The Eclipse Mark

Chapter 13

Warning: There will be death and blood in this chapter.

"So what was the deal with those guys?"

"The raiders? I guess you guys don't deal with that then."

"Not really, I'll be honest..." I sneaked a look at Chelsy and Thanatos. I wouldn't know if there were raiders in the light kingdom, not really. Their expressions told me all the same though, this was a nature problem.

"I mean, there's not much to tell. Lucifer burnt the forests and we suffered heavy blows. During the chaos, groups like them popped up. Some are offshoots of Lucifer's Army, some are just... bad people."

"Lucifer's army? That doesn't exist anymore... right?" The two of them looked at me, as if I knew. I quietly kick them under the table in annoyance.

"Trust me, they exist. And they suck." Dani sighs. "I don't really like fighting, I'll be honest. You could call me a pacifist of sorts."

"You didn't look like a pacifist out there." Chelsy nudges him.

"Ha ha, very funny. Well they were attacking the village! I don't like fighting but sometimes people attack you. Sometimes you have to fight."

"Isn't that literally the opposite of a pacifist?"

"I'm kinda the guardian of the village, I have to protect this place. Besides it's not like I'm murdering anyone, yeesh. I don't think I could murder someone consciously, not unless they were like Lucifer."

There was a short silence.

"Uh, yeah. Soooooo you don't like fighting but will when necessary. You also refuse to kill."

"Yeah, but I feel like most people stick by that rule. Well, most." We all look at Chelsy

"Frankly, that's rude. I haven't killed anyone... yet. Not that I would. Maybe. Where am I going with this?"

"Let's keep an eye on Chelsy in the future." We all laugh, although she lightly slaps me on the arm.

"Ow!"

"Oh please, that barely hurt." She rolls her eyes, and I slap her back. She start going back and forth like this for a while, with Dani and Thanatos joining in.

"Okay, that one actually hurt!" Dani slaps my hand.

"Yeah, yeah. Sorry." I give him a grin, but I see the expression of both Chelsy and Dani change.

"What is it?"

"Nothing good..." Both of their expressions change again, but this time to panic. "THANATOS, TELEPORT US OUT NOW!" He obeys Chelsy almost immediately without saying a word. Dani tries to make a run for the door, but Chelsy tackles him and grabs Thanatos's hand.

I think I smelled the smoke first. It was familiar, the old councilors always smoked, but this time it was frightening. My hair started to flash red as the fire consumed.

"Let me go! I have to save them, get off of me!" Dani was squirming under Chelsy, as she tried to hold him down.

"You'll die in the process!"

"I have to help them!" A vine crashes into Chelsy and she goes flying into a tree. I ran after Dani as Thanatos goes to help Chelsy.

"Dani, wait!" I grab his arm, but he surges forward anyways. "You'll die!"

"They're dying right now! I have to help them!"

"What good will it do if you die along with them? You have to live for their sakes, don't ever let their memory die!" Dani's body relaxes before he drops down to his knees. Sobs racked his body as we look on in horror.

A river of blood ran through the streets. Luckily, there were a few bodies, but luckily it wasn't of everyone. All mages return back to their element after all.

~~~

A strong breeze blew through the village as Chelsy tried to help where she could. With all the fire, she had more energy than she would've.

She felt guilty for not helping sooner, but I assured her that there wasn't much she could've done. This was organized, they knew what they were doing.

Leaves got carried away in the wind, almost circling around Dani. He wasn't saying a lot, he was just silent.

"Hey... we found something." I sat down next to him.

He mumbled incoherently, so I just put it down in front of him.

"It was in your house. Thought you might like to see it." His eyes slightly soften as he picks it up.

"It was my grandfather's staff on my mom's side. She said she would give it to me when I was older." He twirled it around in his hand, it seemed made for him.

"It's well made, the enchanters at the castle would probably so say as well."

"Castle?"

"Princess Luna Eclipse of Prebia at your service." I bow jokingly.

"You have got to be kidding me."

"Nope. I probably should've told you sooner. I should probably tell you a lot."

"You're a princess, what else do you have to hide?"

"You'd be surprised." We both laugh lightly.

"Well then, surprise me."

"I'm the granddaughter of Lucifer. I have all the elements and branches." I blurt it out before I really thought about it. There was silence for a brief second.

"You ever thought of mass murder?"

"No, not particularly."

"Genocide?"

"Nope."

"Control over the world?"

"That sounds terrifying."

"Then I guess you're not so bad." He gives me a light smile. "But what are you doing so far from home?"

"A runaway princess. Not so common." I sigh. "I wanna have some freedom for a little bit. Don't know when I'm going back, but I'm stuck with those two for a while."

"That's nice." There was another brief silence.

"Wanna come with us?"

"Not like I have anywhere else to be." I help him up and we walk back to the others.

The breeze ruffled his hair as we went.