A Warrior through and through

Like a brother...

"It all began about a year before the war. The spirits present in the deadlands were becoming more active and violent to the living. They were growing in power too as if they were feeding off of something. An expedition was called for, and the king gave funds to the University. The chancellors said they will gather the needed people and resources. As usual, the funds did not go to the expedition at all. That year, the chancellors travelled to Genevieve twice.

"The war broke out and the expedition was forgotten. The king was moving all his funds to the war, and the chancellors were asking for more and more money to 'properly equip the war mages'. I had forgotten about the deadlands too, that is until Marin came-"

"Marin is alive?" I asked, interrupting her monologue. She smiled sadly and shook her head.

"Not anymore. I am sorry, but when I found him his mind was half broken. He half the time I was with him, he never spoke. He was wide-eyed practically all the time. Twice, he tried to kill himself. I had no choice other than to enter his mind.

"It was much worse than I thought. He had spent over four months in the deadlands. His experiences were incomplete as if his mind was purposefully deleting all memories of what he had seen, heard, or felt there. The only complete memory of the deadlands he had was of... Tor.

"The memory was purposefully branded in him because it played on a loop over and over. In that memory, Tor said only one thing,"

"Let me guess, he wants my head," I say, sighing loudly. Clementine nods.

"But how did my wife get herself into this mess?" I ask.

"It was I who told her. When word got out that the legendary explorer was alive, she came to visit him just after I saw his memories. I had no idea that she was your wife, Walter.  But since she was a revered officer in the army, I told her what I knew so that she could help me warn the council of magick. When I told her what Marin's memories show she got very alarmed. She told me there was no need to alert the council. We started preparations right away.

"She told me that she was married to you. We had assembled a group of twenty men and women who could be trusted, both mages and warriors alike. For them to leave the battlefront without raising suspicion, they faked their deaths. 

"She sent her raven with a letter which partially explained the situation hoping you would not worry. We believed that we would be back in a few months. But little did we know how much  Tor's presence changed the deadlands. That's why I am here.

"Walter, in the deadlands, only two months have passed. She sent the raven when we passed through the gate of fog. But due to the massive changes and your lack of appearance, It was clear that the letter did not get to you. But there was no time to do anything about that. The spirits of the land have turned malevolent, except the few who can resist Tor's sway. There has not been a day they have not attacked. we have lost five warriors and one mage. It was clear that only you can stop him. So she sent me to get you."

The warm morning sun seemed to grow colder as she talked. My concern grew the more she spoke. If Tor was back, why had I not felt it?  Did he somehow manage to break the connection between us? And how did he escape death?

No matter, I will kill him, this time for good. But to do so, I need my scythe.

Perhaps there was still a use for the reaper.

Authors note

I appreciate you for reading this far! this chapter was a tough one to write for me, for I am not so good at writing conversations.

If you have any suggestions or opinions, please tell me in the comments to help me grow!

Good day to you all :)