Chapter Four

How can a one of you pathetic lot fight those fucking mana addicts? The answer is willpower. To put it simple for you little cocksuckers, if you can focus your desire to get shit done, you can do incredible things, assuming it’s strong enough. Failing that, you shits can replace quality with quantity. Properly trained soldiers can collect their willpower together and wield it like a hammer, maximizing their potential. Though I doubt the lot of you even have the willpower to get your peckers hard for a virgin with her legs spread.

-A speech given by a nameless drill sergeant who was later found gutted in an alley

Opening his eyes Taran shuddered as he looked up at the dark thundering sky, his ears filled with the sound of metal scraping on metal, men screaming and cursing, and the familiar exhausted breathing of man pushed to the limit.

Fear and dismay bubbling up inside he didn’t have to look to know what he was going to see. Though his body still did, it always did, he had suffered through this same nightmare for several years. At first it was daily, but over the last few months it had appeared less frequently, turning into a hellish weekly reminder. Less than twenty feet from him was his brother Adran, the figure who he worshiped had his back to him as he blocked the narrow path between the trees, a sword in hand as he fought the bastards chasing them, letting the rest of his family flee. That broad back like an invincible wall, not a single wound on it. Of course having suffered the same nightmare hundreds of times Taran’s eyes didn’t miss the puddle of blood at his brothers feet, on the other side that invincible wall was being destroyed, new wounds being opened even as purseres were cut down.

With the distance between them growing with every second as his father carried him away Taran’s eyes were still glued to that figure, he couldn’t look away, instead he had to watch as a spear was thrust through his brother by a cloaked figure. Followed by another and another sometimes sword other times a spear. Yet even with a dozen bloody weapons protruding out of his back, his brother didn’t fall. Fueled by willpower alone the youngest Nine Sword Saint in history retaliated, his swords, both the physical and immaterial cutting down one blurry figure after another until finally the last head fell from its shoulders.

Sobbing silently the helpless dreamer watched his brother fall to his knees, his shoulders slumping as his blood fed the greedy dirt. Slowly Adran’s head turned, looking back at his fleeing family, a satisfied smile on his bloody lips. Opening his mouth to say a final word to his family Taran knew nothing would come out, his brother died a moment to soon, his final words dying with him.

However as his mouth opened this time two words formed and they carried across the distance, impossibly sounding in his ears.

“Wake up.”

At the simple command the world of Taran’s nightmare froze and shattered, his eyes snapping open. The familiar sight of his rafters greeting him. Sitting up he rushed to the door of his room and threw it open. The front door was open and he could see the small figure of his sister running through the downpour, her cream colored dress a star contrast to the blue black of night.

Without thinking he followed after her, and almost went right to the ground as he slipped and stumbled on the mud, created by the heavy rainfall. Catching himself he took off again, his eyes constantly switching between tracking his sister and looking for the next place to step.

“Elizabeth.” he called, though the cry didn’t get far before it was drowned out by the rain, so instead he put all his effort into chasing her.

Yet, the further he chased her the more surprised he was, while he stumbled and slipped on the mud, his blind sister always seemed to find the right place to step, not once did she even slip or hit a tree as she left the valley, heading into unclaimed woods that ringed the valley and covered the base of the mountains that surrounded them on all sides, protecting them from pursuers.

Lagging behind at first Taran simply couldn’t match his sister’s impossible grace on the muddy ground, the distance between them widening slightly as he continued to stumble onward, only his sisters dress in the distance letting him keep track of her, if she’d been wearing something darker he’d have lost her by now, even with the occasional flash of ghastly crimson light that came when thick, red bolts of lightning struck the surrounding peaks.

The situation changed for the better the deeper they went into the woods, the dirt mixed with roots and rocks was a lot more stable, letting Taran get his footing, his stride several time larger than his sisters. Still his progress was slow even as the tree’s thinned. His was sister picking out a path he would have had difficulty finding during the day as she hiked higher and higher.

Eventually after nearly an hour, an exhausted, soaked and worried brother managed to catch his sister’ arm as he pulled himself onto the same ledge.

“Elizabeth.” he panted pulling his still struggling sister into a hug as he fell forward only to catch himself at the last with his free arm.

Taking a deep gasping breath he wiped the water from his eyes and looked at his prize. She was still struggling trying to walk forward, only to be thwarted by the comparatively massive arm of her brother. Her sightless eyes were wide open and darting around madly, she wasn't aware of anything.

Feeling a chill, one not from the rain Taran pinched her check, “Wake up Elizabeth, wake up.” he called repeating over and over again while shaking her gently until her strange state broke and a look of confusion, mixed with fear appeared on her face.

“What's going…!? Where are we Brother?” she shivered, the cold wind like knives on her waterlogged body. Her little hands grabbed his arm her nails digging in as she wormed closer. She was so confused, what were they doing out here in the rain? Why was she is wet?

“Mountain. … I chased you.” he replied, panting and hugging her tighter. Glancing around as he tried to shield her from the rain, which wasn't going well. They were on a large crag that jutted out from the side of the mountain, it was the highest he'd ever been on any of the mountains that surrounded the valley. All around he could see spikes of rock jutting out into the sky, peaks vanishing into the dark sea of clouds only a couple hundred meters above them. Below them a dark forest, he couldn’t see any details of though, the rain was was too heavy.

“But I was sleeping...” she murmured, even more confused shivering as a gust of wind blew past.

“Don’t worry, we’ll be back home soon.”

Doing his best not to shiver, he forced a smile onto his lips to comfort her as he slowly stood up, his legs trembling with exhaustion, “Just try to stay warm.” he said, as he looked over the edge of the ledge, he almost couldn't believe his sister had climbed up here, or that he had managed to follow.

“Boy, where are you taking my Blind Witch.”

Whipping around Taran was shocked to see a man standing about twenty feet away from them, he was a young looking man with a nose like a beak and an arrogant look in his crimson eyes. Strangest of all he was completely nude, standing there without a hint of modesty as the rain and wind buffeted his body. In spite of that he neither shivered nor looked even a little uncomfortable.

“Who's there?” Elizabeth asked weakly, she was struggling to stay awake. She was so cold and tired.

“No.” Taran answered without a moment of hesitation as he took half a step back, going right to the very edge, a new kind of fear bubbling up as he stared at the stranger.

The man raised an eyebrow and then snorted “Humans. Always so stubborn.” he spat, utter contempt and arrogance in his voice. Without another word he shot forward, covering half the distance in less than the second his hands outstretched like the talons.

His mind unable to comprehend such speed Taran only just started to move as the man got with in a foot of him, Taran knew it was useless he was too slow compared to his monstrously fast attacker, it wouldn't make a difference if he was standing still. Watching the man's sharp fingernails near his face a single thought filled his head, I am going to die.

Salvation came in the form of a large spear of rock extending from the side of the mountain and striking the man and blowing him off the cliff like a rag doll, his arm shattered to pieces and the side of his body caved in, oddly though the wet cracking that should a company destruction like that was absent.

Taran stared at the producing rock his eyes wide and his mouth gaping as a weak, mad laugh bubbled up from him.

“Brother your heart is beating really fast. What's wrong? Where is the man?” the weak voice of his sister asked, immediately getting Taran’s attention.

Taking a gasping breath he patted her head, “Nothing.” he replied looking around.

“Thank you to…” he was cut off as some else spoke.

“Your welcome, but things aren't over yet.”

The spear of stone receded and a man made of stone rose from the ground transforming into the familiar and yet incredibly unfamiliar form of Garret, a bright smile on his lips and his eyes free of any madness. In addition to the simple clothing he wore in the village Garret wore a cloak of bear fur and gripped a wooden staff in one hand. It was carved with intricate patterns that spiraled up towards the top, where a large uncut gem was set. The gray gem looked like a cross between a crystal and a stone, spectacular and also plain, marking it as remarkable. Unschooled in both geology and magic Taran couldn’t name it

No longer hunched over, his frail, aged frame gave off an unexpected majesty, waves of power radiating off of him. At the same time Taran had the odd sensation that he was looking at a mountain, ancient and invincible the storm around them unable to sway him.

“Keep warm and stay behind me.” Garret said pulling off his cloak and wrapping it around the two of them, warmth filling them almost immediately, the simple enchantment on the cloak fulfilling its role. “Oh and cover her ears.”

His long beard whipping around in the wind as he neared the edge of the outcropping he looked positively lived as he roared towards the sky, “Did you really think it would be that easy to kidnap her Wakin?!”

Garret’s voice reverberated through the mountains, silencing the thunder and rain as the peaks around them trembled in shared rage.