The Twisted Bohatier

Upon witnessing the scene, the remaining five Rusalki scattered and tried to dive into the river.

However, the surface of the river froze, trapping their feet as they cried out for help.

On the other side of the river, Morena, the Goddess of Death and Winter, stood, holding her staff.

She struck the ground firmly with her staff, making the Rusalki stiffen for a moment. Then they stood still. Not a single note was sung anymore.

Morena disintegrated into thin air, taking the Rusalki with her.

Dragomir watched without a word, breathing heavily.

“That was Morena the Cold Bringer, right?!” Zduhach pointed at the empty space on the other side of the river.

“Forget about her, this guy’s trouble.”

“He won’t be for long!” Zduhach then nocked his arrow, aiming it at the man.

“Don’t shoot!” Dragomir yelled. “He’s a human. But she’s not.”

Right next to the man, a beautiful young woman appeared. She held her long blonde hair against her chest, while a simple flower crown rested on her head. A golden ring shone on her left ring finger.

When Dragomir saw it, he took the ring out of his pocket.

Seeing that, the woman crossed her arms. “So you really lost it here, Jarilo!” she scolded the man whose name she had just spoken.

“And so what?” His voice deep and rough. “I love you even without that thing, stupid woman.”

“I love you, too. I just wish you wouldn’t call me names.” Her head sank.

Even after their banter, Dragomir didn’t lose focus. He watched them and made sure his battle-axe was within his reach.

Zduhach aimed at the goddess’ head.

But Milena suddenly appeared at the house entrance. “What is going on here?” she asked, taking half a step back. The blood, the dead body, the two unrecognized people.

“Who are you and what do you want?” Dragomir asked calmly. But his eyes darted between Jarilo and Lada, then toward Milena and his battle-axe lying on the grass. He measured the distance among all of them in his head, while also calculating how many steps it would take to slash Jarilo with his battle-axe.

“I don’t think I have to answer any questions,” Jarilo said.

But the woman babbled. “His name is Jarilo, he’s thirty-two years old. He hates the taste of liver and loves beef steaks. He weighs ninety-five kilos and he’s a hundred and eighty-five centimeters tall. The size of his p-“

“Shut up, you stupid bitch!” Jarilo shouted, spraying spit as he spoke.

“I’m so sorry, darling! I did it again, didn’t I? Well, anyway, my name is Lada, I’m the Goddess of Love and people often call me The Knight of Love, simply because I love love!” Lada said it with unsettling calm. “Now, can you please return the wedding ring to my darling?” She took a few steps forward.

“Don’t move!” Dragomir warned. “Or he’ll put an arrow through your skull!” He pointed at Zduhach, who stayed focused.

Dragomir then gestured for Milena to run towards them. She understood the signal and got behind Zduhach.

“What power does this ring hold?” Dragomir asked.

“I don’t think she’s gonna just tell you,” Milena whispered.

“It’s a wedding ring.” Lada started. “When two people wear these, they are connected by a sacred bond. They cannot lie to each other. And they are invincible to everything around them. They are the only ones who can hurt or kill each other.”

“She told us everything!” Milena’s eyes widened.

“You’re such a stupid woman, I swear.” Jarilo shook his head. Then he dashed towards the bohatiers with his hammer firmly in his hand.

Zduhach shot an arrow towards his feet, but Jarilo deflected it with his hammer.

Dragomir leapt towards his battle-axe. I still have a couple of seconds till he reaches me.

“Debilmir!”

Suddenly, a hammer came flying his way. I can’t dodge it!

BAM!

It hit Dragomir’s head with full force, the impact sending him a few meters away.

“No!” Zduhach and Milena both cried out.

“Ha!” Jarilo shouted, pointing at Maria’s lifeless body. “Did you forget how I killed that monster?”

“You bastard!” Zduhach quickly handed his bow and arrows to Milena and leapt onto Jarilo, pinning him down. The veins in Zduhach’s arm bulged as he pressed Jarilo’s head against the ground.

“H-hey…?” Milena slowly approached Dragomir.

“Wow!” Dragomir suddenly sat up, startling Milena.

“Y-you’re fine after that?”

There wasn’t a single bruise or trace of blood on his head.

Dragomir raised his left hand, the ring shining on his ring finger. “This thing really works.”

Zduhach smirked. “That’s my boy!”

Jarilo tried to lift his head. “He managed to put it on in time.” But Zduhach slammed his head back down.

“You’re pretty strong, farmer guy, but your resistance is nothing compared to what that God of Hospital was capable of.”

Dragomir then grabbed his battle-axe, leaving Milena behind him.

Lada smiled. “So you decided to love me, Dragomir?”

“Unfortunately, I had no choice.”

“Too bad my mother-in-law is not here to witness this happy day.” Her gaze fell on Maria.

Dragomir gritted his teeth. “How do you know she was my mother?”

“Well, I know everything you feel strongly about! You do feel the same, right?”

It was true. Dragomir hadn’t realized, but suddenly, he was aware of Lada’s feelings. The stronger Lada’s emotion, the louder and clearer her thoughts became in Dragomir’s head.

“Lada, the Knight of Love. This ring… just a few days ago, it only protected its wearer from certain death. Nobody was invincible. But it gained more power.”

“Yes. That’s why I had my pinned-down darling over there kill that traitorous Svarog. And now, I can climb up the ranks even further. How come no god ever thought of partnering with a bohatier like this?”

“So you were right,” Zduhach said. “There really was another bohatier.”

“Are you trying to become the strongest god by killing your kind?” Dragomir’s grip on his battle-axe tightened, but for some reason, it felt wrong to say ‘your kind’. “What are you, really?”

“That’s not the right question you want to ask, my love.” She wagged her finger. “The answer to that question is: the Goddess of Love, of course. But try harder.”

Dragomir frowned.

“Wait…” Milena spoke up. “If you are a bohatier… you must have come here through the Chicken Leg’s oven.” She came closer towards Zduhach and Jarilo. “What did you do to the Drekavac?”

“The Drekavac?” Jarilo gasped. “If you mean those annoying brats, I killed them, of course.”

Milena’s pupils shrank. She kicked him in the right cheek, drawing blood from his mouth. “You murderer!” Then she prepared for another kick.

“Milena, stop!” Zduhach caught her ankle before she could kick him again. “You don’t want to become what you feared, right?”

Her eyes were already wet.

“Look. That’s Debilmir’s mother over there. And this guy killed her. He's quite dangerous, let me handle him.”

“Milena!” Dragomir turned to Lada, speaking over his shoulder. “As sadistic as it may sound, at least my mother and the Drekavac aren’t suffering anymore. It hurts us… but in the end, there was never really another way.”

Milena wiped away her tears. “Yeah… deep down, I knew those children would never have a good life again…”

“But what about saving their hearts, like you proclaimed, Dragomir, my love?” Lada giggled.

“I can always try to do it. But the rules of this world are far too cruel.” Dragomir raised his weapon, aiming at the Goddess. “And now that we’re ‘married’, you’re gonna answer all of my questions.”

“What a perfect idea for a date!” Lada’s cheeks flushed red. “But don’t you want to put that weapon away, love?”

“No, I think it should stay here.”

“Is it nostalgic for you? Does it remind you of your executioner’s days?”

“Executioner…? You?” Milena blinked.

“Tell her why I chose that profession, Lada. You can’t lie and you do feel my feelings, right?”

“So you’re testing me? If I had to name one specific emotion that you feel, Dragomir, it would be… guilt.” Lada adjusted the flower crown on her head. “Being an executioner means being hated. They do take lives after all. So in the hope of overcoming your guilt over the failure, you took that massive burden on your shoulders.”

“I did it because Dragomir the Bohatier would be forgotten every day, no matter how many heads he severed with his own hands. Anybody else would have to live with other people’s judging looks. The cloth isn’t enough to hide behind.” Dragomir glanced at Milena to make sure she had heard him. He couldn’t risk her seeing him as nothing more than a murderer.

“Yes, bohatier-like indeed.”

“I sense not just love from your heart. But also immense pride. That’s understandable, since you’re a god. But… why do I feel something human from you, too?”

Chapter 31: END