Path of Bloodshed

“There, that should do it,” said Sullivan, finishing his spell. “That should protect us against their crossbows. How does that sword feel?”

“It feels light, but it’s sharp enough to get the job done,” said Jabez, looking at the magic blade. It was shaped similarly to other swords he had wielded, but was composed of blue light. “Are you all ready?”

“I am,” said Tuuli. “Arrows will rain down upon them.”

“And you, Sullivan?”

“I have enough mana to spare.”

“Then I’ll lead the charge. Follow my lead, and we’ll make it through.”

As ready as they ever could be, the trio braced themselves for combat. Jabez charged headlong into the enemy, relying on Sullivan’s protection to weather the incoming volley of crossbow bolts. Some of them flew closer than expected, leaving cuts along his face, shoulders, and arms. Even so, such paltry injury was nothing to Jabez. Not as he was now.

“Damn enchantments!” shouted one rider. “Run him through!!” The rider drew his sword and kicked his heels into his gurok, charging forward. Jabez shifted to the left, cleaving through the rider’s torso. Grabbing hold of the dead man’s sword as it fell, he used the momentum to huck it at the next incoming gurok, sticking it in the neck. The beast toppled over, sending its rider to the ground and forcing the others to circle around it. Tuuli fired a volley of arrows on the left flank while Sullivan’s magic hampered the right. The spell split the ground open, causing guroks and their riders to fall and crash into each other, and chaos was sown in the enemy ranks.

“Picked up on that spell already?” asked Tuuli.

“I’ve been taking notes,” said Sullivan.

With the riders disoriented and wounded, Jabez leaped into the fray, hacking and slashing anyone he could. Blood hissed, swords clashed, and screams of pain echoed throughout the valley. When Jabez’s sword of light finally shattered, he just grabbed the closest weapon he could and kept up the fight. Soon enough, Tuuli joined him when her arrows were exhausted. Axe in hand, she cleaved her way through enemy riders and fought side by side with Jabez.

“How is this happening?!” shouted one rider. “There’s only three of them!!”

“Should we call for a retreat?” asked another.

“To hell with that! I will not be made a fool of by a foreigner and two uppity mar!” shouted their leader. He reached into a hip pouch, drew a bomb, and lit it, tossing it towards Jabez. In response, Jabez shifted to the side and swung with the flat of his blade, knocking the bomb right back at his enemy like a baseball. The rider cried, “Oh shit!!” before being blown away.

“To hell with this, I’m getting out of here!” shouted a rider. The man grabbed the healthiest gurok he could find and tried riding away, but Tuuli hucked a throwing axe, striking the man in the back.

“We have to kill them all or they’ll call for reinforcements!” shouted Tuuli.

“You don’t have to tell me,” said Jabez. “I’ll make sure all of these bastards pay!”

Slash, stab, dodge, parry. A cut to his arm, a reprisal across the enemy’s face. Where one body fell, another man took his place. Cries of rage, cries of fear. Blood spilling like rain, washing away his tears. Jabez was exhausted, but he kept up the fight anyway. This was but the first battle of many. He couldn’t stop now. Not until the path was clear and everyone was safe. But in order to do that, many men had to die.

And so they did...

By the time the battle was won, Jabez nearly collapsed. He braced himself on his sword, trying his best to catch his breath.

“Is... Is it over?”

“I... I think so...” Tuuli panted. “Sullivan? How are you holding up?”

“I’m fine... I think...” The catkin pulled off his hat, looking around. “Let’s grab anything we can use and bury them. All this blood is bound to attract monsters.”

“Right,” Tuuli nodded. “Come on, Jabez.”

After catching his breath, Jabez sifted through the fallen riders. He felt like he was in a daze, going through the motions. It reminded him of when he did mercenary work back in Felstat, only condensed into a single encounter. Together with Tuuli and Sullivan, Jabez killed forty men that day. It seemed absurd to him, but it was the truth. Picking through the belongings of his slain enemies, Jabez wondered how many more he’d have to kill in order to save the others. All of this was to try and distract himself from what really weighed on his mind... Iris. When thoughts of the girl returned, Jabez’s legs gave out, and he fell to his knees.

“Whoa! Are you okay?” asked Tuuli, rushing to his aid.

“I... I don’t know,” said Jabez.

“You seem more out of it than I thought. How long has it been since your body was healed?”

“That was... Today.”

“Today?! And you joined us in a fight already?!”

“What was I supposed to do? Let you die?” Jabez stood up with Tuuli’s help.

“No! But... Just be careful, okay?”

Then came a click. “Die you devil!”

One of the riders had played dead long enough to ready his crossbow. The trio’s protection enchantment had already worn off, leaving them vulnerable. Tuuli moved in front to shield Jabez, but then a blur rushed past everyone.

“What? What was that?” muttered Tuuli.

“I’m returning this,” said a familiar voice. “Take it!”

The shadowy figure rushed the rider on the ground, jamming the crossbow bolt into their head, killing the man.

“A monster already?!” shouted Sullivan. “Everyone, stand back!”

“Hold on,” said Jabez, moving past the others. The figure was still obscured by shadow, but their silhouette and voice was unmistakable. Trembling from holding back his tears, Jabez reached out his hand. “Iris? Is that you?”

The figure stepped back, hesitant. “I’m not who you think I am. I’ve... Become something else.”

“I don’t care. Let me see your face.”

Jabez got closer, and now out of the sun, his eyes adjusted and he saw the figure for who she truly was. The young kortu girl still had tanned skin and ash blonde hair, but where once there were only two eyes, there were four. Her four eyes had black sclera and violet irises that faintly glowed in the dark, reminding Jabez of a certain jurou. The ends of the girl’s arms and legs had changed as well, appearing black and shiny like chitin. Her fingers were sharp like claws, her teeth had grown into fangs, and her frail frame had a durable yet lithe appearance to it. But these changes meant nothing to Jabez in that moment. He fell to his knees and hugged the girl tight, weeping.

“Iris!! You’re okay! I thought I lost you!!”

The girl gasped upon being grabbed, but as Jabez cried, she softly hugged his head. “It’s okay papa... I didn’t go anywhere.” Though her demeanor was calm, eventually she too began to cry. As the tears poured from her four eyes, Iris looked into the sky. “The world looks so different now... But I’m glad to still be a part of it.”

After the two had their moment, Iris explained what happened to everyone. Having took jurou venom into her veins, she had to fight through excruciating pain that shocked her system, and she fell completely still for a time.

“I found myself walking along a sea of clouds. I wasn’t sure where I was or how to get back, but then a figure of light appeared and showed me the way. When I returned, I realized I was still in the cocoon. I tore my way out of it and saw Jabez was gone. When I asked what happened, Serena told me you were all fighting, so I ran as fast as I could. Seems I got here just in time.”

“Indeed,” said Sullivan. “We were so focused on Jabez’s well-being that we hadn’t noticed a rider had tricked us.” Sullivan then looked to the bodies. “Speaking of...”

Tuuli gave a nod to the catkin, and together they opened up the ground, pulling the bodies in and covering them back up. While this went on, Jabez thought about Iris’s story. A sea of clouds... It sounded just like where Jabez had gone when he died. Then... Was the figure of light an angel, or something else?

With things settled in the valley, everyone journeyed back up the mountain. The goblins welcomed Iris with open arms, gathering around for a group hug.

“Gatu was so scared!! No scare Gatu like that!!!”

“I didn’t mean to...” said Iris, pouting.

Everyone in the cave had the chance to catch up with Iris. Jabez stood back near Serena, watching the pleasant sight unfold.

“Serena...” whispered Jabez. “I thought you said you could see the future. Why didn’t you know Iris would return?”

“I didn’t. I saw her cocoon grow still the same way it came to pass. However, I cannot account for when people meddle with fate. It makes things... Blurry.”

“The figure of light...”

Whoever it was, thought Jabez, I’ll have to thank them.

After things quieted down, preparations for the next journey came underway. Wounds were healed, Jabez put his old armor and gear back on, then everyone went over the plan.

“Here’s the map we were going to use for sneaking into the capital,” said Sullivan. “Aqueducts run underneath the whole city and allow access to the streets above. If we make our way through here, that should put us close to the prison near the palace. If the others are still alive, they’d be kept there.”

“So it’ll be me, you, and Jabez,” said Tuuli. “With luck, we can break Demetra and the others out... Then what? Should we leave the same way we came?”

“Not while Hito is on the loose,” said Jabez. “We need to take him out if we can, otherwise he’ll keep coming after us.”

“Hold on, I’m coming too,” said Iris.

“No you’re not. It’s too dangerous!”

“I can handle it! I saved your hide earlier, remember?”

“She was pretty fast...” said Sullivan.

“I don’t want to risk it,” said Jabez. “You still have a family to find. With Serena’s powers, she can keep you safe and help figure out where your mother is.”

“Jabez... I’m fully aware of how dangerous it will be, but it’s because it’s dangerous that I need to go with you. I need to make sure you come back alive. We’re going to find my mother together, you understand?”

Jabez looked into the girl’s eyes. There was no denying her resolve. He sighed, then said, “Okay, but we’re going to spar along the way. If I find you lacking, you’re coming back here, understood?”

Iris nodded, making a familiar serious face. “Understood. I won’t let you down!”

“Gatu want to help too!” the goblin child raised his fist.

“Not this time,” said Kela. “Jabez need small force. Small enough to escape notice. We abide here.”

“Aaah...” The multi-eyed beast from before slithered around, flicking Gatu in the nose with its tongue, making him laugh. “Haha, well at least new friend is here!”

“Before you go, there’s something I’d like to give you,” said Serena. She skittered over to a corner of her lair, bidding Jabez to follow. “Oh ho, right where I left it.” Serena turned around and held out what looked like a sword bound in cloth.

“What is it?” asked Jabez.

“An artifact from a past age. Forged in the heart of a volcano, it was made for a dwarven king to help with his ice dragon problem. Unfortunately, fate took a turn for the worse, and the sword never made it to the king. The volcano erupted, destroying the workshop, and the kingdom fell into a terrible ice age. But... The sword was recovered.”

“You looted the volcano, didn’t you?”

“I did no such thing! It was gifted to me by past worshipers. Of course, I have no use for such things... But you might. While there are no ice dragons in Leonia, the fire enchantment on the blade will surely be of use. It’s said that the strength of the fire is directly connected with one’s will. The stronger the will, the stronger the flame.”

“Sounds awesome. I’ll gladly take it.”

“Ah, but first, you must prostrate yourself before me like a proper servant. Do this, and I shall bequeath to you this sword.”

Jabez glanced back at the others, then to Serena. “R-right now? That’s a little...”

“Hmph! I guess you don’t want it then.”

“Okay, I’ll do it!”

Serena grinned. “Now there’s a good boy.”

Jabez got down on one knee, lowering his head and holding out his arms. “Oh Serena of the Mountain, thine servant... Begs thee for thine aid. Grant me succor in my time of need.”

“Why are you talking like that?”

“B-because I thought you wanted me to!”

“I never said that. But that embarrassed look on your face was definitely worth the trouble. Here,” Serena tossed the sword to Jabez nonchalantly. “Artifacts of this nature listen to the heart of their wielder. You should have no trouble calling upon its magic.”

“Thank you, Serena. I owe you big time.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll have to think about all the ways you can pay me back later... Now hurry,” Serena’s tone turned serious. “A terrible ritual is about to take place in Leonia. If you wish to save your friends, you must stop the ritual from taking place. Seek the palace. That is where your enemy awaits.”

“The palace... Very well. Everyone? Let’s mosey.”