Chapter 25: Yoru

The car drove along the gravel roads of St.Albert. Yoru looked out the window of the car, scanning the streets. Where is he?

“We’re here,” said Josh, opening his door. Yoru stepped out of the car and looked around. Not many buildings stood out. A few shops and a public transit stop.

“If I were Damasque, where would I hide?” Iris muttered to herself. Damasque? Who’s Damasque?

Yoru laid his hand on Iris’s shoulder, “Who’s Damasque?” asked Yoru.

Iris spun around, surprised, “Er it’s my, uh, pet… name… for Harry,” stuttered Iris. Okay… weird name for Harry, and aren’t pet names for people who are dating? Internal gasp, are they dating?

“Okay Iris, you do you,” said Yoru, walking down the gravel path. He peeked inside the buildings, checking everywhere for Harry. “Hey Josh, have you found anything?”

“Uh, some skeptic townsfolk, an old chocolate bar, or at least I hope it’s chocolate, and a trail of bodies, which now that I say that aloud I should have told you earlier,” replied Josh.

Yoru along the bodies, What monster would do this? Yoru looked at the bodies, each missing their eyes and ears with a hole straight through their chest, charred clothes ran along the hole. “Whoever killed these people were skilled, be cautious,” said Yoru. “This doesn’t look like what Harry did to my parents, it was cleaner. We might have another killer on our hands.” But what if- No! Harry would never do this, at least not when he’s in control.

“Maybe he’s already moved towns, we should leave now,” Iris nervously blurted out.

What? “He’s got to be here, I can feel it,” said Yoru, continuing to follow the bodies.

Iris waited for a few seconds before continuing, “He can’t be here, and he didn’t kill those people, you two are such idiots. ‘Iris is dead’,” Iris’s demeanor shifted, her usually calm happy persona had become something more sinister. She swept her hair back and looked down upon Josh and Yoru. “My name is Lady Amari Rellien, peasants.” Lady Amari Re- She’s like Harry! And isn’t ‘Rellien’ Iris’s last name?

Josh stepped back and grabbed a stick, “You’re going to need more than that to kill a deity like Lady Amari,” said Ae’vora, slinking into Yoru’s backpack.

“Here Josh, Vael’tharos taal,” Yoru pulled a sword out of the ground, and tossed it to Josh, before channeling his mana into his body, enhancing his abilities. Yoru whipped his hand forward, “Lagra Elia!” His pure mana ripped from his palm, desemating the ground in front of him.

“Pathetic,” said Lady Amari, wiping the smoke from around her.

“Thats the second time that's happened to me,” complained Yoru, stomping his foot.

“It’s okay bro we’ll just,” Josh stuttered, “uh do what we were trying to do before,” said Josh.

Lady Amari pulled her palm to face the two friends, “Luma,” water surged from her hands, ripping up the ground even further, and stirring the bodies. That's supposed to be a rank one spell not a rank one thousand! Yoru’s foot brushed something cold Ew Ew Ew, I’m touching a dead body! Oh, no, wait, that's just mud. “Voltis.” Lightning sprung toward the water, crackling like death in the sky.

“If that touches us we’re dead!” yelled Josh, stating the obvious.

“Josh! Get close to me!” Yoru screamed back. Josh swam with all his might toward Yoru, “Bala!” Yoru stuck his hands forward, a shield of mana surrounded them, and the collision of the lightning bounced off the shield, ricocheting to another part of the muddy trail, just out of St.Albert. “It worked! It worked! It really worked!” celebrated Yoru, doing a little dance.

“Ugh, you fools are so infuriating, be silent while I slaughter you,” said Lady Amari, summoning a ball of mana, and hurling it at the two high-schoolers. Yoru tucked into a ball and rolled to the right.

Firing back, Yoru chanted, “Zephra Elia!” A gale of wind struck Lady Amari, sending her backward.

In response, Lady Amari teleported behind Yoru, “Vael’tharos taal,” she had summoned a broad sword covered in lightning. Yoru spun around and summoned his own blade in the nick of time, blocking the attack. She’s strong! I guess Iris always did beat me in arm wrestling. Sparks flew from the colliding blades, every spark another second Yoru lived. Josh ran up behind Lady Amari and swung his blade.

“Heven Welyeh Sha Koon,” said Lady Amari, bored. Josh suddenly appeared several meters away, finishing his swing on a tree. Taking the opportunity, Yoru kicked Lady Amari’s chin,and then slammed her head to the ground.

“Josh run!” yelled Yoru, bolting forward. Josh turned around and ran with Yoru.

“Do you think we can outrun her?” asked Josh, panting.

“Not one bit! We just need to put space between us,” replied Yoru, legs aching.

Lady Amari jumped forward and swung her sword, just about the cleave through the two boys, they suddenly sprung up.

“Well now, I can’t let two little fellahs die now can I,” said a familiar voice, looking up, Yoru could tell that the voice was coming from Harry.

“Harry?” said Yoru, confused. “I thought you were trying to kill me?!”

“Oh no no no, I’m trying to help you, and about the whole trying to kill you thing, well I was in a little state at the time,” started Harry. “First I should tell you I’m not named Harry, my name is Damasque Ellenverd, half orc killer at your service.”

“Damasque… Hey! That’s what Iris was calling you!” realized Josh, snapping his fingers, as they landed on the ceiling of an old factory.

“You mean Lady Amari, yeah she used to be a friend of mine, before she, well I guess we all, snapped,” corrected Damasque.

“Then if you’re trying to help us then why did you try to kill back at grampa and grandma’s house?” asked Yoru.

Damasque sighed, “For me my mother had just died then my best friend killed me, several centuries later a guy named Jiyoda asked me if I wanted to be revived to get my revenge on the world that wronged me, I said yes,” Damasque continued, “Suddenly I was in that home, your mother approached me and I was scared so I killed her and your father, then I found out about being someone named ‘Harry Faun’ I realized I had a brother and when I saw what I had done I knew you had to take you out, I realize how it sounds but it’s the truth.”

Yoru realized what had happened. “You still killed my parents and I can’t forgive you, but I’m willing to set that aside to free Iris,” said Yoru, holding his hand forward, for a handshake. Damasque took his hand and shook it.

“Let’s look forward not behind,” said Damasque.