Once Forgotten 3.3

Gartrand wiped blood from his face. He was growing weary, despite drawing strength from his element. Lirand wasn’t much better. Yet still, Reaper after Reaper charged them, seeking only one thing: their end. Gartrand slashed through one, only to have two more fill its place. “Any chance you can muster up another Light Burst?”

Lirand shook his head. “Not a chance. Besides,” he sliced off a head, “it doesn’t work on these. They’re much more than shadow.” Beraneathan laughed as he watched his minions wear them down. The moon had long since risen and was now highest in the sky.

The Demon frowned and turned away, to the north. Something was amiss. The powers were off. Darkness grew only to suddenly withdraw. The powers swirled in strange waves that crashed over them. Gartrand and Lirand felt, as well as saw, their opportunity. Taking the Demon by surprise, they rushed him. With a fearsome cry, Gartrand thrust his weapon hilt deep into the Demon God’s heart. Shock, horror, and hatred flashed across his face as he whirled about. He knelt down, feeling his physical body vanishing. Lirand leaped forward then and slammed the full force of Light into him. A piercing cry of utter agony and suffering sounded as Beraneathan felt his soul disperse.

The Reapers grunted and chattered amongst themselves. Unsure of what else to do, they scattered, leaderless. The two Overseers turned to each other. Gartrand shook his head. “Eleven Above!”

“What…what just happened?!” Lirand exclaimed. The other Overseer shook his head again.

“I…I’m not sure. I fear something has happened.” He responded.

Lirand slumped to the ground, exhausted. “I’m not sure whether to rejoice or crawl into a hole…”

“I’m going to rejoice when this is all over.” Gartrand said, leaning heavily upon his sword, the point buried in the ground. “It appears our job here is accomplished.”

“So we can head back now, right?” Lirand asked.

Gartrand nodded. “Aye, to whatever fate awaits us, be it evil or benign.”

Wearily, the two began the long night of helping the villagers set their village back in order.
************************************************************

Flamian closed his eyes, soaring high above the ground. His red scales glinted blue with moonlight. His wings flapped once in a while, keeping him aloft. He lazily opened his maw and yawned. Walking about as a human wasn’t too bad, yet a draigon had to balance both sides. On one side was the human, but the other side was the dragon. He spiraled up, his long neck stretching out, wings stirring the wind with every flap. Behind him, his powerful tail guided his every direction.

He rolled upright. Sure, his race was not the only to have a form other than human, yet by far his was one of the superior. The only reason the wolves ruled was his race preferred a more behind the scenes role. He chuckled. That and the wolves were too stubborn have it any other way. Still, they paid tribute. And, as he had learned, wolves weren’t so bad. Although, Dylan could get on his nerves every now and then.

He reached back into his memory, tapping into the Collective. The Collective was the name given to the memory he shared with the rest of his race. Draigons were, in many ways, far more emotional creatures than even humans. They shared a deep connection through the Collective, able to feel each other’s essence to the point where they were all individual creatures, yet they were all one entity. The Queen, his sister, Kaylandra, used the Collective as means of keeping the clans united. He, Flamian, had been the first to weaponize it. At the end of the Calrian War, he hadn’t been given much choice. Calrius had pinned Dylan’s forces down hard, and Flamian had made a terrible choice. He had tapped the Collective, and from it, the minds of the draigons still loyal to their cause. United in a way that hadn’t before existed, they had attacked as one mass. Calrius’ forces had been utterly crushed.

Sounds of metal clanging drew his attention. He swung his head down and around, locking onto the fighting. Rogues! He swooped down, changing to his human form within seconds. Wings flared, he slammed into the ground, enjoying the rush from his quick landing. The rogues whirled, their attention drawn from the band of travelers.

“It’s a stinkin’ lizard! Gut him! We’ll roast his hide!” Their leader laughed.

Flamian smiled, throwing back his cloak, sword swinging into his hand in a flash. If there was one thing he really liked, it was the ability to be clothed when changing back to human. All draigons had this. It was part of their particular magyck. He spun, the sharp, blade-like tip of his tail slicing through a man’s neck. Crimson rained briefly, as the man’s life left him.

“By the might of Arayinda! A Hunter Drax!!” One of them called out. Others followed suit with curses. Their leader eyed Flamian with mild interest.

“Either way, he still bleeds. Attack pattern Zerock.” The man called out.

Flamian frowned. These weren’t rogues. Soldiers. Caliman soldiers. “These lands are the lands of the Drax. The wolves govern it, but we own it. What is your business, Tresspassers?” He snarled, his curved fangs glinting in the firelight, venom dripping.

“You flying lizards don’t frighten us! Soon, we will be the dominant people! You sorry lizards had your time; it’s our turn to be the ruling power!” The Commander said. He raised a hand to his lips and let out three sharp whistles.

Soldiers popped up everywhere, surrounding him. Flamian’s eyes widened. This was more than just a raiding party. A whole army spread out around him. His eyes narrowed with rage and anger. “Invaders!” He shouted with his mind. Draigons, wolves, humans, he didn’t care who heard it. All the Six Nations was threatened. A force slammed into him without warning, throwing him back several feet. He picked himself off the ground, wiping blood from his lips. A mage, and a powerful one at that.

Flamian chuckled as he stood to his full height. His sword was pinned to the ground by a soldier. He shrugged. “I merely use that because I like it.” He closed his eyes, focusing. When he reopened them, his blue-grey eyes were streaked with an orange that shimmered like fire. Energy swirled about the mage before him, his robe billowing in the wind it caused. Flames sprang up around them, creating a circle, the soldiers leaping back to keep from getting burned. “Fire is so much better to fight with. Leaves less of a mess to clean up.” He threw out an arm, fire flowing along it. It streamed at the mage, who raised a palm, splitting it around him. Screams erupted behind him, and his eyes shot back to Flamian. The draigon shrugged. “You failed to stop it.”

“You reptiles are all the same. Arrogant! Proud! Always leaving us in the dirt so you can live in luxury!” The mage snarled.

Flamian glared. “First of all, I’m not a reptile! We happen to be warm blooded! And luxury? Have you ever even been to our mountains? We prefer simple things! We forsake lives of ease for the benefit of all!”

The mage threw out his hand. A shockwave rode along the ground, causing the earth to rise up. The draigon nimbly held out a hand, stopping it. The man’s eyes widened. Flamian smirked. “And I am no mere Drax.” With ease, he sent the wave back. It slammed into the mage, knocking him to the ground. From the east, there came a sound that struck fear into the soldiers hearts. Wing beats. Hundreds of them.

Kaylandra landed, sword at the ready, her long blond hair tied behind her head. Flanking her were her personal guard, decked out in full Drax armor, which consisted of helmet, chest plate, and shin guards. The gaps were filled in with scales. Above, at least a hundred Warriors circled. “What is the meaning of this?!”

The circle of fire died down. Flamian nodded to his sister. The Commander trembled with awe and fear. “Flamian…”

Kaylandra’s eyes narrowed as Flamian mentally relayed everything to her. She turned to face them, emerald eyes blazing. “So, Calima thinks it can just walk all over us, does it?”

“Blood…flesh…food…” A figure emerged from the shadows. The creature, roughly humanoid, staggered, as though it were drunk. It wreaked of old decay. Ragged wings drooped behind it, dragging along the ground. It stopped between the two armies, not seeming to notice them. Its head rose up, sniffing. With a terrifying ferocity, it fell upon the body of the man Flamian had killed. It lunged at the corpse’s throat, greedily drinking the blood that still oozed. As it began to tear into the flesh, Flamian flung it away with his mind. The creature flipped in the air, landing catlike. Hollowed, yellow eyes that glinted crimson stared malignantly at them. It opened its mouth, revealing row after row of sharp teeth.

“The…Mauler?” A Drax muttered.

Flamian scrunched his face. “What’s left of it.” He lifted his voice to the demon. “What are you, foul creature?”

“What are we? He asks us what we are as though he expects an answer!” The creature sneered. It stood up, stronger looking, healthier. The smell of decay had faded. ”You expect us to answer you, a mortal creature? He he he he hee!”
Flamian shuddered and gulped down the bile that rose up his throat. “I’m slightly weirded out now.” The creature that had once been the Mauler, fiercest of the lesser demons, stalked forward.

“It had been some time since we had feasted on fresh blood. We would have preferred to finish that meal before killing you all, but then we realized. That would give us even more to feast upon!” The demon leaped forward with a cry that froze the blood of several Caliman soldiers. Kaylandra’s guards quickly enclosed her, shielding her from the foul thing as more Drax descended from the sky.

The Mauler attached itself to Flamian, trying almost desperately to sink its teeth in him. “Your blood! It sings! It sings of power!! We must have it now!!”

A flash of golden fur, and the Mauler was ripped off of him. A giant wolf with gold fur growled and snarled at the thing that had once been a demon. “What is that thing?” She asked.

“I expected you earlier!” Flamian replied back. He gestured at the blood covered monster. “That used to be the Mauler. But…he doesn’t smell right. If demons ever did smell right.”

Dylan never took her eyes from the deformed creature. ”What do you mean?”

“I’m not sure what it is, but he’s different. Changed.” Flamian said.

The monster laughed again, causing Dylan’s fur to bristle. “We are with our Master now. His soul dispersed, his essence lingered. Yes, and soon, we shall have more!! So much more!!” It eyed the humans with a hunger Flamian knew.

“Whatever he…its done, its…” he broke off.

“Disgusting.” Kaylandra said. Without warning, the monster gave another cry and leaped into the Calimans. They scattered like birds, some trying to fend it off, most trampling each other to get away. It laughed, blood dripping from its body. It hungrily eyed the Drax and Ulfric.

“Yes, their blood sings, and we must drink! So…thirsty…so…hungry!” The creature prepared to leap, when it was slammed with what felt like pure energy. Raw power swirled about the area, and a new figure stepped out of the shadows.

“You filthy creature! You are a thing of purest Darkness! What spawned you?!” A voice boomed from the hooded figure. The creature writhed on the ground, it’s own polluted blood filling the air with a horrid smell. Without answering, it darted away, vanishing. “The Mauler…what have you done?!”

The remaining people gathered together, inspecting this cloaked and hooded man. He waved a hand and they fell to the ground as though dead. He next turned to Dylan and Flamian. “Send the Drax away. Kaylandra may stay if she wishes, but the rest must return to their mountains.”

Kaylandra shouted orders to her guards. Reluctantly, they all left, leaving her, Flamian, and Dylan to the mercy of the figure who now knelt by the Commander. “The fools. They think that war is necessary. They think that my brethren have forsaken them, but they have not.” He said, his voice filled with sorrow. He raised his head and stared after the Mauler. “And now a new abomination has arisen.”

“Kadrin?” Flamian asked. The figure stood up and turned to him. The eyes of a God bore into him.

“Yes, I was called by that name. I suppose it is now a part of my true name as much as anything.” The figure nodded.

“Nadarin…” Dylan softly said. The three of them sank to their knees in reverence and awe.

“Rise, my friends. We have much to discuss and very little time to do so.” He gestured to the unconscious men. “When they awaken, they will remember nothing of the events that took place here, nor why they are within the Six Nations. As for that thing…it was indeed the Mauler. He has consumed the essence of Maldis, his former master, granting him some of my fallen brother’s power. He has become a Nostraeli. A demon that has not been seen in an eon. He is the result of when a demon feeds off of other demons, even their Masters. Oh yes, there have been the likes of him before. And they are so much harder to kill. Nostraeli cannot be dispersed, and no matter how many death blows you give them, they keep coming at you.”

“Then how can we stop it? How can we dare to go against it?” Kaylandra asked, fear drenching her voice.

Nadarin smiled at her. “I am not asking you to. I only ask of you what you are already capable of. Save your families.” He turned to Dylan and Flamian. “I chose your families long ago to watch over Water and Fire, knowing that you would be born. I know you have questions, but now is not the time. The Mauler will not return here. He will turn his sights to other, more favorable targets I’m afraid. Before I go, you must swear to me that you will keep my presence hidden.” One by one, they swore. Nadarin clasped each of their shoulders and departed, heading to the west. Kaylandra called back her guards, who were at her side within minutes.

“We best move the humans to someplace…less gruesome. If they were to wake up to… this, it would bring up unwanted questions.” She said softly. Flamian and Dylan just nodded. The guards moved the living to a different area, while Dylan piled the corpses. Flamian burned away the blood and impurities, then set fire to the dead.

“They deserved better, yet a simple pyre will have to suffice.” He murmured. The others left. He stayed and watched the pyre burn until the night began to give way to dawn. He spread his wings and headed toward the mountains.