“Master!” Mira fell to her knees, “I planned to leave tomorrow—”
“Don’t lie to me, you wretched girl!” Isaan hissed and uncoiled his whip, “You think I’m an idiot?”
“What the hell?” Jonen rolled to his feet and got up, “Isaan Naybellos! By authority of the crown of Zrud—”
“Kill him,” The blue elf flipped his silver hair over his shoulder and walked towards the festival, “We will discuss your punishment at our next home. This dalliance is over.”
Jonen saw Mira stand and a dagger appear in her hand.
“Master, I ask you to reconsider,” Her voice croaked, “I do not ask for many things, please.”
Jonen saw the black wreath on the back of her neck pulsate. As it grew, thick roots wrapped around her neck. Mira looked over her shoulder towards Jonen.
“I said to kill him,” Isaan turned around and pushed his glasses up his nose, “In fact, kill everyone here that knows you. You will never be allowed to return.”
Mira’s head titled unnaturally, “Everyone, Master?”
“Yes, you imbecile!” Isaan growled, “Kill everyone!”
When she looked back to him, he saw the roots quickly crawling up her face as her eyes watered. Her skin morphed grotesquely where it they showed. Jonen took a step back as she turned to face him. What terrified him most was the sickly grin on her face.
“Jonen, I’m sorry,” She twirled the dagger in her hand and grimaced.
“I won’t fight you,” He looked away after seeing more snaking roots around her throat, “You’ll have to kill me before I hurt you.”
She sped towards him with a dagger drawn. When she got to him, she placed a hand against his chest. He waited for the blade to pierce him and opened his eyes when he felt hesitation. Mira grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pulled him down to her.
“Seven minutes, forty-three seconds,” She tapped a finger over his heart, “Then, I will be unconscious and likely dead. Save them.”
Mira hastily pressed her lips to his and threw him back. Jonen’s heart sank when her explosive speed took her on the other side of the field in a single blink. He saw flame collide against a long-bladed glaive. The sound of metal clashing rang through the air as Jonen ran back towards the festival.
Thirty seconds.
Jonen burst around the corner of the alley and ran down the dirt path. The heat of the battle burned at his back as buildings lit behind him. Explosions filled the air at the battle behind him. A shriek from the battle behind him made him wish his legs would carry him faster.
Sixty seconds.
Jonen heard the displaced happy melodies of the festival in the air. His lungs burned as he felt his feet pound against the ground. He should have been more prepared. Why had he let his guard down? He should have known that Isaan would return. The terrible elf wouldn’t let a valuable woman like Mira stay gone for too long.
Ninety seconds.
Jonen had to make it to the temple and back before Mira lost her consciousness. The echoing booms of flame spells behind him could not have pushed his body faster. The bones in his ankle creaked and popped with each step. He couldn’t worry about that right now, he needed to get help for Mira.
One hundred twenty seconds.
The lights of the festival filled the air around him. People awed at the light display at the edge of the village. They clapped at the show, not knowing the truth. He shoved people out of the way as he made his way closer to the temple. As he looked over his shoulder, he saw that the fire could be considered an intentional show. He knew the terrible truth.
One hundred fifty seconds.
Jonen coughed as he made his way to the front of the temple. He tripped on the stairs and cursed loudly. Sunodagh ran towards him and pulled him aside.
“Elf boy, what’s wrong?” The orc frowned, “Is this not Mira’s doing?”
“Her master,” He huffed and tried to steady his breath, “He’s here.”
“What?!” Irae gasped as she heard, “We have to protect everyone.”
“Mira’s fighting him off,” Jonen coughed, “We need to help.”
“Sunodagh, gather your men,” The pink healer pointed to the stand of weapons, “Whoever bought a weapon will have to do. I will tell High Priestess and start pulling people into the temple.”
“Two hundred and three seconds,” Jonen huffed, “She said she will lose consciousness in under eight minutes.”
“Then, we better hurry!” Sunodagh grabbed his shoulder and pulled him towards the weapon rack.
Jonen blinked and the bronze elf appeared in the temple arches. Irae yelped and quickly explained. Nara bowed her head and took a deep breath. She stepped down the stairs and motioned the band to stop playing.
“Everyone,” Her solemn voice echoed through the air, “Come inside the temple. Vimgraunt is under attack.”
Another explosion shook the ground beneath them. The mayhem of voices screamed, and bodies rushed the temple. Nara gripped Jonen’s shoulder to get his attention.
“Get the horses. You’ll get there and back quicker.”
He nodded and ran towards the stables. The brown mare he knew from the small crossroads village neighed abhorrently. He grabbed the reins and jumped onto her. He rode her to the temple entrance and Nara tossed him his shield.
“Here, you’ll need this too,” Sunodagh handed him a short sword, “I’m gathering men and we will join shortly. Help aquellan until then.”
“I’m coming too!” Irae reached out to him, “Pull me up.”
“Irae,” Nara shook her head, “We will need you here… in case they get closer.”
The horse reared back as another blast shook the ground beneath them. Jonen gripped its mane to steady himself.
“Go!” Sunodagh yelled, “We will figure it out without you!”
“Everyone, inside!” Nara yelled frantically, “Quickly!”
As Jonen slapped the horse’s rear, his eyes caught Pallik’s. The teen took a deep breath and nodded knowingly to the half-elf. Pallik grabbed his crying sister and dragged her towards the temple. As Jonen sped away, the panicked people that ran towards it. He fought his way through the terrified crowd to reach the edge of the courtyard and sped back towards her.
Mira watched as Jonen sped away. She grit her teeth against the pain crawling across her throat and up her face as she slashed at her master. Today showed her that she had enough to look forward to outside of her miserable life with Isaan Naybellos.
“You complete idiot!” Isaan hissed and charged another ball of fire in his hand, “This is how you want to die? Over some half breed and a city that doesn’t care about you? Why now?”
She sucked in a quick breath, “I would rather die than live like this any longer. I want to break my enthrallment.”
“Over my dead body!” The blue elf launched the attack at her.
Mira’s spear swept through the air and collided with spell. She focused energy into the blade and repelled the attack. It exploded against her weapon and threw her back into the building behind them. As she crawled from the rumble, a second attack lit the building on fire.
“That can be arrange,” She growled.
She sprinted towards him with her spear reared back. When she made it within striking distance, he reached his burning sword towards her. She whipped the blade around and cut into his chest. He hissed and stabbed the sword into her. Mira jumped back as the flaming sword seared against her skin. Her hand went to the aching wound, and she took another quick breath. Her lungs burned from her strained breathing.
Once she could no longer hear Jonen’s footsteps, her hand habitually went to where the mask in her bag would be. She cursed and dodged another slicing strike from his sword. Of course, she wouldn’t have the mask now. Today was about the festival –not killing. Isaan cackled at her hesitation and plunged his sword at her again. Mira narrowly spun out of the way of the attack and parried with one of her own.
“You’re too weak to kill me. Accepting your death would make it easier on all of us.”
Anger boiled inside of her. She felt it threat to topple over. She gripped her summoned glaive tighter and lunged at him for another attack. Her blade cut his cloak from over his robes as he dodged.
Her voice hauntingly changed to an inhuman growl, “I will accept my death after your final breath.”
Mira felt the wraith’s dark energy swelter underneath her skin. Just as she told Jonen, she imagined catching the thread of energy in her mind. She dodged another attack and saw the black mist radiate from her. An inky film covered her as she pulled tighter on the thread in her mind.
“Oh, a fancy new trick?” Isaan scoffed, “That won’t help you now.”
Mira siphoned another breath as the pressure on her throat closed it further. The throbbing force on her face shut her eyes nearly closed. She swung wildly as her vision blurred. The heat guided her to attack her master. She drew one last gulp of air and concentrated her movements.
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His blade bit into her arms as she tried to dodge the sizzling air. Orbs of heat launched her into stone buildings. The grip on her weapon waned as she sloppily swung at her master. Her skin burned and her bones crunched against the stone as it toppled on her.
Mira heard hooves gallop towards her and knew she hadn’t saved them. As her consciousness faded, she yanked the string of energy and desperately hoped whatever happened would be enough to save them.
The mare reared back as an eruption of darkness enveloped the night sky. It snuffed out the light of the glistening stars and the fire from the field ahead. Jonen’s heart sank as he realized that there was nothing else he could do but keep going. If Mira wasn’t dead, the wraith would surely end her. He kicked the horse to speed up. If he could make it in time, perhaps he could fight off one long enough to drag her to safety.
Mira’s body shattered into a swarming cloud of hatred and violence. A tall, lanky figure formed from the condensing smoke. The wraith had no mask, no armor. The incorporeal form easily dodged Isaan’s attacks.
“Hasn’t she suffered enough?” Isaan hissed, “You insolent beast, just let her die!”
“I will have her suffer lifetimes before I allow you to have me,” The wraith’s dark voice echoed through the air, “As soon as she is strong enough to kill you, she will. Then I will rip your body into indeterminate slices and consume your very soul.”
“You’re too weak inside of her. I will win,” The blue elf charged another spell, “You will be defeated until I wield you.”
A large flame thrashed through the dark cloud. The black smoke swallowed the heat. As the wraith became corporal once again, it pulled the spear from the ether. With a flick of the wrist, the blade soared towards the elf. The impact knocked the sword from his hand.
“I would rather kill every other person in this existence then let you wield me,” The wraith growled.
The mare reared back and tumbled Jonen to the ground. He cursed as he collected the sword and shield and sprinted into the fray. He watched as Isaan’s eyes glowed a sickly green hue and the demented cackling began.
“Then, let’s do this dance again,” The elf burst into delirious laughter, “Brother.”
A demonic roar echoed through the night as a black slashing magic extended from the wraith’s glaive towards the blue elf. Jonen quickly surveyed the duo to see where Mira could be.
“Mira!” Jonen yelled out, “Where are you?!”
He felt the dark mist swirling at his feet as he ran further into the colliding spells. He raised his shield to block the heat from above as he searched for her. He felt heat singe his shirt as he sprinted further into the fray.
“I won’t let you kill her too!” The dense smoke surrounded her too, “You’ve already taken my heart.”
“You should only need me!” Isaan cackled and his whip cracked a flame into the smoke.
“Mira!” Jonen screamed through the chaos.
The flashing lights of flame and darkness blurred his vision more than the smoke of the burning field. Night and day flickered rapidly as he sprinted further into the battle. Jonen had to find her. Nothing else mattered. If the wraith and Isaan were fighting, he would figure it out after he found her. If Mira couldn’t answer, then she needed more help.
“Nuisance!” Isaan shrieked.
Jonen saw the incoming spell. The flame nearly blocked his view of the sky. He turned to run but tripped over his borrowed boots. He cursed and closed his eyes. He would fail and here is where it would end. If he couldn’t save them, save her, maybe it was better than living with the failure again.
Then, the darkness enveloped him.
He heard the excruciating screech and looked up to see the wraith standing in front of him. He shuddered as the flames washed over it.
The faceless being terrified him. Only the shadow of a man stood above him and sliced another spell away. The figure turned to launch the spear towards Isaan, but the lilac orbs locked onto Jonen’s eyes.
“You truly wish to save her?” The curious voice questioned him.
“Where is she?” Jonen panted, “I’ll protect her.”
Isaan and the wraith laughed in unison. Beads of sweat trailed down the blue elf’s face as he charged another spell. Jonen stumbled to his feet and held his shield out to prepare for the attack. The black mist swarmed around him.
Instead of the fear and agony he felt the first time he stared into the faceless creature, this energy calmed him. The wraith bowed its head lightly to the half-elf.
“I cannot guarantee you live.”
“I’ll live long enough. That’s all that matters.”
The echoes of a feminine screech floated through the billowing mist. Jonen tapped his sword against his shield and sprinted towards Isaan. The blue elf snapped his whip and Jonen felt two spikes dig into his arm. As the flesh ripped away, Jonen plunged his sword towards the elf. It bit into Isaan’s side, but the elf blasted another flame towards his torso.
Jonen held his shield up and tried to concentrate on magic surging under his skin. The heat burned his shield against his arm, but he had to stay with it. The sound of distant pounding hooves gave him hope. There would be more soon. He cursed as the whip’s fangs dug into his back. He screamed as it ripped chunks of flesh away.
Jonen felt something wrap around his stomach and pull him from the next flame attack. The mist released him as the wraith jumped forward. It surged its spear into Isaan’s shoulder. The elf growled and jumped back.
“Fine,” The bones in his neck cracked as he stretched, “We will do this the hard way.”
The elf held his hands in front of his chest and focused on his next spell. The wraith appeared before Jonen in an instant and put a hand on his chest. He looked up into the glowing orbs of the faceless form.
“Are they safe?”
“Yes. They’re in the temple,” Jonen huffed and held his bleeding arm, “Where is she?”
“Elf boy!” Sunodagh yelled.
“She…” The wraith clamped a fist and pounded it against its chest, “Fight to save the others. I will concentrate on her.”
Isaan cackled as a ball of dark energy formed in his hands. Jonen did not like the similarity to the wraith’s own dark mist emanating from the madman. It reared its spear back and held a defensive position in front of Jonen. He noticed the figure breathed heavily and hunched over. He couldn’t tell if the thing was bleeding, but it heavily favored one leg over the other.
“If you’re allowed to invite others to play, Brother,” Isaan held the dark orb in one hand before launching it at the pair, “Then so am I!”
“I will fight the elf. He’s weakening,” The wraith pointed the weapon’s blade at the mass forming where the spell landed, “You and everyone else will take that.”
Sunodagh and other orcs galloped up and dismounted as the wraith took off after Isaan. Jonen pointed in horror as the ambiguous form bubbled into a large, nightmarish creature. The four-legged creature stood as tall as a house, with three heads and a spiked tail.
“What are we –” Sunodagh saw the beast, “Goddess.”
“That!” Jonen yelled, “Are you with me?”
The small group of twelve men cheered and sprinted towards the beast. Sunodagh ripped a shred of fabric and wrapped it around Jonen’s arm. He ran after the men to slay the beast. The left beaked head squawked and pecked at the men slicing at it. The right lion head bit at the men surrounding it. The central serpentine head reared back and snapped at it.
“Goddess, protect me,” Jonen whispered under his breath as he held his shield up and blocked an attack from the spiked tail.
The fighters surrounded the large beast with weapons at the ready. Its heads growled in unison and lunged to attack. Jonen ducked under a swiping paw and rolled to the back of the beast. He stabbed into the beast and green blood oozed from its side. Sunodagh’s axe cracked against the beast’s tail as it swung around to strike Jonen. They nodded to each other, and he ripped his sword from the wound. Another scream from the front of the beast signaled another man down.
“Where next?” The yellow orc shouted.
“Back leg!” Jonen yelled, “Near the groin if possible!”
Sunodagh echoed the order and the group of fights opposite the beast attempted to strike it. One yelled as he was pecked mid strike and swallowed by the beaked head. Jonen shuddered and rammed his shield against the lion’s mouth to keep himself standing.
“We need to do something about the heads,” A dwarf fighter yelled from the other side, “They keep killing us off!”
“I will handle one,” Sunodagh grunted, “Which one?”
Jonen looked between the three heads and blinked. Adrenaline fought the exhaustion away, but the flashing battle in the near distance blurred his vision heavier than he would have liked.
“If we can get you on its back, you’ll only have to deal with the snake,” Jonen pointed with his shield arm, “I have an idea. Run at me.”
“If you say so!” Sunodagh took a few steps back and sprinted towards him.
Jonen concentrated his magic on the surface of his shield. If he timed it just right…
“Jump!” Jonen yelled.
Sunodagh launched into the air. Jonen chucked his shield at the orc. As it glided under his feet. Jonen released the spell and Sunodagh flew higher. The orc landed on the beasts furry spine and gripped down. It howled as his axe dug into its back.
“Now, distract the other two heads!” Jonen called out.
The dwarf next to him swung at the biting lion’s mouth. Jonen tackled him out of the way of the spiked tail ripping through the air. The tail collided with the lions teeth, and it growled angrily.
“Watch out for the tail!”
He arched his sword into the nose and jumped back. He looked up to see the snake’s neck extend and turn to face Sunodagh. Jonen jumped to the beast’s back legs and stabbed into its rear. All three heads groaned, and it lifted the damaged leg.
“One leg down!” Jonen cut his sword through the thick muscle and stabbed into the pad of its large paw.
The foot came down to stomp on him, but he slid away. He grabbed a discarded sword and raised his shield to block the tail once again. He managed to slice at its front leg on his side as another elf shot an arrow into the beast’s ribs.
Jonen looked up to see the snakes mouth clamp onto Sunodagh’s arm. The orc ripped his shoulder from the snake’s mouth and his blood sprayed over the beast’s face. He grunted swung his axe with his remaining arm. As the shock set in, the snake launched forward and swallowed the orc.
“What now?!” The dwarf next to Jonen screamed, “We’re running out of bodies.”
“We have to get it away from the temple,” His brain scrambled, “How do we –”
A screech tore his attention away from the battle. The small group of healers edged the battlefield and looked to who should be gathered. Jonen looked to see Isaan crawling backwards from the wraith. The shadowy form lurched as if he was a cat that finally cornered the pesky mouse. The black smoke roared from the spear as the wraith reared back to strike. Its form wobbled over the dying elf. Jonen gritted his teeth and looked back to the fight.
Where was Mira?
Isaan’s menacing grin bothered Jonen. For a man a step away from death, he looked suspiciously happy. The wraith stabbed its blade into Isaan’s stomach and pulled it from the ground. The glowing eyes met Jonen and the wraith sprinted towards him. Jonen turned back to block the lion’s mouth from a quick bite.
“Shield!” The wraith called as it got within earshot of Jonen.
Jonen fell to a knee and held his shield above him. There was almost no weight as the shadow catapulted off of it onto the back of the beast. The already long bladed spear grew as the snake turned to suddenly strike at it. It stabbed into the beast’s girthy neck and the wraith’s anguished scream silenced the battle.
The snake’s head dropped, and a yellow orc rolled from the severed throat. The beast’s remaining heads hollowed shrieks caused the surrounding men to cover their ears. The spiked tail collided with the shadowy figure and launched it into a nearby building. Jonen watched as the nearly invincible wraith heaved heavy breaths and strained to get back to its feet.
“We’ve almost got it!” Jonen called encouragingly, “Let’s finish it while it’s still weak!”
“Get to the temple,” The wraith appeared behind him, “I will finish it.”
Jonen watched in awe as the wraith swirled through the air to block attacks from others fighting. Any time its feet hit the ground, it lurched over and took a deep breath. It looked increasingly unsteady on its feet.
“Let us help!” He protested, “We can slay it quicker together!”
“You will get in the way!” It protested and blocked a tail strike from hitting Jonen.
Black sludge splashed from the wraith’s body onto Jonen, “Will you live?”
The wraith howled in laughter, “Does it matter?”
“Goddess watch over you,” He nodded, “Fall out! We’re retreating!”
Jonen ducked to grab Sunodagh’s body and drag him towards the healers. The other badly injured warriors followed as the wraith beat any attacks to follow them. When Jonen looked back, he saw a flame spell manifesting in the shadowy creature’s hand. He pulled Sunodagh to healers before grabbing his sword and running back towards the wraith.
He wouldn’t forget Mira. The wraith knew where she was. If anyone could keep her alive, it would be that thing. If it died, she did too.
The spell’s detonation rocked the earth around him. The quake knocked down buildings and threw him off his feet. Ash fell from the sky like snow as Jonen got back to his feet and ran towards the silent field. The dark mist was nowhere to be seen.
Panic set in as he realized he may have been too late. He looked up to see a creature flying away with someone in its talons. Laying in a field of flames that burned the wreckage around her, a small, limp woman rested. Black roots crawled up her throat with a silent, painful scream frozen on her face.
Jonen stopped running when he noticed a bronze elf with glowing eyes sit next to her. Nara placed a hand over Mira’s badly burned body and prayed. Only when he noticed the deep, bloody cuts on Nara that Jonen realized he needed to run for an entirely new reason. As the High Priestess collapsed on top of Mira, blue swirls of wind whirled the air around them.