A/N: Finally, I have written the next part of this story. Sorry it took so long, but I was busy and was having trouble thinking of where to take it next. I also want to thank all the reviewers so far. I'm glad you all like it! So without further ado…
Part 3I had to do something. I could not just sit here and wallow in despair. But what could I possibly do against such a terrible entity?
First things first, I decided. I had to get some help or I would die right here. My hands still bound, I struggled to my feet and barely managed to do so. My head was spinning now and I began to doubt whether or not I would be able to make it. My hand started throbbing more intensely now. Even if I had any healing magnus with me, I would not have been able to use them, not with my hands tied like this. If I could just get to Azha, I might be able to find someone to heal me.
I took a step forward, my head reeling in protest. At this rate I would be fortunate to make it there at all. I took another step and then another, ignoring the world that was spinning before my eyes. I tried to focus on one thing and one thing only as I had been trained to do during my years in the military. I focused on the sound of my boots scrapping and thudding on the ground as I walked.
It seemed as if it had been weeks when I finally stumbled into Azha. But to my despair, the place seemed deserted. The only sounds were the clothes hung out to dry flapping in the wind and my ragged breathing. Someone had to be around somewhere. They could not have fled. Where did they have that they could go?
Their houses. But of course, of course.
So I started towards the nearest of the houses and entered into its cave-like corridors. For a moment, I stood at the bottom, looking up the incline towards a lit room at the top. There were sounds of movement and nervous voices. Good. At least someone was home.
Yet, for all my military training, I could not find the strength in me to walk up there. My sight began to dim and I struggled to hold onto my consciousness.
Then I faintly saw someone walk by and stop in the doorway, seeing me for the first time. "Please…" I said hoarsely. "Please help…me…"
Then all went dark and I knew no more.
"No, he isn't dead. He's breathing, but only barely."
"Thank goodness we found him. It looks like we were right to look for him here."
"The poor kid. I wonder what happened to him. He looks awful."
Voices. I knew those voices somehow, but they seemed so distant, as if from a dream.
"I'm sorry we couldn't help him," said one of the voices. This one I didn't recognize. "We're out of healing magnus."
"That's quite alright," replied another voice, a female. Xelha? "I've got plenty. It'll only take a moment."
"Let's just hope it works," replied another voice, male this time. Was that Kalas?
I felt a hand, that of the woman's, I believe, slide under me and gently lift me up. My head fell limply back. I moaned quietly. "He's definitely seen better days," said the voice that sounded like Kalas.
I then felt the edge of a cup touch against my cracked lips and a warm, sweet liquid trickle down my throat. I was laid carefully back down.
"There. That should do it," said the voice that I thought was Xelha's. "He should be fine within a half hour or so."
As she spoke those words, my mind began to fade once more and sleep came and took me.
Sometime later, I opened my eyes to see a rocky ceiling above me, the light of torches flickering across its surface. Somewhere nearby, I could hear hushed voices speaking to one another. Slowly and carefully I propped myself up on my elbows and found that my hand had been healed as well as all the bruises my brother and sister had given me.
"Look! He's awake!" someone shouted.
A woman whom I had never met came and knelt beside my bed. "Let me see your hand," she said, taking it and inspecting it by pressing it between her fingers. "It doesn't hurt anymore, does it?"
"No," I answered. "It's fine now."
Then the all-too-familiar faces of Kalas and Xelha came into my view. "Good t' see ya again," said Kalas, smirking.
"How are you?" asked Xelha, coming to sit on the edge of the bed.
"Have you seen it?" was all I could say. "The darkness, the fell beast that has alighted in Mintaka?"
Their smiles faded. The woman left to busy herself with something else. "Yes, we saw it," said Xelha solemnly. "All the nations have seen it. Its darkness has cast its shadow over all the earth."
"Lyude, can you tell us anything about it?" Kalas asked.
For a moment, I hesitated. The memory of what happened came back and assaulted me. I could feel tears forming at the corners of my eyes. What had I done?
"Oh my…"said Xelha at seeing my reaction. "Here, let's go get something to drink." She stood up and took my hand, helping me up.
We went to sit at a table in an adjacent room. The woman came in and set three cups of tea in front of us. I thanked her and tried to smile. I picked up one of the cups and took a few sips before I spoke. Xelha and Kalas waited.
"I…I don't understand," I said finally, hanging my head low so that my scarlet hair hung before my eyes. So many thoughts and questions whirled around my mind. I hardly knew where to begin.
"What don't you understand?" Kalas asked a bit harshly. He was always so impatient.
"Kalas!" Xelha reprimanded, glaring at him. "Can't you see something terrible has happened to him? Let him take some time to sort things out, alright?" She then turned back to me. "Okay, Lyude, please continue."
"Well," I said. "It started when I overheard my brother and sister talking about awakening an ancient god more powerful than Malpercio, but they needed someone to sing a certain song that would summon it from its sleep. They needed someone who could sing with perfect pitch and tone. They needed me. I ran from there as fast as I could, hoping that I might escape them, but they eventually caught me and took me to the dark lands beyond Azha where the god would be awakenedthis not before they'd given me some bruises, taken my gun, and broken my hand.
"Once we got there, they made me sing, pointing my own gun at my head. So I sang and the god was awakened." I hung my head lower.
Xelha gasped. "You sang for them? Lyude, that doesn't sound like you!"
"I don't know why I did it. I know they would not have shot me, cold that their hearts may be. I knew that, but I sang anyway.
"But why did I sing, why? Perhaps some part of me hoped that by singing, I could have shown them they were wrong, shown them that they were chasing after a lie. I don't know. I don't know."
For a moment, there was silence as all Xelha and Kalas could do was stare at me.
"You weren't under hypnosis again, were you?" asked Xelha.
"It may be possible, but no, I do not think so."
"At any rate," said Kalas, "the god is here no matter the reason why you sang, and something has to be done about it."
"You are right, but what are we to do? We know nothing of this god, not even his name. How are we to defeat him?"
"I know just the person," said Kalas, a smirk on his face. "Let's go."
End Part 3
A/N: Part 3 finally finished! That makes me happy! It's kinda short, though. :shrugs: And hopefully I will find the time to continue this. For now, you'll just have to be patient with me. So until next time, farewell!
