Last Light in the Darktide

Chapter 3: The Weakness of Rage

It was the dead of night, the camp was quiet, and the soldiers were either resting or on guard duty when suddenly the sound of two guards being killed broke the silence and awoke the camp when the soldiers and commander came to see the commotion there stood a man with ashen skin, cloven hooves, demon horns, and a demon tail, his eyes burned red with hatred when he spoke. "I am your doom, come to collect on a centuries old debt, my blades thirst for your blood humans." The half-demon man raised his warglaives and tore the opposition apart in a symphony of blood and violence. When the camp fell silent again the half-demon man walked out of the camp body and blades covered in blood, but his thirst still not quenched.

We arrived at the human camp in the morning and saw a blood bath. While we were searching for clues as to what happened, Tristan saw a human soldier barely clinging to life, he kneeled down and asked. "What happened here?" The human soldier choked out. "We were attacked by a man with ashen skin and horns, he tore us apart like tissue paper!" Tristen, looking annoyed, asked. "Did he say anything!?" The soldier then said. "He said he was here to collect on a centuries old debt. Oh gods those eyes, I won't be able to forget those eyes, red and full of hate!" Tristan clearly fed up, slashed the man's throat and dropped him to the ground. I walked up and asked. "Tristan, are you okay?" He looked at me angry and said. "No, I'm not okay Komi." I looked concerned and he said. "You know I only do something if it aligns with my own personal goals, but lately I've been doing stuff out of aggressive impulse!" I said. "Maybe you are changing then." He looked at me with anger and said. "Changing? No rather your blind impulsive rage and tendencies are affecting me greatly! You always are so damn quick to anger and use the most violent and direct means as a solution, you don't think before you act!" I took a step back in surprise as he continued. "I don't want to be like that Komi, I want to live a life of luxury and peace, but the more I do this the further I get from that goal! That is why when we are done here and get back to Koramahr I am going to abstain from any more of this insanity!" I nodded understanding and said. "Okay Tristan if that's what you really want." He sighed and said. "Don't get me wrong Komi, I value you as a friend, but I can't follow your lead if it means I lose who I am." I nodded and went back to looking around the camp. Our investigation turned up that a half-demon assassin attacked this camp and killed almost everyone mercilessly, as to where he went remained unknown at the time.

We decided to head back to the elven settlement and informed the leader of what happened, as he promised he would begin mobilizing troops to Koramahr at once. We waited for the troops to be ready and marched back with them. After several days we arrived at Koramahr, that is when Tristan broke off from the group and went somewhere alone. I went to the chief and he said. "I'm glad to see you have returned with support, but there is a matter I need you to deal with personally, Komi." I looked at him and asked what it was and he said. "Several hunters have been found dead, They were sliced to ribbons, all we have to go off of is a set of hoof prints leading deeper into the forest." I nodded and set out on my own to hunt this monster killing our people. When I arrived to the last sight of the murders I followed the hoof prints to an open field where I saw a half-demon man kneeling with two warglaives at his sides, he looked up at me and said. "So you have come, I have been waiting long enough warrior." He then grabbed ahold of his warglaives, stood up, and said. "I have heard of a defiant human woman of great strength, let us test you metal and see how strong you truly are!" He started charging at me, I drew my claymore and blocked his attack just in time. I kicked him in the stomach, knocking him back and yelled. "You will pay for the blood of my brothers and sisters!" He chuckled and said. "Yes, let your rage take you child, let your blood seeth with hate." I let out a primal roar as I went on the attack, our blades clashing with each swing as we trade blows. We locked blades and he said. "Good, I can feel your anger, your rage, it is so pure and bright, but that alone cannot save you child and I shall show you this before I bleed you dry!" He pushed me back and swung his warglaives with enough force to break my claymore into three pieces, knocking me to the ground hard. He stood over me as my mind cleared, and he said. "See, you use your rage to make up for your lack of skill, but it was the cause of your downfall today. Feel honored as I will give you a clean death girl." He prepared to strike when a dagger flew out and struck him in the stomach which caused him to stagger back and yell in pain. "Gah a poisoned dagger!?" Tristan stepped out with an annoyed look and said. "Yes and there are far more where that came from, asshole." The half-demon weakened by Tristan's poison began to run and yelled. "This isn't over, next time you won't be so lucky!" The half-demon disappeared into the distance as Tristan helped me to my feet. I grabbed my left arm in pain as it was clearly broken from the half-demon's last attack. Tristan grabbed the broken pieces of my claymore and helped me back to the city where Fey started treating my broken arm. The chief came to check in on me and apologized for sending me on that mission alone, that is when I said. "No, it's my fault for thinking my rage was good enough to power me through my fights." I hung my head in shame realizing how foolish and weak I really was.

Once I was fully recovered I began training hard to hone my skills, but I doubted myself greatly and it would come to hold me back. Soon I began shutting people out and soon enough I was alone, I wouldn't even let Suki, Fey, or Yuko get close to me. I was lost in a sea of self loathing and it only got worse and worse. I went on a walk alone one night and was stopped by a familiar man and he said. "So I see I managed to extinguish that fighting spirit of yours, child." I stood there quiet and stared blankly as he continued. "You lost your purpose, you no longer know what it is you are meant to do. You look pathetic, weak, helpless, worthless." When I felt I couldn't fall any deeper into my suffering a familiar voice broke through and it said. "Even if she isn't as strong as she wants she still has me and everyone else to lean on when she needs it!" At that moment I saw Suki standing in front of me, then another voice called out. "Even if she's got confidence and anger issues, she's still got something in spades and that is passion for the weak!" Tristan then stood beside Suki, and yet another voice called out. "She is able to persevere despite her shortcomings, and if she falls we will be there to pick her back up!" Fey now stood on the other side of Suki and one by one as if in a sequence I heard and saw all my friends there defending me, it was then I realized what I was missing. I stood up with tears in my eyes and said. "I get it now, I let myself get so caught up in being a guardian that I lost sight of why I chose to be a guardian. From now on I will not stand alone, I will stand with those who would stand with me through thick and thin!" The half-demon smiled and said. "Then I look forward to our next meeting, barbarian as I would like to see how much you grow from this." The half-demon fades away as my friends smile and I am enveloped in a bright light, then I suddenly woke up in my bed and realized it was just a dream. I walked out and saw Fey and Suki talking to each other, I ran up and hugged both of them and said. "I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry!" I was in tears when Suki said. "Sorry for what, Komi calm down, please!" Fey then added. "Yeah we aren't mad at you so there isn't anything to apologize for!" After I calmed down I explained my dream to them and Suki said. "I see, well funny thing is Fey and I were coming to get you for a bit of an intervention." I looked at them confused and Fey said. "We got everyone together to talk to you about everything that happened in hopes to snap you out of this mood you've been in, but it seems your heart and mind finally sorted it all out for you." I then said. "I still want to go, I have to apologize to them too for how I treated them." So Suki and Fey took me to the living room where everyone was sitting and I began to apologize. "I'm so sorry that I pushed you all away and made you all worry, I was so hung up on my own insecurities that I lost sight of my true strength, you all have been there for me and I took that for granted so I promise not to do that again!" They all smiled and Tristan said. "Glad to see you finally calmed down, Komi. So does this mean you'll finally stop focusing on using your rage to solve your problems and let us help you?" I nodded as confirmation, then Yuko said. "Good, I want to be someone you can lean on when you need it!" Uldor added "Honestly you are strong, but that can only get you so far, so I'm glad to help you make up the difference my friend." I nodded and said. "I will stand beside you as a member of this team, thank you all for not being angry at me." After that we all went out to eat. While we were at the diner the chief walked in, approached us, and said. "I'm glad you all are here as there is an important matter I need to speak to you all about. "After we ate we returned to city hall and the chief said. "I need you all to go to the mountains as we need the support of the dwarves, their advanced metalworking skills and sturdy builds are an asset to our war against the human kingdom." We all nodded in understanding and as we got ready to leave the chief told me to go and get a new weapon from the blacksmith. As we prepared to leave I walked to the blacksmith and picked up a new claymore before setting out on our journey to Mount Gundavad.