Through Darkness Comes The Way

The Raid of Banan- Part 2

They say there is a place where shadows lie, where light does not reach, and the darkness reigns eternal, as no one can enter these domains without permission, for there is a warden. A monster, a lady, a witch that was deemed as a living calamity, who had her sole name object of fear and taboo. Is this incomprehensible being that rules over these shadows, in a place where no one can enter uninvited, except of course, him.

…

Ash and dust were burdening the fighting men too much already, the smoke of the incessant fire of their homes being a threat too as it slipped through their lungs. But, they did not care. Whoever might see this wouldn't be able to tell them about it either, about the pitiful state of their bodies and minds. As, this was merely a vision of a future that had yet to occur. Enveloped by a narcotic darkness that had consumed him and brought him forth to this vision, Rigel could see himself between those fighting men, who viciously endangered their lives without paying any mind for future consequences.

Between the flaming center of the great city, they fought against the witch cult. The great number of mercenaries present in Kararagi replaced the need for a city guard, and every one of these men and women, of different races and ages, proved to be Kararagi's finest. Consumed in anger and hatred, even civilians had joined the fight against the robed figures, who fought bitterly and mechanically; no profound meaning behind their actions.

But as the vision proceeded to show the future events, a single silhouette joined the square where the great battle had been taking place. More robed men followed behind and joined the fight. Kararagi's people roared with hatred at the sight, and kept fighting even more vigorously. The Rigel covered in shadows could clearly see his other self reacting the same way, abandoning all reason for a maddened sense of battle that had suddenly increased in all people present. As if the silhouette, who now stood in the bloodbath rambling and ranting about insane topics concerning love, had been the cause of such behavior. As the battle progressed, the fact that the robed figure had exerted a certain influence over people's behavior was almost obvious for Rigel, who reluctantly watched the vision. Even his other self, and people who were by no means warriors of any sort fell to this strange spell. They kept going mad in anger and wrath, cursing and killing, as if hate was the only pleasurable thing left in the world. And these feelings and emotions were quickly passed on between comrades, as they started killing each other too. A complete free for all, were only the strongest would survive. The one responsible for the influence delighted, as these actions seemed to represent the twisted perception of love the robed silhouette had. But it did not stay still as madness occurred in front of it, for whoever tried to harm her would die torn to shreds and burnt by the golden chains enveloped in fire that the figure wielded.

But the vision's Rigel stood in front of her, soaked in the blood of the people he had slain previously; and, as if to turn the fight into a duel, he said his name in the loudest voice he could master. A deep voiced screech that conveyed all the negative feelings that existed in his unstable mind.

"Natsuki Rigel!"

The figure laughed at the young man's actions, but it did not falter nor ran from the challenge. As it stood forward, it revealed itself. The figure turned out to be what it seemed a woman, her whole body covered in bandages and a single purple robe with red details waving behind her as a fierce wind passed through the battle and the burning scenery of the city of Banan. Her single eye opened, she mumbled something to herself… And she opened her arms in the most dramatic way possible as she bowed her head. Her strangely stable voice was tilted with a hidden madness as she introduced herself.

"From the Witch Cult, Archbishop of Sin, representing Wrath, Sirius Romanee-Conti!"

And so, their fight began. Their weapons clashed, and their fire spells exploded. The fierce battle increased in intensity as the feelings of hatred, anger and wrath were broadcasted between all living things in the square, and amplified to an extent that could destroy the sanity of any normal human or demi-human. Their clash went on, and the maddened Rigel enjoyed the harm he was causing to the Archbishop.

As the fight went on and on, it was clear as water that Rigel had the upper hand in the fight, his shirt sword slashing the body of Wrath, cutting through bandages, skin, flesh and bone. Sirius, although awfully physically strong, did not stand a chance; but she was not at all concerned, as she delighted in the fight for motives unknown to both the Rigel who fought, and the Rigel who watched.

And, as he kicked Wrath back and forth and up to the sky, the young Oni cutted her in half mid air. The blood and guts of the Archbishop spilled, the culprit watched in delight the death of his foul enemy. But the influence of the dark powers Wrath wielded were not cut at all. Soon, one by one, all living beings in the vicinity were breaking in half, dying soon after the same way Sirius had done so. Rigel included, horror soon crowded the square as all died, cutted in half, by an unknown force of an unknown nature. Silence filled the place… but it was soon broken by a heartbreaking cry. The vision clouded, as it was revealed that all the events that transpired were being watched by someone, who rushed to the scene.

The dark world in which Rigel had existed was now crumbling down, as his purpose had been fulfilled. His mind, yet to process anything he had seen, could only watch the last thing the vision had shown him, the back of a man who had been watching everything, whose eyes served as the cameras that showed the vision presented to Rigel. Him…

...

The clouded darkness started fading, light broke through, and the sensation of having a body returned to Rigel. Soon a hot sensation made his body sweat. His eyes opened and a world of fire showed itself. He did not understand anything at all. What had he just experienced?... He couldn't remember it. But the situation that was currently happening in the world that surrounded him shook those thoughts out of him.

"Wha… What… Just now… Dad…? "

He soon felt something wet in his arms, so his gaze went down from the burning buildings to the body he was unknowingly pinning to a wall. He soon realized, and took a step backwards, horrified at the sight. Until moments ago, he had been strangling a robed man against a wall. The body had his shirt sword stabbed into the rib cage, and the amount of blood seemed to indicate that he had been dead since long ago. A sudden touch shook Rigel completely, and he violently separated himself from the source of the touch. A scared and confused look adorned his face.

"...Th' hell? M' boy Rigel, this is no time to be standing around cluelessly, dozing n' shit. Ar' ya hurt?"

A man in his 30s had suddenly appeared, his golden hair was buried in ash as well as the rest of his body. His clothes had been ript of, and in his right hand he hooded a hatchet. He was badly bloodied, it was certain that he was missing an eye. The frantic look he had in his sole eye brought urgency to Rigel.

"I'm… I am unhurt. Though I can't say the same for this one, fortunately. What about you? What the hell happened to your shop?... And your clothes?"

"I don't believe ya boy, did'ya hurt your head or somethin'? I already told ya, my shop burnt to the ground, my family inside it, alright?"

A shadow of guilt and pain crossed the tortured man for a moment and Rigel just nodded in understanding. But a profound sense of urgency brought the two men to start walking side by side, in what it was a small street crossing. Along the street, other people, mercenaries and civilians, seemed to have won individual fights against cultists. Blood soaked the stone floor.

"I did just as ya told me to, and th' rest of us too. We have to hurry y'know? Th' city is full of thes' dipshits!... Why did ya left your shiny sword behind?"

" It was chipped, I killed too many of them with it, it will not cut anything anymore. How is the city? How can we defend against this? They are too many!"

" I don't fucking know, kid! They appeared out of nowhere! Aren't ya strong tho? Do something about it!..."

" Do not ask that much of me, Beni. I am only over 20 years old, and I still need at least 10 years of training to even face uncle Hal."

It hadn't been long since they started walking, the heated conversation had brought many more people who now accompanied the two men. They passed through what had been a fierce battle, and in the street some fighting still went on, as three regular men brought down a single cultist to the ground and started stomping him and stabbing him. Both Rigel and Beni had stopped to consider their next destination before they continued their conversation. A docent of people had now formed, and followed the pair. Fully armed and angry.

"Yeah, yeah ya're still a kid and that but I don't fucking care, that rascal tho… where the hell is he now? Just when we need 'im…sigh… At moments like these I wished we had some shit like knights, guards and that… Damn Lugunicans…"

The curse that Beni had thrown to the kingdom of Lugunica was a well founded one, and Rigel himself agreed with the disdain that many had for the bordering country. Since the new king was established, a lot of problems had arisen, and one of them had been the Witch Cult. Rigel was confident in the correlation between the bad management of problems in the kingdom.

"Those damn Lugunicans, not only they want to destroy themselves, they export their problems. Damn them indeed"

Even if he knew that his parents secretly came from there, he couldn't stop himself from feeling resentment towards them, blaming them for the current state of affairs of the world.

The group came to a halt, their numbers had grown as another group of survivors joined them. But between these people, one of them was specially frantic, he had a scared expression and his trembling didn't stop even when he explained with utmost urgency the situation of the city.

"T-t-the Witch Cult has besieged the city! There are at least 5 archbishops on the loose!"

Sudden horror spread through the crowded that had formed, their faces pale and terrified of what will be of them if they don't leave the city.

"B-but an evacuation is taking place, they told me to say this to anyone who I may encounter! We need to go to the main square so that the evacuation of the civilians can take place! Any who can fight must fight!... Or so they told me…"

One glance to Beni was enough to convey what Rigel was feeling. In this fighting spirit, many more left their fear aside and stood besides him. Rigel took a step forward, and spoke.

" I have the feeling that an Archbishop will be there. All who can fight, come with me! We will send these foul beings back into the abyss!"