亚洲综合中美

“You don’t have much time to live,” he said, unaffected by the decrepit visitor. Her lungs wheezed, efforts to open her mouth stopped, words never left her tongue, the intent was there, yet, the physical state disallowed her triumph.

Under a lowered tone – mildly above a whisper, she rose a defeated look at Igna – the knees dropped harshly on the cave’s rocky surface, “-save my daughter.”

“The villagers are here, either she escaped or was somehow harmed. No matter the reason, they’re here to kill, the blood lust is discreet but present. Tell me,” he dropped to one knee and held her chin, “-you’re not from this region, nor are you a native of this world. The energy within feels angelic, yet, there lays a sliver of darkness, the hubris of a demon. I don’t imagine there’s much strength left to tell a story. Here, mother of Terisa,” he held out an open palm, an invitation, “-heed my words well,” the voice echoed, “-my name’s Igna Haggard, bearer of lord Death’s will, Kronos’s sickle, Nike’s wings and inheritor of Origin’s will, else titled the Devil. Look at me,” he leaned forth, “-peer into my eyes and tell me, Mother of Terisa, will you make a deal with the devil?”

Her heart dropped, pain sparked from the feet to her back, the jolt had her squint and grin, “-deal?” she blinked cluelessly.

“Yes,” he said, “-a deal. Tell me what thee wish, tell me thy darkest secret, allow my powers to be the sword who slashes indifferently at those who did thee wrong.”

“I’m already dead,” she said, “-take what you want,” she gasped, “-destroy them, the celestials, make them suffer, make them pay for my suffering,” she wept, “-save my daughter, she’s the only one who justifies my existence. Please, Devil, help me get justice...” he held her head in his arm and ran his fingers through her head.

.....

“Thy request has been heard, I, on my name, vow to undo the wrong caused.” *Blood-Arts: Crimson Treads,* black rods materialized out his fingers and snapped into the lady’s head – memories known to her became his, and soon, on her breathing the last breath, was overwhelmed by satisfaction, joy, and pleasure. The last moments were the best she’d experience, and without regret – transferred through the gates of life and death. Her soul, an amber orb, shot up through the cave and joined the stars, after passing the somber cloud ceiling.

*Snap,* movement resumed, “-what do we do if he’s awake?” said short whispers. Drops of the heavy rain echoed and amplified the more they walked. “If he’s awake, we’ll use this,” the leader brandished an artifact, a strangely shaped object described as a miniaturized drawn bow and arrow. “-one shot and it’s able to kill a celestial.”

“Where did you get hold of such a thing?” the followers inquired in excitement and horror, the blueish lantern gave but a meter’s sight.

“I stole it,” said the man proudly, “-from the house of a celestial under the mountain.”

“If they find out, you’ll die man...”

“Who cares,” he motioned to get down, “-there’s someone ahead.”

Indeed, there was, the greedy trio snuck into his territory. A short but loud clap rattled the area, orbs of white flickered, the cavernous inside overflowed in light. Igna leaned against a table on which rested the deceased ‘witch’.

“Is she what you’re looking for?” he asked nonchalantly, the hands at ease and posture open.

“The witch,” blinked one, “-Osna was right, she is here.”

The leader took one step in and fired, “-and what if she is?”

“See,” he pushed against the edge and skipped down a step, “-asking for names is tedious. There are times when I want to know the other person, and others, I rather avoid the whole thing altogether. Listen, trio of miscreants – the lady whomst thee so rudely referred as ‘witch’ is the mother of one of my students, her name’s Laurine, and you’d best remember.”

“It’s forbidden to say her name,” said a lesser intelligent companion, the leader, stark and annoyed, side-glanced harshly, “-shut it, Yoen.”

“But he says...”

“Yoen, shut up,” added the tranquil third one. Dressed in standard clothes under which lined a thin coat of chainmail, the trio was very much experienced in the ways of combat – such was told by the posture, of which was alert and cautious, and placement of their feet, a position of balance and strength.

“Yoen,” said Igna, “-tell me, why are you here?”

“Don’t answ-” a flick of the fingers sent one flying beyond the reach of the orbs.

“I will have no interjection,” thundered Igna, “-Yoen, tell me, what happened, tell me everything,” he held out his palm, *speak the truth, puppet to the world, puppet to the laws of nature,* sparks of purple snapped inside the man’s head – consciousness left the pupils – he took a step and dropped in a respectful bow, “-we’re here to kill you.”

“What’s the reason?”

“An emissary from the Celestial kingdom has decreed resident of the grotto to be a worshipper of the devil, or otherwise, the devil himself. The day of culling stands a few nights away, when the moon turns red, the hammer of justice will fall and worshiper will be executed under the authority of the Sen Dynasty.”

Igna mockingly lifted an eyebrow at the frozen leader, “-see, he talks,” said the regard.

“What happened to Terisa?”

“She jumped and tried to argue against the chief’s word. He then smacked her to her place. Young Tim was badly injured, so said the emissary. Tim’s the pride of our village, and he said if not for the sorcery the visitor taught, he’d be well. Tim’s parents lashed at Terisa; the mother nearly killed. By request of the chief’s son, he took her away. We soon found out they were gone – the villagers are headed to the log cabin; they must have arrived already.”

*Woosh,* projectile teleported into Igna’s inner barrier, there was no time to react, the symbols of power lit viciously – the cave exploded. In wake of the attack, the house laid somewhat damaged as for the cave, a massive hole peered into the outside, ‘-it tore through...’ a snap of the wrist, earth elemental faes joined to cover the hole. Mist subsided, the attackers were bound by chains of ice, “-you surprised me,” he turned and cackled, “-it took half of my right shoulder,” he walked with body grievously injured, bones exposed and blood poured, the face remained unbothered, “-sweet, sweet nectar,” *Blood-Arts: Extria,* the crimson liquid sucked from the fellow deep into the cave’s lifeless body – it swirled shyly above Igna’s head, “-you attacked,” *Blood-Arts: Bloody Mary,* he flicked the pills of crystal into his mouth and chewed, “-and nearly killed me, I shudder the thought,” he posed sarcastically and snatched the artifact. A few glances and he crushed the item, ‘-an improvement on scrolls, it carried a very dangerous spell. Judgment of Meia, the demon-goddess of Nala, sibling of Tharis. Guess tales about the Celestials being the later generations of gods is true. I wonder,” he casually held the two by the neck and lifted, “-might there be descendants from Kronos, Nike, and even Athena?” Tiny steps scurried across puddles and into the grotto, Igna, amplified by the orbs, cast a massive shadow on the house – on it was him crushing necks, the lifeless bodies fell and their blood gathered in a halo around his head.

“T-t-teacher?”

“Tania?” he glanced, “-why are you here?” before stood a sibling of Tim, the shy younger sister who hid every time she promenaded around the cave.

“Why are cousin Egor and Yoen on the floor?” she blinked, her flush cheeks and lowered ears projected fear in her eyes.

“Cousin Egor and Yoen tried to kill me,” he returned uncaringly, “-why are you here?” he stepped, she backed off, “-and where are your parents, it’s bad to leave a child out at this hour?”

“Teacher... you’re scaring me...”

“Don’t be,” the oppressive aura dropped, “-I was joking with you,” he smiled, Egor and Yoen rose in the background, “-I need food,” said the former, “-wait for me,” interjected the latter.

“See,” he smiled, “-they’re fine. What happened, tell me?”

At ease, her bunny ears straightened, “-it’s Terisa,” she said, “-I heard from the faes, they said she’s badly hurt. I told mother and father...”

“-and you ran here?”

“Yes, Terisa is a friend. We play in the fields, she even made me a toy... I love her, she’s funny.”

“Good job,” a snack materialized.

“I’m not hungry.’

“Sorry, you made me think of my daughter,” the snack changed into a figurine of a doll which wore a white, emotionless kabuki mask. It laid virtually as the meaning of creepy – young Tania’s little hands reached to grasp the toy rapidly, her eyes lit.

‘Terisa and Laurine,’ the orbs shut, the cave darkened. Igna took Tania by the hand and strolled for the village, ‘-Laurine’s memories are interesting. A girl born to the unruly union of a goddess and demon, she bears the blood of both kin, a rare feat. Her soul’s split, one part’s angelic, the other demonic. She once held a seat at the table of Marinda’s elite, an offspring of the angel of beauty. The Celestials, enchanted by her wit and charm, must have fallen prey to the vixen. She’s not so innocent, her climb to the top was made from intimate relations with key faction leaders, a steady climb, stepping over dignified bloodlines to reach her goal. Let’s see,’ the memories passed, ‘-got pregnant by a god, bore the child, and named her Terisa. After the birth, she was excommunicated from the capital under the pretense of sorcery. Magic’s heavily regulated and the celestials hold the key to what is and can’t be learned or performed. The fall from grace didn’t look so bad, a lovely house was built in her honor – time passed, the people faded, her contacts disappeared, the anguish of ladies turned to torture, betrayed wives and their families chastised her deeply, sullied the reputation and cast a curse of malady on her person. Her punishment, defacement by the claws of beasts of the night,’ armed by what she’d gone through and did, he arrived at the village where little Tania scurried for her house. Rain fell harshly, lights sparsely escape the houses, ‘-are they out?’ he continued to the well, ‘-here’s where she was slapped for trying to defend my reputation. She’s a sweet little kid, someone responsible enough to take care of her ill mother,’ twinkles in the night caught his attention, they pointed into the forest, ‘-and again, life isn’t fair.’

He headed for the lights, ‘-my blood should be boiling by now,’ he watched his fist clench and unclench, ‘-instead, I feel calm and collected. The attack earlier,’ glance on the symbol, “-still here, aren’t you?”

“Worried I’ll take control?” said a faceless black outline, “-don’t worry, my time has passed, I’m not selfish, we’re one of the same.”

“Say that it was you who saved me earlier...”

“Yes, it’s me, and you shouldn’t feel grateful for tis my job. Igna, I’m the past, I’m Staxius, I’m dead, what you hear is your own voice, your own consciousness, for I’m but the remnants of the death element.”

“Don’t forget about me,” interjected another, “-I’m the cursed king, and I will not rest, for I’ll never live the day again where we’re betrayed and blindsided.”

“Remember,” they whispered, “-you’re us, and we’re you.”

“Go away!” the outlines disappeared, he laid face to face at a battlefield, monsters ran circles around Terisa, ‘-death...’