Yay for Chapter 23! Hello once more! Here is another chapter. I know it is soon, but I feel pressured to pump out more because of college approaching. I hope you all enjoy!
"Hey!"
Rorek's head snapped to the side, his black eyes narrowing upon seeing a man standing a few feet away, arrow drawn. A soft noise that sounded almost like a hiss escaped Rorek's mouth, slack jawed as the dark liquid slowly seeped from his corners. The substance flowed lazily down his chin before slowly running off onto his attire.
"Why do you not pick on someone your own size? Let the dragon go." The man ordered, voice firm as his blue eyes watched intently for any sign of movement.
"Relinquere...antequam mors veniat." Rorek spoke, Seraphina wheezing as she struggled to breath, her struggles becoming less and less.
"I said let the dragon go!" The man shouted, releasing the string as the arrow whizzed through the air and embedded itself into the man's wrist, Rorek grunting in pain as he pulled away, dropping the wyrm as Seraphina fell to the ground.
"Bastard!" Rorek hissed, clutching his wounded wrist as blood seeped down from the wound, the arrow having pierced completely through his wrist. Seraphina landed on the ground with a thud, the young drakeling coughing and wheezing as her stubby limbs struggled to get her on her paws and flee.
"You...I know you. You are the man that was to be crucified. You are the one Silas freed." The man spoke, eyes sharp in realization as the chick ran towards him and hid behind the man in a large patch of ferns, the ferns shaking slightly from the drakeling's terror.
"So you understand." Rorek spoke softly, black eyes staring at the man as his hand tightly gripped the body of the arrow so hard that his arm was shaking, "Nigromantii."
"Silas was a fool to free you. Good hearted, but a fool." The man reasoned, his fingers brushing against the feathers of an arrow in his quiver, "The others were superstitious-they feared you-and still do. They fear your magic. But I do not fear you, for you are as much a man as I am. You are sick, in body and mind. That is where we differ."
"I am more ill than you can ever imagine. My sickness is worse than that of a leper, and Jesus cannot save me, nor can God. The only thing that can save me from this illness, from myself is me." Rorek spoke, voice soft and low, a new rush of blood running from his wrist as the man slowly began to push arrow from his flesh.
"All of us have darkness within us no matter how hard we pretend not to. Some darkness is easily subdued and controlled, while others are more ambitious, hateful, prideful, lasting. If you give your darkness even a taste of freedom, it will want more. It will always want more, and will not stop tugging at the chains that hold it until it breaks free." Rorek paused, ignoring the pain as he felt the wood slide through his flesh and scrape against his bone, blood being forced out the inner wrist.
"I am fighting an uphill battle. I gave my darkness a taste of freedom long ago, and now it has returned. I tried. I truly did. I ran from myself, hid from myself, hoping to never become that man again, never wanting to even be that man. But now, the more I fight, the more I find myself becoming that man that I swore I would never be. I cannot stop it, the darkness it too strong. The voices are so loud..." Rorek paused once more to breathe before ripping the arrow out of his wrist, grunting in pain as blood ran down his gloved hands and black nails.
"I have been told that I have a gift, or a curse. Ever since I was a boy, I could see...hear things, even feel. The priests said I was Devil touched or God touched-depending upon how they viewed it, my...condition."
"And what do you believe?" The man asked, abandoning his bow to finger the hilt of his sword in the man's state. He appeared...possessed, almost. Or gravely diseased. That was a better choice.
"What do I believe? I believe that I am punished by God. I see the creatures of the damned, I hear them, feel them, as I always have been able to. I hear voices that are not mine...and they scream inside my head-their screams are so loud and I cannot make them stop! There is never silence, no. Silence is nonexistent, dead. The living...they do not speak. They stare, simple minded and content with their lives as if they were made of straw. Never going anywhere, never speaking, never thinking one original thought in their strawed heads. Then comes the fire, and they all burn. They all...scream. The dead scream, while the living are silent, and it never ends! It never ends! The noise, the silence, existing peacefully yet in a constant battle to overthrow the other-a war that will never end! A war that will never end in my head!" Rorek whimpered, the man feeling pity for the Necromancer upon seeing his wretched and tortuous state of mind and body.
Rorek's breath began to shake as liquid began to pour down his face, but it was different than the thick and heavy black substance that had covered his mouth and eyes. It was tears.
"You are a very ill man, of that I have no doubt. I pity you." The man admitted, Rorek's eyes flickering to the man, his black eyes beginning to dull in color as a laugh escaped.
"Worse than a leper." Rorek replied, wiping his eyes to feel the black substance pull off in large chunks, like it was dried mud. The man noticed that his nailed had paled to their normal color and had returned to their usual length, his skin color returning.
"Now you have seen the gravity of my illness." Rorek murmured looking at the man. For the first time, the Necromancer was able to get a good look at the man. He was tall and muscular with the build of a soldier and the armor and weaponry of a knight. He looked young, perhaps around a few years younger than Rorek himself. The young man's blue eyes were sharp, alert, and his bleach blonde hair hurt Rorek's jaded eyes when looked upon.
"Regardless of your intentions towards me, I thank you for...stopping me. You saved the wyrm's life while I lacked the control to stop myself. On behalf of Seraphina and myself, I thank you." Rorek thanked, the man nodding before looking back as the small black and red dragon peaking out from the ferns.
"You are welcome. I was not about to let you kill a creature so rare and fascinating." The man spoke, smiling slightly before waving at Seraphina, the small dragon shaking slightly.
"Well, what is it that you intend to do with me?" Rorek asked suddenly, the man snapping his head towards the smaller man, a look of confusion on his face.
"What?" The man asked, startled as Rorek looked at him blankly. It appeared that he was much better.
"I assume that you want the rather large bounty on my head, yes? If so, I would think that you would cut off my head with your sword, or bind me and I would follow you blindly to my death." Rorek suggested, the man looking at him in disbelief.
"Really?"
"No." Rorek snapped slightly, dryness in his voice before looking at the man once more.
"What is your name? Tell me, and I shall tell you mine lest you already know it." Rorek asked.
"Ferox Seditio. You?" The man spoke, Rorek stopping himself from sneering at the man. Who did this boy think he was? A Crusader? The Holy Wars were long gone.
"My name is Rorek. Tell me...Ferox, how do you know Silas?" Rorek asked, watching slightly as Seraphina emerged from her hiding spot, skittish and nervous as she moved between the knight's legs and rubbed, almost like a cat.
"He and I were Pages and Squires together. Is Silas still alive? I have not seen him since...well...for years. Last I heard he got exiled defending the Duchess and aiding a Necromancer's escape." Ferox asked, Rorek raising an eyebrow at that.
"If you have not seen the spectacle, then how do you know of me?" Rorek asked, suddenly on edge and nervous, to which the man laughed. Seraphina pawed at Ferox, wanting attention.
"Word travels fast. Are you and Silas...friends? You do not appear to be the kind whom he would befriend." Ferox asked again, bending down to pet Seraphina before picking her up.
"It is a love hate relationship. Silas often lists off the many reasons why I shall go to Hell, and in return I insult his intelligence and mock his cowardice." Rorek responded, Ferox now holding Seraphina as if she were a human baby, cooing.
"You sound like a great friend." Ferox spoke, looking towards the man, a note of sarcasm in his voice.
"Why would I not be?" Rorek asked dryly, both men heavily dripping with sarcasm, as if in a contest.
"This chick, where did you find her? Is she yours?" Ferox asked, eyeing the dragon with curiosity that matched a child's.
"Hardly. There are three others." Rorek answered, the man's head quickly shooting up.
"Three? Here?" Ferox asked, voice quickening with excitement as his eyes began to shine.
"Yes. Two males and one female."
"And this is the second female? Where are they? Can you take me to them? This is exciting!" The knight cried, Rorek becoming annoyed slightly by the man's childish joy. Even Silas never got this excited about a mythical creature. Well...a not so mythical creature anymore. Silas never really got excited unless he was knocking some idiot off his horse. For everything else, the young knight worried.
"No, that is...not a good idea. They are scattered, separated. I have been trying to locate the chicks. The one we are looking for is a white male with black markings. If we find the chicks, the sooner I can find the others. Or attempt to." Rorek muttered, falling silent.
"Is Silas with the other dragons?" The knight asked, curious, but Rorek couldn't help but detect a hint of jealousy underneath. He wondered why. They were just dragons.
"Last I saw him, yes, he was." Rorek answered, the man releasing a simple "Oh." in response, falling silent before breathing to speak once more.
"Is he at least staying out of trouble?" Ferox asked, the Necromancer falling silent as he looked briefly towards the side before turning his head back at the man.
"Maybe..." Rorek suddenly slurred, Ferox frowning.
"So you have no intentions of killing me, or having me face some form of horrible death that will have me screaming to High Heaven?" Rorek asked, raising a brow.
"Nope." The man swiftly answered, shaking his head.
"Huh? Well, that is a first." Rorek commented, looking over his new wound to feel the blood already beginning to clot. He would need to clean it soon.
"What is it that you are doing out here?"
"Scouting for the Duke and his army." The man responded, Rorek's posture suddenly changing, his ears perking up.
"The Duke? Can you take me to him? I have been meaning to find him, but could not for the longest time." Rorek asked, eyes shining suddenly, as if hopefull.
"But what of the chick?"
"The wyrms are my first priority, however, with my wounds I find it difficult to give chase. I can track him, but I am too injured to catch him. If you were to help me capture the last chick we could bring them back to the Duke and allow you to get a closer view of them."
"But...what of the parents? Will they not look for the chicks?" Ferox asked, concerned yet intrigued.
"They may, but the chicks will be in more danger alone in the woods than within the army camp. Of that I have no doubt." Rorek spoke, the man pausing in thought.
"Very well. You have a deal. But so long as these chicks are not harmed and returned to their parents. And if you have another episode like that again I will not hesitate to plunge my blade into your heart." Ferox spoke firmly, feeling Seraphina nuzzle and lick him like a puppy, purring.
"Hmm. Likewise." Rorek responded, not seeming to care as he tried to look for any signs of Arias, judging the foliage patterns before slowly moving through the brush.
Ferox waited a few seconds before following, alert and on edge for anything that roamed the forest. But nothing sent more chills down his spine than the man in front of him. Seraphina eagerly swiveled her head every which way from the man's arms, enjoying the heightened view and new found safety.
The knight watched Rorek moved slowly, his movements a bit stiff and his breathing irregular as sweat began to cover him once more. Rorek would occasionally pause to break a small tree branch or carve an odd symbol into the bark of a tree with the arrow head, the whole thing covered in dried blood.
"Are you alright?" Ferox asked, watching the man closely as Rorek simply nodded, the trio moving in silence for several minutes. Ferox could see a small trail through the brush and ferns, small clawed paws leaving imprints in the dirt.
"Did they ever stop?" Rorek halted in his stride, his neck turning to look at the man behind him.
"Does what stop?" Rorek asked, eyes narrowing slightly, as if judging the knight.
"The voices. Did they stop?" Ferox asked, Rorek's eyes averting to the ground before continuing to walk once more.
"The dead never rest even when laying, and the living never speak even while their lungs draw breath. No. They never stop. They never do." Rorek muttered softly, not caring if the other man heard him or not.
"At times...I find myself wondering: do I truly have this gift...this curse? Do I really hear the dead, see them, even feel them? Or is all I have just a figment of a mental illness? Am I really insane, even without the dragon? Or is the dragon causing my insanity? But that does not explain the voices which I have always heard, the ones that I have always seen, the deaths that I have always felt. Why are the dead so loud, and the living so quiet?"
Well, there you have it. I think the next chapter will be of Silas (which I have been procrastinating on doing, honestly). I feel bad for Rorek, in a sense. Is he insane, or is he not? I have also been thinking a lot about Blood and Fire, and have developed it more into a story set before The Temple Raid (by 14 years). It does have some vampires and werewolves, but I highly doubt there will be a whole cluster of them(since they are underground, hiding from the light of the sun). The story sounded so horrible that I changed it, but still kept some of the original components(such as humans dying out-either turning into vampires or werewolves-which serve as their hounds). However, in order to avoid extinction from the sun, the vampires and their wolves went underground, allowing the earth to evolve without them, the world transforming into the dragon realms as dragons became the dominant race. The main characters(so far) are actually a family/troop of apes that are readying to answer Malefor's call to war(and Gaul's raid on the Temple). However, a mining accident causing an explosion when the apes were mining for dragons crystals, and the apes(in terror of a dragon attack) go to investigate, but find something else instead. I know it sounds stupid, and the first chapter shows the breeds in modern times(only to have the second chapter skip thousands of years ahead). I don't know, I've never seen people do something like this with Spyro, so I figured I would give it a shot. If you guys want, feel free to check it out cause I would honestly like to know how much it sucks. As for Dishonored, thank you for all your support and please feel free to review on Rorek's sanity/insanity dilemma! Oh, and what Rorek says in Latin is "Leave...before death comes."