I know the sound of a man's body being ripped apart by a ravaging predator. The gut-wrenching sound of flesh and bone being eaten sickens me to my stomach. That alone causes both of us to stop steadfastly. Listening for what feels like forever. Another slurping crunch echoes from yet another direction. Both come from the center of town. If ever there was a time to fall back, this is it. At the same time, we are Knights of the August Rose. 'Can we simply retreat without knowing what threats lie ahead? Can we call ourselves Knight Captains if we do?' The ground shakes with tremendous force, nearly knocking me off balance. I steady myself just as the ground begins shaking again. It feels like something heavy or enormous is taking a few steps.
I take one look at Kaia before moving onwards. We creep like mice through the streets until the town center comes into view. I take up a position with Kaia flanking me. Inching to the corner, I peek around slightly. A dozen creatures of the likes I have never witnessed are around the township. Some are towering behemoths, while others are smaller. All are the very descriptions of monsters.
Their skin looks like bleached bone instead of actual skin. I almost throw up at the sight of all the mangled piles of bodies lying among them. Uncontrollable terror flourishes throughout my body, a rising, paralyzing fear preventing me from taking action. Confused, my sister gently pulls me back as she takes my place and peeks around the corner. I can almost hear a silent gasp from her throat. She shudders, and I recognize an audible gasp as she jumps back. Kaia instinctively clasps my arm, and I watch as she attempts to prevent herself from vomiting in fear and disgust.
She takes up a position behind me, her body pressing against mine as if she feels she will have to hold me from doing something that would mean the death of both of us. Never have we witnessed or even heard of such horrors. The sight around the corner brings the nightmares of dreams to life. I swallow quietly and rediscover my resolve. As Knights of the August Rose, we are duty-bound to push past our fears. I calm my nerves as I inch forward to take another peek around the corner. A wave of fear erupts from within. The creatures are mere yards from where they had been moments before. Many face the direction the corner is in. I step back as another human-sized creature comes out from the building we press our bodies against. Without a thought, our training kicks in. We move as one with the grace of an assassin into a space where we have room to fight the coming nightmare.
Unfortunately, we hadn't sensed the danger from behind. We inadvertently put ourselves in direct sight of the carnage at the heart of the town. Whatever magical ability dulled our senses to the surrounding threats. These creatures infest the settlement and purposefully stay off the principal streets. Undoubtedly to lure in anyone coming to investigate the town. I grip my sword as Kaia presses her back into mine. Without knowing what these creatures are, I am not confident we can handle them with just the two of us. We are formidable together, but we are up against the unknown. Caution is the best solution at this point.
"Nephiliana, look," Kaia says.
During my initial observation, I should have noticed a key detail. The man standing amidst the congregation of monsters. A lone figure facing away from us. His armor matches that of the First Paladin, with the noticeable difference of being gold. His white cloak hides most of his features, but I notice the gold skull cap he wears. This man... His anima far surpasses anyone I have ever encountered. Even more so than our Lady and Light, the Red Knight. It is impossible to ignore and far impossible to fathom. I almost believe I can see a halo above his head. No, there is no way this man is an angel! My body feels like it is buckling under the sheer pressure of his anima.
It takes every shred of strength I have to stand firm. Kaia stands arm and arm with me now. She knows we cannot let this man see our backs. Despite the monsters slowly surrounding us, this man is more dangerous by legions. Surrounding us, I feel an almost electric energy filling the night sky. One that threatens to burn us to crisps just by witnessing this man. During all this, they feast on the dead of Chesterberry. Among the dead is him. The First Paladin, the Red Knight, described to us before leaving. A man she hated but would never wish death upon is about to be eaten by two of the most enormous monsters. They fight in slow motion, finally ripping him in half like they are breaking bread. They devour him in a sick array of crunches and slurps.
"Isn't it beautiful?" the lone man says.
---
For the thousandth time tonight, my heart stops. His words don't fit the scenes before us. Instead, the full moon's glow gives an almost picturesque view of the horror.
"It's an art perfecting these magnificent things," he says.
He stands with his arms held out as if preparing to give a speech about the beauty of these monsters. The way he observes the creatures is chilling like a father watching his children play with their dolls. More beasts come out from places unknown within the town. Most are like men, while others are something else altogether. It is only possible to make a retreat now by engaging a few. But first, I need to determine whether this man threatens us.
"Who are you? Are you responsible for the massacre here and these ungodly monsters?" I say steadfastly.
The man turns his head slightly back, just enough for a side peek of his face. I discern no emotions from his face, but his blank expression sends fear through every fiber of my being. He is too far to make any interpretation of his intentions. It is time to press him further, but my voice locks up. I freeze as a deep, thick voice behind me prevents me from saying a word.
"Paladin, the area surrounding Chesterberry is secure. We have eliminated all stragglers," the voice says.
It comes directly from behind us, and on instinct, the two of us reposition ourselves. My eyes widen as I recognize a Hill Giant standing before us. Nearly fifteen feet in height, a giant in the truest sense of the word. The behemoth and formidable Hill Giant dons the signature armor of the renowned Order, our Lady of Light, the Red Knight, sent us to meet. He resembles more of a towering statue, chiseled and imposing. Blue, glowing orbs stare back at me as the man picks his ax up over his broad shoulders. He possesses a striking, romantic, and attractive appearance for a Hill Giant.
Hundreds of large, thick locks of braided chocolate brown hair fall down his back. Golden rings hold the bundles of hair tightly together. A broad and long square face gazes at us from his impressive height. His thick, arched eyebrows arch over large, monolid-shaped, slightly glowing purple eyes. His nose is long and robust as a giant, quickly being his most prominent facial feature with large down-turned lips.
In contrast to his square face, his cheekbones are broad and sharp with bulging bones. The long, clenched, pointy chin flows into a strong, angled jawline. Muscles bulge from his thick neck into his enormous chest. As a giant, his chest and torso pulsate with muscles no human enjoys under his golden lion-engraved armor. His torso in size alone dwarfs that of the mightiest man and twice the length. The Giant appears nude, as only his dark olive skin shines beneath the imposing armor he wears. Thick veins fork out from his hulking muscles like tributaries or tree roots. There is no doubt in my mind that his skin is as black as steel. The legs of his lower body are the size of tree trunks. Only a loincloth hides his protruding giant-hood. The stories I heard as a teenager are confirmed. More than twice his size, a colossal great ax sword rests by his side. A single blow from these gargantuan weapons would decimate a building because of its sheer size and width. The gigantic hilt only exceeds half my height. He wields a weapon indeed of tremendous power.
My eyes dart to a figure a few feet to our right flank, standing still as a statue of pure hate. I know this man is undoubtedly a High Elf for his physical features. However, the hate brewing from him rivals the intensely immense and intense anima radiating from his presence. Among the many High Elves, I have met before, his features and traits I can associate with none. Nearly perfect straight and long golden blonde hair falls over his shoulders, and deep silver round-shaped eyes glisten like silver in the moonlight. Breathtaking elongated ears peek from his golden blonde locks, giving away his unique heritage. Impeccable porcelain milky pale skin gleams slightly in the moon's light.
Even with his raging expression, I cannot question his handsome and beautiful face. The shape of his golden blonde eyebrows resembles perfect checkmarks. His elongated, prominent, slender nose, along with his paper-thin heart-shaped lips, stands out to me. His elegant appearance sets him apart from other High Elves. In addition, this High Elf possesses prominently prominent high cheekbones and an angular jawline. His physique matches his beauty, slender build, and lengthy abdomen. The armor he wears does not hide his muscular frame. Even his legs are longer than mine. Like the Giant, he, too, wears Crescent Moon armor. His weapon of choice is a golden longbow, no doubt created by the legendary Elven Smiths.
My senses detect another figure to his right, a woman. Her beauty matches mine. Long and wavy stallion black hair drapes around her slender hourglass curves, feminine figure, and armor. Within her thin, almond-shaped crystal blue eyes, I glimpse an overwhelming sense of sorrow I have never experienced before. A simple bow-tied, strappy white gown a noble would wear peeks from beneath her leather armor. Save for her Crescent Moon chest plate and golden sandals. The woman wears very little armor. Her pearly white skin sparkles and her oval face appears youthful. Crescent-shaped black eyebrows arch over her eyes. She is ravishingly beautiful with a dainty, slender nose and petite heart-shaped lips. The lines of her face follow her soft, contoured cheekbones into her rounded jawline and slightly pointy chin.
Her armor reveals her slender neckline, flaunting her ample, well-endowed bosom and slim curvy waistline. Her armor barely covers her elongated stomach, and her curvaceous hips curve down into thickly toned thighs. The length of her excessively long legs hints she could have Elven blood within her heritage. The golden staff she holds and the silver rapier at her waist are two-fold. Her silver rapier is a unique and rare weapon on this continent.
Lastly, the only human man among them stands far to the left of the Hill Giant. His stunningly lovely peachy complexion and beauty rival the male High Elf in every way. He has thick, medium-bleached blonde hair that falls roughly around his face. Tantalizing azure blue eyes peer back at us with irresistible azure blue eyes.
The only one out of the three to look directly at us. With bushy straight eyebrows and prominent angular cheekbones, his manly jawline is overshadowed by his square face and bushy arched eyebrows. A robust, enormous nose and broad down-turned lips slightly smile back at us. His facial features merge into the perfect combination of his handsome appearance. A gruff, full-blonde beard and mustache round off his look. He is a warrior in every sense, a physically muscular man in his prime, athletically shaped to the peak of human potential as if he descended from a war god. Even standing beside the Hill Giant, the human male seems more prominent than any man I have ever known. Broad shoulders, an impressively built torso, and a slender waistline hide beneath his black steel armor. His imposing body is both large and long. The man's muscled figure and legs seem to almost burst from the brown leather clothing he wears beneath his armor.
His weapon is of a type I am not familiar with. It is similar to a long sword but curved. Unlike the rest, I cannot sense his anima. 'Is that the reason we couldn't detect their presence?' To get this close without us being aware is frightening. The man among them now speaks. His very voice commands that all listen.
"What do you wish to do with these two? I believe that the previous First Paladin summoned them," he says.
"It's been some time since my Knight Generals have assembled. How long has it been?" the First Paladin says.
"Centuries at least," the woman says.
As I draw the strength to speak, I take a deep breath. "I will ask again, what has happened here?" I say.
At that moment, after I speak, the First Paladin turns to reveal his face. A pair of black eyes with gold irises glare back at me. His expression conveys the presence of unimaginable intelligence, yet I wish I had not laid eyes on him. The idea of what he can do to me, my body, my soul, transcends beyond my comprehension. Here before me is no man but a being of unknown creation. The halo above his head isn't an optical illusion. Yet, I know it cannot possibly be of divine origin. Through my trembling body, all of existence bears down on me to the point the bitter taste of iron and copper permeates my mouth. Merely standing before him with his focus on me is enough to cause damage. A shocking gasp slips from my sister's mouth.
"A creation needs nourishment to grow. To reach its true potential. Although it needs something else as well... Breakthrough through the boundaries of what is possible... The two of you are... A blessing in that regard," the man says.
One of the two colossal creatures bows its head low enough to be near him. The Paladin gently caresses the monster's face with a love that is out of context. Only the blood spraying from its neck clues me into the horror I witnessed. Its body stands frozen for a moment. One that feels like hours before slumping over. Then, it almost burns into ashes before revealing a headless man's body. My attention turns back to the Paladin, who has just discarded a decapitated head. In one hand, he holds what looks like a black wooden mask.
Before I can digest anything, the other gigantic creature kneels before him. Déjà vu hits me as I witness the exact moment again. The blood, there is so much blood, yet these are men. They are not monsters at all. Now, he carries two of those demonic masks. He holds them up and lets go of them. They unnaturally hang in the air. My mind can only guess what magic this is. I grip my sword in front of me. Sweat drips down my face now.
The Paladin draws two jet-black swords similar to the one that man wields. I feel the anima bleeding off each blade. Waves of sheer force hit me with the power of oceans. I take a step back as he takes a stance against us. A fleeting moment later, pain explodes throughout my body. I haven't even blinked. My vision gives way to blurriness. I look down to see the Paladin's black sword impaling my chest. 'How had he gotten behind me to stab me in the back?' He walks in front of us, still wielding his two blades. I am puzzled by the fact that one of his blades pierces my chest.
"Pain is the most effective way to gain experience. The most efficient way to grow beyond what the gods intended for you. Through pain, one can become absolute," he says.
I am scared to death when I hear a thud next to me. Holding her chest, my sister lies on the ground. In the exact spot where mine protrudes, the same black blade protrudes. Blood pools around her body. I want to curse this man for harming my sister, but it isn't over yet. He sheaths his blades before kneeling beside her. As if on cue, one of those masks floats to his hand. He casually takes both masks in his hands without hesitation. The black blades he wields before simply float in the air beside him. I watch as he places it on her face.
Oh God, her screams come to life as they slowly wrap black tendrils around her face. Unimaginable fear consumes me like a disease, and I curse my body for not reacting. I cannot blame myself. The fear I feel surpasses anything I thought possible. His sword must have severed my spine, and there is nothing I can do when he turns his attention to me. The black mask is already in his hand. My lips tremble with horrible anticipation.
"Pain is absolute. Through it, you will become pure," he whispers, looking into my eyes.
Tears roll down my face in droves. My vision fades as the mask slowly blocks out all else. When it touches my face, I feel myself fall into an ever-black abyss.