Yuria woke up to the sound of something moving outside. She suddenly heard beasts snarling and quickly sat up and shook awake the others.
“Beasts?” Metas said as he brought his spear out. Felkin had also readied his sword and walked out of the room. It was pitch black and they were surprised as to why the beasts were attacking in the middle of the night and not dawn.
The sounds of beasts crawling were heard just outside the house they were in, they exited the room and encountered Ellyn startling her. “There’s something outside!” she whispered. “We know.” Said Felkin.
The old man remained sleeping in his room and they approached the entrance to the building, being careful not to knock anything over in the clutter of the room.
They opened the door to the outside and heard a loud and sudden crash. Metas was leading them and he was leading them outside first when a lycanthrope carcass landed outside the front of the building, its skull crushed.
Suddenly a figure came into view and spotted Metas. The others hid quickly but Metas was left exposed as he was in the doorway.
It was the man, laughing boisterously as he swung an oversized axe and cleaved one beast almost completely in two, and punched down one in the neck. The creature under the weight of his arm twitched, so he set it ablaze, holding it down while it burned.
This happened quickly and as Metas exited, his gaze met the other man’s. Metas knew now that he had no choice but a confrontation and if possible, a de-escalation, but if not, combat.
A fourth wolf lunged at him and he swung his axe and struck it right in the chest without even looking. “Four beasts in one night! Bahahaha! What a bounty! And a feast is one to be shared with.” He said as he looked directly at Metas, his expression again rapidly switching from jubilant to cold and intimidating. “Good evening, Metas.” The large man in armor said, as Metas gulped and was ready to fight or bargain for his life.
Felkin, Yuria and Ellyn were sat behind the wall near the door, hiding quietly and listening intently. “The old man inside said he didn’t see anyone that looked like you.” The man was wiping away the blood from his axe with a cloth. “Siegmund.” Said Metas.
“Surprised you still remember me. Remember when we used to train together? You were so little; you couldn’t even pick a spear up properly. You would rather go fishing instead!” He laughed heartily again.
“So, what brings you here?” asked Metas as a drop of sweat rolled down his cheek. “Well, I, and a few others have been tasked to look for you following a few reports. When you disappeared, there were sightings of a strange event in a village nearby where you were sent to. There it was reported be, - “
He put his axe on a strap on his back and pulled out a piece of paper from his cloak. Siegmund walked slowly while reading and Metas walked parallel to him, still cautious. “An event occurred when a witch was retrieved from a pyre and the rescuers as well as the ‘witch’ disappeared in a flash of darkness. Multiple accounts have determined that the rescuers were two males, one in black cloak and armor. And what do I hear when I asked around the inn, two men and one woman checked in yesterday, one man with black cloak and armor. And now… I find you here.”
Siegmund smirked but his eyes remained cold and serious. Although Metas was tall Siegmund was taller. His width is also much greater and he wore custom-fitting armor because of it.
He crumpled the paper in his hand and opened it up again. Only smoldering cinders remained and they blew off in the night breeze. He retrieved his massive axe and said: “Any explanations?” “You were simply mistaken. I got lost and wandered here. That was certainly someone else.”
He sweated more and more and almost choked on his words. “It is simply not possible to get from there to here in a few days, even on horseback. And moreover, an old priest described you vividly and claimed it was you. Even your strange weapon they identified. If you were really there, and you disappeared in a flash of darkness, the only conclusion I can get is it is… witchcraft.” Even in the darkness of the night, the mad glint in his eyes was faintly perceivable.
“They say you left the inn in a huff, and I find you here. Which means the old man lied and he houses you here.” Metas was at a loss for words. “If you have the witch, “Siegmund leaned in closer. “Hand her over.” He whispered.
Siegmund walked back and continued. “If you have the witch, we can deal with her, take up any matter you desire to the higher ups and we can all go home happy.” “There “is” no witch here.” Metas replied.
“Let me through then. I’ll inspect thoroughly and I find nothing, I will leave you alone.” Siegmund tried to enter but Metas stopped him with his hand.
Felkin motioned for them to go back into the rooms and out the windows there to try and evade him. As they began to slowly move, Yuria stepped on the wolf’s hide and tripped creating an audible thud.
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Siegmund reacted and spoke quickly. “Is someone there! Someone behind that door, how long have they been listening! How long have you been hiding them?” Felkin snuck a peek out the window and saw Siegmund holding an axe in his right and his left hand was behind his back, obscured from Metas’ view.
While Ellyn and Yuria panicked and hastened, Felkin saw Siegmund’s left hand create a ball of flame hidden from Metas’ view. Metas tried to reason with Siegmund. “You don’t have to do this. We don’t have to do this.” “I gave you two options Metas. Move out of the way or else- “He raised his left hand ready to throw a ball of flame towards Metas.
Suddenly Felkin extended his sword, through the window, and hitting Siegmund on the back of his head. The attack slashed him at the top of his head and drops of blood splattered onto the ground.
Siegmund was consumed by fury and said: “HOW DARE YOU ATTACK AN AGENT OF THE FIRE WITH SUCH A DIRTY TACTIC!” and threw the fireball at Felkin causing the front wall of the abode to explode.
Yuria, Metas, Felkin and Ellyn were knocked back of the shockwave and Siegmund stood, a trail of blood dripping from his enraged face. He had his hood down now, and he gripped his axe tightly in self-righteous fury.
He walked slowly towards Felkin who was on the ground and stirring. He raised his axe to attack him but Metas threw his spear towards him. Siegmund deflected it. “I was afraid this was going to happen.” He muttered quietly to himself.
“I raised you up boy! I can put you down myself!” Siegmund cried out. Felkin stood and tried to attack him once again but he deflected the blow with his axe.
Felkin slashed at Siegmund. Though eqch blow was deflected by Siegmund. Felkin narrowly avoided each swing of his axe, which tore through the old man's house.
Yuria sat frozen while Ellyn ran to the back where the old man awoke from his sleep in his room. Ellyn ushered him: “Out the back old man.” He whispered. “All right, alright.” He said as Ellyn opened the window and helped the old man outside.
Siegmund threw balls of fire at his two opponents, the splatters of flame exploding on the ground and the fire was spreading on the walls of the old man’s house and the nearby buildings.
Felkin and Metas attacked with their weapons, trying to find an opening but Siegmund dodged and deflected and answered each blow with a powerful counterattack.
He threw a fireball at Felkin who was sent flying through a wall and then charged at Metas. Metas swung his chain-spear like a whip and tried his hardest, whipping up a powerful storm of attacks which Siegmund struggled to block.
A few cuts and slashes were inflicted on Siegmund as he inched closer, still deflecting the assault. He then swung his axe horizontally narrowly missing Metas who had to lie on the ground to dodge.
He quickly stepped on Metas’ right arm, disabling him from picking up his weapon. Siegmund began to speak. “I trained you since when you were little. I made sure you rose through the ranks. I even pulled strings for you to get your ideal position! And this is how you repay me? Allying with-“He saw Yuria who was frozen in fear. “A witch!” Siegmund stomped Metas on the face with his other leg and slowly walked towards Yuria while raising his axe.
“I shall end you here and now, temptress.” Suddenly a blast of darkness shot out at Siegmund. He blocked it with his axe but was pushed back. Yuria stood defiantly clumps of hide turning to dust in her hands.
As Ellyn finished helping the slow old man out the back window she ran back to the hallway before narrowly avoiding a blast of fire. Yuria made tendrils of darkness shoot out from the shadows to attack Siegmund but he slashed at them with his axe and blasted a few away with his fire.
Siegmund lunged at Yuria trying to chop her down with his axe but she summoned a wall of darkness to block it. Each time she cast a spell, a wolf bone she held disintegrated and a clump of beast hide turned to dust.
They fought for a while, neither one letting their guard down as Ellyn stood there in shock, not being to interfere in the crossfire. Finally, Yuria fell to the ground in exhaustion and ran out of bones to use, only a small patch of fur remained wrapped around her. Siegmund raised his axe, but Metas threw a small clay vase of liquid at Siegmund.
Siegmund stopped and faced Metas who was still crawling on the ground and had his hand in such a way that suggested he would snap his fingers.
Yuria and Ellyn looked on as Siegmund walked toward Metas on the ground. “Back when you first joined and even until recently, you couldn’t produce but a single tiny spark of flame. I thought it was just a small problem, but now I know it is because of your covenant with the abyss.”
“Oil.” Said Metas, his face bleeding and he spoke feebly. “Hmm?” Siegmund questioned in curiosity. “Its oil.” A second of realization hit Siegmund right before Metas snapped his fingers and set him aflame.
“AAAAIIIIIEEEEE!” he cried out in pain as he went out into the street. He dropped his axe and fell to the floor. Just as they thought it would be over, he stood back up again, still aflame.
“I thank you for showing me this. If I am alight in flame, I can fully serve in the DRAGON’S FLAME!” He screamed and laughed as he charged towards them axe in hand.
His axe dropped to the ground. Siegmund looked to see what was wrong and he noticed his hand was also missing, and only dripping blood remained.
Felkin stood there, tired and roughed up but otherwise unharmed. He had extended his sword and cut through Siegmund’s arm. “HOW DARE YOU!” He picked up the axe with his other arm and barreled towards Felkin.
Felkin did not raise his weapon but instead removed the bandage from his face. He opened his eye and his gaze penetrated through Siegmund like a sharp lance.
Siegmund knelt in fear and the flames that bathed him were instantly quenched revealing a gruesome visage. “No! The flame, I can’t see the flame!” Siegmund cried as he stared at Felkin. The fire that burned him rendered him blind but he could still see the ominous red glare of Felkin’s eye.
“No. No!” He cried as Felkin walked closer. The others watched but only listened as they covered their eyes. Siegmund grabbed his axe and tried to attack in one final desperate attempt when a shot from Ellyn hit him in the neck and laid him low.
The citizens from the street were exiting their house now curious of what the racket had been as Felkin shut his eye and put the bandage back on. He looked at Siegmund’s body, the glow of light that once was there was slowly fading. Felkin exhaled in relief, misty breath emerged from his mouth.