Chapter Twenty-Six: Revenge - The Last High Sun

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"What did the prophecy say about the time of arrival?" Svetra was growing impatient. "It has been hours now."

"Once you see what comes, you will wish you wouldn't have to deal with it." Nano was putting the finishing touches on a trap. "Now that I know what this Demoness is, I'm afraid that at least one of will have to die."

"What!" Jasper wasn't too fond of the idea of not being able to even challenge for his spot as the Rogue King.

"Yes, what exactly do you mean?" Tora was hoping it wouldn't have to be her.

"I mean that we won't be able to kill the Demoness without one of us not making it to see all the days ahead of us. She is most likely a Corrupt."

"A Corukt?"

"Corrupt, Svetra. It is what happens when a summon takes over the body of the summoner and the transformation is incomplete. It comes out to a more dangerous form of summon, but they usually don't last longer than two days."

"But this summon has been rampant for a week now." Tora tried to hide the fear in her voice, but it was clear to everyone she was afraid.

"Exactly. No two Corrupt are the same, so I can't tell you what she'll be capable of. Most of them become substantially more powerful after being alive for two days, though their power isn't much to begin with. At the weakest she'll be as physically powerful as Tora and have magical prowess that could rival mine or the Queen's. At the strongest, she'll be able to fight Equinox head-on without much trouble. That's if I'm taking everything into account."

"So, what you're saying is that this is going to be difficult." Rhet wasn't too fond of the idea.

"Exactly. Perhaps a more grave term would be better suited for out problem."

"What?" Asked Svetra.

"I mean that he could use a better word than difficult. Like arduous."

"Hey, what's that sound?" Jasper heard something quite unfamiliar. He couldn't place what it was that he was hearing, just that he could hear it and that it called for him.

"What sound?" Asked the rest.

"That sound. Coming from the north." Jasper pointed towards the most northward part of the port town.

"I hear it now too." Svetra didn't know what the sound was either but it gave her chills. To her it sounded like a mixture of metal rubbing together, fabric tearing, and a howling of sorts. "It sounds dangerous."

"I think the same." Nano heard a song promising everything he could yearn for the tiniest of costs. He knew that no such thing could be possible, and yet he was drawn to it.

"What ever it is, I've never heard anything like it." Tora heard the faraway screaming of animals, a tortured whimpering, and heavy booted footsteps approaching all at once.

"It's her." Yet, before anyone could react to what Rhet said a dark tan man came running from around the corner. He spoke in an unfamiliar tongue. Unfamiliar to everyone, except Svetra.

"We are here to help you!" Called out Svetra in her native tongue. "We save People of Kuva as well!"

"Demoness! Run! She is coming, hurry!" And with those words Svetra knew who this man was. Her eyes instantly welled up with tears, though she didn't allow herself to cry just yet. She dropped her halberd on the ground and dashed to reach the man before the rest could react. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her and she covered the 300 yards between her and the man within seconds.

As she ran she could smell the ocean spray that she learned to grow fond of while she traded and sold goods back and forth between Kuva and Aviagard. She remembered always playing with the toys that her uncle bought before he could sell them back home. She remembered how his cooking back home always had a more robust and strong taste than when he cooked elsewhere. And then she remembered her uncle being beaten half to death by the ones who kidnapped her. How they let him lie on the dirt bleeding and broken. She remembered that even though his face was bloodied he looked towards her as she was carried off, and that with his broken arm he reached for her. Her uncle, who had cared for her from birth till she was eleven was here right in front of her.

"Demoness!" He yelled out. "Stay away from me!" He struggled as he tried to keep Svetra's arms off of him, but she was far stronger than he was.

"Uncle! It is me," cried Svetra. " Your only niece! Your bratka!" With those words the man stopped his struggling. He paused for a brief moment. He looked into Svetra's eyes. Those bold light green eyes. He saw it, that she, in fact, was his niece. His brother's daughter. It had been five years since he last saw her, and he thought she was dead this whole time. Or worse.

"M-m-my b-bratka?" He started to cry. "Look at you. You look just like your mother, except for the hair. You have your father's hair." He smiled wide and without shame. He was missing many teeth, and was usually reserved about it.

A boom came from the north of the town. The two finally remembered what was happening. Svetra's eyes widen. She grabbed her uncle flung him over her shoulder. As she turned around to start running back she saw Nano running at her preparing to throw the halberd he had made for her. He took one last step and hurled the halberd as though it were a spear.

Svetra smiled, she knew what to do in that split moment. As she ran towards the group the halberd came closer and closer to colliding with her. As the halberd was just feet away from her she side stepped and grabbed the halberd as it attempted to fly by her. The halberd tugged hard as she stopped its course. Once she got the halberd she ran to the nearest building and placed her uncle inside.

"Stay here, Uncle. You'll be safe here. Trust in me."

"I will, my bratka." With those words she sprinted back to her group.

"You could have died doing that!" Yelled Rhet.

"But did I?" She retorted.

"Quiet, I think she's here for reals now." Jasper had an arrow nocked and pulled back ready to fire off.

A black smoke creeped around the corner ever so slowly, but it was no ordinary smoke. This smoke was inky, heavy, and full of malice.

"I don't like this." Said Jasper

"Are you gonna run away?" Taunted Svetra.

"As if, I didn't run away from the shade. I won't runaway now."

"Good." Came a voice from behind them. "This should be plenty of fun."

As they turned around to face their enemy the sky blackened and the sun was only a dim light in the sky. The Prodigies all saw a woman dressed in a loose baggy black dress and hooded cloak. Her skin was pale beyond compare, her lips redder than a rose, eyes a bright gold, and nails a deep incomprehensible black. As she pulled off her cloak they could see that her hair was wet with what could only be blood.

"Let's play for a while, loves." She said as her clothing sunk away from existence. "But please know, I'm a little stingy when it comes to who enjoys what."

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