Chapter 6 - A Warrior's End

 Staring at the incoming Draugr, a foul stench spread near the direction the Draugr is . It was the stench of a corpse. I froze and felt my legs freeze. Though i have encounter many things during my travels in my home world. I have never seen such thing till now. Even with the trouble's i have been during those times i have encountered the stench of death.

 I never froze up like this. After all who wouldn't be scared when facing a monster?

 ''Stian! Come here now!'' as i hear Ava call out to me , my body unfroze and felt my body move towards her direction.

 Then with a pull, she pulled me unto  Rose's fury body and told me to hide as we passed by the Draugr. Positioning my body up right i took heavy breaths to calm myself and give my cheeks a slap.

With all the courage i have. I took a look at the limping Draugr and  stared in silence.

''A  Draugr general huh..'' Ava muttered.

''Draugr general?''

''It looks like it...seems this one will soon reach it's first death...''

''First death?'' i ask curiously.

'' It means that this one still haven't lost its mind yet and have persevered till the bitter end. That Draugr will soon die and be bring back to life again and become a mindless draugr........or we could put it to rest and send it to the after life. ''

''I thought we need to steer away from draugrs!?''

''Yes, that would be the case to all the draugrs that have already started its second life as a mindless being.. But when it comes to a Draugr who have not yet die a first death, there is still a chance that we could put them into rest when they collapse. And also...with my Helper's hand...i can not turn my back away towards this former warrior who is about to reach the end of his life.'' Ava said as  she started to get off the fury bull.

 ''Wait a sec, let me at least accompany you!'' as i also took off the bull.

 Then closely i followed Ava as she approached  the Draugr. As we were getting closer towards the dead man walking.I felt a chilling fear when the Draugr noticed are approach and because of that chilling fear i quickly pulled the mini Uzi from my right front pocket and pointed it towards the Draugr while shaking.

 Though i do not know how effective bullets are towards a draugr but i think I'm confident enough to put 32 rounds of bullet in that head at this range. Seeing the Draugr raise its hand i put my finger towards the trigger and would pull it if it tries anything.

 Seeing my actions, Ava raise her hands as if stopping me and the Draugr and turn her head towards the walking corpse and said.

''Can you still speak , oh warrior who roam this land?'' as Ava pointed her left palm towards the draugr.

The Draugr look at Ava's palm and as if there something lodge off his chest..the Draugr spoke. ''Yes.....i can still can''

Ava look delighted hearing the Draugr spoke and then asked in a gentle tone. '' Do you have a name warrior?''

The Draugr look at Ava's eyes and did not even took a glance at me and spoke. '' I am Assel Greycloak, a former general of Oss , the tribe that have once flourish in these lands''

''My name is Ava Wondergovel and as you can see in my left palm that i possess the blessing of the Helper's Hand.. Assel Greycloak.....do you wish for  a rest now?'' as Ava said gently towards the Draugr.

Hearing the words of Ava. The Draugr let go his weapon and knelled towards the ground. As if the Draugr was waiting for those words for years....

''Oh lady that possess the mercy of the Helper's Hand...i beg of you to let me rest and meet my family in the afterlife... But before that....i can only ask of you to grant me a viking's pyre..and remember me and how i have live..'' as the draugr...no a tired warrior's plea.

 Looking at the old Warrior in front of us. I lowered my weapon and put it back on the my backpack's right front pocket. Then i took my camera and steadied it as if waiting for the pyre to begin.

 Ava approach the kneeling Draugr and said. '' Kneel and stab your weapon towards the ground and hold your weapon's pommel and bow your head.'' as she instructed the Warrior in front of her.

 Then as the old warrior kneel. Ava raised the hood of her robe and unmasked herself. Blonde hair, blue eyes and snow like skin.. a face of a beautiful young woman no doubt. Looking at her, i was stunned with Ava's beauty and unconsciously pointed the camera at the pyre that is about to start.

 Ava raised her left hand and put it on top of the the warriors head as her eyes glow and warm light began to gather at her hands and said in a warm gentle tone:

''Please rest now..there are no words to say than this. Go....and meet your family  now in the after life... The cursed of walking endlessly on these barren lands is now over for you...Rest in Peace Brave Warrior..''

  As the words parted Ava's glossy lips. The Warrior of Oss, is wrapped in a warm gentle light as its body slowly turn blurry and as if the sword in front of him is sucking the life essence of the Warrior and have begun fusing with the sword and as ashes begun to form underneath the Draugr's weapon as it lit like a bonfire.. The Heat then spread around the are of the bonfire as it envelops the surrounding with a warm gentle light.

 I took a step back and with my eyes still on view finder of my camera took a shot of the scene and then look at the captured image as Ava put back her hood and mask.

 Seeing the perfect capture of the scene, i put my camera back into my backpack's pocket and look at Ava as she approached me.

 Seeing her approached i found myself looking for words to say. The pyre that happen in front me was short and sweet. But among that scene i clearly remember the beautiful face  that glowed in giving the dead a rest..

Ava look at me curiously and asked '' Is there something wrong?''

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

''N-no there is nothing wrong. It's just that i was fascinated by your face that i am looking for words to speak.'' as i quickly covered my mouth as if scared.

 Ava paused for a bit hearing my words and then look at me as she giggled and said. '' Is that so Mr Stian? hehehehehe''

 Seeing that she is planning to tease me, i quickly took charge and spoke.

''A-anyway is it over?''

Ava look at me and  seems to know what i was planning and answered. " It is over, Assel Greycloak has now been made to rest and is now on the afterlife.''

'' I see...''

Ava  beckon towards me and said. ''Lets take a rest here for now Stian. Let's stay and feel the warm of this gentle fire as a respect and honor towards an old Warrior's end of the road.''

.

.

.

.

.

.

 Sitting near the bonfire of the fallen warrior  i relaxed a bit and open one of my food packets that i have and  teared it open. Taking out the beef jerky inside i took a bite of and tasted a mix of a semi burnt steak with a salty sweet flavor as it moistens around my mouth.

 Seeing my reaction towards the food i ate. Ava seems to be curios about the food. Not keeping it myself i spoke. ''Do you want some?''

Ava nodded her head as she took a piece of beef jerky and slowly raise her mask as she took a bite out of it using her glossy and sweet looking lips.

''(The Hell am i thinking about?)'' as i stop my detailed thoughts about Ava's lips. After all seeing her beautiful face has made me a bit of conscious towards her. I seen a lot  blonde beauties in my life and but none can top the looks she have. She would probably put any model on earth to a shame when compared to her.

 Interrupting my own thoughts i saw Ava shake her body  and asked ''How is it?''

''Its pretty bitter sweet, is this food a especially of your hometown?'' asked Ava.

''Well not really, but a lot of them enjoys this food on daily basis to the point that some are addicted to it.''

''Well seeing how tasty this food is, i can't really blame them.'' as Ava chewed the beef jerky in her mouth and slowly savoring the taste while it last''

''I'm glad you enjoyed it but can you tell me about the scene i just witnessed minutes ago?''

Ava licked off the oil from the beef jerky and answered. " What i did was merely just making use of the power given by the Helper's Hand  to undo the curse that struck that warrior. Remember the part of the story, especially when the ashes from the blue flames the Queen of Valkyries unleashed stick into the skin of the warriors of Oss? That ashes was a akin to a curse it seems. The moment they were bathed in those ashes they were immediately cursed into being an eternal walker who would not rest till its death. With the power of the Helper's Hand which the God of Saviors gave to me, i can easily cure any curse or diseases that are born from poison and from monsters. Though i can only moderately heal the wounds of a person to an extent it that the patient would survive. I can still not heal anyone who are close to death. That scene you just witnessed right now is something akin to purification of the soul. With my power i can calm anyone who needs a helping hand  and can cure them.''

''I see....so can i ask why you were glowing?''

''Oh that is just merely an effect of my power. With that glow i can calm anyone to comfort and appease them and gave them a warming effect akin to a mother's embrace. And also because of my power that i have to wear these robes and mask because i might make an entire town wanting to be near me and follow me like a marching band.'' as Ava said with a bit of bitterness in her smile.

''I see, seems powerful and troublesome..''

''Well you can say that to most of the blessings. Also can  i ask what were you pointing during the time i was doing the pyre?''

''Oh my camera?'' ask i take out my camera out of my backpacks front pocket.

''So what does it do?''

''Oh it's a tool use to capture an image of a person,animal, things or scenery.''

''Can you show me how it works?''

''Sure, hold still'' as i pointed the camera towards Ava and push the capture button.. '' *Snap * snap *snap''

Ava froze the moment the flash of the camera flashed in front of her. Then holding back the laughter from that little teasing. I took a piece of part which i can attach on my camera so i can print the picture and show it to her. After a few seconds the picture appeared as i wave and shake it and then approach the stunned Ava and gave her the picture.

''Oh my..is this me? I see so it mirrors the image it reflects and then that tool then draws it perfectly..'' as Ava look astonished at the picture.

''Well that's a way of putting it''

''Such an amazing tool i never heard off...Though i thought it was just a weird shape object but it seems like a good tool...Hmmm where are you really from Stian?'' asked Ava curiously

''Well, you could say I'm from a place known as Earth. Before i got thrown into this continent.'' as i told her a mix of truth lies.

''Hmm, i never heard of place like that, but it seems like a great place to visit.''

''Well, you could say that, i probably would want to return there if i can...''

''..............''

''Well enough about that, Ms Ava, what's next?''

Ava recovered from her short silence and said. ''Oh.... i think we just need about 4 hours of walking till we reach the end of the barren lands. Then when we reach that place we can cross the Hollow Bridge and head make our way to the Mist forest. ''

''Ah i see, then  i should probably take a rest for a bit then.''

''Well you better do Stian, it's gonna be a long walk'' as Ava walked towards her fury Bull and took a rest inside its  fur.

I too then grabbed my sleeping bag and rolled it near the bonfire as  i rest my slightly tired body and slowly relax and close my eyes in wait for an hour to pass. The road is still long after all.