CHAPTER 47
PROTAGONIST SWITCH: JOHN HEDEKIRA
Drip…drip…drip…
I am surrounded by darkness when I wake up. The ground is stiff and rigid beneath me; stone, I ascertain. But it’s not cold. It’s moist, actually. For a few moments, I really can’t perceive where I am. My eyes aren’t used to the lack of light yet. But, in spite of the darkness, and the insecurity that comes with being shrouded within it, the sense of peace I feel is overwhelming. Wherever I am, it’s rather small. And wherever I am, it just feels…like a haven. A place where I cannot be touched. A place where Kiilda can’t get me.
Drip…drip…drip…
I begin to stand up, placing my hands on the stone beneath me and pushing, attempting to get to my feet. That’s when I pause, fear shooting through me and rendering me motionless. I’m so…encased in stone. From my stomach down to my groin, my body is completely made of stone. I haven’t the slightest idea as to how I’m still alive; it must be some sort of magic. But it’s not just my torso; my arms are also almost completely corrupted by the rock-infection. I can barely get myself off the ground. Although I’m loathe to admit it, I’m filled with self-pity and wariness. I can’t believe this is happening. The initial feeling of peace I was experiencing commences to vanish.
Yet still I rise from the ground. It’s difficult, but I’m able to stand up after a minute or so of struggle. I look about, my eyes having finally adjusted enough to the darkness. After jumping into the hole, I must have landed, or been transported, into some sort of cave. Sure enough, above me is a round, wide opening that ascends so high I can’t even see the light above. The cavern leads to a more open area, with a high ceiling held up by naturally-made buttresses. A faint, bluish-white light glows from within the open-area of the cave, just ahead of me.
I start, and then as quickly as I can, I rush forward. “The Word?” I wonder as I scamper in the direction of the light. The light grows brighter and brighter as I approach it, and then I enter into the cavern, immediately turning my gaze in the direction of the light.
It’s not him. There’s merely a gap in the cavern, and for whatever reason, a little light has leaked through. My arms droop, and my head drops. Dammit, I think, sighing. As I turn away from the light, I’m somewhat surprised with the depression sweeping through me. Why do I feel this way? I need to see the Word because he’s certainly someone that can give me aid, maybe even healing against Kiilda. But maybe I also just wanted the company of another person. I was looking forward to seeing him because I was looking for a friend.
Drip…drip…drip…
The cavern is completely empty; I am the only person here. It is also ominously quiet, save for the sound of dripping water echoing off the high-ceilings, and this only adds to the eerie feeling that the cave now has. Word, I speak in my mind, I’m certain that you wanted me to be here. But why? There’s nothing here for me. This could even be a trap set up by Kiilda; the only thing left to happen is for the stone-infection to take full effect, and I don’t even have a chance to kill Kiilda and end this. Word… I speak again in my thoughts, more earnestly this time. And then I find myself exclaiming out loud, falling onto my knees and closing my eyes, clutching my temples as hard as I can with my hands. “Word!” I scream. “Where are you?”
Drip…drip…drip…
I’m so…heavy. Completely weighed down. So sick. Maybe the stone-infection is affecting me. I feel like I can’t breathe. I feel like I’m going to throw up. Am I dying?
Not again… I think. Please…not again…
How strange it is…to think about not dying again. How many times will I have to die?
“Word,” I say again, my voice now weak and sad, the way I genuinely feel. “I need you…”
Drip…drip…drip…
There’s only silence. I get no response. Dammit! Why is it always like this? Why is it that when I need him, he’s never there! Why can he never hear me?
Drip…drip…drip…
…
…
Something is different. I don’t know exactly when or how I notice it. But something is. It takes me a few moments to understand. But then I get it. The dripping water I’ve been hearing. It’s no longer a drip. It’s a trickle.
I gasp, my eyes widening and a jolt of adrenaline and anticipation coursing through me. Not fearful anticipation. Wild, excited anticipation. Thus far, I have encountered no place in all of Kiilda with water.
Until now.
I have to lunge upwards in order to raise myself to my feet. I can hear it. I can hear the water. It’s near the light. I pivot, moving as speedily as I can towards the light. My legs are so heavy; they’re going to collapse beneath me. I’m going to lose balance and topple over. But I keep on stepping—the joy on my face, the freedom calling to me. Word…! I shout in my thoughts.
I dive forward…
…Thank you!
And I land in a puddle of cool, pure water. For a minute, I lay there, rolling slowly and uncomfortably in the water. From above, the stream of water flows out of the rocks. I watch it fall, growing bigger and bigger every moment. It’s so pure, so clear, reflecting the light, seeming to plummet slowly and perfectly right onto my body. I reach up my hand, as to touch it gently. And it touches me gently in return. The stone falls off of my body as if it were wet sand. And the water mixes with my tears of relief and bottled-up fear, now released in bursting, inundating feelings of joy and peace.
When all of the stone is gone, when I’m perfectly clean and free, I stand up. And I stand tall.
“John,” his voice comes to me. He’s close.
“Word!” I say, looking about franticly, excitedly. “Where are you?”
“I am here,” he says.
I turn back to the light. So…so he was here. He was here all along. He never left me. The light has assumed a more uniform, circular form, just like the last time I saw him. “Word,” I say, “I’m free. You saved me…again!”
The light glows and surges, descending towards me. I have to squint in order to stare back at the Word…if he is even looking at me. “John,” the Word addresses, “I did free you from Kiilda’s stone-infection, but I’ve also given you something. The water I poured on you was infused with a substance called zoecharia. Zoecharia is like a flame that burns within your soul. It’s a light that shines within you. And it is a source of life…my life, in fact.”
I grunt, “So…what do you mean?”
“John…I have given you the means to defeat Kiilda. My life now dwells within your soul. But be warned; give this zoecharia up for nothing; hold onto it, and never let it go. It alone will enable you to survive the Evil of Terra. But don’t ever let it go.”
I don’t know what to say. My mouth falls open, and I try to speak. But I’m at a loss for words. I can feel it within me: surging, shining, burning. It’s as if I’ve been filled with peace, a sense of surety and security. But I also feel powerful. I don’t think it is physical power…but it’s something deep and profound. Something which is empowering my person. Maybe it’s something I can’t understand. But it is power. It is life. And it’s inside of me.
I find myself dropping to my right knee before him. “Thank you,” I say. And it’s all I can say, again and again, “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
Thoughts are racing through my mind. This person, this being, has saved my life twice now, and even given me his life to thrive within my heart. I find myself speaking the words that come into my mind. “Who are you? And why are you doing this for me?”
The Word pauses.
“I have to know!”
“You will learn,” he says at last. I’m disappointed with his answer, so I open my mouth to question him further, but he cuts me off. His voice, I’m surprised, is turning from being more supernatural and powerful to that of a human—a young man, in fact. “I will show you,” he tells
me. “I will…I promise.”
I still want to know more about him right now, but I trust him. There must be a reason for him not telling me. And he just saved my life; who am I to make demands of him?
The sound of someone heavily landing on the floor of the cave sounds behind me. I pivot in the direction of the noise, fear shooting through me. “John,” the Word says, his voice now completely human. When I look at him, I think I can see the outline of a human in the light, just like the first time I saw him. “Kiilda is coming. This will be your final fight. I don’t want you to fear It—”
A black shape rushes towards me, traveling through the shadows of the cave.
“—I’ll be there with you through the whole battle.”
The cave begins to tilt, and the light begins to swirl around me. I begin to lose consciousness, just as I have many times before. I’m still afraid. I still don’t know if I can do this. I don’t know if I’m ready. I don’t even have my sword.
The last thing I hear is the Word saying to me, “Don’t ever let the zoecharia go, John. Don’t ever let it go.”
PROTAGONIST SWITCH: FAITH PINCK
The army of bandits breaks—meaning that instead of keeping to their orderly ranks, they disregard whatever formation they had been assuming, running through the fields towards Castrum Fortress. Archers around me begin loosing arrows at the bandits once they’re in range. But I hesitate. I’ve never killed another human before. I knew I wasn’t prepared for this battle—no one was. But this is something different. Now, since I’m afraid to draw the blood of another human being, all I am is useless.
But is that so wrong? I just can’t do it. Isn’t it better to be useless than to be a murderer? But it’s not murder, I tell myself. They’re attacking you, they’re attacking Castrum, and they’re attacking Tarsh. Then I think of all the little kids that Bernard left the castle with. If the thieves aren’t stopped, the children could be slaughtered, kidnapped, or at least left parentless.
Endeavoring to ignore the significance of what I’m about to do, trying to push down the anticipation inside me, I reach back into my quiver. The moment my hand grasps one of my feathered arrows, I pause.
I’m sixteen years old; do I really want to do this?
Ladders bang up against the summit of the wall, and grapples anchor themselves against between the embrasures. Starting from over the fields and forests beyond, a strong breeze rushes through the ranks of both armies. And with as much control as I can muster, I breathe in the clear air.
I draw the arrow and fit it to the string. It’s time to grow up.
PROTAGONIST SWITCH: AETHYER GRIM
I watch silently, grimly, as our forces start hammering the walls with everything they’ve got. Screams of pain have begun to emanate from the fortress. I don’t believe that this assault is right, so I’m not sure if I would’ve even participated. But I’m not attacking the castle because Captain Sharon ordered me to act as a part of her personal guard. I guess I’ve done a good job being in the right place at the right time; she has taken me to be loyal and obedient, the kind of person she wants protecting her.
Boy, is she mistaken.
I’m still not sure what I plan to do to stop the violence. I’m not sure if I can do anything, now that the attack is in motion. I hate myself for not acting sooner. But I’m used to hating myself. And I’ve grown better at directing my hatred. I narrow my eyes, squinting at her with disgust. She is standing in front of me atop her rock, as she always does, looking out over the battle with a smug expression on her face. You’re despicable, I say mentally to her. You deserve to die… my hands clench, and I feel my arm twitch as I subconsciously begin to reach for my sword. But I restrain myself. There will be a time, but just not now—
“Captain!” a voice calls from behind me. I turn, looking sidelong at whoever is approaching.
I grunt, “Addy?”
Addy skirts past me, even as Sharon designates my sister as the speaker. “Is something amiss?” Sharon inquires in a lofty, almost motherly voice.
Her tone makes my blood boil.
We were orphaned as children.
Our kind, gentle caretaker was killed.
Our village was destroyed.
Our peace was eradicated.
My rage was called to life.
My hatred of the world was sparked into existence.
Who is she to pretend to act in such a kind, loving manner? I can hardly contain myself; I grit my teeth and look aware, glaring fiercely at the ground, screaming mentally at the captain, You’re a lie!
Adelynn answers Sharon, “Yeah, something’s wrong! You can’t just attack an entire castle of innocent people to capture one person. And everyone here knows that this is just a personal quest for revenge.”
I’m stunned at what Addy is saying. Everything that came out of her mouth is true, of course. Yet she’s being so bold. She doesn’t know what she’s doing. She’s going to get herself killed.
Sharon hops down from her rock, approaching my sister casually. I turn back to the captain and Addy, surreptitiously placing my hand on my sword. “You know,” Sharon says, stopping before Addy. “If you don’t like what’s going on, you can just leave. Go ahead, I won’t stop you. Forget all that the Brown Bandits have done for you, though! Go ahead and forget how we took you in, taught you how to defend yourself, clothed you, fed you, gave you friendship. I am clement enough to let a brat be a brat.”
“The Brown Bandits gave me nothing,” Adelynn protests. “You taught me how to hurt others and how to steal. I don’t even know why we even joined.” And she looks back at me, hurt showing in her eyes. I’ve known that she’s always had these feelings about being a part of the Brown Bandits. But for whatever reason, she never denied me; we stayed because I said we should. And so we did. Guilt fills me, and my inner rage grows even greater.
“You really are a spoiled brat,” Sharon says, raising her chin and smiling. “And brats should be punished, or they’ll never grow up.”
I know what’s about to happen, but I’m a coward; I wait to see if Sharon will actually do it. I’ve always been a pessimist; why can’t I act on my instincts? Another reason to hate myself.
With her only existing hand, she smacks Adelynn across the face. Adelynn is caught completely off guard, and falls to her hands and knees. I start, hardly able to control myself. I’m about to burst.
“Or maybe,” Sharon continues, brandishing the sword at her side, “the world should just be rid of brats.” And she stares down at Addy. Still smiling. Still disgusting.
I’m enraged. She looks as if she thinks she’s righteous, as if she’s the mother of a nation…as if she’s God.
I hate God.
I move like lightning. The moment she tries to slash at Addy, my sister, I’m already in between them. Sharon screams, sounding like a pathetic, dying animal…a useless, dying animal that no one will miss. Her remaining arm flies off of her body, a spray of blood erupting from where I severed her limb at the shoulder.
Now, I think, you really are pathetic.
I hate doing this. I hate me. But I love it at the same time. It feels right. She threatened my sister. She’s attacking innocent people. She’s a monster. And I am determined to do whatever it takes to destroy all monsters.
I draw back my sword, even as the other guards present rush at me. But I know they won’t be quick enough. It’s too late. The only thing that causes me to falter is the voice of my sister screaming behind me, “Aeth, no!”
My sword flashes through the air. There’s an eruption of blood. Sharon’s head falls to the ground. Goodbye.