64 Fire and Water
1471 Words
Janus and Haruna followed the path of destruction. It wasn't that hard to find the creature. Janus remembered the insatiable rage in the voice of the monster, and that rage was well expressed in the scene before them.
A forest fire was creeping across the landscape. Workers and guards alike were carrying buckets with them. It seemed as though everyone in the village was rallying towards the scene. That was great, at least their alarm system was working well.
Good thing that they had created an irrigation system that flowed towards the fields in lines that were evenly planned and placed. The wells were busy, as well as the banks of the rivers and streams.
Haruna cast a minor healing spell as they raced on. The throbbing was gone, but his hands still itched. The lady was a nervous wreck, seeing everything that was happening all around her must be a shock. After telling her repeatedly that it wasn't her fault, she was still agitated. He couldn't blame her.
The smoke was nauseating, black soot clung to their skin as they passed by the burning huts and fields. It held the scent of vile miasma similar to the pond, but now it had a charred tinge to it. Children and housewives were crying, as well as the confused cattle, sheep, and livestock.
When Janus arrived at the scene he saw just how volatile the monster was.
Sir Arthan was there, one knee on the ground and sword held point first to the ground. His knights were behind him now, all were down and dousing themselves with water, all covered in thick soot. They were on the sidelines of the battle that was currently happening. Some of them clearly sustained burns.
Jundra, the leader of the Merrimen was engaging the beast with her unit. They had lured the monster in a square plot of land that was surrounded by water. This was once a cornfield with a strong connection to their irrigation system. Each edge of the plot was surrounded by a huge river of water. Yashiek's goblins would fish here once in a while.
There was no doubt about it. This was Sir Arthan's plan.
Genius! Janus always heard that the Knights tactical prowess was second to none. He had the whole territory memorized and had a contingency plan for calamities and such. They had trapped the monster in a space completely surrounded by water, the Merrimen tried to hold it off with buckets, cloths and blankets. The monster hunters looked like matadors trying to coral a raging bull into a corner, But the creature was elusive and angry. Throwing small fireballs that the warriors were barely dodging.
"Sir Arthan, what's the status?" Janus said.
"Your highness, you're bleeding!" The Knight said.
"Never mind that, Haruna has it healed now. What's going on?"
"The creature doesn't budge to our weapons, so we've been using blankets to shove it off. While another group throws buckets at it."
"That won't work." Haruna said, her voice quivering.
"Clearly. We fought it for a good hour until Jundra and her troop asked for a switch. We have a few men singed real good and we were struggling. So here we are cooling off, trying to come up with a real plan."
"You've done a great job, Sir Kleinman. Haruna and I have a plan, I'll need your best knights on the job."
Sir Arthan signaled for his crew and they huddled together as Janus explained his plan. Haruna enchanted all of their weapons and shields with a thick coating of water. It wouldn't be enough to destroy the monster per se----just enough to hurt it with a good clean hit----but it would be better suited to the soldiers than brandishing picnic blankets and bedsheets.
Janus wanted to join in on the action but everyone looked at him like he was crazy.
"You're wounded, and you're not really the fighting type. No offense your highness but I don't think I can allow that as former member of the Royal Guard and Commander of our force."
"I'll be fine alone." Haruna said. "It was my fault that any of this happened."
"Not entirely." Janus said.
"Partly my fault then, but I'm the best shot we've got. Buckets of water won't do, it should be a clear and sustained flood."
Arthan signaled to the Merrimen for a switch, Jundra held a scowl but nodded.
Twelve Knights, composed of dwarves, humans, I'reen and goblin alike. Walked to the battlefield with their steel breastplates and weapons enchanted with water. They held it up high and caught the attention of the burning fiend.
Sir Arthan walked with Haruna, and they moved into position.
The knights rallied the creature to the right corner of the field. Where it followed as they jabbed and lunged at it with their halberds and spears.
At the left corner of the field, Haruna and Sir Arthan stood in preparation.
Another regiment of guards followed. Ten of them, all carrying shields enchanted with water. They marched towards the center, creating a wall where the creature cannot escape. The hope was to lure the creature to the right, then in it's desperation get it to move towards Haruna, where it will be directed with a large wave of water from the river.
The creature swiveled and raged as it was being cornered. The enchantment proved to be effective. With every hit it screeched and howled a piercing cry that reverberated through the mountains, forming goosebumps into Janus' neck.
It was nearing the corner, whereby the knights were tasked to charge at it and lead it to Lady Haruna's spell.
From his vantage point, Haruna was quivering. It was clear that she wasn't accustomed to high pressure situation such as this. Sir Arthan stood in front of her, muttering encouragements. His shield flowing with a thick coat of water.
"Do it! Now!" he yelled.
"For Wayward!" the knights charged as the pinned monster was corralled from the right corner straight to the left.
It's working! It's working! Janus thought.
The creature was being chased in a panic, it ran from the dozen that was chasing it towards Sir Arthan, where Haruna was preparing her incantation.
Seeing them both, the creature lurched.
Twelve behind him, and only the two of them in front. It was an easy choice. Janus' hopes was realized.
The creature screeched hard as it raced towards the Knight. Janus could see Haruna's ball of water rise up from the river. It wavered and undulated, a far cry from its usual elegant form, but it should work just the same.
The fire elemental sped through the landscape at an unprecedented pace. It hit Sir Arthan's shield with an overwhelming force. The creature recoiled at contact, throwing itself back, but not without dealing its own damage. It pushed the knight off of his feet, hitting Haruna behind her.
The Knight and the Mage fell into the river. Above them, the ball of water collapsed.
The fire elemental recoiled again at the splash of water that it caused. Realizing that it was cornered, it swelled and screeched, changing color from a fiery red to a pulsing blue. It set its sights at the remaining guards and knights that were blocking it.
Janus felt a swell of arcane energy. Akin to the feeling that Haruna had given him as she placed her finger into his forehead. Akin to the feeling of dipping into the Wellspring, with all its power and force. Janus could feel the creature's energies being compressed.
An explosion was imminent.
The guards braced for impact, but they couldn't possibly tell how strong it would be.
"No!" he screamed. His heartbeat thumping in his ears.
Time moved slowly around him, or was it him moving fast? He couldn't tell. But by then he was running towards the creature. To his left, the water ebbed at his passing. He could feel the Wellspring inside of him. How much do I need? A drop? A cup? An gallon?
There was no time to decide. How about all of it?
The water emerged from the river, like a serpent, thick and raging. It carried Janus' will, setting its sights to the enemy with deadly aim.
The only problem was, it also carried Janus himself.
The tide had caught him as he was running, and now that it was overboard he lost control. Janus was now at the tip of the wave, disoriented and confused.
The flow of water hit its mark. Drowning the fire elemental in a sustained flood. Janus, acting as a spearhead, was in direct line of contact. His body burned with the elemental's rage. He heard its screams. It withered and convulsed as the flood drained it of its energy.
Noooooooooooooo!
The guards were thrown away by the force of the water, scattering them across the plot. Hot steam emerged from the singed dirt.
Janus felt all of it. He heard the cries, saw the sunlight overhead seeping through the branches of a burning tree. A thousand footsteps thundering towards him. His skin was fizzling, in his agony he could smell burning meat.
Everything went black.
- Writer
