Fate of The Blessed

“Eiric!” Sigrun wraps her arms around Eiric, keeping him from running any farther, “Please.”

“Sigrun. It’s happening.”

“No. You were protecting them. And, even if you lost control, you’re back now. You didn’t hurt anyone you cared for.”

“But I remember now. Their eyes begged for their life.”

“It’s ok. You did what you had to do. I promise I’ll be there sooner next time, but, please, don’t run from me.”

“What if I hurt you?”

“You won’t. You’re strong, I believe you can remain yourself.”

“But I’m scared.”

“Eiric!” Astrid arrives, giving Sigrun Eydis before approaching Eiric.

“Mom. I’m sorry.”

Astrid embraces Eiric. “No, dear, no. You protected us, I still believe in you. You won’t turn. And, even if you do, we’ll find a way to bring you back.”

“But I lost control. I scared everyone.”

“It’s ok. I promise. They’ll understand in time, I’ve done similar things when I needed to protect someone, we can’t blame you for it.”

“Mom.”

“Yes dear?”

“If I turn, will you kill me?” Eiric sobs.

Astrid strengthens her embrace. “No. I can’t. If it comes to that, I will bring you back, no matter what.”

·

“Prir Gale.” Strong winds summoned by Torsten push back a wave of kingdom soldiers as he regroups with those left to fight in the village.

At his side is Keldan and 12 others. Of the group, Keldan and Torsten are the strongest but they trust the others fight alongside them.

Still, they fight a defensive fight. They face over 500 soldiers from the kingdom and two decorated captains.

“Ehhhh, can you hear me? I often get yelled at for misusing this voice enhancer rune.”

The man speaking is Alvis, first captain of the Solgrad army. The persona Alvis displays in public, one that seem uncaring and ignorant, is a farce. Alvis is a genius magic user and strategist, often accredited for keeping the realm safe from invasions. Many believe his false persona is a way to draw people to him, his true self one that scares even the most confident.

“Now, Torsten and Keldan, surrender yourselves without fighting and we will end this fight now. Your village will be unharmed and, most importantly, I tell the men chasing the escaping villagers to stand down. I ask, I even beg, make this easy for all of us.”

“Fool.”

“Hm?”

Next to Alvis stands Tyran, third captain of the Solgrad army. Where Alvis garners fear from his ability, Tyran garners it through sheer strength. Every battle Tyran has won has left zero survivors and prisoners, he believes it the only way to consider a battle true victory. He carries with him a large axe, one often used to execute criminals of the kingdom in a large display of power near the center of the capital.

“We kill them all except for one. That way the fools gathering at the northwestern village understand that we will not show mercy. Keep Torsten alive, we’ll need information from him. It’ll be my pleasure to interrogate that traitor.”

“Now, we need none of that. I’ll have you know, if you incur Astrid’s fury I will not help. That woman is a terrifying being in a fight. Ahhh, I’m still loud here aren’t I. My apologies Torsten, Astrid is lovely outside of the battlefield. Now please, surrender yourselves.”

Torsten hops onto the roof of the house he hid behind. “Alvis, you can’t believe this right. Taking blessed children away, forcing capitulation, all of it is wrong.”

“Torsten, I’m more than willing to listen to you once you’re in our custody. I’ll even promise my undivided attention on our return to the kingdom. But I would like to end this fighting before more people are hurt.”

“You’ll support this?”

“The change you seek will not come from terrorist attacks, Torsten.”

“Change will only come if we fight for it. I once asked for you to join us because I believe you a great man.”

“I hold great respect for you, Torsten, Master of the skies, but you have committed crimes we cannot forgive.”

“As has the kingdom. I’m sorry. Fimm Tornando.” The skies darken from Torstens’ five rune spell, a tornado appearing within seconds and barreling for Alvis and his soldiers.

“Everyone duck! Fjorir Wall!” A wall of water intercepts the tornado, but the resulting explosion blows away most soldiers. Alvis considers himself that Torsten chose to hold back against an old friend, else he could have been fatally injured with the little time he had to defend.

“They’re behind us!” Tyran said as he moves to intercept Keldan jumping from their flank.

“Tyr’s wrath.” Keldan’s swings his blade down, a blinding light following that cuts everything in the path of Keldan’s slash far beyond what the eye can see. The wall is cut, even the ground is left with an endless abyss below from the cut. Anyone caught by the cut is given a merciful end.

“Keldan!” Tyran intercepts Keldan, the two an even match before the remaining villagers move to fight the remaining soldiers from their leader’s attacks. “Enough! Release the blessed!”

“Oh dear.” Alvis holds Torsten still at the end of his wand, though he remains motionless as Torsten returns the gesture, “I’m sorry for what you will see Torsten. Know that I never wanted this.”

A large box is summoned at the center of the battlefield, six chains crashing down and making the village tremble from their weight. Whatever is kept inside the box is quiet, but their magic is frightening.

“Alvis, what you have done?”

The box falls part, revealing a single man inside wearing a tunic with his left arm tied to his body. The tunic is covered in runes and the man’s head has five runes used to send to a person to sleep.

“Blessed number 30! Eliminate these traitors!” Tyran said.

“Wait!” Torsten attempts to move but is stopped by Alvis.

“You’ll die.”

The summoned man appears behind four of the village warriors, raising their right arm and whispering, “Boom.”

An explosion enguled the four villagers and any surrounding soldiers, the area is morphed into a crater with only the caster left untouched.

“Gahahahaha. Yes! Yes! All must be engulfed! Can’t you see! The beauty that is explosive magic! It is beautiful, takes all, it is perfect!”

“Blessed 30! You are not to harm our soldiers!” Tyran said.

“You idiots, you’ve created a monster.” Keldan said.

“No. No. No. No. No. No. I cannot pick and choose. Everyone, all of you. you torture me. You don’t understand. This world, it needs explosive magic. I’m protecting it. Yes. That is why I am here. Right? The angel, she said so. She wouldn’t lie! WE are here to protect you! And. Yet.”

“Tyran!” Alvis jumps forward, “Fjorir Shield!”

A shield of water protects Tyran from being engulfed in an explosion before retreating from the attacker.

“He’s lost it!”

“Keldan!”

Keldan attempts to flee but the blessed man is much faster. “Hehe, you get to experience true joy.”

“Prir Wall!” Torsten protects Keldan with a shield of wind that disperses the explosion before engulfing the area, “Keldan, take the others and get away from here!”

“What? We’re not leaving you behind!”

“Keldan, please.”

Keldan grits his teeth, pulling blood as he accepts the request and leaves to find the others.

“Alvis, we have to kill this man.”

“I agree, I hope you remember how to fight alongside a lowly kingdom soldier like myself.”

“Quiet, I’ll buy you time. But I’m running low on mana, be quick. Tveir Gale!”

Torsten keeps the blessed man at bay as Alvis hums just behind him. The two, once one of the most feared partners in all realms of Ymirra, understand each other’s strengths. Torsten is much quicker to cast five rune spells, but Alvis’s spell power is unmatched by anyone in their realm at the moment.

“Ready.” Torsten flees as Alvis sings his warning. Five minutes were all he needed, but that was enough to leave Torsten near death, “Fimm Laser.”

Water gathers into three rings above Alvis. Then, small droplets spin within, gathering more water from the rings that continue to siphon from the atmosphere until a beam of condensed water strikes through the blessed man’s heart. The beam continues, through the walls of the village, and past the realm itself.

“My apologizes, even I have little control of five rune magic. I aimed it high, no one else should be hurt.”

The blessed drops dead, Torsten kneeling as he has little mana left.

“Have you accepted your fate?” Tyran raises his axe over Torsten’s neck.

“Tyran, we’re bringing him in alive.”

“Alive? He hurt many of our man, I’ll execute his punishment now.”

“Tyran.” The world trembles, Alvis voice replaced with one of anger, “I tire of repeating myself to you. Lower your weapon, or I’ll kill you.”

Tyran did so without another word, on that day he was reminded of the reason for Alvis’s title as first captain.

“Alvis, I think I’ll take that ear you so graciously offered.”

“Ahh, I did offer it. Very well, it is the least I owe an old friend.”