This shouldn’t be happening. He was supposed to get home today.
The emergency bells rang through the village, announcing an attack. Warriors clad in iron scrambled to the wooden battlements, preparing to repel the attack. Mara went to the front gate.
At her side was her massive Charger’s Blade. The most dangerous job in the village, being a Charger was a high honor. Only the toughest, fastest, and strongest could possibly wield such a heavy blade well. Chargers could only rely on themselves for protection, because they were the protection. They took the frontlines, holding off the enemy so the more precise Swordsmen could worry about dealing damage. Mara wore the badge with pride.
“CHARGERS! TO ME!” Came the call of her squad leader, calling for her fellows to get into position. Of course, Mara was already in position, because of all the Chargers, she was the best.
She still couldn’t beat Nisha, though. He had always been the best, even though he wasn’t allowed to become a Charger yet. That would change when he got back, though, his 18th birthday had passed just two days ago, so he would be old enough to leverage his recent accomplishments to gain the status.
Speaking of his recent accomplishments, ever since he got that burning blood, he’d been unstoppable. He was effectively a Charger in all but name. No amount of damage seemed to bring him low, and his attack power had increased dramatically.
Mara was brought back to the present as the gate began to open. She let the adrenaline pump through her veins, gearing up to take care of the problem so she could go back to preparing for Nisha’s return. By the Ironheart, if this attack took so long that she couldn’t get ready…
But there wasn’t an army outside the gates. There wasn’t even a platoon. There was only one man, standing in an inferno with his blade in his hand.
Nisha.
Why was he here so early? He wasn’t supposed to get home until late in the evening! And where was his platoon? Did they all die?
And why was he so heavily injured that his burning blood was making an inferno?
Mara didn’t get to guess much more than this. Nisha charged.
Mara met him head on. “Nisha! What are you doing?!”
GRAAAAHHHHH! Came the guttural cry. Their blades clashed, hard, and Mara was flung back. Nisha didn’t even slow down.
— — —
Hours later…
Fire. Everything was on fire. Their house was nothing but charred ash. Mara crawled toward Alkesha’s unmoving body.
Nisha… Nisha had…
No. That wasn’t Nisha. It couldn’t be. That was nothing but a demon.
Mara lay on top of Alkesha. The fire was closing in, so she would use her own body to protect her younger sister’s corpse. If nothing else, she could save that much.
Footsteps echoed out from behind. Mara couldn’t turn to look, but there was only one being that could possibly be standing after that.
“Well, well well. What have we here? His sisters! Oh, how delicious! Look what you’ve done, toy!”
The voice that came from his mouth wasn’t Nisha’s. Nisha’s was smooth, confident, and kind. The thing that spoke had a rasping, horrid voice. It was more akin to stone scraping on itself and cracking bones than anything like speech.
“And this one is still breathing!
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAAAHAHAAAGGHGHGHH!!!
Let’s finish her off!”
Small, struggling, beaten it was, but Nisha’s voice came anyway.
“No… don’t do this…”
“Oh, but toy! Why not?”
The demon brought Nisha’s sword up, and positioned the tip to run through Mara’s heart.
“I took… that contact… to protect them… you can’t do this…”
“Oh, but was that in the terms? The answer is no~!”
“Bastard…”
The demon didn’t care. He lifted the blade…
And brought it down into Mara’s back.
— — —
Hm? What have we here?
The voice in the darkness was chilling, not frightening but physically cold, like the thing that owned it hadn’t the lifeblood to heat it.
A warrior betrayed...harmed by the will of Vakuu. I know that feeling well, warrior... would you like to work together to get your revenge?
Not against… not against…
She couldn’t remember his name.
“Not against Malik. Spare him your wrath, hidden god.”
Well, I won’t have much say in how it plays out, now will I? I would only give you power, and teach you how to wield it.
Her own revenge? Against… Vakuu? And the strength to save Malik…
What would this god take from her?
Oh, nothing. I want my revenge just the same as you want yours. A mutual agreement would be best, no contract needed!
Then… yes. Mara would absolutely take another chance to save her brother.
“What is your name, hidden god?”
Gehehehehe! I am Nihil, the final joke!