↢ In Death ↣

Ever since I was a kid, my father would always tell me, “the world is a wonderful place, you just need to see it!”

I hope he’s right.

My hand clenches the knife on instinct, doing little to hide the blood dribbling down my knuckles. I stand down as Freya readies to defend us. My mind pulls me to intervene, but what could I do? He’s already shown just how capable he is… there’s no way I can even strike him?

The thoughts escape me as my eyes catch a silver glow from further down the hall. It was a catalyst gem, the one I needed.

I can already feel my ice waning under the Shade. I need to move…

“G-give me an– op-pen-ing!” I try to shout again as I point past Freya.

She nods while the warrior tilts his head at me.

“Ah, so golden eyes ‘as a plan? Well, I’ll enjoy watchin’ it unfold, El.” My teeth grind against one another as his words fall upon me.

You have no right to say that name! You– I breathe before stepping back, letting my arms alight. All that’s needed is one gem to finish this Shade. I just need an opening.

Another stream of light crackles through the sky, signalling the start of their fight. Freya launches towards him, slamming her axe into his barrier! It simmers and quivers under her weight, and yet, it still manages to deflect her.

“Y’ ‘ink ‘at’ll work?” a light chuckle escapes him before he decides to move, “I’ll show y’ how a real human fights!”

His blade moves faster than I can keep up with, just barely missing Freya’s chest! The scraping pierces my ears as she tries to redirect his weapon! That’s when I catch it, with his weapon low, I have my chance.

Within seconds, I pulse forward. My arms begin to dim out as I flash behind him, and to my luck, he doesn’t seem to notice I’d even left Freya’s side. A grin hits me as I turn away from the two combatants.

That’s until my face falls. A pair of white orbs land upon me, pinned to a pillar by a stone lance. The statue beside him was obviously broken, missing only a weapon.

“El…” Karter’s voice causes me to jump, “it is good… you are okay.”

I shake my head before rushing over to him. And without a thought to stop me, I immediately try to pull the lance from his chest. However, with all I can muster, it still doesn’t budge. I’m not strong enough… I’m not–

“Break just before my armour…” his voice causes me to jump, although I still manage to nod in agreement.

My arm reignites as I slam my fist into the stone! And although it still causes me to hold my throbbing hand after the fact, the lance cracks.

“Good…” He turns towards me, then to the crystal lying adjacent to him. “Go… I will cover you.”

Right, my body moves before I do, grabbing the catalyst and turning to the contained Shade. Although not to my liking, I could feel the ice holding it faltering.

My lungs stop as shattering vibrates the hall, even stopping the two combatants as they turn away from one another. A series of rhythmic screeches escape the Shade, almost as if it were laughing.

My nerves flare back into existence as I watch the pair of red eyes flash back at me. And it isn’t long until I can hear the scratching and scuttling of fresh spawn crawling out from the shadows.

I can’t do this… I can’t fight it alone. How can I possibly fight off a Shade and caster? I can’t… I–

And hand grabs my shoulder, cutting my thoughts short as my head jerks towards it. Karter only gives me a silent nod before stepping past me.

“I will get you through,” and although his words were reassuring, the hole slowly closing in his torso didn’t put an ease to my nerves.

“Y-our sw-ord?” I question without thinking.

“No need.” He closes his fists before looking back at me. “You need the rain more than I need a weapon.”

My eyes widen before I give him a thankful bow. He only responds with a single nod while turning towards the soon-to-be battle.

A shriek erupts from my side as he takes a step forward. Then with little restraint, I flick my wrist towards it. And before Karter can even think about defending me, a large spike had already pinned it to the wall.

An almost inaudible chuckle escapes him as he leaves me. I only smile at the sound as I set my arms ablaze once more. Hopefully, this will be the last time…

And without any more restraint, I begin to walk. The floor under my feet begins to freeze with every step I make towards the Shade. Although it wasn’t the most practical cast, it would serve its purpose, even if it would leave me drained. My feet could already feel the heavy toll I was about to take.

Before any of the four of us can react, a spawn screams as it leaps onto the warrior’s barrier! The space around him flashes, though the creature is still thrown off. Then with a smile, he drives his blade through it.

And before he can recover, Freya leaps! The head of her axe slamming against the hardened air vibrates the windows as another pulse bounces around him! And with little hesitation, he rips free his weapon and slashes at her in a single stroke!

However, it only strikes the handle of her axe, almost splitting it!

This forces a crinkle in his brow as he tries to jerk his sword back. But his actions only fail as she catches the blade and pulls him closer to her. The short-sword in her other hand then darts for his throat!

The metal scratches the side of his helmet as he barely manages to escape its path! Though not a hint of worry graces him as he retorts with a gauntlet to her jaw!

My eyes peel away from them as a howl ripples the floor under my feet. Without batting an eye, Karter tosses a spawn to his side. I can almost see his pauldrons rise to meet the Shade’s gaze.

Although as soon as one of them moves, a spawn blocks my vision. And though its claws come close to reaching me, another pillar of ice springs from the wet carpet! Guess I can’t enjoy the spectacle with these around…

A slight sigh hits me as I look down at the catalyst within my hands. A small scratch lay present over its rune, probably what set it off. Though I am surprised someone was able to cut it without special tools.

I place my hand over the tiny jab, letting my energy flow freely from me. This’ll take a minute, but it’s my only shot.

My eyes close as I let the cast take its course, yet I could still hear every time my ice is set off. Four… five… seven… ten… twelve…

As my eyes open, the pillars begin to melt and I’m left with a sight of Karter and the Shade. Worry immediately takes me.

Karter stood his ground, seemingly unhindered by the Shade’s attacks, though that isn’t what strikes me. His right arm is missing. Yet his blood refuses to leave him, almost as if there was none left to give.

On instinct, my arms pulse just a little bit brighter. Three blades flash into existence around me before lurching towards the beast! And with little room for error, Karter spins to catch one!

With the weapon in hand, he twirls back to the creature. The point of the makeshift sword armed for the Shade’s heart. And as the other two blades pierce into its flesh, he too pounces!

The blade slices through mist, however, only into the hand of the creature. As it had followed the same tactic as the knight. Its eyes bore through him as it readies its second hand to rend flesh from bone.

Though as its claws slice through the air, Karter releases his grip before flying under its arm! Without letting the momentum go, he slams hard into the creature!

And as both crash to the ground, I turn to see Freya sluggishly block another strike! I need to help.

My mind moves me before I can even consider turning away. The small knife in my hand grows cold as I gradually creep up behind his lordship. And with a huff, Freya straightens her posture. Presumably catching onto my movement, and hopefully my plan.

“Ready to accept y’r defeat?” the warrior questions as he smiles at the scene before him, “come at me, vermin.”

Without another word, Freya launches towards him, slicing poorly where he stood. An echoing laugh leaves him as he easily sidesteps her. And without hesitation, he runs his sword through her.

My breath holds for a moment as I watch her eyes bulge under the pain. And yet, she only grabs onto the blade stuck within her.

This is it… my opening.

His barrier flickers for only a moment as my hand stretches through it. I can feel his eyes flash to me as my hand presses against his spine. The blade in my hand, now a long hardened blade of ice, is poised to stab deep into his soul. And with no barrier, his armour is nothing but paper to me.

Freya leans in and whispers into his ear, “y’r reign ends here…”

With no ability to move, to dodge or to escape it, he can only release a gasp before my blade impales the two.

“Y’... actually did it…” the lord wheezes as he looks down to the jagged red escaping both him and Freya. “Ha… so ‘is is… ‘ow I die…”

It takes seconds before I’m able to release the weapon, letting their body slump to the floor. A smile escapes him as he stares up at the ceiling, and without a word, the light in his eyes dims out.

I peel my eyes away from the scene and back to the battle still ahead.

The Shade grumbles as it holds onto a blade jabbed within its throat. The knight pushes harder and harder, however, with only a single arm, there was little he could do against the beast.

Hesitation holds me as the creature’s burning gaze lands upon my own. Though it only lasts a moment before my feet begin to move.

They guide me forward while my brain sifts through my lessons. Everything I’ve learned clicks in a single moment, then my arms ignite the next.

The cast was ready.

The Shade recoils as I step closer, illuminating the shadows around it. A crack slits through its head, creating a set of jagged, black teeth. It screeches before slamming what is left of its arm into the knight.

Karter grunts under the strike, yet he barely moves from his position. Then with another hit, the blade within the creature shifts ever so slightly. And so I take my opportunity.

I clench my hand before flicking out my fingers as fast as I possibly could. And the blade within Karter’s hand responds in kind. Snapping in half before exploding outward like shrapnel!

Although the Shade seems unfazed by the attack, possibly only forcing a small flinch or two, his followers suffer a much worse fate.

Most take the pieces head-on, slicing quickly through their skulls! The others immediately turn to me, a scream ready on their tongues. Though before they can even try to leap, I redirect the sharp fragments.

Their gurgles sound almost like pleading cries as the needles fly through them. And within moments, nothing but the Shade remains.

One last opponent… I bite down on the thought while forcing my arms to pulse just a bit brighter.

The Shade huffs as Karter straightens his form. And although his right arm was gone, it seemed to do little to worry him. The light in his eyes had already been lit.

Is it the heat of the battle? Or the risk of his opponent? My mind tries to comprehend, yet all I’m left with is confusion.

And without so much as I word, the knight launches forward. My broken ice blade glimmers within his hand as he slips into the creature’s grasp. Then with a twirl, he stabs deep into the beast's chest.

However, the Shade again followed the knight’s actions. Plunging its own claws, or what remained of them, into his chest.

With a single gasp from him, I dart towards them. My hand reacts before I can command it to, opening towards the blood pool behind me. And within a single moment, I close my hand around the handle of a new weapon and lung at my target!

A rhythmic cackle escapes the Shade as it blocks the blade with its forearm. It tries to recoil its other arm to finish me off, however, a single hand catches it.

Karter raises his head, the white orbs burn through the metal enclosing them.

My body moves without me, wasting no time. I dip under the Shade's arm before twisting the sword free from its flesh. And although it manages to drop its eyes to me, it can do nothing to stop my attack.

It writhes and screams in pain for a moment as the hardened blood pierces its heart.

Then silence.

And as I stand before the creature, all I could feel is pity. To be trapped for eternity… such a cruel fate.

A single breath is all I can give before I press the catalyst against its withering body. And yet, it doesn’t move, only waits for the end. And within seconds, its body dissolves completely.

The ritual is done…

↢ To be continued ↣