The Troublesome Mud

This monster was from the kind I hated the most. With wings made of some kind of membrane and ended with three huge claws. Long neck, head decorated with little horns it almost seemed cute, but jaws filled with sharp fangs destroyed that image right away. I always thought that even if their body was covered in scales, if it were covered in feathers, they would be somehow lethal too. At least this one didn’t seem like having an ability to yawn a fire or poisonous fog.

Honestly, this kind was responsible for most of the scars on my body, and that specific one just added a wound to make a new one. My dodge was not from the best ones and one of the claws hooked on my arm. It left not a deep cut, but the blood went down to my palm, and holding a sword became a bit harder, but not impossible. I had a lot of experience, my body still remembered what to do, even though it wasn’t in its best condition.

That monster bastard was fast and had a wide range. It was getting tiring to avoid all of its attack, as it definitely was pretty angry, but at least not stubborn enough to finish the first prey. I couldn’t make sure if this person was fine, but was trying to sit, so for a moment less thing to worry. Come on, follow me, wingy. I felt like I was doing fine with detracting its attention. Don’t get distracted! At this moment the person who was attacked by it tried to remind about his existence. I didn't need help with one monster, even at my worst, but it would be nice if it could be left for a professional.

I swing the sword to reach the wing, but I barely scratch it, as the monster lifted it to hang the other one on the claw. At least I got its attention again, and could go under his gut. I had to be fast and accurate. This one has quite an instinct, it knew that I was going for the heart, the core and only way to kill them. Many years have passed but the thought that they could evolve enough to start thinking on their own was scary. The monster finally understood that I was the dangerous one, so we could start our little dance. Careful but respectful steps around the partner, quick moves both attack and defense, eyes locked on each other, fighting for the leading position, waiting for the other to make a mistake and opportunity to use it.

I forgot how much I like it, with every wound taken and given I felt like I was alive again. Racing heart, keen senses, warmth of blood, muscles screaming of pain and breath hard to catch. All of this felt incredible together. I was happy my first opponent after such a long time was a tough one, so that fight meant something, however I knew it’s just temporary. Until the moment I was waiting for had come, the sword went smoothly into the monster’s body. The air filled with it screams of pain and seconds later, it changed into the mud it was made of, the heart already vaporized, just the barely visible steam coming from the sword’s blade indicated it pierced something.

“I forgot I hate that part,” I murmured, wiping off the mud from my face and then shaking it off my hand.

It was a matter of time until it would soak into the ground. Thick, black, tough to cleanse, leaving a rash on the skin. I was used to it in the past, but after a break it felt really uncomfortable and I was dreaming of a bath, but there were still some things to do. The sword hidden in the cloth was begging me to give him more. Sorry Frank, you know it's necessary. That’s how pathetic my life became, that I was talking to my swords, when loneliness was getting me on the edge of losing my mind, what’s more I gave it a name and treated it as a friend.

Before I turned to the victim, something catched my eye, shining in the ray of the sun. I took it out of the mud, the glass sphere, with a light blueish fog inside. A controlling spell, huh? I sighted, I also knew this colour, so the one who cast it… I shook my head, I didn’t even want to think about him. The sphere was easy to crush in my hand, it felt nice, really nice.

“You were amazing!”

It snapped me out and reminded me about the person attacked by the monster in the first place. I finally looked at him and lost my tongue for a moment. Why does it have to be that idiot? Quick turn around to not give him a chance to recognise me. How can he be so energetic after being attacked? I started to feel tired from the fight and from his presence already.

“And you were stupid.” I said, still hiding my face. “But I see you are fine, so let’s part ways here.”

I wanted to leave as soon as possible, because I felt that the mud might have infected the wound on my arm. According to my experience that was the reason for that kind of pain, not the monster being poisonous anyhow. I have to clean it up as soon as possible. In the past it could mean nothing, but that time my knees were getting weaker with every step, my vision and mind blurred, however I recognised the sound of someone trying to catch up with me. Leave me alone! My body let me down in the worst moment possible, I fell after all and he was right by my side.

“I think we have met before,” he recognised me cheerfully. “You are a lucky man, I know some healing magic.”

“No doubts,” I whispered sarcastically. Even if he heard it, it didn't leave an impression on him, he started to hum. That’s all I remembered before passing out pathetically.