Cambion (Complete)

11 - Alchemy and the Almighty

The slash of Gauss' blade would easily have taken my head off if I hadn't tripped on a rock and fell to my knees. The man was relentless, already pulling back and getting ready for another swing at my head. I rolled to the left but he stopped me by placing a heavy boot on my upper leg. His blade was coming down now and my only option was to roll up and grasp him by the waist like a little child.

How had it come to this? Hadn't father taught me to be a better fighter? All of those sword forms, all of those hours of practice, were now gone. The polearm I had abandoned only moments ago was nothing like the sword. It was like I had never held a weapon in my life. It didn't help that this heavy armored man, obviously a master at dueling, was trying to kill me in the most brutal way possible.

"I yield, I yield! I cried, gripping tightly to his greaves.

Gauss pulled back his leg and kicked me off of him with ease. I landed on my side, another rock in the training field buried itself into my ribs which were still very tender. Maybe it would be best if I just laid here and died. Then I would for sure be done with this living hell.

But wait, that was suicide and suicide was a mortal sin. I wouldn't be accepted into the gates of heaven. But was it suicide if there was literally nothing else I could do to fight this beast of a man? But down deep, I knew this wasn't true. I still had fight in me, even though it wouldn't be near enough.

Gauss took two giant strides towards me, his greatsword dragging on the ground which was a clear maneuver to intimidate me. It worked.

Suddenly, I felt the urge to piss myself and would have done so if it wasn't for Gauss already coming down with yet another strike. How in the world did he handle such a heavy sword with so much ease?

I rolled as quickly as I could but was not fast enough. The sword caught my linen shirt, pinning it to the ground. I tried to pull the shirt over my head but felt a hard kick to my ribs which ripped the caught shirt and ejected me a few feet. The aching of my poor ribs was back and I prayed to God that they hadn't broken again.

And again, Gauss was on me like a relentless animal. Lucky for me, the oncoming swipe of his blade would kill me and I decided that God surely wouldn't count this as suicide. This final attack would be my ticket out of this mess.

I closed my eyes and waited to be met by angels to take my spirit into heaven. I heard the swish of his blade and surprised myself when a small smile crept across my face. However, something strange happened in that moment. Without any help from my brain, my right arm moved on its own placing itself right in front of my face. I caught Gauss's steel on my forearm which came back and slammed me in the nose.

Bloodshot out from my nostrils in a thin stream as I turned to my side and then onto my hands and knees. I bent my head into the ground but cursed when my horns stuck in the dirt. Their presence was a stiff awkward feeling. The only way to describe what it was like having horns, besides the dreadful appearance of them, was like that of two large teeth sticking out of your skull that just wouldn't stop growing. I hadn't had a chance to look at my appearance as of yet but doubted I really wanted to at this point.

"I've seen enough," came a voice that was not near as deep as Gauss'. "The boy has proven enough to me that he isn't a danger to Leader Nagheed. Now, please train him properly."

"Yes, Captain Adino," Gauss said, bowing his head.

"And Gauss," added the voice with no face. I decided I didn't even care to look up at the man who was talking. What would be the point? He was just another stranger who would most likely end up my enemy.

"Yes, Captain Adino?"

"Give this boy a proper rest. Make certain he is comfortable, fully healed, properly fed and dressed. He's one of us now."