The Soul Keeper

I didn't have to look around at all to find the person who threw the spear.

Five Ereth soldiers landed before me. Each of them, wearing their white armour, carrying their silvery weapons. Just that sight would have been enough to strike fear to any untrained person.

As for me, all I saw was cocky weaklings.

"Keeper," One of them spoke as she unsheathed her sword. She was the only one without a spear – so it was her who tried to kill me. "So Luhen was a traitor," She sneered at the old Ereth, laying unconscious on the ground. "And so are you."

"Sure," I said purple flames danced on my skin. "Keep telling yourself that." I didn't unveil my wings – I needed speed to defeat all five of them. "Why are you here?"

She chuckled. "The Divine sensed someone – we simply came to check. No one is allowed to step into this holy land – not even an esteemed craftsman as Luhen." Her lips formed a twisted smile. "Not that he has any value now that he has given up on his craft."

I clenched my fists. Her smug tone, mocking attitude and just how condescending she was to Luhen pissed me off just so much!

"You do realise I'm going to kill you, right?" I asked as my lips formed a wicked smile. "And the more you piss me off, the more painful it will be."

"You're welcome to try, Fallen Keeper." With her words, our battle began.

I dashed towards them, I didn't want the battle to take place near the already wounded Luhen. Under normal circumstances, dashing at five armed and armoured enemies would be nothing but suicide, but it wasn't quite so simple here.

Fallen Grace enhanced my body, empowering my muscles as I approached the Ereth soldiers. Their leader – the smug and condescending woman stepped forward to meet me in the middle. 

My eyes flashed purple as I leapt into the air, my sword raised high. Her smile widened – I could see how much lesser she though of me as. She was underestimating me. Severely.

I pointed at her and allowed my flames leap at her as my own leap allowed me to soar over her and reach her subordinates.

I heard her shocked shout as she fought against my clingy flames. I knew they weren't strong enough to really harm her – I wasn't feeding them with much of my power – but they were bright enough to block her vision.

As soon as my feet touched the ground before her four subordinates, I rolled on the ground. Four spears thrust the air where my chest was a split second ago. 

I wasted no time – standing back up, I pushed their spears aside with ease and released my flames.

They screamed and stepped back as I fed more power to my flames. Behind me, their leader had finally gotten herself free of my flames by using her own power. I didn't care – she was too smug and too condescending to face me properly. She'd never eat her pride and see me as an opponent worthy of her skill, so I'd always hold the advantage over her.

Instead, I focused my attention on the four soldiers who did fear me. While they clearly weren't as strong as their leader, their acknowledgement of my skill and the danger I posed to them made them opponents I needed to be much more wary of.

I chose the leftmost one and focused my attention on him. He was the farthest from their leader, so she would need more time to aid him. I followed him as he stepped back, trying to put off my flames tugging at his clothes.

His eyes opened wide as he noticed my raised sword. I didn't hesitate – the sharp end of my blade found its way to his throat in an instant, giving him a fast and mostly painless death.

"You demon!" Their leader shouted. I leapt into the air as her sword cut through the air where my neck was but a moment ago.

"I'll kill you!" She shrieked, her eyes letting out a golden glow. Her magic spread in a circle, dampening and putting out my flames. I had to step back a bit to make sure she wasn't using some incredibly powerful spell that could kill me in an instant.

No, it was just a healing spell. 

The only time I'd fought Ereth soldiers before was when they showed up as I tried to destroy the Divine Pillar. I had defeated them before even giving them a chance to act. And because of that, I had no idea what the Ereth soldiers were really capable of.

I gritted my teeth as the remaining four quickly assumed defensive stances. Wait, no. Their leader seemed adamant on not respecting my abilities. I grinned – her overconfidence and pride would be her downfall. I'd make sure of it!

I dashed towards them, now focusing on the rightmost soldier. I could see the tip of his spear become more unsteady as I approached him. He was trembling. He was terrified of me.

I slashed at his throat as soon as I was close enough. Their leader was quick to step up and block my attack, but she wasn't quick enough to notice me drop my sword and simply duck under her sword. I caught the leatherbound hilt of my blade with my left hand and thrust the blade through the other soldier's heart. 

"No!" One of them shouted. I felt magic begin to gather in the left most soldier's hands. On the other side, their leader was aiming for my neck as she thrust her sword. 

I had to leave my sword stuck in the now dead soldier's chest as I threw myself to the side. Her swing grazed my cheek as the bold of bright golden magic hit the ground behind me.

"I will make you suffer for taking their lives!" Their leader shouted. Her voice echoed in the woods, startling the wildlife.

She was blocking my way – I couldn't reach my sword like this!

I considered taking the other dead soldier's spear, but quickly decided otherwise. If those weapons were infused with Ereth magic, it could be a bad idea to try and wield one as a full fledged demon.

After a moment of hesitation, another idea occurred to me. 

"Try me!" I said as my body began to change. Soul's Aspect hurt to use – I could feel my skin stretch and my muscles bulge and change. A pair of horns appeared on my head as my long and not too practical tail quickly formed. With my long, sharp claws and glowing purple eyes, I probably looked terrifying.

I leapt up and was surprised at how much more powerful I was. My leap went higher, and farther than I wanted to, but I didn't care. The rush of adrenaline, the anticipation of battle, the thrill of danger… They threatened to overcome me, probably just like how they had overcome Dorith at some point.

I landed behind the group and with a single slash of my claws, tore through one of their armour. The poor guy screamed in pain, but his voice was quickly silenced when I slashed his throat. 

Sorry, I thought to myself. That wasn't quite as painless as I was trying to make this be.

I took care to kill the other soldier faster. I pierced his throat and let him die quickly.

Now, all that remained was their leader. She was shaking – not with fear, but with anger.

"You've become corrupted!" She whispered as her magic gathered around her. "To think you'd go so far just to defeat us."

"No, not really." My body slowly returned to normal as I reached down and pulled my sword out of the dead soldier's chest. 

When I turned my gaze back on her, she flinched. I rekindled my flames and dashed towards her – catching her while she had her guard down was my best bet.

Out swords clashed, and we remained with our blades locked, trying to push each other off balance. My flames fought against her holden light, with no clear winner in sight.

I knew I was stronger – I just needed to find that tiny little mistake, that crack in her guard. A moment of hesitation to finally finish her off.

I didn't have to wait long, as a low, painful wheeze coming from the side distracted her. "You're alive?" She gasped and I made sure those were the last words she ever spoke. I let her body fall to the ground, my sword still stuck in her throat and rushed to the source of that wheeze – Luhen.

"I'll heal you, so hold on, ok?" I whispered as I used Keeper's Haven. Souls burst out of my chest as I felt my mana drain at an alarming rate. As a green-grey circle of magic extended with me at its centre, I pulled the spear still stuck in Luhen's shoulder. 

He didn't have the breath to scream, but thankfully he was still alive, somehow. As the souls circling around us slowly healed him, I sighed a breath of relief.

"Oh my god!" A familiar voice sounded. Startled, I lifted my head to see a panting Rina and somewhat tired looking Alex step out of the woods. "Kai...?"