The Long Road

[Necronas]

He sensed the power that swarmed within the girl, hidden until now, a delicate rosebud ready to blossom into all of her crimson glory, for now the red roses of passion and blood lust were one and the same. He saw the power that streamed through her as it imploded into itself and then burst, a directed beam of power, at him. Yes. It worked. Come child, show me what you have learned.

The blast was intense. Necronas staggered backwards, clutching his skull. Damn, she's good. He shook his head, attempting to reorient himself from the blow, but stood upright and looked normal after a few seconds. His face went blank.

"Not bad." His voice was unchanging. "What you just did was the mental equivalent of hitting me with a metal block. Its called a mind blast. But to actually kill something, you need a proper weapon." He paused and managed to smile. But this smile was different from all the other ones. It was weaker and lighter yet possessed a strange aura of power and authority, combined with the glistening of his eyes that made them appear as diamonds, lustrous and awe inspiring, yet transparent and hollow. She was learning well.

"The third and final stage is the reason you are the only one who can perform the spell. Love. Imagine your mother. Think of her as fondly as possible. Think of all the love you bear for her. Think of her kindness, and pour all your willpower, all your strength, into that love. Bind every part of your mind into a single purpose, and then let your mind loose in every direction."

This was something he could not teach her, for he was unsure of its purpose himself. He would teach her as he taught himself, through experience. Necronas glanced at the piles of bones that lay in the darkest reaches of the dome. He brought out his hands and clenched his fists. The bones slowly moved and tugged closer to him, slithering like legless insects converging to a source of light. Necronas uttered a few guttural words, but with a strange beauty to them that seemed both euphonic and eerie. The words echoed through the walls and surrounded the dome, repeating themselves again and again. The echoes lost volume, but did not lose power. They were as efficient and powerful as the words that were first uttered from Necronas' lips, enveloping the room, and converging again at their source. Necronas heard his own words resonating. The bones tugged and vibrated, beating with energy. Necronas pulled his fists upwards slowly, continuing the chant. The vibrations became more and more intense, as the bones flew and aligned themselves into horrifying beasts of all kinds. They stood in a circle around the archer, staring at her, their cold dull eyes gazed into her obsidian inferno.

Necronas offered no words of comfort, for when the time arises, he knew that she would have none to offer herself. "Remember to chant the incantation throughout the entire process," Necronas reminded the girl. He walked past her and closed the door behind him, its wooden frame gave a loud sound before sealing. He looked through a small hole at the girl who stood alone amidst the legions of the dead.

[ketotsue]

It would have been pointless for him to actually follow them into the traing room so as they entered he waited by the entrance. If these were normal circumstances he would not have left the archer for she was the only hope for freeing his brother from the curse that was possesion. Alas he would have been little more than a distraction had he went inside with her, what she had to do would require unwavering focus and devotion.

Thus he waited untill such a time as he could help her. As the process went on he had sliped into a state of mind so deep there words no longer graced his ears. ^ Atterimus it's been so long since we have been involved in such a fued I do hope your ready for this^. There was a small delay and then the spirit chained to his soul responded. ^ As you should already know there will be copious amounts of energy involved in this blood bath and where there is power to be gained I will not stray^. The voice of his spirit echoed within his mind a dark and somber voice it was one of pain and suffering but not of it's own as this was a spirit of darkness it held the souls of many creatures as a source of it's own power. He realsed a small sigh and went back to his mental conversation ^ I know you still wish your original power but do try to avoid takeing any human souls they are not here by choice^. And then there was silence within his mind.

So when he heard the large door sealing shut he snaped to attention felling as if he had just awoken from a deep sleep. Then he noticed the mage he somehow looked diffrent almost more human it was as if he had reacently experianced a portion of human emotion and had yet returned to his normal state. In all actuallity he found the image somewhat... disturbeing. He tried to speak but words would not come to him the sight of Necronas had him completly entranced he had not expected to see the mage ever show any signs of humanity and seeing it kept him mystified.

[Qtchi]

The air rippled with magic and suddenly, the walls of the training room seemed to be suffocating the young archer. ”Gods!” She exclaimed, but the words were lost in the rustling noises emitted from the sidelines. Her tawny eyes were immediately drawn towards the shadows.

A moment later, the bones of the long dead emerged into the dim lighting. Dust and cobwebs clung to the bones as they slowly clumped into a pale substitute of what they once were. Eerily, they stood in a ring around the young archer, who whirled around in alarm, her heart thunderous…

Necronas disappeared through the doorway, leaving her alone.

Almost immediately, a skeleton stepped forward, its face has long been stripped away by the vermin’s that hid in this underground passageway. Instinctively, the girl brought her bow around and lashed at the creature. He staggered back a step, beneath the ferocity of her attack. The young archer caught her breath and blinked at the creatures around her - she didn’t know if t’was their cracking skulls that scared her or their silence.

The dead didn’t scream…that much Qtchi knew…

”Courage,” She whispered to herself, her hands tightening until her knuckles were white. Focus…

Weaving the spell proved to be a challenge. Her voice was a scant whisper in the silent room and she was afraid she might miss a syllable, dispersing the mystical energy. With her gestures and whispered words, the young girl began to chant the words she had just learned.

“Logos malefic us,” The girl muttered under her breath...
“Recedo re vera,” She spoke the second verse louder now, feeling the familiar tinge within her body.
“Veritas venus,” Her voice echoed loudly off the walls and a low vibration started to hum deep within her throat. Her eyes darkened and the young girl felt the power building all around her.
“Iaceo identidem,” The girl continued to chant, the words growing steadily louder and louder as she closed her eyes and drew the power deep into herself.

T’was like gathering a storm before releasing it to the wild.

With the words upon her lips, the girl turned her head slightly and amazingly, the spell begun to work. As she spoke the incantation, a tiny ember sparked within her mind and she pictured a great ring of power, expanding out from her. It continued to grow within the young girl, gathering its forces until it trembled to be released… until she could no longer hold on….

The girl released.

A shudder passed through the creature and they paused from their approach. Time paused for a moment and the young girl stood frozen by the ring of the undead, her breath caught within her throat. Then her eyes opened and the dead suddenly crumbled to the ground in a show of dust and debris.

Gasping, the girl struggled against the wave of dizziness that threatened to consume her. It swept through her entire frame, bringing her stomach to a dangerous churn. The girl forced her eyes upon the pile of bones surrounding the clearing and suddenly, the girl had an urge to laugh. Alarmed, she pressed her fists against her lips…horrified at the feelings that were beginning to flood her body…

T’was just a warm glow that gently flowed into her body and filled her with exhilaration. Even as the girl took a step towards the entrance, she could feel the adrenaline pumping through her veins, the power still at her finger tips. Where one would feel drained from casting such a powerful incantation, the young girl yearned to perform it once more.

Again! Her body screamed and the girl took a deep breath.
Kill… The voices chanted in her mind, filling her with such a strange longing….

”Gods,” She gasped, a hand pressed upon her heart. Her face was now drained of all blood as she leaned against the doorway, struggling against these new feelings she possessed. ”This is what Ketotsue had meant…”

[Vuxxa]

Vuxxa felt a shudder go through his entire body. "Magic! That magic has been activated!? So they do indeed have such a spell in their possesion. But it will take more than one to tear me from this body." He looked off at the castle sprawled out before him "But can she access her hidden energy. That is all the hope that they have." They continued to march through the plains without stop, no creature dared to rear it's head out of it's hideing spot, for they knew death would be their reward.

^Just a little bit longer^ he though ^Battle shall soon be brought down upon them.^ he felt the prescense of Necronas' demons even more so now ^Hopefully if have not been spotted yet. Still, i have some of my army infiltrating through that tunnel. They should be the ones who are truly surprised^

[Necronas]

The door opened and Necronas entered. He swung the wooden frame behind him and looked at the girl panting and grasping her chest. He remembered when this had first happened to him. He knew she was suppressing the bloodlust, but for how long? This was both good and bad for him, but the girl was obviously in a tremendous amount of pain. She would not be able to enter the battlefield if she could not get over the mage sickness of this spell. Necronas lifted her up, not gently, simply quickly enough to get the job done.

"You have tasted power, child. Hell, you had a whole bloody meal. I understand how this feels more than you can tell. In fact, we have a word for it. Its called mage sickness, the nausea you are feeling from containing your drives."

He looked at her in the eyes. He did not try to smile. He was not trying to make the girl feel good, only feel strong enough to go with the real thing.

"Your mind is weak, child. When the battle comes, if you try to control yourself you will die before you can kill anything. I implore you, as disgusting as it may seem, let yourself go."

He let the words sink in before continuing. He turned to look at the damage the girl had caused. Many of the skulls were shattered, some bones had even burned altogether.

"It felt good, didn't it? Killing that which is already dead is quite a feat on its own, but this spell will make sure they never return. These bones are now of no use to me."

Necronas casted a weak incantation. His arms glowed a weak pink and all the bones began to levitate. He moved his arms until all of them moved above a shaft within the walls, and he let go, dumping them into the shaft.

"It is newfound power, child. The sickness will pass. Embrace it. You are going to need it."

He left the chamber and kept the door open for the girl to pass through as well. He began walking up the wickedly crafted stairs. He decided he would levitate this time. His voice echoed down to the girl, coming not as one voice but as many, each entwined with the other.

"Get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day."

He did not know whether or not he hoped it would also be her last.

[ketotsue]

Suddenly he felt his spirit cringe within his mind. It was one of the many alarms of Atterimus this one inpaticular sounded when he was in the vacinity of a rather powerful release of magic. He waited then knowing Q would soon be leaving from the training chamber. When she finally did come out of the room he waited until long after the mage had floated up the steps before he spoke.

" Q you now know the kind of force you will be battleing and this is something none of us can help you with I only hope you are well prepared for what you will soon have to face" He then waited a moment almost willing the young archer to respond to him. As he waited memories from his days in his kingdoms magic academy long ago flooded his mind. He could remember his teacher trying to teach him the ways of magic, and that when he first started working with the arcane forces he found himself completly incapable of crafting his will into spells. The memory went on reminding him of the countless punishments he recieved from the old man of the hours he spent in cold, and storm devoting himself to arcane mastery.

Then one final memory came to him, his first spell. It was night time and the sky was clear. He could see the moon in the sky it was just shy of being full. Then " Quite staring at the sky child it wont help you in the least " he could hear the old man as if he was right back in his childhood. It was just as frighting as it was then hearing the old man screaming at him, and yet he could not bring himself to cast even the simplest spell that was untill the old man could take no more.

The thud of the man's hand on his face stung just as much as it did then and his anger flushed throw him just as it did then. He then remembered lungeing for his sword, but the old man was faster then one would give him credit the elder grabed the sword and droped it behind his wrinkled form. Rage filled his body and mind and he could fell power flowing through him and his sight narrowed until all he could see was the target of all his hate the old man. This was the last thing he remembered before wakeing to find his kingdom burned to the ground

He felt his body cringe as he forced the memory from his mind. ^ No I will not belive it was my hand that brought my kingdom to the ground^. He had almost forgot why he was here what had kept him bound to his current actions. That was before he saw the archer, still she looked weak from her latest exploit and it was that sight that brought him back to the proper state of mind.

[Qtchi]

Exhausted, the young archer could only mutely nod as the others spoke.

Within her, her emotions were in a tormented lock and the young girl found herself struggling against these new found feelings. She could feel the power building within her, it was there just within the reach of her fingertips and oh! how simple t’would be to simply unleash everything and destroy.

Aye…destroy.

Everything made sense now. This corruption that filled the world and stained everything would be burned away. She could thoroughly cleanse everything from sight and let the world be rebalanced once more. There would be no more evil in this new world… she could let everything start anew…

Qtchi drew in sharp breath, steadying her heartbeats.

A new voice suddenly filled her mind and the girl flashed back towards her time spent in the forest with her instructor. She could see his face hovering before hers - of average build and height, and with dark, shoulder length hair drawn into a knot at the back of his neck. He wore no ornaments, except a leather thong that dangled around his neck and ended upon a green gemstone on his broad chest.

”Remember Qtchi,” He was informing the young girl. ”An archer lives to obey the code. It is our life and without it, we lose our honor and sense of being. Remember that child…”

She swallowed hard as the memory dispersed from her mind. No matter how much you seek revenge, The girl told herself, One must not forget the code. With great difficulty, she straightened herself and quelled her rebellious feelings. Necronas had made his farewells and quickly disappeared into the darkness above, leaving her with the swordsman.

Originally Posted by ketotsue

" Q you now know the kind of force you will be battleing and this is something none of us can help you with I only hope you are well prepared for what you will soon have to face"

As she lifted her chin, she realized Ketotsue appeared to be peering at her worriedly and the young girl realized she was still clenching her pendant.

Releasing it, she forced her muscles to relax.

”I shall be all right,” She said, her voice barely above a whisper as she answered the swordsman. ”I know what I have to do tomorrow…”

[Necronas]

Necronas had waited at the head of the staircase for the girl's response. He knew that despite everything he unnerved her, and his presence was so domineering that she would not be able to think straight when he was around, which was why he left her alone when she practiced the exorcism. He needed to know who she really was, because now that she was strong enough to destroy so blatantly, he knew that his power could backfire. He could not let her power go unchecked, for he had made her devastatingly powerful. But somehow, something within him told himself that it was the right decision. There was something more about this girl. Perhaps it was the eyes, or maybe the voice. Or it could be that she was the only one he had ever seen so different yet so alike himself. Perhaps it was more than suspicion. Perhaps...perhaps...

No. Impossible. He could not care.

Necronas casted a spell, and the shadows around him enveloped him completely, veiling him from others, and he flew higher until he was high enough to eavesdrop on any conversation the other two might have when they would leave.

He could not show her he cared.

[Vuxxa]

Vuxxa carefully watched through the eyes of the group that split off from him as he levitated above the broken and uneven ground followed by his legion. The other group continued down the tunnel illuminated only by the light of a few torches. ^This uneven ground has slown down my armies movement, but not the group in the tunnel. They will reach the castle first.^ The darkness continued before them, the seperate legion was lead by an Arc Demon named Castiel as he walked down the tunnel he stumbled over something, a bone. He walked a few more steps into large room they contunued walking until they found a metal stair case, The Arc Demon began climbing the spiraling stairs, he came to a sealed door at the top there was a lever by it Vuxxa said to the Demon through a mind link ^No, do not pull that just yet, wait until I get closer.^

He contunued through the desolate land, "Yes, in the morning the battle shall be rageing, how nice for them, they get to sleep." Another bolt of lightning struck the earth releasing a boom. "Sleep well" he said looking at the silent castle

Obviously after several moments it seemed Silmar did not want to speak about his situation. So...naturally feeling the strange occurence he made his way to Ketotsue and Q Finding the swordsman and her in the room, he noticed Q was in deep thought.

"Might I ask what that powerful disturbance in energy was? It felt as if a massive wave pulse stormed its way out of nowhere." Going over he noticed some other books upon the shelves. All useless as he read the titles. This is frustrating having to stand here and not help as much as everyone else...either useless as a cleric with no comprehension on the spellwork....or useless as a half-trained trickster who plays in the street. There has to be someway to get my colossal energy back.

Pouting as usual about his dilemna he went over to the wall and sat waiting for the other two's input about the unusual energy output.

[Necronas]

As soon as the cleric left the room, Necronas came a little lower from the ceiling and closed the door before letting his magics loose from the vampire. The exorcism had killed it. He had to dispose of the body before Qtchi found out, else her innocence would be marred and her power forsaken.

Still under the effects of the invisibility spell, Necronas grabbed Silmar's body, and jumped out of the window into the courtyard. He found a secluded spot behind the grand staircase and burned it, using a minor wind spell to make sure the smoke moved in a circle each time some tried to leave and signal a fire to any who would watch.

When the body was burned beyond recognition, Necronas gazed at the orb of wind in front of him, pitch black. Things burned different colors of smoke, but Necronas's deeds burned a deep black, to remind him of himself. Necronas threw threw the orb beyond the walls to dissipate into the forest. I do not care for any Heaven or Hell.

I do not care for anything.

[Qtchi]

"Might I ask what that powerful disturbance in energy was? It felt as if a massive wave pulse stormed its way out of nowhere."

”A spell,” The girl managed to say, forcing her emotions into check. As the others continued to regard their surroundings with grim silence, the archer muttered something under her breath and pushed away from the wall. Her head tilted back and she stared up at the flight of stairs.

Rest…

Her back stiff and straight, Qtchi lifted a foot and began to ascend towards the upper levels of the castle. She had invoked the power of this strange spell… and that power had done something to her. Not only was she exhausted, the young archer now felt her mind swimming with the lust for force, the undeniable will to kill…all dangerous thoughts.

Her hands lifted and gripped the pendant she wore around her neck, clasping her hands so tightly that her knuckles were white and the edge of the adornment left a slight imprint in her palms. A good rest will clear your head, She convinced herself, a bit breathless as she climbed her way out of the training room. Tomorrow…their offense should have reached them and Qtchi needed to be prepared.

Somehow, the girl managed to find her room and without a word, she threw herself onto the crisp sheets and fell into deep slumber.

Daylight couldn’t come sooner…

[ketotsue]

Sleep it was fleeting and almost pointless but it had taken its hold on him. When he awoke there was nothing, dawn had not even taken it's grasp on the day yet. Every bone in his body trembled with anticipation this was everything for him if they failed his brother would find his place in the abyss.

He walked out of his room and to the walls of the castle his spirit flowed with power and his body yearned for the taste of battle. He reached the walls and leaped to the battlements. Staring out on the field he could see the forces his brother had amassed. It was a plight on the world a collection of atrocities that should have never known life let alone each other.

He looked into the middle of the hoard and could since the tattered pulse of his brother's energy. ^Soon brother you shall be free and then we can begin again^. He then unsheathed his blade and awaited the oncoming calamity.

[Vuxxa]

Vuxxa stopped in the decrepid field fairly close to the keep. Dawn was far from the land, yet he waited, hours passed, till he seen a figure atop the distant battlement, "Ketotsue" he snarled "That magical energy is unmistacable" he grinned as he chekced the distance "Just far enouph" he lauphed. Quickly motioning his hand towards the archers in the back. They notched their bows, pointing them almost staight up into the sky, then the magick users cast their spells of flame, quickly alighting the arrow heads. Vuxxa gave the signal and the volley of arrows left for the air, hurtling skyward, soon to be tiny red dots. Arcing through the air, and finding their target, the castle. The first bursting on the ground, flames spead across the battlements.

"The battle has begun" Vuxxa whspered as he watched the barrage, several arrows bearing down at his brother. "ATAAAAACK" he screamed as he now charged towards the castle, followed by army, leaving several mages and most of the archers behind.

[ketotsue]

The world around him began to slow to a crawl. He could fell the tension in his body growing every beat of his heart seemed an eternity apart and felt as if his brothers entire army was marching through his chest. As he stood atop the battlements he could see the glint of the blazing arrows streaking towards him. Each one of them seemed to writhe and twist with a malicious will of there own as if each and every one of them wished to taste his blood.

He then leaned forward and begun his decent towards the ground. As he approached the ground his spirit took hold of his body slowing him to a safe speed. He landed with a soft thud and charged towards his brother. Flaming arrows struck the ground all around him none of them would grace his body though his spirit would see to that . ^Atterimus now is the time our minds must be one for this other wise we will both surely die^.

Before he collided with the first of them he felt his body surge with energy. He and Atterimus were now one body and mind spiritual strength flowed through him like nothing he had ever felt before. It was now time to strike fear into the evil in his brother.

[Vuxxa]

As Vuxxa charged toward the castle he allowed his army to envelope him. "Perfect. Just as I had planned. Yes run, no matter how much power you gain from that spirit of yours you cannot take my life." Ketotsue was nearly upon his army now, noticable effects coming over his bady as darkness gathered around him from the power of the dark spirit Atterimus, eyes turning black with red creeping thorugh. ^Well^he thought ^Where are the rest of these 'heroes' too afraid to come out?^ Amplifying his voice with power he screamed "Come you insolent fools. Meet your pitiful fates together!" his voice shaking the ground and castle alike ^That should getteir attention.^

Vuxxa now looked upon his brother "Ketotsue!" Vuxxa yelled "What do you hope to accomplish from this? You know that perfect syncronization with Atterimus will only lead to a sleep that will last weeks maybe months. Still yet you will not defeat me."

Vuxxa levitated into the air, speading his arms wide, ecpanding his dark power beyond his body makeing shield forty feet around him, still yet leaving many of his minions unprotected. The archers continued to shoot flameing arrows at the castle, now though ther was return fire from Necronis' demons. Lauphing he shouted "To get to me you will have to break through my barrier. Do you think you can do that insolent child" then he thought ^Perhaps this will buy me enouph time.^

[Qtchi]

Trying to looked composed, Qtchi stood behind the others her trembling hand holding her forgotten bow.

The world seemed to be on mute for the young girl as she stood there amidst the plumes of rising dust. All around her, she could see mouths moving to form words, but their cries never reached her ears. It was as if her mind could not accept what her eyes were seeing..

With great difficulty, she continued to stare at the hoards of monsters rushing towards the keep. There were hundreds, and the only thing more terrifying then their gruesome features, was the overwhelming number the opponents had. Overhead, skies darkened and the wind picked up, as the amulet around Qtchi’s neck burned brightly.

It was safely nestled within her armor, a lightly padded layer that the girl wore, as opposed to the heavy metal braces many others opted for.

She felt movement upon her left and the girl turned her head just as the other men lurched into action. Her lashes blinked and in an instant, they were both gone - one flew into the air as another leap off the building and descended below into the battle below...

The clashing sounds of the battle rushed back to greet the girl as her jaw tightened and a look of determination entered her eyes. Her arms came around her side and the great bow was drawn and notched. The girl tensed and her eyes darkened as she drew within herself.

”Ignis!¹” The girl demanded and immediately her arrow sparked. Blue flames surrounded the sharp edge as she lowered her aim, and released, the arrow immediately spiraling through the air and through the hearts of those nearest the keep.

A few of them went down, gargled cries erupting from their rotting mouths as the blue flames slowly consumed them. Yet, it didn’t make a dent in the overall masses; behind them, more kept crawling closer and the girl gritted her teeth, drawing another arrow.

Again, she uttered the spell and released the arrow…

”Domine, libera nos ab Orco²” The girl uttered.

¹ Ignite; To create flame
²Lord deliver us from hell - roughly translated

[Necronas]

It had only been seconds since the dead silence had been purged by a roaring horde bursting through the gates, and already pandemonium thrived on the hearts of those who gave themselves in to the warfare. Necronas saw as Ketotsue and Qtchi were swept into the wave of hideous beasts that poured in from the magnificent gates that once harbored chivalrous knights and beautiful damsels in one of the most reputable castles of the land. Undead, orcs, trolls, demons, and an assortment of other disgusting creatures poured in, often trampling those who were unluckily stood in the way of a larger specimen. None of them had any sense of camaraderie or honor, each was only there out of an insatiable blood lust and the leadership of a devil.

Necronas was not in a rush. He did not have to mimic composure, he was too used to destruction to be emotionally compromised at all. There were definite advantages to being a cold-blooded killer, and Necronas utilized all of them. With a devilish cackle, he threw a magnificent ball of flame at the door, growing as it approached its target, burning with all the flame that its master's heart lacked. It exploded into an enormous nova that blasted the invading forces back, and was followed by a second, and a third. Flesh burned and bones cracked. Even the demonic captains were pushed back. Eventually he was able to push his way to the twisted metal gates, and saw beyond them an army that stretched as far as the eye could see, as if each and every abomination gathered in one place. He laughed again. This was simply too much fun.

He whispered a word from an ancient tongue to himself, a language known as infernal, the words of demons. With those words he summoned the beasts that served him, beasts that he had forged to perfection with his own hands. Their wolf-like heads replied with a howl into the darkness and leaped towards their master, ready to give their lives for him. He was their father, their master, their God. They wielded their polearms, each sharper and more wickedly curved than the last, with surgical accuracy and infinite might. The blades cut through flesh like water, as their master destroyed regiments like toothpicks. Vuxxa may have an infinite army, but Necronas needed none. The only thing that unnerved him was the fact that Vuxxa had not confronted him as of yet. Regardless, Necronas was not an impatient man. He would wait, and he would be ready. The orcs, trolls, and even demons could be killed, but whenever he shattered one of the undead, they simply came back. Necronas was fluent with some of the lesser exorcisms, but there were simply too many for any of those lesser spells to be effective. Now was the time for his trump card. Now was the time for the girl's song to be sung.

Searching through the masses with his serpentine thoughts, Necronas finally found the archer and delved into her, connecting their minds and their souls with an unbreakable thread. The words flowed from his mind into hers, as if echoed by her own thoughts except that they were in a deep, eerie, masculine voice:
Archer, I need you.

[Qtchi]

They were starting to crawl up the castle walls; the stench of burning flesh an unbearable weight to the young archer. Her vision blurred and the girl blinked, staring at the sea of darkness that continued to advance. Strange cries filled the air and though she vigilantly attacked the front lines, those behind continued to trample over their fallen comrades - mindless of their deaths.

Her fingers reached for another arrow, but met air just seconds before the eerie voice echoed in her mind. A quick glance to her side revealed no one in plain sight, and with dismay, the girl realized her quiver had emptied of arrows. Unaware of the link, she shrugged away the voice, frantically searching for a weapon.

She was defenseless.

A noise captured her attention and Qtchi turned in time to see her attacker, a strange creature she had never seen before in her peaceful existence in the forest.

It had an angular jaw that looked to be broken and set at a crooked angle. Dark, purple lips were pulled back into a snarl that revealed a row of yellow teeth, above which a pair of sunken eyes glared at the young girl. It’s upper body was pure muscle and his shoulders appeared to be twice the berth of her own.

Panic widened her eyes, just seconds before he let out a terrifying cry and heaved himself over the edge. Even as her feet danced away from the creature, the edge of his heavy axe lifted and the Orc slashed brutally towards his foe. She threw herself left, breathing heavily as her hand simultaneously brought her dagger deep into his flesh. The monster grunted in pain, as the archer’s blade sliced easily into his ribs, just under the flesh of his armpits. With no mercy, the girl pushed harder - bringing her lithe body closer to her target.

Together, they stood frozen in this strange embrace and Qtchi gradually realized she had been holding her breath. Her face distorted into a smirk as she leaned closer to her victim. “Fac aut mori,¹” She whispered into his ear, and a hard look entered her eyes.

With a turn of her wrist, the blade mercilessly twisted within his body. A wrangled cry emitted from his stained lips and she begun chanting…

“Logos malefic us,” She said, feeling the air suddenly thicken with a tension of the incantation. With a vicious smile, the young girl wrenched her blade out and took a step back. The amulet she wore around her neck, slowly began to glow - a milky white color that pulsated against the layers of clothing she wore.

“Recedo re vera,” Her voice was thick with her accent as it grew in strength and echo louder through the air. It sounded unlike her normal voice, and more like a thousand whispers have joined together. Soundlessly, the corpse slumped onto the ground, by the archer’s feet. Paying it no heed, she faced the others, her eyes slightly glaze.

Just over the edge, more were beginning to clamor to the top…where the archer stood…

“Veritas venus,” The words seemed to be coming from another world as she continued the next part of the spell, feeling the heat spark within the pits of her stomach. Almost there… The girl thought to herself as a strange wind swirled around her, making her auburn hair whip painfully against her cheeks. As if sensing the change in it’s mistress, the amulet glowed brighter and brighter, filling her eyes with a bright light…

The archer could see the faces of the lost villagers, almost transparent as they appeared before the harsh lights. Like spirits from the underworld, they shimmered before they disappeared… only to be replaced by the face of her parents.

Grief was immediate, for had it not only been a day since she had lost them?

Her eyes glimmered with unshed tears and there with a loud clatter when she dropped her dagger. Slowly, she raised her hands into the air, still stained with the blood of her last kill. She wanted to touch their faces…the faces of her loved ones…but they shimmered just beyond her reach. Blinded by the light, the girl started walking towards the edge, her frustrations evident upon her face.

I love you, The thought echoed in her mind, unaware to any link she still had with Necronas. In her eyes, the girl could only see her family as she paused, dangerously close to the edge of the keep. Her foot hovered mid-air, just a step away from a fall to hear death.

A tear of agony ran down her cheek and her unchecked sorrow spilled from her heart and filled the bond that still held the girl to the necromancer. For you, She whispered to the ghostly images of her parents, still hovering by the tips of her fingers.

“Iaceo identidem…”

The girl completed the spell and in that moment, the world exploded into a painful explosion of lights. A jolt of pain seared up through her body and shocked the air from her lungs. Still standing by the edge of the castle, her back arched and she trembled from the power that tore through her body involuntarily.

The girl struggled with all her might, all her panic, but she couldn’t manage to make her body respond. Her muscles were locked rigid with tingling power searing through her nerves. Even as she dropped her jaws, no cry came forth her lips as the spell rushed forth and abruptly released the girl.

Her body sagged and all the girl found all remaining strength drained from her body. An terrifying unfamiliar void filled her mind just seconds before the young archer lost her footing. Her body pitched forward and the girl was flying through the air towards the rising ground…

¹ Direct translation is “Do or Die” - When used in this context, I believe the archer was responding to the situation and what is expected of her. She must either kill or be killed, in that sense.

[Necronas]

Necronas watched in awe as the girl had become a bastion of light, the link between their minds allowing him to see everything both internally and externally happening to the girl. He could see a release of power, memories that passed by like flashes yet issued a strange response of familiarity and another feeling he could not quite understand. Was this love? The selfless desire to give without expecting anything in return? It made no logical sense. For the most part he could barely distinguish her thoughts from his own, but this particular feeling stood apart from everything. Or did it? Did it simply not lie beneath all of his actions, the silent schemer of his joys and sorrows?

No. Even if such a thing were true, it would create too many complications. Complications that Necronas did not want to deal with. Denial was never good, but when the force within the walls was nothing compared to the forces outside them, they had to be shut in order to preserve what little remained. Love was illogical, and Necronas would stand by logic, for she had saved him too many times for him to be unfaithful to her. Athena was a far better maiden than the fickle beauty of Aphrodite.

Through the bond, Necronas felt the girl struggle as the brilliant lights weaved their way through the armies and legion after legion dropped to the floor in horrific spasms. This was not good. Necronas had warned her not to fight the power. Yet, she was releasing everything she had, and the resistance had not weakened the spell by any means, it worked its effects perfectly and the majority of Vuxxa's dreaded army was now a clump of rotting bones that could not be risen again. That meant only one thing: she would not be able to sustain herself afterward.

Barking an order towards his demon warriors, Necronas quickly moved back towards the girl, still working the brilliant lights, and just as they faltered and the girl fell to the ground, Necronas caught her in his arms, not romantically, but rather as a father would do to his daughter. He had a firm grip and a stoic face, and moved quickly to place the unconscious girl within a secret chamber, one that he had never let anyone besides himself near, activated by a series of pressure points in the stones, and accessible through a small door barely able to fit a single child through it. Inside, however, the room was lit by enchanted candles and smelled of incense. He used it to meditate, and essentially to simply be alone. The room was decorated with an elaborate Persian rug, but little more. He placed the girl on the soft carpet, and bent down to whisper to her before returning to a world of flames and fear.

"Rest now, child. You've done well."

Only later did he realize that he could have just killed her and prevented what was to come. Yet something banished the thought from his mind before he was able to fully assess it. Perhaps it was accidental, perhaps it was instinct.

Perhaps it was love.