``Alright Nathanos, its time to end this...for once and for all´´
She stated firmly, her words slowly echoing through the vast room in the process before they too started to fade away while they stood still. Leaving only the constant humming of their breaths and the sporadic cracks of broken chunks of rock under her feet to barely fill its absence.
The two holding their gaze for a moment, neither of them breaking contact as they allowed the words to stew in their minds before they pushed them away like an afterthought. Ready to go at it again in a moments notice.
And yet she was not surprised to see Nathanos form slowly ease his tension. A smirk forming around his battered and broken lips.
``A rather dramatic declaration….though not as grand as you might have thought, perhaps you may still be able to throw your arms and make a good poet, Light knows you could not possibly be worse ´´
She snorted, a dry chuckle leaving her lips as she shook her head. Clearly he was not as clever as he thought he was...
``I will pass…., besides my sister was always the one for the dramatics...´´ Though looking at you now, I can see that some of it rubbed on you, son of a bitch….
He merely shrugged though that glint of amusement still remained on his eyes. ``Pity…., still You must be desperate…..all that training, all those lessons, and the only thing you bring to bear is that? A rock!? Really?´´
Ah, there he was again….he just loved to hear himself talk didn't he?
For a moment she wondered how gullible and short tempered she must have been at the beginning to fall for such obvious attempt to rail her up. To prick her into action, like just before…..
Truly, he was a one trick man…..
``It would be a rather fitting tool to put an end to your madness, what can I say…..against primitive minds, primitive solutions´´
``Surely you jest….,´´
``What? Scared of little old me? Am I too much to handle now?´´
That wiped away the grin from his face, a frown between his eyes as a silent snarl settle over his grinning teeth.
``As if…..you would not be able to scare a mouse ´´
``And yet you are no moving from your spot, where did all of that earlier bravado go? Oh Ranger Lord?´´ She said scathingly as she took a step forward, Nathanos clinching both fist and jaw as a result. That seemed to touch a nerve.
Good.
``And all I see is you talking, thinking yourself clever girl? What a joke….. though how would you manage to do something like th-´´ He could not finish as his mouth shut tightly when he noticed her running at him, quickly forcing himself forward, fist held up to meet her on.
Who was the predictable one now?
Just as only eight paces remained between them everything seemed to slow down. Her left arm, the one grasping tightly the rock as if her life depended on it slowly made its way up, only when it was about to reach its limits her fingers let go of their valued possession, allowing for the object to fly over their heads.
In a first look, aimlessly…..
But he didn't know that.
His body tensed up, a response brought up more by reflex by years of training than an actual thought crossing his mind in that very moment. His armor not able to hide away the way the muscles of his neck started to nor how his eyes started to follow through.
Unable to lose track of the thrown object for a few more seconds as they estimated the time it would need to reach the floor again before going back.
That would be enough.
By the time they started to roll down to meet her, fist clenched, it was far too late, for she was no longer about to crash against him, but sliding down the floor. Using the smooth and slippery surface to propel her forward during those last few seconds before the collision.
Her entire body mass smashed through his right leg like a battery ram would against an oak door, tripping him face down first to the ground in a loud unceremoniously thud...and yet his body tried to jerk back up, cocking his head to the side to spitefully glare at her before that too was denied as her hand descended on him, carrying the thought lost hunk of rubble that gravity had finally brought down.
Smashing it as hard as she could against him. Instantly obliterating her tool of choice in a matter of seconds by the sheer magnitude of the force, shards flying in all directions as result, some scratching her skin as the same time that his head was thrown back on the ground.
"Good, good…..did you heard that!? It felt like an egg popping up on the spot"
"Come on! What are you waiting for!? Stomp that thick skull into a million pieces. Take your rightful place….the one he took from you"
"Avenge his sinful words towards them, towards Lirah…..do it!"
With undisguised satisfaction she approached him, the voices continuing on in their endless one sided monologue, drawing out very enticing ideas with every passing moment. By the time she stopped she was by his side, though with a small distance between them if he got any funny ideas.
He was not getting up, though that would change sooner rather than later.
Blood was falling down the left side, just right where her hand had struck the blow. What were once drops, now becoming a steady stream, tainting his black hair with an ever growing smear of scarlet before it fell to the floor below, slowly creating a small red reflection of herself in the process.
Red…and still….
Just like their bodies as they lingered on the desecrated familial grounds.
That stroke a cord inside her.
Slowly rising her hand, her eyes gazing at the now open gashes spread over her palm were the shards had dug in during the brief friction on the clash, she could feel veins laying below the skin pulsing painfully with every beat, the flesh around probably swelling up by now, though it was lost to her with the way the sticky life fluids were staining in crimson her hands.
Red….
Everything around her was turning to red, everything that she touched…..
"Is this what you really want to do?" A voice calls out softly.
The words hang out in the air, stopping her on the spot, but one that is short lived as she shook her head, quickly though hesitantly cocking her head to the right. She already knew who it was, yet that did not mean that she was not taken aback for her presence all the same.
She stood tall over one of the podiums, proud as ever. Her dark green cape been the first thing she noticed, a stark contrast with the bright whiteness of her surroundings. The battered yet reliable golden green pattered armor unable to hide the steel like muscles laying beneath, nor the eye catching trim of blue circling around her arm, ending over one of her eyes.
Eyes that could gaze at her surroundings with the very same coldness of a predator viewing its prey as it slowly approached it with the same ease they could turn soft and caring. That same stern yet calm composure when faced with a problem no one else had managed to fix and do so in an efficient way.
She unconsciously found herself chewing her lips, she remained just as impressive as that fateful day that she left.
As if time had not move on...
The way her ears moved slightly through the thin slits of her hood or how her the wind pushed some strands of her golden mane almost felt like she was actually there…., had it not been for the fact that she could actually see through her.
Mostly though.
A barely transparent apparition or stubborn memory…..
She would not know which one, what she knew was that she was not ready for this.
Not you…..
As if she could read her thoughts she pulled herself down from her position, not uttering a sound as she reached the floor, quickly cutting the distance that stood between the two. A frown on her face as her eyes switched from the fallen human back to her.
You have to be kidding me…. ``What!?´´ She exclaimed in exasperation, knowing well known that nothing good was about to come out from it yet doing so anyway.
"You should know better than low yourself to his level...this is not anger, this is not self defense,but uncontrolled grief. You must be better Lady Moon…."
Better? She wanted her to be better? That was rich coming from her, especially after what she did.
"You don't seem very thrilled" She said slowly,placing her arms below her chest plate.
``Damn right you are…, because if You really where here you would know thatI have nothing to prove to you that I am not better than him! And that is without adding your own bloody mess, or did you think I would forget about it!?´´
"This its not about him, or me…., but you dear…..and though I think I took poor choices….´´
``You think!?´´ The very thought of her...of these...thing, made up by her own mind trying to excuse herself baffled her.Her sister though did not seemed affected by it.
"And even as poor, psychotic and senseless as he is, his words do held some modicum of truth. Had they not you would not be so attacked by them…."
``You can not be serious….´´ She scoffed, turning her back away from her, clenching her teeth.
"I may be...I may not….yet you know that this whole ordeal has now become nothing more than a waste of breath and effort. You could have walked away..."
``And let him get away with it!? Is that your wise counsel!? She snapped, her eyes meeting her eldest in a blaze of anguish and anger, but if she thought she would find some sort of she was going to be disappointed as Alleria took a step forward.
Placing herself just and arm of distance between them.
"So fighting over our graves about such petty notions is any better?"
She froze, she was not expecting that.
Eyes open wide as she tried to gain back with little success control over her own body. Lips unable to utter a single sound, even if she wished she could. Incapable to avoid for her eyes to roam the room, trying to look anywhere as far away as possible from those judging eyes.
And what laid before them did not satisfy her.
Cracks
Blood
Desolated
The regal, silent solemnity of this walls, evaporated like the first drops of morning. All of this in the spam of a few minutes….
The heart wrecking feeling tugging her heart would not leave her, not when the thought of her part on it hanged over the corner of her mind.
It wasn't fair.
It wasn't fair that she used her guilt against her, especially when she...when He had been the source of it. When he had been the one to start this….
``You...you don't understand...´´
"Then tell me! Why, Vere? Make me understand! Did we deserve this? Is this our penance for leaving you? Do you think that Lady Moon would want this for you?"
``You...you don't know me, not anymore. Its been twenty five years...Lady sun, people change´´ She muttered under her breath.
"We both know that not to be true..."She replied solemnly, a faint look of pity washing over her once stern demeanor before it was replaced with a her usual frown, her eyes trying to peer through her soul.
And the worst part? Somewhere deep inside her she agreed with her.
"Oh yeah...you do that, listen to her and her know it all comments, too bad that she never listened to you, eh? Perhaps she would still be alive if she had..."
"Will you listen like a good sister? Or like a good dog….?"
"Not that it matter really though, no? After all, when has sh-"
``ENOUGH! All of of you!´´ She yells in frustration for the now constant interruptions ranging inside her, clutching her hands over her ears in a fruitless effort to block the sound before she slammed her sister with one arm, her ethereal form shattering like glass in an instant as it collided with her.
Just in time to free her view of what laid before her and block a fist aimed right at her face. Pushing it away to the side allowing Nathanos body to deviate from its original course while her other arm sprung forward by instinct, grabbing him by his remaining arm, placing it over her shoulder before pulling him up over her and slamming him back to the ground.
It seemed that she had been too lost in thought for her not to notice his absently from the floor before it was almost too late.
Curse ghosts and their impertinence…
She searched for her, or any sign that she still remained in the room but she found nothing, just the empty corridors welcome her. She left a huff of frustration, whether she admitted or not, there were still a lot of things to be said between the two, meaning that she would have to wait for another shitty moment for her to appear again. Something that she was not really keen on looking forward.
Yet not all where downsides.
Now with her gone from her sights she was free to do what she should have done before her interruption.
Finish it.
Her hands managing to grasp his head by the sides, her fingers intertwining with his bloodied hair, smearing them even further while she managed to get a firm hold. And then..., she started to apply pressure.
That seemed to wake some sort of semblance inside him for his response did not make itself wait for too long, grasping her wrist tightly, slowly closing its grasp before slowly trying to pray then off his head.
Her mouth curled into a thin line, ignoring the increasing feeling of pain coming from her poor wrist as she did not back down, the strength under her grip not lessen for a second, in fact, it merely intensified. She wasn't gonna let him get out, but crushing his head wasn't her goal, no….., she aimed for something greater as she started to pull him up further and further up from his rest on the floor.
Muffled grunts of pain barely reaching her ears as she felt strands of hair fall down the floor.
Suddenly the crushing pressure over her wrists vanished, his hands retreating away from sight. For some a sign of relief but she knew better, slowly a timid smile warped its way around the corners of her mouth.
Using all the strength she could muster, she pulled his head upwards to the point that for a few seconds he was no longer standing on solid ground, the motion alone could have damage the muscles around his neck and leave a sore feeling over his spine, before she pulled downwards….his body following through with it, incapable of resisting.
For nothing but a brief moment she caught sight of his eyes, shock plastered all over them before it was wiped away in an instant. The sound of broken bones that followed when his face slammed violently with her knee was both satisfying as worrisome.
``And for one final time….stay down!´´
Like a puppet which strings that had been cut off, he fell to the ground. Blood falling down from both his broken nose and mouth, staining both his beard and teeth in a bright scarlet shade. A black eye starting to form while the flesh around it started to get swollen, to the point that had almost vanished between the bruised flesh and the dried blood covering it, the rest of his face fared no better, His once pristine face now marred with cuts and dark purple bruises.
It would take a good healer to take away all of this….if one even dared to get near him that is. Too bad that she would not have such luxury if things went as they had been going until then.
And so she waited, trepidation coursing through her veins as she stood still, her eyes glaring at his fallen form for any sign that he would resume the confrontation in another vain show of invincibility. Like he had been doing since the very beginning.
She prayed it would not come to pass though, gods that man was sturdier than most….
A minute passed, then two…..
Nothing happened, only the faint sound of her lungs clashing against her ribs and the rhythmic yet weak echo of the mans breathing kept away the eeriness from clutching her soul tightly with restlessness.
Was it over? It did not seemed like he was going to get up any time soon...good, no?
She shook her head, it was too soon to say, but if he wasn't feeling to good to get up again for any more nasty business….then perhaps she could at least get to the end of this bloody mess. Surely it wouldn't be the worse thing she had done that day for a long shot.
And so he approached him, grabbing him by the collar of his gorge and pulling him up as much as she could, the combine dead weight of his body as well as his armor were on her still sore arms becoming a far more daunting task than she first thought. That still did not dissuade her from rocking him back and forth, cursing his name into oblivion.
``You crazy son of whore...why the hell did you attacked me!? What was the meaning of this!?´´
Yet for all that she tried he remained as silent as the grave, it was only then when she noticed the way his head hang loose, clearly unresponsive that she started to realize something much to her dismay…..
He was out cold.
He was…
It was by then that realization struck her harder than any hammer could have ever done, making her hold falter before her lips parted ways. Only one thought in her mind.
``FUCK!´´
ºººººººººººººººººººººººº
ºººººººººººººººººººººººº
ºººººººººººººººººººººººº
The sun was obscured under the thick layers of clouds hanging over the skies like a thick curtain of black steel, the howling of the wind echoing all around him as it shook the cup of the trees to their roots, while barely perceptible fell over his form as a new
Small spots of frost growing around the edges of his gloveless fingers, gluing them further against the cool ebony surface of his staff.
He did not mind.
By all means it looked like it would be just like another day in these isolated mountain peaks for the common people of the village below…their minds mostly unaware or mostly ignorant of what laid beyond their rudimentary lives…
The rough terrain of the lands surrounding the ruins of the fallen kingdom of Alterac did not left much room for choice though.
But not for him.
He did not need to be there to notice the slow yet steady change in the region, the voracity of the winds tearing apart wood, rock and flesh alike. The coldness that slipped through even the smallest of cracks or that poor timely melody, butchered in a sea of incohesion.
Yes, he could feel it... that growth of the magic imbued in the air of the world, or more precisely, on Lordaeron. That land that had seemed fit to be stuck in the past was now ready to bloom with precious uncertainty.
How ironic…
Though, could it be even consider ironic when he had known before it had actually happened? Or how many hands lurking in the shadows had worked to force such an opportunity in the field?
Perhaps it was a matter better left for others to pick up….
Speaking of the tide…
It felt as if someone had connected a distant river stream towards an isolated lake. The new supply slowly, yet steadily eroding the natural barriers standing around the pool as it grew in size, touching, tainting, changing everything around them.
The way the opposite energies were mixing with one another was just another reason for the actual volatility taking place, the world was trying to make heads to go back to its original state. But its will was too weak to do anything else than be a small yet constant hazel to the forces pushing onward.
At this point it was no longer a matter of if, but when….
Images of dozens of scenarios had crossed his mind, each one far more interesting or bizarre than the last as he peered through the slender veil that separated the materium from the vast eternity, the things he had saw, the deeds that would come tumbling down the still fresh soil of a world still naive from the works…. Boiling inside his mind.
He was indeed awaiting with abated breath of what was to come…, but that alone was not the full force behind his new found distraction.
When the time came and it finally leaked completely out from the territorial confinement and slipped over the mana lanes on the surface of the planet. The possibilities after such event where endless if he was honest...
Would the world shriek in unholy torment..?
Or would it thrive? Evolve under the malignant energies?
His body, pale as the first winter snows, stood easily on the prominent rock stuck in one of the ledges of the ravine, whose depth could not be seen with clarity. The wind whispering in his ears the faint sounds of ages past while it fiercely struggled to rip his hood from his head as time went by.
His tired eyes gazed over the horizon, distant emotions ranging briefly and sporadic through a pair of now dull eyes covered by a silver shade of nothingness, a peculiar glint emanating from them from time to time, though it could be attributed to be merely the light play over the cold surface that surrounded him.
The ghost of a smile formed around his lips before it was wiped away as fast as it came, slowly pulling down the book his right hand was holding so tightly, its pages standing unnaturally still even under the stormy winds assailing before it too finally disappeared within his robe.
But if there was something that had truly amuse him was the sudden intervention of a peculiar old prophet. And echo lost in time, a ghost given form, a sorry memory taking what most would consider an unfair chance in what was a stroke of the universe to spit him out from death grasp for just a little longer.
Truly, the former guardian of the enclave had proven a rather fitting tool for excitement, seeing the doomed man going far and beyond to save what could not be saved, trying himself to change the wheels of Fate when it was it that guided him all along.
And somehow...he did something.
How exhilarating, no matter how brief it may have been.
In the end it did not mattered what he chose or not chose to do, all was already written by his hand and his alone….
He only had to follow through, perhaps he would find something else to do…..
``It seems that the gears of this old machine are finally taking their first rotations, though the direction this events may lead are still mostly obscure from my sights´´
``True, but that is what we are doing, don't we?... Watching the events unfold?´´ Came a low, guttural voice, almost cracking as if fueled by fire. The sound of snow been crushed under the weight of something massive was not lost to him, though it did not worry him though.
He had known of the creatures presence for a while. For a been prided in secrecy, he was awfully unaware of the stink his essence carried away….
``I was wondering when you were gonna come out, I hope it wasn't my presence too much of a surprise for you...´´ He muttered jokingly, turning around he was met with a towering figured. Its head completely bald with the exception of a set of onyx horns, its eyes glowing brightly with a sickly green light, narrowed with suspicion as they glared at him.
Clearly displeased with the way his awfully design bat wings started to straighten.
``Sigh seeing? What a plain and rather dull activity for you to be found doing…..´´
```I would not say that, though perhaps you have far more risk taking risks. Why don't you try throwing yourself down the slope if you get bored…you might find it suits you´´
`I would rather not...´´ It huffs, before his eyes started to narrow into two thin slits. `` I hope you are not thinking on jumping down´´
He scoffed ``Curse that thought my friend, what would I do after all this time together? Death is so….final, boring even….. but life? Life is awfully filled with possibilities...´´
``We are not friends…´´
``Partners?´´
``….´´
``I hope its not marriage what you had in your mind, my mind has not degraded to the point of committing philosophical suicide my dear friend´´
``I will kill you if you continue pestering me….mage´´ It growled.
He shrugged. ``And risk having my ill willed spirit haunt you for eternity? Not a chance´´ The creature scoffed, yet he did not say a word at him, it instead choose to move closer to him and gaze at the frozen landscape.
``The prince is on his way...the first part is reaching its cenit´´ It said.
`` But will he find the salvation he seeks….? Or open the gates of damnation?´´
``A curious question to be had….., though not one for us to answer though´´
``Indeed…., the rules were grounded long before this world had formed and the pieces had been set…. yet I sense that you have an opinion of it´´
``What of it?´´
``Nothing, just that this old man is curious of what you have between your ears apart from air...´´
His eyes remained directed at him for a few seconds before they darted away. ``Damnation, the boy is too hot headed and rash to reach a decisive conclusion. Just a blunt object ready to change its owner and do what he is told. he will be ours before he realizes...though it vexes me that its has to be him...´´
``You consider him unworthy I take...´´
``Don't put words in my mouth, human...´´
``Don't mind me, you know how I am…..though I have not yet heard you deny it´´
``I have my reservations, yet he was the one decided to be chosen after a long debate by my brothers…., much to my chagrin I may add. There were other candidates to be taken into consideration, candidates that I had watched for years who would have been far easier to control and lead than some princeling….´´
``So you consider this a slight against your honor…´´
``It was a slight...´´
Ah, there it was again…., that. For a such a foul pretender whose blind zeal had led way to deceive and lies over the cosmos over those they consider inferior his kin did fell in the same trap of banality that was part of mortality.
Though he would not be the one to tell him, who knew? Perhaps in a million years he would find out…probably.
``He will do his part´´
``He will...whether he knows it or not´´ It nods in agreement, but instead of leaving he remains where he stands.
It did not take a genius to know he wanted something, not with the way his claws were fidgeting with one another.
``So….what brings you here?´´
``I have reservations...´´
``Who is free of reservations?´´
``About the reasons behind your support´´
``Would you believe me if I said that I did it from the goodness of my heart?´´
``Right….and the Legion fights with gingerbread and cotton candy…..´´
Truer words had not been spoken in the entire conversation, yet and interesting sight to behold though. Perhaps one day he could make that thought reality?
``Reality is often stranger than fiction, Talnivar….I am sure you know what I am talking about...´´
``Perhaps…., will you explain yourself still... or do I have to drag it out of you?´´
``No...I think I wont´´
``Why…?´´
``I think that would take away much of the fun of it my friend…., what is the point for a riddle that you already know the answer for?´´ He chuckled.
The Nathrezim merely shook his head in exasperation, his features warped in annoyance before he started walking away from him.
``One of these you are gonna regret that loose tongue of yours, mage….´´ He warned before he disappeared in a bright flash of flames, leaving nothing but a small scorched spot on the ground where he had just stood moments prior.
``Perhaps it would…..or it many not, after all….the wings of fate are so certain yet so fickle, just as much as the nature of the paths beyond our understanding´´ He said calmly before he too disappeared from the rift, only a black shadowy feather left on his place.
ºººººººººººººººººººººººº
ºººººººººººººººººººººººº
ºººººººººººººººººººººººº
She did not know for how long she stood there in silence, her back leaned against the wall as she was left alone to ponder about….everything really. Not that she had much to do with her comatose guest who seemed with no care in the world about her annoyance nor the deadly glares she had been sending his way.
And with the only visible entity on the room sucking the ground, she was left to search for….alternatives, she found none though. With only a strange glimmer of light crossing the room through some of the many windows and some muffled noises from somewhere to actually caught her attention.
It seemed that Alleria was not gonna come out….
"Is this what you really want to do?"
The words stubbornly cling to her as much as the summer heat after a long day under the sun, though they no longer annoyed them as much as they did in the first place.
What did she meant by that? Was it the fight, or something else….? With ghosts one never knew, not with them been cryptic at all….
Couldn't they be more...to the point?
"Is this what you really want to do?"
Another sigh left her lips before she switched her attention from it towards somewhere closer to her, her hands to be more precise. Now warped tightly against her skin the soft fabric of the handkerchief she had brought on one of her pockets before going out home as some sort of auxiliary bandage.
Its blue velvety texture had started to grown a few scarlet spots through various locations...obscuring the golden words inscribed within. Though it did not seem to be nothing noteworthy at this point.
It still ached though as she carefully held it with her other hand, not willing to touch any hot spot if she could help it. The bruises adorning her body would be another matter entirely though.
And not before long they finally rested over him...
For how long was he going to be napping? She knew she had hit him hard…., but with all his abnormal she would have expect him to be back up a long time ago. Not that she minded to have ample time to put her fucking head back on its place and catch her breath…., but if she was honest with herself she should have been gone from her for a while now at least.
She always took an hour or two to stay here.
Three hours had already passed…..
She bite her lip, the Spire Staff may start wondering why was she taking so long….and if they do then it would be rather quickly for Sharlindra to hear about that. And went that happened...well, she only wished that wherever she was at the time she would return late at the spire.
When is this bastard gonna stop napping?
``Urgh!´´
Speak of the devil and he may appear…, or at least the second best thing.
``Welcome back to the land of the living…...and try not to join the unliving while we are at it, please´´ She muttered as she slowly pulled herself away from the wall.
Though battered and bruised Marris started to stand up from the ground at a slow, sluggish pace. A fit of coughing halting him midway, forcing her to hear him gurgle at whatever was stuck inside his throat before he throw up a large blob of half dried blood to the ground. The thick and sticky stain was mixed with some small white pebbles. Teeth she realized, a cold shudder crawling up her spine.
Gross… I pity the bastard who have to clean that…..
``Now this is how I like it…..´´ He replied with joy, a crude smile forming around his broken lips before he brushed off the blood with a torn sleeve, smearing it on the cloth. ``But…. I need to make sure it's in there and not a mirage….lets see if you can keep it up captain´´
Come on...again!? How many times do I must taught you your lesson old man!?
``Nathanos...whatever you are planing, just give it up…..I am growing tired of beating the shit out of y-´´ Her words trail off when she heard the slow yet unmistakable sound of a blade scratching against its holster. She did not need to look far to know why.
He had drawn his combat knife. Small it may be yet she knew no better weapon on the Rangers Lord arsenal than the small blade that he used to make his own arrows.
Her back went rigid, if he was about to use weapons things would surely turn nasty. You have to be kidding me….seriously!?
"What were you expecting? You did antagonize him...is this what you wanted?"
Not now Lady Sun… She thought with barely held annoyance before she switched her attention back at him. ``Wielding weapons against a defenseless lady Nathanos? How low can you get...?´´
``Good thing you are no defenseless ´´ He replied mockingly. She would agree with him on that one, she was far from defenseless. Without a word he slashed at her, the blade cutting through the air from left to right in an open arc, aimed just right below her collar bone, forcing her to take a step back, one that its soon followed by another, and another. Unrelenting on his attack, undeterred by his constant lack of progress.
Yet she felt it.
Even under the stress and tiredness of her body or his lack of self preservation she knew something was wrong.
``Silent are you now, aren't you? What? Cat caught your tongue?´´ She sidestepped to the side, avoiding another strike, with only the wind to brush her face.
He was placing too much force on his strikes, making them all ran short. It could be attributed to the way he was holding on the knife with as if his life depended on it, or the concussions were taking its toll, either way it worked for her.
It meant that she did not need to overthink her next step, taking that into consideration she took a step forward, and with it an opening came tumbling down an opening before her.
She felt the wind brush around her face again when he thrust forward his arm, the cold blade tip scratching her skin, granting it a cold kiss as it barely touch her…., but she did not care, for now it was time to return the favor.
In a similar fashion to what he had done previously, she locked her left arm around his knife wielding hand, keeping it close to her yet unable to move out off it, twisting the limb while bashing the left side of his now unprotected head in the process.
She knew that he would try to retaliate in any way possible.
And just as she predicted he loosen his grip from the weapon, allowing it to fall from his grasp…..only to be caught in the air by his remaining arm, ready to plunge the blade inside her.
But she was ready.
Just as it was about to connect with her, her hand closed tightly around his own…. halting it over just where her heart should be much to Nathanos grimace. Yet that did not seem to deter him for long as he slowly tried to force his way, step by step, grunt after grunt….. giving way to their new found tug of war.
She could feel her muscles grew tense, her breath growing shaky and ragged as the two fought for dominance for the blade.
Yet for all they tried the matter remained in a stalemate. And she knew why.
They were growing tired, and it was showing.
Who would have thought a fist fight would turn into an endurance competition? The first to gave ground would lose. But she could not wait for that, she had not such luxury.
Not after the way her arms started to loose their strength.
She focused first on the blade, which was still shaking uncontrollably under their combine grasp…., slowly oscillating back and forth in their struggle, the tip barely scratching the edges of her shirt. Her eyes then switched at her other hand, though once tightly bound to his other arm, half of the limb now stood free….
And more importantly, closer to his only vulnerable spot. A smirk crossed her lips as a thought finally dawned inside her head.
It did not take long before her hand started crawling its way up his neck, slow and steady, fingers shaking as she felt her muscles grew sore and tense with the effort…
But in the end it was worth it.
For before Marris could say any more scathing remarks, before she felt the tip of the blade stung if barely her chest…... her nails dig in through his flesh. Clawing and tearing through the mass of bruised and inflated flesh all over him.
But nothing would compare when her thumb managed to slide on over his left eye, and prick it.
``Aaargh! Bitch!He roared in agony, his face a mask of contempt and anger, his body struggling even harder against her, loosing his grip on the blade in a lapses of judgment as he brought his now free arm to pry her hand off him, but he only managed to caused himself even more grievous injuries as she stubbornly held her grasp, nails digging deep through the flesh, searching for the organ. Blood quickly leaving her fingers sticky.
It was bloody.
It was disgusting.
But it was not enough. It wasn't nearly enough.
"He has to pay!"
She snorts, her lips taking the slightest of upstrokes as her pupils burned with loathing, for once in all this mess she could agree on something with the bloody voices on something. And now she had the right tool for it, for at the very moment he had lost it she had caught it.
Something that he too came to realize, his eyes widening with surprise when he felt the unmistakable feeling of a sharp end pointed at his chest before she shoved him to the floor, using her own weight to assure its success.
How fast things could change, eh? How now he remained silent, his quips and jokes long forgotten as he tried to worm his way out her grasp, knowing that nothing good awaited him. He was completely at her mercy.
"Finish him! Tear him apart! Paint his face in red!"
The voices raged on, to the point that they became nothing but a bursting voice in her mind, their words just an incomprehensible gibberish.
Oh, they had no idea how much she relished that thought, how she desired it. Her grasp over the blade tightened to the point her knuckles paled, though with all the blood staining them it was hard to say.
Her eyes burning a pair of holes in the mans thick skull as she held him down with her remaining arm, fighting down his urges to struggle out while the knife slowly reached for his throat. The cold steel already kissing his exposed flesh, to the point were she could see his neck growing tenser by the moment, but not enough to break the skin….yet.
It would be so easy….she only needed t-
``If you are gonna do it, then do so. Your indecision is repulsive´´ He spatted at her before falling back into low growling.
She huffed in exasperation, right...how silly of her, there would be a another time for it. Now she knew what she had to do, what needed to be done. Slowly rising the blade over him….her grasp tightening to quell her arm from shaking, small trails of her blood sliding down the blade before they fell down over him.
He merely looked at her with contempt.
"Is this what you want….? Is this what you want Sylvanas to remember you?" Whispered her sister over her ears, her voice barely audible.
And then she brought it down.
The blade sinking deep as it made contact with a sonorous crunch. Her hands trembled while her chest swelled rapidly as she took ragged breaths.
It was done.
It was over.
She had won.
``You missed´´ He stated with what should had been a laugh, but only a gurgle left his broken lips. His eyes gazing at the handle of the knife embedded on the ground a few centimeters from his head. It took considerable strength for her to broke her attention from it.
She shook her head ``I will never be like you, I will not lower myself at your level, human. Not now, not ever. This….is your last chance to leave, with some shred of dignity, more than you deserve. Take it...or be made to´´
``You are making another mistake, doll´´ He croaked slowly.
She grabbed him by the bare remains of his collar and brought him barely a few centimeters from her face, her eyes burning with rage and anger, not blinking a single time as she glare at him. `` I forgot the moment when I gave a crap about your opinion, Marris…, care to refresh it for me? ´´ She barked before dropping him back on the floor, a low groan of pain coming out from him.
``Ah...the manners of a high born…, what a delight to behold first hand´´
`` You can taunt me, you can insult me, but You will never mess with me! Stronger, worse fuckers than you have tried and failed. Compared to them you are nothing but an ant´´ She spatted with all the venom she could muster.
``And you know the best part!? At first I just wanted to get to the end of this, peacefully if possible after I left you limp on the floor... but You had to keep fucking things up! Now you can burn for all I care, you sick bastard´´
She moved away from him, taking a couple of steps back though never loosing sight of him. To her relief he was still on the ground, his body laid limp over the cold surface of the floor, seemingly not wishing to stand up any time soon. She switched her attention from him towards her surroundings,
Her heart ached terribly at the sight that behold her.
``What a mess….´´ She whispered.
The room looked like a stampede had walked through the door, cracks could be spotted from where their fist had landed or where his armor had clashed when she had throw him on his back, blood smearing both the walls and the once immaculate floor of marble. She also could, the burnt remains of his cape in a small mountain of dust and cinders that still held the same heat that before.
She caressed her forehead with worry. It would take some time to clean things up and replace the broken flagstones.
But before she could continue her thoughts were interrupted by a strange noise, one that her eyes slowly tracked down to its source. At this point she should had seem it coming, but she didn't.
It was Nathanos, the man was trying to stand up from his position, but his wounds and the weight of his armor were proving to be to much for him, for now.
Her eyes blinked a few times as her mind trying to acknowledge what was going on before her brows furrowed and her fangs showed. ``For Lights sake….what is gonna take to put you down!? She exclaimed in dismay, taking a couple of quick steps towards him, but just as she was all but about to dig her boot on his throat he rose his still good arm. His hand still in an open gesture.
She recoiled slightly as she recognized what it meant. It was a message of surrender
``I...give up….I have seem….enough´´ He managed to say between gasps.
She feels her the tension of her shoulders lessen, she did not know that she was holding out her breath. ``I hope so, for your own good´´ And my sanity….
``Ha….to think that you would best me…..you did well, for a wreck´´ Her glare hardens, but decides not to give in. A beaten dog could bark all he wanted, it wouldn't make him any more dangerous.
``…..´´
``Tell me….would you mind if I explain you my...overall expectations?´´
Was he…? Was he serious? No, this had to be another play….another sick game only he could understand. She was sick of him.
``If this is another one of your jokes-´´
``Do I look like I have time for jokes, girl?´´ He stated with some sort of confidence, almost cutting her in…. only to be met with a stone cold glare. ``Point taken….´´
What did she had to lose? ``Will you tell me everything?´´
``Cant promise you will like the answers….´´
What could be worse than this? ``Why the fuck did you do this? Why did you try to kill me? Why?´´ She asks what had been burning in her mind for a while. To find out what could possibly had push this man to act….in such a strange way. Nathanos may be a brutish human, but she had never thought of him as a fool.
Sylvanas would have his head for this.
He snorts, his beaten face struggling to form a smile, but only a grotesque bloodied monstrosity appears on its place.
``Kill you? Ha! Surely you jest…., if I wanted to kill you I would had plucked my knife at the back of your skull rather than waste my time with a fist fight. You could say I was….. merely helping you….´´
She rolls her eyes ``Help me? Pardon me Marris but I seriously doubt it….´´
``What can I say….not all have good taste´´ He replied with a smirk.
Even at the throes of passing out it seemed that his arrogance and cynicism was still intact, she was starting to regret not hitting him harder. She steps on his left leg, provoking a groan of pain escape his lips.
``No more tricks, no more games…. You will speak clearly, or face the consequences´´
``Is this the way to treat a beaten foe, my lady? He coughed up, his face warped in a pained rikctus before a sneer made its way up. `` Who knew you were into t-´´ His words were cut short when she stomped his leg.
Hard.
``It wasn't a request….´´ She replied calmly, uncaring of the agony she was bringing to him.
``R-right, my b-bad….It was because you were a nuisance, you know? A danger to your sister, to us all…..you needed to be fix. It was just a matter of time that someone would have to take this endeavor, I merely speed up the process….and take the fall for it, no need to thank me by the way…..´´
``What!? She sputtered with shock, but soon it is replaced by a quivering anger at what his words entail.``What I am to you Marris? An object!?
He shook his head, snorting at her outrage. ``Does it matter? ´´ He did not wait for a response, instead he tried to sit straighter, but she kept him from doing that as she put more pressure on his leg. `` You have killed..´´ He said slowly, his face set in a scowl as he sent a glare at her.
Her body started quivering, but not out out of anger, she wanted to laugh.
Was that suppose to mean anything? What kind of ranger she would if she had not? Was that what he was judging her for? Doing what she was taught? She coughed a few times, no...it had to be something else.
No matter how psychotic, he wasn't that dumb.
``Marris, I hope you can explain…..what you meant by that´´
``From your youth to this very moment you have taken the life of so many, see the light vanish from their eyes as they took their last breath, you have seem people die by the droves around you, be it the enemy or your fellow, you should be familiarized with it, like a cool blanket in a hot summer or the cape of a ranger, it should be a part of you….´´
She stood silent, her eyes narrowed to the point they became narrow slits as gazed at him, pondering about his words, in a way she understood what he mean…..if she were to purely rationalize it anyways.
``Not all of us relish in such acts, Ranger Lord…..its our duty, not a sport´´ She muttered coldly, she knew that it was a rather weak claim when so many of her people considered their foes beneath them, wishing to hunt them down tot he last…., herself included.
The smell of burn flesh and the coppery taste of blood nearing their ugly head in her mind, though if only briefly.
If he felt slighted by it he did not show it. ``Many were lost during the war, in both sides. And of course, the nature of such conflicts always leads to...collateral damage, always. You saw the towns and even those minor cities being burn to the ground, their residents hunt down by the green skins. An event that was mirrored when our forces went through Zulman and Lordaeron…..a worthy bloodbath for the ages to come´´
``Where are you going with this? She inquired, no hiding away her ever growing impatience. Her fingers tapping her shoulders slowly but ever increasing in their speed.
``Yet, everyone have come to terms with it,...´´ He replied slowly, then his face darkened ``But not you...´´
``…...´´
``Do you wanna know why?´´
``No, but I have the feeling you are gonna tell me regardless….´´ She said through clenched teeth, earning a wicked grin from him.
`` You kept on sulking. For twenty five years you have been mopping on the ground, crawling your way through the floor. For what? A bunch of corpses that cant hear you? I first thought that giving you time would sort it out….Ha! How preposterous of me...´´
She look away from him, not willing to allow him to see the unease crawling inside. Her eyes closed shut, yet still incapable to stop her from seeing flashes through her mind, the flames, the spire, the dark portal….
``But today…..I finally I found out the last piece of this puzzle….´´ He muttered darkly, a dangerous glint on his eyes as he glared at her. ``You! You blame yourself for their deaths, for failing to protect them...even though it would have been impossible for you to stop those events in the first place…..´´
Before a realization dawned inside her. ``You did not barge here because it was heated outside, you came here to spy on me, to find the answer to your so called puzzle! She exclaimed.
``Spying is a rather strong word…., I prefer the term investigation...anyways, I got what I wanted´´
And what a beating you got She thought with dread though with no small feeling of pride.
``Tell me, how does it feel to have some else to hate than yourself? Empowering isn't it? There is no hollowness inside you, but a burning fire that fills your bones with unlimited energy and commitment, isn't it? A bonfire of purpose and not that silly things you told yourself about civility and politeness….I bet that you found all of this rather enjoyable´´ He cackled.
``You are mad….´´ She muttered with dejection, taking a step back from him.
``Am I? The corp is as strong as its weakest link, and we cant afford any weak links, not even from you...captain, any blunder you could have done under the effects of your melancholy in the future could have cost lives, your life or the reputation of the General. And we both know that it has already weighted down on her….´´
``What do you mean?´´ She barked, her teeth grinning with one another, a useless questions for somewhere deep within her she knew.
``Are you that blind that you have not seem what a bother you have become? What others have said behind your back while you were busy drowning yourself in your own little world? Of course not! Ah...ignorance its truly a bliss, what I would do if I had that?´´
The kingdom needs people willing to do the hard calls….., not those who can not help themselves. Hiring a therapist isn't really that hard, you know?´´
``If I were to hire, people would talk...the ramifications woul-´´
``People always talk, especially when they are bored, no matter what you do. You should had known that by now...´´ He growled, spitting at her feet a mess of blood and spit.
``I needed to bring out that part of you. As you could see, I could not wait to ask you for permission…...but the results, oh the results….they speak by themselves ´´
``You have lost your mind….´´ She mumbled dejectedly, seem no longer the wisdom on maintaining...whatever this talk was. Her legs already moving on their own, as if fearing to become infected with his mania.
She wished she could have block any sound from reaching her ears though as she was about to disappear through the large entrance.
``Deny it all you want, captain…., deep down…... you know it to be true´´