I see her.
She turns to face me, the object of my affection. She grips her weapon, and lunges at me, fury in her eyes. I block her blow with my axe. I try to tell her that I was sorry, that it wasn't my choice, but the only words I speak are cold, ruthless ones. I decide to attack. Maybe I can just knock her out so she wouldn't attack me. Then I could take her away.
But something else happens. A group of travellers come upon us. I attack them in hopes of driving them away. But one of them... one of them has a Diviner? No, is he a Grim Angel? No matter, I can still kill them and take her away. Before I can act, she lunges herself at me, attacking ferociously.
"You killed my family! My friends!"
I strike her down with Skadi. She falls onto the ground, hurt, barely conscious, but thankfully still alive. I make an excuse about my Diviner being rendered useless, and jump into the air and fly away. I had spared her, against Lord Hector's wishes, because I felt... what was this feeling? Pity? Sympathy? I don't know, but I spared her.
What was her name?
How old was she?
I didn't know. But I knew I'd have to see her again.
*
I see her again. She was alone as usual, wandering amid the forest of the village the sprites call "Elendia." I descend in front of her.
"Malice!" she yells, and draws her weapon. She does not hesitate and lunges at me, throwing her entire person into her attack.
"Wait! I didn't come to fight!"
She does not listen, merely snarls at me as she fights to avenge her clansmen. I strike her weapon with such force that she is sent flying. She hovers in the air and sets down slowly. She raises her weapon, gasping for breath. The two of us stand, silent, staring.
"What... is your name?" I ask.
"What?" She looks surprised.
"Your name. I must know your name," I insist.
"You have no right!" She yells. Her words prick my heart.
"I am Malice."
"I knew that already," she retorts.
"..."
"...my name is Serene. And I'll be the one to see that you'll pay for murdering my clan."
Serene. Her name is so lovely. So calm and feminine. Just like her. Well, she wasn't calm now, but every time I come to see her, she has her eyes closed in gentle serenity. Like an angel.
"Prepare yourself, Malice!"
I guess asking her age and measurements is out of the question. I parry her blow with my weapon and fly up to avoid her second attack. I turn to leave.
"Stop! Come back, coward!"
"We'll meet again, Serene," I tell her, "There's no reason for us to fight here."
I fly away, blocking out her curses.
Do I love her? Yes, I do. But she doesn't love me. Of course she doesn't. I killed her clansmen. There would be something wrong if she did love me. But I knew... I knew there was no hope for her homeland. If she stayed she would only die. What then?
I could save her.
Yes, I could save her. Then she would love me because she knows I did so out of love for her. She would forgive me for stealing her clansmen away because I would replace them at her side. She would cherish me as she would her lover - no, we WOULD be lovers.
And if she didn't, then I will force her to love me. And we will be happy. And she will be mine. Her soul, her heart, AND her body. They would all belong to me, and nobody else. Only me.
*
I see her for possibly the last time.
My body's weak. I am barely conscious. Ein was more powerful than I had realized. And his foolish friend, Ledah, got in the way when I had the chance to kill him.
Lord Hector needs but one more soul to complete the activation of The Retribution... I cannot disobey him. But if I help him, Serene will... she will... die. I realize now, what I must do. I can't save her from death, but I can possibly save her from the certain pain and torment that Lord Hector would bring with the Retribution. And to complete my sacrifice, I will die along with her. We will die together, and we will be together forever, our souls entwined, and she will love me, and even if she doesn't I cans till force her to.
I lunge for her.
"Serene! Look out!"
"Lord Hector, now!"
A flash of green. Blurred blue. I can't see. What... happened? I see Serene sprawled on the ground, as if someone had... pushed her? No... no! In a flash, I understood. The realization was like a pail of cold water on my face. I had the wrong person! The person I held now was the sprite with green hair... the one they called Fia.
Lord Hector says something, and shoots Fia. She disappears, completely destroyed. Dead. Gone. And I feel myself injured as well, despite there being no pain. No... I wanted to die with Serene, not the green haired wench. Why did it have to happen this way? I...
I stare at Serene. She looks at me, shocked. They all do. Their friend was dead. I smile, and a tear falls from my eye, though I doubt they see it.
At least... at least I had...
"At last... my future has been... redeemed..."
|