by Alexis Rojas
Coming out of the shadows, the Lamia slid to me with her claws raised. Sniffing the air one more time, she gave one final roar, “If my children didn’t live to see the world, then none will!”
She jumped and clawed her way to me. I tried to deflect every slash, but she got more angry and relentless with each swipe. I had to finish it soon, or I’d become shredded meat at the end. I leapt forward and stabbed her deep in the belly. She screamed and squirmed so violently, I lost grip of the handle. I thought it was going to be enough the end it, but she didn’t fall. She kept her balance, raising her head and hissing hard.
With no sword or shield, I unsheathed my dagger. I waved it to keep her at bay, but my hope for success turned sour. Before realizing it, she pinned me against a tree with her mighty palm. She took the dagger and threw it away. Her hand flattened my chest and the long claws sank into the skin of my throat. I grunted as the tips drew the first drips blood.
“You shall die, hunter!” she bellowed.
It was then that Richard came to my rescue. He jumped off from one of the trees, yelling his heart out and wielding a frying pan. The Lamia let me go out of surprise, and before she could react, Richard bashed her on the top of the head. He landed wobbly and stumbled into the shrubs. The Lamia lost her senses for a second, which gave me all the time I needed for the kill. I ran to her dazed body and ripped my sword from her belly. The pain returned her focus, but not in time to prevent her demise. I stretched the sword back and with all the strength I had left, I unleashed my fury.
The blade went from one side to the other, cutting the monster in half and separating human from animal. The cut snake tail shook uncontrollably on the ground, while the human part moaned. She crawled to me with agonizing pain, stomping her claws on the soil. The effort became slow and futile until she finally moved no more. I let myself drop down against the tree and gazed at the lifeless body.
Richard emerged from the bushes and looked at the Lamia in disbelief, “I-It’s dead! You did it, it’s over at last!”
I stared at him, and then glanced at the frying pan lying on the ground, “A frying pan? Really?”
“Hey, it worked! Saved you, didn’t it?”
I laughed and enjoyed the victory. For now, the forest would be a safer place for the children to live in.
When we returned to the cottage and gave the good news to the children, all of them jumped and cheered. They went out of their home, played, ran and wandered without any worries or fears. It was night already, but with the Lamia taken care of, they were finally free of her terror.
#
The next morning, I was in the living room gathering my belongings, preparing to leave. Luc brought me my sword and shield; one at a time since carrying both was too heavy for him. Everyone else was out of the house. Then, Richard came in from the yard.
“They’re so happy,” he said with a smile, “No more worrying about that stupid monster.”
When he saw me with all my gear, he asked, “Where will you go now, Erik?”
I walked over to the miniature of Balora on the table and pointed, “I have to go to the capital, so according to my map and your well-crafted model, I must pass through Flama.”
“To Flama? Well, I know a shortcut to get there. It’s the same one we took when we escaped the orphanage. You can go straight from here, through the northwest region of the forest,” he pointed a trail from the cottage to the town.
“The only downside is that the area is full of barbweed. You’ll get a few scrapes here and there, but it is definitely faster than the long and curvy forest route.”
“Thank you,” I replied. “This shortcut will get me back on track. Well, I must go.”
“Wait, take this,” said Richard, handing me the Book of Beasts.
“Why do you give it to me? What if something else comes along to cause trouble?”
“I’ve read most of it,” Richard answered, “and I think it’s better for you to have it. For a man like you traveling throughout the country, a book like this may come in handy. Plus, we have to reward you somehow.”
I accepted the book and placed it in my bag. Richard showed me to the door and called the children to come, “Everyone, Erik is leaving. Let’s say good bye.”
The kids gathered at the porch and waived, saying, “Good bye” “Have a good trip!”
Luc came to my side and hugged me by the waist.
“Thank you, Erik,” he said with a sob.
The others joined in with a group hug. I raised my arms as they flocked around me. Their love and gratitude made me think of my feelings toward Auria. I needed to find her; I needed to talk with her, laugh with her. To simply be with her.
“Children,” I said, “All of you have each other, and that is all you’ll ever need. Never let go of your love. Never.”
I gave them my farewell and took off, more determined than ever.
10- Choice
Fourth Memory
I traversed through the trail Richard told me about to get to the town of Flama. He wasn’t kidding when he said it was full of barbweed. Every thorn and tip of the tangling vine pricked through my clothes and scratched my skin. Sometimes my arm would get knotted with the barbs, and when I pulled free, my other arm would tangle. It was so aggravating.
While trying to keep a cool head in the difficult trail, a vine wrapped around my boot. I lost my balance and fell forward, scratching my face with a dangling weed ahead. The barbs cut into my cheek and drew blood. I cursed to the skies as I stood to my feet! I ripped the weed off the tree and threw it away. I was so angry, I started yelling and trashing my surroundings. It was so hopeless. The more I trashed and swung wildly, the more I hurt myself with the barbs. I stopped when the pain stung too much. I calmed down and kneeled on the ground. The sudden madness made me remember the last time I saw Auria. I was so angry. I was so stupid…
*
The day after Erik slew the Great Corvus, he went to the pond Auria told him about. An old shack was built there, made of small branches and twigs. It didn’t seem strong enough to withstand a storm, but that type of weather was unlikely in the Forest of Agony. Erik peered inside, but there was no one. He could only sit by the glowing water and wait.
After sitting quietly by the idle pond, Erik started to feel a soft breeze. Wind would only come from the north, but this one came from above. He looked up and saw Auria’s face right on top of him.
“Boo!” She startled him. He almost fell in the water. She laughed, floating in the air like if she were lying flat on it. She flapped her wings so gently that Erik didn’t hear them. They shone with a low green.
“You sneaky devil!” Erik fussed.
“Are you not a warrior? I thought you had to be alert at all times.”
She gracefully landed by his side and sat. Her wings folded together and laid behind her like a cape. She told him that even though he had been banished from the Heights, her people felt grateful for him slaying the Great Corvus. Erik didn’t know how the words “banished” and “grateful” could be in the same sentence, but he thought it was ok. As long as he could see Auria, it was fine.
Erik glanced at the old shack and asked Auria about it, “Do you know who built the shack by the pond?”
“Oh, that is the house of Bri.”
“House? That small thing?”
“It is cozy, but he only uses it for rest. He must be around here, watching us.”
“Watching us? You mean right now?” Erik turned and stared at the woods around them.
“Yes. He does not know of you yet, so he must be afraid.”
“But, is he a man like me, or a fairy like you? Or something else?”
“Maybe you can ask him all your questions when you meet him.”
After hours of conversations about their lifestyles and experiences, Auria could not stay any longer. She floated up to her home and Erik hiked back to the base.
From there on, Erik visited her every day for a week. He waited by the pond and
each time he brought her a gift. The first day he brought her flowers; the second day he gave her a small silver heart pendant; the third, he brought sweets. Auria loved each present, and appreciated Erik even more for it. But with each passing day, Erik ran out of ideas and the gifts got crappier and crappier. The last of them were a cheap bottle of wine, a plain ceramic tea cup with no designs whatsoever, a loaf of bread, and a dandelion. You could only find so much in an army base.
When Erik showed up with that last gift, the dandelion, he felt two words could describe his intentions… Complete Fail! If he had given these last gifts to an average woman, she would have bent him over and beat his rump with a spiked club. But, Auria wasn’t an average woman. She loved all the gifts. They were things that she had never seen before. And she specially liked the dandelion. It was a plant that didn’t grow in the forest. When Auria blew air on it, the airborne seeds puffed and drifted over the pond. Her smile bloomed as she saw them glide away. Her joy and happiness soothed Erik’s heart and wrapped it with a veil of tranquility.
“I have something for you,” said Auria. She reached for the side of her skirt and took out a small necklace. It was a wooden chip dangling with woven vine. The chip had a carving similar to the painting back at her house.
“Since you have given me so many gifts, I thought I should give you something in return. It is not as glamorous as your presents, though.”
“No, no, it’s great!” Erik stated with joy. He took it and put it around his neck. “It looks good. Thank you.”
All those visits, from their very first encounter to that moment, evoked a feeling that Erik thought was long gone. It was hard to believe, but at the same time it was happening. Erik was falling for her. He quickly grabbed her hand and knelt. She looked at him confused and turned pale.
“Auria, the past days have been marvelous. The conversations, the joy, the excitement has been more than what I’ve experienced my whole life. I just can’t resist anymore and I have to tell you.”
Auria remained still with her mouth half open. Erik was starting to break a sweat. In a shy manner, he spoke, “Auria, I think I love you”.
She smiled and looked at him like if he were a cute puppy, “Oh, I love you, too.”
“You do?” Erik blurted out surprised.
“Well, of course. Just like I feel love for my grandfather and Beam, and for my people. It is what makes us care for each other and gathers us as a community.”
Erik shook his head with a wry smile, “I don’t mean that kind of love. I mean the type that couples have, mates.”
That’s when she got it. Her wings changed rapidly to a stunning red. She raised her eyebrows so high, Erik thought they would pop out of her forehead. Auria withdrew her hand and stepped back.
“I have upset you, I’m sorry,” Erik apologized. He felt like a fool, shamed by her reaction. He now wished to have waited more time to reveal his feelings. But then, his intentions saw a ray of hope when Auria lifted her sight and spoke, “I also feel the same way.”
Erik’s heart and soul gave a loud hallelujah when she said that.
“All these visits you have given me,” she continued, “they have lifted my spirits. They have become something I expect to happen, something that I want to happen. The days would become boring and dull if not for you. And after you freed my people from the corvus, I do not see you like a curious stranger anymore. I see you as a strong and virile male. But…”
Why is there always a but, Erik thought.
“This that you propose cannot be.”
“Why not?” Erik approached her as she turned away.
“Erik, the company we have shared has been one of the best I have had, but it cannot be more than that.”
“I don’t understand. Have I not been trustful, compassionate, committed into seeing you? I just want to be with you.”
“I know, but I just cannot.”
“Yes, you can, Auria. We can simply—“
“We cannot!” she suddenly barked.
Erik got shocked by her outburst. “How come?”
“Because!”
“Because what!”
Her wings turned dark blue as she gave him a stern look, “Because I am from the vibrant skies, and you are just from the land below!”
Erik became speechless. He didn’t expect Auria to reject him like this; maybe with a sad goodbye, but never like this. Auria put her hands over her mouth, regretting her outburst.
“So, you’re saying I’m beneath you,” Erik glared at her. He turned and walked away.
“Erik, wait, I did not mean it that way,” she pleaded, but he ignored her. He heard how she dropped to her knees and started weeping, but still he continued. He paced through the trees and disappeared among their shadows…
*
My cheek stopped bleeding by the time I stopped thinking about my mistakes. I should have never told her I loved her. By just asking her to be with me, I made her choose between two worlds: her radiant Heights, or my land of war. I pushed her into a corner, and her reaction was one I deserved. We were just too different.
I stood from the ground and continued my way through the barbweed trail. This time, when a thorn punctured my skin, I endured its sting and carried on. It was an affliction I had earned.
11- Good Times
Thanks to Richard’s short-cut, I passed through the forest faster than I thought. Even though I had more scrapes than a cutting board. I followed the road to the northwest when I accidently stepped on a broken sign. It read “Town of Flama”. I continued and encountered what seemed to be a ghost town. The first building I passed by was crumbling. It had a high arched iron gate that read “Orphanage”. From the arch, the wind swayed the body of a hanged man. It reeked as if it had been there for days. On his shirt was another sign,
“Hanged for being a prick. –The Townsfolk”.
This could be the orphanage caretaker Richard told me about. It seemed the people of this town enforced justice in their own way. I had to be careful here.
I passed the orphanage and went into the colorless and ghastly town. Everything about this place was ruined. Lack had taken over and anguish filled the air. I walked slowly as I entered its misery. The ground was decorated with faded tiles and broken bricks. I had to watch where I stepped to not bend my ankle. The houses were in such pitiful conditions, living on the street would be no difference. And the shops didn’t have much of an inventory to make a satisfying buy.
A man pulling a small cart passed beside me. I stopped him and asked, “Sir, excuse me. Sorry for asking, but has this town always been like this?”
The man looked at me in disbelief. He eyed me from top to bottom and noticed I wasn’t from the area, “Where are you from, stranger?”
When he asked that, I had an instant flashback of what happened in Vieris. But this time it was a villager asking me. I hoped I didn’t raise any suspicion.
“Uh, Borleng,” I replied.
“Oh, you come from the northeast. It must’ve been quite a travel!”
“Yeah, it was!” The bluff had worked!
He placed the cart down and whispered closely, “Don’t let the soldiers know I spoke to you of this, but it’s their fault the town is in this bleak state.”
That little bit of info made me raise my eyebrow.
“Flama used to be so beautiful,” he said full of melancholy, “Murals on every wall, gardens in front of the houses, businesses on the streets, and fruitful fields all over. But then, the Royal Army came. They took over because of the war. They took each and every resource the town had to sustain the army. And now, this is what’s left.
“I guess it was the taxes,” he exhaled feebly, “We always paid them in full, so they came to take from our prosperity.”
“Wait,” I interrupted him, “By ‘take’ you mean they are taking now? This town is occupied by soldiers?”
Without giving me any answer, he lifted his cart and continued down the road. I took his indifference as
a yes. I cautiously continued down the road when I saw a group of balorian soldiers on the next street. I hugged the wall and hid behind an empty barrel. I just couldn’t believe my damn luck! Why couldn’t I catch a break? I had just dealt with a monster, and now I was in the center of a town controlled by the army. I tried to rub the frustration off my face.
The soldiers were yelling a lot. I peeked to see what their commotion was about. There were about six or seven of them making a circle, and they were bullying someone in the middle. When they finally had their fill of enmity, they shoved the person to the ground and left, taking their shouts and laughter with them. I took pity on the guy. But when I had a second look at him, I recognized his clothing; a blue robe with bird decorations all around. It was Yang, the orient man I met in Vieris! When I hurried to him, he was unconscious. I pulled him by the arms and dragged him to the nearest alley. The soldiers had given him a pretty good beating. He had a black eye, a bruised cheek, and footprints all over his robes. He didn’t respond when I called to him, so I slapped him. It worked.
“Ah, stop hitting. I did no wrong.”
“Yang, wake up. It’s me, Erik!” He opened his slanted eyes little by little as he recognized my face.
“Ah, Erik. You are here.”
“Don’t you worry, the soldiers left. Come on, try to get up.” He couldn’t balance himself. I held him by the shoulders and helped him walk. He told me that he simply asked the soldiers why the place seemed so abandoned and badly maintained. It was a question similar to the one I asked the villager, but I guess he asked the wrong people. Out of the alley I saw the town’s pub, called “The Mead Pit”. Like the other buildings, it looked rundown, but it had more flow of business.
I wanted to take Yang to a doctor, but I didn’t want to come across the soldiers and get in trouble again. I thought maybe a good drink would help him sooth the pain away. Hearing soldiers marching to our direction, I hurried Yang into the pub.