Hero of Sanctuary

Eiric struggles to stand the next morning.

“You should stay and rest, you pushed yourself yesterday.” Sigrun sits next to Eiric’s bed, feeding him but also making sure he doesn’t run out.

“Light magic is difficult as it to use. But using light step is something even Leif refuses to do, and you did it while holding two others. You’re fortunate collapsing was all that happened afterwards. Was this the work of your blessing?” Brynja said.

“It was. I saw it, I heard it. I had to try it, or Runa would have killed us. I tried to think of so many options.” Eiric holds his head, it continues to ring as he thought of more options than ever before to save Sigrun and Vilgur.

“You did well then. I can’t stop you from joining us today, the Solgrad army is preparing for an attack as we speak. But understand the risk you place yourself in.”

“I do. I’ll be careful.”

“Very well.”

Sigrun helps Eiric to his feet as Brynja leaves. “You should stay, Vilgur and I will help.”

“No. I have to help somehow. Even Brynja will have trouble against Runa.”

“Fine, but stay at my side.”

“I will.”

The battle begins only an hour after Brynja met with Eiric. The Solgrad army marches forward with Runa at the lead. Her left blade stops every missile launched at them by Brynja and forces Sanctuary to change tactics, a full on assault.

With Brynja leading, the soldiers of Sanctuary charge at the incoming Solgrad army. Vilgur, Sigrun, and Eiric are part of this group, though the armies split into smaller factions as chaos ensues.

Brynja deals with Runa, their battle taking center field and each of their attacks shaking the entire battlefield. Runa doesn’t fear her giant sized opponent, but neither is able to gain any ground until Runa changes tactics.

Runa floats high above Brynja, her right blades spinning around her body. “Vili and Ve. One representants Temple, the other, Will. I have no desire to harm you, but I will do everything to protect the people of Mithold. Brynja, surrender now!”

“Give me your best shot, Runa.”

“You know that is not what I must do.”

“What? Wait!”

Runa cries, her right blade tossed into the sky before turning and aiming for Sanctuary. The blade fires itself at the village like a missile far stronger than that which Brynja launched.

Surprised by Runa’s aim at Sanctuary, Brynja will be unable to defend Sanctuary from the first attack. She tosses herself, hoping that at least a piece of her body will reach in time but it is hopeless.

Rock, dirt, trash, and mud gather in front of the Sanctuary wall. The largest shield Vilgur has ever created forms and continues to grow as those around him infuse him with more magic. His body shakes and his nose bleeds, but the young demon calls upon every cell in his body to remain conscious as the weight of the shield becomes far greater than he can handle.

Runa’s blade strikes Vilgur’s shield, not piercing, but causing an explosion that blinds everyone for two seconds. Vilgur’s shield is destroyed, protecting Sanctuary but leaving Vilgur with great damage as he chooses to protect those near him after his shield is destroyed.

“Well done boy!” Brynja arrives, taking the next blast to protect Sanctuary. Her body wobbles, but she remains on one knee, “Heh, you can’t kill me with such shaky will.”

“Brynja!” Another attack, another blast that damages the walls of Sanctuary and forces the nearby soldiers to seek cover, “Surrender! I don’t want you to die!”

“You think this can kill me!” Brynja stands, her body bruised and bloodied, much of her armor torn apart, “Let’s see what can last longer, your head or my body.”

“Aghhhh!” Runa unleashes 16 more explosions, each deadlier than the last, but, on the last, her body falls from the sky and crashes down below.

Brynja remains standing, but lost consciousness long ago.

“Continue the attack!”

The soldiers of Solgrad see Brynja’s state as a chance to break past the walls of Sanctuary but they are met with soldiers inspired by Brynja’s display.

The battle only lasts another hour, both sides switching their goals to recovery of their captains as they search for Runa’s body and Brynja’s body returns to her normal, tiny, size.

“Sigrun!” Eiric grabs Sigrun as she attempts to chase the Solgrad army.

Blood drips from her nose, she has long since gone past her limits of magic use. “Let me go!”

“It’s ok! They’re retreating!”

“No! No! It’s just like I saw. I have to stop it.”

Eiric is only able to stop Sigrun as she fades away in his arms, the battle ends in a draw.

“Surprised?” Brynja said as she eats eight large plates of food, her body remains the size of a short woman, “That’s right! I’m short! It’s unfair I tell you. I always wanted to be tall!”

The injured were gathered in the hospital of the village, many have minor injuries. Of the soldiers, it is Vilgur and Brynja who experienced the worst injuries, Sigrun remains unconscious due to overuse of magic.

“You seem well. I thought you’d be in a lot more pain.” Eiric said.

“Oh I’m in pain, but that doesn’t stop hunger.” Brynja crushes a piece of bread, “How is Vilgur?”

“Asleep, the doctor said he broke a lot of bones, but he will be ok.”

“I’m sorry. To think I couldn’t make it in time, a child could have died under my watch.”

“I think you did great, but Runa’s weapons are troublesome.”

“They are, but she overused it. Still, if she’s desperate enough she may use it again. I’ll protect the people of Sanctuary no matter what, but we may have to leave this village if she chooses to use it again. You’ll have to use my dead body to buy time and get everyone away hahaha… don’t look so down kid, dying to protect others is the best way to go.”

“But they need you.”

“I can’t argue with that, sometimes we don’t have a choice however.”

Eiric volunteers to help keep watch that night, his position keeping him near the southern forest that could be used as a flank for either army.

“Runa.”

“You called.” Runa appears next to Eiric perched in a tree.

“You’ve been watching me.”

“I’m not good at espionage. You see now what war does, why I wish to end it before it gets worse. Eiric, the princess has asked for you personally. We will leave the village the moment we have you.”

“It’s difficult to trust you.”

“As it should be, we are enemies at the moment. Should you change your mind all you must do is call my name. All fights, not just here, will stop as you will be used for ransom. It will give everyone time to recover and think for a change. Eiric, you are much more important than you realize.”

“Why does the princess wish to see me?”

“Because you haven’t turned. Not everyone in the kingdom is ok with this, with how we treat you all. She believes you may the chance to change all of this. She wishes for you to be.”

“Fine, I will go with you.”

“Thank you, Eiric.”

“Has anyone seen Eiric?” Sigrun searched for Eiric the moment she woke. Now at the Sanctuary gate, she hopes to be pointed in the direction of his post.

“Eiric? Hey, that’s Runa!” The soldier reaches for his weapon as the alarm rings.

Brynja arrived next to Sigrun the moment she felt Runa’s presence at the gate, but all remain still as Runa holds Eiric’s arm.

“I’ll be taking the boy, he has decided to turn himself in. The army of Solgrad will be withdrawing now.”

“What? No! Eiric!” Sigrun channels her magic as she runs forward but is stopped by Brynja.

“Is this your choice, Eiric?” Brynja said.

“Eiric! Don’t go with them! We can’t trust them!” Sigrun said as she attempts to free herself from Brynja.

“It is. Sigrun, everything will be alright, I promise.”

“No! Eiric!”

“I will choose to trust you then. Thank you, Eiric.”

“No!” Sigrun frees herself, running for Eiric but only making it halfway to him before he disappears with Runa, “No! Aghhhhh!”

“Sigrun.” Brynja attempts to help Sigrun to her feet but her hand is slapped away.

“How dare you!”

“He made the decision. You must trust him. If you wish him to return then you must believe that he will. Do you believe in the man you love?”

“I-I do. But. But. What if something happens to him.” Sigrun falls into Brynja arms, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. Believe in him, he is the hero of Sanctuary.”