Fan Fiction ❯ Interitus ❯ Death and Rebirth ( Chapter 1 )

"Yamosa, forgive me for this deed I am about to commit," murmured the pale woman.

Crystaneth raised her hand to the skies, fingers curling into a summoning stance.

What is this woman doing?

Himinarth watched the pale woman close her eyes and begin to chant foreign words that rang in his ears.

He had been partners with Crystaneth for thousands of years and yet this woman was still full of surprises.

Himinarth's equally pale face creased into a frown. Crystaneth was one of the most powerful Illuminati, he was also one of those few, powerful beings. But, despite her power, Crystaneth had a terrible sense of timing.

Himinarth tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword as he plunged the blade into the arm of the Shinma. The towering demon lunged and dug its claws into Himinarth's leg. Himinarth grimaced in pain.

"Hey Crysta! A little help!"

Crystaneth was oblivious to her partner's cries.

This Shinma had been feeding off the Illuminati race for 20 years, now only the warrior clans remained. The clans from every region had joined together, placing rival dyads side by side and attacked the demon, to no avail. The snarling vampire beast had simply drained the blood of the brave dyads of paladins and then intertwined the strong powers of the Illuminati within itself, making it stronger. The Shinma had made quick work of the four thousand dyads and the only dyads remaining were dyads Solaris, Luna, Cometes, and Flamma.

But now the Shinma had defeated dyad Flamma and Cometes' woman paladin lay wounded and dying.

When the man paladin of Cometes was hacked to bits by the Shinma's deadly teeth, Crystaneth could see that there was no other way to defeat the demon, but one.

Himinarth was puzzled and slightly angry that Crystaneth was ignoring him.

"Crysta, we need your help!" Himinarth called again.

"Forget it Himinarth, she doesn't care." Tarclonesse, dyad Luna's man paladin hacked away at the writhing tentacles, forgetting all skill and grace as he fought for his life.

Himinarth glared at his lifetime rival with a growing anger flickering in his brilliant blue eyes.

"Face it, dyad Solaris is finished," sneered the Luna paladin.

"Never!" screamed Himinarth as he plunged his sharp edged blade into the chest of the Shinma and darted away, barely avoiding the large orb of raging black fire hurled by the demon. " Dyad Solaris shall prevail!"

Crystaneth silently reached deep within her seemingly bottomless pools of power.

"You're a special one Crysta, you're one of the most powerful Illuminati in all the Universe. Power, that's what you've got, and a good lot of it too, if you keep a level head at all times, you can do anything." Crystaneth's father had always told her that. Now was the time to prove him right. Suddenly an image of her teacher's face swam into view.

"Never use your hidden power Crysta, that power will mean your downfall." Yamosa had always expressed how dangerous her hidden power was.

Crystaneth gritted her teeth. I can do this, I can destroy this thing, and I can win. And with that thought she again repeated her apologies to her slaughtered tutor, and attempted to grasp for her hidden power.

"Dyad Luna shall be victorious," declared Sarronesse, the woman paladin of dyad Luna, her face lifted to the skies as she summoned a swirling orb of misty, pale, silver moon fog and launched it at the Shinma, which had somehow survived all of their attacks.

To Sarronesse's delight the Shinma screamed in pain. Then the vile thing bowled itself into Himinarth, knocking him against the stone wall of the temple. Himinarth gasped and fell to the floor, temporarily winded.

The Shinma hungered. It thirsted for blood, but the remaining to dyads were denying it its desire. The Shinma was angry, it wanted power, it wanted blood. It would have what it wanted. The two dark haired ones were powerful, yes, but the pale haired one was much more tempting.

The Shinma bared its fangs and lunged for Himinarth, who was slowly climbing to his feet. The Shinma grabbed the pale skinned man and sank his sharp claws into Himinarth's shoulder.

Himinarth let out a gasp at the excruciating pain as he struggled to free himself from the deadly iron grip.

Crystaneth had lost it, her concentration broken by a sudden outcry of pain. She sought out for her power again.

The Shinma was victorious; its prize was within easy reach. Eagerly, it closed in on its prey.

Himinarth struggled hopelessly. Fear began to cloud his jewel blue eyes. Weakly, he called for help; dyad Luna had fled to hide. Himinarth turned his head towards Crystaneth and pleaded with her to help him. The Shinma's hot, foul breath upon Himinarth's neck was causing him to sweat. Then, without warning, the Shinma sank its fangs into Himinarth's unprotected neck and began to feed.

Crystaneth had finally found it; at last it was within her grasp. Cautiously, she reached out, and summoned it.

The Shinma was startled and confused. It had begun to feed quite well but now it could sense something more savory. The Shinma dropped Himinarth and began its prowl towards an unknowing Crystaneth.

Himinarth groaned in pain. But he was alive, alive and with power and energy still left in him. What had stopped the Shinma? Dyad Luna was now by his side but their eyes were not on him. Himinarth followed their gaze and his brilliant blue eyes widened with horror. Oh God, not Crysta…

Crystaneth was in astonishment. How could it be? How could it be possible that the gift meant only for those who were practically immortal be passed onto her, a mere paladin? The Aurora Borealis, The Northern Lights, the power to purify the most corrupted of souls, the power to convert the Shadow into the Light, the power to raise the dead, the power to change the very gods into mortals. This sacred gift and power was now hers. But could she possibly wield it?

The blessed paladin finally withdrew from her trance like state and called forth her newfound power.

"Aurora Borealis Crystaneth Illuminati!" Crystaneth cried in a clear voice.

In a brilliant flash of light, Crystaneth's body melded with a roaring flame of bedazzling colors. Her battle worn armor bled away and was replaced by white armor that rippled with the colors of the Northern Lights. Her long, pale hair that was wrapped into a braid now was unraveling and curling into wavy cascades of glowing light. A somewhat transparent long skirt was beginning to form around her waist.

Himinarth could not believe his eyes. Crystaneth? She has gained the power of the Northern Lights? So that was what she was doing, but it wasn't possible!

Tarclonesse was slightly disappointed and greatly astounded. He had secretly hoped that the Shinma would attack Crystaneth. He was astounded and baffled by Crystaneth's power. Why hadn't she used it before?

No! Why her! What about me? I should be the one with the gift of the Northern Lights! Sarronesse thought angrily. I'm the one with the very bloodlines of Maegorlan, the last sorcerer to gain the Aurora Borealis. I should have the power! Not this incompetent mage apprentice!

The Shinma was surprised. The pale one had not seemed so powerful at first but now this being was releasing overwhelming amounts of energy. It hungered for this power. It would have this power. The Shinma was reaching its blood stained claws towards the changing Crystaneth.

"No!" cried Himinarth. Groggily he got to his feet. His sword had disappeared. He muttered a few mystical words and in a flash of light, a new sword appeared in his hand. The Solaris paladin took a step forward and fell to his knees in pain and exhaustion. He must help his partner. Painfully, he crawled to his feet, unnoticed by the two paladins of dyad Luna. He took two steps forward before falling to the floor.

The Shinma approached the now completely transformed Crystaneth. The Shinma had gotten powerful Crystaneth thought. She could sense the powers of both dyads Cometes and Flamma within it. But, she could also sense a new power, one that had not been there before. It felt like…Himinarth! In terror Crystaneth looked desperately around to find Himinarth on the floor, about ten paces away, in pain, but alive. Crystaneth let out a sigh of relief and finally faced the revolting demon. It was time to battle.

The Shinma let out a bellowing war cry as it charged Crystaneth, who dodged the blow easily. Crystaneth returned the charge with a swift slice of her now glowing blade into the Shinma's shoulder. The demon let out a cry of outrage as fiery dark blood spewed out from the wound.

Himinarth feebly got to his feet. He took three paces forward before falling into a heap.

Crystaneth brought her hands together, streams of sparkling light gathered at her fingertips. Calmly, she released it straight at the Shinma's chest. The demon avoided it only to have the sparkling streaming rockets blast at the demon's unprotected back.

The Shinma was angry. The powerful being was very feisty. This being didn't seem to be giving up. That made the demon very angry. The Shinma released flames of dark fire from his gaping jaws.

Crystaneth was wounded but the Shinma was nearly destroyed. Breathing heavily, Cystaneth let loose another brilliant flare of colors.

Himinarth got up once more. Pain wracked his bones as he took a devastating four steps before collapsing on the floor, knowing that he would not be able to get up for a while.

The Shinma was losing. It didn't like losing. It could taste the strong one's blood it wanted more.

Himinarth raised his head in time to see Crystaneth release a flame wheel of bright fire. The Shinma darted away, and released a mouthful of black, hellish flames. Crystaneth dodged the blow and jumped away, right in the direction where the Shinma now was waiting.

"Crysta, look out!" screamed Himinarth.

The Shinma had succeeded. The plan had worked. The Shinma shot out its tentacles and wrapped them tightly around Crystaneth, pinning her arms to her sides. Crystaneth was trapped the tentacles of the Shinma were slowly squeezing the air out of her lungs. Crystaneth let out a huge lightning bolt of colored lights, hoping to loosen the demon's hold.

The Shinma was victorious! At last it could have the blood and power it had longed for. The Shinma grabbed Crystaneth's neck and let out a roar of triumph. It was time to feed.

Himinarth watched in horror as Crystaneth struggled with the demon while the demon continued to gouge his bloodied fangs into her neck. Crystaneth's body jerked violently, convulsed, and then, slowly, was completely still.

"No!" Himinarth jumped to his feet, adrenaline pumping in his veins as he charged the hated demon and plunged his sword as far as it could possibly go. The Shinma screamed and released its prize. Himinarth dashed forward and gathered up Crystaneth's limp form and carried her to safety.

Dyad Luna, finally willing to take action, plunged into the fight. Nobody noticed, as Himinarth laid her down on the stone floor, a single drop of blood ooze out of Crystaneths wounded neck and land, onto the tip of Himinarth's blade. Nobody noticed Himinarth's blade glow momentarily and fade. Crystaneth's eyes clouded over and her body immediately shuddered and then went limp. Himinarth then lost all self-control as he flew into a fiery rage. His body was now ruled over by a contortion of emotions. Tarclonesse hacked and stabbed away at the monster, keeping a wary eye on Himinarth at all times. Sarronesse shook her head as she sliced expertly through the countless suction cups on the thousands of revolting tentacles. This is madness Sarronesse thought, pure madness.

Himinarth was beginning to despair. He could feel the pain and exhaustion beginning to leak back into his tense muscles. There was no way to defeat the Shinma, no way. Suddenly, Himinarth's blade began to glow, and an image appeared. It was the image of a woman, illuminated in the ever-changing colors of the Aurora Borealis. She gazed at Himinarth with beautiful blue eyes.

"Crysta," Himinarth breathed.

The image smiled and answered back.

"Hello, Himin."

Himinarth closed his eyes and pinched himself to make sure that this wasn't dream, for he had seen Crystaneth die in his arms with his own two eyes.

"How?" was all he could say.

"I shall explain all in good time but meanwhile, how about we destroy this thing once and for all."

Himinarth smiled and replied "Sounds good to me."

And with that Himinarth watched as the image flooded back into his sword in a stream of stardust, causing it to glow brighter than the sun. Himinarth turned and faced the Shinma. He gasped as he felt Crystaneth's spirit flow into him. He could feel her gentle heart seep into his; he could feel her vast knowledge add to his, he could feel her presence within his mind. Then, he felt her power, it was astounding, her power came pouring with him like a roaring waterfall, filling him with strength, power, confidence, and courage. Once, they were two beings, one in body, another in spirit, now they were one. Together, Himinarth and Crystaneth rose into the air, together they gathered the power from the Aurora Borealis to the palms of their hands. The swirling colors tinkled and sparkled like diamonds as the brilliant fountain of power continued to grow.

The Shinma was horrified. This wasn't what it was supposed to be. It recognized that light, that sound, that power. It hated that light, it hated that sound, but it wanted that power.

Himinarth and Crystaneth continued to increase their powerful attack. Calmly building up more energy as the fountain's glow continued to brighten.

The Shinma couldn't understand. It could see only one being but it felt two. For once in its life, the Shinma was afraid.

Together, Himinarth and Crystaneth released their attack. The Shinma screamed in newfound terror. Together, Himinarth and Crystaneth watched as the Shinma writhed in pain. Together, they raised their sword and plunged it deep into the Shinma's dark heart. Together they destroyed the last threat to the Illuminati.

It was daybreak. Tarclonesse cautiously crept into the temple, sword ready, eyes alert. What he found was the Shinma, dead. Tarclonesse breathed a sigh of relief. Thinking only of themselves, Tarclonesse and his partner Sarronesse had fled as soon as they had seen Himinarth's blade glow. Preparing for the worst, both paladins had raced out of the temple, praying that they would escape the horrid beast. Tarclonesse now began searching for Himinarth's blade. Despite his fear of its seemingly terrible power Tarclonesse desired to have it as his own. The paladin scrambled over the remains of the once glorious temple of Lumena, the goddess of the Light, the source of all that is good and pure. Now all that was left was rubble. He turned over a slab of marble, dislodging large clouds of dust. When the Shinma first attacked, it had made the temple its lair, sleeping during the day, attacking at night. Tarclonesse sifted through some sand, swearing horribly as his fingers ran across shattered pottery, shredding his skin so it bled. After eliminating the other Illuminati, the Shinma had retreated to the temple for a year giving the warrior clans a chance to flee. He hauled rocks away, his frustration growing. But the warrior clans had refused. The paladin scrabbled through rocks till both his hands bled. That was when the fruitless battle had begun. Now, no one was left but he and his partner Sarronesse. When his searching turned up nothing he left, frustrated and disappointed.

Himinarth sat on a pile of rubble, idly cleaning his blade while conversing with a mysterious being illuminated in a mixture of various, glowing colors.

"So when the Shinma killed you, the last drop of blood left in you, your spirit blood, fell on my blade and therefore bound your spirit to it and also me?"

"Yes."

"Well Crysta, if I hadn't felt you within me when we kill the Shinma, I would have thought I was going crazy." Himinarth and Crystaneth were silent for a moment. Then Himinarth spoke "I'm glad that you didn't leave me."

"As long as you keep that blade I shall never leave you," Crystaneth whispered, "I couldn't even if I wanted to."

"Would you want to leave me?"

"No. We're friends and friends don't leave each other."

"I see."

Another uneasy silence occurred. Again, it was Himinarth who spoke first. "So what are you, now that you don't have a body?"

"Me? I'm still Crystaneth. As for the body part I guess you'll have to call me a spiritual paladin."

"Are you like a ghost?" Himinarth asked his heart a little sad.

Crystaneth took a sharp intake of breath. She could see the look in his eyes. But were his eyes telling the truth? Was it true? Did she really see love in his eyes? Did he love her? But deep inside she surprised herself for she found that even if he did not love her, she found that she loved him.

Hesitating only for a moment, Crystaneth cautiously reached out her hand and touched his face and looked into his eyes. Her fingers were almost cold to the touch but that was beside the point. The point was that he had felt it; he had felt her touching him. "Tell me Himin, can a ghost do that?" Crystaneth asked.

Himinarth's skin tingled where Crystaneth's fingers had been. Crystaneth couldn't fight the blush that spread over her cheeks as she looked away from his stunned face.

Gently, Himinarth reached out his hand and cupped Crystaneth's chin bringing it towards him. Blue eyes met blue eyes as Himinarth gently whispered, "I'm glad you're not a ghost, otherwise I wouldn't be able to do this."

And with that, Himinarth brought his lips to her and kissed her. Crystaneth returned the kiss and smiled as Himinarth leaned over and whispered the words she had never heard throughout her whole life into her ear.

"I love you."