The Light of Love

Chapter 16: Asher Lisianthus

Asher had his battleaxe and was ready. He swung it and bleated, he jumped in the air and swung at a Cyclops, making the golden powder settle in his hair. Liam, Cody, and Elio were all airborne as arrows rained down as Asher made monster confetti. He leapt onto the metal platforms and felt the heat of the lava envelope him as he had to stumble to adjust. His felt as if his fur was smouldering. A harpy dove at him and he narrowly evaded. Asher swung and missed, he didn't care if he hit. He felt so woozy, sweat coated his shirt and his hooves hurt from the hot metal. Worst of all, he felt abandoned. His friends were airborne and he was about to pass out and get eaten by monsters. The only thing that kept his heat-exhausted eyes awake was the opposite of fire. Water, beautiful oceans and seas. Flowing waterfalls and rushing rapids, babbling brooks and- Brooke. Lily. A tear ran down his face, a cold line tracing his cheek. It snapped him awake as he bellowed in outrage. Cyclopes three times his size stood no chance as Asher slid under his legs and slashed his back in a diagonal cut. He dashed while spinning the blade when a Cyclops about as tall as him grabbed one end and snapped it off. Asher felt the burst slipping away and couldn't bear it, he was losing the water, he was losing the thought of the creeks, he was losing Lily. Another tear ran down his face, warm. But not as burning hot as the air, it gave him enough strength to grab his axe and kick the Cyclops over the edge, taking the broken axe blade with it. Asher's weapon felt too light, too stilted. He saw Cody and Liam firing at enemies and Elio made a finger gun as was shooting bouts of light. He held the axe blade and kept using what he had, though he felt off balance. Whenever his strength would recede, he thought of Brooke or Lily. Oh, Brooke. His amazing wife, his amazing naiad who was his whole world... she would be alone. Lily, his little girl, the one he promised, his everything. Asher might have been a satyr, but he was downright murderous at the thought of Typhon taking them away. He didn't care if he died, but there was nothing he wouldn't do to ensure the two's safety. He swung and tried his best until he reached the end of the platform and, in his eye line, were many Telkhines guarding a ray of... darkness? Storm? Both?? He readied his axe and began to fight when a pained yell pierced the clamouring and roar of battle, his heart sank. Out of the air fell Cody Maxwell, unconscious and barely landed on the platform. Screw Typhon, Asher thought. He ran to where his friend is and was hopelessly outnumbered by monsters of all shapes and sizes. He screamed for help, but no one arrived. Liam and Elio were airborne and couldn't hear anything. Asher held his broken axe, and took a deep breath. Typhon won't take what's important to me, he stated to himself and ran toward the horde.