Chapter 3: The Armiger

“So who are you exactly, Miss Marty,” I asked innocently.

Considering the events that had transpired, clearly Marty was not just a normal woman. No woman in my life would be able to take on a fight when the numbers were pressed against her. Marty must be very special

I thought to myself as we walked through the dense forest. The moonlight peered through the branches, illuminating a pathway where I did not know where we could be going.

“I would love to, dear, but it’s a long story, maybe once we’re safe,” Marty explained, holding onto Charles’s hand as we marched on.

“Mommy, you were awesome,” Charles exclaimed, the little boy finally spoke for the first time all evening since we left the cathedral. I had thought he was so scared that he didn’t want to talk but looked like he got a bit braver after seeing what Marty could do. Marty smiled at the compliment, feeling content at the praise of her own child. I wondered what happened to the townsfolk. After the horrid scene unfolded before my innocent eyes, I shuddered at the thought of what worse atrocity that giant demon could do. My child's imagination went wild, but I pushed the thought aside to just focus on holding the warmth in Marty’s left hand.

We got to a clearing in the forest, there we found a lake undisturbed by the chaos that which we faced momentarily earlier. Cricket sounded in the air, the moonlight reflected in the water made for a beautiful canvas to behold. Marty guided us down the banks to get washed ourselves. I reach into the cold water and clean off any dirt that caught in my hand and face. I realized the sweats from all the running and walking had made me particularly sticky. I would need to take a bath in the coming morning. I looked at Marty, she was cleaning her son's face with a soaked handkerchief of the grimes and dirt. I thought of my father, and it made me teared up that I wish he was here to wipe my face too.

“Randolf really raised a cry baby, didn’t he,” Marty smiled softly, noticing my gaze.

“I’m not crying! I definitely don’t miss father,” I pouted, stomping my stubborn little feet.

Marty patted my head, same way as father does, stroking my silver long hair.

“You don’t have to act strong, we’ll find him,” Marty reassured, then peered at the lake. I followed her gaze, and looked into the far reaches of the water. There I find a structure resembling that of a temple resting under the surface of the lake. Just as I was admiring the ancient architecture, I heard a rumble in the far distance. It was coming over by the hill, cut off by the night sky. A recognizable head popped out of the hill, the same one eyed demon that had appeared at the Edel Cathedral earlier. The ruffling of armors trailed behind it, a group of orcs and goblins in files with halberds and scimitars in hand. There was some tear and blood on the demon’s robe, but it was mostly unscathed from the conflict earlier.

Marty grabbed ahold of my hand, hid me and Charles behind a fallen pillar, a remnant of the temple that had sunk under the lake. The fiends continued down from the hill, completely unaware of our existence nearby, and started chanting in a language I do not understand. In its hand something was glowing faintly, pulsating softly as it got closer to the lake edge. A few moments of silence sat in the cold air then shook as the ruins started to rise from under the lake. A stone pathway leads to the shore into the ruins now above water, the one-eyed demon walked forward and down into the path leading into the ancient ruins taking a few orcs with him. At the same time, the roar of horses coming in the far distance.

“Deal with them, the Armiger, it is here,” the demon ordered, the troops turned towards the noise and drew their weapons for battle. The demon disappeared into the ruins unbothered as a handful of orcs trailed behind.

“The knights, they’re nearby, we might be able to rendezvous and get to safety,” Marty gasped, a sigh of relief washed over her face.

“Will father be with them,” I asked quietly.

“Hopefully he is, try to stay hidden until the battle is over,” Marty recommended, Charles tugged on my elbow, and nodded his head in agreement.

Over the hill, we heard the clashing of steels, and roars of men in battle. I imagined the scenery just beyond that hill, horrible imagery recalled what happened at the cathedral. It made me sick at the thought of people hurting as if it were me. Just then, a sudden shriek ripped nearby me.

“Hainé! Get back!”

Before I registered what was happening, I stumbled to my feet then felt that I was in the air. I blinked and a small figure came into vision, the same figure that I had encountered a few hours prior.

A goblin!

I gasped at the child size creature, no bigger than Charles, it was brandishing an axe that shattered the pillar I was hiding behind. Marty pushed me aside at the sudden reaction, and I landed into the shallow lake shore. I felt the cold water soak into my dress as I turned to face the goblin. Marty was on the other side behind the creature holding Charles. The goblin looked back at Marty then immediately forward, it wasn’t interested in the mother-son duo, but instead had its gaze on me.

“It’s a scout, it must have been in the area before we were here, and tried to ambush us,” Marty explained, while wrapping her arms around Charles to shield him.

Its chilling black eye stared me down, I felt an ice running down my spine from that look. I took a step back in the water, I felt adrenaline rushing through my limbs. My hands shake, my legs twitch, my entire being screaming at me that I was in danger. Earlier I had my father stood between me and the goblin but now there was no one. I felt tears coming up into my eyes.

I’m scared, I’m scared, I’m scared…

A single thought repeats itself in my mind, I couldn’t think of anything else but the terrifying creature that was ready to take my life. However, a cold breeze brushed my cheeks, it snapped me back to reality. Next to me was ice forming on top of the water, I traced the path to its origin and a huge ice block formed in Marty's hand.

“Taste ice, you fiend,” Marty exclaimed, hurling the ice at the goblin at high speed like a cannon. The creature turned in surprise but readied its axe and smashed the cannon ice into pieces. Marty fired several volleys to keep the goblin busy. However, one the ice fired just barely above water next to me making a road towards the shore to the other side. I read her intention, and immediately stepped on the ice and tread on it firmly trying not to slip off while running. The goblin turned and saw me running to the shore let out a battle cry. Several hounds appeared over the hill where the battle was in pursuit towards me. Out of reflex, or maybe fear, I hopped off the ice path Marty had made and started routing into the ruins where the one-eyes demon had gone.

“Hainé, not that way, Hainé!”

Marty’s voice trailed off as I ran on the stones walkway, fading into the ruins, where all sounds were cut off.

What was unfolding before my eyes made me speechless, I was in a new area that was completely different from the ruins in the lake. I stood on a stone path leading into a tower that I have never seen before. I look below, a deep ravine faded into darkness as light cannot seem to travel deep. It was bright in this area, a total day time in comparison to the evening sky I had seen just minutes ago. I turned back at the path I had run, the hounds weren’t chasing me any more. Rather, there was nothing but rocks and sands in the path I came from. I took a deep breath, feeling the solace in the moment I walked towards the tower. I saw no trace of the demon nor the orcs that were accompanying them. I looked around and saw there were numerous other spires similar to the one I was gravitating towards, all connected to a giant building in the center that seemed to serve an unknown purpose.

“Where am I,” searching for answers in the air with naught a reply but winds.

I came upon a door ten times of my child's height, way bigger than any door I have ever seen. It had no handle, it felt cold as I rested my hand on it, made of iron or some form of alloy that was unknown to me. Suddenly a glyph of symbols appeared on the door, it made a noise before opening slowly, revealing the contents inside. A spiral stair leading upward to somewhere, with several statues of angels lifting their hand high towards the ceiling.

I felt anxious, but also curious, marveling at the architecture that were often seen in fairytales. I continued on the stairs quietly, with each step, I felt my breath taken away, I had been running all night with little to no rest. Now in this unknown place, I wondered what awaits me at the very top.

I reached the apex and then suddenly ducked into a corner behind a pillar. I spotted the one-eyed demon earlier. But what appalled me wasn’t the demon but the fiends littered all around it. All the orcs accompanied the demon laid lifelessly on the floor.

“It’s resonating… it was so dimmed just minutes earlier, why is it reacting now?”

The one-eye demon held up an item in its hands, it was of the same glow that I had seen before it entered the ruin. Only now it was glowing brightly.

“This rusted piece of metal,” the giant paused, turned to a sword that was tied by countless chains dangling in mid air.

“It wiped my entire chaperone just trying to take it down,” the demon exasperated, looking at the sword with scorn in its eye.

I held my breath, felt the numbness running through my legs again. It was the same fear I had experienced against the goblin earlier but this time was somehow two folds.

“I need to get out of here,” before I finished, the pillar I was standing behind got blasted, a trail of vermillion beam cleanly cut through the stone shaft, barely missing my head. The wall behind me exploded, sunlights started to illuminate the room.

“I missed? I can sense you, think you can sneak up like a rat and catch me off guard?”

The demon booming voice reflected off of the stone wall. Dirt and smoke begin to settle as the sun revealed my small figure to the demon.

“A Hume child? How did it get through the barrier,” the giant paused, its eyes darted to the item it was holding. It was a medallion, a fairly large one at that, its light was reflecting off the wall like a star in the night sky.

I struggled to my feet, I coughed at the dirt that had gotten into my mouth and tried to fix my eye on the demon. At the realization, I found the demon standing before me a few feet away. Its sheer size towered over my small frame. An image came into my mind, a scene from the story book I always read. Where the hero faced off against the big bad demon king with sword in hand. However, the events that were in play now were no hero, but a helpless little girl.

Fear washed over me, my eyes locked on the demon’s giant eye ball. The two hands covered its face gave me fright from a far distance back in the cathedral but now seeing close, it was an abhorrent sight. Its wide mangled mouth was almost that of orcs but somehow human.

“The medallion is reacting to this child? Hahahahaha!”

The demon let out a roaring laugh, its sound shook the floor I stood on. I felt confusion and terror questioning why it was laughing at me.

“What joyous day, to think I can snub a bud before it can even bloom,” the giant held out its hand. A strange shape and symbol appeared, glowing a color similar to a beam that almost hit me earlier.

“A child even, this really just hit all the right spots, glad I decided to accept this quest from Lord Baphomet,” the demon ecstasized, laughing itself before coming to a stop and holding its palm directly at me. I realized right then why that goblin back at the lake was so fixated on me rather than Marty and her son. Fiends partake pleasure in killing those that are helpless to themselves.

“Pereo,” chanted the demon.

A beam of red light shot at me. I summoned all the ounces of strength I had and dodge to the right, stumbling onto the concrete floor. An explosion filled in the spot I stood, creating a large crater in the wall that would have left no trace of me.

I rose to my feet, forcing myself to stand. I grunted in pain, realizing my left shoulder had been grazed, blood dripped down my arm stained the sleeve of my dress red.

Am I going to die here? Without knowing whatever happened to father? Will I never be able to grow up and become a hero?

Flashes of memories going through my mind. Vivid images of father and I playing together. The days he and I went hunting. The days he scolded me and made me cry.

The days he lifted me up into his arms. Tears filled my eyes again, I really miss him, I wish he was here.

“Father,” I gasped, closing my eyes before recalling the words he said to me.

These little hands will take you to the future, even if life is hard, these hands are the things to take you further.

I looked at my hand, then something clicked in my mind. Almost as if a barrier had broken through. I reach for a sword that was laid next to a lifeless orc. With both hands, I lifted the heavy blade and pointed it at the one-eyed demon. It scoffed at me attempting to put up a defense.

“Admirable, now allow me to put you out of your misery,” the demon prepared for another incantation.

“My name is Falcie, you’ll remember that as you die here, child.”

As the demon finished his proclamation, he fired another red beam at me. Suddenly, a flash of light filled my mind.

What levitated before me was the rusted metal that I had seen when I got to this floor. The sword that had been chained up, for what reasons unknown, but now it floats right before my eyes. I let go of the orc sword in my hand and reached for the rusted blade. In the next moment, the sword glows a vibrant silver light. It felt warm holding the handle, gentle, almost like a touch of a person's hand. A single word flashed through my mind, Durandal, it was the sword’s name.

When I snapped back to my senses, I held in my hand a beautiful silver sword, adorned in angel wings with a pattern of water swirling along the blade edge. Traces of the broken rusted sword were nowhere to be found. It was a magnificent blade to behold.

“No! It can’t be! She awakened it?”

The demon named Falcie shouted in disbelief, it saw the vermillion magic had been dispelled upon contact with the sword. It started more incantations of the same circle and fired more red rays at me.

I held up the blade, it was light as a feather. Its vibrant glow enveloped me in a visible silver light, as if to protect me from harm. I took one step forward, deflecting all the beams in one sweeping motion before drawing the blade back in a thrusting motion. The image of the goblin being stabbed by Randolf with a dagger flash through my mind, I shadowed the same motion and thrust at the demon Falcie. A flash of mirage extended beyond the blade tore through the giant's left arm, cleanly cutting it off.

Falcie staggered back trying to catch its balance, groaning in pain as it clutched its left shoulder where the arm had vacated from its socket, there were lingering silver embers continually burning at the place where Durandal had cut.

“Nine Hells,” Falcie cursed, its one eye bloodshot red from anger.

I took another step, utterly devoid of fear I had minutes before, towards the injured demon. However, the demon started conjuring a circle around this hand, different from the vermillion rays he had bombarded me with.

“I’ll kill you the next time we meet, hume child, no, Armiger,” Falcie yelled in frustration. It jumped out of the crater in the wall it had made earlier and faded in the magic circle it conjured in mid air.

“Armiger, what does that mean,” I questioned, I looked at the spot where Falcie stood. Its severed arm completely turned to ash, leaving only soot, next to it was a large golden medallion that had lost all of its radiance. Upon closer inspection, it was a locket, there was some kind of gear on its side but whatever I did to turn it it wouldn't open. I gave up trying before making my way back the way I came into this space. Before I made my exit, I gazed back at the tower, the big center fortress was inaccessible from anywhere in the tower I departed from. Pushing the thought aside, I hugged Durandal tightly in my arms and peered at the sandy path and walked through the magic circle.

I was greeted by the cold night breeze, feeling the droplets in the air coming from the lake. I took a deep breath, taking in the atmosphere before exhaling all exhaustion from my lungs. I was mentally worn, a lot had happened.

“Hainé! Is that you Hainé?!”

A woman called out to me nearby, it was Marty. She looked mostly unharmed, it has been some time since we got split up.

“Miss Marty, you are all okay,” I respired.

“That’s my line, darling, you disappeared and I looked everywhere for you,” Marty paused, eyeing the silver sword in my arms.

“Could that be,” she reached Durandal to touch it, then as if with a mind of its own deflected Marty hand with a silver light, and threw her off balance.

“Miss Marty! Are you all right,” I panicked, dropping Durandal, and ran over to the woman's side.

“I’m fine,” Marty replied, her demeanor changed and faced me with a serious look.

“What happened while you were in there? Where’s the one-eyed demon?”

It was an expression different from her usual self nor did it look like a battle expression she was wearing earlier. She looked like she had figured out something.

“I—”

“Martha!”

Before I could reply, a voice called over in the distance. Without hesitation, Marty quickly took off her top, revealing an undergarment that kept her bosom in place. She was unexpectedly slender.

“M-m-miss Marty! What are you doing?!”

I panicked and tried to cover her. Marty ignored me, and threw her blouse over where I dropped Durandal to obscure the blade from onlookers. Then turning towards the direction of the voice was calling for her.

It was a knight adorned in the crest of Weiss Church. I recognized it whenever I went out to town with my father.

“The fiends have retreated, we’re just cleaning up any stragglers,” the knight reported, then shifted his gaze all over Marty.

“Why are you topless,” he asked genuinely.

“It’s hot,” Marty replied without an inkling of shame.

“Looking for a new husband,” the knight joked, then a loud clap ripped across the air.

“Come again,” Marty threatened, with a scary smile on her face.

“No ma’am,” the knight replied under his tone, rubbing his red cheeks.

“That reminds me, Czecht, have you seen Randolf,” Marty changed the subject, now looking to the shores of people tending to the soldiers' injuries.

The knight named Czecht had a grim expression on his face after hearing the question. Marty took that as a signal and steeled herself while holding my hand tightly.

“Major Randolf was reported to be missing in action, after the clash at the Edel Cathedral, he took one squadron with him to pursue the fiends,” Czecht swallowed, then continued on.

“We have found the squadron after the fiends retreated, only three out of eight survived, he said Randolf took upon himself to divert the attention of the fiends away for the squad to escape.”

I felt blood draining from my face, my hands went numb after hearing Czecht report.

“We did not find him nor his body except,” the knight paused then took out a chipped broadsword with half of the length missing. It was my father’s sword. I recognized the wrapped markings on the sword’s grip. He was very particular about the wrapping of his grip so I always watch him change it on many occasions.

Noticing my intense glare at the chipped sword, Czecht motioned at Marty, by which she shook her head.

“I see, so she’s Randolf’s,” the knight kneeled down to pat my head, “I’m sorry little one.”

My head was spinning, in my heart I had hopes but upon hearing the report, I lost all voice to say anything.

“I’m going back to my post, I’ll see you later Captain,” Czecht saluted before walking away.

“I’m not your Captain, sergeant, not any more,” Marty said aloud as the knight walked, all he did as a reply was a wave in the air. Marty looked down at me, aware that I hung on every word Czecht had said. My head locked towards the ground, tracing the dirt along the concrete, searching for answers I know no one will give me the response I want. Marty kneeled down to my level, and stroked my silver hair. Without saying a word, she lifted my chin for my eyes to meet with hers, I never noticed she had hazel eyes, they were very pretty. She gently pulled me close, pressed my head into her bare chest, and hugged me tightly. I felt the warmth from the skin of her breast in contact with my cheeks. She smelled like edelweiss, a flower I often picked whenever I went out to play along the river banks with my father. A dam burst open from my eyes as I let out a wail of tears that would drown the commotions from the shore. The onlookers stared into the lake of the ruins, saying not a sentence, but a look of understanding.