Fan Fiction ❯ Interitus ❯ Oaths and Discoveries ( Chapter 9 )

Meanwhile, on a high mountain, three travelers slowly made their descent. Weary and dangerously low on supplies, the wayfarers had been heading for Maenarth, a nearby village. But an avalanche cut the travelers off, forcing them to take the trail up and over the mountain.

Carefully they climbed down the steep terrain. Always listening, always watching, always alert.

Deep in the shadows of the rocks, something stirred. Its eyes opened to reveal hellish flames. It shifted its position, tentacles curling, claws clicking. Finally the monster opened its vile mouth and let out a small hiss and a series of clicks. When the beast had finished, thousands of pairs of eyes flickered into life. As one all eyes turned to watch the travelers.

Sarronesse was uneasy. Nervously looking over her shoulder to check for unusual signs of life. Tarclonesse kept his eyes on Himinarth, his heart empty of faith as he brought up the rear. Himinarth was calm and alert, absently fingering his scabbard.

At the mental signal of their leader, the army began their stealthy and deadly pursuit.

Unaware of the danger behind them, the trio continued their trek. Suddenly, like a roaring wave, Crystaneth flooded Himinarth's head and mind spoke: Behind you! Himinarth whirled around to find hordes of repulsive Shinma crawling towards them.

Their element of surprise gone the army flew into a wild rushing charge. The roars of the Shinma's battle cries rang in Himinarth's ears. Wordlessly he drew his sword. Tarclonesse swore aloud and drew his own blade. Sarronesse's courage quailed at the sight of the horrible demons. With a lot of effort, she shakily drew her sword. Tarclonesse could sense his partner's unsteadiness, his eyebrows creased with worry. Himinarth planted his feet and braced himself for the attack. His blade flared briefly, as if anticipating the upcoming battle.

Tarclonesse stared at the sword, his curiosity intense. Unfortunately, his curiosity got the better of him. Tarclonesse cried out in pain as an arrow buried itself into his arm. Snapping him back to his senses, he became aware of a Shinma hovering above him. Instinctively he lashed out with his sword and expertly gutted out the Shinma's heart. The monster let out a small gurgle as it fell to the ground with a sickening thud. The wounded paladin leapt into the air just as a bull shaped demon lunged for him. A downward slash with his blade lopped the demon's head off immediately. When he landed he took a few seconds to pull the arrow out of his arm and inspect the wound. It didn't look good.

Sarronesse was still shaky when the Shinma charged towards her. She gritted her teeth and shoved her sword forward and pulled the sharp blade through the beast's chest. Shinma after Shinma assaulted the paladin, leaving her gasping and sobbing as she struggled to maintain her control. When a humanoid Shinma approached wielding a fiery sword, Sarronesse lost her nerve and control completely. Frantically she groped for some courage but it continued to slip away. The Shinma shrieked as it raised its sword. The sound made the paladin cringe and shiver. She couldn't move, frozen with fear. As the Shinma rushed towards her, bellowing victoriously, she screamed in fear for the first time in her life knowing that it would be the last. But that was not to be. Undergoing countless drills and exercises was what saved her life. As naturally as breathing, she automatically parried the Shinma's blow and thrust her sword forward.

Sarronesse stood there motionless, unaware of anything around her as her mind recuperated from the events that had taken place. Slowly, her mind returned to the present and she became keenly aware of a dark liquid that had somehow soaked her clothes and stained her armor. When the smell reached her nostrils she finally realized that she was covered with the blood of a demon. This immediately made her retch uncontrollably and black out.

Tarclonesse had seen his partner fall. Swearing under his breath, he made his way through the corpses and knelt beside Sarronesse.

Himinarth stared coolly at the opposing demon. His blade pulsed with brilliant light. The Shinma shivered at the sight of the glowing steel.

This being with the glowing sword was very unnerving. The Shinma cringed as Himinarth approached. It had seen the being kill countless warriors of its race with unbelievable ease. And now the being had turned on it and there was nowhere to run.

Calmly, Himinarth approached the demon. The Shinma braced itself for the deathblow. Just as he raised his blade to strike, a white hand reached out and stopped him. Without changing his expression, he turned around and stepped back. Before him stood a pale woman, her hair was palest blonde, and her eyes crystal blue. Her garb was loose and flowing. She smiled and held out her arms and said

"Himinarth," Himinarth blinked but maintained the same expressionless expression.

"Don't you remember me?" Himinarth said nothing.

"It's me, your partner, Crystaneth."

Tarclonesse was frozen stiff, immobilized by the sight of his partner's departed rival. All he could do was stare at the pale woman. Somehow, he was able to turn his eyes towards Himinarth, wondering what the paladin's reaction might be.

Himinarth spoke in a trembling voice, "How do I know it's really you? You took so long to come, why come now?" He looked up into the woman's face.

The woman just smiled and replied, "To love you."

Himinarth was battling with a score of emotions. It looked so much like her, but he knew that Crystaneth already loved him. Or did she? No! He told himself fiercely, he refused to think like that. He trusted Crystaneth with his life and if she said that she loved him, than he believed her. Steeling himself for any temptations he addressed the woman again.

"Why are you here?" Watching far away, Innouva grinned evilly and whispered "The cat's in the bag."

Back on the mountain, the woman smiled and answered Himinarth's question.

"To bring you home in my heart."

A long silence took place; Himinarth set his jaw and focused his eyes on the woman. Tarclonesse watched from afar. And the woman continued to smile.

Finally Himinarth spoke.

"I am home."

This caught the woman by surprise and her face immediately changed into an ugly, distorted mask of shock. This mask soon changed to horror as she watched Himinarth's blade begin to glow brilliantly. Slowly, the atmosphere around the blade began to get hazy. Pearly white, like a veil of mist, the blade's fog began to grow. Tarclonesse was stupefied with wonder. Where had the mist come from? Why was it here? His intense curiosity was making his head pound. He thought for a long time until he realized with a start that the mist was coming from the blade. The mist continued to grow; slowly it began to shape itself into a fountain. Bright colors swirled into the fountain out of nowhere. Then, suddenly a roaring occurred, the fountain began to thunder. Immediately afterwards, in an exploding waterfall of sparkling lights, the woman saw the real Crystaneth for the first time. Little did she know that it would be her last. Without warning, Himinarth lunged his sword sending Crystaneth forward. The spiritual paladin thrust out her palm and sent out a spiraling cannon of flashing auroras. Tarclonesse watched in horror as Himinarh's magic sword emitted an unbelievable attack, piercing the woman through the heart, and in the process revealing what she really was under her clever disguise, ugly, distorted, repulsive. Tarclonesse was stunned by the sword's awesome power. To him, it was nothing but an incredible magic blade. Being a greedy and selfish young man, he was immediately consumed by the desire for that power. Tarclonesse made an oath that whatever it took, whatever the price, in the end, it would be he who would wield the magic sword.