Eritance - Chapter 15

I couldn’t help but smile at my good fortune. With a slight skip in my step I ran at her so as to get this fight done quickly. Although, I was going to beat her, I didn’t want to cause her any unnecessary suffering either.

I decided to go easy on her simply incapacitate her with my fists, instead of using the sword to damage her. As I ran towards her she gave a thrust of the glaive that she held towards me. I dodged the strike and jumped forward intending to knock her out in one blow. However, as soon as I leaped forward she disappeared. The female warrior had side-stepped past me and swung her glaive again.

Not to be outdone I used the momentum of my leap to carry me forward into a roll. I spun around immediately. She was a lot tougher than expected. However, it was just lucky. I wouldn’t be so easily outdone by a woman.

I charged at her again, this time without leaping, I struck both of my fists to the side in case she wanted to side-step me, and I intended to headbutt her to the ground. However, as soon as I got close to her she leapt over me and struck me hard in the back with her elbow. This strike caused me to stumble and fall to the ground.

At this point I was furious. This woman was making a mockery of me. If I could just get my hands on her I would win the fight instantly. I roared and charged at her again, this time I would not be made a fool of. I was prepared for her to leap over me, and I would be read this time. The moment she tried to jump I would catch her and end this.

As I got close again, she predictably, disappeared. However, when I looked up she wasn’t there. She had instead rolled through my legs, and before coming up she kicked back with her legs. This sent me flying again.

“How is it possible for her to be so nimble and strong?” I thought to myself. “I am going to tear her to pieces, girl or not” I continued thinking. I tried to stand up again, but immediately she was on me and began choking me out with the shaft of her glaive.

I struggled and tried to throw her off me, but she had a monstrous strength. I couldn’t get her off. As my consciousness faded, a voice spoke, “that’s enough Valera”. With that the pressure on my throat loosened and she get off me.

The voice was the same as the one from earlier, and it belonged to a male elf. He had long blond hair that was tied neatly behind his head in a ponytail. He wore a long flowing robe, and I thought that he, perhaps, was the leader. “Are you the leader of this place?” I asked. “No, I am simply one of the many residents here”. “I was rather expecting more from a beast relic inheritor” he said somewhat disappointed.

“What?” I was shocked. I didn’t understand how he knew that I had the power of a beast relic. “How did you know about my power?” I asked him. “Oh please, if I couldn’t tell a relic user was standing in front of me, I wouldn’t be a very good shaman, now would I?” he continued. “My name is Apollos, and I have been waiting for you. I received a vision of a new relic user being born several weeks ago and saw him coming to the forest”. “So why did you attack us? Why did I have to fight that person then??” I inquired of him suspiciously.

“We had to get an idea of your strength for one, and we wanted to see how much you understood about your power” Apollos stated. “It seems like you’ve only just barely awakened, and still don’t understand much about the power you have inherited” he said.

“So, are you going to kill me and try to take it for yourself? Is that it?” I asked. “Oh please, don’t be so dramatic, if we wanted to kill you, you’d already be dead. Instead, we want to ask you for your help” Apollos calmly told me.

“My help?” I asked. I couldn’t believe it. First, they kidnap me, beat me up, and then ask me for my help. “Who are these people?” I couldn’t help but wonder.

“Yes, we need your help. We are recruiting relic inheritors, as well as other people to the cause. The emperor has reigned for far too long. On the other hand, it is no secret that he has long used the monsters and the dark arts users to keep control of the empire, killing all those who would oppose him. Even now he sets his sights on the remaining kingdoms that haven’t been forced to live under his tyranny” Apollos said.

“Hold on” I said. “I don’t know much about the emperor, but I do know this has nothing to do with me. I just want to live by my own power. I didn’t sign up for a political war. So, what if he does bad things? He’s not the only one” I retorted. “If this is all you want from me I’d rather go, I am free to leave, yes?”. I meant what I said. I didn’t want to be involved in any grand battle or cause.

I just wanted to live the life that I envisioned for myself, free of the oppression of others. “It is disappointing to hear you say that, inheritor, but yes you are free to leave. Just know this, the emperor was specifically looking for the power of the beast relic. Now that you have it, he will stop at nothing to get it, and you will never lead a peaceful life” Apollos warned.

Apollos really had me by the jewels at this point. “Well, what can I do then?” I asked with a sigh. “Not to worry, I can give you a ring of concealment. It will suppress the relic energy that your body gives off, and to most, you will appear to be a normal human”.

“What’s the catch?” I asked him suspiciously. “There is no catch, we won’t force you to join our cause. I think that, given enough time, you will willingly come back here and join us. Until then, you need to see the harsh reality for yourself”. “I appreciate your confidence in me, but that’s not going to happen. Thanks for the ring though!” I said.

Soon after, Ciara and I were led to a secret exit from the underground base and given provisions and a map of the area. With this, we could safely make it back to Hallen, I could dump the lord’s daughter back off on him, and I could set off on my own path.