5 Trouble At Sector 33
As they neared the market, the distant voices grew louder, ever clearer. The two rounded a corner, above them colorful banners flapped wildly in the dessert wind. Suddenly Midael froze. Nymph bumped into him.
"Awww.."
"Shh…Something's off." For a crowd had gathered in the square about 300 hundred meters away. "What's happening?" He felt Nymph tugging at his arm, trying hard to tiptoe to see above the sea of bobbing heads.
Midael slowly inhaled. His shoulders sagged. He waited until every single muscle in his body was relaxed, until his ears became sensitive to the slightest of sounds.
"Someone get help- "Where are the guards?"
He heard running footsteps. A crash as something hit the ground. A muffled cry of an infant. His brows twitched.
"Thud." Then, "Clank."
Something was on the move. Someone, with a set of full armor.
"Heeee-whew" And that someone was wearing a helmet. A helmet with a visor. More like a mask.
"What is it?" Nymph poked at him impatiently.
"A deathless." He replied with no hints of emotion.
She gasped. "Is it evil?"
"I don't know." He said, but his mind was already drifting away. "Guess we'll have to find out."
"What a disappointment…"
Midael heard the voice and Nymph said: "There!"
Standing in the middle of the square was the deathless. Midael took note of the mask first. A T-shaped visor darkened with black steel hid the face completely. The helm itself was silver colored. Sharp horns protruded above the visor, making it look more like a crown rather than a helmet.
"I was expecting something better…turns out I was wrong. Just another puny village after all…" The deathless pointed towards a silver plated warrior. Midael had already noticed them. Seven knights formed a circle around the deathless. Minions.
"My men…" The deathless continued, "will collect….whatever you have…" He looked down at a figure laying sprawled on the ground. "You villagers, of course...will have to die." A sword appeared out of nowhere. The teleportation ring, Midael knew.
"Oh shoot he's gonna kill him! You've got to do something!" Nymph gasped, unable to tear herself away from the dreadful scene.
Midael almost laughed at the thought.
"What makes you think I could help?"
The blade flashed. It swung downwards, gaining velocity as it flew towards the poor man's spine. Too late.
"Clank" It was Tor, holding a longsword he somehow managed to counter the blow. The deathless gaped in disbelief, but soon recovered and began to drive Tor backwards. Midael watched silently. Tor was swinging his blade, parrying blow after blow. His enemy pressed onwards. It was obvious, then. Midael saw the beads of concentration gather on Tor's forehead. He had noticed Tor's flaw the moment he began to duel. Tor would soon be slain. It wasn't even a matter of time.
Tor swung his blade desperately. He missed.
A flash. A gasp. A final "Thud" as the town baker crumpled to the ground.
He didn't even stand a chance. Thought Midael.
"DAD!" The scream escaped Nymph. Midael watched her go. He didn't try to stop her.
He watched as Nymph darted towards her dying father, tearing through the crowd as she went. Midael watched. Almost amused.
She would soon die. Or worse. It was only a matter of time. Something stirred inside him. Instinctively he shouted:"Nymph! Come back!"
There was a "Thud" as Midael's head exploded with pain. Spots danced wildly in front of his eyes. For a split-second he forgot where he was. Someone had driven the hilt of a sword right into his sand mask.
"Argh..." He was so busy shouting at Nymph that he had forgotten about the minions. One of the minions grabbed him by the neck and shoved him forward. He fell on to his knees. Midael looked up, grimacing as his head throbbed painfully. He blinked for a few times, then found himself face to face with the silver masked deathless.