The Dragon's Consortium 2

54 - The Reaping Ranger

Soterios Dragvern - POV;

Despite my horror at seeing my new friend killed, I immediately managed to find my senses and went straight into action. I unsealed my pendants and scanned the area for any sign of the perpetrator.

As I had thought, the recently activated power shone like a star in the enhanced view of my Dragvern eyes. I followed the trail of red towards the beaming humanoid figure. The man was running through a narrow alleyway, obviously trying to hide himself. I hopped onto the roof and then back down cutting him off on the other side.

"Going somewhere scum?" I growled at the killer. He pulled his hood lower over his face. It was evident that he intended to hide his identity.

It was a curious sight to say the least. Unlike with most people whose infrared heat and inner muscle movements I could see, this man had a huge mass of energy swirling within him. The soul power rushed this way and that barring my vision from seeing any more.

The perpetrator outstretched his arm and formed a sword out of his red Soul Power. I wielded Dark Matter myself and rushed forward, giving him little time to think. I stabbed at him with my blade but he easily manuvered his way around it by sidestepping.

As he dodged the blade he disappeared into a red wisp before reappearing behind me. He stabbed his weapon into my side and with a roundhouse kick, drove the blade deep into my body until the hilt touched my obliques.

I shouted out in pain and dropped Dark Matter to the ground. I fell on one knee grabbing my side as the soul weapon dissipated and my wound began to pour out blood.

"You're weak!" the man hissed, "You used the advantage of your Dragon's Blood to get thus far so your core skills are severely lacking. Without your predictive ability you are more worthless than most of the nations knights."

He formed a red Great Axe out of his Soul Power and raised it high into the air, preparing for an executing swing.

"Schhwit" An arrow flew past my head and lodged itself into my opponent's leg. He cursed out loud as he plucked the item out of the muscle. A barrage of arrows rained down on him and he back flipped, rolled and side stepped to dodge them all. Eventually, he drew a katana from his hip having become tired of these games or so I could assume. He assumed a unique two-handed stance with the blade and commenced by cutting down all the remaining projectiles in succession and without fail.

The archer would now reveal himself. He was clad from head to toe in a Ranger's leather armour. A half mask covered the lower half of his face while a cloak's hood concealed his head. On his back he holstered a bow and in his left arm he wielded a blue sword seemingly enveloped by a blue flame. Closer inspection made me realise that it was no fire however. Rather the weapon seemed to be made from hundreds of souls bound together by some unknown means.

"Who are you?" the Dragonborn inquired.

"They call me the Soul Reaper. I'm afraid there is only enough room for one soul stealer in this town," the Ranger retorted.

The Dragonborn turned tail and retreated quickly into the darkness followed closely by the new arrival. I attempted to stand and give chase as well but my strength had given way and I fell face face onto the floor. As I continued to lose blood in staggering quantities I slipped into unconsciousness.

*******

Cain Dragvern - POV;

"Gah!" I screamed as I shot up from my bed sweating. I breathed heavily as I buried my face in the palm of my hand.

"Are you alright? What's wrong?" Amelia asked as she awoke beside me.

"It's nothing," I replied quickly.

Amelia wrapped her arms around me and pulled me in for a tight hug. "Another bad dream huh? About Soterios again right?" she said startling me.

I had never told anyone else about the nightmares I had been having about my brother so I was bewildered that she knew the details.

"How did you guess?" I inquired.

"I lie with you every night stupid. I must hear you shouting out 'brother! brother!' while you're asleep especially when it's a regular thing. You even changed your name from Angus to Dragvern after one especially bad night," she disclosed.

"I should have expected at least that much of you I guess. But tonight was very different. It felt too real. I have a really bad feeling Amelia, I think something horrible is happening to Soterios as we speak," I lamented.

She tapped me on the head then kissed my cheek. "Soterios is strong Cain. He can more than handle himself. Besides he has Csilla beside him and I know that she won't let anything happen to him under her watch," Amelia assured, "You should worry about your own affairs and the backlash, negativity and criticism you as well as Alyenqua is under due to your relationship with the supposed traitor."

"You're right Amelia. I should spend more time dealing with the situation in Uradora. Once I can clear his name, Soterios can return and we can once again fight together to raise the world from hell to heaven," I concluded.

"See? That's the way that you should be thinking," Amelia smiled and rest her head on my shoulder.

"Yes. Soterios will return as he promised and when he does, it'll be time I told him the truth about our missing mother." Soterios."