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Starford Praxidike
Aven Praxidike (short story)

Aven Praxidike (short story)

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A roar filled the Elesta district of Starford Aven capital city, a giant wall protecting the citizens of Starford falls, a giant furry monster, with a fiery breath and soul-burning eyes. Charges at the Elesta district Screams echo around alerting the shocked citizens to run to safety “Villalobos is attacking” said one of the citizens, another wall dropped a colossal human-like figure holding a substantial decayed tree thrashing the Northside of starford. Triggering Grimsbane underground giant lava worm to gush lava on the east side burning the citizen, one resident screams at the top of his lungs “Monsters are attacking all sides” the onslaught on the citizens continued until the nearby adventures subdued the vicious monsters, which took all night.

Out of the city in a forest where tall trees stretch out as if they’re pointing at heaven, a demi-human, half-human and half-demon female named Lucia Wolfknight skilled adventure– was sent on a mission to guard her childhood friend Nada Igrec a female royal high priest, who was given a mission by the head priest of Aven Hall to the wild forest to pick up rare plants. “So these rare plants have a name,” said Lucia, picking wild blueberries on the tree— full of wild berries. “ Rosepine, it’s a dark green plant that is shaped like an apple it grows and glows in shadows and sometimes in the caves,” replied Nada casting a magic spell on the ground allowing her to allocate the roots of the rare plant. “Rosepine What does it do exactly? ” Lucia yelled on the other side of the field, still eating the blueberries. Nada yelled back at Lucia “they can help with internal and external illness,” a teleportation magic ring appears in front of them, and a royal priest mage appears injured and dying,

“Starford Aven is being attacked, by Villalobos, Clamalog, and Grimsbane,” said the priestess before passing out, Nada cast a spell that stabilized the injured priest from the brink of death. Trying to cast a teleportation spell back to the city, “you go on ahead I’ll follow” Nada yelled using one hand on the priest and the other on the ground.

The spell teleported her outside the city wall on the Southside, seeing injured people and deceased people. Walking on the rough road, seeing the injured merchant's child crying, while the mother trying to calm the child down, reminded her of her younger brother. God, please keep my family safe– mumbling to herself, picking up her pace toward the Capital gate “Lucia you’re here” “They came out of nowhere and started attacking the city, we didn’t even hear them,” said the royal captain, walking with her to the gate.

Once a thriving city full of different cultures and races, now decimated, and people were injured everywhere she looks. Bodies covered in white cloths and houses fell down. She was walking down the road to her house, seeing the businesses she used to buy food and material all collapsed. Seeing a crowd of people gathering around, I feel like my heart is coming out of my mouth– taking a peak, she saw bodies line up covered in white cloths. “Lucia, you are here,” said one of the area residents who alerted everyone. “I am sorry… we… we were late, the house collapsed on top of them. Crushing them in the process” said one of the elders, showing her three bodies covered.

Screaming at the top of her lungs, holding her deceased family's lifeless bodies. “No. No, it can’t be mother wake up please, brother, sister please wake up. What will I do without you, somebody gets help” Screaming holding her them in her arms. Nada appeared touching her shoulder “I couldn’t save them, I failed them why me,” holding them tighter “it's not your fault, the city was ambushed, Nobody knew we were going to be attacked, so don’t blame yourself.” “Please save them Nada please use your healing spell please” tears gushing on her cheeks, “I am sorry I cannot– it has been few hours since they died no magic can bring them back”

A month went by, sitting on the rooftop looking at the city “everyone is being summoned to Aven Hall apparently similar attacks happened in other cities” said Nada climbing and sitting next to Lucia and passing her green tea “I still see them in my sleep every time, I come back from a job they always wait for me, I miss them– I would’ve saved them if I took a day off” standing up holding a neck bracelet given to her by her mother when she got her adventure licence. Gathered at the Aven Hall, different type of Adventures were tasked with different jobs– some were tasked with building houses and the Capital wall, and healing aven gather herbs to help injured people. Since other skilled adventures were out of town, it was hard to get in touch of them. And being the only one being skilled in combats, they took her out of the mission of investigating. Storming the high rank general office– two bodyguard trying to stop her “You have to let me on the mission, I’m the only one skilled in this job” and you are also the only who is unstable, we can’t let you lose. They won’t be any battle– it just an investigation” said the general siting in his desk signing papers. “I don’t care, then sign me up as a bodyguard general” “Enough you are needed here more, what if this is their first phase of their attack” “we got more skilled people here than, out there” Yelled Lucia gestures in the walls in the office. “My hands are tied, you’re staying here. And that the end of it. Understand” “clear” she walked away.

Few weeks pass. “Hey Mother, Brother, and sister, it me Lucia, I… I’m going out of town and I don’t know when I’m going to be back. Please guard me on this journey, I'm going to find who did this to me” “Dominik, I’m ready” “Okay remember this portion of duplication only works for two months, if you take too long it will disappear, and I won’t be able to help you.” heading her the portion– “shit my head is pounding, did it work” “look for yourself, it is magnificent it got all the details right.” “Wait, you never tested it before” trying to stand up. “Well I have tested it on animals before, but on humans– well you’re the first one to be honest” she examined her clone, “perfect give me this will do,” she wore a black cloak and a mask and went to met with the team that is task with investigating.

She arrived in time “okay everyone is here we’re only tasked with investigating all of you know me for those who don’t you must be living under a rock. My name is Rockiwell from the nexus knight. I’m the leader and guard of this group” people mood cheered as Rockiwell has the reputation of being one of the strong in the nexus knight guild. So they task Rockiwell from nexus guild, the guild of idiots who only care about their reputation. “Why is beautiful adventure like me pair with the commoners who are untrained, why can't they just put me more skilled adventures instead.” Rowan Touchard from the titan guild, great for sure he’s here just to monopolize this situation, so he can uphold his family guild name– At least he’s not weak. “So many fresh bodies gathered here today, it warns my hearts seeing all of you here” moods shifted to bring terrified “It… Its… Lord Basa from the Med and herb guild” said one of the terrified soldier, ahh why him, I hate this orc, I hope bodies don’t mystery disappear along the journey. Nada is here too, dammit. “Since food and material were loaded earlier this morning, we’d not waste anytime, we move now since we expect to arrive at the nearby city in the afternoon.

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Travelling the rough road with horse carriages, She dozed off while remembering the last moments she had with her family. Woken up by a bump “I heard your friend burst the general office, demand to be in this group girl got guts” Rockiwell smirking at Nada, who just proceed not to pay attention to him “I always say that girlie needs to be put in her place, she might be strong– but she shouldn’t let that go over her head.” “You should tell her went we get back, from investigating” said Nada faking sleeping to avoid talking to him more. While Lucia Holds herself from jumping and attacking him, she continues trying to rest.

“Everyone looked presentable we are getting close to the City of Agmis, just over those hills,” said Basa who is sitting in the front carriage coating a portion– halfway through the road and an arrow pierced one of the soldiers in the neck which made him bleed profusely, startle by this sudden attack– everyone got off and duck down looking around soldiers started pointing at the smoke that travelling toward them like a desert storm. Rowan touchard royal cast spells that allowed him to possess animals, he possesses a bird that was passing by. The bird's vision showed him the desert-like red smoke approaching them. “There's red smoke approaching, and it's coming in fast,” said Rowan, trying to get closer to the red smoke. When he got inside suddenly the bird went blind and dead, “Fuck, I couldn’t get a vision” said Rowan covering his eyes and taking out his eye drops. Which worried the soldiers, “go into formation, we will stand our ground here. Priests put a magic circle and healing spells,” said Rockiwell taking out his black and grey sword with his shield covered in his guild crest pointing at the place where each soldier should be cover.

“Here it comes to hold formation keep an eye out for any movement,” said Rockiwell kneeling down with one knee and his shield covering him up. This red smoke is burning my lungs, shit we are being poised “everyone covers your mouth, don’t breathe it in” said Lucia yelling, it was too late people already taking effect– shocked by this new information. They started charging forward, Lucia took out the sword that was given to her on her 23rd birthday by her family. Which was three years ago– screaming out loud charging at the smoke I won’t die here without getting justice returning my pain, I’ll kill whatever stands in my way.

Before they knew it, the smoke was just a smoke ring boxing them in and trapping them at the same time. “Our magic is not working, this was a trap” yelled Nada who was trying to revive the magic circle that suddenly vanished, and demons chanting and feet stumbling surrounded them, it seems like they were going to attack the city of Agmis, next this, is our chance to attack. A few of the soldiers got spooked and charged at the army, “you idiots stay in formation, don’t break the formation.” Screamed Rockiwell using his shield to block the attacks. “This is bad, I can use my magic,” said Rowan, taking his sword out with a panicking stance and looking around, Basa’s body stumbling behind them bleeding, dying from the wounds of a spear piercing his body. While Nada tries to attend to the body of Basa. “The coward Ecdysis his skin,” of course he ran away, that what he does. Why are you surprised, Nada? The demon attacked Nada who was examining Basa ecdysis body, Lucia parried the attack, and A bellowing noise froze everybody. A giant faceless demon appeared in the distance with a golden ring that travelled in his neck, and ribs. Two demon warriors emerge.

A muscular demon warrior yells at the demon army to attack and not let on, Lucia looked at Nada in her eyes, before she realized that the masked adventure was her childhood friend. Charging at the army, trying to protect Nada and other priests, urge them to take the injured bodies. As she's killing demons in her path. On her right Rowan was fighting the army also covering them “Nada find a place to hide we will hold them off” Still in the daze one of the priest shook her out of it, and they hide in a nearby bush where the smoke was still covering it. Sorry, Nada, I hope you understand– I have to do this, Lucia manoeuvring her sword on her side like fan-cutting demons who were charging at her. Halfway through the battle– while focusing on the fight.

A muscular demon warrior appeared in front of her and kicked her in the stomach, plunging away from her team. Into nearby woods, hitting trees along the way. Covered in mud, out of breath, and vomiting blood as she struggles to stand up. “I’m surprised you survived, I guess not all humans are weak,” Said the demon king smirking, taking his bloody mace. “I am afraid this is where your adventure ends, girly” Jumping toward her with his mace stretching out. Is this the end, I just can’t die without verging my family, I refuse to give up. I refuse to die here.

“Hold this formation, use everything you got” Said Rockiwell who was slashing demons and pushing with his shield, “Rowan please help Lucy from that demon” “I’m kinda busy here and besides she has things under control” Yelled Rowan fighting the demon army exhausted, demon king warrior launches forward and holds Rowan by his neck, he kicked the demon on the ribs to his dismay– it did nothing. Demon tosses him aside, sending to flying, hitting a tree and laying unconscious. Seeing a clearance from the red smoke, she casts a wind spell which blows away part of the red smoke, allowing them an opportunity to cast a teleportation spell, taking everybody excluding Lucia. Who was far away from the magic circle.

Blocking the attack, the demon king kicks her in the chest, which launches her further into the woods. Clearing her away from the smoke, I refuse to die here, mother, brother, sister give me strength– please give me strength. She stood up stumbling and exhausted, she kneed down trying to catch her breath. She uses the opportunity to drink the potion that she received earlier from Rockiwell. I only have one choice, and I only have a few minutes to use this demon magic. And if I overdo it, this will kill me. Standing up, she uses her demon form. The demon's form takes half her body, enhancing her agility, speed, and strength. Her horns appeared visible. Her feet burned the ground, and her both hands were covered in a black silhouette, in a blink of an eye, she cut the hands and head of the demon king. Looking at the faceless monster that is casting the red smoke magic, she jumped from tree to tree and went behind it, taking its head off clean.

Smoke started to disappear, and it became clear, using her speed, she wipes out the demon army that was left. Staring Face-to-face with the other demon king, She ran toward him with her sword. The demon king also transformed, showing his dark wings, one being half broken. Throwing each other around with kicks and fists, injuring each other in the process, proving to be a stalemate.

In a deep voice, “you are an off-breed, Interesting but how long will that human body hold that much magic,” She launched from the ground toward the demon “You should worry about yourself” smirking he parred Lucia's attack. Taking a step back, he stepped on the teleportation magic ring that triggered a binding spell, and Rowan appeared above, planting his sword in the demon's right shoulder. The demon hit Rowan in the chest with his backhand, sending him flying the distraction gave Lucia the opportunity to strike for his head, but the demon used his left wing to block the sword. The demon tried kicking her, she read his intention and blocked his attack using the other hand. “How annoying” he back-flipped two times backwards and took out the sword that was placed by Rowan, Lucia's demon form was at its limit as her body muscles started to tense up. I have to hit him with this one move, or else me coming here was a waste. Come on, body move, move now. She started having blurry visions, “your form is at its limit.” as he was about to attack. A magic circle appeared, Rockiwell came out, using his shield to block the attack. Demon king step back dark smoke appeared, a silhouette appeared whispering something, looking at Lucia he spoke something– which Lucia couldn’t hear and read his lips properly since her vision was blurry, he vanished– As Nada appeared, seeing Lucia fainted face down. Rockiwell carried her back to Starford Aven.

THE END

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