Book 2 Chapter 49

Tirr ignored Agir’s shouts as he ran towards the battleline with Garm following close behind. The young pup was excited to be in the thick of the action again with his master once more. They sprinted down the field, listening to the shouts and excited yells of the Lutel army as they pursued the retreating Rasorians.

Tirr thought as he ran, wondering how he could get the Lutellians to stop long enough for the Rasorian army to get away. He had initially thought about going after the generals, only to realize that he had no idea who they were… And since he had left Agir behind, he wouldn’t be able to find them.

He could use fire, but it would just be seen as another attack and would likely just energize the Lutelians more. And though he could block off part of the field with a shield from the Blessing of Life, it wouldn’t hold for long and wouldn’t affect a battlefield this large.

He ran out of time to think as he reached the back of the Lutel centerline. He didn't slow, choosing instead to increase his pace even as soldiers looked back at him in confusion. They watched the approaching newcomer from their own side with growing apprehension as they realized he had no intention to stop. They wondered what the child intended to do right up until he crashed into them.

Tirr plowed through the ranks of the surprised warriors without hesitation as the surprised troops were knocked aside one by one. A few even tried to attack the strange child, swinging their blades at him without much intent to kill as they were caught between his childlike appearance and his overbearing actions.

Tirr didn’t even bother dodging, letting the hesitant attacks land as he took them in stride before blowing their owners aside. His body took care o the resulting shallow wounds on its own without him channeling his Blessing.

He quickly broke through the army’s back ranks and reach the front, which had become a strange mix of intense clashes and chases as the Rasor line did its best to retreat. His eyes spotted a group of Lutelians closing in on a fallen Rasor soldier. “Stop!” He yelled furiously, running towards the group, “The war is over, fall back!”

The soldiers either didn’t hear him or ignored him… One lifted his sword to finish off the Rasorian, his face filled with anger and resentment. Tirr reached out, his hand grabbing onto part of the soldier's armor before his arm twisted, his body taut as he threw the man back into the Lutel line. He crashed into the oncoming soldiers knocking them off their feet and into the churned and muddy ground.

Before the others could react, he did the same to them. Throwing the other two back into the Lutel line before pulling the Rasrorian onto his feet and shoving him back towards his fellows.

The Lutel soldiers, now sure this newcomer was an enemy, charged towards were Tirr stood. Garm let out a yip of encouragement as his master fought, knocking the oncoming soldiers aside one by one with swift and brutal, though not deadly, attacks. Soon a small pocket grew around him as the Lutel soldiers avoided the one child fighting machine, pushing around him to move after the Rasorians.

Tirr frowned, yelling once again to stop, but his words had no impact as the fighting went on. He thought harder, trying to think of how he could get everything to stop without having to kill the same people he was trying to keep alive. He ran through the powers in his head one by one, thinking over what might help when a lone memory from months ago surfaced. It had been more of an experiment than anything at the time, he thought to himself, but he should be just strong enough to pull it off for real now…

He channeled the Blessing of Life to its fullest, feeling its power coursing through him as he closed his eyes and focused. In his mind he envisioned a young woman, and though he couldn’t see her face… He knew she had kind eyes and a voice that had once helped calm his fears and angers. He focused on that feeling, pulling together everything he could remember of her.

As he thought about the woman, particles of light slowly rose around him. They spread, growing brighter as they lifted themselves upwards, the tiny motes of light swarmed together as he Tirr projected the image from his memories. There was so much he had forgotten. But one thing that stood out clearly in his mind was his first impression, the first thing he had thought upon meeting her… If there was a thing such as angels, they would look exactly like this…

The lights suddenly strengthened, their brilliant glare harsh on the eyes of the soldiers around him as they stopped what they were doing looking upon the scene in a strange mixture of fear and awe. The light formed together, rising ever higher as it took shape.

There above the battlefield, the light formed into that of a faceless young woman. He continued channeling his blessing, the strain of its force made his body shake. A pair of shimmering white wings sprouted from the woman’s back and a golden halo appeared above her head.

From the Rasor side Maria, Claire, and Claus looked over in wonder as they watched the apparition appear above the battlefield, “What is that?” Claus asked confused.

“That’s…” Claire started thinking back to the similar sight she had seen back at Road's End. The sight before her was even more detailed and defined, with an even greater presence.

“Tirr’s Aspect of Life…” Maria whispered, thinking back to the dream she had once had, what now seemed like ages ago. She was certain now, that Tirr had formed his Aspect of Life after the first his first Apostle, her ancestor. They watched as the glowing young woman clasped her hands in front of her chest, her wings spreading magnificently.

Tirr felt his strength leaving him as the miracle drew to a close. Still not enough faith… He thought to himself as he focused. Above him, the Angels wings fully extended each filled with thousands of shiny glowing feathers. He collapsed to the ground as his work finished, barely managing to roll himself onto his back to watch the result.

All around him, from one side of the field to the other, all thoughts of fighting or retreat had stopped, replaced only with the need to watch as the beautiful glowing apparition exalted in her own shining light. Her head raised as a single ringing note flowed from the vision, spreading across the battlefield.

At the same time, as if caught by some hidden wind, the feathers of her wings dispersed. Sweeping away to float gently before slowly falling leisurely down towards the staring soldiers.

As the angel’s song swept up the watching armies each person felt themselves carried back to a different time, whether it was the warmth of a lover, or the smile of a child, or the sweet lullabies of their own parents. Tears soon found themselves on the cheeks of almost everyone there and as the feathers came down they reached out instinctively, accepting the warmth and comfort they offered.

Nerida watched enraptured at the sight before her, and as her own feather came to her she accepted it with open arms letting out a low moan of comfort as she felt her master’s power fill her. Her body shivered as tears streamed down her face even as she smiled. As the beautiful glowing woman started to fade, the priestess let out a sigh, turning toward the confused man behind her.

“Signal the retreat.” She said, her voice warm and smile wide as she enjoyed the still lasting warmth.

The man looked down at her feet, towards the cold body laying on the ground. There, his general lay, his body covered in frost, an expression of pure pain and terror frozen forever onto his face. The man gulped as he nodded and soon the horns sounded as both armies slowly withdrew…