Julia Sarcos

She cringed. A cold sweat contrasting the warmth from the exertion previously. Fear boiled in her belly before the rising form of the wrathful wraith. An odious blizzard of bone shards invoking a memory of pain. Piercing and terrible. Past merged with the present and left the shieldmaiden trembling. In her heart she was losing herself to the feelings of being trapped in a cyclone of hate and knives. Inevitably that led her into the remembrance of dying. Her eyes saw double, the whirlwind of the red death and that place of suffocating oblivion.

Julia swallowed and tried to still the trembling. It was an effort as the shadow of doom was hard to escape. It wheeled into her thoughts, stealing strength like an icy breeze. She breathed out, trying to push out the fear. A Sisyphean task that felt like trying to expel stinging frost. All her life, this same struggle. Trying to escape a box of her own making. Formed of fear and hesitation. The shieldmaiden was tired of this. Sick of her chains. Julia wanted more than that. Had the faith that she would.

Her conversation on the beach came like a warm breeze. A reminder of resolve.

“Do you remember why we were afraid?” the reflection asked on the beach.

She struggled for an answer. Searched patiently, then reckless for any reason. To find just one memory that had caused the cascade of impulse terror. In the end, Julia could only answer to herself shamefully, “No… I don’t.”

‘We just were…” sighed the other with the same shame. “Out of habit, or expectation of the worst, we just became afraid. Of the world, of people… but we don’t have to be. We’ve always known that and this place has forced that truth on us. In the best and worst of ways.”

She smiled at the thought, “Yeah, starting with Clarissa. Her stupid calmness in face of everything.”

“And Malachi… making us feel safe. We learned from them that even in the nightmare it can be safe. Happy even. We’re happy with them aren’t we?”

“Very,” she agreed with her other-self. “They’ve given me… the faith to believe that everything will be ok.”

“So, even after death, we’re not done yet, right?”

“No… it was scary, but I’m not done. I’m… I am resolved… I want to see them. Be with them, all of them. To be their shield, even when I’m terrified.”

The scent of the beach was the last thing to leave the shieldmaiden. She breathed in the illusionary scent and released it feeling chastised. Staring into the baleful beast, Julia said to herself, “Faith and resolve.”

The trembling stopped and the cold sweat faded from focus. Her nerves still tingled with terror, but she wouldn’t cower. Resolve straightened her back and secured a strong grip on the sword. Faith saw Julia’s shield rise into place. Binding the oaths together, the shieldmaiden took a step forward. Eyes entirely on the monster of red fire. Dark blue Mana rose from within, a cloak of her own flames.

Once again she became a beacon of blue illumination. It contrasted rather than became lost in the azure gloom. A comforting blue rather than a shade of madness. She took another step forward. Her Mana surged as her Form stabilized and Julia chose to overcharge it. Her eyes flickered, never off the Dead Thing, but seeking/predicting how best to approach.

Her Mana washed outwards away from her in waves. The wrathful eyes of the Ratsin turned its attention towards her. Julia’s bowels went cold, but she didn’t flinch. Just took another step. Dark blue laid thickly on her like a second set of armor, though constantly shifting like the ocean tides. Crashes of waves here and there as crackling energy. The power, her power, reaching out to mirror the desire to protect. To give the faith of safety to others as it was given to her. A light aura of her Mana formed around Malachi and Vincent. She took another step.

The Ratsin shrieked in rage and the bone shreds spun faster as it lifted up before diving towards the shieldmaiden. Her mouth went dry, but panic fluttered for only an instant. Julia was resolved to face this. The memory of oblivion and death smashed back to the front of her thoughts. A quake ran through her body, but it wasn’t enough to crack her resolve. The memory burned away before the conviction, becoming only a passing thought that was brushed away like ash. There wouldn’t be distractions allowed. Her power and drive were in complete sync. She charged.

A comet of dark blue roared towards the screaming red fire meteor.

She glimpsed Malachi flinch at her sudden offensive and shifted towards her rather than the monster. Her dear leader froze the moment they realized and through observable willpower oriented back on the red wraith. Vincent’s reaction was more precise, the swordsman moved into the flank. Rose blade brightening. Then there was no more time for her to note anything else. There was only the beast.

Blazing Julia and the dreaded Dead Thing clashed in an explosion of opposing Mana. Red trying to devour while blue pushed forward to engulf. Her shield pulsed to disperse a cloud of bone. Its hateful aura crushed down as the Ratsin shade encircled the shieldmaiden. She ignored the spikes of panicky remembrance. Just old terror trying to return. A storm of sharp bones was coming and that needed her concentration.

Her Form pulsed outwards defensively, pushing the red light back. Giving Julia the desperately needed breathing room to switch her stance. The thick coatings of Mana on her armor thinned and pooled around her sword. Dark blue attached itself to the whole blade rather than mostly on the edge. The shieldmaiden knew it was a pointless gesture trying to cut an incorporeal creature. When her sword swung Mana burst outwards, tearing into the wrathful red. Julia spun, slashing at all the angles she could to inject her opposing will everywhere possible. Like a purifying dye, dark blue spread through the wraith’s aura.

It warbled in pain and retreated away from her. When it coalesced back together the Dead Thing was clearly diminished. The shieldmaiden had torn at the very essence of the beast. Cringing away from her, the Ratsin spun wildly about to seek an easier target.

The Ratsin tried to rush at Malachi, but Vincent was suddenly there. There was a flash of rose light and Vincent’s eyes burned with the same color. A thousand thrust in a few breaths it seemed to Julia. Rose swords pierced over and over through the wraith from a single movement. In the silence of the upper tunnels, she could hear crackling in the air. When the swordsman was pulling back there was a rain of pink sparkles that rattled across the stone floor.

Did he… just stab out bone shards from inside the Dead Thing? gasped Julia. I thought that was way too much effort… give it to Vincent to pull that off with such a thin blade…

A warble of anger rippled out from the skull. Red tendrils sprouted in a mad tangle of rage as they stabbed violently at the air. It shifted about as if overwhelmed out of all sense. A scream erupted out of the Dead Thing and reverberated loudly from the aura. The sound caused them all to reflectively flinch and notice the coming attack too late Jagged red tangles lashed out like a giant whirling chainsaw. All three of them were scoured by the aura of hate. Burn marked and slashed by bone shards.

The empty sockets of the cleaved skull fell upon the swordsman. It began to dive like a rocket when a rain of green fell. Mana arrows passed through the red before exploding inside to take out more of the essence of the Ratsin. In the cloud of explosive arrows was a single real one that struck the Dead Thing’s skull. They both hurled to the ground in a tumble. The shredded remains of the red aura followed to rejoin the core of the beast as a small ball. Harken took the opening and healing feel upon them all, ready to go on the attack again.

A violet sun appeared above and began to descend. It tried to shriek away, but Vincent caught the skull with a swarm of projected slashes. Malach caught the hateful creature with a Fire Blast next and Julia shield bashed it into Damian’s spell when the Ratsin came close enough. There was an echoey screech of protest before it disappeared into the violet sphere. When the obsidian acolyte's Mana faded, there was nothing left.

The shieldmaiden was exhausted. With the Dead Thing gone, the departure of tension almost saw her collapse to the ground. The physical precision had taken its toll, but it was the emotional strain that had Julia panting. Drained and hollowed-out feeling that was as refreshing as it was straining. She also felt something inside her clicking in place. As if something had been in a state of uncertainty before and now it had taken a shape.

Her Mana came at the call, pooling in the hands. She couldn’t be certain, but the dark blue looked different. There was a new steadiness to it. Julia also found the Mana to be easier to manipulate. Shrugging, the shieldmaiden decided to chalk it up to natural development. Her Forms had been increasing as well, so it seemed no real surprise that Mana would be similarly affected.

A hissing sound pulled her attention over to where the Dead Thing had been. A bright red core was slowly forming seemingly out of thin air. A quick consideration suggested that though it had been dissolved into parts too small to be of use to the Ratsin; apparently, the particles would still come together as a core on defeat. Julia’s face twisted in disgust at the further thought that they likely had breathed in pieces of the hateful thing.

“I can’t help, but worry at the ease that we were able to slay it,” said Malachi as he came up to her. His eyes flicked between the shieldmaiden and the red core. A searching cast to his look, though one for harm and the other for answers.

“What do you mean?” asked Julia with a puzzled smirk. “We beat it. This time we took it down without a single death. You, we, have every reason to be happy.”

There was a darkness to his tone as her dear leader replied, “Happy? Yes, but not without reservations. I can’t help wondering if we could have done this before. Were those deaths preventable?”

“Malachi,” she called out to him with sympathy. “I thought you were past this…”

“I’ll never be past it, Julia. Never. You all got me moving again, and for that, you have my eternal gratitude for giving me the kick start I needed… And as nicely as it was done…But, that failure will, for the better, be with me forever…”

The shieldmaiden looked down, unable to meet the intensity of his eyes. The hurt, shame, and the drive to do better were all too clear. “So... um...” Julia tried to reply. “I think you should forgive yourself. Maybe you can’t now, but please do…someday.”

“Someday,” agreed Malachi with an edge of effort. The smile he gave didn’t quite meet the eyes, but it still eased Julia’s heart, some. A small sign that it was possible, however hard. They fell into a comfortable silence and enjoyed it together. Even in the gloom of the upper tunnels, their hands twitched to touch.

“Today though… I find myself concerned,” said Malachi, breaking the moment. Julia was a little flustered by the return to the previous subject, but allowed him to let it out. She realized it was necessary. “Do you think we should have had better results last time?”

“First, I think you have lashed yourself enough over that,” frowned the shieldmaiden. “Second, you’ve underestimated how much effect watching someone die in front of you has. We watched three people torn apart after being told about the others by Vivian. No one was fighting at one hundred percent nor thinking things through. The Sixty had felt invincible up until the Dead Thing showed us otherwise. That’s a heavy blow, and we weren’t given any time to recover from it.”

“It was chaos,” admitted Malachi.

“Very. I was scared out of my mind. Hardly knew what to do before the damn thing was in front of me.”

“And you dove into the fight.”

Feeling a little proud at the thought replied, “Huh, yeah I did.”

“Then died,” he whispered to the air more than her.

“We already discussed that before, Malachi. I’m fine! Now, your compassion for all of us is wonderful, but this mopey act is starting to get old… worrying me too… so…” Thinking of promises and how she had faced the Dead Thing again, Julia decided to be fearless another time. Hoping to make it a habit. The one-armed man looked at her a little confused while waiting for the follow-up. A tremor ran through her body, but the shieldmaiden didn’t stop. One step forward then a hand reached out.

Julia pulled Malachi down by the collar and kissed him.

Heat immediately filled her cheeks as she pulled away from the sweet touch of their lips. She believed it no doubt mirrored the blush on Malachi’s face. Feeling all her shyness return all at once, the shieldmaiden muttered, “Right, so I’m good… we’re good. We can talk about this later… time to get moving again!” Then she stiffly walked away to rejoin the frontliners.

It pleased her to note that Malachi stood there dreamily for a while before shaking himself free. He caught her eyes again with a brilliant smile that was just like the one he gave on the first day. Seeing that filled her heart with warmth.

She hummed to herself, quite pleased, There’s plenty of time to discuss that kiss when we get back.

Phelain Starr

All around him Phelain had felt the tension of his party rise and fall as they watched the fight with the Dead Thing. When Malachi had given the call they had gathered together to be at the ready. Should their leader need them, his party was supposed to run in as booted cavalry. Their slot was the second backup, which was likely for the best. As the stronger group, Warner’s party was slated to go in first. Looking at his party, the arisen warrior wondered if they would be ready. The signs he saw weren’t good.

It was the terror that added an edge to all their eyes. Except for Kai, of course. Phelain wasn’t surprised by that at all. Nothing ever seemed to bother the proud man. It was the others that concerned the arisen warrior anyways. It was one less person for him to worry about.

Hector had gripped his hand when the Dead Thing’s appearance was announced and didn’t let go until violet washed away the red. It left Phelian unsure if it was for comfort or to hold him back. Vivian did the same to Kai, though more a manacle around his wrist. Leading one clearly to the intention.

Amiyah and Analia both stood silently, but he knew what to look for. They were standing much closer than normal and gave the shadows distrusting glances. In Allen, the reaction was simply anger. The fire acolyte stared daggers at the Dead Thing and mumbled loudly about getting another chance to turn it into ash.

The empty space where Dawson Wu should have been rocked Phelain most. The spear and shield wielder had refused to enter the tunnels after his brush with death. There hadn’t been a thing the arisen warrior could do to encourage the warrior to face his fear.

Then, of course, no call of help was needed. The dreaded beast was beaten by the best of them. Phelain saw the change come over all of them. Terror faded and a lightness shone in their eyes. The arisen warrior was relieved to see the restoration, but a little flummoxed by it all. He was a little disappointed that they didn’t get the chance to be involved on top of it all. His fingers twitched at the prospect of facing a Dead Thing. The last time barely counted in his mind.

“O’ thank heavens, Phelain,” said Hector. “I was worried what it would take to put another one down. Wasn’t sure if I was up for it.”

“I kinda wish we had been called up,” he replied honestly, but a little awkwardly.

Frowning his partner gave him a suspicious look. “Don’t be so quick to be reckless! We know exactly how tough those things are. Just be glad our strongest took care of it for us. Much as I’d like to believe that was the last one, you’ll like to get your chance to risk your ass again soon.”

“Aww, don’t be like that, sweetheart,” soothed Phelain with a smile and a kiss on the cheek. “Fighting monsters is something I like and I feel like I need to even the score you know? Gave a bad showing at the first fight.”

“Yeah, ‘cause it killed you,” said Hector as he rolled eyes and tinged his voice with some anger.

“Well… yeah, but that was an ambush,” protested Phelain. “When I was in its clutches, I felt something. A spark of power, but I haven’t been able to capture that sensation again. Not with any of the other rats anyways. One of the Dead Things could bring it back.”

“You’re sure it wasn’t because you were dying and dopped up on adrenaline?”

He thought about it for a moment, but shook his head. “No, it was definitely something Mana related. A feeling of… rebuke and cleansing. I had a hold of it and then the damn thing tore off my arm. Now, I can’t figure out how to call it back.”

“Please don’t get yourself killed trying?” pleaded Hector. “I, I don’t want to see that again.”

“I promise!” declared Phelain. “Nothing too reckless!”

“Nothing too reckless,” his lover repeated flatly.

“Best I got to offer,” grinned Phelain.

“That’s not as charming as you think it is!”

The silence between the two of them almost broke his good humor and an apology was forthcoming when Allen broke in for the save. “I’m with Phelain on this one. It would be nice for a rematch. For all the terrible things that happened, well, the strength of that evil thing inspired us to new heights. I, for one, would like another go at the double casting.” Behind him, Analia quietly agreed with a nod.

“You're all insane,” growled Hector over crossed arms. “This isn't a goddamn game! Or a story! I thought it was already made clear that our winning a fight isn’t destined because we learned a lesson or gained a new skill. We’re still just as likely to be torn apart.”

“Nobody’s forgotten what it was like to die,” countered the fire acolyte. “Don’t assume we’re fools for wanting to prove something to ourselves. That thing’s a wall I’d like to get over. The Sixty just got through it with our best, but personally, I would also like the opportunity.”

Vivian, hands on her hips, joined the conversation loudly. “No fool, huh? You’ve got a death wish if you're just looking for a rematch to prove something. That’s idiotic and about as foolish as you can be! Don’t go looking for a fight so cockily, Allen! I won’t have you dragging my Kai into dying again!” The proud acolyte stepped forward, but before he could say a word she growled at him. “O! Don’t you be adding to this! You’re no better!”

Swiftly, Phelain stepped in before it could devolve any further. “Hey! People! No one here has a death wish! If they did, I’ll knock that right out of them. Absolutely. My promise to you, my friends, is that no matter what, we’ll go in smart. I don’t think anyone takes this too lightly. We’re just looking to show ourselves that we aren’t stuck being weak. We’ll do it smart!”

Hector and Vivian didn’t look too pleased, but allowed the argument to drop. Before too long, Malachi was calling for the Sixty to clear out the dead ends and there was no more time to discuss any of it. Phelain almost wished for the conversation to start up rather than be stuck with clean-up details. The dead ends were always filled more with mutant rats than Pure strains and the deformed things creeped the arisen warrior out.