IYLH

Chapter Three: Demonic Creatures, a Sorceress, and a Guy on Steroids

~(o0o)~

Isis and Shadow ran for about an hour at a low speed… or rather, low for them. While Shadow could've easily kept going forever, Isis began to show fatigue after a short time. Unwilling to show weakness, she unwisely shrugged it off.

She kept going for five minutes, and it became increasingly difficult to run. Isis began to slow, and Shadow paced himself for her.

Suddenly, her vision blurred and she fell with a low cry, exhausted. Shadow instantly came to a screeching halt, and crouched by her.

He gently pushed her helmet up and caressed her cheek. "You need to tell me when you're at your limit," he said firmly. "I can't know unless you tell me. Now, come on…"

Shadow picked her up bridal-style and walked in the same general direction as they had been travelling. There was a village ahead. Little did they know, there was a young Blacksmith, watching them intently. He raced to the village.

~(o0o)~

There was silence in an empty field. The winds were calming. The young sorceress Isilyth, descendant of Merlin, strode quickly through the quiet lands, clad in a simple, violet mage's robe. There was truly peace, serenity… but Isilyth knew that it would not be long before it ended. She silently surveyed the land around her, a look of anxiety etched on her face. She raised her gloved hand, and felt the ash.

It truly was only an illusion.

Her eyes closed. She muttered a few unrecognizable words under her breath, and a mirror appeared before her. In its reflection, she saw two knights, travelling the lands. One was holding the other in a seemingly intimate way, travelling at a brisk pace to a nearby village. The young blacksmith followed them. She smiled. "Our saviors have arrived…" she whispered.

Then, behind her, there was a loud scream. A guttural sound that could only be produced by the most beastly creature…

She whirled about, finding herself faced with several demonic beings. She gasped, immediately dispelling the magic mirror and turning to run. She raised the cowl (1) of her robe over her head and grabbed her staff. She ran at a medium pace, fast for a hedgehog-cat-bat-angel-mage hybrid.

As she ran, she felt a ripple, of sorts. 'The rest of them are in the void-space,' she thought. 'I need to find the two fair knights…'

She heard another scream, and made haste toward her targets.

(o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o)

Isis and Shadow moved toward the village for a while; Isis having recovered, they now silently walked to their destination. Isis, feeling a powerful force, suddenly tensed and halted.

"I feel something."

"Define 'something'," Shadow replied, stopping with her.

Isis closed her eyes, feeling the vibrations of the area. She felt a being, a strong one, and several lesser beings, closing in at a fast pace. Then… there was a dark, foreboding area in her senses, consisting of complete darkness. On a 3D plane, it would stretch about 15 feet long and 20 feet tall.

"There's a lot of stuff headed this way. Powerful stuff…" Isis said, opening her eyes and reaching for her sword. Shadow did the same, withdrawing his sword from his back.

All of a sudden, the young sorceress Isilyth appeared from nowhere, as did the Black Knight's minions. The Knightly duo sprang into action without thought, brandishing their swords like they were extensions of their arms.

Isis veered left, slashing at the first demonic creature and successfully slicing it in half. It shrieked, emitting a horrible sound that just ruined Isis's sensitive ears. She yelled in agony, falling on one knee while covering her ears in a desperate attempt to ease her pain. In the opening created by her temporary weakness, another creature leapt toward her, its bloody claws outstretched.

Isilyth leapt in front of Isis, holding out her golden staff and reciting a spell.

" Peut-il y avoir aucun mal! Tous ceux qui tentent de te tuer sont tués sans pitié!" (2)

Out from her staff, a golden light spread. The creature, incapable of thought or reason, leapt into the light.

It was instantly crushed, killed without a split second to spare. The deceased creature melted into a puddle of Ichor, bubbling and seeping back into the earth.

Shadow, meanwhile, was slicing through demonic creatures like a knife through butter without thought. He cleared several of them in seconds, moving like a machine.

Isis staggered to her feet, picking up her blade, and thanked the Sorceress. Isilyth simply nodded and pointed to the other creatures, moving forward as if they were zombies. Isis nodded, and rocketed forward into their ranks, clearing creatures as fast as Shadow.

In almost no time at all, the creatures had all met their end. However, a dark, looming figure on a steed came galloping toward them at high speeds. The figure stopped in front of the trio, and Isilyth tensed in apprehension.

Shadow and Isis raised their swords, ready to fight…

And Isilyth raised her staff, yelling "Va-t-avec le vent! Va-t-avec le vent!" (3)

The winds abruptly began howling and swirling around them, and not long after, they all disappeared.

~(o0o)~

The King rode on his mighty steed up to a cliff, where three figures stood. All three wore armor, and hid their faces in helmets. They bowed to the dark, looming figure, showing their absolute loyalty.

"Find the Sorceress, and the Two Knights," he ordered. "Slay them on sight."

The Figures nodded in acknowledgement, and once the king rode off, they rose.

"Well, let's get going, then," Said one.

"Are you sure?" the second asked. "She is the kingdom's Sorceress, after all…"

"The king's orders are absolute, Gawain," said the third, with a contemptuous tone.

"Yes, but…" Gawain trailed off, shaking his head. The third Knight to speak walked off in disdain without a word to the others.

"Of course…" said the second of the three. "We are Knights, and what are we without our loyalty? But…" She shook her head, gesturing to the ground below. "The king has changed. And this kingdom…!" She walked off without another word. Gawain soon followed.

~(o0o)~

End Chapter Three! I've put a few footnotes in this Chapter, so here they are…

(1): A cowl is like a hoodie, in case you didn't know.

(2) Isilyth's spell is in French, and it means "Can there be any harm! All those who try to kill you are killed without mercy!" loosely translated.

(3) Another French spell. This one means "Going with the wind!" loosely translated.

I have only two notes: First, nobody has reviewed. I'd greatly appreciate it if you did! I've gotten 67 views and two follows, so why no Reviews? I need to know how to improve! Second: This is the last chance for you to submit an OC for the spot of Sir Lancelot, Gawain, Percival, Lamorak, Galahad, or The Lady of The Lake. I would love to write for your character, and if you submit right now, I'll be glad to take on the challenge!

That's all for now! R&R!