia continues.

The skeleton looks around for a moment before grasping its mace. I leap to my feet, and he immediately lets go. It looks around once more before mimicking writing motion in the air.

“Oh. I’m so sorry. Please wait a moment.” Lilia says before running off.

I continue glaring at the skeleton, and it shifts from side to side. Am I making it uncomfortable? A skeleton?! Just what is going on?

“Hey boy, you haven’t said anything. What do you think of this situation?” I ask the only other human in the room.

He doesn’t answer. His eyes are glued to the skeleton and he seems lost in thought. The skeleton turns to look at him as well before turning away. Hands to its cheekbones.

Lilia returns with quill and parchment, and puts it in front of the skeleton. It grasps the feather tenderly before scrawling a huge A onto it. Pointing towards the fallen god.

“A?” Lilia wonders out loud.

The skeleton then writes a big M, points toward the mace, then towards itself.

“And your name is mace?” Lilia asks.

It begins shaking its skull, but quickly begins nodding. It almost seems happy.

“Hmm, but an A. There’s only one possible god we know of.” My daughter states.

“Mm Alistaire, but from what I’ve heard, he’s a just god who stands as a shining example, even to others of his kind.” I say rubbing the small bit of stubble on my chin.

Mace POV

I’m so glad I got a new name. Skeleton M wasn’t very cute at all. At least this one sounds like it could be a name.

I look at the two humans in turn. They’re talking about some weird things. I mean, skeleton A was very handsome. The dark coloration of his bones would cause any maiden’s head to turn. On top of that, he’s so strong, charismatic, and.. and.. just dreamy.

I cast a glance towards him. He’s still looking at me! Kyaa! Those eyes are surely looking at me with so much passion. Kyaa, I can’t. I turn my head away.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

I think back to when he handed me that mace. He was so charming at that moment, but still, a god?

I look at him again.A shiver of excitement running down my exposed spine as he’s still gazing so intently at me.

He is one. He’s my god! Even if he has that ugly skin on him now, my love for him won’t fade.

Don’t worry skeleton A. I’ll find a way to turn you back!

Oh! Look at me! Forgetting something important. I need to keep him alive until I can find someone to help me in my quest.

The two humans are still in a heated conversation about some Alistaire. Is that what they’ve taken to calling him? It’s alright I guess, and it does start with an A.

Ah! The warning!

I take the feather and begin drawing something from my mind. It was a hulking green figure. Holding a giant glaive. It had some problems with it’s teeth, and reminded me a lot of skeleton H. I think A called him Henderson.

After finishing, I hand the picture to A and begin imitating people fighting.

Skeleton A finally looks at the paper instead of me. My feelings are a little hurt, but it’s okay. I can’t expect him to always be looking at me.

“What’s this?” He asks me. His voice is so weird now.

I’ve gotta get the message across… if only I learned more than the alphabet…

“Ah! That’s an orc, isn’t it?” The girl says. She’s been the most help so far. Even if she’s ugly, I think we can still be friends. I nod.

I begin mimicking motion for attacking again.

“They’re.. they’re going to attack?” She asks surprised. I nod again. She catches on quick.

“We.. we need to warn the village!” The rude man shouts. I don’t really like him.

I jump in surprise as screams are heard from outside. I was too late. They’re already here. No, A’s still alive. I just need to sneak him out as the others die. I grab his arm and try to move him, but he doesn’t budge.

“Guess it’s time to earn my keep.” A says. No, there’s too many. I saw at least fifty of them, and when I overheard them talking, they said they were just a scouting party. Please Skeleton A, let’s go. I can’t turn you back if your bones rot.

He gets up from his seat. Are you coming with me? You understood my inner voice! No, he heads out the front towards where the screams came from. Why?

I strengthen my resolve before following him. If he won’t run, I’ll at least make sure he doesn’t die. I’m scared, but skeleton A needs my help!

Lilia’s Father POV

“Lilia, gather the surviving villagers and have them take shelter in our cellar.” I say strapping the sword to my waist.

She looks at me with concern, but nods her head. That’s my girl.

I step out of the house and jog to catch up to A. That’s what I’m calling him for now. It’s the only clue we have to go with after all.

Mace the skeleton is walking with him. Is it going to fight with us? Just what is that undead?

“A! I’ll go take command of the men. Just hold out for a bit, alright? Don’t push yourself.” I call out. He simply nods, and I run off to find the others. The fighting seems to have broken out at the western wall. It doesn’t take long to gather up the rest of the forces due to the alarm being sounded.

The beating of thick hide drums audible throughout the entire village.

Dark clouds hanging overhead. The sun nowhere to be seen.

We hurry towards the west gate, passing by all the women and children who are currently headed towards my home.

Soon, the familiar wooden walls come into sight. A ragged hole was torn into the side, but it’s been covered with something. A streak of white comes flying towards us from the sky, crashing into a flimsy wooden house. I peer at it to discover Mace. The skeleton’s missing it’s left arm and both of its legs. The mace still gripped in her remaining right hand.

“Skeleton!”

“Even the undead..”

“Finish it off!” The men shout before charging.

“Wait! It’s already immobile. We need to hurry and defend the breach!” I shout to stop them.

They seem hesitant, but soon agree. As we get closer we spot the other guards cut into pieces as if their bones and armor offered no resistance.

“What is this?”

“They’re too strong.”

“We’re going to die!”

This is bad. The men are losing their morale.

I look at the breach to find that the mottled green and brown covering it were bodies. Dead orcs that were cut by tremendous force. The bodies numbering anywhere from  fifteen to twenty-five. I order the men to open the gate, but they don’t do it. Of course they wouldn’t.

I rush onto the wall instead, and my eyes widen in surprise. Orcs are charging at the village. A little over two hundred of them. They’re plainly visible due to the terrain. I spot a lone figure standing between us and them. Numerous glaives stabbed into the ground around him.

He picks one up and lobs it. I watch, captivated as it screeches through the air. It pierces the first victim. Passing through one after another until it finally kills its sixth victim.

He grabs another, and quickly begins throwing them in succession. Claiming about forty victims before he’s left with just one.

“Just what…” someone says from my right, surprising me.

I turn to see Pierre.

“Why don’t you go help him Pierre? An orc shouldn’t be too difficult for you.”

“Normally I could take on about seven or eight, but he doesn’t seem to need any help.” He says.

I quickly turn back to the battle to see small mounds of corpses. A circle formed around A as the orcs watch him wearily.

The largest one issues an order, and they charge at him. The first line being mowed down by a single strike as he swings in a wide arc. The glaive cutting through marvelously until it shatters on armor.

He quickly drops the broken weapon and jumps straight into the midst of them. Guttural cries of pain ring out as A breaks whatever’s in sight.

He carves a path through them until he reaches the leader. A behemoth almost three times his size. The giant bears down on him. Lowering a giant sword, that seems more like a club, to his side.

He swings horizontally at A, but he ducks under the blow. Angered, the chieftain takes the sword in both hands before bringing it down in an overhead strike. Dust rising up from where it lands. The tremors can be felt even this far away.

A figure shoots out from the dust, flying like an arrow towards the orc chief’s skull, and connects. The head bursting open like a ripe fruit as A slows himself by latching onto the headless orc.

The body of the orc slams into the ground as A stands. The remaining orcs number only a third of what once was. They scatter. Running in all directions. Hoping that they won’t meet their end at the hands of this monster.

A just remains standing there as the sun breaks through the clouds. A ray of light shining down on him.

The picture it paints is surreal. It’s him. It has to be.

Alistaire the Liberator.