image [https://imgur.com/8U1zQTD.png]

Xanther stumbled through the forest, tears obscuring one eye and totally blind in the other. He had regained enough of his wits to splash the bleeding hole with a healing potion, but the eye was gone, the skin over it smooth and sensitive. He couldn’t think. He couldn’t let himself think. He had killed demons… no he had killed his… his… HIS… He couldn’t think.

His foot caught and twisted among the cursed curled roots of a thorn tree and he went down hard. A lance of pain shot up his leg but it was almost a comfort to focus on something so physical. He stumbled to his feet and kept limping forward. He had to. He had to get as far away as he possibly could. Then he could return and burn everything in this forest to ash. It would be the pyre for his brother, and his most beloved friend. He would burn the demons on it, the Dark Wizard on it, he would burn everything on it. And then when that was done he would burn himself on it. Hot tears ran down his face, feeling like the pain in his body was going to squeeze his heart until it popped. “We are with Good, with the Light, with the Holy, we are with the Good, with the Light, with the Holy”. He kept this chant up, yelling it in his mind. He could not think. He could not think of how he came to The Continent a decade back. How excited he and his brother had been. The horrors they had been through, always prevailing though, always growing. The people they had helped. The treasures they had in the small building at Goldtown. All gone, all ash, all pain. Suddenly every good moment he had worked so hard for was tearing at him. If he had never felt love, or pleasure, then he would have been safe. But no, he had a life of love behind him, and now he would PAY FOR IT. He screamed with his whole body, shaking and eye bulging. His mouth felt like it was full of hot blood, spilling out, needing to spill out. He had to avenge his brother, but this could not be endured! “COWARD!! COWARD!!!” He raised his silver sword, tip towards his stomach. A moment's pain for eternal solace.

“Hold, my friend.” A gentle voice came to him, completely at odds with the hell he currently existed in. He turned slowly, his eye shivering and twitching, blurring the world. A figure in a white robe stood there, arms open and slightly raised, like he was awaiting a hug. The man was tall tan human, with white bushy eyebrows and a neat short white beard. His face was old but still full of life and joy. Golden light sparkled in his eyes. “You are not at fault, my Hero. A demon led you to this horrid fate. Do not throw away a lifetime of work, of potential.” The silver sword fell from Xanther’s numb hands. “A God… a god…” Xanther crumpled to his knees. “Please bring them back, please I have always worked in your name. I have done hard things for you…terrible things… always for the side of Good.” The figure in white approached, the setting sun seeming to make him shimmer. A gentle smell of spices and incense reached Xanther, and he felt safe in a way he had not for years. A hand touched his head, and Xanther closed his eyes. He felt like he was floating away. None of this was real. Perhaps the last decade was a dream, and now he would now wake. He would be back in that tiny cramped apartment in Montague, New Jersey. He would build a Master grade model kit with his brother. A choking sob ripped out of him as he trembled.

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

“Your sins are forgiven. Be at peace. [Greater Mind Wipe]. [Greater Mind Wipe]. [Mind Corruption].” Xanther shivered, for a moment feeling like he should resist, and then his mind collapsed. The pain went away. The fear went away. The last rays of the sun dimmed behind the trees and distant mountains, dusk settling upon them. The figure in white, Fangmore, knelt next to Xanther. Xanther wondered blankly. A lizard man? Hadn’t he been a human before? How odd.

“I have a great opportunity for you. A chance to get strong. You could take revenge, and all that. A chance to get out some of that pent up energy. What do you think? Would you like to do that?” Xanther’s one eye rolled slowly to look up at Fangmore’s face. “...”. Fangmore smiled widely. “Maybe you can sleep first. Big day tomorrow! Oh this is exciting!” Two hulking dark shapes of flesh and fur moved out from behind the larger trees. They picked up the unresisting Hero. Fangmore clapped his hands once. “Okay! Put him into the Labyrinth in the West section, give him a cot, and ummmm some provisions. Please be gentle with him, he’s had a rough time of it.” The creatures grunted and slowly moved him towards the castle. Dolcia faded into view next to Fangmore. “Ohh you are SO cool Fangy! Wow, that was like, dangerous even!” Fangmore smiled at the small imp. “Touch based mental skills are always far more effective, and I think he wanted to give in. You really did a number on him, you naughty imp.” Dolcia tittered. “You love it!” Fangmore sternly glared at her for a moment longer, and then burst out laughing. As he was dragged away Xanther smiled slowly. The laughter sounded nice. His God was happy.