[[Time to tie this up, donât you think? You are asking me? Well, yes. UmâŠit could, likeâŠgo on for a few more posts, couldnât it? I mean, there is a lot more to tell, right? The narrator looks down and kicks the ground a few times. You seem worried. IâŠumâŠ. Once the story is over, you wonât need me anymore, will you? The narrator looks dismal and tiny. Stop that. No using descriptions as a weapon. Worry not, we shall work something out. The narrator brightens somewhat. Well then, like on with it! You still, like, owe me a kiss.]]
The day began to pass once more into night, bringing with it the cold doubts of darkness and fear. The wind was ever so still, giving not a rustle to the masses of leaves clinging to the trees outside the hidden mansion. It was the quiet of death. And in that quiet, Death was coming.
[[Ooooh. I like that. Shhh. Donât break the flow.]]
âYou are sure heâŠit is coming?â Glyure asked in a low, tremulous voice that pieced the silence seemingly more than any shout could. She winced at the sound of her own voice, quickly searching the dimly outlined forest for movement beyond the small stack of firewood that was their only barrier.
âIt is,â was all Ruben said in return, though he reached out his hand to give hers a comforting squeeze. He could not tell her exactly how close it really was. He could not tell her that it was coming⊠as it was already there. The thing was crafty, and completely silent. If he had not known it was out there, he likely would not have noticed it at all. Only his sensitivity to the power of the magus even let him know where it was. There. It was moving again. The time was now.
âMojag,â Ruben stated calmly, âCheck the path behind the house, and make a circuit of the shrine.â
Mojagâs eyes widened slightly in fear, but he nodded and squared his shoulders before trudging off around the building. Ruben felt Glyureâs hand tighten in his, though her look never changed. Internally, Ruben nodded to himself. She was doing well. He hoped that he could protect her well enough in the moments about to come. Giving her hand one last squeeze, he stood up and turned around, putting his back to the woodsâŠto where it waited.
âWell, I think we are safe for the night. Iâll bar the doors and windows, while you take last watch,â Ruben said, trying not to grind his teeth. He had never felt so exposed in his life, short as it had been, but it was necessary. In moments it would all be over, one way or the other.
âWait,â Gylure whispered.
Getting up from behind the firewood wall, she reached up to pull Rubenâs head down. She paused for a moment, looking deep into his eyes, then closed her eyes and placed her lips on his. The kiss only lasted for the space of a breath, but it seemed to say all that was ever needed.
Ruben took a deep breath as Glyure hunched back down behind the wall. Perhaps he was human after all. Closing his eyes, he started to walk back towards the open door of the mansion. It was only twenty steps away⊠seventeenâŠ. fifteenâŠtwelveâŠ.seven⊠Ruben stopped. That was all the warning the thing was going to have. Ruben could see nothing but red as blinding light tried to pour through his closed eyelids. Immediately, he dropped to the ground and rolled to one side, only to hear something scream on agony and land heavily where he had just stood. Rule one of combat. Cripple your foeâs strongest asset. the thing had been aiming for Ruben⊠but they had been aiming for the thingâs sight. Rubenâs eyes popped open as the light quickly faded. He glanced over to see Glyureâs hand still out from the Lightflash spell she had cast. She was safe. His attention flashed back to theâŠsomething kicking up dust as it flailed at what must have been itâs eyes, though the entire thing looked like a piece of dark forest come to life. In moments, though, it quickly began to change, blending in with the dusty path it rolled in, shrieking out its pain.
âBloody stones!â Mojagâs voice called from the dark doorway, just as planned, followed by streaks of shimmering biolance bolts that pounded into the thing on the ground. Round after round pummeled the creature as its shrieks transformed into bubbling coughs. The thing started lurching towards the doorway, and the Dwarf outlined by muzzle flashes inside.
âDie, ye unholy spawn!!â the stout dwarf cried, continuing to pull the trigger as fast as he could. As the thing reached the door, despite the constant barrage, he gave up on firing and brought the butt of the Biolance down on the thingâs âheadâ as hard as his considerable dwarf strength could. The creature dropped to the ground with the sickening crunch, trembled once⊠then was still. For long moments, only the sound of sizzling flesh disturbed the quiet of the night.
âWell⊠ainât that be the Enkiâs tail in the morning? Yur plan worked,â Mojag finally spoke, poking the thing with a steel-bound boot toe.
âExperiment two in the Dyna class warrior project,â Ruben responded, âHeavy assault infantry. Not very smart, but an excellent tracker and crafty fighter. Lucky for us, the only one ready for field use so far.â
âThere be more of them?â
âYes. Their gestation is far longer than mine. Weâll be seeing more of them in the coming months.â
âWe?â Mojag question doubtfully.
âYes, Mojag,â Glyure answered softly, her eyes avoiding the dead shape on the ground, âIf you intend to come with us. It is not safe here anymore. AndâŠâ
âAnd we have work to do,â Ruben finished. âUnless you want your fellow Magus to fight those without warning? I offer you a pact and allegiance.â
Ruben extended his hand to the barrel-shaped dwarfâŠ
Generations later, a story is often told to young children, and a vague history is taught to students. No one is sure what really happened in those dark years of fire and death, but legend tells the story without doubt. Out of the smoke and ashes of countless battles, three figures always emerged to crush the ravaging hordes. A mighty Dwarf hero, cleaving his way through all foes with axe, magic, and Lance. The Elven Princess, lifting the sprits of all with both her unrivaled beauty, and her fierceness in battle. And finally, the man who could walk through fire without getting burned, his cold calmness in the heat of battle striking fear into the hearts of his foes more than anything else. But at the end of each story, history, or legend, the tale ends the same. Out of smoke and fire, freedom was born, and Magus and Bion became one.
[[I guess that is the end, huh? Yes. The rest is history. Hey. Red? The narrator blushes and looks at the ground. I thought it would be, like, a nice goodbye, and you did finally get to that kiss. Though it could have, like, been better. Never can please you, can I? The writer gives a one sided grin. Now that is just teasing! But it is time for goodbye. Iâll miss being a narrator in your headâŠa little. Well then, I guess you wonât mind being a new character of mine either, will you? LIKE, OH MY GOD! Are you serious?! Would I lie to an imaginary person? The narrator is speechless⊠For once ⊠but the smile on her face says all that is needed. And with that, folks, see you in the next story!]]