Born Anew

Born Anew III

Ever felt like you fight for nothing? Like your path has become an endless battle despite your own desire for rest? Like you made the wrong choice? Well. That was how I knew he felt like when we met him. He would never tell us, but I knew it.

Following rumors in Mistbloom, we headed to the Red City of Algadha, a distant land to the East of Moss Castle. The place was a legend, with no proof of its existence. But there, it was rumored, we would find an entrance to the Spirit Realm, and from there a way to find a deity who would help us solve my predicament. My friends were eager to help me, even though I preferred to take my time and avoid the painful farewell.

Due to Lowri's preference for comfortable locations, we avoided shorter but harsher paths on our way to the supposed location of the Red City, but we could not avoid the less than orderly road we were set on at that moment. Miss Belanova complained constantly of the lack of commodities, yet still traveled with us. Her discomfort simply exaggerated because that was the way she was. We were already used to her dramatic behavior. As such we grew complacent on her complaints and generally assumed it was not big deal. Which led to the predicament which changed it all.

"That smell! I can't take it!" She complained while we ignored it, probably because our noses were not as sensitive. "Disgusting! Like sweat and rotten blood! What kind of animal would smell like that!"

"Calm down, Lowri. It is probably all in your head." Kraid responded while practicing spell signs.

"No! This is not normal! It has been around since we entered this forest road! And it gets stronger! It's following us!"

"Maybe it's you." I joked trying to calm her.

"I should leave you and go back to Moss Castle!"

"You would be missed, but we will be fine." Kraid replied without much surprise.

"You just said that because we all know she won't leave. We know you love us, Lowri, but I don't do the whole love triangle thing." I chuckled hoping my statement on her feelings was false.

"Your sense of humor gets worse every day. At least you are respectful when it is not words." She smiled despite the disgusting smell in her nose.

"We just treat you as one of the guys."

"Like a very girly boy who won't stop complaining. Good thing your blood magic and that dagger save us the pain of dealing with most nuisances." My demonic friend grinned. "Bet those brigands didn't expect you to kill them all with a single shot."

We all laughed, and as soon as our laughter grew dim the smell Lowri complained of became evident to all. The stench was something unfamiliar to us, but we knew there was something wrong. The rotten smell was followed by a horrible breathing and footsteps. It was a humanoid gait. Kraid's face changed as he began to realize what was going on.

"Ogre!" Kraid yelled, he was not sure of his statement, but he based his assumption on his extensive theoretical knowledge.

Thanks to Kraid's warning, and following the sound of footsteps we managed to dodge the monster's brutal charge, foiling his ambush. Before us was a large and muscular green man holding a weapon which looked like a sharpened metal plate, or maybe a sharp rock.

"Why would you do that? You, filthy brute!" Belanova yelled in anger.

"Just a hundred more." The horned hulk whispered. "A hundred more to find them!" He charged again. The braid on his shaved head flowing like a tail.

Kraid used a sign and released a violet blast which impacted the titan's side. Seizing the opportunity I placed my blade on his neck, ready to end him if needed.

"What are you up to? Why attacking us?" I asked.

"I must kill a thousand men. You wouldn't understand a promise of honor!" He shouted and punched my face. I was fortunate it was just a glancing blow. I was becoming better at dodging hits and taking them, even though my sword fighting skills had not changed much since I met Kraid.

Lowry charged at him and released blood tendrils from her fingers. The tendrils pierced through his chest and wrapped his heart. The ogre realized he was done for good and knelt, leaving his weapon next to him and placing his hands on his leather pants.

"I won't kill you, because there is honor under your stench covered flesh. I can feel it in your heart. But you must explain your motives. We could help you." She asked, tugging at the man's heart, quite literally.

"I... I made a promise. My tribe never breaks promises!" He responded. "How could you understand! You have no honor!"

"We do!" Belanova tugged again. "If we did not, we would not seek to know your motivation."

"I must kill a thousand men to meet the gods of death. I need a hundred more." He punched the ground, and it cracked under his fist. "Once they come, I will make them help me!"

"So, you try to get their attention to bully them into doing something? There is probably a better way." Kraid spoke.

"Gods don't help us unless we make them do so! I must do this! I promised my wife I would do it!"

I understood how he felt. His act was out of love and honor. As a sign of trust I handed him my sword. "I won't get in your way. But only if you feel it is worth the injustice, kill me. If you hesitate we are willing to listen and help you."

"I don't like killing innocents. I admit that. But I promised my wife I would bring her sister back from the grave. In exchange she would accept her as a concubine."

"I would not expect more from an ogre. He just wants a concubine for his house." Lowri responded displeased.

"Hold on, Lowri! I don't agree with his ways, but I don't think he is doing this only for that."

"We both loved her so much. My wife wanted her to be part of my house. But she was killed by vile elves! I swore I would make the gods bring her back! But the only way is by killing a thousand men."

"That is not entirely true." Kraid stated. "We are looking for a way into the spirit world. We could probably help you. And even if we didn't, you could fulfill your quota without killing more innocents. If you join us, we will help you in any way we could."

"You will? But there is so little time! If she spends three years among the dead, not even the gods will bring her back!"

"I assume this would be the second year." Lowry responded.

"One year and a season since her death. I only have a year and three seasons left! And I am so close!"

"But the path of brutality left in your wake will weigh too much for your wife and her sister. You might even lose both forever. You can't fulfill your promise that way!" Kraid explained. "Join us, fight for us, and we will help you. We plan to face the gods themselves, we will help you save her!"

"I... It is decided then. I, Rhuk Hammerfist, will join you. But keep in mind if we fail I will make sure you regret it!"

"We won't fail you. But I have one single condition to let you join my team." Lowri went to assume leadership as she always did when she sought to negotiate something on our way. "You will become my bloodbound until the journey ends. And you are not allowed to abandon us.

"Whatever it takes to save her. I can't complain if you test my honor in such fashion. I have one single request to seal the deal... Could you let my heart go? It belongs to my wife already."

"Oh. Sorry!" Lowri retracted her blood tendrils back into her hands.

"I will serve you, and you will pay in kind." The ogre stood, tall and honorable. He was now one of our most trusted allies. And he became a close friend to me, despite Lowri's complaints. As time passed I realized I had a family in this unfamiliar world.