The Tales of Darkmore

The Troll in the Village

Lucian stepped out in a completely different place, high up on a mountain.

"I guess this is where I need to be..." Lucian mumbled, looking around. At the bottom of the mountain was a small village, well populated. He started walking towards it, stopping after a while, noticing something on the floor.

"Oh fuck..." He cursed, looking at a set of large footprints, "Of course it had to be a troll." he quickened his pace down the mountain, reaching the village within a few minutes.

The streets were empty, causing Lucian to be heavily on guard. He began walking towards the centre, noticing blood and dents all over the street and road.

"This is too bold... It's worse than I thought..." Lucian hurried down the road. He looked in horror, seeing the 20-foot-tall Troll sat on a hastily constructed throne, glaring down at him.

"Who are you." The troll's deep voice rumbled. The troll's skin was as grey as limestone, covered in boils. Its eyes were a dark brown and thin hair was scattered on its face.

"That doesn't matter... You're going to leave this town. Or I'll make you." Lucian stood tall; his voice unwavering. The troll laughed, pointing at him.

"What are you going to do boy?" the beast pointed.

"Final warning." Lucian clenched his fists tight. The troll stood up, snarling. Lucian snapped his fingers, a ball of fire roaring around his hand. Before the troll could react, he hurled it straight at the beast. The fire hit the right side of the troll's face. The troll screamed in agony. It gripped its face, roaring. Lucian could smell its flesh burning, almost making him gag. The troll moved his hand away from his face, a burnt hole where his cheek used to be. Lucian took a step back, the beast standing tall and picking up his club.

"YOU LITTLE FUCKING CUNT!" the troll roared. Lucian snapped his fingers, but he was too late. The troll was fast and swung his club, connecting with Lucian's chest. The force slammed him into a building, causing Lucian to cough violently. He spat blood as he stood up, clutching his chest. A few of his ribs were broken, but he couldn't let that stop him.

'I gotta be smart with this. Too many lives at stake.' Lucian thought to himself. The troll laughed.

"Worm. You're nothing. Once I kill you, I'll kill every person in this village, and then I'll keep killing. And it'll all be your fault." The beast snarled.

Lucian snapped his fingers again, a flame in each hand. He hurled one after the other, connecting with the troll's chest. It snarled, the fire affecting him less, the skin clearly thicker on his body. He felt eyes on him, but it wasn't the villagers. He ignored it, staring down the troll. The troll was waiting for Lucian's next move. Lucian stamped his right foot, a rumbling echoing. He lifted his leg up, and backwards, a large chunk of the road lifting with it. He pushed hard, launching the chuck of rock directly at the troll, connecting and making it stumble. Lucian ran towards it, pulling out the tantō. He slid under its legs, slicing at both of its Achilles' tendons. The troll fell, face slamming into ground. Lucian stood up, wincing, coughing up another splat of blood.

The troll tried using the club as a crutch to help himself stand, but it was no use. Lucian began walking towards the head of the beast.

"Mercy... Oh god please... Show me mercy..." The troll begged.

"Go fuck yourself." Lucian snarled, digging the tantō into the back of the troll's neck, dragging it down. The blade severed the troll's head, Lucian sighing with relief. His eyes felt heavy, and his legs felt weak. He undid his maroon shirt, looking at his chest. The skin around his lower ribs was purple, clear where there were broken. He coughed violently again, sitting down.

"Gadriel... If there was ever a time... It'd be now..." He whispered, his eyes growing too heavy to keep open. His body fell to the ground, and the last thing his eyes could see was a winged figure coming down from above.