Of Blood and Loss

I. The Bastard and The Hero

Morgan was jerked awake by a scream. The shriek ached his bones and filled his body with fear. His entire body ached, he could barely even cough. He had little to no strength.

The sickening taste of the Sea filled his nose and mouth, as it lapped gently against the boy's feet. He tried to open his eyes but it just burned, it was the dead of night. He forced himself up to a seated position, his joints ached as if it had been centuries since they moved. Morgan spat out the sand that lies in his mouth and cleared his nose of any remaining seawater. His fairly long lavender hair drooped sadly over his face, greasy and unkempt. Morgan found the strength to open his eyes, and then wished he never did.

Two distant white orbs glow in the distant ocean. There was an island, a few miles of land. It was about the size of the city that housed it, there was meant to be a good sized stone wall surrounding the city but he could only find rubble. The inside cottages, towers, arenas, they were all smouldering. The city was now just a plume of smoke, and from within lies a beast. The small fires from the still burning town lit up its body. Morgan couldn't see too much, but he could see how hulking its arms and bodies were, how it was at least twice the size of the castle that once stood tall in the city. Its muscles were as tough as stone, it hulked over the remains of some arena. Morgan's home. Its beastly, contorted horns pointed toward the Heavens. He was beginning to remember. Akrasia, his one and only home. The indestructible city was now embers, glowing under the power of some beast. It sickened Morgan, he only hoped some had made it out.

Morgan just about had the strength to force himself up, his eyes were adjusting to the dark. His simple purple tunic was damp, a lot of the patterns and runes he had marked had eroded from the sea, his black leggings too had several cuts and holes. He didn't remember how he even survived, but he could feel the damage. His azure eyes investigated the beach ahead and sure enough, a few boats were moored up. Maybe his luck was beginning to turn. Morgan staggered forward, he knew the coastline well. He knew there was a city ahead, and maybe he could get answers there. He began to walk, his steps spurred him on. He wouldn't listen to the sounds of the crackling flames, the way the beast would sometimes growl. He wouldn't think of the way the flames from the island would follow the sea breeze and gently grace his face, in some mocking warmth. He'd just listen to himself. His heartbeat.

It was about then when he heard another pair of steps. His footstep beat was being followed by a duet. He paused and sure enough, the footsteps continued a short while before it stopped too. Morgan took a deep breath before turning. "Can I help you?" The man growled, exhausted as it is. His voice was slightly Nordic, but it didn't seem too deep.

The thing was cloaked in some brown, awfully uncomfortable looking cloth. It draped over his head and body. It wasn't until the beast that destroyed Akrasia let out a howl, and a plume of fire illuminated the things face until Morgan saw what he should've expected. The fire revealed a skull, no flesh, no skin, no muscle. Pure bone. In the sockets of its eyes lied a small emerald glow, this same glow dimly lit up the thing's sword, a rusted broadsword that snaps off halfway.

Morgan didn't have a chance to study the thing too long before it let out a cacophony of clicks and groans. Its mouth didn't move, it was the way its limbs did. The thing didn't move its leg forward, the leg would drift forward, and the joints would force twitches and spasms as if the bone was never meant to move. It would click as if caught on something until Morgan finally realised what was happening. Morgan leapt to the side as the thing launched itself at him. It went for another swing but Morgan. Morgan got a whiff of the smell that accompanies the thing, a terrible rot. Morgan had neither dagger nor armour to protect himself, so he had to use the only weapon he really knew how to use.

Just before it swung again, Morgan threw out one of his fists into its Jaw. The Jaw clicked just like the bones did. The decrepit being lifted its sword high about to swing down, but Morgan swung a leg into the side of its shins and brought it down to one knee. Morgan slammed his foot again into its head, but as he tried again the thing grabbed his leg. It's cold long fingers pinched at his skin, but Morgan just kicked the other direction, forcing the arm to let go. Morgan hopped back and brought up his foot, trying to stomp the skull. The beast moved unnaturally fast, bringing up its sword against Morgan's bare foot. The pain seared but he kept pushing through until its hand gave up and Morgan pushed down just next to its head. Morgan kicked the head again just to be met with it swinging again. Morgan growled as he let back, and the thing twitched and discordantly forced its body up. Without the restrictions of muscles or skin, it forced its legs the wrong way in order to get up, even standing up was like it fought for its life. Morgan wiped his head, his legs ached and he didn't know how much more he could take. The thing braced for Morgan, so Morgan let out a sigh.