The Soul Keeper

It was weird, packing my things and leaving. Though it wasn't like I had many things to begin with – just a few extra clothes Fetheion had given me, and a sword.

It took me a while to adjust to being alone after spending two months with him. It was weird, but freeing. I had missed being alone in the wilderness. 

I didn't fly, I wanted to walk. Not because flying was tiring, but because this part of these woods was beautiful. Despite not hiding my presence at all, I could see wildlife everywhere. Large butterflies approached me, sometimes even used me as a resting place before moving on. 

It was oddly calming – it made me feel like I belonged here. Nothing seemed to fear me, but not because I lacked the power. It was almost as if they were used to me. Or, perhaps to my predecessor. 

As night approached and the sun began to set, I decided to make camp by the narrow, shallow creek. 

Wildlife seemed to be unbothered my me throughout the night as well – a few twin tailed fox-like creatures even came to sniff me. Come morning, I left the woods. As soon as I was out of that peaceful area surrounding Fetheion's little hideout, I spread my wings and took off. 

As the cool morning wind touched my face, I couldn't help but smile a little. I had missed this. Flight truly was the greatest freedom – especially now when I didn't have Aelith's little 'gift' with me. Back then, I had always felt the weight of the earring – almost as if she were always keeping an eye on me.

I beat my wings, flying faster and faster with a wide smile on my face.

Before I left, Fetheion had contacted Mona for me, asking her to bring Asher and Lucius to the place where I'd died.

Honestly, it wasn't the spot I'd prefer to meet with them, but I had to get rid of that divine pillar anyways. We might as well meet there too, or that was what Fetheion said. We would meet tomorrow – I had more than enough time to get there, yet I hurried, nonetheless.

It was dusk when the mostly ruined building entered my view. I could see the three golden lines of magic extending towards the sky. I clenched my fists as I slowed down, eventually coming to a halt. How was I going to destroy that?

I raised my hand, and a sword materialised in my hand. Would this really work?

It felt weird – holding the sword that had killed me. According to Fetheion, it had absorbed what power was left in my body. I wasn't sure of what exactly that meant. What I did know was that this was a well made sword. One that I could use with ease. 

I looked at it, carefully. 

Its black blade was thin and incredibly sharp. I could see some glyphs etched within the metal – an incantation that Fetheion added to the sword after he revived me. Something about drinking the blood of my foes, he said. 

The hilt of the sword was fancy, but not too fancy to get in my way. The leather wrapped around the part where I grasped the sword made it easy to hold and use and the pale crystals on the bottom and guard of the hilt radiated with magic, albeit faintly.

All in all, it was a beautiful sword. 

I glanced back at the Divine Pillar. Fetheion promised I'd be able to destroy it with my flames and this sword, but I still felt somewhat unsure. What if a Divine suddenly came? What would happen then? I didn't want to die – not again. It was painful enough and it had cost me too much time already.

I took a deep breath as the sun finally set. It was time – night was when the Divine Pillars were at their weakest, while demons were at their strongest. Demons, I thought as my wings carried me closer. Demons like me. Especially me, in fact, because of this body's ancient blood.

And now, I could feel it. As soon as the sun set and its bright rays of light disappeared, I could feel my power grow. By a lot.

Whatever fight I were to pick, I had to make sure I'd do it at night from now on. I had to take as much advantage of this as I could.

I slowed down once again as I arrived at the building. I landed and slowly stepped through its entrance.

My eyes wide, I simply looked at the scene before my eyes. The large, circular room was utterly destroyed. There was not a single intact stone tile on the ground, not a single spot not covered in dirt or debris or…

The centre of the room caught my attention as I stepped inside. On the ground, that same sigil glowed as before. The symbol that Alina pushed me into. The symbol that brought about my doom.

Three rays of golden light shone from it, stretching all the way to the sky. The Divine Pillar.

I approached it. Each step was more difficult than the last. I could see the dried blood inside the symbol. My blood. 

I stopped, perhaps an arm's length away from it. That was a lot of blood. I remembered the pain, then the cold, empty nothingness. I didn't want to go through that ever again. Death was terrifying – more so than I always believed it to be.

I clenched my fist and tightened my grasp around the hilt of my sword. "Here goes nothing," I whispered. I really hoped Fetheion was right about this.

I stepped towards the first light, held my sword high and thrust it to the ground, right where the light originated from. As soon as my hands entered the light, pain spread throughout my body. I could feel it burning my skin off. 

"Come… on…" I whispered as I released my magic. Purple flames danced on my skin as I poured whatever power I had into my word. 

For a moment, it looked as if nothing would happen. Then, I heard a faint crack. The light disappeared, along with the pain. I stumbled back, letting go of the hilt of my sword. 

"Damn that hurts," I mumbled to myself as souls circled me, healing the burnt skin on my hands. The light hurt more than I expected it to – more than Fetheion expected to as well, I think. Once the pain disappeared, I grasped the hilt of my sword, still thrust into the ground, and pulled it out. Twice more, that was all I had to do.

I tightened my grasp around the hilt, raised my hands and thrust the sword into the ground. A second, satisfying crack sounded. The pillar of light flickered, then faded, along with the pain as the souls circled me once more. I quickly removed the sword from the ground and stepped towards the third light.

I could already imagine the disappointment and anger in the Divine's face. She and Alina must have worked hard to create a divine pillar here. And I was destroying all of their hard work. The satisfaction of that alone was enough to make up for all the pain the light caused me.

I raised my sword, ready to thrust it into the third and final pillar of light. With this, the Divine Pillar would be destroyed. With this, I'd have my first victory over The Divine, the Ereth and most importantly, Alina and Joshua.

Yet, before I could thrust my sword into the ground, the golden light pulsed with power. A familiar mark appeared on the ground, not too far away from me. I leapt back as I two Ereth appeared in a flash of light. 

An awkward silence followed their appearance as all of us tried to get our thoughts in order. I only hesitated for a split second, then extended my hand and released my flames.

One of them died before he could even make a sound as my sword found his throat. The other one had just enough time to swing his spear at me, but I was quick to parry his sloppy, panicked strike. He stumbled backwards, his eyes wide.

"Keeper?" He asked, drawing a sharp breath. "You're alive? Your memories have returned?" His face twisted with terror. My flames, dyeing the room purple, creeped towards him. "How can you be alive?" He shrieked as he raised his hand. I felt the Divine Pillar's magic resonate with him. 

I dashed towards him as he raised his spear in a futile attempt to stop me. I easily pushed it aside and thrust my sword into his chest. He died immediately – I had chosen to grant him as quick and painless of a death as I could.

I stepped back as his body fell on the ground with a thud. I didn't have time to think – more Ereth could come at any second now. I quickly approached the final pillar of light and raised my sword high. I thrust it into the ground with all my strength and heard that satisfying crack.

The golden light flickered almost as if it were trying to latch on to something, then faded. I felt the oddly suffocating air dissipate. 

A flash of light nearly caught me off guard as I heard footsteps behind me. 

"What have you done, Demon!" A voice I knew all too well sounded as I heard the crackle of lightning.