Shagal sighed with relief under the muted glow of predawn, greatly enjoying her new life of clarity. She thought back to how, not long ago, she had been consumed with thoughts of vengeance upon waking, reliving the heartache and blood-soaked battles, and blaming phantoms and ideas for losses beyond her control.
But Master Kaito had lifted the veil from her eyes. Showed her how to quiet the restless anger and truly see the world unfolding around her.
Like how leaves of amber, crimson and gold drifted on the gentle breeze. Or the lone call of a singing bird bidding the short days goodbye. A pair of squirrels chased one another, their bushy tails fluttering amongst increasingly bare branches.
These simple beauties weren’t there before Kaito unclouded her vision.
She saw now that most things were not as they first appeared.
Even the seeming obliviousness of King Aldric as he pursued mystical prophecies rather than caring for his family. Shagal wished to roar and shake the old king from his delusions.
Yet she also understood one could not force another to walk in truth. The king, like Shagal once had, walked without a compass. He must arrive at wisdom in his own time, through his own trials. Not by an angry warrior’s fists.
So she would protect Daiyudura in her own way, by growing stronger under Master Kaito’s tutelage. She took comfort that the light still burned within the hearts of the people...and that the princess, her friend, was safe.
For now, that was enough.
But there were other things she also noticed, like subtle energies that pricked at her senses—the unique mana traces of powerful individuals. Ones also seeking her master.
Like Goren. Shagal pitied the skilled elf, so consumed with pride and desperation. She understood now that obsession was a byproduct of the king’s choices.
The elf was not evil, merely shortsighted, craving acknowledgement he felt owed for long years of service. If left unchecked though, Shagal worried such cravings might drive him down dangerous roads.
Master Kaito had charged Shagal with being his eyes and ears here in the capital while he walked other roads. She would honor that duty, monitoring potential threats that might disrupt her master’s designs.
Yet if someone like Goren spiraled too far into darkness...Shagal tightened her fist. She would intervene as necessary, even beyond Kaito’s commands. Because wisdom opened one’s mind to consequences as well as beauty. And she would temper the storm before it raged out of control.
She drew one long breath through flared nostrils, taking in subtle scents upon the breeze and ready to answer any who endangered her master’s vision of harmony.
Such was her duty now.
▬▬ι════════ﺤ
Goren’s gaze swept over collapsed roofs, charred walls, and debris-littered dirt roads. Scorch marks and deep cuts on wooden beams confirmed the reports he’d received. As feared, not a living soul stirred in the gloomy twilight.
I was right.
I’m always right.
I warned the fool this would happen.
A prickling on the back of his neck made him whirl. Two small girls huddled under a leaning porch, clutching each other desperately. One held a crying blanket-wrapped bundle.
Goren straightened slowly. “Easy now, I’ve come to help.” He kept his voice soft, beckoning them forward. When they still hesitated, he knelt down, keeping eye contact and speaking gently. “I promise no harm will come to you with me.” He patiently held out a hand until the older girl approached to take it, trusting him. Noticing her shivering, removed his cloak and draped it around them. “There, better?”
The older girl found her voice first. “A monster came...Killed everyone. We hid with baby brother in the cellar.” Her voice hitched on a sob and she hugged the bundle protectively.
As calmly as possible, Goren dropped to one knee once again, meeting their frightened faces.
“Let’s get you out of here before that thing comes back. Come on, I’ll take you someplace warm” He awkwardly opened his arms and the girls crashed into him. Their shaky thin shoulders felt like bird bones pressing against his oak-like frame.
Abruptly, a thick, bark-covered tendril whipped towards them with terrifying speed.
Acting on instinct, he released the girls and snatched the attacking vine from the air inches from their faces. He rapidly coiled the maniacal tendril around his forearm, biceps bulged as he easily overpowered the tugging force. Bracing himself, he gave an almighty…
‘Yank.’
With a shrill, inhuman shriek, the owner of the vine was ripped from concealment in the underbrush. Goren was now face-to-face with some weird fox-tree mashup thing. Its long body was covered in nasty bark-like skin and it had an angry bushy tail swishing behind it. Fierce green eyes in a vulpine face regarded Goren with cunning intensity even as electricity visibly coursed through its branch-like limbs.
He met that glare unflinchingly. With a guttural bellow, the creature released the stored energy, blue-white current crackling down the entrapping vine towards Goren’s heart.
Instead of flinching, Goren just laughed as the deadly voltages tickled his skin. With a quick flex, he snapped the burnt vine in his fingers. Still chuckling, he cracked his knuckles with a threatening grin.
“Earth IDM and lightning IDM shouldn’t be able to coexist. Interesting.”
Goren stretched his neck, loosening up tight muscles as he squared off against the bizarre creature. Then it spoke up in a freaky, non-human voice.
“You face Thunderbark, Guardian of Trosby Wood.” It dragged its big claws down a tree, carving deep scratches. “I was given life by the mage Bobbus Stormbringer who sought a guardian for this forest.” It had a fast, deep and raspy voice.
Of all the dark sorcery I’ve faced...is this what my life has come down to? he sighed heavily.
“He worked a powerful magic—fusing the spirit of a cunning fox with the venerable tenacity of an ancient oak.”
Relaxing its branches, Thunderbark continued. “There was a great storm the night his ritual climaxed. Bobbus called upon me as a thunderbolt split the heavens, infusing wild energies into the tree just as the fox and oak became one.”
The creature puffed its furry chest out. “And now, with the true hero gone, these woods will again be purified and restored by Thunderbark!” It bragged cockily before clamping its mouth shut, seeing Goren cracking up hard with laughter.
“W-what? Do you dare mock your new lord and master?!” it spluttered indignantly.
Goren scoffed loudly. “That old wizard was surely delusional. A tree-fox hybrid? Seems his well of creativity has hit rock bottom.” He flicked a finger at its gnarled body derisively.
The creature let out a loud roar, freaking out as it jumped back. Goren could’ve sworn he saw real pain flash across its face right before the forest exploded around him. Roots and vines whipped up out of the dirt like snakes, shooting for his arms and legs to grab and squeeze him tight.
Sneering, Goren threw both arms wide. Blasts of dazzling energy erupted from his palms, instantly blasting the wiggly vines into piles of floating burnt bits. He stepped forward, looking down on the creature.
As Goren stepped closer, he found himself pondering his role as Daiyudura’s defender. But then caught a glimpse of Thunderbark’s fox-like snout awkwardly protruding from its tree-like body. Defending the realm from this stupidity, he thought, shaking his head.
Seeing the elf easily dismantle its attacks, Thunderbark shuffled backwards on its root-like legs, thrown off and trying to shield itself with its long limbs. Goren moved in closer as the thing pitifully raised its arms, attempting to escape the elf’s godlike, brilliant, yellow, flame-covered body.
It pleaded.
It shrank back.
It was pathetic.
“H-how?! I commanded Primal IDM, Lightning IDM and Earth IDM with perfect synchronicity!” It crawled backwards more. “You must have cheated somehow!” Pointing a quivering claw in accusation. “I shall strip your ill-gotten powers and expose you as a fraud!” Thunderbark immediately launched itself full-on at the elf, only to simply splash harmlessly against him and slide down to puddle weakly at his feet.
The creature cow
“Mercy...” It whimpered, It cowered beneath his pitiless glare.
“You threaten the kingdom and beg for mercy?” Goren growled. In a blink, he launched himself forward, unleashing a barrage of destructive blows that impacted the critter’s bark-like torso. Loud booms went off with each heavy smash as blasts of hot energy slammed in too, burning its fur and setting pieces of wood on fire.
Thunderbark could only release pitiful yowls and take the assault. Desperate vines and roots burst from the ground seeking to intervene but were obliterated by Goren’s relentless strikes.
Thunderbark, was it? More like a strolling heap of dung.
Finally, the ruined creature crashed to the forest floor, its smashed body looking way worse than the village it has just ravaged. It let out a last wheezy breath before going still, the surrounding woods preternaturally silent.
Goren straightened and turned to the huddled girls staring wide-eyed nearby. He beckoned them over gently. “It’s alright, you’re safe now. How about that warm place,” he said with golden flames still dancing across his frame.
When the little boy burbled happily at the flickering lights, Goren gently wiggled fingers casting colorful sparks for his amusement. The baby’s delighted laughter echoed through the battlefield.
Goren took one last look at the defeated creature—its snout now brutally crushed inward—as it began dissolving into the earth, returning whence it came.
“Young ones, should you ever venture into the mystical arts, please promise me you won’t conjure such redundant abominations.”
▬▬ι════════ﺤ
Prince Regindis blinked awake to find himself bound from neck to toe in a stone cocoon, only his head free. Kota stood before him, one small hand raised as earthen bonds held the prince fast.
Regindis scowled. “What is this, boy? We will have you executed!” He struggled uselessly.
Kota tilted his head, stony stare unblinking. “You’re now dead, my prince.”
Shagal sighed with relief under the muted glow of predawn, greatly enjoying her new life of clarity. She thought back to how, not long ago, she had been consumed with thoughts of vengeance upon waking, reliving the heartache and blood-soaked battles, and blaming phantoms and ideas for losses beyond her control.
But Master Kaito had lifted the veil from her eyes. Showed her how to quiet the restless anger and truly see the world unfolding around her.
Like how leaves of amber, crimson and gold drifted on the gentle breeze. Or the lone call of a singing bird bidding the short days goodbye. A pair of squirrels chased one another, their bushy tails fluttering amongst increasingly bare branches.
These simple beauties weren’t there before Kaito unclouded her vision.
She saw now that most things were not as they first appeared.
Even the seeming obliviousness of King Aldric as he pursued mystical prophecies rather than caring for his family. Shagal wished to roar and shake the old king from his delusions.
Yet she also understood one could not force another to walk in truth. The king, like Shagal once had, walked without a compass. He must arrive at wisdom in his own time, through his own trials. Not by an angry warrior’s fists.
So she would protect Daiyudura in her own way, by growing stronger under Master Kaito’s tutelage. She took comfort that the light still burned within the hearts of the people...and that the princess, her friend, was safe.
For now, that was enough.
But there were other things she also noticed, like subtle energies that pricked at her senses—the unique mana traces of powerful individuals. Ones also seeking her master.
Like Goren. Shagal pitied the skilled elf, so consumed with pride and desperation. She understood now that obsession was a byproduct of the king’s choices.
The elf was not evil, merely shortsighted, craving acknowledgement he felt owed for long years of service. If left unchecked though, Shagal worried such cravings might drive him down dangerous roads.
Master Kaito had charged Shagal with being his eyes and ears here in the capital while he walked other roads. She would honor that duty, monitoring potential threats that might disrupt her master’s designs.
Yet if someone like Goren spiraled too far into darkness...Shagal tightened her fist. She would intervene as necessary, even beyond Kaito’s commands. Because wisdom opened one’s mind to consequences as well as beauty. And she would temper the storm before it raged out of control.
She drew one long breath through flared nostrils, taking in subtle scents upon the breeze and ready to answer any who endangered her master’s vision of harmony.
Such was her duty now.
▬▬ι════════ﺤ
Goren’s gaze swept over collapsed roofs, charred walls, and debris-littered dirt roads. Scorch marks and deep cuts on wooden beams confirmed the reports he’d received. As feared, not a living soul stirred in the gloomy twilight.
I was right.
I’m always right.
I warned the fool this would happen.
A prickling on the back of his neck made him whirl. Two small girls huddled under a leaning porch, clutching each other desperately. One held a crying blanket-wrapped bundle.
Goren straightened slowly. “Easy now, I’ve come to help.” He kept his voice soft, beckoning them forward. When they still hesitated, he knelt down, keeping eye contact and speaking gently. “I promise no harm will come to you with me.” He patiently held out a hand until the older girl approached to take it, trusting him. Noticing her shivering, removed his cloak and draped it around them. “There, better?”
The older girl found her voice first. “A monster came...Killed everyone. We hid with baby brother in the cellar.” Her voice hitched on a sob and she hugged the bundle protectively.
As calmly as possible, Goren dropped to one knee once again, meeting their frightened faces.
“Let’s get you out of here before that thing comes back. Come on, I’ll take you someplace warm” He awkwardly opened his arms and the girls crashed into him. Their shaky thin shoulders felt like bird bones pressing against his oak-like frame.
Abruptly, a thick, bark-covered tendril whipped towards them with terrifying speed.
Acting on instinct, he released the girls and snatched the attacking vine from the air inches from their faces. He rapidly coiled the maniacal tendril around his forearm, biceps bulged as he easily overpowered the tugging force. Bracing himself, he gave an almighty…
‘Yank.’
With a shrill, inhuman shriek, the owner of the vine was ripped from concealment in the underbrush. Goren was now face-to-face with some weird fox-tree mashup thing. Its long body was covered in nasty bark-like skin and it had an angry bushy tail swishing behind it. Fierce green eyes in a vulpine face regarded Goren with cunning intensity even as electricity visibly coursed through its branch-like limbs.
He met that glare unflinchingly. With a guttural bellow, the creature released the stored energy, blue-white current crackling down the entrapping vine towards Goren’s heart.
Instead of flinching, Goren just laughed as the deadly voltages tickled his skin. With a quick flex, he snapped the burnt vine in his fingers. Still chuckling, he cracked his knuckles with a threatening grin.
“Earth IDM and lightning IDM shouldn’t be able to coexist. Interesting.”
Goren stretched his neck, loosening up tight muscles as he squared off against the bizarre creature. Then it spoke up in a freaky, non-human voice.
“You face Thunderbark, Guardian of Trosby Wood.” It dragged its big claws down a tree, carving deep scratches. “I was given life by the mage Bobbus Stormbringer who sought a guardian for this forest.” It had a fast, deep and raspy voice.
Of all the dark sorcery I’ve faced...is this what my life has come down to? he sighed heavily.
“He worked a powerful magic—fusing the spirit of a cunning fox with the venerable tenacity of an ancient oak.”
Relaxing its branches, Thunderbark continued. “There was a great storm the night his ritual climaxed. Bobbus called upon me as a thunderbolt split the heavens, infusing wild energies into the tree just as the fox and oak became one.”
The creature puffed its furry chest out. “And now, with the true hero gone, these woods will again be purified and restored by Thunderbark!” It bragged cockily before clamping its mouth shut, seeing Goren cracking up hard with laughter.
“W-what? Do you dare mock your new lord and master?!” it spluttered indignantly.
Goren scoffed loudly. “That old wizard was surely delusional. A tree-fox hybrid? Seems his well of creativity has hit rock bottom.” He flicked a finger at its gnarled body derisively.
The creature let out a loud roar, freaking out as it jumped back. Goren could’ve sworn he saw real pain flash across its face right before the forest exploded around him. Roots and vines whipped up out of the dirt like snakes, shooting for his arms and legs to grab and squeeze him tight.
Sneering, Goren threw both arms wide. Blasts of dazzling energy erupted from his palms, instantly blasting the wiggly vines into piles of floating burnt bits. He stepped forward, looking down on the creature.
As Goren stepped closer, he found himself pondering his role as Daiyudura’s defender. But then caught a glimpse of Thunderbark’s fox-like snout awkwardly protruding from its tree-like body. Defending the realm from this stupidity, he thought, shaking his head.
Seeing the elf easily dismantle its attacks, Thunderbark shuffled backwards on its root-like legs, thrown off and trying to shield itself with its long limbs. Goren moved in closer as the thing pitifully raised its arms, attempting to escape the elf’s godlike, brilliant, yellow, flame-covered body.
It pleaded.
It shrank back.
It was pathetic.
“H-how?! I commanded Primal IDM, Lightning IDM and Earth IDM with perfect synchronicity!” It crawled backwards more. “You must have cheated somehow!” Pointing a quivering claw in accusation. “I shall strip your ill-gotten powers and expose you as a fraud!” Thunderbark immediately launched itself full-on at the elf, only to simply splash harmlessly against him and slide down to puddle weakly at his feet.
The creature cow
“Mercy...” It whimpered, It cowered beneath his pitiless glare.
“You threaten the kingdom and beg for mercy?” Goren growled. In a blink, he launched himself forward, unleashing a barrage of destructive blows that impacted the critter’s bark-like torso. Loud booms went off with each heavy smash as blasts of hot energy slammed in too, burning its fur and setting pieces of wood on fire.
Thunderbark could only release pitiful yowls and take the assault. Desperate vines and roots burst from the ground seeking to intervene but were obliterated by Goren’s relentless strikes.
Thunderbark, was it? More like a strolling heap of dung.
Finally, the ruined creature crashed to the forest floor, its smashed body looking way worse than the village it has just ravaged. It let out a last wheezy breath before going still, the surrounding woods preternaturally silent.
Goren straightened and turned to the huddled girls staring wide-eyed nearby. He beckoned them over gently. “It’s alright, you’re safe now. How about that warm place,” he said with golden flames still dancing across his frame.
When the little boy burbled happily at the flickering lights, Goren gently wiggled fingers casting colorful sparks for his amusement. The baby’s delighted laughter echoed through the battlefield.
Goren took one last look at the defeated creature—its snout now brutally crushed inward—as it began dissolving into the earth, returning whence it came.
“Young ones, should you ever venture into the mystical arts, please promise me you won’t conjure such redundant abominations.”
▬▬ι════════ﺤ
Prince Regindis blinked awake to find himself bound from neck to toe in a stone cocoon, only his head free. Kota stood before him, one small hand raised as earthen bonds held the prince fast.
Regindis scowled. “What is this, boy? We will have you executed!” He struggled uselessly.
Kota tilted his head, stony stare unblinking. “You’re now dead, my prince.”
