Crater Creator

10. Wretched Powers Return

Just when I thought he was going to lock me in the room, the clanking of metal was heard outside the door. The door flew open and in came Nalak flying through the door. King Xan stood in the doorway wielding a dagger with blood dripping off it. He slammed the door shut, then had the clanking metal surround the outside of the door.

Nalak lay on the floor in tan tattered clothing, with rips and tears covering the back. Blood leaked from the tears; it appears that he was tortured. I heave Nalak onto the bed where he lets out a large shriek of pain and agony. A larger amount of blood was coming from his stomach region; I tear off his "shirt" and throw it besides the bed. In horror, I see a hole where a dagger had plunged through. I could not tell how deep it was or if it could be patched.

Nalak tried to speak but coughed up some blood instead. "Chris those bloody Elves did this to me! Get me out of this bed, I'll show those Elves what for." He began intensely coughing, and swelling at the eyes and throat. "I guess that's not the option right now. I can see you are all patched up and healed. When I awoke I was not patched up, instead, I was chained to a wall and was convicted for attempted trespassing. They... they tortured me. They came at me with whips, swords, and their cruel magic. They asked me about my mission and/or quest. Asking why I was not in my homeland and where I was. I told nothing of the sorts." I began tearing up, but I tried to fight it, it was the same face as when he found his brother. "Oh look at your face, are you crying? I thought you to be a fighter and a survivor. Do not about me; I have had worse in my youth. When I was a lad, I would break my arm when I got bored. Heh, all those times when me Da holler at me saying, 'You keep doing that your arm will never fully recover, and you'll have noodles for arms. I know the girls always pity you and the people find you to be the toughest and meanest Dwarf in the city. Don't let that go to your head; otherwise, you will get yourself hurt beyond repair.' Yeah, Da, you were right indeed I have gone and messed myself up again." " Wait it'll be ok I can patch you up, and you'll be ripe enough to put those Elves in their place," I said trying to cover the wounds. "Ow, please don't try to help, just let it happen. I am done, my time is up, and I can already see Caelum is waiting for me. Caelum is the Dwarven version of what you call heaven, the grand fortress in the sky, with all my fellow fallen Brothers and Sisters. The high king Herzad and Jervaid await me, farewell Christopher Drinkwater, son of the Gods of Peace and Nobility. May no Man, Orc, Elf, or any other form of danger try to strike or slow you down, for you are a light in this dark, cruel land. Prevent Gimrak with all your power, stop him from destroying all that is pure and beautiful. Goodbye friend, I hope to see you by my side when you fall." Then he dropped his lifeless hand down to his side, and let out his final breath.

Tears rushed out my eyes as I clenched onto my fallen friend, and violently screaming, "No you can't die, you're not supposed to die. Nalak, you had better not leave me, you and I were to stop the prince. I get it your just tired, so that means you will wake eventually, right. You're gone, aren't you?" There was a long pause, no noise was heard; not the sounds of crying or the Babbling Vegetation sarcastically chatting away, not even the clanking sounds of Elven metal leggings.

With my back to the door, I heard a soft creak come from behind me. I drastically turn right round, the fist has held high ready to strike, only to find not a guard, knight, nor King, but an Elven woman. She bore a long and lovely blue and green nightgown with rose-colored slippers. Her hair was a tawny, fiery, copper color. Her blue eyes sparkled, like the stars in the night. She has such full lips that match the color of a blooming Lotus. All attached to a body that could seduce a God, and wake the dead.

"Come here Chris, I know you like what you see. Come and touch me, you can't deny what a beauty I am."

I could care less about some busty wrench. As I look back at Nalak, I felt a surge run through my body like lightning. I cocked my head back at the desire demon, finding her approaching me closer and closer while doing so she reached for me. My muscles enlarged, I became ten feet taller, and my mid-level pitched voice dropped ten octaves. The Pure Elf changed into a Tainted Elf and fled the scene. A howl flew from my snout-like mouth/nose like a wolf, it echoed throughout the room. The Babbling Vegetation yowled, "It's a WEREWOLF!" Guard has filled the room, sword's a-flying ready to strike.

"You wretched Elves will pay for the blood you've spilled today. Prepare to feel the wrath of Azul!" With several fell swoops, they all were thrown left and right. Strangely, they did not seem to try to get up, even though they cannot die. I did not focus on that, I was strictly fighting the standing ones first. The door was slammed shut, but it did not bother me. I bum-rushed that door breaking it in one go. The Pure Elves in shock that their fellow Elves had died in such gruesome ways, they fled away screaming their tiny heads off. "I'll murder all of you coward's, for no one can challenge a mighty Gnome", I howled at the fleeing soldiers. The Guise did not even seem to move. Maybe they were scared or confused.

Xan is trying to sneak up behind me, but I can smell him. "You think that I'm stupid, Xan? I'm a bloody werewolf," I turned around and skewered him with my claws, "You can't sneaking up on no one!" My wolf eyes could see the Tainted Elf was disguised as the King. "You, your kind killed my Dwarven brother, not the Pure Elves, but the putrid Tainted Elves. You best explain yourself, now!" It began with a horse and crumbly voice, *Cough, cough*, "Our noble Dwarf, the one you know as Gimrak, is marching on the Dwarves scared and precious little Dwarven Mountain. He will take the Crater Creator to the Dwarven Mountain, and release our new profound army onto this world. There is no mercy with the Tainted Elves, as we were not shown mercy. Flee while you can, flee peasant!" The wicked Elf stopped his ranting and evaporated into a black cloud. The same happened to the guards in my previous room.

So if these are the Tainted Elves, where are the pure Elves? My anger was replaced with a flabbergasted feeling. I hope that I can forget that horrific memory. I changed back to my Gnome form, picked up an elvish sword, and searched the city, in search of the Pure Elves and a way to revive my companion. The Guise became visible and followed with me, relieving that there are Tainted Elves to be dealt with.