Chapter 15: Knight of Reflections

Kael waved his sword in the air to clear some blood from the edge. It was no sooner that the blade cleaved through the tough hide of more minorii. The raydric-knight spurred his mount to move further into the castle grounds. The horse, however, seemed to hesitate but its rider kicked it on the sides to make it obey.

'I don't blame him…who wants to charge head-on against hordes of undead.'

The raydric-knight raised his sword and whirled it sideward as his mount charged. The two-handed sword struck a golden-armored skeleton on the breastplate and sent it stumbling backward. He pointed his sword between the skull's eye sockets and plunged it deep. The blade punched through its rusted helm and stuck out of the other end.

A hulking figure of a minorus lumbered behind Kael as he withdrew his sword. The towering heavily built bull-creature raised its huge hammer only to have it shattered by orbs of lightning. The raydric-knight saw the minorus left weaponless and positioned for a charge, his two-handed sword dripping with crimson liquid.

The oridecon blade plunged deep into the minorus's belly. Kael twisted the blade and ran it to the side making sure it would rip apart a few vital organs. After he withdrew the sword, the bull-creature stumbled backwards and fell on the grass.

"Raydric Commander!"

Kael didn't mind the soldier who had shouted himself hoarse and leapt above the downed minorus. His sword was driven down the bull-creature's head, letting brain tissues fountain out of the gaping wound.

"Raydric Commander, majority of our troops has breached the screen of undead."

The raydric-knight leapt off the slain bull-creature.

"Send word to the main defense force."

"But the roads that lead to the non-hostile territories are blockaded. We're completely surrounded."

Before the raydric archer could move, a wraith's gaping mouth clenched on his head, severing it completely. The decapitated form dropped to the ground when the wraith hovered farther from Kael's sword.

Another wraith crept up from behind the raydric-knight but he was quick to notice and swung his two-handed sword at it. The blade tore through the undead creature's body and cut it into two neat halves which fell slowly to the ground.

From the corner of his eye, the raydric-knight saw a raydric-wizards being dropped from the air by wraiths and caught by the soldier skeleton's blades. The raydrics who rushed to their aid were immediately peppered by arrows from nearby archer skeletons.

It was pointless to keep fighting in the open since majority of the Raydric Army were still fighting their way to the castle grounds. Kael straightened up the new battle standard he was wielding to signal all the raydrics.

"Pull back to the castle! Pull back!"

Several divisions hacked their way into the direction of the castle walls while walls of fire and ice were being raised around to protect them.

Kael charged to the direction of the castle while his horse trampled upon dagger-wielding undead. The raydric-knight whipped around and whirled his sword in the direction of the undead that pursued him. Flames erupted from the edge of his sword and flew towards the skeletons in the form of an arc. The undead caught the flames easily and were ignited. All the skeletons ran in different directions and collided into more of their kind, also setting them on fire.

'Thank Necron for teaching me that skill…'

More soldier skeletons started to charge towards him. The raydric-knight tightened his grip and followed. He was surrounded by undead. Even if there were raydrics coming from almost everywhere, he was the undead's target and he wasn't going to get off lightly.

"At least I'll die trying!"

The raydric-knight raised his two-handed sword and positioned for a Bowling Bash. The blade struck the nearest skeleton on the chest and sent it flying backwards, crashing into its brethren and shattered.

Kael felt something cut up his side and his back at the same time. Another dagger rent his shoulder. At least every one of the skeletons that pounced on him was delivering blows at the same time. The raydric-knight locked his teeth and tightened further his grip on his bloody sword.

After sustaining at least a dozen more slashes, he managed to position his weapon correctly and whirled it around him. The blade cleaved off several grinning skulls as well as incinerated any bones it touched.

When he had enough space, Kael pulled up the reins and his horse rose and slammed its hooves squarely on a golden-armored skeleton's skull. The skeleton general staggered backward while its left arm broke off. Kael raised his sword for a killing stroke and swung it down, splitting the undead creature apart.

An arrow flew above the golden-armored skeleton and embedded deep into Kael's chest. Right after that, a wraith clenched its large jaws at his sword arm. Kael grabbed his sword with his left hand and thrust it straight into the undead monster's head. Before the wraith could fall on the ground, another dagger-wielding skeleton plunged its daggers straight into Kael's chest. The raydric-knight raised a war cry and grabbed its face with his gauntleted hand and hauled it towards him, letting his sword rip it apart in the process. Suddenly, another arrow stuck to his shoulder. Before him, the hulking figure of a minorus raised its gleaming hammer.

He was badly injured now. Another strike would put an end to all of this…

'Rise up, boy.'

The words reared the raydric-knight back to his senses. He quickly made his mount leap to the sides, just in time to avoid a direct strike. The voice, however, sounded familiar. The voice had just come to his mind and was hollow and metallic.

'No, don't die yet. Raise your weapon and deliver.'

Whoever said the words was, Kael didn't bother not following. The minorus had to die and he was the only one who can reach it at that point. The bull-creature withdrew its large hammer and prepared for another strike. The raydric-knight raised his sword in answer.

'Let the blade strike down those who would mock the knights. Let the knights be more superior other than soldiers who would just discard their lives for lords…'

'Than soldiers who would just discard their lives for lords…'

Those seem so awfully familiar. Kael just can't seem to remember how. He charged and his horse leapt to the same level as the minorus's head. The raydric-knight reversed his grip on his two-handed sword and stabbed it downwards. The blade ripped down from the bull-creature's forehead to its belly. The minorus dropped its colossal hammer on the ground and stumbled backward.

'Well done. Very well done indeed. It was wise to have you as the paragon of the knights…'

"Paragon of knights? Just who are you?"

Kael looked around him. Raydrics, raydric archers, knights, wizards, priests, and hunters charged from almost everywhere, slaying any undead or minorii that got in their way. Soon, the castle grounds were littered with the bodies of slain minorii, undead and raydrics. A minorus and a few floating corpses tried to escape but were brought down by overwhelming numbers of raydrics.

'You will not find me here…but we shall meet soon. Very soon.'

Kael nearly fell off his mount but managed to hold on. His blood trickled down from his wounds on stained crimson on his horse's dark skin. The raydric-knight had more than thirty wounds and had lost a great amount of blood but he can still ride. But what did the metallic voice mean about him being chosen as some leader? Sure he was a Raydric Commander but something doesn't feel right.

Raydrics began to enter the castle and garrison it. Hundreds of others had gathered outside the walls.

"The entire Raydric Army…"

A small image of a glowing cross appeared below him and suffused him with healing light. It was…soothing. The pain lessened almost instantly and the wounds started to close.

Kael sighed in relief and sheathed his wet sword. Perhaps this person who was mentally speaking to him was someone…powerful. If he meant what he said about him being the paragon of knights then…