Index:
Episode 1 - The League of Iron assembles
Episode 7 - Home is where the hearth is
Episode 8 - Last of the Old Ones
Episode 12 - Mistress of Flesh
Episode 15 - March of the parasites
Weeping souls.
Tired from running around, screaming, and dancing with raging fires, the fall wind departed, as swiftly as he announced himself. Those critters who hunted in the dark, their primal nature told them that the Four had saved them from a fate worse than death itself. Eyes aglow in the nightly chill, many a bird, a forest cat, and canine, bowed their heads. Even the flowers, tiny as they were, opened their petals in honor of the Sorceress, the Knight, the noble Dwarf, and the priestly Elf.
For without these little plants the bees would hunger, and then, the forest slowly wither...
The Veil Breakers' dusty remains were defenseless before the breath of Father Time. Their curst bones blackened, withered skulls cracked, and in few counted breaths became one with the soil. Elaborate cloth disintegrated, metal armor and blades crumpled into rust. Only the patches of earth which these parasites had ravaged by way of vile magicks reminded of their unjustly prolonged existence.
Though the battle was over for the living, the ghosts faced a most grim, and possibly nigh endless fight. Their bonds with the Afterlife severed so the wizards could hide themselves from Creation's holy touch, they would haunt these forests. In time, some might succumb to sadness, and slowly turn into wraiths who'd prey upon the living.
Teeth gnashing, the Elf knelt, and palm aglow with hallow light, gently caressed the child's tortured face.
“Worry not child, mama is waiting for you.”
The boy smiled ever so hesitantly and his tiny fingers held the priest's hand.
“Uncle... will you take me to her?”
Without hesitation the clergyman nodded, which made his companions share confused looks.
“You are capable of such a feat!?” inquired the tired sorceress, wiping her bloody tears with a handkerchief.
The otherwise mundane-looking item had barely any spots left that were white still...
“One priest guiding thirteen lost souls back to Afterlife?” - spoke the Ranger, his hand resting upon the gnarled Elden tree root beside him - “I never read about anything like this!”
Helm in hand, the Knight agreed with a heavy sigh:
“The noble Dwarf is correct. Though,” - he fixed his dark, silvery hair - “olden Neldaeiri tales recount rare feats, holy boons bestowed to the faithful by gods and goddesses.”
“Did thine legends speak about relics?” - Calm, the Elf reached under his armor and produced one rather ancient-looking symbol of goddess Vayila.
Made of baked clay and once elaborately painted, the circular amulet had smiling Vayila in the center. Her hands were spread as if the goddess beckoned those who looked at her depiction to embrace her. Two long, black braids reached the end of her simple, ankle-long white robes. Her skin of pure gold, the masters who made this item used the same metal and encrusted her entire body with it.
Instead of a belt, the barefoot goddess tied her robes with a simple rope. The same pattern was what her priesthood replicated when they crafted their belts, and the Elf was no exception. As a matter of fact, now that his companions saw the amulet, they were quick to notice that its slightly imperfect circular shape mirrored their clergyman's belt buckle.
“This is the first amulet.” - Announced he, holding the sacred item so they could study it in detail.
“It is so bright!” - The Sorceress spoke with awe in her voice, unseen light being reflected off her wide open eyes.
Visible only to her and the Elf, rays of light emanated from the amulet's crystal-purple eyes. They all witnessed how the dark red handkerchief of their sorcerous companion became pure white, and her sorrowful eyes lost some of their pain.
“If one of us should fall,” - elaborated the Elf, his voice trembling with reverence - “this could guide them back safely through the Veil.”
“Mighty a relic, indeed!” - The Knight bowed to the amulet - “Yet, why would your high priest spare an artifact of such importance for the four of us? We are simply doing our duty, just like any of our kin...”
“Our knightly brother is correct.” - The Dwarf said, his spirit uplifted just by looking at Vayila's gentle eyes - “Best they use it to rekindle the spark of some important general or... Alkiorn's late kings and queens!”
“The boon is only offered shortly after a person has ascended. Dream we can, yet even the gods cannot bring back the heroes of old...” - Said the Elf, his face adorned by a somber grin.
“Smiling lady is so pretty. Just like mama!” - Basking in the unseen light, the ghostly child playfully touched the amulet with his tiny fingers.
“Boy, what happened to your mother?” - The Knight asked, his deep voice lowered into a barely audible whisper.
“I... I am not sure.” - the little ghost replied - “One breath mama and I were kneading dough and then...”
The boy trembled like a leaf, recollecting his and his mother's deaths.
“A scary person came,” - he sobbed - “and she... she... hurt us!”
The Knight inhaled and exhaled slowly, while the Sorceress gripped her spear so hard, her knuckles became white.
“What did the bad one do?” - asked the Arkan kin, her eyes aglow and overflowing with caged anger.
“She grabbed me! Oh, her hand was so cold!” - the ghostly boy wept, his face contorted with fear.
“Your mama went... away?” - Nodded the Elf, and patted the child's head with his glowing hand.
“Now I remember! The light came and took her.”
Again, horror gripped the child's voice as he spoke of what happened next.
“The bad woman cackled... S-she told me she could've taken mama, but chose me instead. With a chain she tied me to her belt and I... I watched how she hurt m-my friends... I-I couldn't,” - the boy stuttered and choked on his ghostly tears - “l-look a-away!”
“Worry not child, you are safe.” - Promised the Sorceress, throwing a glance at her spear.
“Shining lady... did y-you chase the bad woman away?” - mumbled the sobbing ghost.
“She can't hurt you, or anyone else, ever again!”
They went silent for more than a few breaths, everyone alone with their thoughts. Looks were exchanged once more, and, though the Four were companions for mere hours, it would seem they unanimously came to an agreement.
“The Veil breakers killed others so they could slay us.” - the noble Dwarf stroke his beard - “We must do what honor demands!”
“Indeed, we mustn't leave these unfortunates to roam here, alone, and in great sorrow.” - concluded the Knight, and placed one hand upon the clergyman's shoulder - “Our duty is clear, friend.”
“Creation magick is only bestowed to those willingly giving their very selves to shield others from harm.” - The Sorceress stated with unflinching resolve.
“If this quest would claim my life, then so be it!” - Declared the Elf, and beckoned the rest of the spirits with glowing hand.
The Elf knelt on one knee following his temple's precise, ceremonial moves.
He placed his axe beside him and hands clasped before his armored chest, held the relic. There was an emanation coming from him and, gradually, the clergyman's entire body became shrouded with fluttering, golden flame. The trees waved their branches and the forest critters emerged from their hiding holes, for all that was alive felt a godly wonder forthcoming.
The priest hanged his relic around the ghost's neck, and, with a song on his lips, fervently prayed to Vayila:
Hear, oh hear a humble Elf's plea,
Thine mother's love maketh us free!
Vayila, Mend their heart and guide their soul,
For helping them is our only goal!
Embrace, embrace the fate we'll forge,
Together, into the maws of Doom we'll charge!
It was night, and yet, the emanation which made his body burn shone like the morning sun!
Rays of light caressed the patches of gray, dead earth. Serenely, this molested by curst magicks soil remembered the warmth of the fall leaf, the mildew’s gentle kiss, and the march of industrious bugs.
There came a mighty clangor, stronger than the strongest of thunders, and the sky split! From the white rift upon the earth walked a ray of golden light and a gentle, fluttering voice, one which the Four heard reverberating through their entire beings, stated:
“Thine choice I shall respect!”
The Elf embraced these hallowed words with a smile. On their knees, his companions mirrored his act and their bodies and minds became emboldened by Vayila's holy emanation.
Gently nudging the boy's spirit towards the light, the priest pointed at someone who only he could see.
“Go into the light, your mama is waiting...”
***
Dear reader, if you liked this story, you might enjoy my published work.
Wow. That was powerful. So glad the baby got his Moma back.