Dance of the Damned

Seventy-Eight

I soared through the skies alongside Zeddicus and the rest of the Grims, concealed by a powerful glamour that rendered us invisible, as we prepared for the upcoming battle. Before departing from the camp, Zeddicus had distributed small white pouches filled with occultbane and opium to each of us. These substances would hinder the magical abilities of our foes and slow down those without magic.

We planned to sprinkle the mixture over the enemy army before engaging them in mortal forms. Zeddicus and Rorie confirmed that this was not the grand battle Rorie had foreseen. The weather was clear, with starlit skies instead of rain, and the confrontation would take place within the city rather than an open field like in her vision.

As we flew over Sislac, the sight of the overwhelming Benevol army attacking the city threatened to overwhelm me. We carefully released the powder only over groups of Benevolian soldiers, ensuring our forces remained unaffected. Landing outside the city, we returned to our mortal forms, except Zeddicus, Raya, Finn, Moz, and myself. Zeddicus and I ventured through the city, our appearances more dragon-like than human, wreaking havoc upon the enemy. With our claws and teeth, we tore them apart and unleashed fiery destruction, showing no mercy or hesitation. This was not a mere training session; this was war, a battle of life and death.

Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced through my wing, causing me to roar in agony. However, when I turned to assess the injury, it was not my wing that had been harmed but Zeddicus's. Despite an arrow piercing the center of his right wing, he continued to ruthlessly slaughter the enemy without flinching. Another arrow narrowly missed the first, piercing his wing mere inches away. My heart raced as I glanced up at the rooftop of a nearby building, where an archer prepared to launch another arrow at the man I loved. Without a moment's hesitation, I ascended and swiftly decapitated her, her lifeless body tumbling to the ground below.

I noticed Raya watching me as she deftly dispatched a formidable round-scaled creature several times her size. I ignored her and continued to fight alongside Zeddicus, ensuring he remained protected from further harm. Suddenly, a colossal monster, standing at least ten feet tall and composed of solid stone, loomed before me. Its glowing red eyes stared menacingly as it raised its massive arm, which was larger than my entire Grim form. With a tremendous force, it slammed me into a brick wall, leaving me temporarily stunned.

As my body collided with the ground, my ears rang and my head throbbed. Zeddicus swiftly intervened, launching an attack on the stone monster to prevent it from striking me again. Raya joined him, skillfully wielding an axe to slice through the stony exterior. Struggling to regain my balance, I rose to my feet, fighting to regain my composure. Fixated on the stone monster with unwavering intensity, I caused it to burst into flames, forcing Zeddicus and Raya to leap away as it crumbled to dust. Astonishingly, I had not even breathed fire from my mouth; I had simply willed the fiery destruction into being.

Zeddicus and Raya stared at me in disbelief, but there was no time for us to process what had just occurred. More monstrous creatures descended upon us, their attacks relentless. However, I noticed that some of them were slowing down, and none of them were able to employ their magic. The occultbane and opium had indeed proven effective. Before long, the Benevol army began to retreat from Sislac, while the soldiers of Ardor, Emotis, and Storia cheered in triumph at the city gates. Thanks to the incapacitation of many enemy soldiers, our losses were minimal, and victory was ours.

Turning to Zeddicus, I saw him already examining the blood on my head and the multitude of cuts and bruises that adorned my body as I shifted back into my mortal form. I knew I had to remove the arrows from his wings before he too could assume his mortal form, but to my surprise, the wounds seemed to transfer onto his bare back. Yet, he showed no signs of distress as he pulled me into his embrace. "You were extraordinary," he whispered.