Session #24: Glimpse of death

[istainion]

12 April, 2021  [8:00 PM - 11:30+ AM (GMT+2)]

 

Everyone hurried to their positions, as for Yshvara and me, Shevat and Muriël joined us. We sneaked past a guard and slipped inside the toy store which door Muriël opened up after she flew inside an open window. It was a scare to most of us when Shevat held his ear to the door to see if someone was inside and how the door opened up. I feared that it was one of the guards that kept an eye on the toy maker! But seeing her ever perfect seeming face, I felt nothing but relief. We sneaked our way inside and the door fell shut behind us with the click of a lock. Yshvara was curious about Blinksy but the wereraven was quick to calm her when she told us that Blinksy is inside and is doing well. He is hidden in a secret passage that led us upstairs, the attic. There he was, the man who we once remembered as a tiny, chubby man. Not much remained of his body type when we met a man who significantly lost some of his body weight. He sat there in the corner. At first, he looked fearful but when he recognized our faces, we saw how his expression eased up.

 

Yshvara again revealed her concern toward the man, she is rather fixated on him, as much as she used to be with Shevat. For me it's understandable, I assume that it's related to her business with him as much as my business with him even in this terrible state of Vallaki. Blinksy told us how he has been stuck here, hiding away from the guards and especially Izek who is still as obsessed as ever to get his dolls from him. He relies entirely on Muriël and her delivery services to survive in the cramped space while he would work on our commissions. He showed me the progress when I mentioned the doll but I hid it as quick as I could from the others. They aren't supposed to know! I refuse to explain! But he looks very similar to Naedithas already ... It's adorable ... I need the finished doll, I want to keep it with me wherever I go ... I returned the doll in progress, as quick and sneaky as I could not to have the others catch another glimpse of it! Then Blinksy apologized and said that he would need another week's time which I have full understanding for.

 

It was then when I felt the guilt get to me. I seriously expect a man who is locked up in a space like this, to work on a doll which I commissioned him to make for me. I was quick to reach for my bag and ask him if he would like any of my rations as he's been only surviving on some crackers. I gave him half of what I got and even offered more but he refuses to accept more than that, saying that the other people in Vallaki would greatly appreciate it instead. He's still an honorable man, even in this situation. I thought it was inspiring but it was cut off when Yshvara began to question me if I did not need the food for myself. I don't want them to think ill of me, or to think of me less as a living being, so I simply told them that I haven't got a great appetite and that I'm doing well! I saw her watchful eyes examine me but it seems like I managed to convince her, at least for a big part? ... I didn't expect her to be so caring. I should be mindful of it, the possibility that people care for me. It's nice, I really feel like I belong ...

 

Our attention shifted over to Blinksy when Yshvara asked if we could make use of his roof for the mission. It was funny because he told us how he doesn't use the roof, so it's fine. And there is a window near from which Muriël would enter when she brings him the supplies which is our way to get up. Each of us, except for Shevat who left through the door downstairs again, we climbed our way on top of the roof. The shop is tall, tall enough to keep watch over the environment. I made sure to stand low and not draw any attention from the guards near the barricades that were build all around the marked fraction of Izek. The quality is amazing, their setup looked great ... It's impressive that such an aggressive man with a major lack of self control is able to organize a defense like this with patrolling guards covering all the ground around the walls.

 

I felt the insecurity get to me. Izek is much more of an issue than I imagined, Shevat and Muriël better not get into any trouble. I don't think that I could bear the thought of seeing either of them suffer after everything we have been through. Muriël prepared herself to catch up with Shevat and explore the other building but before she dove down the building as a raven, she told Yshvara to keep an eye on the idiot. WHO'S AN IDIOT! YOU TELL THAT YOUR REFLECTION!

 

I was surprised when Yshvara said that she would keep an eye on Blinksy. She doesn't think of me as an idiot? I recall staring at her with surprise. Muriël clarified that he was not the idiot she meant and I gave her a last "HEY!" before she flew away. Tsk ...

 

I'm anxious about this mission. I truly hope that I will not show what others assume me to be, an idiot. I hope that they will eventually look up to me and not think of me as an obstacle all the time. I can be useful! I truly can be! I was happy to have Yshvara with me. If I were to stand here on my own, I don't know what I would do. We took our positions and observed.

 

Nothing seemed to catch our attention, other than the guards talking and sometimes make dirty noises here and there. They have no shame, do they? Just because it's dark, doesn't mean there are no enemies near! For some reason though, when they communicate, they look a little tense. It's strange, aren't they a unity together? Where's their team spirit?! I'm sure it will come when things go wrong, I thought ... Because this will go wrong, I am sure of it, this can only go wrong ...

 

A bell rang all of a sudden, yells were heard in the distance, surrounding the baron's house. In the distance, I recognized one of the two. Shevat was running away in his human form, away from the guards that chased him. One of them was no other than Izek. Unlike planned, Shevat came in our direction and I started to panic. With Yshvara's ability, I quickly shot an arrow that was infused with the bright light of her ability to signal the others in the distance and all of us began to regroup. This wasn't planned! And Izek is there as well. I lost my fear when I realized that ... This is it. This is the fight for Vallaki. All of us reached for our weapon when the enemy drew closer. Izek and a few of his selected guards stood eye in eye with us.

 

Yshvara stepped forth and made an attempt to talk to Izek. He needed Ireena, he said. She asked why he is so obsessed with Ireena and I was surprised to even hear an honest answer coming from him when his low, growling voice said "She belongs to me." Obsessed isn't enough to express what he feels about her. It's terrifying. All of us were pulled in battle when the guard in the back started his first attack. With our weapons drawn, we accepted the fight. Except for Yshvara, who tried to reason with the leader of the pack. Knowing that Izek is unlikely to listen, I considered it a waste of time and the pressure increased when Tibirin was one of the first to fall. TIBIRIN, STOP DOING THAT! YOU SCARE ME!

 

Desperate to fight off a powerful man, we continued to fight while Tibirin regained consciousness. Even he managed to reason with the guards behind him, who didn't seem like they were willing to fight. No, they seemed like they were afraid of their leader, Izek, rather than anything else. But when most of the guards were down, the remaining guards made a run for it while our focus went to Izek. Every time Yshvara said something, it really got to him, it angered him and he unleashed his anger onto her and the others until more of our team fell. I was on top of a building, convinced to believe that I was safe when one of my attacks caught Izek's attention and he suddenly disappeared again. Terrified to know where he'd show up next, I felt the heat of his aura close to me when his weapon cut the air around me and struck me.

 

He's a merciless fighter, one that sacrifices style to let out his anger on his enemies. A style differently from how I was taught to hold a weapon, this man is nothing but a brute with the urge to kill, driven by bloodlust and rage. I saw it in his eyes, his intimidating gaze. I noticed how my vision got blurry and put effort to escape my cruel fate by jumping down from the roof and seeking safety near the others. His attacks are fierce, they are fast ... And effective. I don't want to die, if I die then ...! I can't! I thought to myself when I fled.

 

The battle went on and we managed to take down more of his solid defense when I suddenly hit the floor again by one of his attacks, unable to move when my eyes fell shut. "Not again ...", I mumbled, my body trembling, covered with fear, wounds, burn marks from the fight. I was barely holding on. The noises around me deafened and everything turned dark. Please have mercy, I thought, it's not my time yet ...

 

I felt a faint grip around me and something pressing against my lips when a liquid made its way down my throat. I felt it burn in my stomach and carefully opened up my eyes when I saw Naedithas hanging over me with a cautious look in his eyes. He was terrified, stressed. Again, he brings me back. I smiled when the terrible pain from the deep cuts numb a little. I managed to stand but I caught a glimpse of the health potion that he carried. When did he get those?

 

I looked around to find a place much more secure from the current when the tables started to turn again and Izek transformed into a burning demonic creature ... What IS he?! I've never seen something like this before! Is he a demon?! I needed to get away! And quick! So I made my way on top of the roof to the south, far away from the fight. We were driven to the corners, more and more began to struggle and fall. Helpless against an undefeatable seeming demon. He's clearly too strong for us! Some of us were unconscious. Overwhelmed by the mighty weapon of the flaming arms of the creature. Then it happened, Naedithas fell, he was unconscious and the enemy grew weaker. Fear got to me again, fear to lose everything that has meaning to me as of now. My only light in the darkness ...

 

I held back my emotions not to lose sight of the fight in front of us when I put everything I got against the enemy. I dipped my arrows in poison, used all my magical arrows to obstruct him and the energy to fire them as quick as I could. I saw his fiery eyes look in my direction as he cursed and I felt a confident smile. If things turn out for the worst, I considered that my time has come but until then, I will make sure that Naedithas is safe. My gaze went in his direction and I promised to myself that I would save him, like he has saved me. If he has one potion on him, I am sure that he has another one that I could use to save him in return. I have to believe in that, I must . . .

 

It worked out. With everyone's teamwork and especially Muriël and Ireena's might, Izek fell down. I ran over to Naedithas, for I needed him safe. I won't let him leave me ... Luckily, Shevat and Yshvara their healing artes got us back up our legs, relieved from the wounds that cover most of our body. The enemy is down ... Ireena belongs to no one, but herself ... Next up, is the rest of Vallaki. It is time to fix what can still be restored ...