Beginning: Victoria

Chapter 6

Sira slides her fingers around the rope of the steely and pulls the weapon from her stomach. She feels the steel gliding through her until the tip slides out allowing blood to run without restraint. As the steely is freed from her body she stumbles a few steps forward. A burning hatred boils inside her and guides her step by step. The trees glisten and the figures of the quarreling men gleam in shades of red and black. She walks slowly and wobbly towards her spear and then picks it up. The pain from her leg - gone. The pain from the steely - gone. All that remains is the overwhelming sensation pulsing her anger and frustration through her veins. Her breathing is heavy and her once blue eyes are coated in red. She can not think of anything else except that man. He tried to kill her - ruin her ambition. He killed all those men and women. He killed her teammates. He enjoyed it. Her grip tightens on her spear and she makes her way towards the fight. She is going to enjoy this.

Zenith holds his hand tightly over the large gash on his shoulder. He can no longer move his left leg and right arm. The man had severed muscles in both the limbs making them limp. The attacker approaches Zenith and knocks him to the ground once again with his powerful skill. Zenith pushes himself with his able leg until his back is against a tree.

"This has been fun," snickers the man. "Unfortunately I have business elsewhere to which I must tend."

The man goes to raise his hand but is struck by something and stumbles forward a little. Zenith looks up and is shocked to see Sira plunging her spear at the man. Her body and face are dirty and stained with blood. The man fights back only to have Sira block and attack again. Zenith does not understand how she is able to move, how she is still alive. He can't help but stare at her stomach where the Steely had pierced a hole through her body and pinned her to the tree. She should be dead.

"My dear," says the man. "I had no idea you were so strong."

Sira groans and swings her spear. The man puts up a defense guard, but the spear goes through it and scratches his arm before he can move out of the way - he smiles. Zenith tries to stand, but is unable. He didn't know Sira was so strong. He closes his eyes and opens them again. He knows that she is not that strong - confusion. The man is able to block Sira's continuous attacks. He then uses the shock skill and knocks her far back against Zenith on the ground. The Zeco shatters and her anger builds. She surveys the area. A few feet away, lay the page's Groonhill.

"Both of you die now," says the man seeming aggravated suddenly.

Sira jumps to her feet and throws herself towards the massive sword. Such speed and agility for someone who is injured to the point of supposed death. The man follows her with his hand outstretched, but she is already on her feet with the Groonhill held firmly in both hands. She holds the hilt of the sword while the tip lay on the ground. If stood next to her, the sword would be almost as tall as her. She shouldn't be able to hold up a sword of that size and weight at her level. The man smiles again and Sira begins to run, dragging the Groon beside her.

"Your fight is with me," She growls in a deep voice having only a faint echo of her own tone.

The man holds out his hand and just as a white light immerses from his palm, Siya swiftly spins out of the way and arrives beside him. She swings the Groonhill upward and rips the man's coat along with the flesh on his right side. Zenith watches Siras heavy breathing and can not understand where her strength is coming from. Sira stares the man in the eyes and he jumps back. Her eyes - the assassin stares at her eyes. It seems as thought blood has pooled and covered them both. Zenith is overcome with a familiar fear. It can't be…His mind is flooded with memories, thoughts and fears. Impossible.
She holds the sword towards the man and grunts.

"Come," she growls. "We'll see how you enjoy being obliterated!"

Tired of waiting for him, she lunges forward with the Groon held high. A few feet from him, he raises his hand and an explosion creates a wall of flames between them. Sira stops and slams the tip of the sword into the ground in frustration.

"My dear," says the man. "I never expected to find someone like you here."

The wall of flames grows higher and then explodes. When the smoke and debris settle, the man is gone. Sira looks over at Zenith who is staring at her in disbelief. The anger that had taken over her body dissipates and is replaced by the piercing pain she had before. She grabs her stomach and screams in agony as she falls to her knees. Zenith forces himself to his feet and staggers towards her. She can see his lips moving but can't hear anything. As a strange feeling of serenity rushes through her, the red colors of the woods return to their original green and brown. Zenith reaches her and her vision has become blurry again. The pain becomes all she can think of. She lets herself fall forward and closes her eyes once her head hits the ground.