Decay

Whole

And I watch the birds, as they fell out of the sky, into the hands of decay. I wish there was a way for you.

Houses - Beginnings
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My horse had been trotting along for a long while in this vast green field, trees sporadically rooted in place like living pillars, their veins digging into the skin of the world. I was nearing the destination quite slowly, but this quest is not an assignment, it was a personal endeavor, a destination for "training", if you will. There is an old abandoned castle that can be found by following a specific path from the plains leading somewhere near the mountains, that is where the ruins sleep in a half standing abomination. I go in anger, head aching in rage and annoyance, too many problems to deal with, my head spins as the horse casually gallops away. I am in no hurry, I needn't be, even as anger swells I can contain it in spite of the circumstances upon my arrival. As I rode upon the frail horse, cadavers chased after me, I kicked his sides alerting him to speed up, I retrieved one of my weapons from my side and hacked at any that tried to get remotely close to me. Their bodies were light and went aloft when my weapon violently wedged into their ribcages, some of their limbs had broken off by sheer force, others' bones snapped, I could hear them break. My steed broke into a forced run as more burst up from the ground, their hands ripping grass and burrowing through dirt, I had to be weary that none grabbed my horse, I cannot run from this many cadavers, some will eventually catch up to me. The horse sped up even more to avoid the hands protruding from the ground, I grasped the reins with one hand as my other still held my weapon tightly. As I led my horse, I saw the path to the castle, laden with trees on either side of the dirt road, my mind raced: I had to get rid of these things somehow, they were in one large group not very far behind me. I turned my horse so he would face the crowd of screaming dead, he whinnied in slight fear and I rubbed his neck to signal that things were okay. I raised my hands to the sky as I spoke in spells and incantations, a dark mist emitted from the ground like steam and enveloped the nearing crowd. Suddenly, they all dropped dead, lifelessly falling against the grass, almost all at once, in a semi-simultaneous movement of macabre proportions.

Necromancy was always one of my specialties.

The pathway to the castle was dark, it always was and I liked it like that, the seclusion felt good. Walking on the path felt like stepping into the crossroads of another world, the shade dominated the light; spots of bright sun peeked from behind innumerable amounts of leaves, but that makes it even more beautiful. I took my time, there was no need for me to rush, even as anger hid inside of me, I try to wait and hide my anger, to control my feelings and use them to my advantage, let them burst at the correct time.

Riding in these forests is peaceful, I cherish it, hold it in my mind for as long as I can, even after I've arrived at my destination. I banish Despair and look up at the pitiful building in front of me, falling apart from years of negligence and rot. It was cathedral-like: grand and large in scale, with a haunting apparatus lurking in the underbelly. I knew my way in; coming here has never been pleasant. The place tortures me in a way, but that's why I'm here, to make myself stronger. It's a psychological type of torture: visions of pain and loss, past memories and such. I do not anticipate it, as a matter of fact I despise it, but that also urges me to continue returning.

I open the entrance to a large main hall, there were holes in the walls, broken pieces of ceiling on the floor, blood spattered in various locations like paint. It was dark and foreboding, the darkness fell from the high ceiling like brooding fog, misty and hazily sitting in the dank atmosphere.

All manner of abomination dwell here, from cast out demons to introverted creatures taking up shelter in the ruins, there are always new denizens when I return. These ruins are a vessel for pain, it feeds off of the suffering of others and when you set foot inside, you can feel it. It sucks it from my body, which in turn brings me more pain, those memories are awakened and remembered in vivid detail.

I venture further into the hall, I see one creature with black eyes and no mouth in a corner, hunched over and tearing apart another denizen. It spots me and starts to crawl on all fours, I don't bother with my scythes, as it lunges I grab it by the throat and choke it out. It writhed and flailed until it didn't have any air to breathe, I then threw the corpse aside and continued to walk.

The feeling of desolation washed over me, the ruins has this power over those who enter, I tolerate it even as my body aches from the effect.

The place can be a maze at times, the doors looked similar, and the darkness never let up save for a few places where the walls and ceiling were broken. I walk aimlessly, it's a surreal feeling. I have no destination so I just take it all in.

This place could be my home, I myself, along with my siblings, are cast out and looked down upon like lepers: these disgusting creatures. Yet we somehow, still have purpose. We enforce the balance between angel and demon, yet that task seems so minuscule. I do not think like this all the time, examine my conscience and delve into my thoughts. I feel quite alone, I never ask for aid or guidance personally, and I do not show compassion. But I feel pity for myself; guilt. These thoughts have only ever crossed my mind, but never have I taken much thought to them; I am aware that the ruins have this effect, in fact as I walk, it gets worse with every step I take. Events that I've chosen to bury away rise from their place, it makes me feel sick. I don't want to remember these things, yet I am forced to face it.

Another creature had lunged from the darkness and tackled me to the floor. I growled as it stared me in the face with piercing red eyes and a drooling mouth that was desperate for food. It dug its claws into my left pectoral; it stung as I felt the claws sink through flesh and pain pierced my head. I grabbed its arm and tore it from my body, I then kicked it off of me and rose from the floor. Anger filled my body as the three holes left from the demon spawn's claws throbbed and pulsated as the iron smell of blood permeated through my mask. It was crouched in a limber and watchful position as I unhinged both of my scythes, I had underestimated this creature's strength.

This denizen was a hellspawn, it was almost as tall as I, red eyes, muscular build, jagged teeth and long claws. It growled as it watched my movements. I stood ready for an attack, I moved slowly, it was an approach adequate for a watchful eye, I didn't want to get taken off guard again. I knew it was waiting to pounce once again, as I am waiting to kill it when it does. I move forward suddenly, and as I had hoped, it pounces. Harvester slices off its arm, I felt it go through the bone from the vibrations in the handle. It was swift, and satisfying; it now lays on the floor crying out in pain, I return one scythe to my side as the other, I sink into its chest. It screeches; to silence it, I collapse its chest by stomping on it with a swift movement of my leg. And it goes silent.

I remove the other scythe and return it to my right side, I turn away from the corpse to a column of light and begin to walk to it. I step in the light so I can examine the wound, its still bleeding from all three lacerations, and they were deep. The blood had run down my naked torso to the belt fastened around my pelvis. It was nothing to me, they'll heal over time.

I turned around and out of the light to continue my way through the ruins, and as I pass the corpse, I see something else.

My brother, lying dead where the hellspawn should be.

I am shocked at what I see, War, flat on his back, one arm missing, gash in his chest and collapsed ribs. His eyes are open and staring into the darkness.

I felt my chest tighten up and the wound shoot pain throughout my body, I am shaken. I know this is an illusion, but it had taken me by surprise. My breathing sped up slightly from the thought of killing my brother, being responsible for it, and having to carry that with me. My eyes shoot back to the corpse and he has gone, the hellspawn has returned to its final resting place.

I am finally able to regain myself, I rest my right arm on the wall and place my forehead on my arm.

This is what these ruins are capable of.