Tales of Revenants

Chapter 8 – Heartless Revenant

A calm and tranquil night where the moonlight lightens up beaming through the spots of the branches, the houses were like those you read in a fairy tale that came into life.

Luciella blissfully gazes outside the window, contemplating the things that happened to her up to this point.

She met Laken in an accident and suddenly she accompanied him on a journey she never knew what would be the outcome. Luciella is freely swimming by the tides known as fate, not knowing what the future may bring nor learning a thing of Laken's true motives.

Luciella deliberately follows what is in her heart. Believing that trailing Laken was the best choice not for her, but for his sake as well.

“Are you ready?” Laken assures. “Let's get going.” Luciella held her wand and conceals themselves on their hood. The white cape of Laken gradually became pitch-black, it extends with cover just as Laken described. Luciella was no longer surprised by the ability of his cloak.

There must be no sound to create when they're getting out of the inn they are currently staying. The night might make them suspicious-looking individuals. They acted as covertly as possible and successfully reaching to the eastern border of the city.

The isolated area where the rumored nasty killer or a Nightbeast lurking in the midst of shade plucking the heart of their prey.

Just the idea of a hideous creature that is smart to target the heart of the victim makes Luciella turn pale while trembling in fright.

“What if we ran into another Nightbeast again?” Asked by the fidgeting Luciella clasping Laken's hands as she sticks unto him.

“Speak of the devil, look at that.” What emerged against in front of them is a plant that doesn't seem to be menacing to be called a Nightbeast.

“What are you talking about Laken? It's just a plant, look it's–” When Luciella's about to go near it, Laken grasp his sword pushing her away.

“Move!” The tentacle-like vine almost got Luciella in no time but Laken's instinct kicked-in saving her from getting entangled.

“Look, that's a plant-type Nightbeast called Carnivorous Flower. Its tentacle will pull you to its jaw eating anything it caught reserved.” Laken explained as he fends off the ferocious Nightbeast.

“So-Sorry! What should I do?” Now she wants to cling to him but can't since Laken is fighting the monster.

“Stop apologizing, just stay there! I'll take care of this in no time.” Laken declared so she did what he told.

Swift as the blade of the night, Laken gracefully dodged the Carnivorous Flower attempt to capture him. He's trying to have a battle of attrition where he first detaches the tentacles before finishing it off.

Both of them don't have much time so when Laken sees an opening, he quickly strikes a lightning flash s***h; cutting the Carnivorous Flower into half rendering it terminated.

“Why is it called flower when it's literally a carnivorous plant?” Luciella asked wobbling towards him.

“It's because usually, it has flower when it's daytime but they discovered it's actually a Nightbeast trying to allure its victim to the scent of the flower. Maybe they are tired they won't bother changing the name.” Laken replied even if it's a dumb question.

Luciella snorted of Laken's reply. “Nevermind, I'm kinda trying to make myself feel comfortable. I had a tad phobia when I'm in the dark."

“Well, it doesn't matter. Just don't leave my side.” He was just worried about Luciella when she tries to get to the Nightbeast's range of attacking vicinity.

“Light Blessing...” Luciella cast a healing spell to heal Laken when the Carnivorous Plant's tentacle scraped his right shoulder while the monster caught him off guard.

“You're wasting mana, it doesn't even feel anything.” Laken implies but he waited for her to heal him since it will be a bad idea of halting a mage's magic.

“Now it's okay!” Luciella elatedly clings into him again, remembering that they are in an isolated forest where the rumored serial killer is said to dwell.

“You never listened huh? But that's okay.” Laken ushered the path along the way. Within that turn of events, Laken learned a thing or two about Luciella's personality.

He observed the determination and resolve of her to heal his arm made him feel moved. She may be afraid of the dark or in the Nightbeasts, but the courage to help someone in need pushed her to do what she must without fail.

Laken believed that there is a reason the voice in his head tasked to cross path with her.

Right after when she tends Laken, she went back to the meekly and scared cat of a princess she is. Laken thought that she's the type to put her life on the line to save another; the exact same opposite personality of Laken himself in the past.

They continued to search deeper into the forest, mostly fending of Carnivorous Flowers along with their way.

Whenever Laken was scourged by a Nightbeast, Luciella will surely heal her without a request from him. He just let her do as she pleases so long as she stayed by his side so he can keep an eye on what she does.

After they got out of the forest, the two moons shine brighter than any other day. Luciella found herself gazing by its majestic display. Meanwhile, Laken found something odd about the ground straight to their path.

“This is not the outside of the border. We're still inside the forest so there's no way we got out of it.” Laken imply.

He touches the ground tracing the vicinity if there's someone who put a spell in this isolated region. That explains how others went missing when they venture into this part of the area.

“Luciella can you use a simple light manipulation over that way?” Laken pointed out the open field which is supposed to be the exit to the border.

“O-Okay... Light illuminate thy path!” Luciella cast light manipulation magic. The moonlight became its medium radiating the trails of the road.

What revealed before in front of them is more trees rather than the exit. “It's illusion-type magic that when you entered the affected area, you start to hallucinate. But it's useless if you knew it's all fake.” Laken described while still being cautious.

“I read it in a book. It's called Raven of the Dreams; grand illusion-type magic which when affected shows you what you truly desire. As you said, its weakness is recognizing it beforehand.” Luciella expounds.

She prepared her wand knowing the only mage of the highest caliber could do such a feat. They don’t know what are the other spells the caster is hiding.

They proceeded forward only to reach a wretched haunted house; the ceiling had a handful of a flock of ravens taking a rest.

“Spooky! Who lives in a place like this?” Luciella mentioned gritting her teeth to diminish her fear.

“Wait.” Laken halted their advance.

With his heightened senses, he knew their head will be severed the moment they took another step. Laken beckoned Luciella to stay behind him, he knew the person he seeks is already gazing unto them behind the shadows.

“Show yourself! I came here to stop your atrocious deed towards the elves around this area.” The silent stayed dead. But it seems the perpetrator wanted Laken to step once more and Laken understands she wanted blood all along.

“No matter what you do, never take a step from here okay?” Laken confirms.

“Y-Yes.” Luciella agreed and asked her to crouch for the moment.

Laken gripped his sword, the single frame of second the moment he stepped forward, a wave strikes from unknown direction flashed but Laken was sagacious enough so he deflected it.

The perpetrator recognized the only person who could parry her unavoidable attack is none other than Laken. A strike means to steal the heart of the victim penetrating any kind of defense or shield of the sort.

“It's been a long time, Eirisse Cadence; Heartless Revenant.” He faced behind.

When Luciella catches sight of the wavering figure under the influence of moonlight, what revealed before in front of them is a woman whose luscious and curvaceous points are clearly seen on her witch garment with a skirt below the knee.

She had round eyeglasses and is about her twenties. Her hair's crimson as the velvet moon. Her skin's as pale as someone anemic.

The terrifying thing about her is the red garments she dons had a mess of fresh gore; from her mouth that reveals her deadly fangs down to her chest dribbles blood as if she just had a victim.

“How thoughtful of you to visit me, Laken.” Eirisse disgracefully caresses her chest with the remnants of the flesh over her bosom.

“Don't just scare my comrade like that. Look at her drowning to dread.” Laken told.

The terrified countenance of Luciella held Laken accountable to feel distaste on his tongue.

“Ahhh...” Eirisse moaned as she gazes upon the deepest depth of Laken's eyes. “You always make me fall in love, why don't we have a duel now?” Eirisse giggled revealing her sharp long nail claws. She exactly wanted to have a duel right at the moment.

“Luciella stay behind me. This thirsty vampire is up to no good. I'll make sure she wakes up to reality.” The frightened Luciella nodded in agreement.

“Let me taste your blood once more Laken! I'm sure it's sweeter than ever.” Eirisse seductively stroked her claws declaring the mark of the duel.

“Try it.” Laken simply said in a cold tone.

The friend Laken is talking about is the bloodthirsty vampire that exposed herself and now they're about to clash with everything they've got.