Chapter 7: Maelstrom's Dawn
The time is after 400 G, the height of Glastheim's glory. The Elven Extermination war was finally put to an end when humanity's might triumphed over the last elven bastion: The caves of Payon. For two long years, the last elven pocket of resistance held out the Glastheimian troops. The war could have lasted for another long time if not for the interference of the grand high priest Abraxil Sovivor and his project named Sangius Magnus Exorcismus or the Great Exorcism of Blood. With their interruption, the elves were annihilated once and for all…
"I'm starting to wonder…"
Necron turned away from the cathedral and started to walk away. For a while now, Salendriel had ordered him to keep an eye on Abraxil Sovivor. The raydric-knight had been watching the grand high priest and his followers perform some sort of ceremony but wondered why. The high mass was celebrated the day before.
"If the grand high priest truly deserves his title…"
The raydric-knight was deep in his thoughts as he walked through the market. The people seemed to care less about the war like it never happened now that they have won.
"It's true! If he stares at me like that again, I'd simply die! Now, what would our child's name be…?"
A passing group of mage-girls passed by him. One of them looked really excited and had a reddened face.
'Agranias should better be careful or he's in for it. It's not like he ever gets in trouble though…'
Necron soon found himself in the aristocrat district's gate. He hadn't been there for a long time now. The walls and the fountain were still indeed magnificent…
"Move aside, puny raydric…"
Necron held his zweihander in front of him and took a step backward. A khalitzburg was just an inch way from ramming him off the road. The acolyte that spoke to him was cowering behind it.
The man's hollow and rasping voice was heard by the nearby people. Several bystanders noticed the towering skeletal monstrosity and stared at Necron. Others hid behind their stalls while some whispered to each other.
"See that? That knight is gonna die pretty soon..."
"Sovivor's pets again? Aren't they supposed to be resealed now that the war's over?"
"Keep your voices low, fool! It may have heard us!"
The khalitzburg continued to lumber towards the ornately decorated structure behind Necron. The raydric-knight noticed that he was in front of the district's gate where those monsters were forbidden from entering.
Necron held his large heavy sword in front of him and carefully examined the khalitzburgs. They had runes which could blow up the important files and artifacts in the shrines.
The giant skeleton extended both rusty rapiers it had on its sides. The acolyte that directed them snarled at Necron.
"If you have no intention of moving then let them hear your dying screams…"
The khalitzburg yelled a battle cry and loud trashing sounds came from the market alley. Two more khalitzburgs lumbered out of the shadowy corner and met with their companion.
Necron took a step backward. Taking on a khalitzburg is considered suicidal and defeating one all by himself is impossible.
'I can't allow these things to enter but I also can't risk these people's lives…'
"In the grand high priest's name!"
A rusted rapier swung towards the raydric-knight but was parried by the zweihander he held. Necron was pushed a few inches from where he was currently standing because of the undead's force.
Several people screamed while some moved further away from the khalitzburgs. A few were brave enough to draw their weapons and engage the other skeletal monsters but found that they would only last a few seconds. A passing group of knights charged and engaged the skeletal monsters and managed to match its might.
The khalitzburg roared furiously then hurled another rapier in the air which was then caught by its gnarled foot. The skeletal monster slashed at Necron's feet but the raydric-knight had jumped just in time. The khalitzburg slashed in a scissors-like motion then somersaulted and bashed the ground where the raydric-knight was standing a second ago. These monsters were too agile…
'Was I even supposed to have fought alongside these things before? They're brutal and merciless as ever…'
Necron raised his zweihander then bashed the khalitzburg's gnarled foot which held the third rusted rapier, timing it just right and shattered the femur.
The result of his attack wasn't what he expected. Instead of making the skeletal monster flinch, the strike gave it an opportunity to spin and wave its rapiers around.
The raydric-knight was caught off-guard and on of the rapiers cut up his side. Blood spilled out of the wound instantly. The poison from the rusted blades blended well in his veins.
Necron dropped his zweihander and clutched his wound. The pain was unbearable. The other khalitzburg kicked the heavy black sword away.
"Not right now…not by this large pile of jangled waste!"
The acolyte drew a sword-mace and raised it.
"You're mine, puny raydric. Your hide will make a grand sacrifice for my lord…"
'Bah, are they taught to be this arrogant?"
The raydric-knight backhanded the acolyte while wincing in pain then grabbed him by the neck. The sound of the neck bone snapping rang.
The khalitzburg's companions lumbered beside it. Everyone who interfered with them was slaughtered now. All of them raised their rapiers to deliver the finishing blow.
The raydric-knight was finished this time. His sword was out of his reach. He hoped it would end quickly.
"Hey you! Hogging all the fun with these boneheads? Leave some for me!"
The "injured" khalitzburg suddenly squinted to the right. Before it could even notice, a broad sword sliced through its remaining leg, making it lose balance and fall on its side. The wielder of the broad sword was the blonde swordsman that always accompanied Osiris.
Necron darted to where his zweihander lay and grabbed its hilt. The raydric-knight turned and glanced at the newcomer.
"Who the…? You're Champion Osiris' companion."
"I guess that's better than being a "lapdog"."
The blonde swordsman grinned at him and ducked when a rusted rapier was swung at his neck.
This swordsman was incredibly fast. The next moment he was already atop the fallen khalitzburg's armored chest and rapidly bashed it until the ribcage was shattered. The swordsman smiled triumphantly as he watched the skeletal monster's remains crumble.
Necron stared incredulously at the blonde swordsman. He brought down a khalitzburg in a matter of seconds. But there were two more. The raydric-knight raised his zweihander.
"I wouldn't charge right in if I had a wound like that. Maybe my pal would take a look at it…"
A figure emerged from one of the aristocrat district's building's rooftops. The man jumped with his fist raised and was soon surrounded by orbs of blue light. He brought his fist down on one of the standing khalitzburg's helmeted skull which broke in half the moment it was hit. The figure landed on the ground beside the blonde swordsman and took an attacking stance.
"Champion Osiris?"
Osiris pointed his finger at the khalitzburg he attacked.
"Take the other one. Salendriel wants them down."
The swordsman dashed to the foot of the other standing khalitzburg and lacerated the bones that served as its legs.
Osiris charged and jumped with his leg outstretched. When he got to the same level as his opponent, the champion dove at it. His leg punched through the skeletal monster's breastplate. The force of his strike shook the khalitzburg and his ribcage along with the spine broke apart.
The skeletal monster roared hoarsely before its left arm fell off, followed by its quartered skull. Necron watched as the rest of the parts collapsed. To everyone's surprise, the right arm still clutched its rusted rapier and waved it on the blonde swordsman who was still busy tearing apart his own opponent.
The swordsman spotted the blade and jumped away from the strike. The khalitzburg that he took on tried to dive on him but the rapier fell on its neck, knocking off the helmeted skull.
The swordsman jumped on the beheaded khalitzburg's beck and drove his broad sword down it.
………………………………….
'Another battle right after we defeated the elves? That's too soon…'
Salendriel drew his two-handed sword and leapt at the handicapped khalitzburg Osiris was fighting a moment ago. The easiest way to bring down a khalitzburg is to disable their movement. That could be done by hacking off their spine's connection to their skulls.
As soon as the lord knight got to the same height as the skeletal monster's neck, he slashed what's left of the skull and drove the blade down to the neck bone vertically.
The khalitzburg roared hoarsely one last time before falling down to pieces.
The lord knight turned to Osiris then to Necron.
"You have a mind for getting into trouble, Sir Necron."
Osiris approached the raydric-knight and held his hand close to the wound. Healing light came out of the hand and closed the wound. Necron felt that the poison had gone as well as the pain.
"Hey guys. You better take a look at this…"
The blonde swordsman bent down to look at knight's decapitated form. There were corpses of knights and horses littered along the street. Most of the pavement was reddened with blood along with dismembered body parts and damaged armor.
Salendriel grimaced and started to make his way towards the castle.
"I will speak with his "Excellency" Sovivor about this madness. Necron…" the lord knight turned to the raydric-knight. "Castle Library. Meet me later."
"But lord knight…"
Necron wanted to keep up with Salendriel his wound suddenly reopened. It was just as painful as before minus the poison's burning effect.
Osiris placed his hand on the raydric-knight's shoulder and urged him to follow him.
"Isis' unit might be close. Follow me, Sir Necron. They can take care of that."
………………………………..
Later that afternoon, Necron found himself outside the castle library with Kathris. Salendriel wasn't there yet.
'What did he possibly want with me? And why the library of all places?'
The raydric-knight looked out of the window. The castle gardens were full of life now because many children have been inspired by the raydric army to begin training to be one of them but there was still no sign of the lord knight.
'It's not likely for him to be late…'
"Necron…"
Necron didn't notice Kathris say his name.
'High priestess Isis certainly did her job well. I can't feel anything now…'
"Necron?"
'Darn it, I can't actually believe I was attacked by khalitzburgs. If only…'
"Necron!"
Kathris gave him a sharp blow on the arm. Necron held his zweihander tight and backed away. Somehow, this huntress hits really hard…
"What are you daydreaming about? I've been…hey you!"
Necron turned away from her and continued to watch the raydric younglings practice. Kathris took a step closer to him and nudged him on the side.
"Hello, I'm Kathris Deemspring. The girl you seem to have forgotten?"
To the huntress' surprise, Necron's hand suddenly landed on her shoulder.
"How could I forget?"
"Then why aren't you even showing me that you cared?"
"I was…supposed to? Now I see why you came."
Kathris sighed then placed her left hand on the raydric-knight's. The two of them fell quiet.
"Necron Lorthiras?"
The raydric-knight whipped around. Salendriel was standing outside the library double doors.
"I'm sorry; just tell me when you're done…"