Wander Moon / 29 / 1218 A.F.
I had another nightmare. Didn’t even have the Matriarch in it this time. My arms were torn from my shoulders and watched my heart fall out of my chest. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve had that particular one… My dreams aren’t always like that. Sometimes I’m drowning and wake up long after my chest collapses. Other times I’m burning alive until all my nerves are dead and my skin is mushy paste. Sometimes I have my left hand again and watch it go berserk and strangle me until my neck is nice and concave.
I know it sounds bad… but it really isn’t. It used to feel amazing at one point. Each injury made me feel loads lighter. Each gallon of blood lost cleared my mind and lifted an invisible weight off my shoulders. I would sometimes even beg my assailant to keep hitting me until I stopped breathing… but even that wasn’t enough. But now my dreams are all so… mundane. you can only drown bisected in a pool of your own blood so many times before it stops having any effect. I can’t really do anything to stop them and I can’t really talk to anyone about it either. They’re just going to continue until I die, swirling around me like a cloud of rotten gnats. What am I even doing? Why am I risking my life for some kid? I coulda just sold the damn stone and be sitting nice in a mansion somewhere… No… that’s wrong. You know that’s wrong. It doesn’t matter where I am or what I’m doing. A sword in Paradise is still just a sword. A dead, cold, piece of metal… don’t forget that. This is what you wanted. This is what you chose. Live with your choices… but then why do I keep looking for Paradise? I don’t even know if it would make me happy or if Paradise would even have me.
No matter how many times I tell myself that, it doesn’t feel any better. No matter how many times I drink myself out, slaughter someone, or hurt myself, it just doesn’t relieve me the same way it used to. There’s just this… thing inside of me. It’s not sadness or anger. Those require too much energy. It’s nothing. Hollow. Oblivion… and yet when I see David smile, when I protect him from harm, I somehow feel compelled to keep moving. I feel… motivated in a way that I haven’t felt in a very, very long time… and I’m not letting that go. Not again.
I wake up again staring at the sun. Not a cloud in the sky. Looks about midday. My nose is all clogged up, my throat is raw and sticky, and my face and eyes are damp. My body feels heavy and weak, but a good heavy. The kind of heavy one gets only after sleeping after a large meal. Leg’s still busted, but it doesn’t feel frail. I can’t really feel my legs. My insides feel frail, but a good frail. I feel like something opened me up and washed out my insides. My head feels clearer - but I feel more exposed. No matter how much I bundle myself up, I feel naked without my armor and helmet… but now I feel like I’d be naked even with those because David’s looking at me with a weak smirk.
“What are you smirking at?” I wipe my eyes.
“In your sleep, you said,” David puts his hand on his hip, impersonates my voice, and puffs out his chest, “Hands off of David or I’ll rip your teeth out your ass!”
“Stop making stuff up.” I groan and hack up some indigo gunk.
“I am not.” David hugs my arm. “You care about me.”
“No… really? You think I’d do all this if I didn’t?”
“No.” David shakes his head against my arm and smiles up at me just like Him. “but it is nice to hear it.”
“Yeah…” my lip quivers and my throat tightens. “It… sure… does…” I start crying. No matter how hard I try, I can’t stop. I try to push David away and cover my face with my blankets, but it doesn’t work. The tears won’t stop coming.
“Astrid!” David shakes my arm. “I am sorry! I-I really was not messing with you! I am sorry if I upset you!”
“No… no…” I blow my nose into the blanket. “I’m not mad at you… you… you just remind me of someone I know.”
“R-really? Who?”
I finally work up the courage to look at David. “The bravest man I ever met.”
“A-astrid…” David’s face contorts and he hugs me tight.
We cry together for a long, long time until we run out of tears. My throat is sore, my vision is blurry, my breathing is still unsteady… but I feel clean. Purified even. David eventually lets go of me and stares up at the sky. “You know… um…”
“What?” I wipe my eyes and stare up at the sky.
“Never mind… it is far too embarrassing.”
“Shut up. I just cried in front of a snot-nosed brat. You owe me one.”
David laughs until he winces and holds his cheek. “Haha.. ow… that is the Astrid I am familiar with. Are you sure I can tell you?”
“Lay it on me.”
“I never met my mother… but I hope she would be someone like you.” David covers his face with the now snot and tear-covered blanket.
“Really now?” I smirk and tug at the blanket. “You think I’m motherly?”
“W-well… maybe not conventionally… but you are really cool. Strong, tough, gives great hugs… that is what all moms are, right?”
“Well, I can’t really cook all that well.” I can’t help but grin.
“T-that is fine! I can learn! You tell really good stories and keep me safe and sound so wise and make me feel better about myself!” David starts to cry again and his voice begins distorting. “I-I do not know what to do when you are not around! I get scared thinking about you getting hurt a-and I want to get strong to make it up to you an-”
I pull David in for another hug and hold the back of his head. “Alright, mister. That’s enough flattery for one day.” I can’t contain my smile. “I get it.”
“So…” David clears his throat. “When all this is over… if we- no, when we make it to the Monastery, please… please let me keep travelling with you. I do not want to leave your side until I see the rest of the world and grow strong like you.”
“If we make it out, sure.” I flick his forehead. “I could use an apprentice before I bite the dust.”
“Thank you.” David nods.
The wagon eventually comes to a slow halt. I glance out the side and see the vast Lake Virtue to the left of us.
Michael clears his throat and turns back at us. “If you two are done babbling, could you help me fill up our water tanks?”
“On it.” I wipe my tears and jump out of the wagon. I collapse immediately when my right leg hits the ground.
“Astrid! Are you okay!?” David leans over the side of the wagon.
“HAH!” Michael laughs and shakes his head. “Aw, man you ate dirt. What were you thinking jumping off with that leg wound?” he smiles down at me and offers me his hand.
“Nnngh…” I rub dirt off my arm and look up at Michael. “Guess I wasn’t…” I accept his hand, help myself up, and help him and his crew stock up on water. We give ourselves a quick bath in the lake before heading East to Ostia.
Hardly any wind. Michael’s quiet. David’s munching on a carrot held between his two bandaged arms. I have an upset stomach from chugging lake water. I can’t help myself. Water never tasted so good. “Hey, David. How’re your arms feeling?”
David rests the carrot in his lap and wiggles his arms. “They feel soft and really itchy…” he winces. “The wind makes them hurt more.”
“Well don’t scratch them.” I sigh. “Can you cast any magic?”
“I can try.” David closes his eyes and starts to whisper something. His arms start to glow with a familiar arcane light. Three words in, the light fades and David hunches over clutching his arms. “AAHA-AAAH!!!”
“Definitely a no…” I rub his back. “Crap.”
“S-sorry… I will try to get better as soon as I can.”
“You’ve done enough.” I pat his back and shake my head. “I don’t need you killing yourself. No magic till you heal, got it?”
“Yes, ma’am.” David sniffles then lies back on his back.
I look behind us and see that the wall of mist is much closer than it used to be. Looks more menacing too. I swear I can see the Matriarch’s face in the mist staring at me, taunting me… though that could just be mist poisoning…
“Hey, David. Does the Monastery have an-AAAAAGGGH!” my forehead feels like someone drove a halberd through it and is twisting the handle. I collapse onto my belly and clutch my head. “S-STOP!!! STOP IT! GET!!! OUT!!!”
“Astrid? Astrid!” David starts to shake me.
The whole world grows muted. My vision turns grey. Everything around me slows down. All sounds sound like they’re muffled under a lake of oil. The Matriarch’s voice echoes through my mind.
Astrid. Please stop wasting my time. You are only delaying the inevitable.
“EAT MY ASS!” I shriek.
Come to me. Bring me the stone and all will be forgiven. I know what you want and can give it to you. You and David can live happily with everyone in the Boundary.
“ONLY LOSERS COME TO BARGAIN! AAAAAAAGH!!!!” I grit my teeth and bang my head against the wagon floor.
You do not understand the gravity of the situation. You have already lost. I can read your every thought, every movement, every desire.
I try to insult her, but my brain’s too on fire to form coherent sentences.
One more thing, please tell David to stop deluding himself. I am his Matriarch. Please relay that to him. It is far too painful to see one of my disciples fall into delusion.
I start pulling at my own hair to try and tear my head open and dig the voice out.
If you insist on pursuing this folly, I will let you… just to see how far you fall.
The Matriarch giggles and my senses return to normal. Color returns, time resumes, hearing is fine. I’m caked in sweat, breathing heavily, and have a killer headache… but that’s the new norm at this point.
“Astrid… Astrid… can you hear me?” David looks down at me and shakes me lightly.
“Yeah…” I nod and clear my throat. “Loud and clear…”
“What happened just now?”
“Mist Bitch can read my thoughts now apparently…” I scratch my forehead. “Told me we could live in peace with her if we handed the stone over to her now.”
“W-what did you say?” David gulps.
“I told her to suck a fat one.”
“A fat what?” David tilts his head.
“Heh…” I wipe sweat off my forehead and sit up. “I’ll tell you when you’re older.”
“I see… well, did she say anything else?”
“Nope.” I yawn.
“Speaking to someone via thoughts…” David rubs his chin. “I have never heard of such a magic technique… do you mind if I try to exorcise her? It cannot be good if she can speak to you.”
“No magic until you’re healed.”
“But-”
“No magic.” I poke his forehead. “Got it?”
“Okay…” David slumps back onto the floor. “Are you sure you are okay?”
“I’m never okay, but I’m managing.”
Still Moon / 5 / 1218 A.F.
It is now sunset. I managed to get some good naps in and snack on some plump plateau rabbits during the journey. We’re atop a large hill looking over Ostia in the distance. I can see some small cabins with some pastures surrounding a walled city by the Grace River. Half of the Plateau behind us has now been consumed by mist… and yet the people of Ostia are none the wiser. I can see people in the distance just meandering about going about their daily routines completely oblivious to the chaos that awaits them… Southeast of us is the port where vessels large and small transport goods and people from the capital and the U.P.s. I’ll warn everyone to evacuate after we secure a transport vessel… last thing I need right now is to be crammed on a ship with a bunch of panicked Lombards.
“Well. This is where we part ways.” Michael turns back to us and smiles. “Been a pleasure seeing you two again.” he extends his arm to me.
“Thank you again.” I extend my right hand and shake. “Dunno how I’d be alive without you guys.” we collect our things and get out of the wagon.
“You know, if you ever need a place to hide, feel free to come back to the Mediterranean.” Michael rubs his steed’s back. “We could use someone like you. You’d make a good Corrupted. It’d be a good look on you.”
David grimaces, but I just chuckle. “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind. Where can I find you guys?”
“We’re under the red tree by the North end. You can’t miss it. Ask around for the Red Leaves if you need to find us.”
“Will do.” I shake his hand. “Thank you again.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?” Michael doesn’t let go of my hand. “Mira thinks you’re pretty cute.”
“I NEVER SAID THAT!” Mira throws a boot at Michael.
“BWAHA!” Michael lets go of my hand, catches the boot and chucks it back at her.
bonk
It bonks Mira on the head and knocks her off her steed.
“Alright then.” Michael shoots us a thumbs up and jumps back onto his steed. “Best of luck to you two.”
“Where are you guys going?” I ask.
“Back to the Mediterranean. It’s the only home for us now.” Michael gives a little salute. “Farewell.” Michael and his entourage ride West towards the wall of mist.
“Let’s go.” I start marching down the hill to the port. “We’re burning daylight.”
“Right.” David follows close behind me.
“What are the Monastery’s defenses like? Think we’ll be safe from Mist Bitch there?”
“Of course.” David smiles. “We possess the greatest mages and clerics in the continent. The priests have exorcised mirages the size of houses.”
“I hope you’re right…”
“Even if the clerics are away or sick, the Monastery has a barrier around it that destroys any mirages that touch it.”
“Really?” I hop over a rock and stumble when I land. “Hnngh…”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. How does that barrier work?”
David hops over the rock and sticks the landing just fine. “There is a large room under the Monastery with a large sigil where a dozen clerics pray there in rotation to keep the barrier up. I just started learning the barrier prayer when I left for my Pilgrimage.”
“I see. Has it ever been broken?”
“No.” David shakes his head. “As long as there are at least six clerics praying in tandem, the barrier works.”
“Good to know.” I grit my teeth and hunch over for a moment. My stomach’s full, but feels like it’s being squeezed empty. “Damn… it…”
“What is wrong now?”
“Well a lot of things.” I hold my stomach and keep going. “But I haven’t had blues in a while… probably not helping much”
“I shall get you help once we reach the Monastery.” David holds my hand and walks with me. “No more addiction. No more smoking. No more drinks. Only fresh vegetables and pure water for you. We’ll get you clean and healthy again.”
“I could really go for a beer right now.” I cackle.
“Astrid.” David pouts.
“Kids don’t need alcohol. Adults need some happy juice every now and then.”
“Mrrrgrr…”
“You’ll understand when you’re older.”
“I hope I never do.” David sighs.
“Me too.”
40 minutes later…
We reach the checkpoint for the port. It’s a short line of people. Won’t take too long. The atmosphere’s lax. There’s a woman fishing on a rock with her daughter, a man selling freshly caught fish at a booth to the left of us, and another woman selling frozen snacks in front of a small passenger ferry. There’s three guards in front of a steel gate between two short watchtowers. They’re clad in clean chainmail and wielding wide shields and shortswords. Standard low-level Lombard domestic guard attire. Nothing too expensive or flashy, but practical. One of them approaches us. She’s a whole head shorter than me and has freckles all over her cheeks. “Papers?”
“Here.” I hand her my license and look around while she’s perusing it. I notice some people staring at David before glancing at me and turning away.
“Where are you two headed?” she glances up from my license with a raised brow.
“Monastery.” I pat David’s head. “I’m this cleric’s bodyguard.”
“Mhm.” Freckles closes my license and peers up at me. “And why would an Athesian care about our clergy?”
“Pay’s good.” I shrug and reach out for my license. “Can I have that back?”
“Hold on a minute.” Freckles glares at me before kneeling down to David. “Hey, little one. Are you okay? Is this woman stealing you?”
“What? No, of course not.” David shakes his head. “She is my loyal bodyguard.”
“Really now? Is she a good bodyguard?”
“She is the biggest and strongest.” David holds my hand.
Freckles glares at his hand for a second. “Really now? That cut on your cheek looks pretty fresh. How did you get that?”
I lock my jaw and try to keep my eyes calm. Don’t breathe weird, don’t give them funny looks, and for the love of everything; David, don’t tell them we were in the Free Range.
David glances up at me, but I don’t dare look down at him.
“This?” David points to his cheek. “I… um…” he rubs the back of his head. “I was climbing on a boulder, and then Astrid told me to get down, and then I did not get down, and then Astrid told me to get down again, and then I told her I would be fine and then I fell and then I landed on my face on a rock and then got this.”
Freckles shakes her head and laughs. “You kiddos are so dumb. Alright.” she tosses my license at my feet. “You two are free to go.” she looks at me. “I suggest you leave quickly though. Kinda hard to tell Athesians from coyotes at night.”
“I hear you.” I bend down to pick up my license.
Freckles kicks it away from me. “Oops.”
I would gut this bitch right here and now if David wasn’t watching… I reach for my license again.
One of Freckles’ cohorts kicks it past me to another cohort.
I sigh, keep my head down, and reach for the license again.
“Hmmm…” David rubs his chin. “I wonder what Bishop Peter would think of this behavior.”
Freckles stops laughing, puts her hands in her pockets, and looks off to the side. “Just hurry up and go.”
“Will do.” I pick up my license and finally put it back in my satchel. David and I pass through the checkpoint. “Oh, by the way. We saw some A-class mirages to the West. You should probably check that out.”
“Uh huh. Sure.” Freckles yawns.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“Ma’am. Please.” David pleads. “Send out a scout. Please.”
Freckles rolls her eyes. “Fine.” she looks to one of of her cohorts. “Juliet, take a horse and head to the plateau to see what’s going on.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Cohort gives a little salute and runs past us.
David and I turn back around and get a better look at the port. The ship to the right of us has just left South towards the U.P.s. All its cargo is covered in tarps and guarded by a small legion of Hunters and regular Lombard soldiers. To the left of us is a petite transport dingy. Looks barely big enough to comfortably fit a dozen people above deck. There’s five people shoving a bunch of cargo below deck at the moment. They’re somewhat rotund and very well-kempt. Most likely merchants. Above the dingy is a sign that reads ‘To Capital. 1 silver per person. Clergy ride free.’
“Crap…” I look in my satchel, but can’t find any cash. Must’ve fallen out during the fall. “Think they’ll let me onboard?”
“You are technically part of the clergy whilst escorting me.” David shakes his head. “The Church amended the law a while back to help entice more hunters to work for us.”
“Good.” I turn left and head for the dingy. “Let’s head out.” I take a few steps, but don’t hear David follow behind me. “David?” I look back and see David staring longingly into a little sales booth staffed by an elderly woman. “David. Come on. Boat leaves in five.”
“Frozen cream…” I hear David’s stomach grumble.
“What are you going on about?” I approach the booth and stare down at him.
“Frozen… cream…” David licks his lips.
The woman behind the counter pours cream and some vanilla extract into a cone-shaped wafer. “Watch this, my boy.” she begins muttering something in Lombard and arcane blue energy swirls around her hand. The cream begins to solidify into a clump of frozen white cream. Looks solid, but fluffy. I could probably eat it.
David’s eyes glimmer and he reaches up for the cone. “Gimme gimme!”
“Of course, of course, my dear.” she holds the cone just out of his range. “Could you just say a prayer for me at the next mass? My back has been giving me so much trouble.”
“Of course!” David hops up, but still can’t reach the cone. “I promise!”
“Then here you are.” she smiles and gives him the cone. “May the Matriarch heal your cheek.”
“Yes… may she…” David stares into the cone for a second before looking back up at the woman. “Can I get one for my bodyguard though?” David holds my hand. “She is famished.”
“I just ran out of cream.” The woman shoves her cup into an open hatch atop the cart and closes the hatch.
“But I just saw-”
“Let’s go, David.” I pull his hand and lead him towards the boat.
“No! You are getting-” David tries to escape my grip.
“Let’s just go.”
“Listen to your bodyguard, boy.” the hag waves. “She’s wiser than she looks.”
David eventually stops resisting and we get on board. We have five minutes to kill until take off, so we just hang out at the bow. I look West and feel a cool wind brush against my face. I can smell something that I’ve never smelled before. It’s faint… but pleasant? It’s like sugar mixed with dust. It makes me cough, but I can’t get enough of the fleeting scent. My mouth salivates and my thighs twitch every time a fresh whiff hits my nose.
“Astrid?” David waves his hand in front of my face. “Are you okay?”
I shake my head. “Yeah. Just thinking about stuff. What’s up?”
“Here.” he holds his cone of frozen cream up to me. “I want you to have this.”
My stomach rumbles.” I appreciate it, but you need the nutrients more. You’re a growing boy.”
“No. Take it. Now. I’m not hungry.” David walks up to me and pushes the cone mere inches from my face.
“David, it’s fine. Really. You can have immff!”
Next thing I know, David’s shoved the cone right onto my mouth. Cool cream presses against my lips and some slides down my chin. “There. It is contaminated. Now I cannot eat it.” he folds his arms and pouts like the child he is.
The cream and cone stay affixed to my lips until I pull it off. “Alright, alright. Guess you win.” My cheeks shake and I can’t stop smiling. “So how do I eat this thing? Do I eat the cone first?”
“You never had frozen cream before?” David takes a step back.
“We don’t really do that in Athos. We prefer our cream warm and put in bread.”
“That does sound tasty…” David trails off before shaking his head. “No, you are supposed to eat the cream first then the cone.”
“Very well.” I bite into the frozen cream and let it melt in my mouth. It’s refreshing and sweet. Exactly how I imagined frozen cream would taste. I take two more bites and see David grimacing. “Something wrong?”
“Why are you biting into it?”
“Can’t eat without chewing.” I take another bite just to watch him squirm.
“Ewewew stop that!” David closes his eyes. “You are supposed to lick the cream!”
“Oooooh. I suppose that makes sense.” I wait till his eyes open and take another bite.
“Does that not hurt?” David winces.
“Nah. Hot and cold food never really hurt my teeth.”
“You really are terrifying…” David looks horrified, but doesn’t look away.
The ship sets sail and I finish the cone shortly after. “Aaah… that hit the spot.” I lick some cream off my finger. “Thank you.”
“I am glad you liked it.” David looks out over the bow and stretches his arms. “I have to introduce you to so many other Lombard deserts once all this is over.”
“I’ll hold you to that.” I look behind me and watch Ostia slowly disappear into the horizon. Just as Ostia fades, the Boundary starts creeping over the horizon to the West. The wind’s getting stronger. “Oh… come… on…”
“What?” David looks West and I see his jar start to slack. “Astrid…?”
“Yeah?”
“How long does this ferry take?”
“Bout forty minutes… how long does it take to get from the port to the monastery?”
“Um… it’s about a half hour walk. I think.” David’s legs start shaking.
“It’ll be fine.” I lie. “Just keep an eye on it. “We’re going as fast as we can…”
It doesn’t take long for the rest of the passengers to notice the Boundary creeping up on us. Some panic. Some start crying. Others barge in below deck and pressure the captain to speed up. The ferry nearly doubles in speed, but the Boundary keeps closing in on us.
Ten minutes pass and people keep freaking out, but David’s not crying. I can start to smell salt in the air and hear some water slosh around in the distance. Sounds like a giant river flowing.
David turns around on his tippy toes and peers out Northeast over the bow. “Astrid! We are almost at… the… oh no…”
I wince and close my eyes. “Please don’t tell me what I think it is…”
“Please look.”
I groan, turn around, and open my eyes. The Boundary is slowly engulfing the capital from the East. The pearly gates, tall basilicas, and city wates decorated with intricate stained glass patterns are barely visible from outside the Mist. The ashy smell from earlier is getting stronger… some drool escapes my mouth and drips off my chin. “Come on… that… that’s just cheating…”
Pain crashes against my forehead once again. I lean over the bow and grip my temple. “GGAAAAAH!!!” My vision goes grey, time slows, and Mist Bitch’s voice floods my mind once again.
I truly do appreciate the deposit you left for me. I would not have been able to advance this far without all the mist contained within. As thanks, I’ll let you live a little longer. Just to see you suffer. See you at the Monastery.
She shuts up, my vision is restored, time resumes, and all pain evaporates from my head. “Dammit…” I wipe the sweat off my forehead and shake my head.
“Was that mirage talking to you again?” David holds my hand and refuses to let go.
“Yeah…” I sigh. “She’s waiting for us at the Monastery.”
Any hope remaining in David’s face vanishes. “Oh no…”
“I thought you said the Monastery barrier would protect the Monastery.”
“I know… but given our luck, it feels like something would go wrong.”
“Heh.” I pat his head. “You’re learning.”
Mist starts to roll in and engulf the river. I give it about two minutes till we reach the capital and we’re completely covered in Mist.
clunk clunk clunk
I hear a large man trudge out from below deck. Looks real grizzled and real smelly. Looks like he’s part bear, part alcohol, all old. Has a long white beard and boots that could kick down a castle gate. “Alright! LISTEN UP YOU IDIOTS! AS PER IMPERIAL EMERGENCY POWERS, I AM KNIGHTING ALL OF YOU IN THE SERVICE OF OUR KING AND BISHOP. TAKE THESE WEAPONS, CONVENE AT THE CASTLE, AND MAKE SURE TO MASSACRE ANY MIRAGES YOU COME ACROSS!!!” he kicks open a sizable chest near the side of the ship and begins distributing weapons. Some get maces. Some get swords.
I manage to get a Lombard halberd. Strong weight towards the end, sturdy second blade that can be used as an axe, but no explosive charges. Upon closer inspection, I see a button on the shaft. Haven’t seen a button on a standard Lombard Halberd before. Must be a new model. “SIR. WHAT DOES THIS BUTTON DO?”
“THAT ACTIVATES THE HEAT EDGE.” Grizzle barks at me. My eardrums rumble and spittle flies all over my face. “PRESS THAT BUTTON AND THE HALBERD GETS SUPERHEATED FOR TEN MINUTES. IT REQUIRES TWENTY MINUTES TO RECHARGE AND COOL OFF BEFORE BEING USED AGAIN. ANY OTHER STUPID QUESTIONS?”
“NO SIR.”
“GOOD.” We pull up to the dock and Grizzle throws the anchor overboard. “GET IN THERE AND PROTECT OUR CITY, YOU INGRATES.”
Everyone floods out of the boat and onto the stone port steps. They’re quiet and advance like they can barely see anything in front of them.
“Astrid.” David whispers. “Want me to take lead?”
“Please…” I sigh. Big opulent gates that look torn open lie in front of us. There’s stands that are knocked over and a few fishers sprinting into the city gates. I can see just past the gates, but not much further than that. Normally one could see the Monastery’s steeple from anywhere in the city, but the mist is far too thick. The gates are only twenty paces away, and I can’t see past them.
BWAAOOOOOOOOOOAOOOOOOO
The wail from the Mediterranean returns and knocks David off his feet. The boat behind us capsizes. The collapsed stalls get torn to shreds, and the city walls begin to chip and waver. I pull David back onto his feet and hurry through the open gates. “Where’s the Monastery?”
“Just head straight.” he whispers and follows behind me. “I will let you know.”
“Take this.” I give him my crossbow. “Know how to reload?”
“I can figure it out…” David drops the crossbow and picks it back up.
“You better. Shoot anything that moves.”
“But what if I hit a person?”
“If anyone finds out, I’ll take responsibility.”
We advance through the city streets and see row after row of buildings with the windows boarded up and the doors slammed shut. There’s a few bodies lying face down here and there that look mangled and trampled on. Most of them are kids. In the distance, I can hear some people sprinting through the streets and trying to open any and every door for shelter. Still no signs of Mirages anywhere so that’s good… but my vision’s getting worse by the minute. The wind keeps picking up too.
“Astrid?”
“Yes?” I turn around and see David slowly decomposing in front of me. His skin caves in, his legs collapse as his bone and sinew slowly turn to dust. Fingers fall off one by one. Jaw becomes half unhinged. Even his eye sockets are slowly withering away revealing his skull. “Nonononono!!! NO!” I yell and try to put his body back together. “WHAT HAPPENED!?”
“Hm?” David tilts his head. “Astrid, I’m fine. What’s wrong?”
“What do you mean what’s wrong!? You’re decomposing!”
“I am not.” David looks down at his decaying body and wiggles what’s left of his arms. “Are you feeling okay?”
I close my eyes and clutch my brow for a moment. “Sorry… illusion… are you sure you’re okay?” I open my eyes and see David dissolve into nothingness. The ash formerly known as David blows away in the wind. I reach out for the dust, but feel nothing.
“Astrid. Astrid. It is okay.” I feel something gently hold the top of my head. “I am still here. Can you see me?”
“N-no…” I feel something bulge and swell in my frontal lobe. It’s festering. Twitching; like something’s about to hatch. “I can hear you…”
“That much is good.” David’s voice slowly travels ahead of me. “Then just follow my voice. I’ll lead you to the Monastery and get you un-poisoned.”
“Will do.” I take a deep breath, get back on my feet, and follow his voice with the halberd in front of me.
“Help me! Please! Anyone!” a young, feminine voice calls out to my right.
I turn and can see the figure of a young girl running towards me. Pigtails. Messy hair obscures the top half of her face. Stocky. Looks no older than eight. “Stay calm.” I get down on one knee and beckon her with a whisper. “Where are your parents?”
The girl runs into my arms, cries into my shoulder, and hugs me tight. She says something in Lombard, but it’s unintelligible beneath all the tears and snot.
“Calm down… I’ll keep you safe…” I try and fail to steady my own breathing. “Where are your parents?”
The girl pulls away and I see His face plastered on her head. “They’re dead.” the face scowls at me.
“NO! YOU’RE DEAD!!!” I kick the thing onto the ground, wrap my right hand tight around the halberd, and impale it as hard as I can. It cries out for a split second before I free all air trapped in its lungs. I keep stabbing and stabbing and stabbing until I can’t see its face anymore. Hot fluid sprays all over my arms and face, but I keep stabbing. Some of the fluid squirts in my eyes, but I keep stabbing and stabbing and stabbing. This isn’t right this isn’t right this isn’t right. I won’t let the Matriarch tease me like this. Eventually the pain in my eyes grows too much to bear and I stumble onto my knees and rub the fluid out of my eyes.
When I open my eyes, the once grey, obscured streets glow various shades of harsh crimson. Everything smells like iron. I can feel blood and bile bubbling in my belly and rising in my throat. I nash my teeth and lick all the liquid off my arms that I can.
“Astrid… Astrid… please…” David’s voice pierces my mind. “Get up.”
A cold tingle runs up my spine and I shake my head. I realize my tongue is on my wrist and I put it back in my mouth where it belongs. I look in front of me and see a small body mangled beyond all recognition. A series of large, gaping wounds exists where a face once was. I keep waiting for something to happen to it. Turning to dust, silver fluid bursting out, reanimation. Anything. No matter how long I wait, it just keeps lying there with its body perpetually stuck in its final moments. The arms are shot out in front of it and the legs are curled up. Looks more like an abused marionette than a corpse. “David… please tell me you see that too...”
“What are you talking about?”
“The body… the body that’s in front of me…” My right hand starts to twitch. I look down and see the fingers moving like spider legs. It’s so itchy… and it really wants to run away… Maybe I should let it… I don’t deserve it… I pick up the halberd and-
“I do not see anything.” David’s voice cracks. “Let us hurry. I will let you know if there are any more mirages.”
“Right… of course… haha… That’s a cheap trick, Matriarch… I’ll get you for that…” I stand up, hold my halberd with both hands, and continue forward. Vision is still stark red. I can hear my heart beat… but also hundreds of other heartbeats. They’re all rapid. Uneven. My chest feels ready to burst. With every second, I can feel another heart grow and swell within my chest. I want them out. I don’t want to hear them. Stop it stop it! The city streets are still empty. I can’t hear anything besides the wind, heartbeats, and David’s voice… and I fear that may soon get drowned out. More and more buildings. All look the same. All closed. I can hear some Mirages skitter and growl in the distance. Come on… come on already! If you’re going to attack, attack! Don’t keep me waiting! JUST DO IT!
“David… how does the city look to you?”
“I can barely see anything, but it looks fairly normal. Some buildings are locked and boarded up, but normal. There are some mirages around us, but the local guard is keeping you safe.”
“Are you lying to me?”
“No. No.” David assures me. “Why would I?”
“Just checking…” It feels like my eyeballs are two seconds away from vibrating out of my skull.
“Stop. Turn left.” I feel David’s hand tug on my arm.
I pivot left a little and face a makeshift barricade fashioned from carriages, barrels, and rubble. “Here?”
“Mhmm. Now go straight. I shall lead the way.” David whispers.
“There’s a barricade in the way.” I look up and guess it’s about 25 feet tall. “I can’t climb that… not with this leg…”
“What do you mean? There is no barricade there.”
I close my eyes and rub my temple. “Alright… alright… fine… This better not be a prank.”
“Now is not the time for pranks. Hurry.”
I do as the voice says and walk through the barricade as if there was nothing there. Upon walking through it, I find myself in the living room back home… It’s exactly as I remember it. Same furniture. Same rug. Same curtains. Same scent of pork and noodles coming from the kitchen. There’s even a half-finished wood carving on the table in front of the fireplace. Lying next to it is the carving knife da always uses… My chest grows hollow. My arms relax and lower the halberd. My mouth falls agape and I start to cry.
“Astrid… please.” I feel David’s hand tug at my arm. “What is wrong? We are almost there.”
“What do you see?” No matter how much I rub my eye, my vision remains stained crimson.
“I just see a city road.” David whispers. There are some knocked over vendor stands and some people lying in the street. Why do you ask?”
“No reason…” I cough and fail to steady my breath. “Where are we going next?”
“We need to keep going straight.” David pulls my right arm forward. “There is a tall staircase that will bring us near the Monastery.”
“Do not listen to him!” David’s voice rings as something begins to pull on my left arm. “That is a mirage!”
“N-no I’m not!” The David on the right protests. “Astrid, hurry! Follow me!”
“No! Astrid!” The David on the left pulls me in. “We need to go left. There is a big mirage trying to eat you there.”
“Both of you shut up before I kill you both.” I stomp my foot and swing my halberd at nothing. The two Davids let go of my arms. “Assuming I’m even talking to anyone…” My eyes wander the crimson mist around me, but see nothing besides my old living room. Nothing’s changing. Nothing’s flickering. Everything’s staying stable. I’m getting incredibly hungry though… more hungry than I’ve ever been. “Alright then… Davids. What is my best friend’s name?” I point my halberd left.
“Um… uh-uh… I do not know… Sorry…” Left David responds.
“I remember! It is Seth!” Right David chimes.
I lunge to the right and ram my halberd into anything I can. I see a small light flicker and hear a little whimper before something poofs out of existence. The Matriarch’s voice once again floods my mind.
Clever girl. You are far more entertaining than I thought you would be.
“Shut… up…” I wipe my lip.
Entertain me some more. I’m almost at the Monastery.
BWOAAAAAAAOAAAAAAAA
I’m blown off my feet and my living room sways side to side. Once again, a deluge of voices pour into my head. They’re all crying and yelling for help… Some sound like they’re about to die. Others are laughing mad. I would tear my ears off if it meant making the world silent for two minutes. Ankle-high silver fluid begins flooding the streets and begins morphing into several humanoid forms. One looks like da, one looks like ma, and the rest look like Seth and his folks. They look just like them too… Even have the same beautiful eyes and warm smiles. They all start walking towards me looking like they’re asking for hugs.
“Yeah… cause that ploy worked so well the first time…” I ready my halberd and make some space between myself and the creatures.
I didn’t know skewering people was so much fun for you.
“Hnngh…” I grind my teeth. “DAVID! WHERE THE HELL ARE WE GOING!?”
“Run left then hook a right once you feel my hand!” David’s voice rings from my left.
“ON IT!” I dash out through the living room wall and sprint as fast as my leg will carry me. With each step, I feel my stitches undo and my wound reopen. It’s hard to breathe, I almost slip into the liquid with each step, and I can feel hands keep trying to pull me under by my ankles. The hands singe my skin as they crawl up my legs, but I crush them under my left hand and keep going.
You realize you have already lost, right? Even if you make it to the Monastery, you are mine.
“Then why the hell are you even going after me!?” I feel David’s hand graze against my right arm and I slide on the liquid while trying to stop. I crash shoulder first into a wall and knock all the air out of me, but I keep going. I start climbing up a staircase that just goes on forever. The liquid rises after me and starts flooding the rest of the city. Lightning crackles and strikes the ground in the distance, setting the flooded streets ablaze. No matter how hot the fire blazes, a deluge of silver rain has begun torrenting down from the sky. It’s thick, feels worse than a hail storm, and feels like hot syrup each time it hits my skin. The fluid coalesces into hands and the hands coalesce into arms. Arms on my trunk. Arms on my legs. Arms on my neck. They’re all pulling in different directions trying to rip me apart.
Because I have delved into the hearts of so many… so, so many. I’ve read the inner thoughts and deep, dark secrets of everyone in the city… and you are by far the most intriguing.
“SHUT UP! I’M GETTING TO THE MONASTERY AND THAT’S FINAL!!!” I finally reach the top of the staircase, but start to lose my balance. More and more hands start to swarm me and pull me down.
Paradise awaits you, Astrid. I promise. All you have to do is let go. If you don’t you’ll only make yourself suffer. Can’t you see that I have your best interests in mind?
“LUMINOUS!!!” David’s voice cuts through the mist and evaporates the swarm of hands off of me. “AAHAAH!!! HAAH!” David starts to cry like a rabid, wounded mutt.
“NICE, DAVID!” I stumble forward, regain my balance, and resume sprinting with all my remaining energy. “HOW MUCH FURTHER!?”
“H-head straight until you hit a tree… t-then turn left… the Monastery’s…” David’s voice gets interrupted by maniacal crying and wailing. David’s starting to sound like me a little bit…
All that’s left is to run like hell. I’ve gotten this far. Nothing else I can do besides that.
Five steps into my sprint and the liquid has already risen to the top of the staircase. I see barrels, debris, bodies, and even entire buildings float upwards with the rising fluid. I hear an army of hands skittering behind me. Clawing at the ground just itching to get another taste.
I am doing what the people want. You getting to the Monastery will just delay it… although that would be rather entertaining… maybe I should let you get there. It would let me see the rest of the world.
I ignore her, reach the tree, hook a sharp left, and continue going. I keep smelling salt, sugar, and ash. It’s the one pleasant thing I’m feeling right now…
Don’t be rude. Respond to me when I’m talking to you.
I hear a snap and it feels like a rusty spike jams itself right into my temple. I slip off my feet and clench my dry temple. “AAAAAAAGH!!! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE! I DON’T CARE ABOUT YOU, YOUR CHURCH, OR ANY OF THAT! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!”
Then what do you care about?
The Matriarch’s voice grows ever closer. I can hear someone stepping through the rising fluid behind me.
The pain’s still drilling into my skull… but I start crawling. I can see the Monastery in front of me… Barely fifty paces away… I try to keep my mouth above the fluid and keep crawling. I’m almost there… Almost… there…
Then what do you care about? Surely you must strive for something.
Something behind me splashes in the fluid like a little kid.
What are you going to do after this? Crawl back to your little hole? Find more Lombards to slaughter? Or are you finally going to find the courage to kill yourself?
I turn around and see the Matriarch standing above me. Despite all the chaos, wind, lightning, and liquid, she looks perfectly clean and dry as if she’s out on a morning stroll. Still clad in the same pretentious dress and wearing that horrid smile. “SHUT UP!!!” I try to kick her in the stomach, but she sidesteps and lies down on my back.
She locks my legs in place with hers and rolls her lanky arms around my neck like a snake. She runs her fingers along my cheek and moves my neck to force my face towards the Monastery.
You poor child. You cannot even begin to comprehend what you have gotten yourself into.
“I! DON’T! CARE!” I feel her arms slowly constricting my neck and bending my bones inward. “I’M DELIVERING THIS STONE AND FINDING PARADISE NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES!!!”
Then we shall go together.
The Matriarch grabs my lips and forces my mouth wide open. My jaw contorts and my neck strains close to the point of tearing in half. Her arms lengthen and contort like limp noodles and begin slithering into my mouth and down my throat. I can’t breathe. I can’t move. I can’t bite. I can’t fathom. Her torso contorts and compacts into itself and forces itself into my mouth. My neck and jaw are torn in two down to my shoulders just to accommodate her. As what's left of my neck goes limp, my head hits the pavement. The silver fluid floods my eyes and swirls into my ears, eyes, and nose. Her legs twist, crack, and bend until all of her is inside me.
“BWOAAAAAAAAAOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!” I bellow out.
The earth cracks beneath me and the lightning and rain stops. The silver fluid all throughout the city gathers to me and flows into my mouth until there’s nothing left. Mangled. Mutilated. Burn. Bloody. Decaying… but I feel full. I feel whole.
A collection of voices boom around me. “LUMINOUS!!!”
I open my eyes and find myself lying on my back in the middle of the street. The sky is clear. The Monastery’s steeple is looming over me as are six clerics clad in pristine white robes. I can’t blink. I can’t close my mouth. I don’t even know if I can talk. My vision is restored to normal and I don’t feel any pain… but I don’t really feel anything.
“Ma’am?” One of the clerics waves her hand. “Can you see me?”
I nod.
“Can you speak?”
I lie still.
“That’s not good…” a tall cleric mutters.
“Ssh!” a tiny cleric offers me her hand. “Can you stand?”
I lie still.
“As… trid…”
The clerics all turn to my left. “David!? Praise the Matriarch!” Three of the clerics leave me and run towards David’s voice.
My eyes somehow find the strength to shift left and look at David. He’s clutching his now bloody bandages and is hunched over. He’s soaking wet, absolutely filthy, and his splotches of blood all over him. If he wasn’t standing, I’d assume he was dead.
“Are you well? Are you harmed? How many fingers am I holding up? Are you poisoned?” The clerics begin supporting him over their shoulders, muttering some spells over his arms, and bombarding him with questions.
David manages to nod. “Bring… bring me to her…” he points over to me.
“Of course.” The clerics nod and bring him next to me.
“Astrid… are you okay? Please tell me you are okay…” he looks down at me through blackened eyes and bloody cheeks.
I close my eyes and grit my teeth. The sun’s… so bright. Too bright. “Which… way… to… the Monastery?”
“It is right behind us.” David points over his shoulder. “Everyone, please help her up. Give her medical attention immediately.”
The clerics bend down and reach towards me, but I begin to stand on my own two feet. “Get… your… filthy… hands… off of me…” I plop the back of my hand against a cleric’s cheek and rise to my knees.
The cleric looks more annoyed than hurt, but they all keep their distance. “Ma’am. If you raise your hands against us again, we will-”
“Angelo.” David raises his hand. “Let her… we have had... a rough few months…”
I get to my knees, but lean forward on my hand for support. I cannot fall here… I’m almost… done… “gggggAAAAAHHHH!!!” I thrust myself upward onto my feet and stumble about. My head is still spinning and I’m moving forward by momentum alone at this point. I resume walking to the Monastery gates. I can hear the trunk on my back clink and clatter apart with every step. Even the trunk’s straps are nearly torn to pieces.
20 paces
The city somehow looks worse than me. The streets and staircases are all still ankle-deep in filthy water, several houses look half demolished, and the familiar scent of iron and decay violate my nose. The sky is cloudier than I’ve ever seen and looks ready to rain again any second. I look down at myself and I’m covered head to toe in blood. Some of it is still wet, but I have no idea where it came from. What’s left of my clothing is fused to my skin with sweat and dirt. Fresh cuts and bruises litter my body… but… that’s… nothing new… my vision is growing blurry and my neck is going soft… but I am almost there.
10 paces
5 paces
I gaze upon the ornate gates of the Monastery. It is completely unharmed. Looks sturdy and gorgeous despite the erosion around the top and sides. Pristine white and hurts to look at when the sun hits it just right. Just beyond the gate is a courtyard paved with dark red bricks and full of gardens, butterflies, and a large tree in the center. I know that tree… that’s Athesian Birch. Same kind that grows at the old park.
0 paces
I make it through the gates and fall forward onto my face. Nothing’s going to move. Nothing’s going to work. “Mission… complete…” I close my eyes and fall asleep on the cool, damp courtyard pavement.
“Okay!” David’s voice illuminates the darkness. “Now help her! She cannot refuse when she is asleep!”