The Will of the Gods

Norowa and Mesa tumbled down the stairs, their mixed vision became a blur of distorted images and nausea. The sense of pain would be ignored as confusion interlaced with anger clouded their minds and fueled their strength. As one would sneak in a move, the other would counter attack, this went on as they fell down the spiral together. Reta felt her shoulders, back and legs impact the cold stone walls, sending ripples through her stiffened body as Mesa would land from one stair to another to share her pain. This would continue for a few seconds longer until at last they were given the freedom of added space when they fell through the open doorway of a lower level.

Mesa took advantage and planted both her feet below the breasts of her enemy, launching her legs forward sending Reta away from her at last. A sheering pain shot through the maid's forearm as Reta had gripped her arm before being flung, her nails leaving red marks into the skin. Reta found herself rolling into a ball before her back crashed into a stand of armor as armor pieces crashed around her, clanging on the floor with metallic vibrations. Her eyes opened and remained locked with the figure in the room with her, both struggling to get on their feet.

Mesa wiped the drip from her nose, briefly patting the dust off her chest as Reta shoved and kicked the armor pieces off of her. Armor stands decorated the walls of this hall, each knight wore a different set with a weapon in hand. Some variations such as a double-handed sword and a spear would be in their hands, Mesa saw this and reached for a short sword yanking it from its hands. Spinning the weapon with a flick of her wrist, she made eye contact with Reta as she too reached for her own weapon of choice.

"No hand to hand stuff then, we skipping the foreplay?" Reta snorted, turning the sword in her hands like a child would to analyze a new toy. "Useless things."

"Show some respect, you are holding an arming sword. Single-hand, double-edged bladed weapon equipped for military use by the Order of San Julian."

"This is an old sword." Reta mentioned as her fingers brushed alongside its steel, feeling the tiny bumps of rust growing around it. "Not at all like the ones I am use to. My family has a history with swords, I remember catching Chichi playing with his Wakizashi, practicing fierce strokes and warning us not to be near him when he does so. He taught me a lot back then, wanted me to be strong and to find a good man to take care of me and I of him."

Reta's eyes dropped momentarily as did her spirits when she began reminiscing of her past. Mesa lowered her guard, quietly observing this woman who seemed more focused on the reflection of her sword than on her enemy.

"Chichi wa ni nen mae ni naku narimashita. I miss him dearly."

"What?"

The interruption broke Reta from her momentary grief, snapping her back to attention as her fingers squeezed around the handle of the arming sword she weilded. Mesa raised her weapon, ready to strike as Reta swiped her sword once or twice to test its weight and speed.

"You're a maid."

Mesa gave a look of confusion as Reta repeated herself.

"You were dressed like a maid, so why does a maid know how to fight? The way you grabbed those arrows, what you did with those statues. And now you with the swords, are you his maid or his bodyguard?"

Mesa swung her sword to her side. "I'm neither his bodyguard nor his maid."

"So his lover then?" Reta asked as Meta made a face. "Okay, daughter?"

"I'm here to see him achieve his vision."

Reta chuckled. "Okay, co-conspirator. What's your name? I'd like to know who's ass I'm going to beat."

She scowled in return. "Mesa."

"Hajimemashite, Mesa. Call me Norowa Reta, The Wolf with No Home."

Mesa spun the sword in her hand, patiently waiting for Reta to get the hint. "Ready?"

Reta nodded, gripping the handle of her weapon hard as Mesa charged after her.

Sparks were created on impact as the dagger grinded along the sharp edge, struggling to withold against its ****. Spi'Reto pressed hard, using his body weight in the hopes of gaining an advantage on steel versus steel. But Raz stood his ground, both opponents inches from each others face as they locked eyes in combat.

Spi'Reto noticed the movement behind his enemy as floating liquid spun in rapid circles, imitating a disc before Raz swung it below him. The young elf pulled back, brushing his hair back to keep from blocking his sight. A Nekomata was flung towards them, both men dodged in time as she fell onto the ground floor ****. Spi'Reto kneeled down and sliced the collar from her with ease when Raz placed his foot on his shoulder and kicked him back.

Spi'Reto regained himself with a backward summersalt, arming his bow and unleashing two arrows at once. Raz had the reflex to dodge them leaving a slit across his thigh. The elf ran forward and swung his bow left then right. He spun around aiming for his head to no avail, raising his foot to kick his chin when Raz grabbed hold of his ankle and pushed Spi'Reto out of balance. Spi'Reto managed to land on his hands, using a cartwheel to maneuver back on his feet. He brushed his hair back in time to see a fist strike his cheek, the whiplash causing sweat to spray out like a mist. He stammered backward when Raz grabbed him by his tunic, pulling him back with a fist raised. Using the momentum to his advantage, Spi'Reto threw himself forward and headbutted the man hard and forcing Raz to step back to catch himself.

The archer fell onto the floor, sweeping his leg across Raz's feet knocking him to the ground. With the dagger in hand, he climbed on top when Raz threw his hand forward. The disc of water from before had coiled itself around his arm and **** its way into the boys mouth, **** him as he could feel the water stuffing his airway. The shock of it caused him to lose his grasp, grabbing his neck and falling to the side. Raz climbed back to his feet, witnessing Spi'Reto on his knees clasping his hands together into a ball. He punched his gut as hard as he could, his face went red as he puked out whatever liquids prevented him from breathing. He was twitching and wheezing hard, Raz extended his hand flexed his fingers. In a moment, the remaining liquid stuffing his lungs oozed out from his mouth and nostrils, allowing the elf to breathe.

"Final warning. Stay do-"

"ASSHOLE!" He yelled back, punching Raz in his abdomen knocking the wind out of him. Pulling him to his feet, Spi'Reto threw another punch knocking Raz back.

Reta hit the ground hard, frantically picking up her sword in time to raise it against the incoming swing. Another spark formed as steel struck steel, Mesa flipped her sword and impaled it downward right as Reta rolled back.

"I thought you know your way around swords, I was hoping you would at least be sport." Mesa ridiculed her, landing another strike to her sword.

Reta grit her teeth and pulled back, flicking her wrist briefly. "Different sword, different tactic. You shouldn't play with your food, you know?"

Mesa formed a smirk, repaying her with a series of quick blows, strikes and sword swipes. Her sword became a rapid silver blur, a spectacle and a **** to behold with its relentless ****. Reta found herself struggling with each new attack, stepping back each time. She was toying with her, making obvious blows just for entertainment.

Growing frustrated, Reta decided to take the hit and suffered a slash to her arm before thrusting the tip of her sword forward. This took her by surprise, having swung her attack before Mesa found herself walking into a similar attack as Reta's sword dipped into her shoulder, slicing off to the side. Mesa flinched and her eyes flared in anger, thrusting a kick to Reta's chest. This sent her crashing into another armor stand, suffering several cuts and bruises which stung in pain.

"You made a decent impression in the beginning, I guess the fire in you must have went out. And to think I would have a decent fight."

Reta grabbed a leg piece off her chest as she stood up on her feet, throwing it to Mesa. She casually smacked it aside with her sword.

"And you call me a maid, what a backhanded title."

"Tough talk, but you were wearing the outfit. I'm guessing he had you dust off the shelves, cook his meals and wipe his holy ass?" Reta smiled as she said that, waving her sword in a mocking fashion.

Mesa growled and lunged forward, matching her sword with one swing after another. Although Reta would block each one, the impact from each hit would not only send sparks but chip bits of steel out of the blade, her blade. Pressing her back against the wall with no room to retreat, Reta's eyes grew wide and she ducked as Mesa dragged her blade across the hard stone wall. Small strands of blue hair fell like leaves in the fall, Reta crawled to her feet and winced when she felt a sting across her back. Mesa kicked her ass sending her head first to the pavement.

Raz fell back, bleeding from his lip and cheek. Spi'Reto raised his bow when Raz flung a splash of water to his eyes, causing his arrow to miss. Sitting up on his knee, Raz formed a small stream of water into a slender serpentine creature, wrapping it around the bow and pulling it from his hand. Disarmed, the young man reached for his dagger before the serpent coiled itself around his neck and began to squeeze. Raz carried a look of focus in his eyes, his nose had begun to bleed as he felt the blood on his arm begin to move toward the direction of his attack. He winced and kept his concentration, Spi'Reto had grabbed his dagger and began swiping at the serpent in an attempt to free himself. Each time he broke the flow of its stream, he felt its grip soften before the connection was made and its strength would return yet again. In a panic, his eyes danced around from one individual to the next, finding anyone he could see around for help.

Zimi lept forward and swiped at the stream of water assuming it would break the attack only to stare awkwardly before being pushed away by Raz before he refocused his hold. He was surprised when a human arm snuck around his neck, pulling back and **** him from behind. A kick to his shin **** him to his knee, Raz tried fighting off his attacker with his free arm while doubling his efforts on the elf with the other. Janette leaned back, moving her head away and keeping her lock on him as he began to cough and grit his teeth. Suddenly, Raz screamed in pain as his arm began to twitch, it was enough to stun her and make her let go, backing away from him.

Raz grabbed his arm, his hand shook tremendously as suddenly the skin in his arm began to grow red. He shook and cried in pain as a vein in his forearm began to burst, its blood pooling around and following the spiral, injecting itself into his attack. He was **** to let go, clutching at his arm groaning hard as Spi'Reto fell to his knees. With a moment of weakness to his advnatage, Spi'Reto grabbed his dagger and lept forward, pinning Raz into the ground with the dagger against his neck.

"This is where I take **** for being fooled by your people, for being robbed and taken advantage of, casted aside and hunted down for sport." His eyes narrowed on their prey, his feet pinned his wrists restraining him from any form of counterattack. Raz had lost, he stared back with his eye reddened and blood dripping from his nose, a look of defeat in his face as he leaned back to accept his fate. "It's quite tragic, here you are at a moment away from meeting **** in the same room as your people and yet none of them scurry in a pleading frenzy to save you."

Raz looked around, his men didn't bother as they were either defending themselves or running to save their own lives. The Nekomata followed his father's orders not him, he was made aware of that. As for his father, Perdilius had his eyes glued to the magical piece of literature in his hand rather than looking out for him. Mesa was absent, nowhere to be found. Suddenly, the throbbing pain on his limb fell numb to the piercing stab in his chest as a lump began to swell in his throat.

"I did everything I could, I gave him all I had." Raz muttered as he looked to his dad, pleading for him to look up from his book, begging he would prove them wrong once and for all and silence their doubt for good. "You're wrong."

"And you're pathetic. But if Dimyri really finds pity in you, I will grant her this favor. Maybe see for yourself, see the truth for what it is." Spi'Reto looked up from his position and shouted, "PERDILIUS!"

That got his attention, Perdilius glanced from his read with an irritated scowl. Raz stared back wide-eyed and terrified with an outstretched hand. "Father!"

"Stop this nonsense, release the girls and I will spare his life." Spi'Reto made his demand clear, his dagger still in hand. Janette and Zimi watched, in fact it appeared as though the fighting around them began to pace itself and calm down. Somehow, the room grew still and everyone stood around waiting for an answer. Perdilius closed Vardare and set him aside, slowly approaching his way to the left side of the chamber where they stood.

"That's close enough." Perdilius stood still beside Dimyri, awaiting for what the elf had to say. "Now, release them and I will do the same for him."

He shocked him with what he had to say in return. "Why?"

"Why?" Spi'Reto seemed baffled by such a question, "He's your son, your own flesh and blood. Isn't that reason enough?"

"Stop this madness and be done with it, Perdilius." Everyone turned to see Felix enter the room, followed by Nyitzcha, Emyri and Leone. From the far back end of the chamber, KuliKuli's eyes widened as tears began to form. "You've made enough of a mess, just end it now. Go home."

"Home... I have no home, child. And you." Perdilius snarled as he pointed at Felix. "Should be twitching on the floor, begging for the Gods to bestow mercy on your form after what I had done to you. How dare you show your face in here, do you not know what you are fighting for? What these... these things can do? You're a lesser mind of lesser folk, a mockery of man."

"And you're any better?" Emyri asked, stepping forward. "You've had your charade, but it's outreached its welcome. You're playing with an instrument without hearing its origin. This will only end in a catastrophe-"

"I know what this can do, I've researched and studied this monument. I've read the scrolls, I've listened to the stories and heard its warnings and I can say with absolute certainty that this right here, today! This is the bridge, the cleansing of sin. This is the will of the Gods, and I their instrument!"

"You really buyin' wat ye say? D'ese boys really follow crazy like dat?" Nyitzcha turned to look at the knights, battle damaged and bewildered. Some stood focused and aligned to their father, but others had looks of doubt and worry.

"I have come this far, surely there must be some side of you, perhaps an ounce of thought that sees the path through this. Why do you fight for these monsters, child? Your compassion, your love and faith for them is deeply misplaced. You do not know the cruelty they are capable of, the acts that they have done, the massacres they have executed." Perdilius reached out to Felix, his immense size seemingly shrunk twice in size as his anger, his hatred made way for sincerity in his voice. "Surely you cannot see me as all mad, ask these men. Ask them, ask for their life story, ask of what they have witnessed and survived, the trauma they have faced. We are not mad as you percieve us to be, we are not fools hellbent on ending this world. We were all made victims of these beasts, we share the same pain and we have stood our ground and said nay, we will not partake in the cruelty of this world. We will not stand by no more. I have seen entire kingdoms fall, I have been knee deep in blood and bone and filled my lungs with the stench of decay. They have murdered dissidents where the ground never thaws and starved the masses into famine. A child buried by his peers. A castle littered with skulls, its inhabitants laying waste to all in the dead of night. The innocent, the innocent caught in their wake would be bled and broken and **** and starved and beaten and enslaved! THIS IS YOUR WORLD! This is what you people fight for, these creatures will taint marriages for simple sport and break families and end lineages without a care! They will take take take and they will never produce an ounce of sorrow or plead forgiveness for their is no humility left in their hollow forms. They will make us into cattle and they will have us bury our heads into the trough fighting each other for scraps as they chortle from above at our misery and they will bury us without an ounce of compassion and they will eat your heart!"

The room grew dark, the sunlight which once glowed heavenly from beyond the broken glass along the walls grew dimmer and dimmer as Perdilius began to form a smile on his face. Everyone looked to the sky beyoned the colored glass roof to see the sun slowly engulfed and swallowed by a moon, thus turning its light into a dark shade of red.

"And now, it has begun." Perdilius sighed with bliss before acknowledging his son one last time. "I have come this close, I have lost this much to find success at my fingertips. To be given the choice between faith and flesh, I remind you of the tale of Abraham. When his faith was questioned by the gods, he too was given the choice between faith and flesh. From an outside point of view, I couldn't understand how he had the strength in him to do what he did then. But I can now."

Raz shook his head as even Spi'Reto looked on with horror as Perdilius raised his hand revealing the ceremonial dagger he hid. "Farewell Raz, may the Gods have mercy on your soul and cleanse you of your mother's sins. Nothing will prevent the will of the Gods, not even you."

And with that, Perdilius pierced the dagger below Dimyri's shoulder, straight through the seal Leone had embedded into her.