Chapter 10: Grisly Grizzly

-11 MONTHS REMAIN-

The townsfolk recoiled with blind, obedient fear. They were able to carry out their horrid acts with ease, but the sight of Abel's arm made them all collectively cringe. Abel let out a faint laugh. He had successfully baited Ulric into showing his true strength. It was clear now to everyone that he wasn't just some average solider, not even a solider with a few quirks. He was something far more special. Ulric was Solstya's greatest success. Now all Abel had to do was best him in a fight. Beat him at his absolute best in order to prove his worth. He had already proven his loyalty, he had already taken the town, he just had to do this to earn his place in the new empire. Abel's dreaming was cut short as he was yanked forward. The spirit bear had pulled him towards Ulric with its teeth, almost ripping off his arm. Abel stumbled as he was let go but then was quickly grabbed again by Ulric. He held him by the neck and slammed him into the church's floor. 

"Go protect the girl." Ulric said softly. The bear seemed to nod understandingly before sauntering over to the girl. At first she flinched, shuffling back from the large creature. But as the bear laid down and curled its body around her, she felt calm. All of her worries, her pain, her fear seemed to wash away. Everything just felt okay. She hesitantly reached out to touch the bear. It felt soft and warm to the touch. It also had this unfamiliar feeling to it, one she could swear she felt before, just not for a long time. It felt safe. "You are such an idiot." Ulric said to Abel.

"Really?" Abel's voice strained, but he still tried to carry his usual arrogant tone. "Who's more of an idiot, the man trying to make a difference or the man still clinging onto a dead dream?” Ulric’s eyes narrowed as Abel struggled to laugh. “Dead, in your case, in the literal sense. Get it? Because your girlfriend is dead.” Ulric’s body shook with anger. He gritted his teeth but resisted the urge to choke the life out of Abel. Instead he let go of his neck, opting to strike him across the face and stomp on his wrist as he stood back up. Despite holding himself back, Ulric still felt some of Abel’s bones fracture. 

“What kind of moron antagonizes the man grasping his throat?” Ulric stepped away from Abel. To him this battle was already over. Abel wasn’t strong enough to really compete with him normally, but now with broken wrist he couldn’t wield a blade. “If I were any other man, you’d be dead. And before you say it, yes like my girlfriend. Unlike you I have no problems facing reality.” 

“You think we’re done?” Abel shouted, stumbling back to his feet. “I am the Shepherd! I still have my sheep!” Abel made a gesture with his hand, flaring his red spirit. Suddenly the townspeople perked up, their expressions blank and their weapons drawn. “I will not squander the opportunity Eclipse has given me.” The people lurched forward, breaking off into two separate groups. The larger group charged towards Ulric, attacking him from all sides. Ulric quickly resumed his defensive stance. He blocked and parried as many attacks as he could. The townsfolk weren't as strong or as skilled as Abel, but the sheer volume of attacks was becoming overwhelming. Little hits here and there would break through Ulric's training, nothing life threatening but every small nick led to a greater gash. Still, he kept pace as well as he could. The other, smaller, group of people rushed the girl. The bear stood up and roared. Already they hesitated, fighting a man was one thing but fighting a bear? Abel's control seemed to waiver slightly and for a moment the people listened to reason. Seeing this, Abel waved his hand and regained control over the group. Their fears dissipated and they continued their attack. As the townsfolk raised their weapons the bear sprang into action. It galloped around the girl, clawing and biting at anyone that dared get too close. The bear was less concerned about keeping its attackers alive. It was given one command and nothing more. If Ulric didn't want it to kill the townsfolk, then maybe he should've said so. He should know better than to give such a primal vestige of himself free control. Ulric was starting to slow down. His wounds were piling up fast. His attackers were also getting cleverer. They started to coordinate their strikes, those with blades would slash at his arms and legs while those with blunt weapons would beat at his head and torso. They would move quickly into Ulric's blind spot and take advantage of any other weakness or mistake he would present. He held strong, but he couldn't last much longer. Then, as he redirected another volley of blows, his leg gave out. He tripped and lost his balance, only for a moment but long enough for someone to take advantage. A dagger was thrusted towards his neck. Ulric couldn't react fast enough to stop the fatal attack. Was this how his story ended? Beaten down and killed in the town of his love? Not even by some grand foe, but by some commoner under a spell? Ulric didn't know what to think. He didn't know what to do, what he could do. He flinched, expecting the worst. Death had finally come for him in this moment. Or the next moment. Or the moment after that. 

"I'll protect you mister!" A small voice cried out. Ulric opened his eyes and was immediately blinded. The darkness of night had been replaced by a glowing orb of light. A shield, casted by the girl. "I'll be a good cleric for you! Just get me out of here!" Ulric laid there in shock. The shield was resisting a continuous assault from the townspeople. This small, young girl was able to cast such a spell? "Please hurry! I can't hold it for long!" She cried. Her arms trembled as she held them out. Her fingertips started to burn from the magic light. 

"Right." Ulric nodded. "Ursa! Come!" Ulric got to his feet as the bear grabbed the girl with its mouth and ran back to him. On its way it kicked Ulric's halberd back to him. The three were now grouped back together, with Ulric staying in front of the girl. "Thanks kid. You saved my life." 

"I did good then, right? I'm a good cleric?!" She looked at him with such desperation. 

"Yeah..." He didn't know how to respond and could only muster up a halfhearted appraisal. The townsfolk grouped back up as well and circled around Ulric and the girl. Ulric brought up his halberd, ready for another charge. Even though he was tired, his confidence was back in full. A weapon he was more comfortable with that was better at crowd control, his odds had improved. But still, a little extra help would be nice. "I could really use Aurora right now though." He whispered to himself as not to worry the girl. As if on cue, Aurora came sprinting from around the back of the church. 

"ULRIC WE NEED TO LEAVE!!" She screamed. She was covered in black tar, mud and blood. There was a struggle outside. She ignored everyone else in the church. She didn't care. She just needed to get Ulric and go. Suddenly she retched, stumbled, tripped, and fell to the floor. 

"Aurora!" Ulric shouted. He lowered his weapon, him too now ignoring the assailants. Just then, Rattus made his entrance. Crawling on the ceiling, tracking in the same tar that covered Aurora, he searched for his prey. 

"Ah! Rattus!" Said Abel, trading his cocky attitude for submissive obedience. 

"Where is Helson Vale?" He growled. His head was twisted upside down. Ulric cocked his head. 

"Helson Vale? He's not... I mean... I don't... what?" Ulric stumbled over his words. Anything he attempted to say was not what he wanted to reveal. 

"You can't run from me, girl." Rattus stopped and locked in on a sickly Aurora. 

"Wait... are you..." Ulric's mind raced. Pieces to a puzzle he didn't even realize was there started to come together. "Oh my gods, how could I be so stupid? Your last name is Vale. You're related to Helson Vale!" 

"Can we not have this conversation now?!" Aurora snapped. 

"Rattus, sir. What brings you back here? I assure you I have everything under control." Abel interjected. Rattus turned to him. Tar oozed around his claw-like feet and a column slowly formed under him. Rattus descended like a spider on its silk, meeting Abel face to face. 

"Your ambition was to take control of Aetherwind, your assigned task was to kill the child. You seem to have accomplished neither." 

"I'm working on it, Rattus sir. I'll have everything you want and more!" Abel stammered. 

"How hard is it to kill a child?" Rattus's body twitched. Suddenly one of the townsfolk dropped to the floor convulsing. They were dead within the minute. "See? I killed a fully grown human without even trying. Surely a child should be just as easy, even for someone like you." 

"I promise, I will get this done. I will be very useful to the cause! Just give me a few more minutes." Rattus looked at Abel, then at something presumably behind Abel. 

"I don't like you. You possess the same abilities as Eclipse and I but worse." Rattus suddenly jolted upwards, as if pulled on by a string. He sighed. "But Eclipse does see you as useful." Abel smiled nervously. Everyone watched the two. Rattus then reached out and grabbed Abel by the throat. The skin against his fingers started to rot and turn black. It began to liquify into a messy pulp. Ulric shielded the girl's eyes as he grabbed her and Aurora. They quickly and quietly started to leave. Rattus's fingers dug deeper into Abel's neck, melting more and more flesh. Abel choked on his own liquid body. He grabbed Rattus's arms in protest but that only made the same thing happen to his hands. Abel's gurgling echoed throughout the church before being cut off as Rattus rotted away his vocal cords. Aurora, Ulric, and the girl managed to sneak away just as Rattus finished his work. Abel's head slopped off of his body and both dropped to the floor, leaving Rattus with a small stone in his hand. "Very useful indeed."