The Journey through Eternity
A Diablo 2 Fan fiction – Rated: Teen
CHAPTER 7
"The Maiden's Attempt"
He was there.
It was midnight. The snow on the ground illuminated slightly, reflecting the light the moon casted down to the humble earth. From afar stood a forest of pine trees, completely filling most of the ground that should've been visible, up to the feet of distant mountain ranges, not clear from around here – the clouds are low this time, covering most of the upper part including the peak.
Snow fell softly; it was an aftermath. A blizzard swept through this lonesome yet beautiful place – and the storm clouds carrying the heavy load has passed and are all behind. It – the place wasn't damaged. There is someone guarding this place, getting rid of the wrathful force nature may give. Although this 'someone' is fighting alongside nature, he preserved this special place's unique beauty against its will. After all, this is where he lived.
He stood on top of a big boulder - a boulder with a wide, flat, top, with a companion – a dire wolf, beside him. He petted the wolf, and both of them looked at the moon. The moon was completely round, and the cold yet soft breeze passed by them, swaying his neat ponytail fixed behind his neck. He also had a lock of hair on top of his forehead. It was stiffer than the ponytail, but it still followed the rhythm. The person breathed in deep, and his wolf let out a howl.
He was waiting. He is searching. He knows what it is he wants – and he also just wants to be found. Where to find? When to start?
It just reminded him of a story. A story once told to him by someone he cherished the most…
He remained quiet. The wolf calmed down after his howl. The wolf looked up to his master.
The person looked down as well to respond to his wolf's glance. And at that he found a lump in the snow. He bent down and shoved the lump away – and a majestic, red flower emerged.
He picked it up, and admired it with a smile. But after that, he frowned and breathed out to it.
The flower withered and died. A slight hint of tears appeared in his eyes, but he managed to hold it back. Once again, he bent down and put the flower down. He covered it with snow, burying it. He's mourning.
He turned his back and walked away – with his wolf following him.
The view slowly faded into black.
"Leashya?" a voice echoed.
Who is that? The voice sounds familiar.
"Leashya, thou art sweating!!!" the voice said once again. I now know it.
Dhougleesh.
I opened my eyes.
"Oh," I sat up from the comfort of the rags.
"It's quite hot in here – for you…" Dhougleesh said. He lent me a brown hard square piece of – something.
"What's this?" I asked him.
"A fan," Dhougleesh replied.
That wasn't the answer I really want to know. I want to know is that what it is made of… I know it's a fan.
It's dawn – really early dawn. The skies are still of the darkest shade of blue, and half of the stars are gone. The sun is almost rising.
We are in the middle of the road back to Khanduras. We used camels (which are slower than horses as we know…) and we're expecting to get to the camp by noontime. Right now, we're in our tents with colors that blended with the environment. It was our temporary home from a very cold night, and now its dawn – it was surprisingly hotter than usual, and I think this instant change made me sweat.
I moved the thing rapidly, fanning myself. The cool air revived me.
"Let's pack up and continue…" Dhougleesh said.
Warriv told Jheryn about the unexpected event. Jheryn still viewed Dhougleesh the same as he had viewed Hseel (Since he still has the same attitude no matter what…) – and Dhougleesh appreciated it. Jheryn also promised not to tell Greiz – Dhougleesh actually feared he might report to the Church of Light. If that will happen, paladins might come and exterminate him – or simply tear his house down.
I can't believe he feared them that much. He told me it was because all in there are precious to him, and he doesn't want them gone. It was a big part of his life – and it is certainly unfair to lose it without a proper reason when all he did is not wrong.
He also told me Fara is aware, but since she knows Dhougleesh as a very good person – she lets it pass. Now he's hoping she'd return and defend his home so that he will not lose it. They usually believe her.
Unlike other necromancers, as he told me – and daftly compared, he considered himself as a wimp and coward. He has a low self-esteem, I evaluated – but he also told me if the time is right and he is comfortable enough, he actually brags about a lot of stuff. If I think that he's only bragging when he was having a summoning 'parade,' he isn't bragging. He is serious with his skills, and is constantly honing them.
He commented on my Kashya skill, and he said it was 'awesome.' He told me he's developing a spell himself – which he proudly called 'Dark Thorns.' He said it's like planting a wood-like thing on the ground, except it is made of pure dark magic, and the wood-like thing is homed on a specified target. Like a vine, the dark magic goes to the enemy as if it was digging underground, and bursts out of the earth when the enemy is directly above. When it is valid that the enemy is close by, it will then grow a massive number of thin thorns piercing and stabbing the enemy…
That would be gruesome.
We finished packing up our stuff and put them on the camels. We continued our journey.
A lot of familiar places whizzed by as if we were moving too fast. It was only me I think, but most of my day seemed wasted – and the hours just passed like it was nothing.
Dhougleesh was quiet, but I think he felt the same way as I did. I glance at him once or twice in an hour, and his frustrated face remained the same.
"Does anyone own these camels?" Dhougleesh finally blurted out.
"Yes," I answered. "We own it. We bought it back there."
"So, we are clearly allowed to do as we wish to it."
I don't really settle for the word 'it' – even though I use it. I suddenly wondered what the camel might have felt if it could understand a word we're saying.
Horrible?
"Don't tell me you're going to kill them…" I told him, suspecting of something likely to be done by his kind. "And raise them up from the dead so they would be lighter and be faster in your will…"
"I am certain that I can do that," Dhougleesh answered, comfortably reliant of his skill. "Although I didn't show you much back there, I can still manage… And I won't do that; something tells me no."
"Ah…"
"But I can turn them to horses," he immediately said, continuing the flow of words. "Can I?"
"If you know how," I reminded him. "Remember, we're in the desert still, and you can't really rely on horses."
"Oh, yeah – they can run!" Dhougleesh said brightly.
"The horses? Of course they do."
"No, the camels!" Dhougleesh corrected. "They usually make them race once or twice back in Lut! And there are actually prizes to whose camel that reached the goal first!"
"Lut?" I questioned.
"Lut Gholein…" He replied.
"No, I won't do that… They're far too fragile especially with these loads. We might break their spine." I explained.
"How about we carry them?" He suggested. "The loads?"
Huh, we are the loads…
"What, do you want them racing out to nowhere and reach the place in no time?" I asked mockingly.
"YES!!!"
"Then good, because then we'll be out here all alone in the middle of nowhere, with all these 'loads,' left by running camels."
"Oh."
He finally realized.
We practically remained silent the rest of the way. He was grinning, instead of the frustrated face he posed hours ago, and maintained the good spirit among us both. His grins make me feel lifted and encouraged – even if he just faked it or remembering the little fuss about the camels.
What really caught my attention during the time is the dream I had. Who was it? What purpose does he have on me?
I can't really force my ability to foresee and remember things at my own will, and they just happen naturally – usually at the right time. But if this is the image I am receiving, then what does it mean?
I need to look over that later. I may need numerous hours to observe and know the 'sight' I have. Maybe it's just coincidence that I have dreamt about someone I may never meet. If that's the matter, I don't care.
Where was I?
It was getting cooler, I noticed, and the camels feel relieved somewhat. The temperature is now temperate – I suppose; not that hot, nor that cold. Dhougleesh really seemed to be aware as well, and I knew that from the way he reacts to the occasional breeze that came down from the ice peaked mountain ranges separating Aranoch and Khanduras. He gave a quick shiver, and that's basically it.
"It will be quite cold in here – for you…" I told him.
He gave me a scowl, but then he rolled his eyes and shook his head with a small forgiving smile.
The scrub eventually reappeared itself on the usually blank, dull yellow, bright, sandy terrain, and later on, the fruitful green bushes. The trees appeared, then 'growing' into those pines – slowly revealing the lush empty space revealing the Rectangle portal. We came out from the woods; from another way perhaps – we were approaching the portal from the south (The portal is facing the east, I just realized). There, as we came closer, the tracks from the small carriage I rode in before were still visible, leading itself to a dead seeming road, only filled with scrub and mostly leafless trees.
One of the reasons I never get to see the beauty I witnessed just now.
As I have known, the monastery gate is still due far north – and beyond the foreground of shady trees lays a shimmering pond, a collection of water from the slow, hidden spring somewhere nearby. It is clean and safe to drink – but I don't really need water right now.
Why do we have to use the monastery gate anyway? I bet this portal is really useful – especially when we need to just get through the obstacle, the monastery, if we can't get through there.
I think I may have to ask Kashya later – or Akara.
"So, we are finally here…" Dhougleesh said.
We entered, and surprisingly, a group of six rogues were there.
"Leashya, you're back!!!" one of them yelled.
I never wondered why that person doesn't call me sergeant, because it's none other my best friend, Paige.
Like most of the rogues, she has light brown hair fixed on a pony tail. She has short fringes covering her forehead, and unlike others trying hard enough, it actually fit her. Her cheery face erased my doubts of the moment as well. Maybe that's why I like her, and also my best friend.
Paige actually trusts me too much; as far as words allow me to describe. A lot of rogues still laid their knowledge in doubt, and it still discomforts me. Knowledge of me, a rogue turned Amazon; they still look to me as a traitor. Despite that, a feeling deep inside me feels I will be safe - and I am proud they do that because it leads me to believe they are taught well: Never trust anyone. That's how rogues view the world, and it is really natural for me to feel the same – one that once was a rogue.
But I also felt their uneasiness around Kashya, and once they do – they seek my cover of dwindling comfort. I think they should trust me if they want for me to give them my words of ease. I mean I can whenever they want, but it's just them that repel it somehow.
So Paige, you're not the only one I can talk to in the camp – so I see fit to introduce Dhougleesh to you.
"Paige!" I yelled back. The rogues clear themselves of both our ways; some looking at me glad the Chieftain's sister is safe and some looking at Paige in question, not really expecting her flesh touch mine. Paige ran towards me, I just walked small steps, and both of us reached for each others' embrace.
"You had me so worried, you know?" Paige explained.
"Well, I'm only gone for – um, three or four days…" I told her. "I lost count – with small numbers…"
She gave a little chuckle, "Well, I don't really know, either. I lost track of time waiting."
I felt two small finger taps on my right shoulder, coming from behind me.
I never expected Dhougleesh would want to be introduced.
"Oh, here…" I put my arms behind Dhougleesh and pushed him to my front so Paige could notice him. "Paige, Dhougleesh – Dhougleesh, Paige…"
"GREETINGS!!!" Dhougleesh interrupted my introductions shortly after I mentioned the last name. His hands expanded, and bowed to her in a – sort of, formal way.
Paige giggled.
"He's a necromancer," I added.
All of the rogues gasped. Paige backed off.
Dhougleesh gave a wide grin and faced me.
"Nice!" Dhougleesh commented happily, and raised his left hand as if he was about to say a Zakarumite Pledge.
I just gave him a look of wonder and ignorance.
"Slap it," Dhougleesh commanded.
"Why?"
"Well, that's what the young people do nowadays – is it not?" he asked.
"Could be," I just replied with a touch of a savvy tone. "I never heard or seen it."
I was expecting he would say 'Oh,' because of disappointment like he did a while ago when he realized the thing back at our argument about the camels, but I think it will be me who will find myself disappointment. I can feel it in the air.
"Oh, just slap it…'
I did. Well, it relieved me a bit. He still said the word, 'Oh.'
"Good."
The rogues were staring at us. Why would that walking corpse be touching the Chieftain's sister – the sergeant?
I was looking for Paige. There was curiosity in her eyes – but it seems like Dhougleesh is to be feared more because of the practices of Necromancy he knows so well and may be used for diabolical purposes – bringing doom upon the sisters in the camp. She is as curious as I was before, and I know what to do…
"Come on Paige," I told her. "He's nice…"
I trust Dhougleesh's abilities enough. He is nice; sometimes a gentleman, sometimes an empty nut. But he's still a very presentable intelligent man overall.
Paige just gave herself up and brought out her hand and reach for Dhougleesh's for a shake. Dhougleesh gladly took it.
"It is very nice and fair of you to accept my acquaintanceship," Dhougleesh said simply. His charisma flushed Paige's cheeks in a rosy tint.
But then my attention ignored what was there, and I began noticing things.
As if the world stood still, I saw the crows settling on ground outside the camp fly up and away, and vibrations started creeping towards me and climbed up from my toe to my head; a large, low sound reached my ears and stung my head – telling me to do an unknown command. It was unfamiliar and then it stopped.
A large bell I didn't know where is rampaged its sound across the camp. The rogues, every rogue including Paige, were alerted and ran towards the wall facing Blood Moor where the closed gate also stood. I and Dhougleesh just stood there wondering – but also aware that something wrong just happened.
"Oh, you are back," a familiar voice said behind me.
Both of us turned to its direction. There stood the red-haired woman I always wanted to see.
"Is this the first one?" Kashya asked.
"Dhougleesh, at your service Chieftain!" Dhougleesh told her. "Me ready, anytime!"
"You sure are cheerful, eh?" Kashya remarked. "Now go, you two. The bell says there are attackers…"
I have a lot of questions, like 'where's the bell,' but her face is taking the ignore phase and went the opposite way to give commands to the rogues.
The wall facing the Moor had a top and stairs on the side, for rogues to go to and shoot nearby threats. Some of the rogues were there, only few, to allow a bigger chance of missing if the enemy brought ranged attackers and to lessen the number of deaths if they get any chance.
"Now, with my summoning talents aside," Dhougleesh whispered to me. "Watch this."
I watched him. He slowly bent, with his head up looking at the wall.
"What?" I asked.
He looked at me. He moved his right arm and pointed at the wall. I did nothing else but watch.
Then a rush of wind hit my face. My hair followed the force, unfortunately, and hit me hard and sharply on my face. It was fine, but what I just saw amazed me.
Dhougleesh didn't stride, but he just ran towards the wall smoothly. It was like nothing was stopping him, and it's as if his feet never even touched the ground. He was unbelievably fast.
"Woah," I just dropped my jaw in awe. Yes, that really pushed his summoning talents aside.
"How did you do that, you ask?" Dhougleesh said out loud across the empty space between us. "I had a charm, an insignia marked onto my skin that gave me that kind of speed. One of a kind; my mother gave me it to run away in case if I get in trouble when I was still a child – and advantageously use it against my foes if I fight when I am older."
"That's – remarkable," I described my best that time, as if that word was enough.
"Yeah," he answered the comment. "Hey, can I go upstairs?"
"Go up the wall? Definitely," I answered.
He climbed the fragile wooden stairs built beside the inner side of the wall, and reached the top. I followed him, shortly after he removed his last foot off the stairs. It was too fragile that it might break down when more than one put their weight on it.
Halfway up, I felt a stare coming from the ground. I slowly turned my head to search, and realized my sister looking at me. Her face remained strict, but a hint of an encouraging grin was there. She nodded, and her eyes rolled to Dhougleesh's direction.
That tells me she's observing. She might even be suspicious of him being a necromancer. Like most people, she believes that necromancers are not on the side of the Light. Of course, but it doesn't necessarily mean they're aligned to the Evils. I, now, even comfortably believe Dhougleesh isn't aligned there at all, but pretty much Neutral as most of the Rathmians care about the balance. Not only that, but Dhougleesh maybe is even more.
I finally reached the top. There was only a little bit of space, but it was enough to be comfortable not to fall. I looked beyond then, and all I could see is a muddy field, dead trees and a thick fog ahead.
So far, I haven't seen the other Amazons. They were there back at the Monastery, but they – disappeared. Could they have been killed? I hope not. They were the only ones I have left, my only contact and connection to my unbearable past, and even though unbearable – they're my only allies. I cannot risk the lives of the rogues. It's not that I don't want to get them, the other Amazons, hurt as well – but they're at least not those as delicate as the rogues.
The Amazonian culture is glorious and very well known, especially for their trade. They're worthy trading partners, as long as you never even try to betray them or treat them like lowlifes. I want rogues to be that great too, but with the Amazons over them, it will have to wait. This young Sisterhood doesn't deserve to lose more lives, as we have lost a number back at the Monastery already.
"Hey," a voice called. It was Paige.
"What's up?"
"Nervous?" she asked.
"No," I answered. Why would I be nervous? It's not for a matter of revenge, but killing the ones that killed the people that I cared for will never be an obstacle to overcome.
"Oh," she reacted, after taking a deep breath.
"Are you?"
"A little," she answered. "I'm not as experienced as you."
"Huh," then I grinned afterwards. "Don't worry, you will be someday."
She smiled.
"Here they come," Dhougleesh warned. "I can feel something evil coming this way."
Evil – demons and undead. Could there be more? I wonder.
Paige and I walked towards Dhougleesh, standing beside him. He's making a cylinder with his hands and put them over his eyes.
"What are you doing?" I questioned.
"Nothing, it's just fun how weird doing this is…" he chuckled.
How odd.
The fog, like smoke but finer, moved aside from a mass that's cutting across its respectful place. A huge figure, still unclear, is making its way – along with a frightening horde of diverse monsters. Some possessed animals, some undead, and a few of those demons I encountered back at the cave, unseen beneath the thick foggy blanket. This time, I also realized those demons have varied skin tones, maybe related to their experience – I guess because of the weapons they wield and their faces. The Fallen Ones are more smiley and stupid seeming, compared to those dark ones behind them.
They marched on. Tensions are felt across the camp; Paige is slightly sweating. There is that feeling, a strange feeling crawling inside my body, grasping my hands to clench, forcing my jaw to grit. My chest is vibrating as if it is cold, and my spine – electrifying. These sensations started all over and over, until my mind finally figured it out. The maiden is a spectator. She's planning to see us suffer. Her silhouette carved the image in my mind – the anguish she brought, the green unusual tone of her skin, when she was described as one like a succubus, designed to seduce, yet somehow she isn't.
The red hair appeared. It was flying up, as if the ground was right above her – walking on the sky herself. But then what was described in the writings became true, what I just thought about her suddenly false. The green tone of her skin was strangely proving nonexistent. She walked towards the camp with pride, brining with her a dark deadly smile.
Her skin was paler, more human. Her eyes are sharp, not sharp like someone with a good sight, but sharp that is stinging – cutting through the spirit of those who dare look at it. Her face was vibrant, beautiful, seductive, yet deadly deep within her heart and soul; black and definitely dark, no light will ever shine or return – there is no escape.
Everything about her was the same as the day I met her, except her skin and her emotions. The last time I saw her, she was quite unpleased, wild and angry. Now she is quite more motivated, determined and is clearly craving for our blood staining the green grass, which colors are very indistinct – unmatched. Suffering; she wants to see us suffer.
No wonder she was called the Queen of Anguish. She's evil, cold, and malevolent. Her features are deceiving and are made to lure mortals – for her own pleasure of taking their lives…
…Slowly.
Then she stopped.
I looked down to her hooves. There were many, too many of them. There were those demons, both seen and unseen before. There were few goat men, those demons who are goat in – well, everything from fur to appearance, except its posture. They had a human posture, and they're wielding polearms. There are even those kinds of demons, beastly demons if you know what I mean. They're like disfigured hunched demons with bull horns, beady red eyes that stare at you and a head that is of any canine, except it is bigger and its teeth are jagged. Its arms are big and are hanging from its shoulders, bringing its weight down to the ground and appear to burden its bearer. Demons of all sorts – I can't really tell at all except those.
They all stopped following her; they're under her command. Is this some kind of war? It's really hopeless if you look at it in numbers, but sometimes numbers are deceiving just like appearances do. First of all, they can't possibly know our strength – and we are proud to have someone on our side that can summon a new warrior lending a sword to this battle, especially one that takes advantage over the dead. You know, we kill some and those killed will be ours in our command.
Well, to be precise, the dead are not in our command – they're under his command.
It was silent afterwards. Both sides just had a battle of examining each other for a while: what to do next, how to do this or that… Andariel never even flinched, or even look like she's examining us. Maybe she's just taking a good look at us before we are put to our graves. The rogues however are looking so tense, and also thoughtful and smart. I smiled as I looked at each other. That's why I love being a rogue by blood.
Kashya was at the left side of the gate, while I and Dhougleesh are at the other side. She was watching Andariel in the eye, trying to get out the answers to her questions relating to this event I guess.
Yes. Questions… Why does she never leave us at peace? Had she done what she really intended to, really – to us? She kicked us out of the Monastery; isn't that enough?
She really wants to exterminate us, like as if she was told, and taking it for her, well again, pleasure.
She moved her head, as if to signal someone to charge.
I waited, but no one moved.
"Leah," Dhougleesh called. I looked at him. He pointed to the ground right below us, in front of the gate. I looked to it as he directed me to.
Then there was a noise I didn't really expect to hear – and a view I didn't expect to see, too. The ground broke, mud thrown away, and there were hands bursting out of the ground. There was still flesh, and a low unwanted voice was heard. It astonished the rogues that happened to see it, some gasped. Luckily, no one is really faint at heart in here. Dhougleesh was calm however, seeing these must have been common to him.
"Ha ha…" Dhougleesh laughed mockingly. He brought out his wand out of his pocket. It was the one I saw in the chest he has back on Lut Gholein, the one with a small skull at its tip.
He used to of his fingers to twirl his wand. He stopped twirling his wand without looking.
He started towards the edge of the wall, and pointed to the dead people now standing. They were zombies. I looked at them, and they look they can use some eating of other people's brains as some people in Aranoch said.
But then I noticed something bad. I looked at Dhougleesh's wand. It was not as it is supposed to be; the wand's skull is – well, let's say it's not at the same side as his thumb.
"Dhougleesh…" I tried to stop him.
"CURSE YOU DEAD PEOPLE!!!" Dhougleesh let out.
I slapped my face.
The skull started to glow red, pointing towards his chest.
"Dhougleesh, your wand…"
The zombies stopped due to the intensity and loudness in his voice, staring at him blankly.
"…Immune to magic, huh?"
"Dhougleesh!"
"Well, that's not possible. I -"
There was a bright flash of red.
"YAAAAH!!!" He yelled.
I hurdled over the edge to see where he's falling. I feel really bad right now, but not bad related to evil, bad that is pity.
Dhougleesh fell over a small rogue tent. The rogues looked at him, not worried about the tent so much – which is good. Kashya was watching nearby and doesn't look too pleased.
"Oh," Dhougleesh sighed as he stood up, dazed. "Sorry about that – whoever owns this lovely little tent that was just… …disarranged and slightly misplaced unfortunately all over the place when my weight pushed it to the ground."
Oh, okay. I was relieved a little bit. The zombies were quiet as well, maybe some of their humanity was left after all for pity – or they may be laughing deep inside them on this unwelcomed event.
Dhougleesh turned to look at me. Both of us stared at each other for a short while. He smiled. I smiled. He grinned.
Both of us burst into laughter.
"You should've seen the look on your face!" I told him.
"Hey!" He answered after my comment. "I did that on purpose."
"Okay – come on up." I said trying to calm myself down.
Kashya's unpleased face disappeared. She may have noticed our relationship present – and maybe decided not to argue at all for I have known more of him than her. That's what I am guessing anyway, I'm not really certain of her thoughts especially when I am not her. Dhougleesh on the other hand, went on the stairs to come up back to his spot.
"That tent was the rogues'," I told him.
"My deepest sincerest apologies rogues," he told them while he bowed his head down. The rogues on the other side of the gate just nodded.
The zombies were still there, not staring at anyone else but Dhougleesh.
"What's with you guys?" he taunted.
He leaped off the wall and I was dumbfounded. The wall is tall for heaven's sake!
He raised his wand as he fell, correctly this time, and he yelled before his toes touch the grass.
"POISON NOVA!"
The skull shone a green eerie light. The moment he touched the ground, he kneeled absorbing the impact, and set the head of his wand to the grass.
There was a silent explosion, and a sound – like rushing poison gas through a narrow pipe, or more accurately, rushing though a bottle as if it was alive and desperate to get out. There was also a green dull light that exploded from Dhougleesh's wand, and then there were shots of green guided poison gas moving out of Dhougleesh as the center to every direction. They look liked malformed spirits – wisps, destined to sting someone on their way. They most likely resemble death.
Every zombie that was near the camp's gate was dead in an instant. The dead were silenced, given death once again. Oh, I don't really wish to be a zombie – being alive in those moments just makes me experience death once again. Then again, I won't be thinking at least.
I opened my mouth about to say something about it, but I remained speechless. I looked behind me to see what Kashya's reaction would be. She was slightly smiling. At least she was pleased (Even though she didn't see it, I guess she just knew what happened. Who knows what she knows? She could've known Dhougleesh's spell for years.). I looked back in front of me, with a one-sided grin. I looked at Andariel.
Now she doesn't look so pleased.
She moved her head again, commanding the entire force to attack the little camp.
There were battle cries heard, the rogues stood still but was discouraged by their voices. The demons weren't desperate or even fighting for their good, but thinking of their determination to finish us – wasn't really a good sound to hear.
The battle seemed hopeless. It wasn't even a battle after all. It's like they are crushing us with their feet, like vermin.
Even the tiny voices of the fallen shouting their lungs out aren't funny at all. Except for Dhougleesh; he looks like he's enjoying it. He was still at the bottom not moving, but not panicking or even scared one bit.
I was scared, even though I'm not showing it. What will be of our camp? Now speaking of them in Blood Moor, where's Flavie? Is she dead?
Too many questions unanswered, yet the end is so close. The past didn't matter at all from the present.
A hand appeared on my left shoulder. The tension made me numb, and was restored after a warm touch. My sister appeared beside me, calm and maintained her strict face. She didn't look at me, but her presence made me more comfortable.
"Can you do it?" she asked me without looking.
"No," I knew what she was talking about. "I used it a few days ago."
"How did it fare?"
"Not good," I answered blankly. Yes, my Fothimatica paled before hers.
I think that's what she's planning.
She took an ordinary long bow from her waist (I didn't see it earlier, maybe she got it just now – it's not special in every way…) and aimed at the sky. She made a magic, ethereal arrow, and shot it silently.
That's it. It's not as great as I did it before; she has enough skill not to speak the spell out with difficulty. All she did was shot a seemingly harmless arrow, and wait. Just wait.
She looked at Andariel. I still looked up at the sky, and the arrow already disappeared. I followed what she did, too.
"You need more practice," she told me.
In case you're wondering, she can't use the spell back in the monastery because the monastery might be destroyed. I told you before, the Fothimatica the mysterious shade performed was not perfect – it should've managed to get through Dhougleesh's bone wall with ease. The way Kashya does it or the level Kashya does it was phenomenal and extremely deadly, for it can destroy multiple buildings at once without effort.
But here is an open field. Perfect scenario.
The forces are closing in. Dhougleesh was still calm, and maybe he's planning something. He didn't flinch at all, and he's still smiling at the fallen crying out a cry with all his might.
Then they arrived.
It rained arrows; colorful arrows emitting its corresponding power as it fall down. The arrows split by themselves by fives and each targeted its own demon.
There weren't enough arrows to kill everyone, but it does penetrate.
The battle cries faded. The battle cries were replaced by tortured screams of dying demons. There was blood everywhere. Andariel watched. She loved Anguish, but she doesn't accept defeat. She gritted her teeth.
"Rogues," Kashya commanded… "…Ready, aim, FIRE!"
There were more arrows. Almost half of her forces were already dead by the time Kashya's arrows evaporated. The new, physical ones rained death over the demons. Few died. The demons look tougher that they look.
"Hey Kashya," Dhougleesh called. "Stop killing demons! I think the number of arrows shot is enough for now…"
"Well then, show us what you got." Kashya told him.
Dhougleesh lowered his hands and gestured them as if he was holding orbs.
"ARISE!!!"
He raised both of his hands, and the dead demons' bones were lifted and were ripped off from their corpses, forming their former selves in skeleton form. Shields and swords magically appeared on their arms and they were ready. What's more, they're in the middle of the battle field.
"ATTACK!!!" Dhougleesh yelled out loud.
The skeletons were charging on to the demons. The charge to the camp halted. Paige was impressed.
"Wow," she wowed.
There was an intense battle. Andariel looked impatient. Her forces were hopeless against Dhougleesh's army of the dead. Even though there are equal numbers between the two opposing sides; one killed, one of the other side gets killed – the numbers supposed to finish us off faded quickly.
Then she did it.
Her skin was a little greener than usual, and her eyes were much angrier. And then, as if there was a magic bag of dust at her left, she threw big enormous blobs of gas across the Moor.
The dead are immune to poison, but the force of the deadly breeze threw them away.
"Wait…" Dhougleesh said – practically to no one.
Some of his forces stood up one again, while some didn't. Their bones were broken – and dead or alive, both can't stand again to fight.
He grabbed a bottle with blue liquid from his pocket. He took a little sip from it like it was a beverage.
"Ah, a very nice energy drink would make the whole world a better place!" Dhougleesh commented.
He looked up at me. "Got a very good bastard sword?"
"Excuse me?" I told him.
He was bewildered at the question I gave him back.
"Huh, just playing…" I continued.
"Oh…"
"Hey Charsi, got a bastard sword?" I yelled at Charsi who happened to be just behind the wall right below us.
"Excuse me?" Charsi replied.
"That's getting old…" I told her. "Make it a magical one, for Dhougleesh…"
"Okay," Charsi returned. "Hey Flavie, can you get this to her?"
"Flavie?" I asked.
"Yes, I am here… So quit worrying about it if you are…" Flavie said.
"Oh, fine…"
Flavie handed me the bastard sword she carefully dragged up the stairs.
"Hey Dhougleesh!" I yelled at him.
"Where is it?"
"Here."
I threw it through the edge of the wall. It landed on the ground blade first. He got his wand on the right hand, while handling the bottle with his left. He flicked his wand.
"Be careful, that could impale me in the head and then you're out of nice necromancers!" he complained.
"Sorry."
The sword looked like it was boiling. Some of the boils stayed, slowly sculpturing it into a 5 foot tall bulky metal person. It has one of its hands a sword and another is a mace.
"Go."
The beastly metal person ran across the field with its heavy built. It charged towards one of the goat men, and blew it off its feet and sent it flying helplessly.
"What's that?" I asked him.
"An iron golem," he replied. "It also takes the magical and physical properties of the weapon – so making it magic isn't useless after all."
"I thought you were going to use it," I told him looking at the golem.
"Look at me, I am a weakling. How can I handle such a weapon?"
"You're not a weakling if we look at your arsenal," I encouraged.
"Huh, well… Kashya, I think you can fire again – if you want." Dhougleesh told my sister.
"Rogues, fire at will." Kashya commanded instantly.
The rogues picked off the enemies one by one. I joined in and use explosive arrows. A little area of damage is able to help, isn't it?
The battle seemed to be in our favor. From what seemed to be a hopeless battle became effortless because of Dhougleesh and of course my sister and the rogues. I haven't given much of help at all, actually giving me shame, but it is not my fault I can't use another Fothimatica. I can only use it once in a while, like once every two weeks. It needs a ton of energy to release that powerful thing, yet Kashya made it look so easy.
She didn't even say a word unlike the shadow back in the Swamplands and me back there as well.
I feel so weak.
Dhougleesh finished it off. All the demons were dead, and we heard a terrifying, scream of hate. Andariel was gone, for now. She retreated with some of her much more major demons whose silhouettes appeared when she was gone, on the mist. The maiden's attempt was useless – but I doubt she will ever stop. Now that Dhougleesh is in our side, I think she would send more powerful minions to kill us. We were such a nuisance to her and her plans if she did have plans on her mind. What would it be? Spread anguish to the world?
Akara said that the darkness has returned about a week ago, or was it? Maybe 'a few days ago' is more fitting – and much has changed. That fact sparked the dwindling hope left in me – we can make a change. These nightmares have to end.
Yet again, who started it? The world knew of Diablo and his minions under the Tristram Cathedral not long ago defeated by a lone warrior, and the rogues assigned there fled to the monastery because of an unfortunate event just weeks ago. Maybe those two are related. There was peace in Tristram, a while, before it was finally destroyed. The destruction made the rogues flee to the monastery for protection. Then Andariel attacked. Blood Raven was gone, without me knowing her real name. Some rogues died. And the amazons I'm with are gone as well.
I know those amazons were alive. Where are they?
They're the only ones I have left to remember my past at least. They were rebel amazons who swore to be with me to the death.
I was lost for a brief moment.
The closed gate was opened for Dhougleesh and his bloody iron golem. It was quieter now, and the noise was made only for the eyes to see - The corpses in Blood Moor.
No rogue died. The demons fought dead demons. We get to fight some (the zombies) – but at least it's much less than they have fought. It's because of Dhougleesh. He didn't realize what he just did.
"Ha ha, Leashya – I am now the hero necromancer of the rouges and one Amazon!" He bragged as he came up the stairs once again.
I spoke too soon.
"Shut up. Fix the tent. Bathe your golem. And then rest." I told him.
"That's a lot," Dhougleesh commented.
"Better to get going then," I told him.
He muttered things as he went down the stairs. He's like a grown up with child instincts. And he's very friendly. He brought back the light in my face…
"I think you're very harsh on him," Paige said.
"Actually, Warriv told me to be like this as his punishment for playing with us back at Lut Gholein." I told her. It is very true by the way. Warriv can't forget the scares that the old Hseel gave him. I can still remember… THE NECROMANCER!!!
"Oh, okay…" Paige surrendered. "Guess you've seen a lot lately."
"You are right," I replied. "I've seen too much."
"Aw, I wanna be with you next time." Paige told me. "Imagine: if I could go with you in your adventures… There might be a chance…"
"You like him?" I asked her.
"Uh," she can't utter a word. She's blushing lightly.
"Well, let's just see what I can do."
"Yay!" She praised with glee. "You're the best Leah!"
She skipped happily down the stairs. I smiled.
Well, that's just the beginning.
Author's Note:
Loooooooooooooooooooooooong chapter. Naruto rocks (If you read it, it's totally awesome!!!)!!! Sorry for not submitting for the last three months. What do you think? *I didn't get 'Leah' from Diablo 3. I was even surprised her name was Leah (The one on Diablo 3, such coincidence… Oh well.)* That was Leashya's nickname from the start. The next chapter is going to be awesome. I can't wait to type it!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!! It's running in my brain for like – forever!!! Yahahahaahahaahaha!!!