Melody of War 21

“Impossible!”

“No way…!”

The plume of crimson light that engulfed Kyte’s spear flared out behind it wildly but the spear made no further forward progress. It’s tip had stopped against Varen blade of light and strained with unimaginable force to proceed forward. Varen with gritted teeth and trembling arms fought with everything he had to keep his sword pressed firm in resistance against the spear that sought his heart. The force he fought against though was overwhelming beyond anything he had ever encountered before but still he persevered even as he began to slide backwards gradually from the force behind the spear.

“The… two of you.. shouldn’t look so shocked… This is Lord Elliot’s light… The light that will banish the darkness of the Elkhaust Empire. It won’t lose to anything… And I won’t either after hearing you cry out like that Chain…”

“Eh?!”

Chain’s face turned red at Varen’s strained words and she quickly responded in a flustered way.

“W-what are you talking about you idiot?! I was freaking out because I can’t understand what it is with the Heroes of the Northern Kingdoms and killing everyone they run into!”

“All the more reason for me to not die here. Anyone… who would call themselves a Hero and then kill indiscriminately doesn’t deserve the honor of such a title.”

“I won’t take that from you tall man. I have to have the strength to defeat Roc the Bandit King. How can I do that if I can’t even defeat a normal man like you? How can I liberate the Stormroots of his tyranny if I don’t have the strength to crush any I come across? So damn me if I kill all I face in battle along the way! I’ll make that sacrifice! That’s what it means to be a Hero!”

♪~ Across sea of stars thrown by gods unknown ~♪

“I don’t think so!”

As Chain heard the verse that would transform Kyte’s spear again into the legendary spear he had once before tried to use against Varen she cried out in objection. Rushing forward into the space between the Hero and the soldier who faced him Chain snapped the fingers of her left hand and began an incantation of her own to challenge the verse.

“~ From the Seventh Well heed me that which the Builders fear ~”

“Chain! Don’t push yourself any more than you already have! If you keep drawing upon that magic who knows what will happen! Just leave this to me. With Lord Elliot’s light I can do this!”

Chain wanted to believe Varen but the verse that continued gave her no such confidence and she continued her spell in tune.

♪~ A spear unmatched even by shooting stars ~♪

“~ That which spills forth become that which consumes ~”

 “CHA~IN!”

♪~ With Icy Form of crimson hue and greatest night ~♪

“HYAAA~!!!!!”

Chain screamed out in pain and effort as she clenched her left fist shut and absorbed the sphere of wild light within.

♪~ Snatched by mortal hands now descends– ~♪

“COMEVELIN!”

Shouting out the name of the transformation of his spear Kyte reached out with all of his will for his spear. To his shock not one crystal of ice appeared on the weapon as Chain slid into place between him and arced over backwards releasing a horrid scream of pain as her cape flared back into being behind her.

“NO! CHA~IN!!!!!”

Scream as he might as Varen could do nothing for Chain as all of his strength was required for his contest with the spear that sought his heart. Gritting his teeth and calling upon more will power than he could possible possess Varen brought an end to his backward skidding and took a defiant step forward.

“Impossible…”

Kyte’s words of disbelief were not only in response to Varen but also to Chain who took a step forward and straightened out though her left arm dangled limp and drenched in blood. Her injuries did not stop the maid from speaking with her typical cockiness however.

“Impossible?”

Opening her eyes Chain looked upon the Hero once again with green eyes and smiled confidently.

“I told you, you muscle bound idiot, I was going to put you in your place.”

“Don’t make me laugh Chainmaid. Impressive as you and your Relic have been you’re still no Hero and it’s the tall man who’s wielding the weapon enhanced by the Builders’ Song. But with him otherwise occupied…”

“Then why don’t you try me, Hero.”

Kyte clicked his tongue but did not take Chain lightly. The maid had already far surpassed anything he believed she should be capable of. Even with her left arm hanging uselessly at her side Kyte did not believe her spells were unavailable to her as she had not completed her last spell before absorbing it. Realizing how much he was being wary of the stubborn maid and the occupied soldier behind her he suddenly burst out laughing.

“Oh~ Now I get it. Now I get why that bastard Roc would try to best you in combat. The Chainmaid, or as I’ve heard you’re called in the south, the Bandit Eater. A predator like you is every bit worthy prey of a Hero. But I’m guessing very few have ever pushed you to fight like this so let’s see how much further you can be pushed.”

“You… bastard…”

Though Varen struggled forward another half step his words were largly ignored by both Kyte and Chain. Chain was significantly more concerned with the verse she heard rising from the Builders’ Song and Kyte with her incantation of choice.

♪~ Against a beast of peerless might, suffice it won’t a single spear ~♪
♪~ So throw second, a third, a score ~♪

“~ From the Fifth Well I bid thee rise gentle light ~
~ Harmless motes that drift in the dark become as spears to pierce my foes ~
~ Lig Sher! ~”

A score of spears of red light appeared and bolted down upon Chain as motes of golden light rose up around her and became spear-like ribbons. Spiraling up wildly Chain’s spell met Kyte’s verse and a fireworks display exploded in the sky above though not every spear of Chain’s met the Hero’s and the maid was forced to put her sword to work deflecting those that closed in on her. With such an opening provided to him Kyte smiled triumphantly and Chain again heard a familiar verse rise.

♪~ When fishing with spear it must hurled ~♪
♪~ But a javelin never returns on its own ~♪
♪~ To claim his prize to his spear must he go, the fisherman ~♪

Chain watched the Hero disappear but knew exactly where he was going. Deflecting the last of the spears that rained upon her Chain turned and hurled her sword. Varen was grateful for Chain’s efforts as her sword burst through Kyte’s chest and stripped him of the strength he needed to overcome Varen’s defenses.

“To bad, Hero, but it looks like Chain and I win! HURRRYAAA!!!!!”

Kyte could not help himself but smile as blood ran from his mouth and where Chain’s sword pierced through him from behind.

“Well… done… Chainmaid… Tall man.”

Drawn by a the voice of the Builders, Chain straightened up on unstable feet and watched Varen’s sword of light flare with a light that washed out the day and engulfed the entirety of the mountain peaks around them.

♪~ The comet came from dark twinkling sea ~♪
♪~ Light after light it did snuff out ~♪
♪~ Even shimmering sun could face the darkness not ~♪
♪~ But before light of man did it vanish in peerless brilliance ~♪

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater