Ancient Pasts - Tbate

Loss

A/N: This chapter actually hurt me while writing. I hope none of you are having a good day because it won't last long if you read this chapter.

Azrael Indarth Pov

I woke up from the sound of Cathan snapping. I've never heard my bond snap, scream, or get angry, but that wasn't what made me worried. What made me worried were his emotions. Panic, fear, and anger flared up within him.

I opened my eyes in time to see Cathan conjure a teleportation gate that immediately pulled me towards it. I could see his face tense, eyes red, his lips quivering, and his body trembling.

My stomach lurched as Cathan teleported us. I shook my head and rubbed my eyes, but they confirmed what I saw was real. Screams, battle cries, and weapons clashing against each other filled my surroundings.

Corpses. Hundreds of corpses littered the ground around me. Some of the bodies burned, some frozen, some were crushed, and others bisected and sliced.

The mental wall that usually protected his mind disappeared, and I was able to read his emotions and even his thoughts. When I realized why he teleported us here, my heart dropped.

The tracking spell on his father canceled, and that could only mean one thing, the one thing none of us wanted to admit.

'Azrael, Athena! Look for my father quickly!' Cathan urged, his voice filled with panic.

The six rods that usually stayed hidden flew off and scattered around, looking for Reynolds. I didn't waste time and started looking for him as well.

Smoke, fire, debris, abandoned weapons, and the corpses of both men and beast decorated the once barren field. As limited as my vision was, I kept my eyes wide and ears open. We all knew it was impossible to find him, but there was nothing more that any of us could do.

I fired spell after spell of pure mana, trying to get used to my new form. Eventually, the beast horde was getting pushed back slowly as their numbers dwindled down to the hundreds.

The number of beasts had dwindled tremendously, but not without loss. Humans, elves, and dwarves alike lay sprawled out on the ground alongside the beasts that they killed or that killed them.

Suddenly, I felt Sylvie in the area around here, but something was wrong. She was in pain, guilt, and sorrow. I realized what that meant and quickly rushed off towards her.

"Sylvie!" I called out as she turned around, her eyes filled with tears while hugging someone from his back.

"A-Azrael, you need to get Cathan away from here. He shouldn't see this..." Sylvie's voice trailed off as she sniffled.

A sudden feeling of dread washed over me as I realized too late that Cathan was approaching. I stiffened, sending him messages that his father was not here, but I stuttered even in my mind, and he knew something was wrong.

"Azrael!" Cathan called out, his face tense from holding back his tears.

It was too late. Cathan saw what remained of his father, and his body gave up and crumbled to the ground. He slowly crawled over, unwilling to stand back up.

Cathan stopped moving in front of his father's corpse. I could do nothing but hug his back to let him know I was here for him, but I could feel his emotions, his rage, sorrow, and guilt.

Cathan and Arthur didn't move but stayed on the ground as still and silent as a statue. Neither of them cried, but I could see and feel their emotions and loneliness.

No mana beast or soldier dared to approach as if all of them saw the pain the two were going through, but none of them could feel their turmoil like Sylvie and I did.