Of Ice, Death & Monsters

Chapter 116 : And Battle Flames With Woe

10 Days Ago.

The flames erupted from all across the city, scattering about as I saw monsters burning up, disintegrating into nothing. Their souls literally turned into that strange primordial soul that filled the Smorodina.

That was the same fire that whore had. Was she here? What was she doing here? Why was she here? What was the purpose of her being here? Those flames were the antithesis of life itself, and it was being doused around, akin to some kind of flood.

Whatever was going on here was quite literally antithetical to the ideals of the Caretaker, and as her Chosen, I shall have to put a stop to it!

“Stay close by, Fire, Brimstone, if those flames aren’t from that whore then there’s a chance they’re not powerful enough to go through the Negentropy shielding, make sure to keep those up if you think you’re in danger!”

“We're making sure not to get charred like evening’s barbecue!” 

Dela stepped forward already, hand on her blade. “It seems that the Descendents of Jawia are here. They must have begun to move forward as well. That means they’re planning a ritual; they never move out unless they plan for a ritual.”

“Whatever they have planned cannot be put into effect. We must stop them immediately, especially if that whore is with them. A change of plans now, enter into the city, but our top priority is the Descendants, take those terrorists out, perhaps take a few prisoners if they have not completely gone mad, otherwise, ensure they do not get up!”

The ground beneath me rumbled, crackling as vines and leaves burst through the snow by my feet. “It’s time to rain, Fire and Brimstone!”

I raised my arms up into the air as I called life from all over. The souls of all that were around me. I called out to them, stretched to them. While I felt the eerie cold of death bear upon me, I refused to let it dim the light I brought!

Dela saw this, and unlike before, where she sang, this time, she danced. It was old-fashioned, a lot more swaying movements, and even close to ballet-like actions as she spun around and gracefully danced towards the kingdom.

Suddenly, more and more plants grew around us, following her trail as I actually started to do the same. Magick responded to signs and symbols, and with Magick like this? The more the better.

I began to make my way down to the kingdom with her as the other two flew across the sky, streaking the air with their thrusters.

My feet were suddenly lifted up slightly as the grass grew under me with each step. I smiled to myself and continued this journey, as we entered into the fallen city to take it back from the beasts and monsters within.

10 Days Ago.

It was chaos, pure and simple. Monsters lurked within every corner, some I only saw for a brief moment before they were cut down. A few of them lived in the houses. 

There was one I saw in the attic of a house. He appeared to be a middle-aged man with a massive hunchback that seemed to be a bundle of hay. He stayed right in the corner and groaned whenever he opened his mouth, moving his dangling arms around in such a way that they sounded like creaking floorboards.

Another one appeared to be a large humanoid mouse, as thin as a stick, wearing the clothes of a woman. She had the feet of a bird, claws like a cat, and a snout thin enough that I could almost call it a beak. 

She spun thread alone, staring aimlessly at the walls and windows as missiles and gunfire flew past her, only causing her to make strange chirping noises and sometimes even noise sounds.

Sadly, not many monsters were like this. Most of them out and about were horrific beasts that looked like they wanted to maul everything that came close… In fact, they did, but not to us.

In fact, they were fighting others, many others, and not simply the Descendents but literally other people.

I saw the knight from the underground, he was facing off against a beast that looked like a Bes, but it was much smaller, and instead of a bovine, it appeared to be more akin to a goat with ram’s horns. It was fast, charging straight towards the knight as it barreled through a wall.

Yet the knight was prepared; he rolled away, taking cover by a corner. He raised his hands up and smushed them together as if he were crushing something. Suddenly, the monster’s body began to compress as if it were being put in a compactor, crumpling together, bones broke, and muscles tore apart before the beast fell to the ground.

They and a few others were cutting down monsters left and right, making our job easier.

“Lend Me Your Hand And Let Us Travel This World Together.”

Suddenly, the knight spoke and bounced up to one of the ruined buildings. I followed him there, climbing upwards with my claws as I leapt into the breach he came in.

However, it appeared he noticed he was being followed, as when I came up, he had his sword drawn and pointed it straight at me before realizing.

“You’re the one that spirit talked to earlier. The wolf Aeborne. What are you here for?”

Then, I sensed what was behind him. There were several different people, men, women, and children. I even saw a few destined ones. All of them huddled together, some even clutching armor and weapons. I also sensed the blessing of Mokosh, well, not on the knight, but on the people he seemed to be protecting.

“I am here to bring back the age of the gods. Mokosh has sent for me to retrieve a flower for her ritual. And I now intend to complete it. What is your business here?”

“I was given a choice by that spirit. I could accept and become one of them, those people of stone. I could go and remain up here, beyond their protection for rejecting me. However, one of their followers, who seemed to have resurrected, offered a third option. That I and the others come up here to collect any survivors to bring them down for judgment by her and the other spirits.”

It seemed, at the very least, a much more merciful option. So she’s doing it because she has faith in me as well? That’s good to know, and very well placed~

I could feel some resentment in that voice. He did not enjoy being subservient, but living was always going to be much preferable to dying, and at least they were saving others in the process.

“Then, you shall be under my protection as well. How long and how many others like you and those you protect remain?”

“After a tenday of traveling and guarding, we have been reduced to a fourth of our forces. Now there are only ten of us remaining, spread out amongst this city. We were going to retreat back into the caves with the remaining civilians.”

“Then I shall cover you and the others. Do not fret, all of you! I, the Chosen of the Caretaker, shall ensure your survival.” I waved my hands at the others, radiating my own spirits of life, blessing them through the Caretaker. 

“Follow closely, okay?” The civilians nodded along obediently, and I took it upon myself to grab a convenient shepherd’s crook nearby, as I shall be leading these little sheep to safety. It suited me so well after all.

The knight silently followed behind the civilians, looking out for essentially nonexistent blind spots thanks to my senses, but alas, I wish to make him feel useful, so I might as well. 

“Do you have any knowledge of those red-robed fire makers?” He asked as I began to lead them downstairs, pushing aside the rubble and side-eyeing any of those house monsters from before, ensuring they knew not to mess with us.

“Yes, they’re the Descendants. A group of terrorists wishing to turn the world to ash. Did they attack your people?”

“No. I ask because they desired for us to join them, in fact it appeared they had quite the large following, many others have, a few who came up here now stand by their side alongside the civilians.”

We made it onto the streets, and I turned my head to Dela, simply giving her a nod. “Take over for me, and if you can, go and find others like them.” Overhead, Derek and Topher flew, bombarding a few monsters with gravity bombs that cracked the streets open.

I turned towards the Knight. “Oh? Did the Descendants not blabber out their cause? Or did they dress it up in pretty little words like all pseudo-philosophers do?”

“They said that they wished to unite the world into-“

“A Unifire yes. A massive hivemind of every single person together to be truly free. It sounds mad and mental, so only those types would believe in it. I offer a better world, and I shall make sure that they shall know of it. Thank you for your services, sir. You have done well.” I bowed my head before gesturing. 

“Tell the others of what has transpired here, and you may go and spread the word. Use Dela from here; she shall help in ensuring your safety.”

The Knight narrowed his eyes under their helmet as they stared at Dela. “That presence, I know of a Mazzikin when I see one. I see you’re employed by her; at least now I know to trust you. Many thanks are in order.”

He bowed his head to me. And I did the same once more. “Oh, and before I forget… What’s your Name?”

“I am Yael, a Knight under House Chai.”

I blinked for a moment. “Like the tea?”

“There’s a tea known as Chai?” Yael asked back with a hint of confusion in his voice.

“Ah, yes, a few hundred years later than you. Anyway, it’s time. Let us not waste any more moments. I’ll ensure to get everyone worthy out of this Abyss. Good, and I hope to see you soon, Knight Yael. For posterity, my Name is Marian Monroe, the Chosen of the Caretaker. It was good to meet you.”

“Make you walk along the roots of the Aetree forevermore, Chosen one.” He gave a salute before walking away with the other civilians. I sighed with an air of relief. I’ve been seeing too much death and destruction recently. I needed something heartwarming like that. 

There were still people I could save, people I could help out. It was never too late. With this new vigor in my steps, I began to rush ahead, making sure to clean up any monsters I came across and any survivors I could find. I used my sharpened sense, making sure I could pick out any souls so that I could deal with them accordingly, whether civilian or beast.

1 Day Ago.

Days and nights came by. It was much longer than it needed to be because I wanted to save as many people as I could, so I went to every soul, every nook and cranny. I told Derek and Topher about it, too, and they carried it out to the other side of the city to the best of their abilities.

Although they were always in trouble, many times actually. Plenty of the monsters could fly, and even had the strength to withstand their barrages of missiles and gunfire. Luckily, Dela was there to help take them out.

However, in some cases, I had to step in. Those cases were when we found lesser variants of the Likho, Beda, and Chuma. They were tough but not as much as those in the swamps and thus dealt with more ease. 

I made sure never to forget my goal ,however, to find the center of the city, and to bring this flower to the temple. For some reason, we never really saw much of the Descendants, if at all. We found some dead bodies, yes, but other than that, none of them seemed to be in the city.

That was until I finally looked upon the massive stone and wood temple that stood within the center of the city. It was the size of a small village, built with numerous buildings. A moat of ice completely surrounded it.

And right by the innermost temple, I saw a living and breathing Descendent.