Karta Stryker

Chapter 4: The Water Elemental

I had tumbled for a few meters before regaining my ground. I lay flat on the ground, with intense pain head to toe. It felt like someone still had a dagger in my chest and left it there. I placed my hands on the ground beneath me, square to my shoulders. My arms trembled, as I could barely support my own weight. They gave in, instantly letting me collapse to the ground. My nose had hit the root of a tree, instantly making it bleed. I tried once more, and placed my hands beneath my body weight. I pushed myself just high enough to get my right leg underneath my chest. Both of my legs eventually stood me up, but I stood slanted to the left. I shouldn't have survived those blows Apollo dealt. Matter of fact, I probably am dying. I looked around, gathering my surroundings. I was in a rain-forest, blue in the dark of night. A crescent moon shone above through trees, and only crickets could be heard clicking. I started by taking one step with my right leg, careful not to put too much pressure on it. It held up fine enough, but the pain was grimacing. Soon, my left leg followed, which was in much more pain. It was a lot, but I can manage. I have to. 

Some time had passed, and I was certain I was in the middle of nowhere. I wondered briefly if this was what it's like to die, but the thought quickly passed. Fatigue had started to take me over, and I fell to the ground. A woman seemingly out of nowhere had rushed to my aid. She had green eyes, purer than the most divine emerald. Her hair was black, which glossed green in the moonlight. She had lifted me and carried me over her shoulder. Even though I had limited perspective, I could tell she wasn't very tall. She walked with intent, no hesitation in her direction. She knew where she was. We eventually came across a mansion, one made of quartz and marble.

Wait, this is the mansion Vladimir mentioned? 

The woman had softly laid me on the ground, and put her hand on my forehead. A soothing feeling rushed through my body, and I saw my wounds physically seal up. The bleeding had ceased, and I didn't feel any pain anymore. The woman had gotten a rag out of a pouch she carried on her, which she used to wipe the blood off of my face. 

"To who do I owe the thanks?" I said, getting up. 

"Leanna's the name. Come inside." The woman gestured me to walk with her to the mansion.

There was something off about her from the get-go; a physical form or something she was hiding. Fairly common for demons, but for now, I'll give her my better judgment.

As we enter the mansion doors, all vision to the outside closes, masking the building. On the inside, pure white tiles and red carpets is what consisted of the floors. There many statues which resembled Greek heroines. 

"So, you guys are Greek as well? Definitely not Amazonians." I said as I was escorted by a group of armored women. 

"We're not as powerful or known, but we serve a similar purpose. We're warriors, but associated with the element of water, as demonstrated earlier. Our ultimate purpose is to train the Water Elemental, but they only pop up every millennia or so." Leanna explained as she walked through the halls. 

"You found this Elemental yet?"

"I believe we have, as her control over water is unmatched. She is still young, though." Leanna sighed.

"What is your name? I'm usually familiar with the faces that come here." Leanna looked up at me and placed her hand on my right shoulder.

"Karta."

Leanna's eyes widened briefly.

I'm reminded of the murals marked at the temple I fought Apollo in. The 3 other warriors had distinctive symbols marked on their chests, each representing a different element. Perhaps the Water Elemental was one of these warriors? I noticed very similar drawings were hung up on paintings throughout the mansion, depicting the same legend.