Fan Fiction ❯ Interitus ❯ Battles and Memories ( Chapter 11 )

The Shinma snorted and tossed its horns angrily at the terrified cleric, trembling at each hot breath the demonic beast took. Heavy, distorted hooves thudded the ground as it circled the poor woman. Frightened, bright, violet eyes flickered at every movement the demon made. Her long black hair flicked back and forth, as if it moved of its own accord.

The Shinma had easy prey, and it knew it. Casually yet menacingly, it circled the raven-haired woman, snapping its jaws, taunting her.

Many times it circled Relena, so many; it had carved a ring in the sand. It snorted and then abruptly stopped and faced her. It took a step forward, tossing its horns threateningly. Instinctively, she took a step backward. The demon plodded forward again. Again she retreated. Three steps backward, four, five, the cleric continued to draw back from the horrible creature. Six steps, seven, eight, then, suddenly, as if shocked out from a trance, the raven-haired woman found herself at the edge of the riverbank, the water lapping at her ankles. Further the demon pushed…

Like a constant rain the fletched arrows flew, keeping the winged Shinma at bay. Myr shot arrows swiftly and smoothly, never slowing, never stopping. For a normal man, shooting like this would only last a few minutes before the man would become exhausted and open for attack. But Myr was not a normal man, nor was he an ordinary elf. This was what he had been doing all his life had it not? Shooting enemies, facing danger, living in the forest, a true ranger. But there was more, there had been more. Quickly the elf shook the thought out of his head, just as a daring demon attempted to dive in for the kill. Skillfully he grabbed his bow in both hands and swung it over his head, landing with a resounding crack as it shattered the skull of the birdlike Shinma, killing it in midair. There would be another time to ponder the past, just not today.

Karagon grunted with the exertion, nose wrinkling at the corrosive smell emitted from the demon he was wrestling with. It felt good though, to be fighting evil, stamp out the grief, regret, and pain inside, and bury himself in the exhilaration of extinguishing this demon's life. Like you extinguished Korinth's the thought came so suddenly he had no chance to push it aside. Once again, his heart jerked with the pain of loss. Gladly, the demon seized its opportunity, caught a hold of the knight, and hurled him over the falls. Snapping back to his senses, Karagon instinctively shot out his arm to slow his speedy descent, it struck a jutting rock painfully, but the knight wasted no time to complain as he with lightning speed grabbed it, holding on for his life. The Shinma let out a bellow of rage, and made its way down the falls…

The water reached her knees now. Puzzlement crossed over the sea god cleric's face, what was the Shinma doing? Then realization sank in and her puzzlement was replaced with terror as the demon drove her deeper into the river. The demon was going to drown her. At the thought of drowning, all memory of water skills and spells bestowed upon her from the Sea God, Maritimus that she could use left her. All she could think of was memories. The salty water, wild waves, and dark skies, the lightning piercing through the skies, a sail caught on fire. A boat capsized, sinking to the bottom, and two pairs of adult hands shoving a small child on a plank, before the wild, torrential waves swept them up, and enveloped them with the salty ocean forever. As if it knew what had happened to her parents, the Shinma made an imitation of a grin. Then it let out a bellow that made Relena's blood run cold.

The warrior elf halted on his onslaught at the sound, nearly being skewered by a demon because of it. Myr quickly dispatched the handful remaining Shinma and turned around, his sharp and keen, pointed ears pricked up as the sound was heard again. It was someone's scream. He shivered, how long had it been since he had heard that sound? And how many years had it taken to escape it? Memories stirred in his mind. He could hear the sound of marching feet and see the shine of glorious armor, the gleaming swords and shiny spears. A marvelous army, all marching, marching onwards, then, the images changed, changed to a bloody red field and the thunder of charging men. Oh gods, the arrows, the arrows! And all the blood, it filled his mouth and nose with the coppery taste and smell. Drowning, he was drowning in blood! The curses, the pleas, the screams, oh the screams…the screams… Suddenly, Myr shook himself out of his nightmarish memory to remember that the screams were outside of his head. Without another pause, he raced towards the riverbank.

Karagon watched the demon descend. His arm throbbed and his leg was gruesomely gashed. He was in no shape to fight, especially clinging to a rock on a waterfall. Then, a cave hidden behind the falls caught his eye, barely visible. He glanced up, the Shinma was far away enough to give him a chance to hide and launch a surprise attack. He was just about to swing himself over to it when he heard a scream, the knight halted, and listened more carefully, not quite sure whose it was. He heard it again, and this time he was sure of it. The scream was Relena's! But before he could move let alone react, a pair of dark claws dug into one of his arms and wrenched him upwards. The Shinma was delighted with the ensnarement of its prey and proceeded to express its delight by seizing Karagon's punctured arm in both claws, and twist it; one claw twisted it in one direction, the other, in the opposite direction. The knight struggled to loosen the demon's hold, but the pain was unbearable as the monster tore his muscles apart, blood pouring everywhere. He felt his bones finally twist, crack, and crunch. He screamed…

He halted. Myr had been on his way to aid the cleric, but now the sound of another scream reached his keen, pointed ears. So many screams, so much suffering, but who should he help? Should he choose an innocent girl whom he had never met, or a man whom he had known for years? Emotions writhed and stirred within him.

You should save the girl; she should not have to suffer such a fate.

And Karagon should?

You have always valued innocence; will you turn your back on your values and virtues now?

Of course not, but he is my friend.

He has done wrong. Do not forget what he did. Killing his best friend argues with your trust does it not?

Yes, perhaps, but he regrets his deed, he weeps because of it. He aims to redeem himself, if he dies, how will he ever do this?

He has committed sin, he is a criminal, unclean, he is not worthy of being rescued from his deserved fate.

Myr started at this revelation. For it reminded him of something quite similar, but on a much larger scale. I am the same as him; I am also a criminal, unclean, but above all a disgrace. He has a chance to redeem himself, but I however do not. I can't let another die at my hands, but who to help? Again he battled with his inner selves until, with unsaid guilt, apologies and regret, turned his back on the direction towards the riverbank, and sped toward the falls.